USA > Ohio > Seneca County > History of Seneca County, from the close of the revolutionary war to July, 1880 > Part 46
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When the new constitution was adopted, the legislature made many changes in the militia system of Ohio, and the old "cornstalk muster" was "done away with." The system of the "National Guards " was then inaugurated and is now in vogue.
And is not this idea of "well-regulated militia " the best mili- tary system after all? Look at your standing army of idlers and consumers that eat out the substance of the people, and crush out their liberties. Will the world never learn the fact, that the tree of liberty cannot grow in a soil that trembles under the iron heel of the soldier ? The history of our own wars has established the fact, that the militia is the best standing army in time of need, and the only standing army that is compatible with a Republican form of government.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
War seems to be the normal condition of man, anyway, and our people are perfectly imbued with this idea. Our war amongst the states has proven to the world that men can leave their farms, their shops, stores, factories and offices, and in a few short weeks of drilling, make valiant soldiers with an easier mobility, in larger or smaller bodies, than the stiff, garrisoned drones of a standing army, with its endless red tape.
Let those who talk of a strong, centralized, brilliant government, backed and upheld by bayonets, look over the following tables, and if they are Americans, blush:
KINGS AND BAYONETS.
This table shows the daily pay of some of the crowned heads of Europe:
The Czar. $25,000 The Emperor of Germany. $5.000
The Sultan. 18,000 The King of Italy .. 6,400
The Emperor of Austria. 10,000 The King of Belgium. 1.643
THE ARMIES OF EUROPE ON A PEACE FOOTING.
Men.
Men.
Russia
447.370 Turkey
130,000
France.
446.224 Switzerland .. 120.077
Germany
418,521
Spain 91,400
Austria
269,577
Belgium 46,333
Great Britain. 268.924
Total.
2.506.225
The reserves, the militia and irregular troops are not included in the above numbers. From the Cincinnati Enquirer of May 15, 1880, I take the following notice of the proceedings in the German diet:
A Berlin dispatch says: When all the new formations, planned and worked out in their minutest details by the German war ministry, are completed, the total strength of the army will exceed two millions of men.
Germany alone, remember.
The annual appropriations for this consuming host from the ex- chequers of these states, respectively, run into many millions, thus:
.
Russia. $127,289.435 Great Britain $80.259.052
France 110.587.952
Turkey.
23,163.295
Germany
81,553,988 Switzerland. 2,229.833
Austria
65,850.945 Spain 24,428,354
Italy .. 34,374,347
Belgium .. 8,212.247
Making an average of $224 for each man per year.
The average of the daily salary of the president of the United States of America-$138-looks small in comparison, but the annual expense
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UNITED STATES ARMY.
of our standing army of 25,000-$39,000,000-average $1,500 per man for each year. Costly gentlemen, these.
And Europe is the country were bayonets and bibles have been cherished for many centuries. Standing armies crush the masses, from whom they are drawn, to the earth, into poverty, degradation, starva- tion and rags, and are kept up to cut the throats of their fellow men in christian lands. What a commentary on christian governments. What a lie and burlesque on the beautiful and glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
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CHAPTER XXVII. SENECA COUNTY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
T HIS is not the place to look for a relation of events that preceded the war of the rebellion, nor for the immediate cause. No opinions shall be expressed on its political aspect; nothing shall be said on the manner in which it was conducted. It is enough to say here, that when Fort Sumpter was fired upon, people were filled with awe, and a sadness inexplicable, pervaded the minds of all thinking, patriotic men. Old Seneca stood by Abraham Lincoln, and more than one thousand five hundred men left the charms and endearments of home and bore their breasts to the storm of war.
The first company that was raised in this county was Co. A, 8th reg- iment, O. V. I.
Captain-A. H. Winslow. Promoted to major December, 1861.
First Lieutenant-B. F. Ogle. Promoted to captain December, 1861. Re- signed December. 1862.
Second Lieutenant-C. W. Barnes. Died from wounds received in the battle of Anteitam September 17, 1862.
Sergeants:
First-A. 11. Byers. Discharged for disability.
Second-J. M. Henry. Discharged for disability.
Third-J. C. Kipka. Killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
Fourth-J. Weidman.
Fifth-D. J. Goodsell, Jr. Killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1963. Corporals:
First-George Baugher. Discharged for disability.
