History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 41

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

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into winter quarters near Stephensburg, Va. On the 6th of February, it advanced to Mor- ton's Ford, crossed the river and had a skir- mish with the enemy, losing seventeen men wounded. It recrossed the river on the 7th and encamped near Stephensburg, where it re- mained until the bloody battles of the Wilder- ness occurred. In all this ardnous and bloody campaign. the Fourth participated. It lost. during the twenty-seven days, ending early in June, as follows: On the 5th of May. 34: on the 10th, at Spottsylvania, 35; on the 12th, at second Spottsylvania, 34; on the 13th. near the same place, 4: on the ISth. in crossing North Anna River, 11: on the 23d, at Hanover June- tion, 3: on the 24th. near the same place, 3: June 3, at Cold Harbor, 20: June 5, at same place 2: making a total of 146 lost, out of 335 men who began the campaign with the gallant regiment. Those figures speak vol- umes, and cover the noble Fourth with the bright flowers of undying honor. At the close of the campaign, the term of service having expired, the regiment was mustered out. Those who had re-enlisted as veterans were retained. and organized into a battalion called the Fourth Ohio Battalion, and placed on duty in and around Washington City, where they re- mained until the final muster ont during the closing scenes of the war. The Fourth Ohio Infantry marched 1,975 miles, and traveled. by railroad and transport, 2.279 miles, mak- ing an aggregate of 4,254 miles traveled. It was one of the best regiments sent from Ohio.

The Thirteenth Regiment had about two companies from Stark County. Company A was enlisted at Massillon, and was officered as follows: A. F. Beach. Captain; Dwight Jar vis. First Lieutenant: Phillip Wendling. See- rebels swept the Union army back toward the ond Lieutenant. At the re-organization for the three-years enlistment. James Whittaker became Second Lieutenant, the other officers remaining the same. Company B (?) was en- listed in the county, and its Captain was Jos- eph T. Snider. The regiment was organized at Camp Jackson about the 20th of April. 1861, with the following officers in command: W. S. Smith. Colonel: C. B. Mason, Lieuten. ant Colonel: J. G. Hawkins, Major. On the 9th of May, it was transferred to Camp Den- nison. and on the 20th of June, it started for

Western Virginia to re-enforce the command of Gen. MeClellan. It reached Parkersburg on the 1st of July, and. during the next two months, made frequent scouts into the sur- rounding country, going to Greenland Gap, Oakland, Clarksburg, Sutton. making Oakland its headquarters; but nothing of note trans- pired. The Thirteenth participated in the battle of Carnifex Ferry on the 10th of Sep- tember, and, from that date until the 6th of November, encamped at Ganley Bridge, hav- ing frequent skirmishes with the enemy. Ben- ham's Brigade was composed of the Tenth, Twelfth and Thirteenth Ohio Regiments. and on the 12th, with other troops, started in pur- suit of Gen. Floyd, with Company A of. the Thirteenth deployed as skirmishers. The regi- ment lost one killed and two wounded at Cotton Hill, and soon afterward was transferred to near Lonisville, Ky. After moving to Elizabeth- town, Bacon Creek, Bowling Green and other points, the regiment, on the 22d of January, ad- vanced with Buell's army toward Nashville. which was reached on the 26th, and encamped two miles beyond. After a variety of move- mens. during which the Thirteenth was often divided, it started, on the 2d of April (except Companies A and G), to re-enforce Gen. Grant, who was anticipating an attack from the rebels at Pittsburg Landing. After a ter- rible march, it reached the battle-field on the morning of the 6th, and was immediately or- dered to the front on the right of Nelson's command. It swept upon the enemy about S o'clock A. M., and was confronted by the fa- mons Washington Battery (rebel). of New Or- leans. After a desperate struggle, the Thir- teenth captured this entire battery, but, as the

river. it was recaptured by them. and the Thir- teenth was compelled to fall back. At 1 o'clock, when the Federal troops made their last advance. the gallant Thirteenth again captured the Washington Battery. The regi- ment lost heavily during the two-days battle. The enemy retreated. and soon afterward the regiment participated in the movement toward Corinth, reaching that point about the Ist of May. Early in June. it, with other troops. advanced toward Chattanooga, and, when there, performed guard duty. but soon after-

