History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc, Part 19

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088

USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, school, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; history of the Northwest territory; history of Ohio; statistical and miscellaneous matter, etc., etc > Part 19

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Louisville was now in danger. The banks sent their specie away. Railroad companies added new guards.

September 1, Gen. Kirby Smith entered Lexington, and dispatched Heath with about six thousand men against Cincinnati and Covington. John Morgan joined him. The rebels rushed upon the borders of Ohio. The failure at Rich- mond only added deeper apprehension. Soon Kirby Smith and his regiments

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occupied a position where only a few unmanned siege guns and the Ohio prevented his entrance through Covington into the Queen City. The city was fully armed, and Lew. Wallace's arrival to take command inspired all with fresh courage. And before the people were hardly aware that danger was so near, the city was proclaimed under strict martial law. "Citizens for labor, soldiers for battle."

There was no panic, because the leaders were confident. Back of Newport and Covington breastworks, riflepits and redoubts had been hastily thrown up, and pickets were thrown out. From Cincinnati to Covington extended a pon- ton bridge. Volunteers marched into the city and those already in service were sent to the rescue. Strict military law was now modified, and the city being secured, some inconsiderate ones expressed themselves as being outraged with "much ado about nothing." But Gen. Wallace did not cease his vigilance. And Smith's force began to move up. One or two skirmishes ensued. The city was again excited. September 11 was one of intense suspense. But Smith did not attack in force. He was ordered to join Bragg. On the Mon- day following, the citizens of Cincinnati returned to their avocations. In the spring of 1863, the State was a trifle discouraged. Her burdens had been heavy, and she was weary. Vicksburg was yet in the hands of the enemy. Rosecrans had not moved since his victory at Stone River. There had been fearful slaughter about Fredericksburg.

But during July, 1863, Ohio was aroused again by Bragg's command to Morgan, to raid Kentucky and capture Louisville. On the 3d of July, he was in a position to invade Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. He continued his depre- dations, bewildering the militia with his movements. His avowed intention was to burn Indianapolis and " take Cincinnati alive." Morgan's purposes were never clear. It was his audacious and sudden dashes, here and there, which gave him success. Before Cincinnati was aware, he was at Harrison- 13th of July. He expected to meet the forces of Burnside and Judah, and to cut his way through. His plans here, as everywhere, were indefinable, and he succeeded in deceiving everybody. While printers in Cincinnati were setting up " reports " as to his whereabouts, he was actually marching through the sub- urbs, near troops enough to devour them, and yet not encountered by a single picket ! They fed their horses within sight of Camp Dennison. At 4 o'clock that day, they were within twenty-eight miles of Cincinnati-having marched more than ninety miles in thirty-five hours.

The greatest chagrin was expressed, that Morgan had so easily eluded the great military forces. A sudden dash was made to follow him. There was a universal bolting of doors, burying of valuables, hiding of horses, etc., all along the route of the mad cavalryman and his 2,000 mounted men. They plundered beyond all comparison. They made a principle of it. On the 14th of July, he was feeding his horses near Dennison ; he reached the ford at Buffington Island on the evening of the 18th ; he had encountered several little skirmishes,

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but he had marched through at his own will, mostly; all the troops of Kentucky had been outwitted. The Indiana forces had been laughed to scorn. The 50,000 Ohio militia had been as straws in his way. The intrepid band would soon be upon friendly soil, leaving a blackened trail behind. But Judah was up and marching after him, Hobson followed and Col. Runkle was north of him. The local militia in his advance began to impede the way. Near Pome- roy, a stand was made. Morgan found militia posted everywhere, but he suc- ceeded in running the gantlet, so far as to reach Chester. He should have hastened to cross the ford. Fortunately, he paused to breathe his horses and secure a guide. The hour and a half thus lost was the first mistake Morgan is known to have made in his military career. They reached Portland, and only a little earthwork, guarded by about 300 men, stood between him and safety. His men were exhausted, and he feared to lead them to a night attack upon a position not understood perfectly; he would not abandon his wagon train, nor his wounded ; he would save or lose all. As Morgan was preparing next morning, having found the earthworks deserted through the night, Judah came up. He repulsed the attack at first, capturing Judah's Adjutant General, and ordering him to hold the force on his front in check. He was not able to join his own company, until it was in full retreat. Here Lieut. O'Neil, of the Fifth Indiana, made an impulsive charge, the lines were reformed, and up the Chester road were Hobson's gallant cavalrymen, who had been galloping over three States to capture this very Morgan ! And now the tin-clad gunboats steamed up and opened fire. The route was complete, but Morgan escaped with 1,200 men! Seven hundred men were taken prisoners, among them Morgan's brother, Cols. Ward, Duke and Huffman. The prisoners were brought to Cincinnati, while the troops went after the fugitive. He was surrounded by dangers ; his men were exhausted, hunted down ; skirmishes and thrilling escapes marked a series of methods to escape-his wonderful sagacity absolutely brilliant to the very last-which was his capture, on the 26th, with 346 prisoners and 400 horses and arms. It may be added, that after several months of con- finement, Morgan and six prisoners escaped, on the 27th of November. Again was he free to raid in the " Blue Grass " country.

