USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of the Cuyahoga County soldiers' and sailors' monument > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
The company of which Scofield was a member did first service in Kentucky. It participated in the pursuit of Kirby Smith in 1862, and John Morgan in 1863, and many small engagements. It went with Burnside in his campaign across the Cumberland Mountains to Tennessee. Here Scofield had his first experience in army engineering and found it no easy work. He was at the siege of Knoxville and the repulse of Longstreet. In March of 1864 he was Provost Marshal of the Third corps, and soon after was appointed an Aid-de-Camp on a commander's staff.
The troops marched southward to participate in the Atlanta campaign. They were engaged at Resaca and other engagements in that neighborhood. From June,
576
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
1864, Scofield did continuous work as an engineer. He was in the fight at Kenesaw Mountain and took part in the siege and capture of Atlanta. Soon afterward came the Nashville campaign, in which the Union troops oc- cupied the city while Hood invested it. He participated in the pursuit of Hood to Tennessee, and did duty in North Carolina early in 1865, being present at the cap- ture of Raleigh and the surrender of Johnston.
After the War, Captain Scofield resided in New York for a short time, but removed to this city and has re- sided here permanently. Since 1867, he has been en- gaged in the erection of many public buildings, such as the Central High School in this city, Athens and Columbus Asylums for the Insane, Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Xenia, Penitentiary at Raleigh, House of Cor- rection at Cleveland, Mansfield Reformatory, and he designed the Ohio Monument at the World's Fair.
COLONEL E. W. FORCE.
Colonel Emory W. Force was born at Morrisville, Madison County, N. Y., December 25, 1840. He was the son of a prominent woolen manufacturer, who re- moved to Ohio, settling at Chagrin Falls in 1847. When the War broke out, Colonel Force enlisted as a private in the Seventh Infantry. He was injured in the intrenchments at Sutton, W. Va., and at the end of one year's service was discharged for disability. He partici- pated in the battles of Cross Lanes and Winchester and in Banks' retreat down the Shenandoah. He was the first Colonel of the Fifth Regiment, O. N. G., being its organizer, and he held the position for eight years. He spent five years as Captain in the Fifteenth Regiment, O. N. G., and when the latter was mustered out he was given a commission by Governor Foster as Major of the Fifth Battalion. He removed to Cleveland in 1886, and is now teller in the Merchants' Banking and Storage Company, and secretary of the Seventh Regiment or-
.
COLONEL EMORY W. FORCE.
٠
GENERAL JAMES BARNETT.
581
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
ganization. He was one of the original members of the Committee on Monument, and, as a member of the Commission, has been an earnest, active, reliable worker.
GENERAL JAMES BARNETT.
The people of Ohio need no introduction to General James Barnett. As a Soldier, a business man, and a philanthropist he has ever occupied the front rank of citizens, and he is one of the rare men whose achieve- ments and honors fail to arouse jealousy in some quar- ters. General Barnett has been a member of the Mont- inent Commission since June 20, 1884. He bears the distinction of having commanded the first artillery opened on the Union side in the great Civil War. For twenty years previous to the beginning of the War, he was a member of an independent artillery company known as the Cleveland Light Artillery. When the menaces of the rebels began to take on a serious ap- pearance, the battery offered its services to the Govern- ment. Five days after the fall of Fort Sumter, Colonel Barnett was ordered to report at Columbus with his battery, and from there he soon went into the heat of the conflict. His guns were used at the battle of Phil- ippi, at Laurel Hill, and Carrick's Ford, and then the battery returned to Cleveland, the period of its enlist- ment being over. Colonel Barnett was detailed by Governor Dennison to raise a twelve-battery regiment of artillery, and this he did, sending the batteries into the field as they were organized. With a portion of this command he participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, having charge of the artillery reserve of the Army of the Ohio. Later he was ordered to Ohio on recruiting service and returning to the army he was as- signed for duty on the staff of General C. C. Gilbert. At the battle of Perryville he was transferred to the staff of General N. McCook, as Chief of Artillery, and
582
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
in the latter part of the year 1862 he was appointed by General Rosecrans as Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Cumberland. The battles of Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, and others were participated in by his command, and for his conduct in these battles he received special commendation from General Rose- crans. He was mustered out of the service at Nashville, on October 20, 1864. In May, 1865, he was brevetted Major-General for "gallant, efficient and meritorious service."
