USA > Ohio > Ohio in four wars, a military history > Part 5
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Its original captains and the locations of the companies were as follows:
Nathan H. Miles (A), Cincinnati. Richard Stadden (B), Newark. John W. Lowe (C), Batavia.
William A. Latham (D), Columbus. Joseph W. Filler (E), Somerset.
William T. Ferguson (F), Lancaster.
James E. Harle (G), Mt. Vernon. Joseph E. Smith (H), Circleville.
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John C. Hughes (I), Columbus. George F. McGinnis (K), Chillicothe.
The regiment was mustered into the service about September 1, 1847, and on September 10th it left Cincinnati on three steamboats for New Orleans. From thence it went to Vera Cruz, where it arrived about October 4, 1847, and went into camp near that city. In October General Caleb Cushing ordered the regiment to march to the interior as an escort for one thousand wagons and two thousand pack mules loaded with ammunition, provisions and clothing bound for the City of Mexico. It was on duty in and about that city and Puebla. It was actively engaged until the war closed in numerous skirmishes with guerrillas in the mountainous districts.
Upon the declaration of peace this regiment returned to the United States by way of New Orleans, and from thence to Cincinnati, where it was mustered out July 26, 1848.
The losses of this regiment were very large, considering its brief service. Seventy-four men lost their lives in skirmishes with guerrilla bands and from disease.
In addition to the foregoing organizations there were fifteen independent companies, each known by the name of its captain. These com- panies were as follows:
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Duncan's (John R.) Independent Company of Mounted Volunteers. Was mustered in at Cincinnati, June 1, 1847, and mustered out August 2, 1848. Had performed gallant service on the Rio Grande and in and about Ceralvo.
Danble's (John G.) mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out there, December 7, 1846.
Churchill's (Frederick A.), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out October 14, 1846.
Kessler's (Herman), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out there, October 17, 1846.
Durr's (George), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out there, December 7, 1846.
Caldwell's (John), mustered in May, 1846, and mus- tered out at Bucyrus, October 26, 1846.
Donnell's (H. O.), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out there, October 17, 1846.
Ward's (Thomas W), mustered in June, 1846, and mustered out at Cincinnati, October 14, 1846.
Moor's (Augustus), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, mustered out there, October 14, 1846.
Hawkin's (Joseph L.), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out there November 5, 1846.
Stout's (Atlas L.), mustered in June 5, 1846, and mus- tered out at Dayton, Ohio, November 4, 1846.
Link's (Francis), mustered in at Cincinnati, June 15, 1846, and mustered out there October 14, 1846.
. Love's (John S.), mustered in June 4, 1846, and mus- tered out at McConnellsville, Ohio, October 29, 1846.
Kenneally's (William), known as the "First Foot," made a good record in Mexico; it was mustered in at Cincinnati, October 5, 1847, and mustered out there, July 25, 1848.
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Riddle's (Robert R.), known as the "Second Foot," was mustered in at Cincinnati, October 26, 1847, and mustered out there, July 17, 1848.
The United States Mounted Riflemen, under Captain Winslow F. Sanderson, was formed from the young men of Columbus, Norwalk and Wooster, in May, June and July of 1846. It is known on the roster as Company B, which served in the Mexican service at Vera Cruz and Puebla. It was mustered out at Jefferson Barracks, Mis- souri, August 28, 1848.
The Fifteenth United States Infantry was or- ganized in Ohio by authority of an Act of Con- gress, to serve during the war. Its field officers were, Col. George W. Morgan of Mt. Vernon, Lt. Col. Joshua Howard, and Majors Leslie H. McKenney and Frederick D. Mills; the latter was killed at San Antonio, Mexico, August 20, 1847. This regiment was organized during the months of April and May, 1847. It was composed of the following companies with which their captains and places of recruit are given :
David Chase (B), Toledo, Lower Sandusky and Defiance. James A. Jones (C), Norwalk. Edward A. King (D), Dayton. John L. Perry (H), Cleveland. Moses Hoagland (1), Millersburg.
On the Vera Cruz route and in battles under General Scott, this regiment distinguished itself.
