History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers, Part 17

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company
Number of Pages: 726

USA > Ohio > Erie County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Huron County > History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers > Part 17

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).

In February, 1865, it moved to New Orleans and camped on the old battle-ground. On February 28th it embarked on the ocean steamer Empire State, and on March 3d, landed at Fort Gaines, on Dauphin Island. On the 19th it moved up Fish river, landing some thirty miles east of Spanish Fort. On the 27th the fort was invested. The siege lasted until April 8th, when the fort was evacuated. In these operations the the Seventy-Second lost one man killed and three wounded. On the 19th of April the regiment moved against Fort Blakely, which was captured the same day. The brigade was finally ordered to Meridian, Mississippi, where it remained, doing garrison duty until June, when it was placed along the line of the railroad west of Meridian. About this time the men whose term of service would expire before October 1, 1865, were mustered ont. In September, the regiment moved to Corinth, but it was soon ordered to Vicks- burg, where it was mustered out on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1865. It at once embarked for Ohio, and was paid and discharged at Camp Chase.

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

EIGHTY-EIGHTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized in the latter part of July, 1862, its nucleus being four companies, called the "First Battalion of Governor's Gnards, Ohio Volunteer Infantry." It was mustered into the ser- vice by Captain A. E. Drake, United States army, Oc- tober 27, 1862, and was at once placed on duty at Camp Chase, near Columbus, then filled with rebel prisoners. The duty here was very ardnons. The prisoners were confined in three separate tenements, and it required the whole strength of the regiment to fill the details. In a few months the service became exceedingly monotonous to both officers and men, and all were clamorons to go into the field. The regi- ment was recruited to the maximum number July 29th. George W. Neff, Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Kentucky Infantry, who had but recently been re- leased from a thirteen-months' imprisonment in rebel prisons, was appointed its Colonel. He at once placed the regiment under the strictest discipline, and soon had it drilled to the highest point of efficiency; and the hope was cherished by the officers and men that they would be afforded a chance to display their ac- quirements at " the front." This hope was soon dis- sipated, orders having been received for the regiment to remain on duty at Camp Chase. A small detach- ment only was permitted to visit West Virginia and Maryland. This was soon brought back to aid in the capture of the freebooter John Morgan and his thiev- ing horde. During this raid the Eighty-Eighth did effective service. In October, 1863, the regiment re- lieved the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio at Cin- cinnati. They did provost duty in that city until the latter part of December, when it became neces- sary for the regiment to resume their duties over the ** grey-backs" at Camp Chase, and it remained on the same duty until July 3, 1865, when it was form- ally mnstered out of the service.

The Eighty-Eighth Ohio was a complete and well- drilled regiment, and, if given a chance, would have undoubtedly performed good service in the field.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was one of that series of patriotic organizations raised in the dark days of 1862, when the national cause seemed to be drifting into final de- feat. It was recruited from the counties of Huron, Erie, Seneca, Crawford, and Wyandot, and organ- ized and mnstered into the service at Monroeville, Ohio, on the 30th day of August, 1862. Companies A, B, D, and G were recruited from the connties of Huron and Eric.

On the 4th of September, although not quite ready for field service, the regiment was hurried by rail to Cincinnati, and thence across the river to Covington, Kentucky, to assist in repelling a threatened raid by Kirby Smith. After lying in camp near Covington until September 24th, it was taken by rail to Lonis- ville, Kentucky, and incorporated with Bnell's army.

It was assigned to Carlin's Brigade, Mitchell's Divis- ion. On October 1st the regiment marched in pur- suit of Bragg, and on the 8th, was engaged in the battle of Perryville. In this, the first encounter with the enemy, the regiment bore itself well and bravely, and received the praise of its brigade and division commanders. It lost several men. Following in pursuit of the rebels, it had a pretty severe skirmish with their rear guard at Lancaster. The march was continued to Nashville, Tennessee. Here Jeff. C. Davis took command of the division, and on Decem- ber 26th it marched with the Army of the Cumber- land. On the afternoon of the same day, the enemy was met, and a line of battle formed. The Second Brigade, in which was the One Hundred and First Regiment, soon engaged the enemy with spirit, sus- taining a sharp fire until it was dislodged. Following the enemy some two miles, another sharp engagement took place. This resulted in driving the enemy from the field, and capturing several guns.

