USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 69
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Hiempsel Shreve,
Joseph D. Pratt,
James Moffitt,
H. H. Cook,
William McGlennen,
John Wain,
A. H. Dice,
Corodon Fogleson,
Harmon Held,
William Singer,
Robert McElhenie,
George Patterson,
William G. Eberman,
Charles W. Long,
Sylvester Heffelfinger,
William H. Baumgardner,
H. W. Arnold,
Thomas Cole,
William H. Ulrich,
S. Reamer,
Alfred Chapman,
Harmon Smyser,
Frank Miller,
Edwin Smedley,
Hubbard Brown,
William Cline,
John Groff,
William Urban,
Joseph D. Bodine,
Peter O. Vanata,
W. H. Bucher,
David S. Pollinger,
George Cline,
T. C. Warner,
D. Mohn,
D. Y. Black,
Nathan Dyherman,
Orlando Dyarmon,
L. Graybill,
Edward McKelvey,
George Musser,
George Sowers,
Levi Arnold.
They immediately organized by electing James McMillen, Captain; Jacob Shultz, First Lieutenant ; and R. B. Spink, Second Lieutenant.
THE 4TH OHIO.
On Monday, April 21, 1861, this first company left Wooster for Columbus. The excitement ran high; flags floated from nearly every building, and upward of ten thousand people from town and country lined the streets from the Court House to the railroad station. At the depot speeches were made on behalf of the citizens, by Judge Given, Dr. Firestone, William M. Orr, Eugene Pardee, Benjamin Eason, and others, and on the part of the volunteers by Captain James McMillen, A. S. McClure and Levi Graybill.
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SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The company departed for the State Capital amid the tears and acclamations of the multitude.
Arriving in Columbus, they were, on April 25, incorporated with the 4th Ohio Infantry, becoming Company E. The field officers of the regiment were: Colonel, Lorin Andrews (the well-known and highly-honored President of Kenyon College, who had volunteered as a private in a Mt. Vernon company) ; Lieutenant-Colonel, James Cantwell ; Major, James H. Godman. The ranks were filled by two com- panies from Marion, two from Delaware, two from Mt. Vernon, two from Kenton, one from Canton, and one from Wooster.
April 29, the regiment moved to Camp Dennison, and on May 4 was mustered into the three months' service by Captain Gordon Granger, U. S. A. A few days thereafter, President Lincoln's call for three years' men was made public, where- upon the majority of Company E and the regiment re-enlisted for that period, and were mustered in for three years, dating from the 5th of June, 1861.
The regiment left Camp Dennison on the 20th of June, 1861, for West Virginia, where it participated in the campaign against Rich Mountain, under General George B. McClellan. It was then ordered to New Creek, Md., remaining there several days. On the 9th of August it marched to Camp Pendleton, on the summit of the Alleghenies, where they encamped and fortified.
In the middle of September Lieutenant-Colonel Cantwell, with six companies of the regiment, among which was company E, made an attack on the Confederates at Romney, Va., driving them from the town in great disorder, and with severe loss. They were, however, reinforced in a few hours, and the 4th, in considerable hurry, compelled to evacuate the place and retreat to Fort Pendleton. John F. Barrett, of Wooster, a member of company E, was severely wounded in this engage- ment, being the first Wayne county soldier shot in the war; William Cline, of Wooster, was also wounded at the same time.
One month thereafter, October 26, the 4th, with other troops under command of General Kelley, again advanced on Romney, took the town after a short engage- ment, with a loss of 14 killed and wounded, the Confederates suffering a number killed, and all his baggage, two pieces of artillery, and a number of prisoners captured.
Romney was evacuated on the roth of January, and the regiment transferred to Patterson's creek, on the north branch of the Potomac, and thence, on February 9, to Paw-Paw Tunnel on the B. & O. railroad-here, under General Lander, par- ticipating in the capture of Bloomery Gap, with a large number of Confederate prisoners and stores. Lander shortly after dying at Paw-Paw, General James Shields took command of the division, and marched on Martinsburg, which the Confederates evacuated, after destroying a large amount of railroad and other prop- erty. On March II, Shield's division moved on Winchester, and on the 23d and 24th engaged Stonewall Jackson in his retreat up the Shenandoah valley, pro- ceeding on to Strasburg, Edinburg, New Market and Harrisonburg.
