USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 77
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On May 20th, Gov. Bartley in compliance with the requisition of Pres. James K. Polk issued his call or general order for the generals of division to ascertain how many men would enlist for service in Mexico. Gen. Bell of Greenville ordered the assembly of the different brigades, the First to assemble at Dayton, May 26th. Gen. Speice ordered his brigade to assemble at Dayton on the morning of the 26th, and nine companies did so. The companies were marched to the lower part of the city where they were addressed by Gen. Bell. The National Guard of Germans, began to recruit at their quarters on Second street between Main and Jefferson. The Dragoons recruited at McCann's store, but on being informed that the government did not want cavalry they reorgan- ized under the title of Dayton Riflemen. On the next day it was known that three regiments of Ohio troops would be wanted for immediate service.
On Thursday evening, May 28th, a large meeting of citizens was held at the city hall in Dayton at which Thomas Brown, Peter Odlin, William Eaker, T. J. S. Smith and Frederick Gebhart, all prominent professional and business men of the city, were appointed a committee to raise funds to pay the necessary expenses of the volunteers from this county before they were mustered into the United States service. An executive committee of twenty was appointed to raise money for the support of the families of the soldiers during their absence in Mexico. As these men are familiar and notable characters in the history of this war-time move- ment it is interesting to note their names :
Robert W. Steele, H. G. Phillips, P. P. Lowe, Henry L. Brown, Alexander Swaynee, and Samuel Marshall of Dayton, Joseph Barnett of Harrison town- ship, Jefferson Patterson of Van Buren township, Henry S. Gunckel of German township, Jonathan Harshman of Mad River township, John Conley of Miami
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
township, John Burnett of Jefferson township, John Sherer of Jackson township, William Baggott of Butler township, Amos Irwin of Washington township, Moses Sherer of Wayne township, Isaac Voorhees of Clay township, and Dr. Lindsey of Perry township.
Of this committee, H. G. Phillips was chosen chairman and Robert W. Steele, secretary, Henry L. Brown, treasurer. The bustle of a vigorous preparation went steadily on. A generous and patriotic people were back of the movement; fre- quent meetings were held, additional committees were appointed and every preparation made for the comfort of the soldiers and their families. Pledges were made to continue this support, and it is stated on good authority, that these pledges and promises were sacredly kept, and that the families left by death of the soldier patriot, were taken care of by the citizens.
The governor designated Dayton as one of the places for the gathering of the troops. Gen. Speice established his headquarters at the corner of Third and Jefferson streets. Camp Washington was established in the Mill Creek bot- tom, near Cincinnati. Samuel R. Curtis, adjutant general of the state, was placed in command of this camp. Maj. Tilton of Dayton acted as mustering officer for the volunteers who enlisted in Dayton. On June 3, 1846, the two companies organized in Dayton, were ordered to report at Camp Washington. The next morning, they were formed up in front of the National hotel and a beautiful new flag was presented to them by the citizens. On the one side the ladies had em- broidered an eagle with the motto "our country" and on the reverse side, the
state arms and the words: "The Dayton Riflemen." Lieut. DeCamp Bre- count, who survived the war many years, and lived and died in Dayton, was presented with a pair of revolvers, by his gentlemen friends. At sunset on that day, the guards of ninety-six men under the command of Capt. Lewis Hor- mell and the riflemen with ninety-two men, under Capt. Luther Giddings, were escorted to the public landing at the canal, between Second and Third streets, by the dragoons, a new company hastily organized and who were using the dis- carded arms and equipments of the former company. They were aided by the artillery company and followed by great crowds of citizens. The scene was im- pressive, the weeping farewells of the wives and relatives, the cheering of the crowd and the roaring of a salute. This salute was fired from the one piece of cannon, an iron gun dubbed "Mad Anthony." The companies were embarked on two canal boats and departed on their way to the camp at Cincinnati.
These new soldiers arrived at the camp on the 5th, thus requiring two days to make the trip from Dayton, over a distance now accomplished by a train of steam railway cars in one and three quarter hours. The men found camp life somewhat more irksome than living at home. The flag of the riflemen was made use of as the standard of the camp. Soon after the departure of these two com- panies, the military spirit left behind manifested itself in the recruiting of the Dayton Light Infantry, A. L. Stout, captain and on June 9th, this company left Dayton by boat. As more companies had reported than could be used, the Day- ton company was ordered home.
