History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 26

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 26

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The next great reunion in Ohio took place in Columbus beginning July 24, 1883, and was also held under the auspices of the Ex-Soldiers' and Sailors' Asso- ciation of Franklin County. As a preliminary step the Association, on March 2, 1882, appointed a committee to raise, by pledge of citizens, a guaranty fund of $5,000. The members of this committee were: W. B. Hayden, H. T. Chittenden, F. C. Sessions, A. D. Rodgers, C. Huston, J. A. Gundesheimer, J. Kershaw, C. P. L. Butler, M. Halm, C. D. Firestone, F. Jaeger, O. G. Peters, George D). Freeman, S. S. Riekly, J. C. Briggs, L. D. Myers, George II. Tyler, A. B. Cohen, F. C. Hensel and Conrad Born. On September 22 this committee reported subscriptions to the amount of $3,800, and, in conjunction with the Association, decided that the reunion should be national in its character. Camp Governor Dennison was laid out at the Fairgrounds under command of General John G. Mitchell, who was assisted by a numerous staff. The officers of the Association at this time 13*

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

were as follows: President, Henry M. Neil; Vice President, S. S. Peters ; Secre- taries, J. W. Myers and D. M. Brelsford; Treasurer, Andrew Schwarz; Chaplain, W. E. Moore.

The Commander-in-Chief of the reunion was Henry M. Neil; Chief of Staff, J. W. Myers ; Chief of Staff to Commander of Camp, Moses H. Neil.

The following committees of the reunion were appointed :

Executive : S. S. Peters, chairman ; D. M. Brelsford, secretary ; A. T. Wikoff, F. C. Hensel, Raymond Burr, C. N. Bancroft, G. W. Snyder.

Grand Army of the Republic: C. T. Clark, David Lanning, Joseph Amos, J. C. Donaldson, Moses H. Neil.

Sailors and Gunboat : Symmes E. Brown, John Heinmiller, Christian Heyde. Finance : W. B. Hayden, James Kershaw, M. Halm, Joseph Gundesheimer, Conrad Born, C. D. Firestone, H. T. Chittenden, W. H. Slade, S. S. Rickly, E. C. Hensel, A. D. Rodgers, Theodore F. Butler.

Decoration : James Kershaw, W. R. Kinnear, John W. Lilley, J. H. Brelsford, C. Jensen, G. W. Snyder, J. L. Stelzig, V. E. Hanna, J. T. Harris, Homer Henderson.

Invitations : S. S. Peters, A. T. Wikoff, H. M. Neil, C. T. Clark.

Entertainment of Invited Guests : George W. Sinks, George K. Nash, J. M. Westwater, W. Y. Miles, Alfred Kelley, II. C. Taylor, W. L. Seott, T. C. Menden- hall, E. L. Hinman, John Joyce.

Press : B. R. Cowen, E. G. Orebaugh, George Tyler, E. O. Randall, Jacob Reinhard, ---- Goldstein, Samuel Shaeffer, J. F. Clegg, H. L. Conard, F. W. Snell, Claude Meeker, George W. Meeker, Will C. Turner, W. F. Felch, S. S. Peters, S. B. Porter, W. S. Furay, W. J. Elliott, W. A. Taylor, L. Hirsch, A. II. Isler, W. P. Brown, S. J. Flickinger, G. F. Ketchum, M. J. Haley, E. K. Rife, J. H. Bowman, J. B. K. Connelly, S. C. Chorlton, L. C. Collins, J. H. Putnam.

National Guard: George D. Freeman, J. C. L. Pugh, Andrew Schwarz, A. B. Coit, B. F. Payne.

Entertainments and Fireworks : S. W. Gale, J. W. Chapin, J. K. Jones.

Railway Transportation : J. N. Champion, J. J. Archer, B. Monnett, E. T. Affleck, F. M. Caldwell, James De Wolf, S. B Porter, W. H. Harrison, W. E. Reppert, W. Camnitz.

Hotels and Intelligence: C. M. Morris, Romeo Gregg, H. T. Judd, S. N. Field. Stands and Privileges : W. J. Camnitz, Robert Dent, A. R. Keller, George Donaldson.

Police : Samuel Thompson, D. W. Brooks, B. McCabe.

Halls and Assignments : W. R. Kinnear, J. N. Champion, R. H. Rownd, W. J. Camnitz.

Printing : L. D. Myers, J. C. Briggs, George T. Spahr.

