USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 26
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The company was well uniformed and equipped, each trooper being armed with two horse-pistols and a saber. They were well mounted and the company was composed of the best of Union county's chivalrous young men. This company maintained its organization until the law of 1847 provided for the mustering out of all local companies in the state. At that time there were several so-called "light infantry" companies in the county and all were organized into a regiment, which maintained a band of imposing appear- ance. The band consisted of twenty snare drums, ten bass drums and twenty fifers and. with their gaudy uniforms, it must have been a stirring sight to see them at the head of the regiment on muster days. In those days "muster day" was the only legal holiday in the state and it was made a gala occasion when the whole state resounded to the sound of fife and drum. More powder was burnt, more whiskey drunk and more fights occurred on this day than any other in the year.
Gradually, however, the system calling out so many men on one day in the year was recognized as being useless and the Legislature was asked to discontinue the practice. This was done in 1847. while the Mexican War was in progress. The old militia system, with all its many faults, had its redeeming features. It kept up a military spirit and was excellent training for the thousands who left their homes in the sixties to fight for their country. Then, again, it provided a bright spot in the heart of every youth
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who belonged to one of the many companies, many of whom worked every other day in the year. It broke the monotony of the daily life of hard toil on the farms and was a welcome relief to young men who had little time for amusements.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
The Mexican War was brought about by the annexation of Texas to the United States in 1845. The incidents leading up to this war can only be briefly noticed in this connection. Mexico had emancipated her slaves in 1827, but Texas, which had been settled largely by Southern slave owners, refused to be bound by the emancipation act. From that time until the final separation of Texas from Mexico there was constant strife between Texas and the mother country. In 1836 Texas declared its independence and it was afterward recognized by the United States and several European powers as a separate nation. Of the sixty men who signed the declaration of in- dependence, fifty-three had been born in the United States, and this one fact not only explains the separation from Mexico but the subsequent request for admission to the Union. It was eight years before their request was granted, the Northern states fighting the admission on account of the fact that it would make one more slave state, and, as future events turned out, it was the last slave state to be admitted to the Union.
With the formal admission of Texas to the Union, on July 4, 1845, it was very apparent that war was imminent between this country and Mexico. General Taylor was sent to the southern border of Texas early in the spring of 1846, and on April 20 war was formally declared against Mexico. At once the President called for volunteers and Ohio responded gallantly to the call. Although this state furnished four full regiments of infantry, several companies of cavalry, as well as quite a number for artillery service,-a total of sixty companies,-but one muster roll is now on file in the office of the adjutant-general at Columbus. Hence, it is impossible to write the complete history of Ohio's service in that conflict.
Union county was ready and willing to furnish its quota of men, and at a large and enthusiastic meeting held at Marysville many volunteers were enrolled for the war. A company was organized and the following members were mustered into the service: Joshua Brothers, William Clevenger, Jack- son Coleshine, C. P. Cavis, William Graham, George Graham, James Graham, D. W. Henderson, J. G. Hawkins, John Harrison, Elisha Glick. James John- son, J. P. Johnson, Alexander Oliver, John Price, Alpheus Parmeter, Daniel Reed and Frederick Smith. This company was afterward known as Com-
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pany E and was attached to the Fourth Ohio Regiment. The following men were enrolled in Company C, of the Third Ohio Regiment: G. A. Cassil. Jonas Clark, C. P. Garlick. Milford Philips, William Smith, John Atwood, S. W. Atkinson, Samuel Monroe and William Palmer. G. A. Cassil was the first sergeant of this company. Others who served in different companies were James Cutler, Ebenezer Carter, E. Higgins, M. Pheasant, Andrew Spratt. George Skidmore and H. Woodruff. The majority of the Union county men enlisted in Captain M. C. Lilly's company at Columbus and were assigned to the Fourth Ohio Regiment.
