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 18

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 18
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 18

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The One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth having been chiefly occupied at the frontier posts of Johnson's Island and Sandusky, its service necessarily involves much of the military history of these posts, and can be better understood by giving a brief synopsis of that history.

Early in 1862, Johnson's Island became a depot ex- clusively for rebel officers who were held as prisoners of war. The reports show that the average number of prisoners confined there, was as follows: 1862-788; 1863-1,205; 1864-2,480; total, 4,473. A cartel for a general exchange of prisoners of war had long been expected, and was finally agreed upon July 22, 1862. Under that cartel, exchanges went on until July, 1863, and a continuance was expected. This, with the belief of general loyalty in the north, and the want of help in Canada, had their legitimate influence on prison- ers, and undoubtedly prevented efforts at outbreak and resistance until late in the fall of 1863. It would occupy too much space to give the details of efforts at rescue, or the attempts at escape and outbreak. The situation was, that at this point were confined officers enough for an army and navy of eighty thousand men. They were within a short distance of the Canada main, and still nearer to a Canada island. The pre- vailing sympathy in Canada was largely in favor of the rebels; and there every facility and encouragement, short of direct participation in our war, was extended to the large force from the rebel army and navy main- tained in Canala to effect a rescue of these rebel offi- cers. If, by such efforts, war should be brought on between the United States and England, a great point would be gained by the rebels. No other depot of prisoners of war was on a frontier, or exposed like this. During the season of navigation it could be reached in a few hours' night run, and during the winter season men and teams could conveniently cross the lake, from island to island, not over five miles of ice intervening in any place. During the season of ice the location of the depot of prisoners practically ceased to be an island. The rebel officers confined there had a large range of friends in the "loyal States." For them the rebel emissaries, traveling in those States, and the secret plotters against the national arms, known as the "Knights of the Golden Circle," and the " Sons of Liberty," had an especial sympathy, and were anxious to aid them by means of escape, or with places of refuge and concealment. These facts, with the difficulty about exchanges, stimulated machi- nations for rescue front and rear, and kept the prison- ers constantly on the qui vive, ready for any desperate adventure until after the fall of Petersburg.

In view of the contingencies on the frontier, and in order to hold these posts with a less force, the con- struction of three forts was begun in the fall of 1864, one on Cedar Point, and two on the island. Laborers could not be hired at the wages offered, and the colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth detailed men from the regiment, who did the greater part of the work, including the mechanical. They completed the forts, and the magazines, and mounted the guns. This work was done in the most inclement seasons of the year, without extra pay, and at a time when the other details were very heavy. But in this instance, as in all others, officers and men applied themselves to the duties before them with an intelligence and zeal which promptly overcame difficulties, and attained the desired result in a very creditable manner. Soon after the surrender of the rebel armies, in the spring of 1865, the prisoners on the island were reduced to about one hundred and fifty. The One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth left the island on the 10th of July, 1865, and was mustered out of service on the 17th at Camp Chase.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Co- lumbus, Ohio, September 21. 1864, for one year. As soon as the organization was completed, the regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps.

Soon after its arrival, it was detailed to perform provost guard duty at Nashville, and during the seige and battle of Nashville, it was in the works; but with the exception of a few companies, nnder Major Cum- mnings, the regiment was not engaged. Quite a num- ber of the officers and men were veteran soldiers, and their knowledge and experience gave the regiment considerable reputation for proficiency in drill and discipline.

The regiment was mustered out of service at Tod Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, on the 18th day of June, 1865.

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SECOND OHIO VOLUN- TEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, March 9, 1865, and started to the field four days later. It arrived at Halltown, near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, March 16th, and reported to Brevet Major- General John R. Brooke, commanding provisional division. On March 20th, it was assigned to the Second Brigade. Strong picket lines were main- tained, and some skirmishing occurred. On March 31st, the division marched through Charlestown, re- nowned for the execution of John Brown. It was afterward stationed at Stevenson station, and Reed's hill, above Winchester. Here the care of the entire country, including Luray valley, devolved upon the commandant of the regiment. These onerons duties

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

were discharged to general satisfaction. The conduct of the men was exemplary. The regiment stood high in the brigade and division for drill, discipline, and efficiency. All the field, and a majority of the staff and line officers, had served in the army previous to entering the One Hundred and Ninety-second, and many in the ranks were scarred veterans, who had faced the enemy on many bloody fields. The regi- ment was mustered out at Winchester, Virginia, Sep- tember 1, 1865. It arrived at Columbus, Ohio, at midnight, September 3d, and was paid and discharged on the 6th of September, 1865.