Second-J. N. Travis. Promoted to 2d lieutenant November 7, 1862. Third -F. McBride.
Fourth-S. F. Poorman. Transferred to United States hospital.
Fifth-P. J. Hossler.
Sixth-D. Troxell.
Seventh-F. Neely. Discharged for disability.
Eighth-O. McCormack. Died in hospital at Culpepper, October, 1863.
Privates:
L. D. Arnold. Transferred to 6th United States cavalry.
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8TH REGIMENT O. V. I.
C. A. Adams. Died in hospital at Washington, November, 1862. N. Backus.
G. Baker.
L. Bang. Discharged for disability.
D. Barnhart, Jr. Discharged for disability.
G. W. Beard. Transferred to invalid corps.
J. H. Beaty. Killed May 12, 1864, in the battle near Spottsylvania. H. Bloom. Transferred to United States service.
N. J. Brandeberry. Discharged for disability.
J. Brandeberry. Missing; supposed to have deserted.
G. W. Brestel.
H. Breiner.
G. Brown.
J. L. Camp. Discharged for disability from wounds received at Winchester. J. W. Canary.
F. N. Colwell.
A. D. Colwell.
Philip Diehl.
A. J. Dildine. Killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
S. 11. Dildine.
M. Dowd. Died in hospital at Grafton, Virginia, September. 1861.
E. A. Fahnestock. Discharged for disability.
J. Fell.
A. Fortney.
J. N. Green.
T. J. Griese. Missing; supposed to have been captured at the battle in the Wilderness.
D. Gross.
H. Harbaugh.
William W. Hathaway. Discharged for disability.
H. Heisserman. Discharged for disability from wounds received Decem- ber 13, 1862.
J. A. Hoover. Discharged for disability.
Philip Johnson. Discharged for disability.
E. Jones. Died from wounds received at Gettysburg.
J. K. Kershner.
A. R. Kieffer. Discharged for disability.
C. Lampsin, Jr.
H. L. Langdon.
J. R. Lewis.
J. B. Lightcap. Transferred to 6th U. S. cavalry.
M. B. Linn. Died in hospital, at Grafton, Virginia, September, 1861.
J. W. Long.
R. Low.
A. K. Miller.
S. H. Martin. Discharged for disability.
Wm. L. Myers. Discharged for disability.
Wm. Myers. Discharged on account of wounds received at Gettysburg, .July 3, 1863.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
C. T. Naylor.
Wm. Nuson.
Joseph Nuson.
J. II. Nichols.
A. J. Orme. Transferred to 6th U. S. cavalry.
A. Palmer.
Wm. II. Pockmyer. Discharged for disability from wounds received at Anteitam, September 13, 1862.
J. J. Ranch. Killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 3, 1563.
Charles Rouch. Died in the hospital at Oakland, September, 1861.
II. H. Ray.
J. Redd. Discharged for disability.
W'm. P. Richardson. Killed at Anteitam, September 17. 1862.
A. Shertzberg. Discharged for disability.
A. Shreiner.
Charles Seewald. Died in hospital at Washington from wounds received at Gettysburg, July 3, 1863.
M. Start.
S. C. Sloat. Transferred to Invalid corps.
J. Smith.
L. Snover. Appointed commissary sergeant.
J. W. Snyder.
J. H. Sopher.
Charles Sener.
P. Stoner. Abel Swalley.
J. Teach. Discharged for disability.
H. G. Thurwaechter. Discharged for disability.
N. Watcher.
L. Watcher.
J. Washnich. Killed before Petersburg.
D. G. Watson.
G. W. White. Discharged for disability.
D. Yunker. Killed at Anteitam, September 17, 1562.
W. H. Haas.
S. Z. Beams. Discharged for disability from wounds received while on picket duty at Romney.
This regiment had a bloody history, and covered itself all over with glory.
It enlisted under the first call of the president, between the 16th and 22d days of April, 1861, and all arrived at Camp Taylor, at Cleveland, Ohio, April 29th. The regiment was at Romney, Hanging Rock, Blue Gap, Bloomey Gap, Ceder Creek, Strasburg, Winchester, Front Royal, Malvern Hill, Germantown, Fairfax C. H., South Mountain, Anteitam, Boonsboro, Reedyville, Leesburg, Hulltown, Snicker's Gap, United States Ford, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Auburn, Bristow,
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49TH REGIMENT O. V. I.