On the 12th of May the 4th regiment marched via Luray, Front Royal, Chester Gap, Warrenton, Catlett's Station, etc., to join McDowell's corps, at Fredericks- burg, arriving there on the 22d. The next day the regiment, with others of Shield's division, was ordered back to the Valley, via Manassas Junction. It reached Front Royal on the 30th, drove the enemy from that place, released a regiment of Union troops they had taken, captured a large quantity of ammunition and supplies and a number of prisoners. On the 3d of June it moved toward Luray, and on the 7th a forced march was made by the brigade to Port Republic, reaching there in time to check the enemy and cover the retreat of a portion of Shield's division, under General Carroll.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
After marching and counter-marching in the Valley, the 4th was ordered to Alexandria, where it embarked to join Mcclellan's army, then operating against Richmond. It arrived on the last of the Seven-days' Battle, and was immediately under fire, losing several men. On the evacuation of the Peninsula by the National forces, August 16, 1862, the regiment returned to Alexandria. Captain James McMillen was accidentally drowned at Alexandria during the embarkation of the regiment for the Peninsula.
Its next important service was at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, where the regiment, as well as Company E, suffered heavily. Lieutenant William Brighton of the company was killed in this engagement. May 3, the regi- ment participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, again suffering heavy loss.
Its next great battle was Gettysburg, on the Ist, 2d and 3d of July, 1863, where its losses were also large. The 4th was one of the three regiments that drove the Confederates from Cemetery Hill, after they had driven a part of the Eleventh Corps from the field and gained possession of two of our batteries. Generals Han- cock, Howard, Gibbon, and other prominent Generals witnessed this charge, and gave it their highest praise.
Shortly after this battle the regiment was ordered to New York City to assist in quelling a spirit of insubordination which had manifested itself in that metropo- lis. From New York the 4th was ordered to Alexandria. After arduous campaign- ing in Virginia, the regiment went into winter quarters at Stevensburg, on the Ist of December, 1863. It then participated in Grant's campaign against Richmond, in the battles of the Wilderness, of Spottsylvania Court House, Coal Harbor, etc.
Company E accompanied the regiment in all these campaigns and battles. Toward the close of the war, with ranks thinned by the bullets of the enemy and by disease, the company was mustered out of service, having traveled in its campaigns an aggregate of four thousand two hundred and fifty-four miles, and at all times maintained the highest reputation for discipline, soldierly behavior, and good con- duct on the battlefield.
THE 16TH OHIO.
The second company from Wayne county was organized in Wooster in the lat- ter part of April, 1861. Recruiting for it commenced on the 20th of April, and by the 25th the company was full, when the following officers were elected: Captain, George W. Bailey; First Lieutenant, Aquila Wiley; Second Lientenant, Cusham Cunningham. April 28, the company was ordered to Columbus, where it was joined to the 16th Ohio Infantry.
After remaining in Camp Jackson, near Columbus, several weeks for equip- ment and drill, it was sent to West Virginia, and took part in the battle of Phillip- pi, one of the first engagements of the war. The Wooster company, under the command of Captain Wiley (Captain Bailey having been promoted to be Major of the regiment), was stationed at Grafton, West Virginia, and at Oakland, Mary- land, during the residne of the three months' service. On the expiration of its term of enlistment the company was mustered out and returned home.
The 16th Ohio, for three years' service, was organized at Camp Tiffin, near Wooster, on the 2d of October, 1861. The regimental camp was located in Quinby Grove, a short distance north-west of the present site of the University. Five companies were recruited in Wayne county, commanded by Eli W. Botsford, Ham- ilton Richeson, Samnel Smith, George U. Harn and A. S. McClure. The field officers were : Colonel, John F. DeCourcey ; Lieutenant-Colonel, George W. Bai- ley ; Major, Philip Keshner.
753
SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The regiment moved to Camp Dennison, November 27, 1861. It remained there until December 19, when it was ordered to Lexington, Ky. From Lexing- ton it proceeded to join General Thomas' forces, then operating against Zollicoffer's command in Southern Kentucky. After toilsome marches through mud and rain the regiment arrived at Somerset, just in time to miss the battle of Mill Springs. The regiment remained near Somerset until the 31st of January, 1862, when it was directed to Cumberland Ford, reaching there on the 12th of February. Troops were assembling at the Ford, under the command of General George W. Morgan, to dislodge the Confederate forces occupying Cumberland Gap, a few miles dis- tant. In March and April several reconnoisances were made in the vicinity of the Gap, during which sharp skirmishing took place with the enemy. The 16th lost several men in killed and wounded during the desultory actions. In June, Mor- gan's forces, composed of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee troops, suc- ceeded in crossing the Cumberland mountains by Powell's Gap, thus effecting a lodgement in rear of Cumberland Gap, and necessitating its evacuation by the Confederates. The enemy retreated to Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Union forces occupied the abandoned stronghold without further resistance.
