USA > Ohio > The Fourteenth Ohio national guard- the Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry > Part 2
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Central Ohio was as much in need of a regiment of militia as any other section of the state, and in point of military companies and the enthusiasm of the people in military matters, this part of the state excelled, but the companies having been organized more for social than public benefit, they were slow in uniting with a state institution, making more exacting, but more uncertain the duty they loved to perform.
The question increased in seriousness. Accord- ingly, in the winter of 1876, a number of Columbus gentlemen met at the office of the adjutant general of the state and discussed the organization of a company or companies of militia in the central part of the state. It was decided that something should be done in the matter at once and the governor promptly appointed Captain Charles Ammel to organize what was to be known as the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry, Ohio National Guards.
Captain Ammel at once set to work at this task and in the following March Company A was made the
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nucleus of the new regiment, with Captain Ammel as its commander. A little later Company B, with Cap- tain Henry Seibert, was mustered in, immediately fol- lowed by D Company at West Jefferson, with Cap- tain Eugene Babb in command. Company E was next organized at Marysville, with Captain William L. Curry at its head, and then Captain John Chapin with Company F at Columbus. Company G came next, in command of Captain John P. Slemmons, at Richwood, and then Company C was organized at Westerville, Captain Isaac N. Custer.
The following order then completed the organ- ization :
October 20, 1877.
Special Order 216:
I. The following companies of infantry will constitute the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry, Ohio National Guard: Captain Charles S. Ammel's Com- pany, of Columbus, Company A; Thurman Light Guards, Company B; Captain Isaac N. Custer's Com- pany, of Westerville, Company C; Darby Videttes, Company D; Captain William L. Curry's Company, of Marysville, Company E; Converse Guards, Com- pany F; Grosvenor Rifles, Company G.
II. The several companies composing said Four- teenth Regiment are hereby directed to select dele- gates to put in nomination candidates for colonel, lieu- tenant colonel and major of said regiment. The se- lected delegates are hereby ordered to assemble at the Armory of Ohio National Guard, in the city of Co- lumbus, on the twenty-seventh day of October, A. D. 1877, at such hour as may be most convenient.
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III. The several companies composing said regi- ment and the delegates to nominate candidates are hereby directed to be governed in all their proceedings by paragraphs 35, 36 and 37 of the Code of Regula- tions for the Ohio National Guard.
DAN. A. GROSVENOR, Assistant Adjutant General.
The first election of regimental officers, held Oc- tober 27, 1877, resulted as follows: Henry Hein- miller, colonel; William L. Curry, lieutenant colonel; John W. Chapin, major. Commissions were made to date from October 3, 1877, but owing to his onerous duties as superintendent of the fire department of Columbus, Colonel Heinmiller refused to qualify. Another election for choice of colonel was conse- quently held, which resulted in the choice of George D. Freeman as colonel of the new regiment. His commission was to date from December 29, 1877.
Two elections were necessary for the selection of the first colonel of the regiment. The candidates, Colonel Freeman and Isaac N. Potter, had fought a hard fight and fraud was charged against Colonel Freeman and his friends. The result was very close but the second election gave Colonel Freeman a hand- some majority over his opponent, and all parties were satisfied.
The first regimental order was issued from Colonel Curry's headquarters at Marysville, and an- ticipated participation in the inaugural parade of
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Governor Bishop. This occurred on Janury 14, and was the first occasion on which the regiment made an official appearance.
The first actual duty performed by the regiment was at the time of the railroad riots of 1877, when A Company was ordered to duty at the State Capitol and B Company at Newark. Out of the enlistment of only fifty-three men, fifty-one responded promptly for duty. Certainly this response bears out all that was said of the Ohio soldiery at the beginning of this chapter, and certainly this was a noble example to set for an Ohio military organization to follow.