On December 30th, this brigade was the first to reach the battlefield of Stone River. It at once en- gaged the enemy's ontposts, drove them back, and just at night became busily engaged. The regiment lay on its arms all night, and was fully prepared to receive the shock of battle that came with daylight on the 31st of December. The brigade stood firm, re- pulsing every attempt to break it, until Johnson's Division and Post's Brigade, of the First Division, on the right, being driven from their positions, the enemy appeared on the right flank and rear of the brigade, when it fell back and took a new position, and held the enemy in check. The regiment continued in the hottest of the fight, taking up six different positions, and stubbornly maintaining them during the day. Colonel Stem and Lieutenant-Colonel Wooster were both killed on the front line, on the right of the army. Both of these officers died while leading their men to deeds of daring. The regiment was held on the front line, on the right, until January 2d, when dis- aster was threatening the left. It was one of the many regiments that were transferred to the left, and with the bayonet helped to turn the tide of battle. It re- mained there until the close of the battle, losing seven officers and two hundred and twelve men killed and wounded.

During the remainder of the winter the One Hundred and First was engaged constantly on expedi- tions through the country surrounding Murfrees- boro', suffering very much from fatigue and exposure. It was no uncommon thing to see as many as fifty men of the regiment marching without shoes or their feet, and so ragged as to excite both the sympathies and the risibilities of their companions. This march- ing up and down the country-the purposes or utility of which were, oftentimes, wholly unknown-lasted until April, 1863, when the regiment was allowed to go into camp at Murfreesboro' for rest.

On the 24th of June, the Tullahoma can- paign was inaugurated. The One Hundred and

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

First moved in the direction of Liberty Gap, and was engaged for two days at that point, with Cleburne's rebel division. It followed the fortunes of the army, up to Chattanooga, and at the close of that campaign was with Davis' division at Winchester, Tennessee. . August 17th, it marched on the Chattanooga campa- ign going over Lookont Mountain to Alpine, Georgia. From here it countermarched over the mountain to the field of Chickamauga, where it participated in that battle on the nineteenth and twentieth of August, displaying great coolness and gallantry. During the heat of battle on the second day, the One Hundred and First retook a National battery from the enemy, fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets. Re- tiring to Chattanooga, it became a part of the First Brigade, Fourth Division, Fourth Army Corps, and on October 28th, marched to Bridgeport, Alabama.

Here it remained until January 16, 1864. On May 3, 1864, it marched on the Atlanta campaign, meeting the enemy's outposts at Catoosa Springs. The regi- ment was thrown forward as skirmishers, and drove the enemy steadily up to Tunnel Hill. At Buzzard's Roost it advanced to within thirty or forty yards of the enemy's main line of works, but the fire was so murderous that the men were obliged to seek shelter under the overhanging rocks, and remain until the darkness at night gave them an opportunity to retire. As the campaign progressed, the regiment was almost constantly engaged in the fighting of that arduous march, and from Atlanta moved to Nashville.

At the battle of Franklin, just at night fall, the One Hundred and First was ordered to retake an angle of the works held by the enemy, which it did with the bayonet, and held the position until ten o'clock p. m., notwithstanding the rebels were almost within bayonet reach during all that time.

The One Hundred and First was engaged in the battle of Nashville, December 15th and 16th, and participated in the assault on the enemy's center on the 15th. After the battle it followed in pursuit of Hood to Lexington, Alabama, and marched thence to Huntsville, where it went into eamp. It lay at Huntsville until June 12, 1865, when, with other regiments it was mustered out of service. It was then sent home by rail to Ohio, placed m Camp Taylor near Cleveland, paid off, and discharged.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was composed almost wholly of Germans. It was organized August 25, 1862, at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland. It lay in camp at this place, preparing for the field, until the latter part of September, when it moved to Covington, Ken- tucky. It lay there a short time, was taken by rail to Washington, and for a month was engaged in con- strueting fortifications. In the early part of Novem- ber, the regiment marched to Fairfax C. H., Virginia, and thence to Stafford (. H. Here it was assigned

to the Second Brigade, First Division, Eleventh Army Corps.