Since the War he has been with the same firm as be- fore the War and is now president of it. He is a phil- anthropic man, and gives much time to charitable work. He is president of the Bethel Associated Charities and the Humane Society, and a trustee of the Military Homes of the United States. He was the first president of the Board of Elections, and is engaged in several business enterprises, being president of the First National Bank. He has the respect of every Soldier to whom he is known, and in this community stands high as an estimable citizen. In war, our leading Soldier ; in peace, our foremost citizen. None know him but to love and admire him.
GENERAL J. J. ELWELL.
From "Ohio in the War," "Bench and Bar," and other printed sketches is made up the following in re- gard to the career of General J. J. Elwell :
He was born in Warren, O., June 22, 1820. General Elwell is a graduate of the Cleveland Medical College ; was admitted to the bar in 1854 and has since been a member of the Cleveland bar. He was a member of the Ohio Legislature from 1853 to 1855, and was editor and publisher of the Western Law Monthly ; also a profess- or in the Ohio and Union Law College and Cleveland Medical College. During this time he wrote a work on
-
GENERAL J. J. ELWELL.
585
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
medical jurisprudence, which is a standard work on that subject, and has passed through four editions.
He entered the military service in August, 1861, bringing an order from the Secretary of War for the raising of the Second Ohio Cavalry on the Western Re- serve, which he helped raise and equip and was 1,200 strong. He also equipped the Third Ohio Cavalry and Sherman's Brigade. Early in 1862, he joined General David Hunter and proceeded with him to Port Royal, S. C., and was promoted to Chief Quartermaster of the Department of the South, with the rank of Lieutenant- Colonel. He served in this department two years and participated in all the operations against Charleston under Hunter, Gillmore and other generals. He took a hand in the bloody assault on Fort Wagner on the night of July 18, 1852, where the Union troops were repulsed with a loss of 1,500 men in an hour. General A. C. Voris, who was terribly wounded at the time and carried off the field by General Elwell, in "Sketches of the War," published by the Loyal Legion of Ohio, says : "Colonel J. J. Elwell, a wonderfully brave man, rode clear up to Wagner, cheering on the men to hold the fort. He did on that occasion what I never saw during the War done by a staff officer whose duties did not call him to thus expose himself, and lead troops in places of the greatest danger, requiring the highest degree of courage."
On many an occasion he was seen in the midst of the fray, having for the time abandoned his post as Quarter- master-General, and fighting with all the vim and energy of the most valorous. It was his habit to go into battle with his hat off, and as he rushed forward with his long hair flying in the wind, he made a picture of eagerness and forgetfulness of self which was an inspiration to the other Soldiers.
General Elwell was brevetted four times during the
586
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
War for great and gallant services. The last two years of the War he was in charge of the prison camp at El- mira, N. Y., where there were from 12,000 to 15,000 prisoners of war. He was also connected with the cay- alry bureau at Washington at this time.
His medallion stands in the tablet room of the Monu- ment among the distinguished generals of Ohio, having been placed there by his associates of the Commission, without his knowledge, for distinguished service, espe- cially at Fort Wagner.
A medal was presented to General Elwell by General Gillmore, commanding the Department of the South, upon which Forts Sumter and Wagner are engraved, appreciative of his gallant services in that famous siege of two years.
He was severely injured several times, and narrowly escaped death from yellow fever at Port Roval in 1862. He is still in good health and active business in this city.
He has been a valuable and enthusiastic worker for the Monument and its site from the first. He was inade a member of the Commission June 20. ISS4, and was re-elected as one of the five Permanent Commis- sioners.
COLONEL CHARLES C. DEWSTOE.
Colonel C. C. Dewstoe is a New Yorker by birth, his early days having been spent in Ontario County, in that State. He was born on May 10, 1841, and when he was six years of age his parents removed to Flint, Mich., where he went to school and where he enlisted in the Second Michigan Infantry, in May, 1861. After the first battle of Bull Run he was ordered transferred to the signal service, and he participated in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac. He was discharged in June, 1864, after he had risen to have charge of a detachment in the signal corps. Two years afterward lie removed
COLONEL CHARLES C. DEWSTOE.