Shortly after this, two more companies were added to the regiment. They were Company H, at Canal Winchester, with Captain Philip Game in command, and Company I, at Plain City, under Captain J. Q. Converse. Shortly after this General Karr, on be- half of its lady friends, presented to the regiment its first stand of colors. These colors were carried on the day of the first parade, January 14. This was a most handsome present, and it was valued at $300. Unfortunately, this beautiful standard was burned in 1888, when the Columbus Armory was destroyed by fire.
The first encampment of the regiment was also held in this year at Marysville. The men were al- lowed one dollar per day by the state for their time and all the expense of the encampment had to be borne by the soldiers themselves.
In the spring of 1878 there was a large number of incendiary fires in the city of Columbus. Houses
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and factories were ruthlessly burned for no reason which any one was able to understand, and while the city authorities were considering what to do, Colonel Freeman generously offered the services of his regi- ment. The offer was accepted and the whole city was thoroughly patroled. The result was, that after a service of this kind lasting for ten days, the incen- diarism was permanently stopped.
In this year Company K, of Delaware, Captain F. M. Joy, came into the regiment, and a short time afterwards Rev. W. E. Moore, of Columbus, was made chaplain of the regiment. Chaplain Moore remained with the regiment in this capacity until April, 1898, when, on account of declining years, he thought best to retire from active military service. In his resigna- tion the regiment suffered a great loss and they felt it keenly.
Company I, of the Twelfth Regiment, was this year transferred to the Fourteenth and given the let- ter E. This company was stationed at Mt. Gilead. The annual encampment for this year was held at Delaware and later the Columbus and other companies turned out to receive General Grant on his return from his tour around the world.
A pleasing event in the history of the regiment occurred at the beginning of the year 1880, when the Columbus Battalion, on the day of the inauguration of Governor Foster, entertained the retiring Governor Bishop and the new governor as guests of honor and the visiting military organizations. The dinner was given at the Armory on East Town street, and will
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always be remembered by those who were permitted to be present. On August 4 the annual encampment was held at Prospect Park, near Niagara Falls, N. Y.
In September of 1880 the miners of Perry county created another disturbance and Colonel Free- man, placing himself at the head of Companies A, B and F hastened to the scene of the trouble. The situation was critical, the trouble having arisen through the employment by coal companies of a num- ber of colored miners. This enraged the white miners, who had arranged a plot to get all the negroes on the inside of the mine, then set fire to the entrance and kill the fleeing negroes as fast as they came out of the burning mine.
The strikers tapped telegraph wires, thus keeping fully informed as to what was going on at the capital, and they were rapidly preparing to meet the militia. They learned that the Fourteenth would have a Gatling gun in their possession, but they were ig- norant as to what that weapon resembled in appearance or as to what it was capable of accomplishing. A citizen of Columbus who had formerly been a member of the militia, and who entertained great fears lest a clash between the miners and the soldiers would re- sult in the loss of many lives, proceeded to tell the congregated strikers what the Gatling gun could do. Of course he exaggerated as much as he could safely do, but his tales of marvelous destructive powers had the desired effect.
When the Fourteenth arrived on the scene, the Gatling gun was in a box car, the murderous-looking
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barrel extending from the door of the car and a reso- lute squad of men ready to operate it at a moment's notice. The very sight of this gun and the men who, by their looks, showed that they had come to perform the duty of soldiers, had the effect of sending the men peaceably to their homes, and the danger of an outbreak was averted.
In 1881 the regiment encamped near Sandusky. During that year, also, the regiment won another vic- tory over the other regiments in the National Guard as to appearance and discipline. The occasion was the ceremony at Cleveland, in honor of the murdered President Garfield. When it had been determined that the governor and his official staff would attend the Cleveland services, Colonel Freeman tendered sev- eral companies of the Fourteenth as an escort. The offer was accepted and the colonel at once set to work getting ready his "several companies." The result was, of course, that the whole regiment assembled, prepared to go to Cleveland. As soon as the other regimental commanders had learned what Colonel Freeman had done, they all hastened to tender the services of their regiments also. The result was that practically the whole of the National Guard was rep- resented at the funeral ceremony.