It is not possible in this brief article to follow the fortunes of war of the gallant Union county boys throughout the war. It is sufficient to state that they were never found wanting in bravery and performed every duty faithfully to which they were assigned. They returned to Cincinnati on July 12, 1848, and on the 20th of the same month the companies were mustered out of the service. Fortunately, most of them returned to their home, although there were some who lost their lives on the deserts of Mexico. A large number of these same men were in the Civil War and took a prom- inent part. J. G. Hawkins was colonel of the Thirteenth Ohio, and was killed in the battle of Stone's River, Tennessee, December 31, 1862; Dr. D. W. Henderson was a surgeon in the Ninety-sixth Ohio; C. P. Cavis, who was killed in battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, March 19, 1865, was a cap- tain in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio; Dr. James Cutler was a captain in the First Ohio Cavalry. All of these men have passed away and it is probable that not a single Mexican War veteran is now living in the county.
THE CIVIL WAR.
The Civil War is the greatest war in all history which commenced with- out a formal declaration of war and closed without a treaty of any kind. The first gun of the war was fired on Fort Sumter, on April 12, 1861, and the smoke was still lingering around its battered walls when President Lin- coln made his first call for volunteers. Four long and sanguinary years were to elapse before the Stars and Stripes were to float again over Fort Sumter and these years saw more than three million men arrayed in arms.
President Lincoln issued a call for seventy-five thousand troops on April 14 and on the following day Governor Tod of Ohio issued a proclama- tion calling for thirteen regiments. The alacrity with which the state of Ohio responded to the call of the governor is shown by the fact that three days after the call was issued, two full regiments, fully accoutered, were on
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their way to Washington. The part that the state played in this terrible conflict is set forth in the chapter on state history and may be seen elsewhere in this volume.
Union county had a population of 16,507 in 1860 and sent at least three thousand two hundred soldiers to the front. The men from this county saw service in the infantry, cavalry, artillery and navy and were represented in more than one hundred regiments, batteries and independent companies. Of the full companies sent from this county, there was one for the first three months' service in the Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and thirty-two men for the Seventeenth Regiment, aggregating one hundred and twenty-six men ; six companies for the three years' service under the first call : three companies under the three years' call in 1862; one company under the three months' call in 1862: one company for the six months' service in 1863; three companies for the one hundred days' service in 1864; three companies for one year's service in 1864 and two companies of so-called "squirrel hunters" in 1862-making a total of twenty companies.
Besides the full companies raised in the county, companies were largely recruited for the Fortieth and Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and the First Ohio Cavalry: a company of sharp-shooters; a number of colored troops were enlisted in the Fifth and Twenty-seventh United States Colored Troops; many others entered the regular army, mostly in the Eighteenth Regiment United States Regular Army, while many more enlisted and were credited to other counties, of whom there is no record. It is interesting to note that Union county contributed a number for service equal to the total male adults of the county.
The soldiers of Union county fought in thirty-one of the principal bat- tles of the war, from Bull Run to Appomattox. The war exacted a fearful toll of the brave boys from this county. One hundred and thirty-three were killed in battle: four hundred died of wounds or disease, or wasted away in the prison pens ; three hundred and sixty were wounded and recovered and one hundred and forty-three were prisoners of war at one time or other- making a total of 1,035 killed, died, wounded and prisoners. Three hundred and twenty-one lie buried under Southern skies in unknown and unlettered graves, there awaiting the assembling of that great army above.
It was stated in the introduction to this chapter that no effort was made to make it a complete military history of the county for the reason that this chapter will be devoted to a very brief summary of the history of the differ- ent Ohio regiments which included men from Union county. It is not pos-
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sible to give the roster of each regiment and company, and those wishing to examine the complete roster will find it in Colonel Curry's excellent volume.
First Ohio Infantry-This regiment was organized in April, 1861, for the three months' service and was stationed near. Washington, D. C., during the summer of that year. It was reorganized for the three years' service in August, 1861, and served the remainder of its enlistment in the South. It was mustered out October 14, 1864, having lost 527 officers and men in twenty-four different battles, during which time it had marched 2,500 miles and been transported 950 miles by car and steamboat. M. L. Thompson was the only Union county enlistment in this regiment.
