History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 25

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 25

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The Governor never for a moment seemed to doubt the ultimate result of the war. He often said to me: " What a glorious country and government we will have when this war is over and the Union reestablished." Throughout his term of office he was vigilant and active in sustaining the National Government and looking after the interests of Ohio soldiers, whether in the field or in the hospital. Few, if any, men in the State had clearer views or more practical business judg- ment than he had. He was impulsive and confident in his opinions and judgment, and his patriotism was of the highest order. The greatest injustice was done him when the Republican party failed to renominate him for a second term ; but his con- duct at the nomination of his successor, John Brough, and his address at the con- vention and promise to do all in his power for the success of the ticket was char- acteristie of his noble nature and brought tears to the eyes of many of his friends, as well as not a few regrets to those who had failed to vote for his renomination.

The foregoing sketch is in no sense intended as a history of Ohio in the War, but is simply a part of my own personal experience and observation during the period referred to.

CHAPTER XV.

OLD GUARD AND NEW.

The interest in military organization and association has been more active since the war than it ever was during any previous time of peace. This has been due, in part, to the improvements which have been made in the militia laws and the encouragement given by the State. It has also been due to the military spirit which the war diffused among the people and the military experience and training which so many thousands of citizens derived from it. Resulting from that experi- ence a great many societies have been organized, foremost among which, in num- bers and chronological precedence, is the Grand Army of the Republic. Of the Ohio Department of this order, General B. F. Potts then Provisional Commander, a convention was held at the hall of the Vedettes in Columbus on January 30, 1867. The resolutions adopted on that occasion disclaimed any political or partisan pur- pose, favored the Schenck bill for the equalization of bounties, publication of the record of Ohio soldiers in the Civil War and the location of a National Soldiers' Home in Ohio, and declared that the office of pension agent should not be made a mere football for politicians. Thomas L. Young was elected Department Com- mander. Another convention of the Ohio Department was held at the Vedettes' Hall on Town Street, June 20, 1867, Commander T. L. Young presiding. On Jan- uary 19, 1870, the Ohio Department, Commander J. W. Keifer presiding, held its Annual Encampment at Naughton Hall. Officers were elected and delegates were appointed to represent the Department at the National Encampment to be held at Washington City the ensuing May. The Fifteenth Annual Encampment of the Department was held at the Fourteenth Regiment Armory on Town Street Janu- ary 25, 1881. John S. Kountz, of Toledo, was chosen Commander. Post Number One, now known as the J. C. McCoy Post, in Columbus, was organized January 7, 1881. It takes its name from Captain J. C. McCoy, of the Fiftyfourth Ohio Infan- try, who served with distinction as an aid to General Sherman at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, during which he was severely wounded. Joshua M. Wells Post, Number 451, of the Department of Ohio, was organized June 19, 1884, and named in memory of Captain Joshua M. Wells, of the One Hundred Thirteenth Ohio Infantry, who was mortally wounded July 20, 1863, in the battle of Chicka- manga. Elias J. Beers Post, Number 575, takes its name from a gallant soldier of the One Hundred Thirteenth Ohio Infantry. It was organized July 5, 1889. A

[186]

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OLD GUARD AND NEW.

branch of the Woman's Relief Corps adjunct to the Wells Post, was organized in Jannary, 1885. The Womans' Soldiers' Aid Society, organized in 1881, cooperates with the McCoy Post.

In the summer of 1882, Dennison Camp of Sons of Veterans was incor- porated by E. H. Gilkey, L. M. Boda, G. M. Grant, A. Z. Boda, W. C. Wikoff and William Neil.