There was at that time considerable jealousy ex- isting against the Fourteenth, and a great deal of this was at Cleveland. Colonel Freeman decided to either overcome this feeling or give the enemies of the regiment a reason for feeling as they did. The men were all ordered to wear white collars, black their
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shoes and make every arrangement for appearing at their best. In addition to this each man was given a red blanket cover, so that when these were strapped across the backs of the men the appearance denoted that the blankets were alike.
The men looked their best, and on the entrance to the town, instead of leaving the depot and making a great display on their first appearance in the city, Colonel Freeman left the train at a point where he could follow a course around the depot and pass the reviewing stand over a descending street, thus showing to a better advantage the discipline and drill of the men. A number of regular army officers witnessed this movement, among them General Schoffield, and as soon as the rear of the column had passed, there was a grand round of applause. When Colonel Freeman reported for duty, he was assigned by the general in charge to the post of honor at the cemetery. The jealousies of the other regiments were by no means removed at Cleveland, but there was certainly a greater admiration for the Fourteenth inspired by its fine ap- pearance and the willingness with which they per- formed the duty assigned them made a warm place for them in the hearts of the army officers.
The following year Lieutenant Colonel Curry re- signed and his place was filled by the election of Cap- tain William M. Liggett, of D Company, Marysville. Major John W. Chapin also resigned during the year and he was succeeded by Captain Andrew Schwarz, of B Company. The regimental camp this year was at Belle Isle.
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The term of office of Colonel Freeman expired during the following year, 1883, and a convention was called to place candidates in nomination for elec- tion to succeed him. The convention was called to order in Columbus, but after a very brief session, it was unanimously decided to renominate Colonel Free- man by acclamation. The nomination was enthusi- astically received by the companies, and Colonel Freeman was duly elected. The annual encampment was held that year at Cuyahoga Falls.
The year of 1884 was the most eventful so far as the importance of the service of the regiment is concerned that had yet passed over the Fourteenth. In that year its members tasted warfare in all its frightful phases; witnessed scenes of bloody carnage even on the soil of their native state; suffered from fatigue, privation and danger, and one brave lad gave up his life for the safety of his neighbors.
For several years preceding the one of which we- write, the police department at Cincinnati was man- aged in a manner very unsatisfactory to a large portion of Cincinnati's population. Several heinous crimes had been committed, but the offenders were permitted to plead to light charges, or, if found guilty, sentences imposed were lighter, according to the judgment of many of the people, than the circumstances seemed to justify. Matters grew from bad to worse until a prominent citizen was murdered. One of the mur- derers told the story of the crime, admitted his guilt and was sentenced to serve twenty years in the Ohio penitentiary.
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It has since developed that the young man, "Billy" Berner, had received a sentence as heavy as he really deserved, and before his penitentiary sentence had expired many prominent citizens signed petitions to the board of prison managers asking that he be re- leased. He was accordingly paroled and left the prison a quiet, peaceful citizen.
There was a strong sentiment against Berner in Cincinnati at the time of the trial, however, and re- membering the cases which had preceded his, a large number of citizens united to take the law in their own hands. The sheriff of Hamilton county was unable to protect public property and he appealed to Governor Hoadley for military help. The First Regiment, most of which was stationed in Cincinnati, failed to suppress the trouble, and the Fourteenth was ordered to the scene. How well they performed their duty may be seen in the report of Colonel Freeman which, condensed, is as follows:
Headquarters Fourteenth Regiment, O. N. G.,
Columbus, Ohio, April 7, 1884.
Hon. George Hoadley, Governor and Commander-in-Chief:
"Sir-In obedience to orders received at 12:30 loon, on March 29, I caused the riot alarm to be sound- ed in Columbus, and immediately telephoned to Com- pany C, Westerville; Company D, Marysville; Com- pany H, Canal Winchester, and Company K, Dela- ware, to assemble and to take the first train to Colum- bus, equipped for duty. The field and staff, with the several Columbus companies, Company A under Capt. Pugh; Company B, Captain Coit; Company F, Cap-
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tain Slack; Governor's Guard, unattached, Lieutenant Sheppard, and Duffy Guard, Company B of the Ninth Battalion, Captain Payne, reported at 2 P. M. ready for marching orders. I directed them to await orders. At 4 P. M. the command marched to the depot, where Lieutenant Colonel Ligget reported with Company C, Captain Custer; Company D, Captain Sellers; Com- pany H, Captain Speaks, and Company K, Captain Brown.