-
SERGEANT JAMES HAYR.
591
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
to Cleveland, since which time he has been in business in this city. He was a member of the Board of Health and was sheriff of Cuyahoga County two years. He has been connected with the Monument enterprise ever since its inception and has been an earnest worker in the Commission. In all affairs pertaining to the wel- fare of the Soldier element he is earnest and active. He stands in the front rank as a post-prandial speaker, possessing many genial traits of character added to a fund of wit and clever stories. He is in constant de- mand on the occasion of " surprise presentations," army re-unions, symposiums and other first-class social gatlı- erings.
SERGEANT JAMES HAYR.
A foreign country produced James Hayr, but that makes him none the less a brave Soldier. On July 1, 1838, he was born at Hamilton, Ont. When he was nine years old the family removed to Niagara Falls, and at thirteen he was apprenticed to a firm of painters. He followed this work at Rochester, New York City, and later came to Cleveland.
He enlisted in 1861 in Company B, Zouave Light Guards, under command of James P. McIlrath. When the company re-enlisted for three years it was assigned to the Twenty-third Regiment, O. I. V., and called Company A. The regiment was officered by Col. Rose- crans, afterward general ; Lieut. Col. Stanley Matthews and Major R. B. Hayes. During the first year of the War the regiment was engaged principally in West Vir- ginia. The next year operations were extended to Vir- ginia and Maryland, and the men were engaged in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam and lesser fights. During 1863, the command was assigned to scouting and raiding expeditions. The next year it assisted in the destruction of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad. In the raid on Lynchburg the men were constantly under
502
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
fire for seventy days. Later they participated in the famous campaign of Sheridan. At Cedar Creek, Com- rade Hayr was severely wounded in the abdomen while engaged in getting a gun off the field of battle, and this kept him from active service until the next Spring.
On Independence Day of 1864, he was promoted to corporal, and for exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy at Fisher Hill he received the appointment of sergeant in September.
He was mustered out August ist, 1865, at Cumber- land. Md., having seen four years, three months and twelve days of service. At the close of the War he re- turned to this city and renewed his old trade.
Since the War, Sergeant Hayr has been active in the duties of peace which show patriotism. He has been closely allied with affairs pertaining to the veterans. He was commander of Hampson Post and has held sev- eral official positions in the Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Union and in the Union Veterans' Union. He has been vice-president of the Twenty-third Regi- ment Association, and on several occasions has been Marshal of Memorial Day parades.
His record is good, his bravery undoubted and his works in behalf of his veteran comrades fully appreci- ated. He has been a member of the Monument Com- mission since June 20, 1884.
DR. R. W. WALTERS.
Dr. R. W. Walters, of Chagrin Falls, was born in Russell, Geauga County, on August 22, 1838. Having received a good education at high-class seminaries, he made choice of the medical profession. He commenced the study of medicine early in the year 1861. On August 15, 1862, he eulisted as a private in Company D. Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to Hospital Steward on March 14. 1864. He partici- pated in the following battles: Wanketchie, Tem ..
DR. P. W. WVALTEPS.
GENERAL M. D. LEGGETT.
597
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
night of October 28 and 29, 1863; Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge and Ringgold, November, 1863; Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca and Dallas, May, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, June, 1864; Peachtree Creek, July, 1864, and siege of Atlanta.
When the gallant Seventh Ohio was mustered out lie, with about two hundred others, was transferred to the Fifth Regiment, Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out of service March 17, 1865, on account of being supernumerary, by order of the War Depart- ment.
On his return from the army he resumed the study of medicine and attended the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa. He attended liis second course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College (now Western Reserve University), and graduated from that institu- tion. Feeling that he would derive benefit from a course of study in a homeopathic college, he entered as a student at the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital Col- lege (now the Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery), from which he graduated. He was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Fifteenth Regiment, O. N. G., Colonel E. W. Force commanding, by Governor Bishop, July 17, 1878.
He is an ardent believer in religious liberty, and is an active member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He las practiced medicine in Chagrin Falls since April, 1867.