On June 23rd, the several companies were organized at Camp Washington, as the First Ohio infantry. In this regiment, Capt. Hormell's and Capt. Gid- dings' companies formed a part, the rifles with seventy-seven men as Com-
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
pany B and the guards as Company C, with seventy-seven men. In the Second and Third regiments of Ohio troops, there were no men from Montgomery county.
On July 2nd, the regiments marched into Cincinnati to the foot of Broad- way and were embarked on the steamers New World and North Carolina. The regiments made a soldierly appearance. In August of the year, the regiments were in camp at Camp Belknap on the Texas side of the Rio Grande river. Some of the officers were promoted, and later the Dayton companies took part in the Bat- tle of Monterey.
During the winter of 1846-47, E. A. King, who was afterward to fall at Chickamauga in the Civil war, recruited a company in which there were twenty- two men from Montgomery county. On April 24, 1847, this company left Cin- cinnati for the field. It was assigned to the Fifteenth United States Infantry. In this regular regiment were five Ohio companies. On May 12, 1847, word reached Dayton that companies B and C were on their way home.
A meeting was called and arrangements made to give the returning soldiers a rousing reception. On Saturday afternoon the return canal boat was seen com- ing along as rapidly as that mode of travel permitted. A salute was fired from the same old Mad Anthony, before alluded to and the cheers given were still more hearty than those of the departure. The Dayton rifles were the first to arrive, then came the guards or German company. The rifles brought home forty men and the guards forty-six men. The town was illuminated (tallow candles being the agents used) in honor of both companies. There were fireworks, bonfires and the firing of the noisy little cannon.
All the Ohio troops having served out their terms of enlistment, were duly discharged and a call made for another regiment. Under this call a company was raised in Dayton and given the formidable name of "The Dayton German Grenadiers" with Capt. John Werner. There were one hundred enlisted men, among them thirty-five from Montgomery county. They ivere ordered to report at Camp Washington and on May 31, 1847, were escorted to the canal landing and after several speeches in German and English, were sent on their voyage amid the salute of the famous cannon heretofore described. This company, however took a part in a greater number of actions than the former ones. Under Gen. Winfield Scott, the giant warrior, who had won his military spurs in the War of 1812, Contreras, Churubusco, Chapultepec and the City of Mexico, could be writ on their banner. At the storming of the enemy's works at the City of Mexico, the company suffered great loss. In February, 1848, the company was doing garrison duty at Puebla. In July, 1848, the company returned to Dayton with thirty-six men, and were given a reception and generous dinner. This took place near Bainbridge street near Third street, the tables being set on the ground now occupied by the Stoddard Manufacturing Co.
As far as known the only survivor of the Mexican war now living in Dayton is David D. Long, living at 1605 West Second street.
Years ago, Dr. William Egry of the "guards," a resident of the city for many years was a familiar character. Shortly before his death, he returned to his former home in Germany and died. Another quaint character, an attache of Company B in the person of Edward Cummins (colored) was long a well-known
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
character on the streets of Dayton. He always referred with great pride to his "services" in Mexico and made an uncertain livlihood by ringing a bell for auctions and doing errands. He has long since passed away.
At the close of the Mexican war in 1848, several of the military organizations in Dayton kept up their interest in military matters. The "gun squad" finally pos- sessed two brass pieces. A large cavalry company was raised but did not long survive its inception.
From 1856 to 1861, there were various militia organizations, which always took part in 4th of July celebrations and other public days, being a showy feat- ure of parades. On July 3rd. Dayton had an event in the visit of Gov. Salmon P. Chase to Dayton, who reviewed the troops, and witnessed prize drills and so forth. There were a number of visiting companies, making with the home organizations twenty-two in all. The Dayton Light Guard acted as host and the visitors were given a grand time.
At this time, the Dayton militia companies were as follows: The Dayton Light Guard, Montgomery Guard, National Guard, Lafayette Yagers, Washing- ton Guard and Dayton Light Artillery. Later the company of Dayton Zouaves- was formed and attracted great attention by reason of their gaudy uniform.
THE CIVIL WAR.
