History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 56

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Ohio > Sandusky County > History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 56

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Major Rawson was the son of Dr. La- Quinio and Sophia Rawson. He was born at Fremont on the 14th of March, 1840; was married to Miss Jennie Snyder, an amiable and accomplished young lady of Courtland county, New York, on the 3 Ist of August, 1863, while absent from his regiment on a short furlough. He died at. Memphis, Tennessee, on the 22d of July, seven days after he received the fatal wound, aged twenty-four years. Em- balmed, his remains were sent to his home-Fremont-and with appropriate funeral services were interred in Oakwood cemetery, followed thither by a very large

concourse of his friends and fellow-citi- zens, who loved the boy, and mourned the death of the young hero and patriot.

At a meeting of the officers and soldiers of the Seventy second Ohio Veteran Volun- teer Infantry, held at Memphis, Tennessee, the 28th day of July, 1864, for the pur- pose of expressing their feelings in regard to the death of Major Eugene A. Rawson, Lieutenant-Colonel C. G. Eaton was elect- ed chairman, and Lieutenant J. Wells Watterson, regimental quartermaster, sec- retary. The meeting was called to order and the following members appointed a committee on resolutions: Lieutenant A. B. Putman, company A; Lieutenant J. F. Harrington, company A; Sergeant Corwin Ensminger, company C; Sergeant Abraham Eldridge, company I; Corporal Samuel Persing, company A. The fol- lowing resolutions were presented and unanimously adopted by the meeting:

WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God to re- move from us our brother officer and soldier, Major Eugene A. Rawson, by death on the 22d of July inst., of wounds received on the 15th inst., while bravely leading his regiment in a charge against the enemy's lines at the battle of Oldtown Creek; and

WHEREAS, We, the officers and soldiers of the Sev " enty-second Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, desire to express in a suitable manner our respect for the noble dead, and our deep regret for his untimely fall, therefore

Resolved, That in the death of Major Eugene A. Rawson our regiment has lost a brave, heroic, and devoted officer and soldier, the nation one of her mnost ardent patriots and defenders, his family a dis- tinguished member, his friends and brothers in a. ms a dear and valued companion.

Resolved, That we declare our conviction that the life of the deceased, while connected with the Sev- enty-second Ohio, has been one of unwearied devo- tion to duty and to the service of his country, and whether in the quiet camp or the toilsome march, or in the blaze and fury of battle, he alike ably, patiently. and heroically performed with untiring energy all that fell to his lot; and when struck by the fatal ball, was found at his post fearlessly offering his life that his country might live.

Resolved, That we tender the family and friends of the deceased, and especially the young wife who has thus early been called to mourn the death of her

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husband, our deepest sympathy and condolence in this, their sad bereavement.

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be fur- nished the friends of the deceased; also a copy to the Fremont Journal and Sentinel and the Courtland County Journal, of Homer, New York.

C. G. EATON, Chairman.

J. WELLS WATTERSON, Secretary.

KESSLER AND BELDING.

And yet 'tis true Sweet romance follows after Grim visaged, bloody war.

John J. Kessler was a promising young man of Fremont, Ohio, who volunteered in company F (Captain Bartlett). He be- came a second lieutenant, was promoted to first lieutenant and then to captain. He was then chosen aide on General Rose- crans' staff, in which capacity he did good service in the battle of Chickamauga.

Captain E. B. Belding, of Medina county, Ohio, volunteered in battery A, First light artillery, and was on duty in the same battle. The two men had become acquainted, although in different branches of the service. Belding was that day on horseback doing duty, when his horse was wounded in one hind leg by a ball from the enemy, and became frantic and almost unmanageable. While struggling with his horse Captain Belding found it necessary to put both hands to the bridle, which movement brought his hands and wrists close together. While the horse was struggling and turning round, a rifle ball struck the upper part of his hand and passed through both wrists. Notwith- standing this wound the Captain managed to use one thumb and finger on the rein to keep the horse in a circle, for if he had dashed off straight in his then condition, the rider would have been thrown or dashed against a tree. While the horse was circling Belding freed himself from the stirrups but still held one rein of the bridle when assistance, in the form of a single man,

came up, to whom he surrendered the horse. Captain Belding was then in a very unsafe position, where the enemy's fire from the front was cutting down wounded men who were under orders re- tiring to the rear for safety and surgical aid. He started to the rear to find a surgeon. When the shock of the wound gave way to reaction, he found himself weak from pain and loss of blood, but he continued walking, and sitting down occasionally to rest. He finally concluded that he could not hold out and sat down upon a log, faint and with the desperate conclusion that he could not move any farther, and would there await his fate.