Second Ohio Infantry-There were nine from the county in this regi- ment, which was mustered in for the three months' service in the spring of 1861. It was reorganized for the three years' service in the fall of the same year and was mustered out at Columbus in August. 1864. This regiment lost III by death on the battlefield and had 425 wounded. It was with Buell in Kentucky, Rosecrans at Stone's River and Chickamauga, and with Sher- man on his march to the sea.
Third Ohio Infantry-This was one of the three months' regiments, although it was organized for three years within less than a month after it was mustered into service. It included eight men from the county and served in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. In the spring of 1863 many of the members of this regiment were captured in the famous raid of Colonel Streight and taken to Belle Isle. The privates were soon exchanged. while the officers were incarcerated in Libby Prison. None of the Union county men were captured and all of the eight but one were mustered out with their regiment. June 23, 1864.
Fourth Ohio Infantry-The thirteen Union county men in this regi- ment, which was at first enlisted for three months, re-enlisted June 5, 1861. for three years. Most of the fighting of this regiment was in Virginia, al- though it participated in the battle of Gettysburg. Only two men of the thirteen lost their lives, one being killed on the field of battle and the other dying as a result of wounds received in battle.
Sixth Ohio Infantry-This was mustered in on April 18, 1861, for three months and three months later. June 18, was organized for three years. It first saw fighting in West Virginia and was later transferred to Tennessee, where it was stationed most of the rest of the duration of its enlistment. One of the four Union county men in this regiment lost his life.
Seventh Ohio Infantry-This regiment was mustered in for three months on the last day of April. 1861, and organized for three years on
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June 18. Starting in with MeClellan in West Virginia, it was later taken into Virginia and fought in the Peninsular campaign in 1862. Its last year was spent in Tennessee and Georgia. The two Union county men in the regiment served their terms out and returned home.
Eighth Ohio Infantry-This regiment was organized May 2. 1861, for three months and on June 26 for three years' service. The one man from this county, David Curry, is not given a record in the volume of Colonel Curry. This regiment saw most of its service in Virginia and was one of the many Ohio regiments to be present at the battle of Gettysburg. It was mustered out of the service July 13. 1864.
Tenth Ohio Infantry-This regiment was a three months' organization, but before half of its time had expired it volunteered for three years. Its first fighting was in West Virginia and it was then taken to Kentucky and spent the rest of its time in that state, Tennessee and Georgia. Three of the four men from the county who were in this regiment returned to their homes after they were mustered out, in June, 1864.
Eleventh Ohio Infantry-Union county furnished three men for this regiment, which was first a three months' organization and later mustered in for three years. It was in the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antie- tam, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Buzzard Roost. The regiment was mustered out June 21, 1864.
Twelfth Ohio Infantry-Union county contributed one man for this regiment, and he served three full years. Organized as a three months' regiment on May 3, 1861. it was organized on June 28 for three years and was finally mustered out of the service July II, 1864. It served in West Virginia until the summer of 1862, when it joined the Army of the Potomac and took part in the battles of Bull Run. South Mountain and Antietam. It then joined the forces under Hunter and participated in the expedition to Lynchburg, Virginia.
Thirteenth Ohio Infantry-This regiment contained a large number of men from Union county and was the first in which men from the county enlisted as a body. Company F was composed solely of Union county volunteers, while it had representatives in eight other companies in the regi- ment. The Marysville company completed its organization on April 25, and on the 30th of the month was mustered in the service as Company D for a period of three months. One hundred and sixty men from the county became members of this regiment and of this number twenty were killed. seventeen were wounded and twenty-five died of disease. The regiment was ordered to West Virginia and remained there until December of 1861, when
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it was transferred to Kentucky. During 1864 and 1865 the regiment was fighting in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. After taking part in the battle of Nashville the regiment was stationed at Huntsville, Alabama, until June, 1865, when it was sent to Texas, where it remained in the service until December 5, 1865. It was then returned to Ohio and discharged at Columbus, January 17, 1866.