In 1878, the Ex-Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of Franklin County had about two hundred members. On December 2 of that year it elected the following officers : President, W. Neil Dennison ; Vice President, S. W. Gale ; Secretary, Luke Clark ; Treasurer, Andrew Schwartz ; Secretary, C. M. Morris. During the winter of 1879 its regular meetings were held monthly, and were usually the occasion for some appropriate military exercise. On July 3 of that year it erected a flagstaff on the soldiers' lot in Greenlawn Cemetery. A national rennion of soldiers which was held in Columbus in 1883, and of which more will be said in another place, had its origin with this association. In 1881 it purchased with its own funds some attractively situated lots for the interment of soldiers in the Greenlawn Cemetery, and in October, 1883, it inaugurated a movement looking to the erection of a suitable monument on these lots. By the efforts of the associa- tion in pursuance of this project a special act of the General Assembly was passed February 28, 1886, by which the sum of ten thousand dollars was raised by taxa- tion in Franklin County for the erection of this monument. The work was dedi- cated in 1891. The association has held numerous anniversaries and reunions of an interesting nature

Soon after the war closed a revival of the various military companies which preceded it took place and several new ones were organized. Meetings of the Hayden Guards are mentioned in 1865, and of the Meade Rifles and Coldstream Zouaves in 1866. In 1867 the military companies of the city, five in number, were the Sherman Guards (German), Captain Henry Heinmiller ; the Emmett Guards (Hibernian), Captain E. T. De Lany ; Capital City Guards (boys from fourteen to seventeen years of age), Captain Wesley Stephens ; Coldstream Zouaves, Captain Jacob Albright, and the National Union Guards, Captain A. T. Zeigler. Mention of a company of colored men calling itself the Columbus Gnards is made in 1866. Additional companies composed of men of African descent have appeared as fol- lows: The Columbus Grays, organized in March, 1867; the Poe Light Guards, Captain Edward Brown, 1878; the Palmer Guards, Captain Brown, 1879 ; the Foster Guards, organized in September of that year, and the Columbus Light Guard, organized May 26, 1882. A German company, Captain Emil Selbach, was organized in 1874. The Thurman Light Guards, Captain A. B. Coit (Company B, Fourteenth Ohio National Guard) dates its organized existence from the sum- mer of 1878. On April 17, 1884, Hon. Allen G. Thurman, in whose honor this company was named, conveyed to it as a gift, by deed, a valuable lot in Deshler & Thurman's Addition in the southern part of the city. The Walcutt Battery, Cap- tain E. G. Donaldson, was organized September 14, 1882.

On July 23, 1866, the Columbus Vedettes were reorganized with about forty active members; Captain, G. M. Bascom; First Lieutenant, A. S. McDonald ;

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

Second Lieutenant, T. R. Thrall; Third Lieutenant, T. C. Donaldson. Their armory was in the Carpenter Building, on Town Street. At the reorganization meeting G. M. Bascom was chairman, and George D. Freeman Secretary. The Pugh Vedettes, so named in honor of Hon. John M. Pugh, gave their first annual ball at the City Hall February 22, 1878.

The Columbus Cadets, consisting of boys under twenty years of age, was organized January 25, 1874, under the supervision of General C. C. Walcutt. In December, 1875, this movement resulted in the formation of a battalion of two companies of Cadets - A and B - under Major Wade Converse. The officers of Company A were: Captain, William Waggoner; First Lieutenant, Newton Anderson ; Second Lieutenant, George Hardy; Company B: Captain, Martin Gemunder; First Lieutenant, M. Armstrong; Second Lieutenant, Charles Com- stock. On January 28, 1881, the Cadets, after some rumors of dissolution, reached the point of giving their seventh annual ball.

The Ex-Prisoners of War Association was organized December 28, 1882, with the following officers: President, J. T. Harris; Vice President, Robert Dent ; Secretaries, David Bragg and S. W. Gale; Treasurer, D. S. Wilder; Chaplain, E. C. Beach. The State Association of the prisoners met at the Neil House March 17, 1866, and elected: President, A. W. McCormick ; Vice President, J. T. Harris ; Treasurer, E. C. Beach ; Secretary, W. II. Rosevelt.