John Brough succeeded Gov. Tod January 11, 1864. His first prominent work was with the Sanitary Commission. In February, of the same year, the President called for more troops. The quota of Ohio was 51,465 men. The call of March added 20,995. And in July was a third demand for 50,792. In December, the State was ordered to raise 26,027. The critical period of the war was evidently approaching. Gov. Brough instituted a reformation in the "promotion system " of the Ohio troops. He was, in many cases, severe in his measures. He ignored " local great men " and refused distinction as a bribe. The consequence was that he had many friends and some enemies. The acute- ness of his policy was so strong, and his policy so just, that, after all his severe administration, he was second to no statesman in the nation during the struggle.

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Ohio during the war was most active in her relief and aid societies. The most noted and extensive organization was the Cincinnati Branch of the United States Sanitary Commission. The most efficient organization was the Soldiers' Aid Society of Northern Ohio.

When the happy tidings swept over the land that peace was proclaimed, an echo of thanksgiving followed the proclamation. The brave sons of Ohio returned to their own soil-those who escaped the carnage. But 'mid the rejoicing there was deepest sadness, for a fragment only remained of that brave army which had set out sturdily inspired with patriotism.

A BRIEF MENTION OF PROMINENT OHIO GENERALS.

George Briton McClellan, the first General appointed in Ohio, was born December 3, 1826, in Philadelphia. His father was a physician of high stand- ing and Scottish descent. Young George was in school in Philadelphia, and entered West Point at the age of sixteen. At the age of twenty, he was a bre- vet Second Lieutenant, tracing lines of investment before Vera Cruz, under the supervision of Capt. R. E. Lee, First Lieut. P. G. T. Beauregard, Second Lieut. G. W. Smith. At the close of the Mexican war, old Col. Totten reported in favor of them all to Winfield Scott. He had charge of an exploring expedition to the mountains of Oregon and Washington, beginning with the Cascade Range. This was one of a series of Pacific Railway explorations. Returning to Wash- ington, he was detailed to visit the West Indies and secretly select a coaling sta- tion for the United States Navy. He was dispatched by Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, to Europe, with instructions to take full reports of the organ- ization of military forces connected with the Crimean war. This work elicited entire satisfaction. He returned in January, 1857, resigned as regular army officer, and was soon installed as engineer of Illinois Central Railroad. In 1860, he was President of the Ohio & Mississippi. He removed to Cincinnati, where he was at the opening of the war.

William Starke Rosecrans was born September 6, 1819, in Delaware County, Ohio. His people were from Amsterdam. He was educated at West Point. When the war opened, he espoused the cause of the Union with enthusiastic zeal, and was appointed by Mcclellan on his staff as Engineer. June 9, he was Chief Engineer of the State under special law. Soon thereafter, he was Colonel of the Twenty-third Ohio, and assigned to the command of Camp Chase, Columbus. On May 16, his commission was out as Brigadier General in the United States Army. This reached him and he was speedily sum- moned to active service, under Gen. McClellan. After the battle of Rich Moun- tain, he was promoted to the head of the department.

In April, 1862, he was succeeded by Fremont, and ordered to Wash- ington to engage in immediate service for the Secretary of War. About the 15th of May, he was ordered to Gen. Halleck, before Corinth. He was relieved from his command December 9, 1864.

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

Ulysses S. Grant, whose history we cannot attempt to give in these pages, was born on the banks of the Ohio, at Point Pleasant, Clermont Co., Ohio, April 27, 1822. He entered West Point in 1839.

" That the son of a tanner, poor and unpretending, without influential friends until his performance had won them, ill-used to the world and its ways, should rise-not suddenly, in the first blind worship of helpless ignorance which made any one who understood regimental tactics illustrious in advance for what he was going to do, not at all for what he had done-but slowly, grade by grade, through all the vicissitudes of constant service and mingled blunders and suc- cess, till, at the end of four years' war he stood at the head of our armies, crowned by popular acclaim our greatest soldier, is a satisfactory answer to criticism and a sufficient vindication of greatness. Success succeeds."