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ward encamped at Battle Creek. On the 20th. it received orders to move north to intercept Gen. Bragg, who contemplated an attack on Ohio and Indiana. For thirty-six terrible days, the regiment and its army patiently toiled through the hot sun, suffering intensely from the dust. thirst and half rations. and finally reached Louisville, having passed the rebel army on the way. The regiment took an inactive part in the attack on Perryville on the Sth of October. Soon after this, Gen. Rosecrans assumed command of the Army of the Ohio, which was immediately pushed for- ward toward Nashville. The regiment in- dulged in several skirmishes, losing, near La vergne, two men killed, several wounded, and Lientenant Bates. of Company B. captured. The Thirteenth was in Crittenden's Division, on the left wing. Thomas' Division was in the center, and MeCook's on the right. The whole army moved forward in this form. skir mishing with the enemy, driving him back, and reaching Stone River on the evening of the 29th of December. MeCook's column did not arrive until the next day. On the morn- ing of December 31, the Thirteenth, under Col. Hawkins, was ordered in from outpost duty, and took position with its brigade (the Fourteenth) under Col. Fyffe. The regiment and its wing were ordered to attack the enemy across theriver, but. while being executed, the order was countermanded, and the division fell baek to stem the tide of defeat that had fallen upon MeCook on the right. The Thirteenth fell back to the Murfreesboro Pike, and was formed in battle array on the left of the sec- ond line, covering the Thirty-ninth Ohio. An advance was ordered, and, after desperate fighting, the Thirty-ninth was forced baek. but was inmediately relieved by the Thirteenth, which cheeked the enemy until it in turn was outflanked. At this time, Col. Hawkins was shot, and the command devolved upon Maj. Dwight Jarvis. The regiment fought on until flanked on both sides by the enemy, when it slowly fell back, becoming somewhat disor- dered in the movement by a rebel battery which played upon the rear. It halted when the line of reserves was reached, and assisted in check- ing the enemy's advance. In one hour's dura- tion. the Thirteenth lost 142 officers and men

in killed, wounded and missing. It partici- pated in other movements at this point during the next few days, and lost, during he series of engagements, IS5 men killed, wounded and missing. The regiment moved southward with the army late in June, 1863, passing through Ve Minnville and Chattanooga, encamping at Rossville on the 9th of September. On the 19th and 20th of September, it was actively engaged at the bloody battle of Chickamauga, and preserved its brilliant record unsullied. Lieut. Col. Mast was killed, and many others shared the same fate. On the 22d, it had a severe skirmish with the enemy at Mission Ridge. During the latter part of November, it was with that grand movement which swept the rebels from Missionary Ridge, and, it is claimed, was the first regiment to plant its colors on the enemy's works, Sergeant Daniel Ritter, of Company A, being the first to scale the fortifications. The regiment lost severely in this affair. It participated in the move ment against Longstreet, but, aside from so- vere marches and sufferings, and a lively skir mish at Dandridge, nothing of note transpired. About this time, leave of absence was given to visit home. Those who did not re-enlist wore transferred to the Fifty-ninth Ohio. On the 5th of January, 1864, three-fourths of the members of the Thirteenth re-enlisted for an- other three-years service, the muster being delayed until the 10th of February, Col. Dwight Jarvis being in command. Late in February, the veterans returned home, enjoyed their furlough of thirty days, at the end of which time they returned to Chattanooga. The regiment was attached to the Third Bri- gade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, of Gen. Thomas' command. It moved south on the Atlanta campaign, skirmishing at several points. Brisk skirmishing occurred during the 10th, 11th and 12th of May, near Resaca. when the enemy fell back toward Dalton. During the numerous skirmishes around this point, the Thirteenth lost severely. For sev- eral days after the 15th, it skirmished heavily near and south of Calhoun. On the 27th of May. the Third Division, instead of falling upon the enemy's flank at Lost Mountain, at- tacked, by mistake, its center. The Thirteenth formed the second line of the advance, and, as