After considerable marching it went into winter quarters at Brook's Station. On the 29th of April, 1863, the One Hundred and Seventh, with its brigade and Division, moved to Chancellorsville, where, on May 2d and 3d, it took part in the battle of that name. In this disastrous affair the regiment suffered terribly, losing two hundred and twenty officers and men-killed, wounded, and prisoners. Returning to its former camp, it remained until June 12th, when it marched to Gettysburg. It reached there on the morning of July 1st, and was at once engaged with the enemy. In the first day's fight the regiment and entire Eleventh Corps were com- pelled to fall back through Gettysburg to Cemetery hill, where a new line was formed and held during the remainder of the battle. In falling baek the regiment lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, two hundred and fifty officers and men. In the second day's fight, a charge was made, just at night, in which it again lost heavily. In this affair the regi- ment captured a rebel flag from the Eighth Louisiana Tigers. Its loss in the battle of Gettysburg-killed, wounded and prisoners-was over four hundred out of five hundred and fifty, rank and file, with which it entered. Captain Fisher, of Company F, was shot through the breast and arm; and Captain Vignns, of Company H, had his right arm shot off.

With one hundred and eleven guns, all that was left of the regiment, it joined in the pursuit of the rebel army. August 1st, the regiment sailed to Folly Island, S. C., where it performed picket duty until January, 1864. In that month it was taken in boats to Kiowah Island, and from there waded over to Seabrook Island, and drove the enemy from that point. On February 23d, the regiment was taken to Jacksonville, Florida. Here it had a few skirmishes with the enemy. December 29th, it was taken to Devos Neck, S. C. While here it had several skir- mishes with the enemy, and lost five men killed and fifteen wounded. March 23d, it marched to Sumter- ville, met the enemy, defeated him, and captured three peices of artillery, six horses, and fifteen prisoners. In this affair the regiment lost four men wounded. Marching to Singleton plantation, it met and skirmished with the enemy, losing two men wounded. A few days later, near the same place, it captured a train of ears, which was destroyed, with thirteen locomotives and a large amount of provi- sions and ammunition.

On April 16, 1865, news was received of the surrender of Lee's and Johnston's armies: and, amid great rejoicings over the auspicious event, the regi- ment marched back to Georgetown. S. C. Three weeks thereafter it was taken by steamer to Charles- ton, where it remained on provost duty until July 10th, when it was mustered out of the service and sent home to Cleveland, where it was paid off and discharged.

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD OHIO VOLUN- TEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Monroeville, Huron county. Companies B, C, E, G., and a por- tion of H, I and K were recruited from Huron and Erie counties. Seven companies were mustered into the service on the 24th of September, 1862, two on the 29th, and one on the 16th of October. The regi- ment moved on the last-named day to Zanesville, Ohio, whence it was taken down the Muskingum river to Marietta; thence by rail to Belpre, and across the river to Parkersburg, Virginia; thence by rail to Clarksburg, reaching that place October 20th. On the 27th of October the regiment made its first march to Buckhannon, making twelve miles the first day, ar- riving there on the 30th. This was considered good marching, and almost exhausted the men, under the enormous loads then permitted to be carried on their persons and in their knapsacks. The regiment re- sumed the march on November 3d, first to Beverly, then to Huttonsville, and finally to Webster. On November 18th, it left this point and moved by rail to New Greek, where it remained in camp until Decem- ber 12th. While lying in this camp, Captain Horace Kellogg, of Company B, was sent to St. George C. H, with orders to assess the rebel citizens of that place and vicinity for outrages committed on Union citizens by Imboden's guerillas. Five thousand dol- lars were collected under this order and paid over to the Union sufferers. From this point the regiment marched to Petersburg, West Virginia, arriving De- cember 18th. On January 3, 1863, it was ordered to Moorefield to relieve the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio, which was surrounded by rebel cavalry, and in imminent danger of capture. The rebels were driven off and the regiment rescued. January 10th, the regi- ment left Moorefield for Romney. It arrived on the 12th and remained some six weeks, doing scouting duty. On the 1st of March the regiment moved to Winchester, and while there made several raids up the Shenandoah valley. Nothing further of interest oc- curred until June 13th, at which time Lee's whole rebel army surrounded Winchester. On the afternoon of the 13th, the One Hundred and Twenty-Third, with its brigade, had an engagement with General Early's corps, in which it lost, in killed and wounded, nearly one hundred men. On the 14th the national forces were driven into their fortifications and hardly pressed by the overwhelming numbers of the rebel army. That afternoon they were under a heavy artillery fire for two hours. The outworks being carried by the rebels, it was decided to evacuate the place. The troops marched out of the works in silence at two o'clock in the morning, leaving the artillery in posi- tion, but spiked. At a point about four miles on the Martinsburg road, at four o'clock in the morning, the rebels were found in position along the road, and fur- ther retreat was cut off. In attempting to cut their way through, the regiment lost, in killed and wounded, about fifty men. In this affair the One