Captain Kessler fortunately discovered him in this condition, rode up to him, dis- mounted, placed Belding on the horse and took him back to a ravine where a surgeon was at work among the wounded. Here Captain Belding's wounds were hastily bandaged, and soon after he obtained an ambulance which took him back and into the hospital.

This incident produced a friendship between the two men, for Belding believed he owed his life to Kessler's kindness. Kessler had two sisters at home, whose pictures Belding happened to see although he was ignorant of their relationship to the Major. One of them struck his fancy and he told the Major if he could find that girl he would marry her. "I don't know about that," replied the Major; "that is a picture of my sister Louise, now in Fremont. She may have something to say about that." "We shall see," said the Cap- tain. About a year after, Captain Bel- ding, while on a furlough, found Fremont, accidentally, of course, and found the Kessler House, then the leading hotel in the city. Of course Captain Belding recognized the girl whose picture he had seen and fancied. When the war was over, as was very natural, Captain Belding must

Genitalle Pheson.

...

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see his brave friend who had saved his life. Major Kessler told his sister the story of their acquaintance, and, Captain Belding was warmly welcomed by Major Kessler and by his family.

Well, what next? married, of course. A fine, bright youth, the exact miniature of Captain Belding, called Willie, with ·father and mother, make a most happy trio for a family. A more thoroughly de- voted, trustful, and affectionate husband cannot be found than Captain Belding, and himself and wife are as happy as human faith and affection can render man and women, and this forms what Bob Ingersoll says is the best heaven he has ever found.

But what of Major Kessler? The .: ex- posures and hardships of the war hurried consumption upon him, and, like hundreds of thousands of other brave men, he came home to linger and hope a little while., He sleeps in our beautiful Oakwood cem- etery, where a fine and well deserved monument marks the spot where the brave and good man is at rest. Often you may see fond friends lingering there, and every returning annual decoration day sweet, beautiful flowers are seen, giving fragrance to the last resting place of the remains of John J. Kessler. Captain Belding and his noble wife are among the first to visit Major Kessler's grave, and there drop the sweetest flowers, and bedew them with the tears of gratitude and affection.

MAJOR-GENERAL JAMES B. Mc- PHERSON.

The only Federal major-general who perished on the field of battle was James B. McPherson. His ability as a com- manding officer has been variously esti- mated. His career, brilliant and crowded as it was, was prematurely cut off before his capacity had been fully tested. One

fact, however, is significant. He gained, in an unprecedentedly short time, the con- fidence of commanders justly celebrated for their accurate estimates of men. With the meagre field experience of one cam- paign, he was given command of as noble an army as ever marched to defend the Union. Every man in that army admired him for his superb gallantry, and for his open, generous heart. The feeling of friendly affection and admiration was not confined to the tented field. Those here, who knew him from childhood, and called him "Jimmie," those who had been his play-fellows and knew his boyish fancies, watched his career and applauded his triumphs with affectionate interest. The Army of the Tennessee and his friends at home have fittingly shown their apprecia- tion of a noble friend and gallant general, by seeking to preserve in moulds of im- perishable bronze, the features of his hand- some body. He is idolized by his old neighbors at Clyde. The story of his life, from childhood to the gallant but fatal exploit on the field before Atlanta, is a familiar topic of conversation.

James Birdseye McPherson was born at Hamer's Corners (now Clyde), November 14, 1828. His father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and married, in New York, Cyn- thia Russell, a native of Massachusetts, and came to Ohio, the first time, in 1822, on foot, his travelling companions being Norton Russell and James Birdseye, whose name was given to the first-born as a mark of friendship. Mr. McPherson entered land and built a cabin. A year later his wife joined him and the pair began house- keeping. He was a blacksmith, but found it difficult to earn a livelihood on account of the sparse settlement of the country and scarcity of money. He was consti- tutionally nervous and excitable, but had the reputation of being a skilled trades- man, until overthrown by the nervous dis-

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order which eventually terminated his life.