Badges : C. H. Lindenberg, J. W. Myers, J. F. Earhart.

Music : S. B. Porter, R. E. De Butts, H. A. Axline.

Speakers : George K. Nash, J. F. Oglevee, A. T. Wikoff, C. C. Walcutt.

The first day - Tuesday, July 24 - was devoted to the reception of arriving comrades, registration and preliminary organization. On the second day-Wednes-

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day, 25 - regimental reunions took place and a formal welcome of the visiting comrades was given. A grand display of fireworks took place on the Capitol Square in the evening. Thursday was set apart as the Grand Army of the Republic Day, its principal event being a parade of the Grand Army organizations at two o'clock P. M. A " campfire " was held at the Fair Grounds in the evening. On Friday, twentyseventh, a grand general parade was held, beginning at ten A. M. On each day a morning, midday and evening artillery salute was fired.

The arrivals on Wednesday were continuous, throughout the day, and the city, gaily decorated, resounded with martial music as thousands after thons- sands marched to their places of rendezvous. At ten A. M. welcoming addresses were delivered at the Capitol by Major H. M. Neil, Mayor C. C. Walcutt and Gov- ernor Charles Foster. In the afternoon a large meeting at the Fair Grounds was addressed by Ex-President R. B. Hayes, Governor Charles Foster, Ex-Governor E. F. Noyes, General W. H. Gibson, General M. D. Leggett, Hon. George Hoadly and Hon. J. B. Foraker. In the evening the streets were gorged with people, particularly in the neighborhood of the Capitol Square, where the display of pyro- technics took place. Over the western entrance to the Capitol the word Greeting was emblazoned in huge letters. The newspapers of the twentyseventh expressed the belief that the city had never before contained so many people at one time.

The Grand Army parade of Thursday took place in four divisions led by H. A. Axline, J. B. Allen, J. H. Grove and O. G. Daniels. General S. H. Hurst was the Chief Marshal. Countermarching on High Street, at Livingston Avenue the procession returned north ward and passed the reviewing stand which had been erected at the western entrance to the Capitol Square, and on which General Hayes, Governor Foster and many other prominent persons had taken their positions.

The general parade of Friday under Major H. M. Neil, was still larger and more interesting. Much to their delight the veterans were permitted to carry the flags which their regiments had borne during the war and had deposited in the custody of the State. An imitation ship of war under Symmes E. Brown was drawn in the column by a traction engine, and was mounted with a mortar, from which, at intervals bombs containing various curious figures and emblems were discharged into the air. The divisions were led by George D. Freeman, S. S. Peters, Andrew Schwarz and John G. Mitchell. Starting from Broad Street the column took its line of march south on High Street to Town, east on Town to Fourth, south on Fourth to Friend, west to Third, south to Frankfort, west to High, north on High to Naghten, and then by countermarch back to Broad. The streets and buildings on this route were crowded with people, who fully shared, with the men in line, the enthusiasm of the occasion. When the procession had passed the reviewing stand Ex-President Hayes offered to the crowd the following resolution, which was adopted with loud and unanimous acclaim :

The ex-Union soldiers and sailors of Ohio, assembled at their fourth annual reunion, wish to express their grateful appreciation of the magnificent reception and generous hospitality which have been extended to them by their comrades and the whole people of the patriotic City of Columbus.

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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

NOTES.

1. Ohio State Journal, January 16, 1884.

2. Prior to this collection the distribution of the bodies was as follows : Thirtyfour at. the Clinton Chapel Graveyard, four miles north of the city ; three in the Union Clinton Graveyard, five miles northwest of the city ; six in the City Graveyard, southeast of the city ; and six in the Old Graveyard near the Union Station.

3. The following extract from the official report made to Governor Hoadly by Colonel George D. Freeman, Fourteenth Ohio National Guard, explains in detail the operations of the troops under his command :