The secession of the southern states from the union of the fathers under the excuse of varied grievances and the desire for a larger scope of political power, inaugurated one of the greatest wars of history. In this contest, all of the states which remained true to the flag and the union its represented, were largely interested and aided the cause by tremendous supplies of men and mater- ial. Second to none stood the great commonwealth of Ohio, and while not quite the banner county in this endeavor, old Montgomery county well sustained the patriotic impulse given and maintained by the two preceding wars. Prominent men and politicians residing within the county and the congressional district, by their expressions and declared views, created an intense feeling about war meas- ures which remained even after the conflict had resulted in the triumph of the union cause. This feeling instead of retarding only emphasized the active part taken by the people of the county in the great war.
The news of the firing on Fort Sumter aroused intense excitement and when, after a gallant defense the gray old fort fell, the people knew that war had opened the dread parallels of a long siege of sacrifice and danger.
President Lincoln issued his call for seventy-five thousand men and Gov. Dennison of Ohio, for forty thousand men. Recruiting was began for all of the Dayton military companies and men, especially young men, came forward with commendable promptness. The Montgomery Guards had their armory at the southeast corner of First and St. Clair streets, the Dayton Light Guard on the north side of Third street, between Jefferson and Main streets, and the Lafayette Guard, at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Market streets.
On Wednesday evening, April 17, 1861, the Dayton Light Guard and the Montgomery Guard, marched to the railway station and took the train for Columbus. This departure of the first troops from Montgomery county, aroused
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
great enthusiasm and interest. No one then dreamed that it was but the prelude to a long and terrible war, and the future absence from home of thousands of gallant men, and the immortal record of those who would return no more from the bloody and fatal fields of the south. It was a great thing, this departure of the soldiers, different from the occasions hertofore narrated. Persons of all beliefs joined in wishing the men a safe return and when it is recalled that in very many places over the country, a similar scene was being enacted, the event can be set down as one of more than ordinary interest.
At midnight on the same memorable day, the Lafayette Guard completed its assembling and departed to join the other two companies. The streets had remained crowded after the first departure and again greeted the volunteers with hearty cheers. None were for a party, but all were for the state and her splen- did troops. If this spirit could have held, much acrimony and hatred would have been spared in later days.
On this same eventful night, the Dayton Light Artillery catching the enthu- siasm abroad in the streets, decided to offer their services as a company of rifle- men. This tender was at once accepted by the governor, and on Saturday, April 20th, they marched along the streets clad in showy red shirts and blue pants and caps on the way to the cars. The stock of enthusiasm again was sufficient to greet this third detachment, with an ovation equal to that given the other companies.
Meanwhile on the 19th, recruiting was begun for the "Anderson Guards" and by the evening of the 20th, sixty-four men had been enrolled and the organization of the company was effected. Ladies assembled to make up clothing and equip- ments for these men, and caps, shoes and blankets were supplied by a committee of citizens. Physicians of the town offered their services free to the families of the volunteers and druggists agreed to fill prescriptions on the same generous terms. It was a day of cheerful sacrifice and deserves the fullest remembrance. The sum of five thousand dollars was raised by the citizens to defray the wants of the families of the volunteers. Donations of all kinds were forthcoming and the disposition to enlist carried all before it.
The Anderson Guard were ready and awaited the action of the governor. Monday morning following the completion of the company's enrollment the ex- citement of waiting again aroused the active interest of the people. The streets were full of people, patriotic songs were being sung on all sides and finally when the company was seen filing out upon the street the enthusiasm reached its height. Tearful good-byes, good wishes, hand shakings and farewells, sent the troops on their way, and thus within a few days, Dayton demonstrated her patrio- tism by sending so promptly, four companies of willing volunteers. It was a sure promise of the hundreds who were to keep on marching to the front to pre- serve and perpetuate the Union.
The total thus sent out under the first call of the public authorities from Dayton and its immediate vicinity, was over four hundred and fifty men. On the arrival of the first three companies named above, at Columbus, they were assigned to the First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to serve for three months-Lafayette Guard (German) as Company B, Dayton Light Guard (color company) as Company C and Montgomery Guards as Company D.