James was known among the mothers of the backwoods settlement, as a " good baby," happy, good-natured, healthy. He seemed to enjoy being petted, but was not peevish when neglected. Tall Chief once visited the homely McPherson residence, during one of his strolls from the Seneca reservation, four miles south. After fond- ling the babe, then just beginning to prat- tle, the Indian was asked by the proud mother what he thought of her boy. "Fine boy, fine boy," was the prophetic reply of the red-skin. "Be big man." This remark, which only amused the mother at the time, was recalled after the fall of Vicksburg. The child grew into a healthy and strong boy, full of spirit and never idle. He delighted in, and always sought the praise of his parents and neigh- bors. An incident is told which shows that that caution which, in after life, char- acterized all his actions, was the product of maturer years. When seven or eight years old, he visited his uncle, Norton Russell, whom he found in the field cut- ting corn. The boy was anxious to help, and was finally permitted to, but cautioned to be careful and not try to cut more than one stalk at a time. The future general soon became impatient. He raised the heavy knife high over his head and said : "Uncle, I am going to cut like men do." A half-dozen stalks of corn tumbled to the ground, but a severe wound of the knee punished the lad's rash disobedience.

It was the father's desire that his son should have a good education, but finan- cial embarrassment prevented sending him away. James, however, attended district school, which was held in a log house oc- cupying almost exactly the same spot now occupied by the base of his statue. Here he mastered, by the age of thirteen, the common branches taught at that time, and became a good writer. While not in

school, his time was employed on the farm. But at the age of thirteen there came a crisis ; his father was no longer able to work, and James felt called upon not only to earn his own living, but also to give assistance to his mother, struggling against poverty. He obtained a situation as store boy in the establishment of Robert Smith, at Green Spring, five miles south of his home. He has himself described this first farewell to his home and mother. "The whole family were in tears when he bade them good-bye; and taking up his little bundle, commenced his journey of five miles, afoot and alone. After walking boldly forward for some distance, he looked back and saw them all at the door, watch- ing and weeping. To shut out the pain- ful sight he clutched his bundle tighter and ran as fast as his young feet would carry him, until he reached the woods, when he sat down and wept abundantly. Then he took up his bundle again and came on to Green Spring."

Here is exhibited that tender sympathy and affection which were such important elements of his character. Even in the blaze of military triumph, home and mother occupied his first thoughts.

Young McPherson worked faithfully, and seemed contented while under the em- ploy of Mr. Smith at Green Spring, but his ambition never permitted him to settle up- on merchandizing as an employment. He devoured the contents of the well filled lit- tle bookcase of his employer, and received with heartfelt thankfulness the promise of an appointment to West Point. He had for a long time desired to make more out of himself than a country store-keeper, and a way was now open to the realization of his aspirations. Two seasons were spent in the academy at Norwalk, prepar- ing for the dreaded entrance examination, which he passed with credit. He entered the famous class of '53, composed of fifty-

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two members, among whom were Sher- idan, Sill, Schofield, Bell, Tyler, Chandler, Vincent and others, who achieved renown during the Rebellion; also his antagonist at Atlanta, James B. Hood. At the end of the first year McPherson stood second, and from then till the end of the course .was always at the head of the class. He was not only a fine scholar, but a popular, kind-hearted, generous cadet. He was fa- miliarly called "Mac" by his classmates, who never asked of him a reasonable favor in vain. His principal offence while at the institution had for its cause a desire to relieve a part of the class of unnecessary burdens. He had been promoted, on the ground of merit, to the Cadet Captaincy, but his rank was reduced to the lieuten- ancy for the grave offence of permitting a part of his class to ride in an omnibus

to engineering drill. Eighteen other marks of delinquency stand against him at West Point, showing that, although a per- fect student, he, like others, was sometimes derelict according to the strict rule of West Point conduct. But his promotions at the academy followed each other in almost as quick succession as, a decade later, his promotions in the army.