. Robinson's Cross Roads, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Morton's Ford, Wilderness, Spottsylvania C. H., Petersburg, North Anna, Cold Harbor.
The regiment was mustered out the 13th of July, 1864, by Captain Douglass.
I am indebted to my friend Andy Shriner, of Tiffin, for the minutes of company " A," in this regiment.
The 49th, 55th, 101st and 123 regiments O. V. I., were organized in this county, and the names of the officers of each will here be given.
Aside from these organizations, very many men from Seneca county entered the service and joined regiments making up outside of this military district. Some joined Colonel Bousenwein's 58th, forming at Columbus. Captain Philip Faulhaber organized a company, with which he joined Colonel Mungen's 57th. A goodly number of men joined Colonel Buckland's 72d at Fremont. Colonel Louis Zahm's 3d Ohio cavalry was joined by many men from Seneca, and when Colonel Seraphim Myers raised the 107th German regiment, at Cleveland, many joined from here. Some also entered the naval service; so that in every department of the service Seneca county was represented.
THE 49TH O. V. 1.
The 49th was organized at Tiffin under special authority from the secretary of war. It started from Camp Noble, near Tiffin (the old fair grounds), to Camp Dennison, the 10th of September, 1861. It was the first organized regiment that entered Kentucky. The boys will always remember Mumfordsville, Pittsburg Landing (where Colonel Gibson commanded the brigade), Corinth, Bridge's Creek, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, Dog Walk, Nashville, Nolinsville Turnpike, Murfrees- boro, Nashville Turnpike, Liberty Gap, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Orchard Knob, Mission Ridge, 'Knoxville, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, Franklin After a severe march through Texas, it was mus- tered out at Victoria November 30th, 1865. The whole number in the regiment was 1,552, of whom nineteen were born in Europe. Eight officers were killed in battle, and twenty wounded, six mortally. Of the privates, one hundred and twenty-seven were killed in battle, seventy- one were mortally wounded, sixty-five died from hardship and disease, and seven perished in prisons at Danville and Andersonville; six hundred and sixteen were discharged on account of wounds and sickness.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
OFFICERS OF THE 49TH REGIMENT .. Colonels-W. H. Gibson, Joseph R. Bartlett.
LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.
MAJORS.
Levi Drake, .
Benj. S. Porter,
Benj. S. Porter,
Samuel F. Gray,
Samuel F. Gray.
Luther M. Strong,
Luther M. Strong.
Joseph R. Bartlett.
Joseph R. Bartlett,
Milton F. Miles,
Milton F. Miles.
J. Kessler, George W. Pool.
Surgeons-Robert W. Thrift, W. H. Park.
Assistant Surgeons-W. H. Park, H. B. Lung, S. A. Smith, S. H. Spencer. Chaplains-Erotus H. Bush, George S. Philips. Captains:
A. Langworthy,
Lyman W. Mow,
Shepherd Green,
Benj. S. Porter.
John E. McCormack,
Theodore C. Pero. James Ewing,
Jacob Herr,
Nathan Callihan.
Hiram Chance.
George S. Crawford,
Dwight R. Cook.
Francis R. Stewart.
Milton F. Miles,
George E. Lovejoy.
James M. Patterson, Samuel F. Gray, Jonas Foster.
First Lieutenants:
Charles A. Norton.
Sammel F. Gray.
John E. McCormack, Aaron HI. Keller. Jacob Mosier. Jonas Foster.
Morris C. Tyler.
Daniel Hartsock. Hiram Chance. Alonzo F. Prentice, William C. Turner,
James W. Davidson. William Martin. Moses Abbott, C. W. Drake. John Green,
John L. Hollopeter. John Kessler, Samuel M. Harper. Milton F. Miles.
Henry A. Spaythe. James A. Redman, Milton Cowgill.
Sheppard Green. Jacob C. Miller. Theodore C. Pero. George W. Pool,
Thomas J. Ray, James Ewing, Isaac II. White. John C. Ramsey, Jacob Herr, Jolın Glick, Silas W. Simons, Charles Wallace, George S. Crawford, Dwight R. Cook, Francis R. Stewart, John K. Gibson,
Nathan L. Lutz.
Daniel M. Fultz,
Anthony W. Adams,
Jonathan J. Rapp,
John Vandenburg,
Edwin P. Dana, Jacob W. Cline. John J. Fry.