" On arriving at Cincinnati depot, we were met by General Ryan, of your staff, also by a deputy Sheriff with written orders from Colonel Hawkins, Sheriff of Hamilton county, to report at once with my command at the county jail. The command was immediately formed, and before leaving the depot, after loading, twenty rounds of cartridges having been issued to each man while in transit, special orders were given to each Company to be cool and especially careful not to fire unless absolutely necessary, and then only on command. Under escort of the Deputy Sheriff and General Ryan, we marched to the jail in the following order and without music : Two companies platoon front, half distance, two companies column of four, covering the right flank of the second company, two companies column of four, cover- ing the left flank of the second company, the remaining companies in column of platoons, half distance. The battery gun, with the drummers, were ordered to place in the center rear of the second company. We were not molested en route, while on the march, further than by the throwing of stones and firing of revolvers in the vicinity of the rear guard, with plenty of swearing and abuse from bystanders. On reporting to Sheriff Hawkins at the jail, he directed me to place the battery gun, with a support at the barricade, on Court Street in front of the jail, then held by the Second Battery of Artillery, acting as infantry ; and to clear Main Street of the mob. To support the battery gun I detailed Companies Hand K ; I then directed Colonel Liggett to take Companies A, F, D and C, climb the north barricade, and march by the way of North Court to Main and drive the mob from that part of Main Street between North Court Street and the canal bridge, and hold the position. Also directed Major Schwarz, with Companies B, Fourteenth Regiment, B and F, Thirteenth Regiment, B, Ninth Battalion, and the Governor's Guard, to march by the way of Ninth Street and clear Main Street from that point to Court Street, and hold the position, and that I would join him at South Court and Main.

"On reaching Main Street, Colonel Liggett ordered Company A to form Company front, and supported by Co. D, to move forward by column right, and press the mob north over the canal bridge; this was done at the point of the bayonet, after hard and patient work. Also directing Companies F and C to face south and hold the mob in front of the Court Honse in check. As soon as Companies A and D had completed the task assigned them, they, with a detail from Company C, utilized a lot of salt in barrels and built a barricade across Main Street at the bridge. While this work was being done by Colonel Liggett's wing, Major Schwarz marched by the way of Ninth Street to Main, where he ordered Company B, Four- teenth Regiment, to form company front and to move north on Main to South Court to clear the street and hold their position ; at the same time ordering Companies B and F, Thirteenth Regiment, and Company B, Ninth Battalion, to form across Main Street and hold the crowd from getting in the rear of his other detachment. Company B, Fourteenth Regiment pushed forward, driving the crowd before them at the point of the bayonet. When nearing South Court the first manifestations of the mob were made to resist further progress of the soldiers. The Governor's Guard were immediately ordered to the support of Company B. The mob in Court Street in front of the Courthouse, pressed forward, throwing stones and using fire-

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arms, and after repeated warnings by myself and other officers to them to fall back and not advance, as they would do so at the peril of their lives, they repeated their demonstrations and started to press down on the soldiers. When, seeing there was no other alternative, the command was given to the first platoon to fire. This checked them, and they fell back into Court Street. One person, the leader of the party, was killed, and several wounded. I immediately hastened to Colonel Liggett's command, and caused Company F to be detailed to move forward and assist in clearing Court Street; they advanced at once, in column of fours, until Court Street was reached, when they formed on right into line. To extend the line the fileclosers were ordered to the left flank. I then ordered Company B, Fourteenth Regiment, and the Governor's Guard, to their support, which they executed on double time. The column moved west on Court Street to the first alley, and halted, the crowd falling back in front of them. After seeing that all the positions were being held, and leaving Colonel Liggett in command, I hastened to the jail to notify Sheriff Hawkins that the square was cleared, and that he could order the fire department to resume their labors ; and to telephone Colonel Church, at the Miami depot, that he might advise you by telegraph of the situation. While at the telephone, an orderly arrived to advise me that the mob had advanced to the point where Conrt Street widens, and under cover of the buildings had pelted the soldiers with stones and fired on them, wounding Colonel Liggett, Captain Slack, and eight others, and that then the command was given to the first platoon of Company F to fire, but with what results to the mob he could not say. He also asked if material could be had to build a barricade I immediately detailed Company H, and with a detachment of police, gathered such material as was at hand, and carried it to Court Street and built a barricade.

" The mob had retreated to the markethouse and contented themselves with firing revol- vers and mnskets from that point. I have reasons to believe that a portion of the rioters left at this time to engage in mischief elsewhere, in their efforts to secure arms and ammunition. About 2 A. M. word came that the mob had got into Music Hall, and had captured three brass cannon belonging to the Second Battery Soon after, a telephone message was received from Colonel Church, saying that a mob of about 200 had three brass cannon at the corner of Fourth and Vine streets. I ordered Companies H and K, with the battery gun, to accom- pany Sheriff Hawkins and myself in their pursuit. Chief Reilly, of the police, detailed one company of his command to lead the advance. The police, being able to move much faster than the soldiers, who had the guns to shove over the cobblestone pavement, were enabled to get there first, and had the honor of capturing the guns. which they pulled by hand to the jail. Farther than to take a detachment to go to the rescue of a member of Company D, who had accompanied a captain of the Veteran Guards to their armory on Walnut Street, to secure overcoats for the soldiers, and an occasional shot exchanged between the rioters and the Guard, nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of the night. Surgeons Guerin and Gunsaulus secured Burdsal's drug store, 409 Main Street, as a temporary hos- pital, where they attended the wounded soldiers and did good service.