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIXTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into the service on the 25th of March, 1865. It immediately started for Western Virginia, where it was assigned to an Ohio brigade at Win- chester. Here it remained until July, and gained the reputation of being a well-drilled and well-disciplined organization. In July it was ordered to Baltimore, and assigned to duty in the fortifications around the city, a portion of it being sent to Fort Delaware. On the 11th of September it was mustered out at Baltimore, Maryland, being the last volunteer or- ganization in that department. Of the thirty-eight officers composing the field, staff and line, there were only two who had not served over two years, and the majority had served during the war in other organi- zations. More than two-thirds of the men had belonged to other regiments, and had been honorably discharged for wounds or expiration of term of service.

The men who composed the regiment were mostly young men, and as an organization it was probably excelled by but few in appearance, discipline and soldierly bearing; and though the regiment was not entitled to inscribe on its colors the name of any engagement, still nearly every battle field in the Union was represented in its ranks.

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SEVENTH OHIO VOLUN- TEER INFANTRY.

This was not only the last regiment which Ohio sent to the field, but also the last complete organiza- tion which the State raised for service during the rebellion. Of its officers all except five had seen active service in other commands, and nearly one-half of the men were experienced soldiers. The first com- pany was mustered in on the 28th of March, 1865, at Camp Chase, and the organization of the regiment was completed on the 12th of April. It was recruited to a total strength of one thousand and six men, but by the casualties incident to barrack life its effective force was reduced to about nine hundred. On the 25th of April it left Camp Chase by rail for Wash- ington City, and on its arrival received the news of the surrender of General Johnston's army, dispelling every prospect of active service.

The regiment was temporarily assigned to the Ninth

Corps, and was quartered near Alexandria; from here. it went by rail to Dover, Delaware. May 31st, it moved to Havre de Grace, and engaged in guard duty.

The regiment re-assembled at Camp Bradford, near Baltimore, and was mustered out July 31st. It was paid at Tod Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, and disbanded on the 6th of August, 1865,

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-EIGHTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

There were eight companies of this intended regi- ment fully recruited and assembled at Camp Chase, all of which had been mustered into the service by companies, but not as an organization. Before the maximum was reached the "Confederacy " collapsed, and the men were sent to their homes.

FIRST REGIMENT OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY.

This regiment was organized as the One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, at Camp Portsmouth, September 15, 1862, with eight companies of seven hundred and ninety-six men-aggregate strength. On October 2d, it moved into Eastern Kentucky. In January, it aided in dispersing a portion of Floyd's army. In February, it was ordered to Covington. During the spring it was engaged in numerous expe- ditions to Cynthiana, Paris, Lexington, Mount Ster- ling and interior points, to meet Morgan and other guerrilla thieves. On the 2d of May, 1863, the regi- ment was ordered by the War Department to be changed into the First Heavy Artillery, Ohio Volun- teers, and recruited to the maximum strength of that organization. August 12th, it was so reorganized with twelve companies, of five officers each, and one hundred and forty-seven men, and an aggregate strength of one thousand eight hundred and thirty- nine officers and men. Company M was recruited entirely from Erie county. During its recruitment it constructed the fine and extensive fortifications around Covington and Newport, making Cincinnati one of the strongest fortified cities in the Union. Companies H, K, L and M were stationed at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, under Major Matthews. In Jan- uary, 1864, the regiment moved to Knoxville, Ten- nessee, and assembling at Point Burnside, remained there till February 29th, when it started over the mountains in the heavy snow and very cold weather of that winter, under command of Major Matthews, and arrived at Knoxville, March 9th. In June, four companies were stationed at Loudôn, and a detach- ment at Strawberry Plains. In August, Wheeler made his raid in rear of Sherman's army, and was driven from Sweetwater to Strawberry Plains, a dis- tance of one hundred and fifty miles, by the regiment. The regiment moved to Cleaveland, Tennessee, Octo- ber 7th, and soon thereafter to Chattanooga. It joined in the cavalry raid against Saltville, and on the return of the expedition in December, as a pro- visional brigade, under Colonel Hawley, covered an extensive foraging expedition on the French, Broad