Charles W. England,
George W. Vail, Ezra P. Phelps, James F. Harper, John HI. Yarger, James J. Zint, Conrad Flaugher,
H. HI. Fausey, Caspar Snyder, Franklin H. Gibbons. William Whittacker.
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Amos Keller.
Morris C. Tyler,
George W. Cnlver.
John Green,
Daniel Hartsock,
Samuel M. Harper.
John L. Hollopeter.
J. Kessler.
Nathan L. Lutz,
George W. Pool.
Thomas J. Ray.
Anthony W. Adams. Jonathan R. Rapp.
Joseph R. Bartlett. Luther M. Strong. Orrin B. Hayes,
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A. M. Blackman, Levi Drake,
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55TH REGIMENT O. V. I.
Nearly all the above were second lieutenants and promoted.
Colonel Gibson commanded a brigade, by virtue of his rank, during about two-thirds of his term of service.
He is adjutant general of the state at this writing.
THE 55TH O. V. I.
This regiment went into camp- at Norwalk, Ohio, on the 17th day of October, 1861, where it was kept, wasting time, until January 25th, 1862, when it was ordered to Grafton and New Creek, Virginia. At Grafton the regiment suffered severely from measels. At one time over four hundred men were on the sick list. The regiment took part in the following battles, viz: McDowell, or Blue Pasture Mountain, Cross Keys, Slaughter Mountain, Bull Run. The regiment arrived at Chancellorville on the 30th of January, 1863, where it took position in the second brigade. The battle opened about five o'clock in the after- noon, the rebels in strong force upon the right. The national troops were preparing supper, and no scouts had been sent out, hence the attack was a surprise. The first regiment on the extreme right had three hundred and fifty guns stacked, and upon the first fire from the rebels, this regiment fell upon the second, and they not being able to stand the fire, fell back also. The remainder of the brigade also re- treated to the left. Regiment after regiment was compelled to fall back, including the 55th. The retreat became general, and was only checked by the darkness of the night. In this engagement the 55th lost one hundred and three men killed, wounded and missing. 1
This regiment was also present at Gettysburg, where it lost about fifty men, and at Chattanooga. On the ist of January, 1864, the regi- ment re-enlisted with three hundred and ninety men, and re-assembled on the 22d of February. It then participated in all the battles of the 20th corps. At the battle of Resaca it lost ninety men, May 15th. It was at Dallas, Cassville, New Hope Church, Marietta and Kenesaw. It was at Atlanta, and at Smith's Farm. The regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on the 11th of July. During its service this regiment enrolled one thousand three hundred and fifty men, of whom seven hundred and fifty were either killed or wounded in battle. Eight officers were killed or died of wounds.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY. 1
Colonels-J. C. Lee, Charles B. Gambee, Edwin H. Powers.
LIEUTENANT-COLONELS.
MAJORS.
George H. Safford,
John C. Lee,
Charles B. Gambee,
Daniel F. De Wolf,
James M. Stevens,
Charles B. Gambee.
James M. Stevens,
Rudolphus Robbins,
Charles F. Wickham.
Hartwell Osborn.
Surgeons-J. Kling, Joseph Hebble.
Assistant Surgeons-Henry K. Spooner. J. L. Morris, Joseph Hebble. James C. Myers.
Chaplains-John G. W. Cowles, Alfred Wheeler.
Captains:
Charles B. Gambee, Albert E. Peck,
Charles M. Smith,
Augustus M. Bement,
Frank W. Martin,
Aug. M. Wormley,
Horatio M. Shipman, Robert Bromley,
David C. Brown,
Frank J. Souter,
Henry H. Moore,
John R. Lowe.
James M. Stevens,
Henry W. Persing,
Jesse Bowsher. William S. Wickham.
Ira C. Terry,
F. H. Boalt.
O. B. Gould,
Horace Robinson.
Robert W. Pool,
Russel II. Bever.
Edwin H. Powers,
Francis H. Morse,
Benj. F. Evans.
Benj. F. Eldridge,
Butler Case.
Joseph H. Gallup,
Charles P. Wickham, Henry Miller.
Charles M. Stone.
John H. Boss, Jr.,
First Lieutenants: Robert G. Pennington, Benjamin F. Eldridge, W. D. Sherwood, Henry W. Persing, Jacob Thomas,
Francis C. Morse. Hartwell Osborn, Thomas O'Leary, Butler Case,
Charles M. Smith, Charles M. Stone, A. M. Wormley,
Lewis Peck, Alvin B. Chase. W. E. Childs.