On the 6th of August the 16th was ordered to Tazewell, Tenn., to relieve the 14th Kentucky. After reaching this place and relieving the 14th, the regiment en- countered the advance of Kirby Smith's army, in motion to invade Kentucky. A sharp engagement ensued, in which the 16th was overwhelmed by numbers and forced to retreat to the Gap, with a severe loss in killed, wounded and captured. The situation of the Union troops in Cumberland Gap was now extremely perilous. They were surrounded on all sides and their supplies cut off. General Morgan de- termined to abandon the Gap and retreat to the Ohio river. After a toilsome march of sixteen days through the mountainons region of Kentucky the command reached the Ohio at Greenupsburg, Ky., on the 3d of October, 1862.
After recuperating at Portland, Ohio, the 16th was ordered to Charleston, West Virginia, and from thence to Memphis, Tennessee, to join General Sherman's command, then organizing for the capture of Vicksburg. In December Sherman's forces moved down the Mississippi on transports, arriv- ing at the mouth of the Yazoo on Christmas. The troops proceeded np the Yazoo several miles, where they were disembarked, and prepared to assault Vicksburg on the Chickasaw Binffs side. On the 28th of December the enemy was driven ont of his line of rifle-pits in front of the Bluffs, and on the 29th Morgan's division was ordered to assault them. The position of the Confederates was impreg- nable, and the assault was very disastrous. The 16th lost very heavily in this en. gagement. Captain G. U. Harn was killed; Captain Van Dorn wounded and captured ; Captain Ross wounded; Captain McClure wounded and captured; Lieu- tenant P. M. Smith wounded and captured; Lientenant Heckert wounded and cap- tured; Lieutenant Colonel Kershner wounded and captured; Lieutenant Voorhees wounded and captured; Captains Mills and Cunningham, and Lieutenant Buchanan captured. The regiment lost in this engagement 311 officers and men killed, wounded and captured.
The next service of the regiment was at Arkansas Post, in which assault it lost several men. It then returned to Young's Point, on the Mississippi river, and from there it moved to Milliken's Bend, where it encamped until April 6, 1863. The regiment then participated in Grant's Campaign against Vicksburg, in the battle of Champion Hills, Thompson's Hill, Black River Bridge, and in the assaults on
48
754
HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
the entrenchments of Vicksburg, on the 19th and 22d of May, 1863, losing severely in each of these engagements.
After the capture of Vicksburg, on the 4th of July, the regiment joined the forces of General Sherman in his expedition against Jackson, Miss. In the assault on this place Captain Richeson was wounded and several of the Wayne county boys killed. Returning to Vicksburg the regiment went into camp, but was soon sent to New Orleans to join General Banks' expedition, then fitting out for operations in Western Louisiana. After a short campaign up the valley of the Teche to Opelousa the regiment returned to New Orleans to join General Washburn's expedition to Texas. The regiment disembarked at De Crows Point, Matagorda Peninsula, and moved from thence to Indianola, returning to New Orleans April 12, 1864. From New Orleans it was ordered to Alexandria, on the Red river, to re-inforce Banks' command, which was retreating before the forces of Dick Taylor. On arriving at Alexandria the 16th was immediately placed at the front, and participated in sev- eral light engagements. Returning to Alexandria it was detached to help construct a dam in Red river to facilitate the escape of the iron-clad fleet. From here Banks retreated to Morganza Bend, on the Mississippi, the 16th forming a part of the rear guard in this disorderly retreat.
On reaching Morganza Bend the regiment went into camp, from where it was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for muster out, returning there, and was discharged October 31, 1864.
The 16th was one of the best disciplined regiments in the service. Its Colonel, John F. De Courcy, was a professional soldier, having served many years in the British army. The regiment was noted throughout for its fine military bearing.
THE 4IST OHIO.
Company C of the 4Ist Ohio was recruited in Wayne county, in August and September, 1861. Its officers were Aquila Wiley, Captain ; F. E. Pancoast, Ist Lieutenant, and Rufus B. Hardy, 2d Lieutenant. In the early part of September the company was ordered to Cleveland, where it was mustered into the 4Ist, on the 19th of September. The field officers of the regiment were : Colonel, William B. Hazen; Lieutenant-Colonel, John J. Wizeman; Major, George S. Mygatt. On the 6th of November the regiment was ordered to Camp Dennison, and from thence to Gallipolis, and from there it was ordered to Louisville, where it became a part of the Army of the Ohio, under command of General Buell.