He became a member of the Commission on June 20, 1884. Though residing in the country, he has been prompt in attendance at all meetings, and has ably rep- resented the townships.
GENERAL, M. D. LEGGETT.
An officer high in rank in the Union armies, and as a soldier, citizen, and attorney, crowned with a record as brilliant as it is stainless, is General Mortimer D. Leg-
.
598
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
gett. Besides being one of the Monument Commission- ers, he has been awarded the honor of directing the movements, as Chief Marshal, of the grand body of men who composed the dedication procession. During the War he was a confidential friend and adviser of General Grant, General McClellan, General Sherman, and other prominent officers. He was born at Ithaca, N. Y., April 19, 1821. His father, a farmer, removed to Montville, Geanga County, in 1836, and the son spent several years on the farm and in study, leaving home when he was eigliteen years old to go to the Teachers' Seminary in Kirtland. There he remained until he was gradu- ated, at the head of his class, and he then became a teacher. He soon commenced the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1844, although he did not begin active practice until six years later, at Warren. He was one of the first in the State to give attention to the subject of free public schools conducted on the graded plan, and he spent some time in agitating the question. Through his efforts, and those of two or three other gentlemen, he secured the passage of a spe- cial school law for Akron, and later he organized the first system of free graded schools west of the Allegha- nies iu that city. In 1845, he graduated from the Willoughby Medical College, and in 1856 he became Professor of Pleading and Practice in the Ohio Law College. When the War began, he accompanied Gen- eral Mcclellan to West Virginia, and in the latter part of 1861 was commissioned by Governor Dennison to raise and organize the Seventy-eighth Regiment of Infantry, which he accomplished in a very short time. He en- listed in the same organization as a private, his name being the first to go on the list, and within forty days he was private, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and Colonel. He took his regiment, which consisted of 1,040 men, to Fort
599)
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
Donelson, where it performed valuable service. Imme- diately after this, General Grant attached him to his staff, and the young officer went into the battle of Sli- lol, where he received his first wound. While com- manding an advance upon Corinth, on May 16, 1862, one horse he rode was killed under him, and another was wounded, he escaping uninjured. As a recognition of his service at this time, he was commissioned a Brig- adier-General. His next notable service was the battle- of Middleburg, Tenn., where, with 500 inen, he defeated Van Dorn, who had 4,000 troops. For this he was com- plimented by General Grant, and received a special letter of thanks from the Secretary of War. He partici- pated in the battle known as "Hell on the Hatchie," the battle of Iuka, and in all the movements against Vicksburg, inchiding the running of the blockade, the- battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hills, Big Black, and the siege of Vicksburg. At the battle of Champion Hills, he received a severe wound in his thigh. He was then transferred from the Second Brigade of Third Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps, which he had been commanding, to the First Brigade of the same division, which held the only posi- tion in front of Vicksburg where there was thought to. be a possibility of breaking the rebel line of works by assault. Here the rebels had erected a heavy fortifica- tion to protect the exposed part. Under this fort Gen- eral Leggett's command placed a mine, and when it was exploded a large force of picked men, under his personal command, rushed into the breach. They were inside before the rebels understood what had happened, but a fight lasting twenty-three hours was required before the Confederates were finally subdued. In this engagement General Leggett was wounded in several places, but when the negotiations for the surrender of Vicksburg had been completed on the morning of the.
600
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
following day, General Leggett was assisted on his horse and he led the way into the city. When he had par- tially recovered from his wounds, he was brevetted Major-General and given another command. He com- manded two expeditions, one to Monroeville, La., and another to the Yazoo River. In 1864, when Sherman conducted his raid to Meridian, he was in command of his division, and he participated in all battles of the Atlanta campaign, receiving high commendation from General Sherman. He captured the mountain to the left of the Kenesaw during a severe storm, when the thunder completely drowned the noise of battle. He was ordered by General McPherson, on the evening of July 20, 1864, to capture a hill overlooking Atlanta, which was strongly fortified and held by a large force of the enemy. This he did on the following morning, when, after a fierce battle, he succeeded in capturing prisoners almost equal in number to his own whole force. The fierce battle of the day following this was brought on by the desperate attempts of the rebels to recapture this position, when they were repulsed with great loss of life on both sides. In this battle, General McPherson was killed at the very outset when trying to get to General Leggett. For valor shown in this en- gagement, General Leggett was made a full Major-Gen- eral. He was with General Sherman during the whole of the march to the sea, and his last engagement was at Pocataligo, S. C., where, after a running fight of twenty miles, he captured Fort Pocataligo, in January, 1865, releasing the Union forces from Savannah and opening the way through the Carolinas. When the War ended he was given the higliest congratulations on all sides, and when Grant became President he was made Com- missioner of Patents. There he served four years and then removed to Cleveland, where he established him- self as a patent lawyer. He is connected with a num-
601
SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' MONUMENT.