A company of veterans of the Civil War was organized in August, 1880, with sixtyfive members enrolled. Its purpose was " mutual benefit and support;" officers: Captain, E. A. Selbach; First Lieutenant, A. F. Donnell ; Second Lieutenant, John B. Miller.

The Governor's Guard was reorganized August 8, 1877, with the following officers: Captain, Frederick Phisterer; First Lieutenant, L. R. Doty ; Second Lieutenant, Henry Comstock ; Treasurer, Harry Turney. On November 15, 1877, the Guard, with other companies, was reviewed by Governor Young and gave an evening reception at the City Hall. Various social entertainments under the auspices of the company were subsequently given; among these, on February 3, 1879, a farewell banquet to Captain Phisterer, at the American House. In July, 1879, the Guard held its annual encampment at Green Springs, Ohio ; in July, 1882, at Deer Park, Maryland. In January, 1884, the Adjutant-General was requested to disband the company, which had by that time practically ceased to exist, and took steps to close up its business. The following contemporary comment on this result was doubtless equally appropriate to all organizations of this kind :

The gradual decline of the Governor's Guard is owing to a number of circumstances the most prominent being probably the later admission of younger members who were not susceptible of the discipline or inelined to those rigid business qualities which characterized the company in its earlier days, and when the membership was composed almost exclusively of men. The late tendency of officers to resign and the inability to find others competent to fill their places had a demoralizing influence until the active [members] had been reduced to twentyeight, five below the minimum allowed by law. While quite a large number had more recently applied for and received discharges, there are a number who would gladly have disconnected themselves. but could not do so with heavy dues hanging

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over them and cannot be honorably discharged until these matters are properly arranged. This will probably put an end to the business of unattached companies in the Capital City, as the history of the Cadets and Guard have clearly shown that discipline and busi- ness management lose their force outside the Ohio National Guard.1

On November 12, 1888, preliminary steps to organize the Governor's Guard Veteran Association were taken, and on February 27, 1889, the first annual banquet of that association was held.

On July 3, 1878, a well-attended meeting was held to organize a Veteran Soldiers' and Sailors' Club of Central Ohio. No permanent result came of this effort.

On August 2, 1866, a meeting to organize an association of surviving mem- bers of the State Fencibles, Company B, was held at Ambos Hall, H. Z. Mills, chairman, and John G, Thompson, secretary. In October, 1867, a constitution of the State Fencibles Association of Columbus was adopted and in pursuance of it the following officers were elected : President, Theodore Jones ; Vice Presidents, H. Z. Mills, John Geary and Samuel Thompson; Secretary, T. J. Janney ; Treas- urer, James M. Howle ; Trustees, R. P. L. Baber, S. Loving and John Miller. On November 21, 1878, the Association was reorganized and these officers were chosen : President, Theodore Jones ; Vice President, James H. Neil ; Secretary, A. O. Mitchell ; Treasurer, J. K. Jones. On January 13, 1879, the first annual reunion banquet of the Association was held. These rennions have since taken place regularly, once a year. The Association has also annually paid a touch- ing tribute of remembrance and respect to its deceased members by decorat- ing their graves with flowers. In this ceremony, which comprises religious exer- eises and an address, the Fencibles have been fraternally joined by the Vedettes, Governor's Gnard, Meade Rifles and other associate or contemporary organ- izations ..

Under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic, Memorial Day, in honor of the dead of the National armies of the Civil War, has been regularly observed in Columbus, with more or less ceremony, since 1869.