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It lost heavily at Chapultepec, in the storming of which it performed a gallant part, and was in the triumphant capture and occupation of the City of Mexico. It was mustered out of the service at Cincinnati, August 13, 1348.
In the Mexican service many of the Ohio vol- unteer officers won distinction, and some of these, by the experience acquired therein, attained high rank subsequently in the Civil War. Captain Ferdinand Van Derveer of the First Ohio Vol- unteers became a brigadier general; so, also, did Colonel George W. Morgan and Robert B. Mitchell of the Second, Lieutenant Samuel Beatty and Lieutenant Colonel George W. McCook of the Third, and Lieutenant August Moor of the Fourth. Captain William H. Lytle of Ken- neally's First Foot also became a brigadier gen- eral and fell gallantly heading his command at Chickamauga.
There were also, in Mexico, serving in the Regular Army, a number of young officers from Ohio. They all distinguished themselves by hon- orable service. Some of them reached the high- est military distinction in the War of 1861. Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant of the Fourth United States Infantry was in the first battle of the war at Palo Alto. From this on he saw active service at Monterey, Molino del Rey, Vera Cruz
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and at the storming of Chapultepec, at which place he won his captaincy. Lieutenant William T. Sherman of the Third Artillery, who was de- tailed for special service in the occupancy of California, became a captain by reason thereof. Lieutenant Don Carlos Buell of the Third In- fantry was also brevetted captain for distin- guished services on the field. In the Civil War he obtained the rank of major general. Lieu- tenant Charles C. Gilbert of the First Infantry and Lieutenant John S. Mason of the Third Ar- tillery both became brigadier generals. From which it is apparent that, for Ohioans at least, the Mexican campaigns were training schools that developed military talents which afterward ripened into fame and high position.
Nor was Ohio without representation in the naval operations against Mexico. Reed Werden, James F. Schenck, L. C. Rowan, Roger M. Stem- bel, George M. Ransom and Henry Walker, all appointed from Ohio, served in the United States Navy during the Mexican War. Werden was at the capture of Tupsan and became rear admiral. Schenck was in various engagements in Califor- nia and was at the bombardment and capture of Guyamas and Mazatlan in Mexico; he became a rear admiral. Rowan fought on sea and land in the Pacific Coast operations which resulted in
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the surrender of Los Angeles and the whole of California by the Mexican governor; he became a vice admiral. Stembel and Ransom both served with junior rank in Mexico; the former became a rear admiral and the latter a commodore. Wal- ker participated in the surrender of Vera Cruz, Tupsan and Tobasco, and became a rear admiral. The final rank attained by all these officers was the result of service in the Civil War.
Surely if our Nation won victory and renown in Mexico, Ohio had a full share in all the honors.
No incident of the Mexican War created a more profound impression of sorrow on the peo- ple of Ohio than did the death by disease of General Thomas L. Hamer, at Monterey, Mexico, December 2, 1846, in the forty-sixth year of his age. He had entered the army as the major of the First Ohio Volunteer Infantry. As the most popular Democrat of Ohio he was the idol and the ideal of his party. He had served in the Legislature and in Congress and enjoyed the reputation of a great lawyer and an eloquent orator. In the campaign of 1840 he was the only man in Ohio that could engage in joint debate with Tom Corwin, the Whig candidate for Gov- ernor. At the first call of the President he or- ganized the first regiment raised in Ohio. He had a natural aptitude for military affairs, and
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before he had reached the seat of war President Polk commissioned him a brigadier general. At the battle of Monterey he displayed fine judgment and gallantry in commanding his brigade, and when General Butler, who commanded the Third Division, was wounded, General Hamer suc- ceeded him.
He was extremely popular with his men. When General Zachary Taylor was informed of Hamer's death, he exclaimed, "J have lost the balance wheel of my volunteer army!" In the official communication to the War Department announcing his death General Taylor said: "In council, I found him clear and judicious; and in the administration of his command, though kind, yet always impartial and just. He was an active participant in the operations before Monterey, and since had commanded the volunteer division. His loss to the army at this time cannot be sup- plied, and the experience which he daily acquired in a new profession rendered his services con- tinually more valuable. I had looked forward with confidence to the benefit of his abilities and judgment in the service which yet lies before us, and feel most sensibly the privation of them."