" We may reason on the man's career ; we may prove that at few stages has he shown personal evidence of marked ability ; we may demonstrate his mis- takes ; we may swell the praises of his subordinates. But after all, the career stands wonderful, unique, worthy of study so long as the nation honors her benefactors, or the State cherishes the good fame of the sons who contributed most to her honor."

Lieut. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was another Ohio contribution to the great Union war. He was born at Lancaster February 8, 1820. He entered West Point in June, 1836. His " march to the sea " has fully brought out the details of his life, since they were rendered interesting to all, and we refrain from repeating the well-known story.

Philip H. Sheridan was born on the 6th of March, 1831, in Somerset, Perry Co., Ohio. He entered West Point in 1848. During the war, his career was brilliant. His presence meant victory. Troops fighting under his command were inspired. Gen. Rosecrans said of him, "He fights, he fights." A staff officer once said, "He is an emphatic human syllable."

Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson was born in Sandusky County, town of Clyde, November 14, 1828.

Maj. Gen. Q. A. Gillmore was born February 28, 1825, at Black River, Lorain Co., Ohio.

Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell was born at Franklinton, Ohio, October 15, 1818.

Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell was born near Marietta on the 23d of March, 1818. His grandfather on the maternal side was one of the first settlers of Cincinnati.

Maj. Gen. O. M. Mitchell was a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Ohio from the age of four years.

Maj. Gen. Robert C. Schenck was born October 4, 1809, in Franklin, Warren Co., Ohio.

Maj. Gen. James A. Garfield, was born in Orange, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, November 19, 1831.

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ISTORY OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox was born in Canada in 1828, and removed to Ohio in 1846.

Maj. Gen. James B. Steedman was born in Pennsylvania July 30, 1818, and removed to Toledo in 1861.

Maj. Gen. David S. Stanley was born in Wayne County, Ohio, June 1, 1828.

Maj. Gen. George Crook was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Septem- ber 8, 1828.

Maj. Gen. Mortimer D. Leggett was born in New York April 19, 1831, and emigrated to Ohio, in 1847.

Brevet Maj. Gen. John C. Tidball was born in Virginia, but removed while a mere lad to Ohio with his parents.

Brevet Maj. Gen. John W. Fuller was born in England in 1827. He removed to Toledo in 1858.

Brevet Maj. Gen. Manning F. Force was born in Washington, D. C., on the 17th of December, 1824. He became a citizen of Cincinnati.

Brevet Maj. Gen. Henry B. Banning was born in Knox County, Ohio, November 10, 1834.

We add the names of Brevet Maj. Gens. Erastus B. Tyler, Thomas H. Ewing, Charles R. Woods, August V. Kautz, Rutherford B. Hayes, Charles C. Walcutt, Kenner Garrard, Hugh Ewing, Samuel Beatty, James S. Robinson, Joseph W. Keifer, Eli Long, William B. Woods, John W. Sprague, Benjamin P. Runkle, August Willich, Charles Griffin, Henry J. Hunt, B. W. Brice.

Brig. Gens. Robert L. McCook, William H. Lytle, William Leroy Smith, C. P. Buckingham, Ferdinand Van Derveer, George P. Este, Joel A. Dewey, Benjamin F. Potts, Jacob Ammen, Daniel McCook, J. W. Forsyth, Ralph P. Buckland, William H. Powell, John G. Mitchell, Eliakim P. Scam- mon, Charles G Harker, J. W. Reilly, Joshua W. Sill, N. C. McLean, Will- iam T. H. Brooks, George W. Morgan, John Beatty, William W. Burns, John S. Mason, S. S. Carroll, Henry B. Carrington, M. S. Wade, John P. Slough, T. K. Smith.

Brevet Brig. Gens. C. B. Ludlow, Andrew Hickenlooper, B. D. Fearing, Henry F. Devol, Israel Garrard, Daniel McCoy, W. P. Richardson, G. F. Wiles, Thomas M. Vincent, J. S. Jones, Stephen B. Yeoman, F. W. Moore, Thomas F. Wilder, Isaac Sherwood, C. H. Grosvenor, Moses E. Walker, R. N. Adams, E. B. Eggleston, I. M. Kirby.

We find numerous other names of Brevet Brigadier Generals, mostly of late appointments, and not exercising commands in accordance with their brevet rank, which we omit quoting through lack of space. They are the names of men of rare abilities, and in many cases of brilliant achievements.