On May 22, 1885, a certificate of incorporation of the Columbus Memoral Association was filed with the Secretary of State. Its charter members were H. M. Neil, Edwin C. Beach, C. C. White, George M. Smith, N. B. Abbott, John G. Mitchell, Charles T. Clarke, C. N. Bancroft, George Cunningham, James De Wolfe, John H. Grove, John Beatty, George D. Freeman, W. M. Armstrong, Alonzo B. Coit and George K. Nash. On January 18, 1886, a board of twelve directors was chosen. The purpose of this movement was to commemorate the services of Franklin County soldiers in the suppression of the rebellion by the erection of a building which would serve as a depository for war records and relies, provide an armory for the Columbus Battalion of the National Guard and contain a hall suitable for the meetings and reunions of local military societies. At the April election in 1887 a vote was taken on the proposition to levy a tax to provide a fund of 8100,000 for the erection of such a building and resulted in its approval by 1,440 yeas to 796 nays. The sum thus authorized being deemed insufficient, the joint committee having charge of the matter decided, December 21, 1887, to

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

ask for a new law providing for $75,000 additional. Much controversy ensued as to the location of the building and in consequence of this, and of legal informal- ities in the vote taken, the enterprise failed. In March, 1886, the Princess Rink, on West Spring Street, was leased and arranged as an armory for the military companies of the city.

In May, 1869, the bodies of deceased Union soldiers, fortynine in number, then lying in various places of interment about the city, were collected and reinterred on the grounds consecrated to the soldier dead in Greenlawn Cemetery .? The Confederate dead, including ninetythree bodies lying in the graveyard south- east of the city, and those at Camp Dennison, were also collected and buried in the Confederate Cemetery at Camp Chase.

On May 4, 1885, the General Assembly passed an aet appropriating five thousand dollars to erect a memorial to the Ohio soldiers who died upon the battle- field of Gettysburg. For consultation as to the best means of accomplishing the purposes of this act a meeting of Ohio soldiers who took part in the battle was held at Columbus July 4, 1885, and the conclusion was then reached that the act as it stood was practically worthless. Further legislation was therefore asked for, and on April 21, 1886, a law was passed making an additional appropriation of $35,000, and creating a commission consisting of the Adjutant-General, Secretary of State and Auditor of State, whose duty it should be to obtain sites and erect on the battlefield suitable memorials to all the Ohio organizations there engaged. On September 7, 1886, this Commission publicly invited designs and bids for these memorials, and on October 14, same year, the designs were presented by bidders and selected by the Commission in consultation with committees representing the different organizations interested. On December 9, Alfred E. Lee, of the Eighty- second Ohio Veteran Infantry, was appointed Secretary of that Commission. During the next ensuing months contracts for twenty memorials were negotiated by the Secretary and closed, on forms prepared by him, with the approval of the Commission. So rapidly did the work progress that within less than a year from the time the first proposals were received the memorials were completed and dedicated. The ceremonies of dedication took place on the battlefield at Gettys- burg September 14, 1887, and were participated in by Hon. J. B. Foraker, Gov- ernor of Ohio, Hon. James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania, the Ohio Mem- orial Commission, and a large number of visiting Ohio soldiers and citizens. The principal visiting organization was the Fourteenth Regiment of the Ohio National Guard, Colonel George D. Freeman, which proceeded directly to Gettysburg from its annual encampment at Lancaster, Ohio, and from Gettysburg after the ceremonies there, proceeded to Philadelphia, where it took part, September 15-17, in celebrating the centennial anniversary of the adoption of the National Con- stitution.

On August 22, 1887, a Cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburg was opened to the public on East Long Street. It was contained in a large octagonal building erected for that purpose by a company of capitalists and since replaced by a family apartment building known as La Normandie.

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OLD GUARD AND NEW.

The Cincinnati Light Guards halted at Columbus June 6, 1876, on their way to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and were escorted through the city by the Capital City Guards. The Chickasaw Guards, of Memphis, Tennessee, Captain S. T. Carnes, visited Columbus October 25, 1878, and were escorted by the Governor's Guards, the Poe Guards and the Columbus Cadets.