Graduating at the head of his class, McPherson, according to the rules of the academy, was appointed to the engineer- ing corps. He was retained the first year at the academy as assistant instructor of practical engineering-an honor never be- fore conferred upon so young an officer. From a private letter we learn that Mc- Pherson felt, keenly, this splendid com- pliment, although the duties of the posi- tion did not suit his tastes. For the next three years he was engaged on engineering duty on the Atlantic coast ; for three and a half years at Alcatraz Island, one of the defences of San Francisco harbor. Then came the war. While in New York he came in contact with the finest society in

the city, which, private letters show, en- grossed a fair share of his attention. A promising young officer, handsome, ac- complished, and cordial in his bearing, there was no reason why he should not be a welcome guest in any home. He at length found his "pearl of great price" in the person of a Baltimore lady, whom he was to have married early in 1864, but the plan of the Atlanta campaign rendered it impossible to spare time from the army long enough to meet the engagement. Sherman, in a letter to the betrothed lady, explained affairs, and the marriage was postponed. We naturally have an interest in the woman whom a man of McPher- son's culture and character would select for a wife. In a letter, written from Cali- fornia to his mother, he pictures in one sentence his idea of feminine loveliness. He says: "You will love her as I do, when you know her. She is intelligent, refined, generous-hearted and a Christian ; this will suit you as it does me, for it lies at the foundation of every pure and ele- vated character."

The spirit of West Point during the period when the Abolition sentiment was organizing into an active -movement, is well remembered. McPherson, like so many young officers of his day, imbibed the prejudices of the institution, and his opinions during the formative period of the Abolition movement are expressed in unmistakable language. In 1853 he writes to a friend in Ohio: "I believe, if I were to meddle with politics, I would be a Know Nothing." A year later he openly rejoiced in an Abolition defeat. He writes :

Not a few are highly gratified at the result of the recent elections in Massachusetts and in this State, which have been such a signal rebuke to Seward and his Abolition supporters. It is very seldom that military men meddle with politics, except when broad national principles are assailed; and then they feel it a duty to place themselves in the van and rally to the support of the Union. I have felt a good

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deal of interest in politics since I have seen the ef- forts which have been made to form a sectional party,-a party with but one idea, and that one cal- culated to awaken a feeling of animosity from one extremity of the Union to the other, the fatal effects of which neither you nor I can predict. When I see men, endowed with superior powers of mind and occupying high stations, putting forward their utmost energies to excite dissension, and not only dissension but absolute hatred between the different sections of our country, I feel that it is time they should be shorn of their strength and rendered powerless to commit evil. Could I believe in their sincerity or patriotism, and that motives of humanity actuate them, I might be a little more charitable. But when such men as Salmon P. Chase, whose position gives him influence, gets up before a public assembly in Maine, or any other State, and declares that there is a deep feeling of hatred between the North and the South, that the Allies do not hate the Russians or the Russians the Allies any more than the people of the North hate the people of the South or the people of the South hate the people of the North, it is time all candid men should unite to defeat the schemes and machinations of such demagogues. I do not hesitate to say that I am gratified at the result of the elections; and I believe every Union Whig --- Henry Clay and Daniel Webster Whig-can say the same.'

The young engineer, it will be noticed, emphasized his devotion to the Union. It was not until the first overt acts of rebellion that McPherson saw his mis- take as to who the real assailants of the Union were. A manly letter, written shortly after the beginning of secession, to his mother (published first in Hours at Home) shows that West Point training, although it had affected his prejudices, had not sullied his ardent patriotism. He says:

However men may have differed in politics, there is but one course now. Since the traitors have initi- ated hostilities and threatened to seize the National capital, give them blow for blow, and shot for shot until they are effectually humbled. I do not know whether I shall be kept here, or ordered East; but one thing I do know, and that is, that I am ready and willing to go where I can be of the most service in upholding the honor of the Government and assisting in crushing out rebellion; and I have faith to believe.that you will see the day when the glori- ous old flag will wave more triumphantly than ever. I wish I were at home now to join the Ohio Volun- teers. I swung my cap more than once on reading the telegraphic message of Governor Dennison: "What

Kentucky will not furnish, Ohio will.' Now that the fires are kindled, I hope they will not be permitted to die out until Jeff. Davis and his fellow-conspirators are in Washington to be tried for treason, or, in the language of old Putnam, "tried, condemned and executed."

After such a letter, there is no mistak- ing the position of McPherson. He was ready to devote his energies and talent to the preservation of the Union. He be- came a martyr on the field of battle.