ber of important business enterprises, and is foremost in every work for the good of the city.
As a citizen, General Leggett is highly esteemed. He has been engaged in many philanthropic works, though of these he speaks little. Degrees have been conferred on him by Oberlin, Marietta, Columbia, Muskingum, Harvard and Cornell Colleges. He was appointed a member of the Commission in April, 1888, and elected a member of the Permanent Commission upon its organi- zation.
VALEDICTORY.
Our mission is o'er. Our task is completed. Our work of love has become a reality, ending in a blaze of glory and triumph that has amply compensated every member of the Commission for their many years of de- voted work. With gratitude and thanks to the Lord, to the generous people of our county, to our gallant Comrades of the Union Army and Navy, we have only to express our fondest wish that the handsomest tribute to patriotism in the world will prove a genuine source of pride and supreme pleasure to the present and many succeeding generations.
And now, "with charity for all, with malice toward none," we confidently submit the result of our labor to the test of popular judgment, and commit it to the ten- der care and everlasting watchfulness of the patriotic people of Cuyahoga County, through whose[ devotion and generosity this truly superb and picturesque Memo- rial will forever perpetuate hier gallant and heroic representatives in the unfortunate but ever memorable- period of the Civil War.
,
FINIS CORONAT OPUS.
-
THE PERMANENT MONUMENT
COMMISSION.
XXVII.
T HE Commissioners held their final meeting in the parlors of the Hollenden Hotel, Cleveland, O., on Wednesday evening, July 18th, 1894; the President in the Chair; Levi F. Bauder, Secretary. All of the members were present, except Commissioner Walters, from whom a letter was read expressing regret for his absence. The President stated the object of the meeting to be the selection and appointment of a Board of five Commissioners, to be known and designated as "The Cuyahoga County Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument Commissioners," pursuant to an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed May 14th, 1894. (Ohio Laws, vol. 91, p. 741.)
The following resolution was offered by Commissioner Barnett, seconded by Commissioner Bohin :
Resolved, That the new Board of five Permanent Commissioners, to be elected by this Board, be chosen by ballot, the first ballot taken to be informal.
The resolution was unanimously adopted, whereupon an informal ballot was held, succeeded by a formal ballot, resulting in the election of the following Com- rades as
THE PERMANENT COMMISSION:
WILLIAM J. GLEASON, JOSEPH B. MOLYNEAUX, J. J. ELWELL, M. D. LEGGETT, JAMES PICKANDS.
Immediately thereafter the Commission adjourned, to meet again, if necessary, on the call of the President.
606
HISTORY OF THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY
The Chairman announced dinner in waiting in an ad- joining parlor, to which the members proceeded and took seats around the festive table. And now, after nearly fifteen years of labor, planning, worry and innumerable meetings, care and responsibility were at last at an end; our object was accomplished, and the evening was given over to hearty enjoyment. We were the boys, the same old boys we were thirty years ago. The President assigned Comrade James Barnett to the position of toastmaster, a place that he filled with a dignity and geniality that is his well known characteristic. Rigid formality was set aside; sociability, good cheer pre- dominated. Five hours were passed in the most delight- ful manner. In response to pertinent toasts, impromptu speeches were made by each of the Commissioners. What sincere good-fellowship was exhibited, what stirring reminiscences were indulged in, what genuine appreciation was shown, what glorious incidents were recalled, what a supremely happy time we enjoyed only those present can ever realize. How our minds and hearts will ever bear in vivid remembrance the blissful night we passed together!
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.