On April 4, 1877, a convention of officers of the Ohio National Guard was held at the City Hall. About one hundred delegates were present. Another con- vention of this kind was held at the same place March 12, 1878. At a similar meeting held in Columbus May 4, 1883, the National Guard Association was organized with the following officers : President, Adjutant-General S. B. Smith ; Vice Presidents, George D. Freeman and E. J. Pocock ; Secretary, HI. A. Axline ; Treasurer, John C. Entrekin. On March 6 and 7, 1884, a State Convention of National Guard officers was held at the Fourteenth Regiment Armory, and the following officers chosen : President, Adjutant-General E. B Finley ; Vice Presi- dents, George B. Freeman and C. B. Hunt; Secretaries, O. J. Hopkins and J. C. L. Pugh; Treasurer, J. C. Entrekin. During the week beginning Angust 12, 1884, the Second brigade O. N. G., Colonel George D. Freeman commanding, held a successful encampment at the County Fair Grounds. Additional state conven- tions of National Guard officers were held at Columbus on January 15, 1885, and February 15, 1887. In August, 1888, a State Encampment of the National Guard was held on the Fuller and Cook farms, comprising about three hundred acres, on the Worthington Road north of the city. The encampment, under the direct command of Adjutant General H. A. Axline, was named Camp Phil. Sheridan. About six thousand of the militia were brought together on this occasion, which was further memorable for the conspicuous and creditable part taken by the whole body in the parade incidental to the opening of the Ohio Centennial Expo- sition September 4.

An encampment of the colored National Guard was held at the County Fair- grounds August 14, 15 and 16, 1882. The Palmer Guards took an active part in entertaining the. guests. A parade of the visiting and local companies attending the encampment took place August 15. Among the companies in attendance were the Mcclellan Guards, the Bluff City Rifles and the Memphis Zouaves, of Memphis, Tennessee ; the Attucks and Sumner Guards, of St. Louis; anl the Georgia Cadets, of Atlanta, Georgia.

On March 29, 1884, the Governor's Guard, Duffy Guards (colored), and Four- teenth Regiment, O. N. G., Colonel George D. Freeman commanding, were ordered to Cincinnati by Governor Hoadly to assist in quelling a formidable and destructive riot. Incensed by the acquittal of notorious murderers, and par- ticularly of one Berner, public opinion in Cincinnati passed the line of forbearance and manifested its resentment in paroxysms of uncontrollable popular rage. This highly excited state of feeling was not long in developing a furious mob, which practically took possession of the city, defied its authorities, set on fire and destroyed the Hamilton County Courthouse, and undertook to demolish the county jail.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

The Fourteenth was one of the first of the summoned regiments to respond to the Governor's call. One of the accounts of the service it performed says :

The Fourteenth Ohio National Guard arrived upon the ground at twelve o'clock, and deploying on Main Street fired westward on Court The first volley killed five people and wounded many more, as could be distinctly seen by a Commercial Gazette reporter. Just the result of the succeeding volleys, fired at longer and longer range as the mob fell back and scattered, could not be determined, but as the fire was delivered with precision there must have been many more casualties. The net result was that at one o'clock the military and police were in at least temporary possession of the battlefieldl and the firemen were permitted to go to work unmolested on what was left of the burning courthouse. There were several militiamen hurt, but none killed outright in this battle.3

During the fighting with the rioters, Leo Voglegesang, of the Fourteenth, was killed. After the battle was over, Israel S. Getz, of the same regiment, was mort- ally wounded by the accidental discharge of a musket. The remains of these young men were brought back to Columbus, their place of residence, and buried with military honors. The Fourteenth Regiment remained on duty, skirmishing with the rioters and guarding property until the trouble had subsided. It then returned to Columbus, where the reports of its gallant behavior had awakened much enthusiasm, and insured for it a very cordial reception. All the military organizations of the city took part in this reception, which was made further notable by the profuse decoration of buildings and the assembly of great crowds of people on the streets and at the railway station to welcome the returning soldiers. In the station building, while a heavy rain was pouring with- out, some welcoming remarks were made by Rev. A. G. Byers and were responded to by Colonel Freeman. The regiment was then escorted to its armory, in the Osborn building, where a more formal reception took place, and welcoming addresses were delivered by Rev. W. E. Moore and General C. C. Walcutt.