Fourteenth Ohio Infantry-This regiment was first enlisted for three months in April, 1861, and reorganized in the following August for three years. or the duration of the war. It was first under Buell in Kentucky and later joined General Grant at Shiloh, in April, 1862. It took part in all of the battles in eastern Tennessee and was with Sherman on his famous march through Georgia to the sea. After more than four years of active service the regiment was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 11, 1865. Five men from Union county were in this regiment and only one died while in the service.
Fifteenth Ohio Infantry-On May 4, 1861, this regiment was mustered into the three months' service and served in West Virginia until its dis- charge, August 1. In the following month it was reorganized for three years and at once joined Buell in Kentucky and fought at Shiloh, Stone's River and Chickamauga in Tennessee. It was with Sherman during the first part of his Georgia campaign and later returned to Tennessee and partici- pated in the battle of Nashville. At the close of the war the regiment per- formed gnard duty for several months in Texas. It was mustered out at Columbus, December 27, 1865, having served four years and eight months and lost over four hundred men in killed and wounded. Of the thirteen Union county men in this regiment, only one died in the service.
Sixteenth Ohio Infantry-This regiment was organized for three months' service under Col. James Irwine in April, 1861, and for three years under Col. John F. DeCourcey, October 2, 1861. Union county was well represented in this regiment, there being forty-five men recruited from the county, all but one being in Company F. The regiment fought through Kentucky and Tennessee to Mississippi. After participating in all of the engagements of the Vicksburg campaign, it joined Banks on the Red River expedition in 1864 and in the fall of that year returned to Columbus and was mustered out on the last day of October. Some of Union county's bravest and best soldiers were in this regiment. Twelve died of disease or wounds ; six were seriously wounded and four were taken prisoners, making a total loss of twenty-five. or nearly one-half of the detachment from this county.
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Seventeenth Ohio Infantry-Capt. T. J. Hayes, of Plain City, recruited a company in Union and Madison counties in April, 1861, which was as- signed as Company G to the Seventeenth Ohio, and mustered in for three months' service. It was engaged in West Virginia until it was mustered out, August 15, 1861. Thirty-two men from Union county served in Com- pany G for the three months. This regiment was immediately organized for three years and forty-nine men from Union county enrolled in Com- panies B, C, E and G, most of them being in Company C. They were sent to Kentucky and through Tennessee to Mississippi, where they participated in the siege of Corinth. The regiment chased the Rebels through Mississippi and Alabama, marched back north through Tennessee and were at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. They then fought in all of the battles in eastern Tennessee and most of the regiment was with Sherman on his march through Georgia. This regiment was in the service from the beginning to the end of the war and was constantly at the front, never doing any guard duty. It was never driven back, save at Chickamauga, and even then it was not ordered to fall back until nightfall. Of the Union county con- tingent in this regiment, ten died in hospitals of wounds or disease, four were seriously wounded and one was captured, certainly a fortunate record, considering the many battles in which they were engaged.
Eighteenth Ohio Regiment-This regiment was organized May 20, 1861, for the three months' service and reorganized on August 6 for three years. Its first service was in Kentucky, and it was then taken through Ten- nessee to Huntsville, Alabama, where it captured three hundred prisoners and a large amount of ammunition and supplies. It was in the battle of Stone's River December 31. 1862, and lost one hundred and eighty-three officers and men in the battle. After fighting in the battles of Chattanooga and Chickamauga the regiment was ordered to Columbus to be mustered out. In the fall of 1864, the regiment was again organized and sent to Tennessee. where it fought at Nashville and Overton Hill. In the summer of 1865 it was stationed in Georgia and was in that state when it was mustered out. October 9, 1865. Only one of the Union county men lost his life, and he died at home, where he had been sent on a furlough.
Nineteenth Ohio Infantry-Col. Samuel Beatty organized this regi- ment for the three months' service and it was mustered in May 15, 1861, and on September 26, of the same year, was organized for three years. It con- tinued to serve in West Virginia until November of 1861, and then moved into Kentucky. It fought at Shiloh. Stone's River. Chickamauga, Mission- ary Ridge and then followed Sherman in his Atlanta campaign as far as
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Atlanta. It was then returned to Tennessee and participated in the battle of Nashville and the subsequent pursuit of Hood. After the war this regiment was taken to Texas, where it remained until September, 1865, when it was returned to Columbus and mustered ont November 25, 1865. The four men from Union county in the regiment returned home, only one being wounded in the service.