"Sunday morning we were reinforced by Colonel Picard, of the Thirteenth Regiment. with Company A of his command, bringing with him from the Miami depot 10,000 rounds of ball cartridges. During the forenoon, a barricade was built at the corner of Main and Ninth streets. Nothing of importance occurred to note. The crowds continued to increase at Ninth and Main, Ninth and Sycamore, at the Canal on Main Street, and especially on Court Street. During the afternoon, threats were made and many became unruly, and numerous arrests were made by the police, under cover of the soldiers and the barricades. The roughs in front of the Court Street barricade succeeded in covering themselves by pushing forward all the women and children to the front, but fortunately for all, they contented themselves with venting their wrath in swearing vengeance when night should come, and occasionally hurling a stone and firing a revolver. At Main Street and the canal, under cover of the bridge, stones were continually thrown at the soldiers, and many were hit, and it was with the greatest effort that the mob were restrained from advancing on the bridge and firing at the guards.

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At last, one fellow advanced, brandishing his revolver and defying the guard, hurled a stone, and hit the lieutenant in command. He was fired npon by the guard, and fell. His friends carried him away. The shot had the desired effect, stopping all further disturbance at this point. Between 2 and 3 P. M. the Fifth Battery, Captain Sintz commanding, arrived and were assigned position ; also 115 officers and men of the Fourth Regiment.

" In consultation with Sheriff Hawkins and Colonel Hunt, it was deemed advisable to move forward, and strengthen the barricade on Sycamore and Ninth streets ; also the one on Conrt Street, facing the canal. As night approached, the crowds diminished, and those drawn by curiosity left the ground. At dusk the positions of the companies were changed from what they were the night previous. All was comparatively qniet, until between ten and eleven o'clock, when the mob, which had gathered at the markethouse on Court and Walnut, commenced firing from this point, protecting themselves by the stands at the mar- kethouse, and by buildings on the corners. No response was made by the soldiers at the barri- cade for some time. When the aim of the mob became too accurate for endurance, it being evident by the halls striking the barricade and Courthouse beyond, that larger weapons than revolvers were being used, it was thought best, at last, to give the mob the benefit of one case of cartridges from the battery gun, by firing it into the markethouse; but before doing so, dne warning was given by the officers that it would be done, if the firing did not cease. Oaths and volley from the mob was the response ; then the twenty shots were fired from the gun. A number of casualties was the result. This cansed the mob to scatter for the time and with the exception of random shots from them, there was comparative quiet until about midnight. Orders were received from General Finley and the Mayor, ordering a detachment to be sent to Walnut Hills, to guard the powder magazines at that point. Colonel Picard, of the Thirteenth Regiment, with three companies of his regiment, was detailed for that pur- pose, and remained there until about five o'clock A. M. After the firing of the battery gun at eleven o'clock, positive orders were issued against the firing of any single shots by the sold- iers, and that no firing should be done, unless some soldier was shot, or the mob endeavored to charge the works. Near one o'clock it became evident that another attack would be made. The soldiers were directed to keep down and quiet. I took my station at the corner of Court and Main, in company with Sheriff Hawkins, Colonel Hunt, Major Schwarz, Captain Sintz, and other officers, and in speaking distance of the officers in charge of the barricade. A fusillade was opened by the mob, from their old position, at the corner of Walnut and Court. No response was made by the soldiers, and after perhaps fifteen minutes, and over fifty shots had been counted striking the Courthouse, others having hit the barricade, the mob became bold and decided to charge, and, as they expressed it with oaths, "clean out those blue coats." The soldiers, obeying orders, remained quiet, and not until the mob came forward, firing and yelling, was the order given to fire, when two volleys, hy company, in quick snecession, were fired. Five persons were known to have been wounded. This was the last firing done, and gradually all became quiet."

CHAPTER XVI.