During the winter the regiment was encamped at Camp Wickliffe. In April, 1862, it participated in the battle of Shiloh, where it lost in the first day's action, 14I officers and men killed and wounded. Captain Aquila Wiley was severely wounded in this battle; also Lieutenant Pancoast, who subsequently died from the effects of his wound.
After a good deal of arduous campaigning in Alabama and Tennessee during the summer of 1862, the regiment joined in the retreat of Buell to Louisville, and shortly after reaching there engaged in the battle of Perryville, fought October 2, 1862. Its next important service was at the battle of Murfreesboro, where it lost 112 men killed and wounded.
In January, 1863, the regiment moved to Readyville, about twelve miles from Murfreesboro, where it remained until the 24th of June. During the months of July and August the 4Ist was kept in constant motion, and on September 19, 1863, participated in the battle of Chickamauga, in which engagement it greatly distin- guished itself.
755
SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR.
The next important battle in which it participated was Mission Ridge, fought November 23 and 25. Here 115 men of the 4Ist fell. Colonel Wiley lost a leg while gallantly leading the charge. General Thomas, on the field, complimented the regiment highly for its splendid conduct.
After this battle they marched to Knoxville, and there re-enlisted as veterans ; and, when the men had enjoyed the veteran furlough, the regiment, with 100 re- cruits, rejoined its division in East Tennessee, placed in a battalion with the Ist Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Kimberly commanding.
The regiment then participated in nearly all the battles of Sherman in his campaign against Atlanta-Rocky Face Ridge, Dallas, Piney Top Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, etc. Its loss during this campaign was 158 men, the regiment dwindling to a mere skeleton of only 99 men.
On the occupation of Atlanta by the national forces the 4Ist was sent in pur- suit of Hood, and participated in Thomas' victory over that Confederate General in front of Nashville.
In June, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Texas, where it was stationed near San Antonio until November, and then ordered mustered out. It reached Colum- bus, Ohio, about the middle of the month, and was finally discharged on the 26th of November, 1865, after four years and one month's service.
Company C, 4Ist Ohio, was a splendid company, of first reputation in all re- spects, and saw more real hard service than, perhaps, any other company raised in Wayne county.
THE 120TH OHIO.
Four companies, and a large part of a fifth company, in the 120th Regiment were raised in Wayne county. Joseph H. Downing, George P. Emrich, Benjamin Eason and William G. Myers were elected Captains of their respective companies. The field officers were : Colonel, Daniel French; Lieutenant-Colonel, Marcus M. Spiegel ; Major, John W. Beekman. The five Wayne county companies were re- cruited in August, 1862, and rendezvoused at Camp Mansfield on the 29th of Au- gust. On the 17th of October it was mustered into service, and on the 25th of the same month moved to Covington, Ky., from which point it departed, November 24, for Memphis, Tenn., reaching there December 7. Here the regiment was as- signed to Colonel Sheldon's brigade, of Morgan's division, being a part of the Army of the Tennessee, under command of General Sherman, and destined to operate against Vicksburg.
On the 20th of December the regiment moved on transports down the Missis- sippi river, then up the Yazoo, where it disembarked at Johnson's Landing, and participated in the assault against Vicksburg. After the repulse of the national forces from Vicksburg, the regiment embarked on transports, and accompanied the expedition against Arkansas Post, which resulted successfully. The 120th charged splendidly on the enemy's works in this engagement.
From Arkansas Post the regiment returned to Young's Point, and went into camp. Here it was decimated by disease, measles, typhus and malarial fever work- ing sad havoc in its ranks. At one time over half the regiment was reported on the sick list. The officers became discouraged and resigned in large numbers, which contributed to the despondency of the men.
In April, the 120th took part in Grant's campaign against Vicksburg, engaging in the battles of Champion Hill, Thompson's Hill, the Black River, and in the
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
charges on Vicksburg, on the 22d of May. It behaved gallantly in all of these ac- tions. After the fall of Vicksburg the regiment joined Sherman's expedition against Jackson, holding the right of this column in its advance. In the operations against Jackson, Lieutenant Totten was mortally wounded, and Colonel Spiegel and Lieu- tenent Spear were severely wounded.