In looking over the "War Record of Ohio," we find the State a great leader in men of valor and heroic deeds. It was the prolific field of military geniuses.

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Ohio was draped with the garb of mourning at the close of the war. Her human sacrifice in behalf of the nation had been bitter. There were tears and heart-aches all over the land. Her ranks were swept by a murderous fire, from which they never flinched, and many officers fell.

Col. John H. Patrick will be remembered as opening the battle of Lookout Mountain. He fell mortally wounded, during the Atlanta campaign, May 15, 1862, while actively engaged. He was struck by a canister shot, and expired half a hour thereafter.

Col. John T. Toland, in July, 1863, was placed in command of a mounted brigade, including his regiment, and was instructed to destroy the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. He reached Wytheville, Va., on the afternoon of the 18th of July. The rebels were safely intrenched in the house, and poured a galling fire into the national troops. Col. Toland was on horseback, at the head of his command. A sharpshooter sent a bullet with fatal certainty, and he fell on the neck of his horse, but was instantly caught by his Orderly Sergeant, who heard the fervent words : "My horse and my sword to my mother."

Lieut. Col. Barton S. Kyle accompanied his regiment to the battle of Pitts- burg Landing. The regiment was forced back, though resisting bravely. Lieut. Col. Kyle was at his post of duty, encouraging his men, when he received a bullet in his right breast. He survived five hours.

Col. William G. Jones was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, June, 1863. His regiment, the Thirty-sixth Ohio, was included in Turchin's Brigade of the Fourteenth Corps. He wrote in his pocket memoranda : "Off to the left ; merciful Father, have mercy on me and my regiment, and protect us from injury and death "-at 12 o'clock. At 5 that afternoon, he was fatally wounded and expired at 7 that same evening, on the battle-field. His remains were taken by the rebels, but in December, 1863, they were exhumed and interred in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.

Col. Fred. C. Jones held command of the Tenth Brigade, in October, 1862, marching from Wild Cat, Ky., to Nashville, through a perpetual skirmish, During the battle of Stone River, Col. Jones' regiment, the Twenty-fourth, was on the front and left of the line. During the afternoon, when the rebel assault upon the left became furious, Col. Jones ordered his men to lie down and hold fire, which was obeyed. They rose to pour a deadly volley into the rebel ranks, and rush forward in a fierce charge. The capture of an entire rebel regiment was thus effected, but Col. Jones was shot in the right side. He was carried to the rear. " I know it; I am dying now ; pay no attention to me, but look after my wounded men." He survived about ten hours. His remains are buried in Spring Grove, Cincinnati.

Col. Lorin Andrews went with his command to Western Virginia, where he succumbed to exposure and severe duty. He was removed to his home, Gambier, Ohio, where he died surrounded by friends September 18, 1861.

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Col. Minor Milliken was sent to repel the attacks of the rebels at the rear. He led a superb cavalry charge against the enemy, vastly superior in numbers, and was cut off with a small portion of his regiment. He disdained to sur- render, and ordered his men to cut their way out. A hand-to-hand conflict ensued. Col. Milliken, being an expert swordsman, was able to protect himself with his saber. While parrying the strokes of his assailant, another shot him. The regiment, again charging, recovered his body, stripped of sword, purse and watch.

Col. George P. Webster, with his regiment, the Ninety-eighth, left Steu- benville for Covington, Ky., August 23, 1862, marching from that point to Lex- ington and Louisville. He was placed at the command of the Thirty-fourth Brigade, Jackson's division, Cooke's corps. He fell in the battle of Perryville, and died on the field of battle.

Col. Leander Stem was appointed Colonel of the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry August 30, 1862. His premonitions that he should fall during his first regular engagement proved too true. As the army was advancing on Murfreesboro, the engagement of Knob Gap occurred, when Col. Stem's regi- ment charged and took a rebel battery, with several prisoners. The army closed around Murfreesboro, and on the evening of the 30th, the One Hun- dred and First was engaged in demonstrations against the enemy. Next morning, the battle of Stone River began in earnest. When Col. Stem's regi- ment began to waver, he called out: "Stand by the flag now, for the good old State of Ohio !" and instantly fell, fatally wounded.