Of the military reunions which have taken place in Columbus since the war, mention may be made of those of the Ninetyfifth Ohio Infantry, December 16, 1867 (when a permanent association was organized), and December 16, 1886 ; of the One Hundred Thirteenth, August 23, 1877, August 30, 1878, August 11, 1881 and September 21, 1886 ; of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, December 16, 1869; of General Fuller's Ohio Brigade, October 3, 1878; of the Third Ohio Infantry, October 10, 1878; of the One Hundred Thirtythird, August 16, 1872 and August 20, 1873 ; of the Fortysixth, July 28, 1881 ; of the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, July 3, 1885 ; of the Thirtysecond Ohio Infantry, September 2, 1885 and August 31, 1887 ; of the Regular Brigade, Fourteenth Corps, September 2, 1885 and August 31, 1887; and of the First and Fourth Ohio Cavalry, August 17, 1887. Meetings of the Mexican War veterans took place February 22 and August 20, 1879, and Feb- ruary 28 and September 12, 1888. A meeting of surviving soldiers of the War of Independence and the War of 1812 was held at Judge Taylor's office August 15, 1883. The attendance was small. The Army of the Cumberland held a reunion at Columbus September 16 and 17, 1874, and again in 1891. Meetings of the Society of the Army of West Virginia took place during the National Encamp- ment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Columbus in 1888, and again in 1889.

Тиры Go Freeman.

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OLD GUARD AND NEW.

A company called the Union Light Guard, comprising one man from each county in Ohio, was organized by Governor Tod just before the elose of his administra- tion, and was tendered as an escort to President Lincoln, which service it per- formed until the close of the war. This company held a reunion at Columbus August 27, 1879.

Beginning August 10, 1880, a reunion of soldiers of the Civil War from Ohio and adjoining States was held under the anspices of the Franklin County Ex- Soldiers' and Sailors' Association at the County Fairgrounds, which, for the ocea- sion, took the name of Camp Columbus. This was the first great meeting of the volunteers held in Ohio after the war closed. The attendance, varionsly estimated, seems to have reached twenty or twentyfive thousand. Fifteen thousand are said to have marched in the parade. Among the distinguished visitors present were President Hayes and Generals W. T. Sherman, W. B. Hazen, Upton, Carroll and Devens. The Presidential party arrived August 11, and was formally escorted from the station by the Columbus Cadets, the Governor's Guard, the Palmer Guards, the Fourteenth O. N. G. and a squad of regulars. On August 12 a great reunion meeting at which Governor Dennison presided was held at the Fair- grounds. It was addressed by President Hayes, Governor Foster and Generals W. T. Sherman, W. B. Hazen, John Beatty, W. T. Wilson and W. H. Gibson. Reunions of a large number of the Ohio organizations of the war took place. The parade, organized and led by General C. C. Walcutt, was the largest and finest which up to that time had ever taken place in the city. Its movement was from Broad and Third streets south on High to the residence of W. B. Hayden, and then by countermarch back to and eastward on Town Street. The spectacle was witnessed by tens of thousands of people crowding the streets and buildings. After the parade was dismissed the enthusiastic veterans were addressed at the managing committee's headquarters on State Street by President Hayes and Gen- eral W. T. Sherman. The Executive Committee which organized and managed this reunion was appointed by the Ex-Soldiers' and Sailors' Association Septem- ber 14, 1889 Its members were: W. G. Deshler, John Beatty, H. T. Chittenden, R. Burr, Theodore Butler, F. C. Sessions, Henry Lindenberg. L. D. Myers, Joseph Gundesheimer, P. Egan, M. Halm, W. N. Dennison and Theodore Jones.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 25

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1196