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

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the first line went down under a fearful fire from the enemy, the second line charged the works with a cheer. on the double-quick, and the battle became close and hot. From 4 P. M. until 9, all efforts to capture the works were unavailing, and at last the gallant regiment was withdrawn. Its ammunition was gone, and dozens of its men lay killed and wounded on the bloody field. The non-veterans were mus- tered ont of service abont the 21st of June, and soon afterward the remainder of the regi- ment was consolidated into four companies, known as the Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry Battalion, commanded by Maj. J. T. Snider. The entire battalion numbered 200 men, of whom eighty were sick or on special duty. On the 10th of June, the Thirteenth Battalion moved sonthward, and participated in the charge up Kenesaw Mountain, losing six men killed and wounded. While throwing up in- trenchments around Atlanta, several men were injured. one being killed. On the night of the 29th of August. the battalion, as skirmish- ers. kept up a heavy fire to conceal the with- drawał of a brigade. The battalion moved in pursuit of Hood to Jonesboro and Lovejoy Sta- tion, participating in the severe battle at the latter place on the 2d of September, and los- ing several men, killed and wounded. After a rest in camp near Atlanta, which was greatly enjoyed by the battalion, it finally, on the 4th of October, started north with Thomas, in pur- suit of Hood. The race to Nashville was won by the Union army, but not without a bloody engagement at Franklin. The Thirteenth reached Nashville on the 3d of December, and here the Union troops were besieged until the middle of the month. The Thirteenth was not engaged on the 15th. but, on the following day, charged the enemy's works, mowing down his men, and losing many in return. The Thirteenth moved in pursuit, and finally went into camp at Huntsville, Ala., where it re- mained until the Ist of March, 1865, when it was ordered to East Tennessee. Here the news of Lee's surrender was received, and the battalion was ordered to Nashville, where it arrived on the 9th of June. On the 16th, the Fourth Corps was ordered to Texas. The Thirteenth reached New Orleans on the 27th, and left July 7. for Indianola, Texas, arriving

on the 10th. It marched to Green Lake, where it afterward suffered terribly from ma- larial diseases: but, on the 4th of September. moved to San Antonio, which was found to be a much better place in a sanitary point of view. Here it remained until December 5, 1865, when it was mustered out of the United States service. Columbus, Ohio, was reached on the 17th of January. 1866, and here the brave boys were paid, discharged and sent home. Thus ended the long service of this gallant and faithful old regiment. It also was among the best regiments from Ohio.

The Nineteenth was one of the regiments which grew out of the excitement occasioned by the surrender of Fort Sumter. It had but one company from Stark County during the three-months enlistment. The regimental offi- cers for this period were: Sammel Beatty, of Canton, Colonel: E. W. Hollingsworth, Lieu- tenant Colonel: Lewis P. Buckley. Major; B. B. Brashear. Surgeon, Company A. known as the "Canton Light Guards," was in partial organization under the old State militia law, and. as soon as the blow fell upon Sumter. the company immediately tendered their serv- ices to the Governor. Samnel Beatty, who had served in the war with Mexico, had been elected Captain of the company. and, when be was selected Colonel of the regiment to which Company A belonged, Charles F. Manderson succeeded him as Captain. The company, un- der Capt. Beatty. eneamped on the fair-ground at Canton, to await orders from the Governor, and to perfect itself in field movements. From the fact that the three-months term of service expired on the 23d of July, Company A, at least, must have been mustered into the serv- ice about the 23d day of April, 1861. This was probably done while the company was yet encamped at Canton. The company was or dered to report at Camp Taylor, near Cleve- land. about the middle of May, 1861, and. on the 27th of the same month, was conveyed. with the remainder of the Nineteenth, to Camp Jackson, Columbus, Companies A and B were armed and equipped at the State Arsenal, and sent to Bellair, while the other eight compa- nies were ordered to Camp Goddard. Zanesville. to perfect themselves in the drill. Companies A and B did guard duty at Bellair until June

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3, and after that date, and until the 20th, at Glover's Gap and Mannington. The compa- nies of the regiment were then re-united at Bellair, and, on the 21st of June, were con- veved on steamers to Parkersburg, and, while at this point. the Nineteenth was organized. with three others, into a brigade, under the command of Gen. W. S. Rosecrans. On the 25th of June, the troops moved by rail to

Clarksburg. On June 29, the Nineteenth marched to Buchanan, reaching that point on the 2d of July, and five days later arrived at Roaring Crock, and encamped in front of the fortified rebel position on Rich Mountain. Of the battle which followed, Gen. Rosecrans said: "Seven companies of the Nineteenth deployed into line, and delivered two splendid volleys, when the enemy broke." And later: "The Nineteenth distinguished itself for the cool and handsome manner in which it hekl its post against a flank attack, and for the manner in which it came into line and deliv- ered its fire near the close of the action." Three of the men were slightly wounded in this engagement. On the 23d of July, its term of service having expired, it moved first to Webster, and thence to Columbus, Ohio, where it arrived on the 27th of July. By the 5th of August, the boys were all at home, recounting their valorous deeds to eager listeners.