Twentieth Ohio Infantry-This regiment was mustered in for the three months' service in May, 1861, and for three years on October 21. It served in Kentucky until February, 1862, and then marched to Fort Donel- son, where it participated in its first battle. Later it advanced into Missis- sippi and eventually joined Grant before Vicksburg. Their final service was with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign and they were with this famous general on his march from Savannah north through the Carolinas. They were in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., and were mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, July 18, 1865. The five Union county men in this regiment all returned home. One of the men was captured in 1863, wounded in 1864, but recovered and rejoined his regiment.
Twenty-first Ohio Infantry-This regiment was sent out April 27, 1861, for the three months' service and reorganized for three years on September 19, 1861. It served under Buell, Rosecrans and Sherman, suc- cessively, and was with the latter general from the spring of 1864 until the end of the war. After its march through the Carolinas, in the spring of 1865, it was taken to Washington and participated in the Grand Review. It was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, in July of that year. Of the four Union county men in this regiment, one was killed at Chickamauga, and the others lived to return to the county.
Twenty-second Ohio Infantry-This was the first regiment including Union county men which was not first mustered in for three months. It was organized in Missouri under Fremont and entered the service Novem- ber 5, 1861. It was organized as the Thirteenth Missouri, but on July 7, 1862, it was transferred to Ohio and made the Twenty-second Ohio. It served under Rosecrans at Corinth and later fought around Vicksburg. It was stationed in Arkansas when it was ordered mustered out November 18, 1864. One of the three Union county men in this regiment died in the service.
Twenty-third Ohio Infantry-This regiment was organized in June, 1861, by Col. William S. Rosecrans, who being promoted, was succeeded by Col. E. P. Scammon. In July of the same year it entered the field in West Virginia and, until it was finally mustered out on July 26, 1865, served in
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the Virginias. Among many battles and skirmishes it participated in the following : Carnifix Ferry, South Mountain, Antietam, Crook's Raid, Cloyd Mountain, New River Bridge, Opequon, Winchester and Cedar Creek. After the latter battle the regiment remained in the vicinity of Martinsburg, Vir- ginia, until the close of the war. It was in this regiment that General Rose- crans, General Rutherford B. Hayes, President Mckinley and Stanley Mat- thews, later United States senator, served. All but one of the eight Union county men in this regiment returned to their homes.
Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry-Only one man from the county was in this regiment and he died at Camp Dennison in 1863. It was organized in June, 1861, by Col. Jacob Ammen and first saw service in West Virginia and later in Kentucky. It took part in the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Perry- ville, Stone's River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. The regiment was mustered out June 24, 1864.
Twenty-fifth Ohio Infantry-This regiment, which enrolled two Union county men, was organized at Camp Chase on June 28, 1861, under Col. James A. Jones. It operated in West Virginia until April, 1862, and then crossed the Alleghanies and fought at Bull Pasture Mountain and Cross Keys, losing over one hundred men in the two engagements. It later joined Pope's campaign and engaged in the battles of Second Bull Run, Chancel- lorsville and Gettysburg. It reenlisted in January, 1864, and served in South Carolina until it was mustered out on June 18, 1866.
Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry .-- The organization of this regiment was completed in the fore part of July, 1861, and it was immediately ordered to the upper Kanawha valley in West Virginia. In January of the following year, the regiment was transferred to Kentucky and in the spring of the same year fought at Shiloh. It was kept in Tennessee until after the battles around Chattanooga and then started on the Atlanta campaign with Sherman. It ultimately returned to Tennessee and was in the battle of Nashville. After the elose of the war, the regiment was sent to Texs, where it was stationed until it was called home and mustered out October 21, 1865. The eleven men from Union county in the regiment were all mustered out and only two of them had been wounded.
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