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

and Chucky rivers, in East Tennessee and North Carolina; during the winter of 1864 and 1865, occupy- ing Danbridge, Allen's Ford, Leadville, Greenville and Newport. With constant detached fighting with guerrillas of Vaughn's and Debrill's commands, a large amount of grain, beef and pork was obtained and floated down to Knoxville. In the spring of 1865, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, Fourth Division, Colonel C. G. Hawley, commanding. In con- nection with General Stoneman's raid and the general advance of troops, the brigade moved toward Virginia and North Carolina, and occupied the mouth of Roane Creek and Taylorsville in East Tennessee, and State Gap, Boone, Watauga Gap and head of Yadkin, in North Carolina, shutting up all the mountain passes to the retreating rebels in Virginia. After the surrender of Lee and Johnston the brigade was sent down to Ashville, North Carolina, thence to Raban's and Saluda Gap, and at Webster, Tennessee, received the surrender of the hostile Indians, two thousand strong, under the chief, the rebel Thomas. Return- ing to Greenville, Tennessee, the regiment remained in camp till July 15th, when it started homeward for the muster-out, and was discharged and paid at Camp Dennison. August 1, 1865.

BATTERY B, FIRST OHIO LIGHT' ARTILLERY

was organized at Camp Dennison, and mustered into the service October 8th, 1861, with an aggregate strength of one hundred and forty-seven men. It reported to Gen. George H. Thomas, at Camp Dick Robinson. The first experience it had in the field was a brisk little affair at Camp Wildcat, in which it fired twelve rounds and silenced one of the enemy's guns. November 5th, the battery moved to Fishing Creek, and for a month did scouting duty. It remained here until January 17th, and moved to Mill Springs, where it was engaged in the battle, and did very effective service. February 10th, the battery moved to Louisville and embarked on transports for Nash- ville, where it arrived March 4th, 1862. Here it was assigned to Barnett's Artillery Reserve, and until July 10th was engaged in expeditions through middle Tennessee. It was at the battle of Perryville, but was not engaged. At the battle of Stone River it was involved in the disaster on the right, but suc- ceeded in withdrawing all its guns from the field. It lost seventeen men killed, wounded and missing, and twenty-one horses killed. June 24th, it joined in the advance on Tullahoma. At the battle of Chica- mauga it was charged repeatedly by the rebels, and at last overwhelmed and compelled to leave two guns in the enemy's hands. It was cooped up in Chatta- nooga and suffered all the privations of the siege. October 19th, it went into quarters at Black Oak ridge, where it remained until the battle of Chatta- nooga. It then moved to Nashville.

January 4, 1864, sixty-five of the original mem- bers of the battery re-enlisted as veterans and were furloughed home.

Returning to Nashville, in March, it reported on the 16th at Bridgeport, Alabama, where it remained until July, 1866. It was then sent home to Colum- bus, and mustered out, being one of the last organi- zations to leave the service.

THIRD OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

This regiment was organized in September, 1861, at Monroeville, Huron county. It was largely recruited from Huron and Erie counties. On Janu- ary 14, 1862, the regiment moved to Camp Dennison. In February following, it went to Jeffersonville, Indiana. It arrived at Nashville, Tennessee, March 18th, and on the 29th it left for Pittsburg Landing. Arriving there on the 25th of April, it encamped four miles from the river. During this march Major John H. Foster went with a detachment to Mount Pleasant, and captured a large quantity of bacon which was turned over to the quartermaster. May 4th, the first battalion went on a reconnoisance. At Monterey the enemy were met and driven back to their main body. The Third then moved to within ten miles of Corinth. Here Major Foster advanced to within sight of the enemy's lines. In falling back, he was followed by the rebels, and a brisk fight ensued, resulting in the death of twelve rebels. May 27th, the enemy was discovered in force on the line of the Memphis railroad, west of Corinth, engaged and routed. After much marching, the regiment went into camp at Winchester, July 18th. Leaving this camp August 14th, the regiment and division moved to McMinnville. Here Major Foster took his battalion to Dunlap, five miles from this point. The enemy's pickets were encountered and driven in. Foster then returned to his division. September 3d, the division marched to Nashville, thence to Gallatin and Mum- fordsville, where it arrived on the 21st. On the same day, the first battalion had a sharp engagement with three times its own number, and drove them into their works in three separate charges. . It lost twelve wounded and two killed. The enemy lost thirty-eight killed and sixty wounded.