The participation of General Hamer and Lieu- tenant Ulysses S. Grant in the battle of Monterey recalls the fact that the young lieutenant owed
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his West Point cadetship to Hamer. In his "Personal Memoirs" (Volume I, page 33), Gen- eral Grant refers to this:
"The Honorable Thomas L. Hamer, one of the ablest men Ohio ever produced, was our member of Congress at the time, and had the right of nomination. He and my father had been members of the same debating society (where they were generally pitted on opposite sides), and intimate personal friends from their early manhood up to a few years before. In politics they differed. Hamer was a life-long Democrat, while my father was a Whig. They had a warm discussion, in which they finally be- came angry, over some act of President Jackson -the removal of the deposit of public moneys, I think, - after which they never spoke until after my appointment. I know both of them felt badly over this estrangement, and would have been glad at any time to come to a reconciliation; but neither would make the advance. Under these circumstances my father would not write to Hamer for the appointment, but he wrote to Thomas Morris, United States Senator from Ohio, informing him that there was a vacancy at West Point from our district, and that he would be glad if I could be appointed to fill it. This letter, I presume, was turned over to Mr.
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THOMAS LYON HAMER (From a painting in the Capitol in Columbus.)
Born in Pennsylvania, 1800, and removed to Ohio at the age of seventeen; admitted to the bar and practiced at Georgetown, Brown County; member of Congress, 1833-39; enlisted in the Mexican War, and was promoted by Presi- dent Polk to Brigadier General; died in Monterey, Mexico, December 2, 1846.
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Hamer, and, as there was no other applicant, he cheerfully appointed me. This healed the breach between the two, never after opened."
Although General Hamer had been buried with all the honors of war at Monterey, the State of Ohio, through its legislature, ordered his remains to be brought back for formal interment at his home at Georgetown in Brown county. For this purpose the following commissioners were ap- pointed to proceed to Mexico: John Allen of Brown county, James C. Kennedy of Clermont and James H. Thompson of Highland. They were authorized to draw on the State treasury for the funds necessary to perform their mission. On their return, through a State funeral, the final honors of a grief-stricken people were paid Thomas L. Hamer. The sincere and lasting hold that he had upon the affections of its countrymen is in evidence yet. For though more than a gen- eration has passed, his name and memory are as fresh in Southern Ohio as if he had died but yesterday.
Turning from the battle-fields of Mexico, where American arms were winning victories at the sad expense of many brave soldiers and sailors, we find at home a complicated situation. The Whig party was divided in its view of the war. Some favored supporting the Government
--....
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inasmuch as there was actual war between the United States and its enemies, but the more radi- cal element opposed it on the ground that to give its support would be promoting the cause of slavery. The representative of the latter section of the Whig party was Senator Thomas Corwin of Ohio. He was firmly convinced that the war was unjust and dishonorable. He finally con- cluded to take the boldest and most dangerous attitude that any citizen can assume when his country is at war. That is to oppose the appro- priation of money to carry on the military move- ments against his country's enemies.
Senator Corwin did this against the earnest advice of many of his Whig friends. He and two of his distinguished Whig Senatorial colleagues had agreed to assume this position, and throw their votes and influence against appropriations to support the Mexican War. These Senators were Daniel Webster of Massachusetts and John J. Crittenden of Kentucky. When the time came to "show their hands" they both failed him. Webster, doubtless with the Presidential bee of 1848 buzzing about him, saw that this attitude would alienate the southern Whigs, and Critten- den yielded to the slavery influence of his State. So when the time came to oppose the war appro- priations Corwin stood alone as the antagonist.
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In his great speech, of which more later, he re- ferred to this fact, and complained that there were not enough with him to have saved the wicked city of the Scriptures.