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The First regiment with the Second Ohio regiment was ordered to go to Washington on April 19th. Reaching Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, they were com- pelled to lay over for some days until preparation could be made to provide for them at the capital. The next move was to Lancaster to receive arms and equip- ments. This would seem to have been a singular coincidence, for many of the ancestors of these volunteers, the pioneers on the frontier of the Ohio country, had carried guns mounted with locks manufactured in this same town of Lancas- ter, it being a famous place for private gun manufacture. From Lancaster the regiments thus made ready for service in the field moved on to Washington. Their first experience in the country of the enemy, the redoubtable rebels, was in the brigade of General R. C. Schenck, also a Dayton man, who had left his law office to go to the field. They took part in the reconnaisance toward Vienna. Then came the Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. These Montgomery county men still of the brigade of General Schenck, were posted at the stone bridge over Bull Run creek, and held the attention of the Confederates while General McDowell made his detour far to the right. After the general action had opened, the regiments crossed the stone bridge and advanced as far as the stone house on Young's Branch. When it was apparent that the Union army was being driven back, the men of Schenck's brigade aided in covering the retreat, and won de- served praise for their steadiness in action. In August, 1861, their term of en- listment expired and on the second, they were mustered out and departed for home.
Reaching Dayton, they were greeted with joy and became the much sought after heroes of the day.
The Dayton Riflemen and the Anderson Guard went to Camp Jackson in Goodale Park, Columbus. At this time, a Dayton man, Col. Edward A. King (who was afterward to fall at Chickamauga ), was the camp commander. There were thirty-six infantry companies encamped there, waiting to be mustered into the service of the United States. The Dayton Riflemen numbered ninety-two men, under the command of Capt. Cal. J. Childs. The Anderson Guard numbered ninety-seven men, commanded by Capt. Michael P. Nolan. In addi- tion to these Dayton companies, the Dayton Zouaves under Lieut. John W. Green, twenty-one men were ordered to Columbus to do provost guard duty. On April 22nd Capt. S. B. Jackson began recruiting the Buckeye Guards in Dayton and on May 2nd, was ordered to Hamilton with eighty-seven men. This company was afterward assigned to the Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, while the companies of Childs and Nolan, became part of the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The men at Camp Jackson were employed for a time in the construc- tion of a new camp to be henceforth known as Camp Dennison, after the Governor. Maj .- Gen. George B. McClellan was placed in charge of the department of Ohio, and soon after made his successful campaign in West Virginia, later became the commander of the Army of the Potomac, conducted the Peninsular Campaign and perfected the organization of the Army of the Potomac. On April 25, 1861, the Eleventh Regiment was organized, from the six thousand four hundred and eighty-three men assembled at Camp Jackson and numbered over one thousand men with James Findlay Harrison of Dayton as colonel and A. W. Coleman of Troy, major.
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Meanwhile the city of Dayton was not idle, the city council appropriating ten thousand dollars for the relief of the soldiers' families, and the county commis- sioners a like sum for the same purpose. On April 16th the Zouave Rangers, fully organized and equipped, tendered their services to the governor of Ohio as a "Home Guard" to do service within the border of the state. The tender was accepted by the governor and on Monday evening, April 22nd, they departed for Columbus and were placed on garrison duty and afterward guarded the east end of the Marietta railroad, returning to Dayton on Thursday, July 25, 1861. Dur- ing the months of April, May and June of the year 1861, companies of soldiers were constantly passing through Dayton, and it became the custom on news ar- riving that any train containing soldiers was about to pass here, that committees of ladies and others would be at the familiar old station, offering coffee and re- freshments to the men. On May 21st a regimental band left Dayton to join the First Ohio, then temporarily stationed in Philadelphia.
About this time the enlistments for the three years' service began. Among the first of these was the "Union Guards," June 26th. They were afterwards as- signed to the Twelfth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment con- tained many soldiers from the townships of the county, notably that of German. Twenty men for the First Ohio Battery were recruited in Dayton, July 6. 1861. On the 25th of July, 1861 a recruiting office was opened in Dayton for the regular army, and about one hundred men were thus obtained who served in the Fifteenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Regulars, and took part in many of the notable bat- tles of the war. On August 5, 1861 recruiting began for the First Ohio for the three years' service. On the 19th of August of the same year Camp Corwin was established just east of the city. At one time there were twelve recruiting offices open in Dayton. On September 3rd the Dayton Cavalry Company was ordered to report at Camp Corwin, The city was full of military excitement on these days, four of the recruiting offices were calling for men for the First Ohio, two for the regular army, one for the cavalry, one for the Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, (this regiment largely recruited in Butler county, also contained several companies raised in Montgomery county) a company of sharpshooters for the Twenty-second Ohio, a company for the Forty-fourth Ohio and one company for the Second Ohio Infantry. A table of the commands containing troops from the county would be as follows :
THREE-MONTHS' SERVICE.