On the 22d of September, marched to Louisville, and on October 1st, resumed the pursuit of Bragg's rebel army. Near Bardstown, in an attack upon the enemy, Major Foster was disabled. On October 20th, a detachment of the Third, some two hundred and fifty, acting as special escort, were captured by John Morgan's thieves. After being robbed of their valu- ables, and dismounted, they were paroled, sent into the national lines, and ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio.

The remaining portion of the second and third battalions were next stationed on the line of the rail- road from Bowling Green to the vicinity of Gallatin. John Morgan's guerrillas lay at the last named place. Colonel Zahm sent a detachment on a reconnoisance to Gallatin, to ascertain Morgan's strength and posi- tion. The rebel pickets were captured, and the re- quired information obtained. At daylight, the next morning, the cavalry, supported by a brigade of in-

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

fantry, commanded by Colonel C. G. Harker, attacked Morgan's camp, and succeeded in capturing his camp equipage and a large number of prisoners. Morgan retreated to Lebanon, Tennessee. Here for the first time during an active campaign of seven months' duration, the second and third battalions of the Third Cavalry met the first battalion under novel eireumstances. Colonel Zahm, on approaching Gal- latin, was attacked by a cavalry force, which proved to be his own first battalion. This unfortunate mis- take was probably the cause of Morgan's escape at that time, he being apprised, by the rapid firing, of the approach of the national forces.

From Gallatin the regiment moved to Hartsville, Tennessee, where it went into eamp. A detachment, under command of Captain E. M. Colver, under orders, went up the Cumberland river to Carthage, to inter- cept a drove of mules and rebel stores, which were being removed by rebel quartermasters, and accom- panied by an escort of Morgan's guerrillas. After a chase of twenty-six miles, fording the Cumberland river four times, they succeeded in capturing the entire rebel train, and drove off one hundred and forty six mules, routing the escort to the train, killing three, and capturing seventeen prisoners, among whom were two rebel quartermasters and a paymaster.

During the time the regiment was in camp at Hartsville, it was almost daily engaged in skirmish- ing. In December, this portion of the Third Cavalry, moved to near Nashville, and here the first battalion joined its regiment. December 21st, a reconnoisance in force was made to Franklin, Tennessee. The rebels were driven from the place, and some prisoners captured. The forces then returned to Nashville. In this affair the notorious rebel guerrilla, thief, and murderer, Dick McCann, was relieved of his antiei- pated Christmas dinner by some of the boys of the Third Cavalry.

December 26th, the regiment took position on the right of Rosecrans' army, near Franklin. On the 27th, a second attack was made on Franklin, which resulted in a complete rout of the enemy. The regi- ment then moved toward Trinne, and at night en- gaged the enemy.

On December 29th, a reconnoisance in force was made. On the evening of the 30th, the regiment was assigned position on the extreme right. At two o'clock on the morning of the 31st, the first battalion being on picket duty, apprised Colonel Zahm, of the advance of the rebel forces. The brigade was placed in line of battle, and the first battalion formed as skirmishers. At four o'clock in the morning the skirmish line was driven in, and the brigade attacked by Wheeler's rebel cavalry. After two hours' fighting, through superi- ority of numbers, the rebels forced the main portion of the brigade from the field. During the morning of the 31st, the "rebs" captured General McCook's corps ammunition train, and was removing it from the field. The second and third battalions of the Third Cavalry, who withstood the shock, and remained at

their posts, made a dash at the enemy and recaptured the train, taking one hundred and forty prisoners, and killing a number of rebels and horses. During the afternoon of the 31st, the regiment lost, in sustaining a charge made by the rebels, thirteen killed and a large number wounded.