Senator Corwin spoke against the prosecution of the Mexican War in the United States Senate, February 11, 1847. The bill pending was one making further appropriations to bring the exist- ing war with Mexico to a speedy and honorable conclusion. The speech reads as well to-day as when it was delivered, and for lofty eloquence it has not been equalled in the annals of the Senate. It was a courageous speech, honest in its purpose and fearless in its expression. He contended that the war was wrong; that it was a President's and not a people's war, and that it was based on the false proposition that the disputed territory be- longed to Texas and not to Mexico. For these reasons, therefore, he objected to voting supplies to carry on such a dishonorable and illegal con- flict. Up to the time that Senator Corwin con- ceived that the war was being advanced for con- quest, he had supported the appropriations for the Army in Mexico. Now he was opposed to any further prosecution of the war, and was in favor of withholding its necessary supplies, claiming that the Nation should withdraw its
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soldiers from Mexico and obtain an honorable peace.
The speech created a profound impression on the country. Its high moral tone, its great ability and parliamentary eloquence were admitted by all, but it was violently attacked by the opposition press as unpatriotic and even treasonable. Noth- ing but a great moral conviction could have in- spired such a speech at such a time. The Amer- ican arms had been victorious at Palo Alto and Monterey, and General Scott had just commenced his triumphal march toward the City of Mexico. The country was in an ecstasy of exultant vic- tory, and thousands of young men were offering their services daily. The war-spirit had seized the land. For a Senator to oppose such a war and demand the withdrawal of the American troops from Mexico could not be otherwise than unpopular. His political opponents were thrown into a frenzy, and the American people were stag- gered when he told them: "If I were a Mexican I would tell you: 'Have you not room in your own country to bury your dead men? If you come into mine we will greet you with bloody hands and welcome you to hospitable graves.'"
Many of Corwin's friends deserted him, some of them being high in the Whig party. On the other hand, he won the greatest praise and ad-
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miration from the anti-slavery Whigs. Joshua R. Giddings, Horace Greeley and Henry Wilson came out in favor of him as the Whig candidate for President in 1848. His constituents at home the Miami Valley -- supported hini to a man. But over the whole country the force of popular opinion was against the speech and the orator. In Ohio there developed against him the most virulent opposition, and he was denounced as a traitor on frequent occasions. The Legislature was flooded with petitions asking that his resig- nation be demanded; but a majority of the ju- diciary committee of the State Senate, to whom these petitions were referred, approved Corwin's course. They reported "that the course pursued, with reference to this war by Honorable Thomas Corwin, has in no degree lessened him in the esteem of the State he represents, but that the implicit confidence in his statesmanship, his moral integrity, his pure patriotism, his true loy- alty to the union and the State of Ohio, which was evinced by his election to the high and re- sponsible office of Senator in Congress, remains unimpaired and unfaltering."
The intimate connection of Corwin with Ohio and the Mexican War make his subsequent life properly a part of this chapter. With his fine nature, his natural probity and great talents he
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was always popular in Ohio and throughout the country. His Mexican War speech would have consigned most public men to oblivion. But his fearless life and independent attitude on great questions gave him a public character which won the confidence of the people regardless of party. In the presidential canvass for the nomination in 1848, he declined to allow his name to be con- sidered in the convention. He realized as much as any man in the Whig party that his course in the Senate disqualified him for popular favor. A great war had been brought to a successful close ; it was full of gain to the United States, and a conquering war chief was the great object of the people's adulation. The result was the setting aside of Clay and Webster and the nomination of General Zachary Taylor. Like all military candidates, with the glamour of military glory surrounding him, he was easily elected. For the second time Death cheated the Whigs out of their victory, and President Taylor died in the midst of his term. Millard Fillmore became President, and Thomas Corwin was confirmed as Secretary of the Treasury in his Cabinet, July 20, 1850. He remained, amidst many changes, in the Cab- inet until the end of the administration. It was the last of the power of the Whigs, and that party
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AMERICAN TROOPS ENTERING THE CITY OF MEXICO
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went out of existence in the evolution of great political questions.
Mr. Corwin returned to private life in 1853, and resumed the practice of his profession at Cinchmati. With great questions involving moral issues crowding to the front, a man like Corwin could not remain silent, neither could a constit- uency, such as his, allow him to remain in private life. So we find him elected to Congress from a Republican district, composed of Warren, Clin- ton, Greene, Fayette and Madison counties. Hc was not in entire harmony with the Republican party. He had not yet reached the position of Lincoln and Seward on the slavery question. He favored prohibiting slavery in the territories, but he believed that they had a right to make a con- stitution for statehood permitting slavery if they saw fit.