Frank W. Martin,
Richard F. Patrick,
Robert Bromley,
Raymond Burr, Benj. C. Tabor,
Charles D. Robbins,
Frank J. Souter,
F. H. Boalt,
Rob. W. Pool,
Thomas W. Miller, Charles M. Stilhnan, Henry HI. Moore, John R. Lowe, Jesse Bowsher, William S. Wickham, O. B. Gould, Russel H. Bever, Ben. F. Evans, James I'. Jones, Philetus C. Lathrop. ·
Pliney E. Watson. Thomas T. Petit. Adam Cramer,
Joseph H. Gallup. John H. Boss. Jr ..
Charles P. Wickham, Rudolph Eastman, Henry Miller, Albert E. Peck.
W. H. Hessinger. Henry B. Warren. Frederick Reeser. James T. Boyd.
John Bellman. Robert Fewson, Thomas S. Hossler. John Burkett, Henry J. Pelton.
Most of the foregoing were second lieutenants and promoted.
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R. Robbins.
Hartwell Osborn,
Thomas W. Miller.
Frederick A. Wildman, Charles D. Robbins.
Edwin H. Powers,
Charles P. Wickham.
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THE IOIST O. V. 1.
Erie, Huron, Seneca, Crawford and Wyandot were formed into a military district, in which this regiment was organized. It was mus- tered into the service at Monroeville, on the 30th of August, 1862, while the writer was busily engaged recruiting the 123d regiment, and the 10Ist occupying Camp Monroeville at the time, was compelled to sub- sist the troops on the fair grounds near Tiffin.
On the 4th of September the regiment was hurried over the Ohio to Covington, Kentucky, to assist in dispelling the threatened raid of Kirby Smith. The regiment was attached to Robert B. Mitchell's division. It was in the battle at Perryville, on October 8th, and before they had time to learn the manual, but they bore up bravely. It was also at Lancaster, Kentucky, and at Nashville. At Knob Gap fight they captured two bronze field pieces,one of which had on the word " Shiloh." The regiment behaved like old veterans, and deserved great praise.
The 101st was the first regiment to arrive at the battle field of Stone River, and became at once engaged with the enemy's out-posts. It was in the hottest of the fight, changing position six times during the day. The lamented Colonels Stem and Wooster were both killed on the front line on the right of the army, leading on their men to deeds of daring. The regiment remained in the fight to the close of the battle, losing seven officers and two hundred and twelve men killed or wounded. All this work of bravery was executed in less than four months from the time the boys left their farms and workshops to or- ganize the regiment. They were at Liberty Gap, Chattanooga, Chick- amauga, where it re-took the national battery from the enemy, fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets. It was at Catoosa Springs and Buzzard's Roost.
The Atlanta campaign kept this poor regiment almost under constant fire. The were at Franklin also, and at Nashville, and were finally mus- tered out of service at Huntsville, Alabama, June 12, 1865.
It is said that at Franklin, just at nightfall, this regiment was ordered to re-take an angle of the works held by the enemy, which it did with the bayonet, and held the position until eight o'clock P. M., notwith- standing the rebels were almost within bayonet reach during all that time.
The following were the officers:
Colonels-Leander Stem and Isaac M. Kirby. LIEUTENANT-COLONELS. John Trouts, Moses F. Wooster, John Messer, Bedan B. McDonald.
MAJORS. Moses F. Wooder.
Isaac M. Kirby. Bedan B. McDonald.
Daniel H. Fox,
John A. Lattimer.
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
Surgeon-Thomas M. Cook.
Assistant Surgeons-George T. Yingling, Walter Caswell, Henry F. Lacy. . H. H. Russell.
Chaplains-Oliver.Kennedy, Erastus M. Gravath.
Captains:
Charles C. Calligan,
Lyman Parcher,
Wm. N. Beer,
Thomas C. Fernald,
Asa R. Hillier,
Benj. F. Bryant,
Bedan B. McDonald,
Daniel II. Fox,
Henry C. Taggert,
Henry G. Shelden,
Leonard D. Smith,
Ira B. Reed,
W'm. C. Parsons, Isaac M. Kirby, John Messer,
John P. Fleming,
Horace D. Olds.