At the opening of the rebellion Mc- Pherson's talent did not receive proper recognition. He was a capable engineer, but little known. Incompetent drill mas- ters were receiving promotion, while he was compelled to solicit a transfer to the service in the East. There he was given but a junior captaincy of engineers, and assigned to duty at Boston harbor. He was always modest, and refrained from actually seeking appointment, but we have information from private sources that he was ambitious to enter upon field duty. The time came when his well trained fac- ulties were to have a broad scope and se- vere test. The result subsequent events show. In November, 1861, he was ap- pointed aide-de-camp to General Halleck, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Pro- motions followed rapidly. From assistant engineer of the Department of Missouri, he became chief engineer of the Army of the Tennessee in the expedition against Forts Henry and Donelson. He engi- neered the expedition against Corinth, with the rank ot colonel. On the 15th of May, 1862, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers, and the following June was assigned to the general superintendency of military roads in East Tennessee. On his return from Corinth after the battle he was given a commission as major general of volunteers, to date from October 8, 1862 -a position to which he had risen in little more than a year, from junior captaincy of engineers. His first experience as a com-

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mander was at Corinth. His subsequent operations were under the direction of Grant, in the campaign which terminated in the capture of Vicksburg.

McPherson in this campaign bore a conspicuous part. Port Gibson, Clinton, Jackson, and (Champion Hill, first brought him into public notice and favor. After the fall of Vicksburg he was generally credited at the South with the planning of the whole campaign. This was certainly a mistake, but Grant owed a large meas- ure of his success to McPherson's care, bravery, and ability in executing com- mands. While his private letters show that he was not insensible to the honor which promotion implied, yet he never permitted his ambition to lead him into expressing official reports in any other than the most simple and matter-of-fact terms. At Raymond, just as the issue of the bat- tle seemed plain, his adjutant approached him with a dispatch to Grant, ready for the signature. It said that "he had met the enemy in immensely superior force, and had defeated him most disastrously, and was now in full pursuit." Mc Pherson quietly tore up the paper and wrote: "We met the enemy about 3 P. M. to-day; have had a hard fight, and up to this time have the advantage."

Grant generously acknowledged Mc- Pherson's services in a letter recommend- ing him for promotion to the rank of brig- adier-general in the regular army. The letter reviews his record thus far and will be of interest at this time:

He has been with me in every battle since the com- mencement of the Rebellion, except Belmont; at Forts Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, and the siege of Corinthi, as a staff officer and engineer his services were conspic- uous and highly meritorious. At the second battle of Corinth his skill as a soldier was displayed in suc- cessfully carrying reinforcements to the besieged gar- rison when the enemy was between him and the point to be reached. In the advance to Central Mississippi, General McPherson commanded one wing of the army with all the ability possible to

show, he having the bad in the advance, and the rear retiring. In the campaign and siege terminating min the fall of Vicksburg, General MePherson has filled a conspicuous part. At the battle of Port Gibson it was under his direction that the enemy was driven late in the afternoon from a position they had suc- ceeded in holding all day against an obstinate attack. His corps, the advance always, under las immediate eye were the pioneers from Port Gibson to Hankin- son's Ferry. From the north fork of Bayou Pierre to the Black River it was a constant skirmish, the whole skilfully managed. The enemy was so closely pursued as to be unable to destroy their bridges of boats after them. From Hankinson's Ferry to Jackson the Seventeenth Army Corps marched on roads not travelled by other troops, fighting the entire battle of Raymond alone, and the bulk of Johnston's army was fought by his corps, entirely under the man- agement of General McPherson. At Champion Hills the Seventeenth Corps and General MePherson were conspicuous. . All that could be termed a battle there was fought by the divisions of General McPherson's Corps and General Hovey's division of the Seven- teenth Corps. In the assault of the 22d of May on the fortifications of Vicksburg and during the entire siege, General McPherson and his corps took unfad- ing laurels. He is one of the ablest engineers and skilful generals. I would respectfully but urgently recommend his promotion to the position of briga- dier-general of the regular army.

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History of Sandusky County, Ohio : with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens and pioneers, Part 56

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams Number of Pages: 1040

Author: Everett, Homer, 1813-1887
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : H.Z. Williams
Number of Pages: 1040