His position was that "Congress having passed an enabling act permitting it [the territory] to make a constitution and set up for itself, could not consistently refuse it admission into the Union on account of a clause in its constitution, when we had in the Union fifteen states with sim- ilar constitutions. If we had not power to turn out states on that account, we should not keep them out." This position was not a tenable one and was soon swept away in the aggressive fight
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against the extension of slavery which became a cardinal principle of the Republican party.
Again he was elected to Congress in 1858. He became chairman of the famous "Committee of Thirty-Three" appointed to devise some plan to stem secession and to provide for a peaceable set- tlement of the slavery question. All of its pro- ceedings and recommendations were unavailing. This was due to the fact that it undertook to com- promise a moral question; it was willing that slavery should exist and continue undisturbed, and even went so far as to recommend an amend- ment to the Constitution forever prohibiting the abolition of slavery or the enactment of legisla- tion that would in any wise interfere with its maintenance. Corwin favored this compromise, and it is the one weak spot in his public career. - He closed his term in Congress uneventfully, ex- cept that it was marred by the efforts of his great talents to perpetuate slavery.
On March 12, 1861, President Lincoln ap- pointed him Minister to Mexico, which position he filled until 1864, when he returned to this country and took up the practice of his profes- sion at Washington, D. C. He died there sud- denly, December 18, 1865.
His unexpected death touched the nation and Ohio especially mourned. In the reception room
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of the Senate Chamber the great men of our country at that time, regardless of party, met to express their sorrow. Chief Justice Chase pre- sided and said: "Great were his titles to honor won at the bar, in legislative halls and in execu- tive session; but at this moment they seem in- significant in comparison with the admiration, love and veneration which gathered around him as a man." And Samuel Shellabargar, who was then a Representative in Congress, and who was at Corwin's side when he was stricken down, wrote this to the Ohio State Journal: "He, who had touched with the scepter of his imperial and god-like intellect, States, Nations, Peoples, Courts, Senators and Senates, made them all bow to the majesty of its power, was now touched --- in his time - by the scepter of his Lord, and in- stantly bowed his head, and laid himself sub- missively down and died."
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CHAPTER IV.
THE CIVIL WAR
T HE contest growing out of the attempt to extend slavery produced an acute feeling between the North and South, which eventually broke out in Civil War. The State of Ohio was brought prominently into this contest by reason of the fact that some of the most distinguished figures representing the North were from this State. In the Congress of 1859- 1860, there was a bitter contest for the speaker- ship of the House, John Sherman being the Republican candidate. He was defeated on account of his opposition to the extension of slavery and because he had endorsed a book that greatly irritated the South. When the second session of this Congress met, in 1860, the coun- try was in an excited and agitated condition on account of the threat made by Southern States to secede from the Union. Before the session had been many weeks old South Carolina had passed an ordinance of secession, and within a few months other slave states followed, and on February 8, 1861, the Southern Confederacy was
.(92)
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formed at Montgomery, Alabama. In the mean- time every effort was made by Congress to effect some basis of compromise to avoid the dissolu- tion of the Union. The most important step in this direction was the formation of a "Com- mittee of Thirty-three," consisting of one from each State, and appointed by the Speaker on a vote of the House. Thomas Corwin, former Governor of Ohio, was made chairman of this committee. He was conservative in his spirit and was in favor of conciliation or compromise.
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This committee in the interests of peace pro- posed in its report: (1) An amendment to the Constitution to the effect that no amendment having for its object any interference with slavery in a State shall ever be made unless the same shall originate in a slave State and be con- sented to by all the states. (2) An act for the admission of New Mexico as a slave State with- out further action of Congress. (3) An amend- ment to the Fugitive Slave Law so that it shall be more efficient for the arrest of fugitive slaves, and (4) An Amendment of the act for the rendi- tion of fugitives from justice, so as to give the Federal Court exclusive jurisdiction, and make indictments prima facie evidence against the ac- cused. If this report had been consummated into action it would have been a most humiliating
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