The regiment was much more fully repre- sented by Stark County men during the three- years enrollment. A number of the officers. at the close of the three-months term of sery- ice, busied themselves in recruiting the regi- ment for the three-years service, and, by the 26th of September, nine companies reported. and were mustered into the service. Among these were Company A. under Capt. C. F. Manderson: Company F. under Capt. W. H. Allen: about two-thirds of Company I. under C'apt. William Rakestraw: and about twenty men of Company D. making a total of about three companies from Stark County. By the 7th of November, 1861, the Nineteenth, under the command of Col. Samuel Beatty, was fully armed and equipped at Camp Dennison. Nine days later, it removed to Cineinnati. thence by steamer to Louisville, Ky., and was the first regiment to enter Camp Jenkins, five miles from the city. Here it remained, under Gen.

Mitchell, until December 6, when it proceeded to Lebanon, Ky. : thence it marched forty miles to Columbus, reaching that point on the 10th of December, and was soon afterward brigaded with the Fifty ninth Ohio. Second and Ninth Kentucky Infantry, and Haggard's regiment of cavalry. constituting the Eleventh Brigade, Gen. J. T. Boyle commanding. While at Co Imbia, the regiment received a fine silk flag from the ladies of Canton. On the 17th of December, Capt. Rakestraw died of diphtheria. The regiment marched to Renick's Creek. on the Cumberland, on the 17th of January, 1562, and soon afterward moved up the Cumberland to Jamestown, where it was joined by the Sixth Ohio Battery. Position was taken at the month of Greasy Creek. to prevent Zollicoffer from joining the enemy at Nashville. While lying at Columbia. the regiment suffered terribly from measles and typhoid fever. Within a few days, over two hundred men were in the hospital, and several died of these diseases. About the middle of February. 1562. the regi ment moved back to Columbia. After march- ing to Glasgow and Bowling Green. the regi ment was finally ordered to Nashville, which place was reached on the 10th of March. The regiment encamped on the Murfreesboro Turn- pike, five miles from the city. The march from Bowling Green had been 170 miles, dur- ing a portion of which the men were little bet ter than bare-footed. On the 15th of March. the regiment started for Savannah, on the Ten- nessee, and. by April 6, was within fourteen miles of that place. It was Sunday, and here the distant boom of cannon was plainly heard. firing the troops with new life and urging them to the double-quick in hopes of reaching the field to assist in deciding the conflict. At dark. the regiment embarked for Pittsburg Land- ing. On its arrival. a sorry scene was pre- sented. The Union troops had been thrown back in wild disorder by the exultant rebels. and thousands of stragglers and wounded men, with woe-begone faces, lined the river's bank. The Nineteenth disembarked and went into line of battle in the darkness and rain. on the tield. to be in readiness for the coming conflict on the morrow. At daylight. the enemy. flushed with his success of the previous day. opened the carnival of death with the rattle of

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musketry, and soon both armies were hurled together like gigantic locomotives. The Union troops, smarting with their shameful defeat of the previous day, met the swarming legions of rebellion with reckless determination, and soon the tables of Sunday were partly turned. The Nineteenth deposited their knapsacks. and stripped off all useless weight for the coming fight. Gen. Boyle said of the Nine teenth: " The Colonel ( Beatty ) and Capt. Man- derson (Acting Major) held their men steady. and deported themselves, as did their officers and men, with coolness and courage, until the Colonel ordered them back to a position from under the fire of the enemy's battery. This position was held until the guns of the enemy were silenced by the well-directed fire of Capt. Bartlett's Battery. Maj. Edwards (Acting Lieutenant Colonel) was shot dead from his horse, and a number of privates were killed and wounded." The regiment spent ten days without tents or camp equipage, in the mud and rain and the dreadful stench of the battle-field. After this, it participated in the advance on Corinth, and the siege of the same. Near Farmingham, on the 22d of May, the regiment had six men wounded in a picket skirmish, two of whom died of their wounds. It entered Corinth on the 29th, and, on the 3d of June, went as far as Brownsboro in pur- suit of the enemy. It then returned to Iuka, joined Gen. Buell's column, and marched with it to Florence, Ala., and to Battle Creek, where it arrived July 14. On the 21st of August, it marched to Nashville, and, with the army of Buell, made that arduous march to Louisville, Ky.