The regiment returned to Vicksburg on the 20th of July, 1863, and on the 8th of August embarked for New Orleans to join Banks' expedition in Western Louis- iana. It participated in the campaign in the valley of the Teche, and was then sent to Plaquemine, a small town on the Mississippi river, where it remained until March, 1864, being then ordered to Baton Rouge.
On the Ist of May, the 120th was ordered to join Banks, then operating in the direction of Shreveport. The regiment embarked on the transport City Belle, for Alexandria, and when passing up Red river it was ambuscaded at Snaggy Point, by 5,000 of the Confederates concealed behind the levee. A murderous artillery and infantry fire was opened on the crowded boat, and the deck was soon slippery with blood. After a short but ineffectual struggle against overwhelming odds, the 120th was compelled to display the white flag. During the conflict the City Belle drifted to the opposite side of the river, where quite a number of the 120th escaped. Col- onel Spiegel, Surgeon Stanton, Assistant-Surgeon Gill, Captains J. R. Rummel, Miller, Fraunfelder and Jones, Lientenants Applegate, Baer and Rouch, and two hundred men, fell into the hands of the Confederates, besides the bodies of the killed. Colonel Spiegel was mortally wounded, and died next day. He was one of the noblest of men, and "bravest of the brave." The prisoners were at once marched off to Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas, where they were confined until the close of the war,
After this disaster the remnant of the regiment retreated with Banks' forces to Morganza, La., where it was consolidated with the 114th Ohio Infantry. On the consolidation the following officers of the 120th were honorably discharged: Lieu- tenant-Colonel Slocum, Captains Au, Harvey, Taylor and Jones, and Lieutenants Van Ostern and Hughes.
This ended the career of the 120th as a regimental organization. It was a good regiment, but was overwhelmed with a series of disasters.
THE 102D OHIO.
The 102d regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized under the Presi- dent's call of July 1, 1862, for 300,000 men for three years. Three companies were enlisted in Wayne county, by Captain John W. Stout, Jonas D. Elliott and James E. Robison. The field officers of the regiment were : Colonel, William Given ; Lieutenant-Colonel, Abraham Baker; Major, George H. Topping; William H. McMonigal was Adjutant. Recruiting commenced in July, 1862, and in August the Wayne county companies moved to Camp Mansfield. On the 4th of Septem- ber the regiment left for Kentucky, crossing the Ohio river at Cincinnati on the morning of the 5th.
It was mustered into service the next day at Covington. On September 22d it was transported in boats to Louisville, and was present at the battle of Perryville, but not engaged. From there it was sent to Crab Orchard, and from thence to Bowling Green, Kentucky, arriving on the 30th of October. On the 19th of De-
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SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR.
cember the regiment moved to Russelville, and from there to Clarksville, Tennessee reaching that point on Christmas night, where it remained nine months.
On the 30th of October, 1863, the regiment went into winter quarters at Nash ville, Tennessee, where it remained six months, doing duty in the city. Fro1 Nashville it was transferred to Tullahoma, Tennessee, where it was occupied guard ing a railroad from Normandy to Dechera. On the 6th of June the regimer marched across the Cumberland mountains to Belfonte, Alabama, the left wing ( the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, stationed at Doc sonville. The regiment was now engaged in defending the line of the Tennesse river from Stevenson to the foot of Seven-Mile Island, a distance of fifty miles. A security against attack, twelve block-houses were erected along this line. In de fense of the line the regiment performed invaluable service, and had frequer encounters with the enemy. Having been relieved from this duty, the 102d wa engaged in patrolling the Tennessee and Alabama railroad, from Decatur to Colun bia. September 15th the regiment went into camp at Decatur.
Colonel Given, commandant of the post, on September 23d, was directed t send a detachment of four hundred men to re-inforce the fort at Athens. The de tachment was composed of soldiers from the 18th Michigan and 102d Ohio, unde command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, of the latter regiment. This comman encountered the Confederate General Forrest near Athens, where it was surrounde and overwhelmed by the superior force of the enemy. After a gallant fight the de tachment was forced to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott received a morte wound in this action. The officers were taken to Selma, and the men to Cahaba Alabama. The men were finally parolled and placed on board the Sultana, a Vicksburg. During the passage up the river the boat was blown up, April 28, 186: and, as nearly as can be ascertained, eighty-one of the 102d Regiment lost thei lives by the disaster.
The regiment was in Decatur at the time of its siege by Hood, and was highl complimented for its behavior.
On the 30th day of June, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of service a Nashville, Tennessee. It proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, and was there discharge July 8, 1865.
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