Lieut. Col. Jonas D. Elliott held his position in May, 1863. During the summer of 1864, he commanded the left wing of the regiment at Dodsonville, Ala .; in September, he was sent after Wheeler, and was ordered into camp at Decatur. On the 23d, he was dispatched to Athens, to participate in the attack of Gen. Forrest, of the rebels. Col. Elliott was sent out, with 300 men, and being surrounded by Gen. Forrest, with vastly superior numbers, a forced resist- ance enabled them to sustain their own ground, until a fresh brigade of rebels arrived, under Gen. Warren. This officer instructed one of his men to shoot Lieut. Col. Elliott, and a moment later he fell. He lingered nineteen days.

Col. Joseph L. Kirby Smith took command of the Forty-third Ohio Regi- ment. He fell at the battle of Corinth, under Rosecrans.

Lieut. Col. James W. Shane fell, June 27, 1864, in an assault upon the enemy's works at Kenesaw. He survived but forty minutes.

Col. Augustus H. Coleman displayed the abilities of a successful commander. He was in the first charge on the bridge across Antietans Creek. He was fatally wounded. His last words were inquiries regarding his men.

Col. J. W. Lowe commanded the Twelfth Ohio, and was ordered to assist the Tenth in the battle of Carnifex Ferry. Cheering his men, in the thickest of the fight, a rifle ball pierced his forehead, and he fell dead-the first field officer from Ohio killed in battle in the war for the Union.

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Lieut. Col. Moses F. Wooster was engaged with his regiment, the One Hun- dred and First Ohio, at Perryville. He was mortally wounded on the 31st of December, 1862, in the grand effort to stem the tide of defeat at Stone River. .

The list of staff officers we refrain from giving, through lack of space.

At the opening of the war, William Dennison was Governor of Ohio. David Tod succeeded him. John Brough was the third War Governor.

Secretary Edwin M. Stanton was one of the most popular war Ministers. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1815; he was engaged in the United States Circuit Court, in 1860, in a leading law suit, at Cincinnati, known as the Manny and McCormick reaper trial; on the 20th of January, 1862, he was appointed Secretary of War by Mr. Lincoln.

Ex-Secretary Salmon P. Chase's public services in Ohio have already been mentioned in these pages. In 1861, he was appointed Secretary of the Treas- ury, in Mr. Lincoln's cabinet.

United States Senator B. F. Wade made his reputation in Ohio. This Senator of the State stood at the head of the Committee on the Conduct of the War throughout its duration.

United States Senator John Sherman was a leading member of the Finance Committee, during the war. For some time he was its Chairman.

Jay Cooke was the financial agent of the Government, furnishing money for the payment of the troops. He was born in Portland, Huron Co., Ohio.

In our brief review of the war record of Ohio, we have omitted a vast amount of detail information that would prove interesting to our readers. We believe we have been accurate in whatever we have given, taking as our authority, that accepted " encyclopedia " of Ohio war facts-Whitelaw Reid, who has pub- lished a valuable volume on the subject.

SOME DISCUSSED SUBJECTS.

It may be well in glancing over the achievements of Ohio, her momentous labors and grand successes, to refer to the Ordinance of 1787, more minutely than we have done, in relation to many events, since its inherent principles are not only perpetuated in the laws of the entire Northwest, but have since been woven into the general Constitution of the United States. It made permanent the standard and character of immigration, social culture and political and edu- cational institutions. It was thoroughly antislavery and denounced involuntary servitude, which was sanctioned in every other State at that time, with the exception of Massachusetts. It protected religion and property. As late as 1862, Gen. William Henry Harrison, Governor of Indiana, called a convention for the purpose of considering the slavery question, and the feasibility of intro- ducing the system in the new States and Territories being formed. There was at this time a spirited contest, and Illinois, Indiana and possibly Ohio, barely escaped a decision that a full support should be given its introduction

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into these States. Its adoption was based upon certain specifications and limits of time, which upon a deeper consideration was deemed perplexing and impractical.

An animated discussion arose not long since, regarding the correct author. ship of this important ordinance, and its chief worker in gaining its sanction by Congress.

Mr. Webster ascribed its authorship to Mathew Dane, of Massachusetts, which statement was immediately refuted by Mr. Benton, of Mississippi, who laid claim to it as the birthright of Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia.

It has been almost impossible to obtain accurate reports of the actions of the old Continental Congress, from the fact that its meetings were held in secret, and any reports either narrated or shown in schedules or lists, were deemed a striking lack of trust on the part of the person who furnished the information. It was sufficient that its acts and conclusions be proclaimed without any prelude or reasoning process. Hence it has been difficult to obtain early Congressional documents. But it has been conclusively proven that the great motive power in gaining the approbation of the Ordinance of 1787, was neither Dane nor Jefferson, but Dr. Cutler.

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Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.) Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1088

Author: Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Warner, Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1088