At noon of January 1, 1863, the Third Cavalry left the field to escort a train of four thousand wagons for Nashville, after supplies. The train was attacked at Stewart's creek by Wheeler's rebel cavalry, and the regiment, supported by the Tenth Ohio Infantry, re- pulsed the rebels with severe loss. Later in the day the train was attacked by the same force. A portion of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, eight hundred strong, being the rear guard, was attacked and com- pletely routed by the rebels. The Third Cavalry, in the rear, came up and met the enemy. A sharp fight ensued, lasting until after nightfall, in which the rebels were repulsed. The train was safely taken through to Nashville, laden with supplies, and re- turned to Murfreesboro'. After the battle of Stone River, the Third Cavalry was sent in pursuit of the enemy, and near· Middleton, Tennessee, attacked his rear guard and captured one of his trains. The regi- ment then returned and went into camp at Murfrees- boro'. While stationed here, the second battalion was detached, and reported to Colonel Hazen, at Ready- ville. Here it skirmished frequently with John Mor- gan's outlaws. While in camp at Murfreesboro', a detachment of the third battalion, while on a scout, was attacked and completely surrounded by the ene- my. A demand was made for surrender, and refused. Lieutenant Brenard, in command, ordered a saber charge, and eut his way through the enemy's lines with slight loss, taking a number of rebel prisoners. On the general advance of the army from Murfrees- boro', in July, 1863, the Third was engaged in skir- mishing almost daily. In the Sequatehie valley the enemy was encountered, and a running fight of three days' duration ensued. During the battle of Chieka- mauga the regiment occupied a position on the ex- treme left, and afterward moved in pursuit of the rebel Wheeler's cavalry, through Tennessee, engaging them at MeMinnville and Farmington. The latter engagement was a handsome and successful cavalry fight. Wheeler's forces were completely routed and demoralized, large numbers of the rebels being killed and captured. In this engagement the Third Cavalry lost two men killed and twenty-three captured.

In November, 1863, detachments of the regiment scouted through the mountains of East Tennessee. In January, 1864, at Pulaski, Tennessee, the Third Cavalry re-enlisted. Of the original number of thirteen hundred, only four hundred effective men were left at this date. On the 4th of February. it left Nashville for Ohio, and reached Monroeville, where it met with a cordial reception. On March 2. 1864. the Third re- assembled at Monroeville. Through the efforts of Major Charles W. Skinner and Captain E. M. Colver, nearly one thousand recruits were enlisted, and on its

HISTORY OF HURON AND ERIE COUNTIES, OHIO.

return to the front at Nashville, it numbered over fifteen hundred strong. At Nashville it was re-equip- ped, armed and mounted.

About May 1st, the Third moved from Columbia, Tennessee, as the advance guard of the Seventeenth Army Corps. At Courtland, Alabama, the regiment was engaged with the rebel General Rhoddy's com- mand. The rebels were routed with the loss of a lieutenant-colonel, major and upward of thirty men killed and wounded. Reaching Rome, the Third Cavalry was assigned to a position on the left flank of Sherman's army, and participated in the engagements at Etowah, Kenesaw Mountain, Noonday Creek, and at the crossing of the Chattahoochie river. It was sent to Roswell, Georgia, to destroy the rebel stores and factories at that place. In this affair four hund- red factory-girls were captured and sent through the lines. At McAfee Bridge; on July 9th, four com- panies of the Third Cavalry, under command of Captain E. M. Colver, engaged a superior force of rebel Texan cavalry, killing a lieutenant and seven men, and capturing a large number of prisoners and horses.

The regiment was engaged in the battle of Peach Tree Creek and Decatur, and in the raid to Covington, Stone Mountain, and in the Stoneman raid, in each of which it suffered severely. After the occupation of Atlanta the regiment encamped at Decatur, Georgia. It was sent in pursuit of Hood. It was engaged in the battles of Franklin, and before Nashville. It was engaged in the Wilson raid through Alabama and Georgia, and at Selma, Montgomery, Macon and Grif- fin. It was engaged in the chase after Jeff. Davis. Lieutenant D. C. Lewis and a number of other officers were captured at Selma. Lientenant Lewis was after- ward paroled, and while on his way home, was killed in the explosion of steamer Sultana, near Memphis.

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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 18

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