Milton F. Ebersole,
John F. Neff,
Jesse Shriver,
Wm. H. Kelmer,
James M. Robert,
Montgomery Noble,
Robert D. Lord,
Franklin Pope,
George E. Seney,
First Lieutenants:
Jacob Neuhart,
James M. Roberts.
Asa R. Hillier, J. B. Curtis,
Wm. II. Kelmer,
Elbert J. Squire.
Lyman Parcher,
·Wm. N. Beer,
J. C. Butler,
George E. Seney,
Benj. T. Bryant,
John G. Petticord,
Isaac Anderson,
John A. Lattimer,
John S. Milliman,
J. P. Fleming,
Henry C. Taggart,
W'm. P. Myers,
Milton F. Ebersole,
John M. Butler,
J. C. Smith, Jasper F. Webster.
Stephen B. Beckwith,
George W. Hale,
Wm. R. Davis.
Franklin Pope,
Horace D. Olds,
Orander J. Benham.
Robert G. Ogden,
Charles McGraw, Charles Mosfoot,
Robert Lysle,
John F. Neff,
James R. Homer.
Robert D. Lord,
Ira B. Reed,
John Shuman,
Daniel H. Fox,
Alex. C. Hosmer,
David Allison.
Second lieutenants were nearly all promoted to first lieutenants, etc.
123D REGIMENT O. V. I.
Most all great men have their peculiarities, and Mr. Robert G. Inger- soll, of Illinois, who has made the christian world in America say many unpleasant things of him, because he doesn't want any hell, is in the habit, when driving a nail where a strong point comes in, of saying: " Honor bright; now, be honest." In the little space that shall be devoted to a short record of the 123d O. V. I, I would say, in due deference to those who have written or spoken of this regiment with- out saying a word as to how it was raised, "honor bright," gentlemen. When you undertake to tell the truth, tell the whole truth. When Mr. Whitelaw Reid got up his "Ohio in the War," he did not know, per- haps, how the regiment was raised, or care but little about the labor it
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Newton M. Barnes,
Stephen B. Beckwith,
George W. Hale,
John A. Lattimer,
Z. C. Butler.
Leonard D. Smith,
Ph. T. Kline,
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123D REGIMENT O. V. I.
took to raise it, and the injustice that was done to somebody when he said, on page 629, vol. 11 .: "This regiment was organized at camp Monroeville,"
Having taken a very active part in raising this regiment, and having been assisted and sustained in my work by the military committee of every county in this (then) congressional district, and other good men and women from both political parties, and having succeeded in a most wonderful degree, I have no apology to offer when I speak my feel- ings on this subject in my own plain way. Having stated facts as they occurred, the reader is left to himself in forming conclusions.
It was the 12th of August, 1862, when, at the solicitation of the mili- tary committee of Seneca county, my good old friend, Robert G. Penn- ington, and the writer went to Columbus to confer with Governor Tod on the propriety of raising another regiment in this district, and to procure his order to that effect. We presented to him the fact that Seneca county was still in arrear in her quota of troops some 600 men; that the draft which was then fast approaching would most likely take some of our citizens who could not well go, and that if a regiment was ordered to be raised under the leadership of the writer, the committee entertained strong hopes of raising men enough to avoid the draft.
The governor said: " Gentlemen, I appreciate your situation, and I have no doubt that all you tell me is true, but I have no authority at this late hour before the draft to order the recruiting of a new regi- ment. The recruiting must stop and preparations made to enforce the draft."* Mr. Pennington undertook to tell the governor who the writer was and what the feelings and hopes of the people were if he were appointed colonel of a new regiment, etc. Governor Tod said many flattering things about his friendship for, and long acquaintance with, the writer, etc., and finally said: "Gentlemen, you go home and write to Secretary of War Staunton, telling him just what you told me, and let your congressman write or telegraph also to that effect. I will my- self do so to-night, and urge the order, and as soon as I can obtain it, will telegraph you."
We returned and reported accordingly. Urgent appeals were made to Secretary Staunton for the order.
On the night of the 14th of August, 1862, about midnight, a rap at my door brought me to my feet to let the military committee of Seneca county into the house. Captain John J. Steiner had an order from Governor Tod, authorizing the raising of the 123d regiment, and gave us time to the 22d of the same month inclusive-seven days all told. Instead of returning to bed, we aroused the printer boys belonging to
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HISTORY OF SENECA COUNTY.
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