First Ohio Infantry . 303 men
Eleventh Ohio Infantry . 202 men
Twenty-fourth Ohio Infantry 90 men
Eighty-fourth Ohio Infantry
30 men
Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry
IO men
Total
.635
SIX-MONTHS' ENLISTMENTS.
Fourth Ohio Independent Cavalry 90 men .
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
ONE-YEAR MEN.
One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry .. 50 men One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. IO men One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 6 men
One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry 15 men One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 5 men
One Hundred and Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 30 men Other enlistments prior to March 30, 1865 100 men
Drafted March 30, 1865 40 men
Total one year men 256
THREE-YEAR ENLISTMENTS.
First Ohio Volunteer Infantry · 380 men
Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry 60 men
Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry 170 men
Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 45 men
Twenty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry 50 men
Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 75 men
Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 75 men
Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 50 men
Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
30 men
Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry
20 men
Fifty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 100 men
Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry 30 men
Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry
130 men
Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
IO men
Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry
40 men
Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry - men
Seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 45 men
Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry 385 men
One Hundred and Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 40 men
One Hundred and Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 75 men
One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 45 men
One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry 35 men
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry
15 men
Other regiments of Ohio
50 men
Colored enlistments 20 men
First Veteran Volunteer Engineering Corps, U. S 25 men
Tenth Tennessee Infantry 45 men
Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry 45 men
Sixty-sixth Illinois Infantry 75 men
Regular Army . 100 men
First Ohio Heavy Artillery 80 men
Second Ohio Heavy Artillery 50 men
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Enlistments to clear draft of October 1, 1862. 75 men
Same as to draft of May II, 1864 100 men
Same as to draft of September II, 1864 .100 men
United States Navy 20 men
First Ohio Battery 30 men
Eighth Ohio Battery 40 men
Seventeenth Ohio Battery 35 men
Other Ohio Batteries 15 men
Second Ohio Cavalry 65 men
Fourth Ohio Cavalry 65 men
Sixth Ohio Cavalry IO men
Twelfth Ohio Cavalry 8 men
Other Ohio cavalry regiments 15 men
Total three-years' men 2,935
HUNDRED-DAY MEN.
One Hundred and Thirty-first and One Hundred and thirty-
second Regiments
. 930 men
Grand total 4,846 men
Special calls.
Dayton Zouaves, 1861
50 men ·
Squirrel Hunters, 1862 . 500 men
Morgan Raid, 1863 . 500 men
Total militia service
1,050 men
Montgomery county supplied several men who obtained a national reputation. Robert C. Schenck became a brigadier-general and was later promoted to major- general. In December, 1863, he resigned and took his seat in congress as repre- sentative of the third congressional district of Ohio, and in later days became ambassador to the court of St. James. George Crook was born in Butler town- ship, Montgomery county, Ohio, and graduated from West Point in the class of 1852. He served in the western army until the Civil war broke out and in August, 1861, was appointed colonel of the Thirty-Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infan- try, and in the spring of 1862 took command of a brigade in West Virginia. In July of the same year his brigade formed part of the famous Kanalıwa Division of the Army of the Potomac. He was afterward commissioned briga- dier-general of volunteers and in July, 1864, brevetted major-general for gallant services. On the 15th day of January, 1866, he was mustered out and assigned to his regiment. Afterward he was regularly promoted to be a full brigadier- general in the United States army, served with distinction in the campaigns against the Indians of the plains and on his death was buried on the beautiful eastern slope of the hill in Arlington cemetery overlooking the Potomac river. Admiral Schenck, after his retirement from the United States navy, passed the evening of his life in Dayton. Maj-Gen. Thomas J. Wood, who served with great
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