Hundred and Twenty-Third made three distinct charges, but to little purpose. While it was forming for a fourth charge, Colonel Ely, of the Eighteenth Connecticut, temporarily in command of the brigade, surrendered to the enemy, and the whole brigade, except Company D of the One Hundred and Twenty- Third, were made prisoners of war. They were taken to Richmond, where the officers remained in Libby prison about eleven months. Two officers made their escape, and two were exchanged and sent home. The remainder of the officers were, after eleven months' confinement, removed to Macon, Georgia, thence to Charleston and placed under fire (southern chivalry?), thence to Columbia. From this point several officers made their escape, and made their way successfully into the national lines. Among these were Captains J. F. Randolph (Company B), O. H. Rosenbaum (Company G), and Lieutenants Frank B. Colver and B. F. Blair. Several officers were exchanged, among them Lieutenants Frank A. Breckenridge and Charles H. Sowers. Captain Charles H. Riggs (Company () died in Charleston, South Carolina, of disease con- tracted in prison. The privates of the regiment were exchanged within a few months and sent to the pa- roled camps at Annapolis, Maryland, and Camp Chase, Ohio.

Major Horace Kellogg, who was wounded, made his escape from the enemy at Winchester, collected the stragglers of the regiment at Martinsburg, where the paroled men of the regiment, after exchange, joined him, about the first of September, 1863. At this place the regiment was newly armed and equipped. About the 1st of April, 1864, the regi- ment moved to Winchester. From there it marched to Cedar creek, and made a raid up the valley. After a sharp fight at New Market, (on May 15th), in which seventy-nine men were lost (killed and wound- ed), in the regiment, the forces fell back to Cedar creek. General Hunter took command, and on the 24th of May, started up the valley, arriving at Port Republic on the night of the 4th of June. On the next morning, at daylight, the enemy was enconn- tered. A brisk fight ensued, in which the rebels were whipped, and two thousand prisoners captured. The next day the command entered Staunton. On June 11th, Lexington was reached. Here General Hunter destroyed the Virginia Military Institute, which had for years been preparing officers for the confederacy. From Liberty to Lynchburg, an almost constant skir- mish was had with the enemy. On the morning of the 14th, the rebels were heavily engaged, the con- flict lasting all day. After this, the army made the memorable and disastrous retreat to the Kanawha val- ley. This was almost a continual fight from Lynch- burg to Salem. On this retreat the most intense suffering was endured from exhaustion and starva- tion. Numbers of men lay down by the roadside and died from one or the other of these causes. At length Ganley Bridge was reached, and supplies were distributed to the famished men. On the 2d of July,

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

the regiment, with its brigade and division, moved by steamboat and railroad a circuitous route to Martins- burg, from which the One Hundred and Twenty- Third had started two months and a half before, with seven hundred men. It now returned with two hun- dred and fifty. July 18th, the regiment, with the Army of West Virginia, was thrown across the Shen- andoah river. Early's rebel corps was met, and a brisk fight ensued. The army was driven, and in at- tempting to recross the river, a number of the men of the One Hundred and Twenty-Third were killed, including Lieutenant C. D. Williams, of Company B. That night the rebels retreated to Winchester, and up the valley. On the 22d of July, the national troops moved after the rebels toward Winchester, and on the 23d, came up with them, and after a sharp skir- mish, drove them. The next morning the rebels at- tacked in force, and in their turn drove the national troops. Soon a new era dawned upon the Shenan- doah valley. The command of the National troops was placed in the hands of General Phil. Sheridan. Getting his troops well in hand, he moved them up the valley.