THE GREAT ENCAMPMENT.

On April 25, 1887, a proposition to invite the Grand Army of the Republic to hold its Twentysecond National Encampment at Columbus was broached in the Board of Trade. Several speeches favoring it were made, and a committee of citi- zens and Grand Army men was appointed to solicit an endorsement of the scheme by the State Encampment to be held on April 27, at Springfield. This committee was entirely successful in its efforts, and a delegation fully committed to Columbus as the place for holding the National Encampment of 1888, was appointed to represent the Ohio Department at the National Encampment of 1887, to be held the ensuing September at St. Louis. To make sure of proper consider- ation of the claims of Columbus at St. Louis, several prominent citizens visited that city at the time of the encampment and labored assiduously to secure its next sitting at the capital of Ohio. Their efforts were crowned with success ; Colum- bus was chosen, among several formidable competitors, as the place for holding the Twentysecond National Encampment.

By this result a prodigions task and commensurate responsibility were imposed. The decision in favor of holding the encampment at Columbus had been made, in part, because of its central position both geographically and with respect to the location of the great mass of the Union volunteers. Another and very influential consideration was the fact that all the Western States had been extensively peopled from Ohio, particularly Ohio soldiers, and that tens of thous. ands of these who had not revisited their Ohio friends since the war desired the opportunity to do so which the location of the encampment at Columbus would afford them. It was therefore evident from the beginning that the attendance at the encampment, both Grand Army and miscellaneous, would be immense, and would lay an unprecedented claim upon the resources and hospitalities of the city. Should this claim be fully and satisfactorily met, the good name of Colum- bus would not only be enhanced but disseminated far and wide; whereas, should failure or even misadventure ensne in fulfilling the extraordinary demands of the occasion the result would be disastrous both to the reputation and the welfare of the city.

These facts were fully realized, and preparations for the creditable fulfillment of the obligations they imposed began at once. As the Board of Trade had taken

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the initiative, so by its action were the preliminary arrangements for the enter- tainment of the National Encampment made. The first step in these arrange- ments was taken by the appointment of a general committee which met Novem- ber 10, and selected a special committee to report a plan of organization. The members of this special committee were Messrs. C. D. Firestone, chairman ; C. T. Clark, representing the J. C. McCoy Post, G. A. R .; N. B. Abbott, representing the J. M. Wells Post, G. A. R .; H. T. Chittenden, representing the Ohio Centen- nial Commission ; and Philip H. Bruck, Mayor of the City. At a subsquent meeting of the general committee held December 27, the special committee reported a plan which was adopted in the following form :

First .- The Centennial Joint Committee, consisting of the Board of Trade Committee, the Mayor of the City, and committees appointed by the City Council and two Grand Army Posts, shall, at the earliest date possible, elect by ballot a chief executive officer, who, for convenience, shall be officially known as Chairman of the Joint Executive Committee. The Chairman can make such appointments of staff officers as he may require.

Second .- The Centennial Joint Committee shall divide up the work into sixteen divisions, or departments, and provide for each division of the work to be performed by a committee consisting of not less than three nor more than nine persons, as shall be deemed proper by the General Council to be hereinafter provided.

Third-It shall be the duty of the Chairman of the General Council, within two weeks after due notice of his appointment, to nominate a chairman for each of the sixteen commit- tees provided for in the second section ; these nominations to be subject to the approval of the Centennial Joint Committee. If any of the nominations are unsatisfactory to a majority of the Centennial Committee, it shall be the duty of the Chairman of the General Council to make other nominations until all the positions shall have been satisfactorily filled.

Fourth-The sixteen persons appointed as chairmen of the several committees, shall, with the Chairman of the General Council, who shall be ex-officio chairman of the Board, constitute an Executive Board, which Board shall, for convenience, be known as the General Council. The General Council, when it shall have been properly organized by the selection of one of its members as Vice-Chairman, and by the selection of a Secretary (the Secretary may or may not be a member of the General Council), shall have full power and control of all matters pertaining to the entertaining of the Grand Army of the Republic, their powers being unlimited, except in respect to the expenditure of money, as hereafter provided.

Fifth-The Chairman of each of the several committees shall nominate as many persons to be members of his committee as the General Council shall deem proper (not less than three nor more than nine, however), and if said nominations are approved by the General Council, the appointments shall be confirmed, otherwise other nominations shall be made until the committees shall have been satisfactorily filled.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II, Part 26

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