F. Manderson, moved toward Murfreesboro. It was thrown across Stone River on the 31st. but was compelled to withdraw, and, re-cross- ing the river, it aided in checking the advance of the rebels on the right. Under the personal lead of Gen. Rosecrans, Beatty's brigade charged the enemy, drove him about three- fourths of a mile, and held the position until relieved. The regiment, with other troops. crossed Stone River January 2, 1863, and re- ceived the charge of the rebel cohunn under Breckinridge, but was forced back until the massed artillery could play upon the advanc- ing enemy, when the latter was driven across the river with great slaughter. It was one of the two to cross Stone River first. and, with the assistance of men of other regiments, capt- ured four pieces of artillery from the famous Washington (Louisiana) Battery. A mile of ground was gained, and when the battle ended with darkness, the regiment, which had entered with 449 men, came out with but 237, having lost nearly half in killed, wounded and miss- ing. Maj. C. F. Manderson was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 5. The whole army remained at Murfreesboro until June 28, when the Nineteenth was marched to Mc- Minnville, where it remained until August 16, when it crossed the Cumberland Mountains, reaching Lee & Gordon's Mills on he 13th of September. Two men of Company D were killed in a skirmish at Crawfish Springs. On the 18th of September, the regiment, with other troops, was ordered to advance upon the enemy, which order was executed with a cheer. The rebels were driven back, and a battery and several prisoners were captured. But the captors were in turn driven back by a heavy force of the enemy, and were unfortunately mistaken for the rebels and fired upon by other Federal troops, causing the loss of several men. The regiment fought hard on the 20th at Chickamauga, and at nightfall withdrew with the army to Chattanooga, having lost about one hundred men in killed, wounded and missing. The Nineteenth remained in Chattanooga during the siege, and, on the 23d of November. took part in the advance on Or- chard Knob, losing some twenty men killed in the charge on the rebel works at the foot of

The Nineteenth marched to near Perryville, starting October 1, and reaching that point on the Sth, too late to participate in the battle there. It joined in the pursuit of the enemv, and near Crab Orchard had a running skirmish, capturing a cannon, with its accon- terments. It marched through Somerset and Glasgow to Gallatin, doing provost duty for two weeks, and finally joined its division at Hermitage, passing through Nashville, and encamping near the State Lunatic Asylum. About this time, Col. Beatty was appointed Brigadier General, and, on the 26th of De- | and wounded. On the 25th, it participated cember, the regiment, commanded by Maj. C.

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Mission Ridge, and, without orders, climbed the steep sides of the mountain. driving the rebels in confusion down the opposite side. and losing one man killed and thirteen wound- ed. It returned to Chattanooga, and then. with Sherman. moved toward Knoxville, suf. fering severely during the march, leaving foot- prints in blood on the snowy ground. The regiment moved to Strawberry Plains and Flat Creek, and 100 men, on the Ist of Jamary. 1861, re-enlisted at the latter place as veteran volunteers. From the 4th until the 16th, the regiment marched to Chattanooga, where the veterans were mustered in and the others mus- tered out. The regiment then returned to Ohio, reaching Cleveland on the 16th of Feb- rnary.

The regiment finally started for Knoxville, Tenn., where it arrived March 24, 1864. On the 9th of April. it moved to McDonald's Sta- tion, and there began preparing for the At- lanta campaign. On the 6th of May, Sher- man's whole army began this important move- ment, and the Nineteenth was sent to Parker's Gap to hold that pass. Afterward, it partici- pated in the fight at New Hope Church, where about fifty men were killed and wounded. It was engaged at Kenesaw, at Peach Tree Creek, at the crossing of the Chattahoochie River. and was under fire almost daily up to the evacnation of Atlanta. It also passed with Sherman around to the right of Atlanta. en- gaging in the affair at Jonesboro. On the 2d of September, it participated in the action at Lovejoy Station, where, among other casual- ties, Col. Manderson was severely wounded in the spine. Seventy men were killed and wounded. It captured the enemy's front line of works, and held it for three days. The loss to the regiment in the Atlanta campaign was: Killed, two commissioned officers and twenty eight men; wounded, six commissioned ofli cers and ninety-six men: missing. thirteen men. When Sherman started on his march to the sea, the Nineteenth was ordered back toward Nashville to aid in opposing Gen. Hood. During the investment of Franklin, it lost a few men, and a few more at Nashville. It followed Hood to the Tennessee River, and. on the 5th of January, IS65, was established at Huntsville, where it remained until April.

On the 17th of March, Col. Manderson re- signed, from physical disability, and Liout. Col. Nash assumed command. In April, it moved into East Tennessee, but soon re- turned to Nashville. In June, it started for Texas, and suffered severely from hard marches. On the 21st of October, 1865, the gallant Nineteenth was mustered out of serv- ice at San Antonio. Texas, and the tired boys started joyously toward home. It reached Columbus, Ohio, November 22. and was paid off and discharged at Camp Chase three days later, and the brave boys. after nearly five years of active and honorable service, started for home, and were welcomed all along the journey by crowds of grateful people.

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 41

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060