At Berryville the rebels were met, and skirmished with, both sides losing a few men. Following the rebels to Fisher's Hill, skirmishing by the way, the army went into camp for several days. Anticipating heavy rebel re-enforcements, onr army retreated to Harper's Ferry, and entrenched themselves. August 26th, the army again moved up the valley to Charles. town. Berryville was the next point reached. Here the One Hundred and Twenty-Third had a sharp fight, losing twenty-five men, killed, wounded and captured. On the morning of September 19th, the enemy was met near Winchester, and another battle was fought. In this affair the regiment was engaged on the right, and formed part of the grand flanking column which changed the fortunes of the day. At about three o'clock in the afternoon, the regiment made a charge, which drove the enemy from the field, and decided the fortunes of the day. The routed rebel army was pressed by the infantry to a point two miles beyond Winchester, and the cavalry was then left to gather the fruits of the victory. At early dawn the infantry again took the road in pursuit. Reaching Strasburg, the enemy was discovered be- hind strong works. General Crook's command, in which was the One Hundred and Twenty-Third, was placed in the reserve. Moving his command to the right, he maneuvered to reach the left flank of the rebel army. The movement was successfully per- formed. Watching his chances, General Crook charged the rebels, and scattered them like chaff. In this action the regiment lost six men. Crook's command encamped near the battle-field. The na- tional forces remained at Cedar creek until the 19th of October, engaged in building fortifications.

Now comes disaster. On the morning of October 19th at early dawn, the enemy, under cover of a dense fog, crept through a gap unfortunately left in the

national line of pickets, and turned the left flank of the army, held by General Crook's corps, pushing the army back five or six miles, capturing the works and all that was in them. In this rout the Sixth Corps acted as a breakwater to the rebels, and held them in check nntil the national lines were re-formed. At this juncture General Sheridan, who had been absent at Winchester, appeared on the field, having made his famous ride of twenty miles. He at once infused new life into the demoralized forces. Making some slight changes in the order of battle, he rode down the lines amid the cheers of the men, and ordered an immediate advance of the entire line. The enemy were swept from the field, losing all their own artillery and that which they had captured in the morning. This rout of Early's forces was complete and final. The Shenandoah valley was cleared almost entirely of opposition to the national arms. Falling back to near Winchester the troops went into camp; next moved to Opequan creek, thence to Burmuda Hun- dred, and arrived at Deep Bottom, December 21.1864. The regiment lay in camp in this vicinity until March 25, 1865, when it moved to Chickahominy, and from there to Hatcher's Run. On March 30th, an advance was made on the rebel works, and skirmishing con- tinned until the morning of April 2d, when a general charge was made and the rebel works were carried. The One Hundred and Twenty-Third during this time was, for three days and nights, on the skirmish line without relief, and their rations were carried them by Lientenant E. H. Brown, regimental quartermas- ter-a most dangerous duty. The loss of the regi- ment was quite severe. It captured two battle-flags and a number of prisoners. The rebels were followed toward Petersburg. On April 3d, the whole national army marched in pursuit of Lee toward Danville. On the 5th, the regiment was captured by Lee's rebel cavalry, not however until after a hot fight of three or four hours, with heavy loss on both sides. Captain J. F. Randolph (Company B) was shot through the right lung in this fight. The prisoners were carried with the rebel army to Appomattox C. H. At this point the rebel army surrendered to the national forces, and the prisoners were resened.

The regiment immediately thereafter left City Point, on transports, for Annapolis, Maryland, and thence to Camp Chase, Ohio, where it remained until the 12th of June, and was then mustered out of the service.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH OHIO VOLU'N- TEER INFANTRY.

This regiment, although chiefly occupied in guard- duty within the borders of the State, was an organi- zation of three year's troops, enlisted and mustered into the United States' service, and was liable to service wherever required. It attained minimum strength on the 25th of December, 1863, and con- sisted of four companies, before known as " The Hoffman Battalion," raised at different times in 1862.

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

Six new companies were mustered in at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, between the 8th and the 15th of Jan- uary, 1864. The four old companies had been on duty at Johnson's Island nearly all the time since their muster-in, but had frequently furnished detachments for service elsewhere, including a short and very active campaign in pursuit of rebel troops in West Virginia, in 1862.

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.

History of the Fire lands, comprising Huron and Erie Counties, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers, Part 17

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.) Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company Number of Pages: 726

Author: Williams, W. W. (William W.)
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : Press of Leader Printing Company
Number of Pages: 726