"On receipt of written orders, accompanied by Colonel Church of your staff, we left for Cincinnati. At Xenia coffee and sandwiches were served to the command. At Corwin, Company F, Thirteenth Regi- ment, Captain Kearney, reported; at Loveland, Com- pany B, Thirteenth Regiment, Captain Brock, re- ported. Here our first orders from Cincinnati were re- ceived, bearing information that the Court House was fired in the Treasurer's office and that Captain Des- mond of the First Regiment had been killed by the mob.
"On arriving at Cincinnati depot, we were met by Colonel Ryan and a deputy sheriff, with written orders from Colonel Hawkins, sheriff of Hamilton county, to report at once at the county jail.
"Twenty rounds of ball cartridges having been issued to each man, special orders were given 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.
"We were not molested en route, further than by the throwing of stones and firing of revolvers in the
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vicinity of the rear guard, with plenty of swearing and abuse from the bystanders. Sheriff Hawkins directed me to place the battery gun with support, at the barri- cade on Court street in front of the jail, and to clear Main street of the mob. To support the battery gun, I detailed Companies H, K and I, then directed Colonel Liggett to take Companies A, F, D and C, climb the north barricade and march to Main and drive the mob from that part of Main street between North Court street and canal bridge, and hold the position. I also directed Major Schwarz with Companies B of the Fourteenth, B and F of the Thirteenth, B of the Ninth Battalion and the Governor's Guards, to clear Main street from that point to Court street and hold the position. On reaching Main street, Colonel Lig- gett ordered Company A, supported by Company D, to move forward and press the mob north over the canal bridge; this was done at the point of the bayonet. I also directed Companies F and C to hold the mob in front of the Court House in check. As soon as Com- panies A and D had completed the task assigned them, they with a detail from Company C, utilized a lot of salt, in barrels, to build a barricade across Main street at the bridge. Major Schwarz marched to Main street and ordered Company B, Fourteenth, to South Court street to clear the street and hold the 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, of the Fourteenth pushed forward, driving the crowd
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from them at the point of the bayonet. When near- ing South Court street, the first manifestations of the mob were made to resist further progress of the sol- diers. The Governor's Guard were immediately or- dered to the support of Company B. The mob in front of the Court House pressed forward, throwing stones and using firearms, and after repeated warn- ings by myself and other officers to fall back, they re- peated their demonstrations and started to press down on the soldiers, when, seeing there was no other al- ternative, 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 hastened to Colonel Liggett's command and caused Company F to bedetailed tomove forward and assist in clearing Court street. I then ordered Company B, Fourteenth Regi- ment, and the Governor's Guard to their support. The column then moved west on Court street to the first alley, the crowd falling back in front of them.
"Later I was advised that the mob had advanced to the point where Court street widened, and under the cover of buildings, had pelted the soldiers with stones and fired on them, wounding Colonel Liggett, Captain Slack and eight others, and that the command was given to the first platoon of Company F to fire, but with what results to the mob I was not informed. I immediately detailed Company H, and with a de- tachment of police, gathered such material as was on hand and carried it to Court street to build a barricade.
"The mob had retreated to the Market House and contented themselves with firing revolvers and
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muskets from that point. About 2 A. M. came word that the mob had got into the Music Hall and had cap- tured three brass cannon belonging to the Second Bat- tery. 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 accompany Sheriff Hawkins and my- self in their pursuit. Chief Reilly of the police de- tailed one company of his command to lead the ad- vance. The police being able to move much faster than the soldiers, who had the gun to shove over the pavement, were enabled to get there first and had the honor of capturing the guns which they pulled by hand to the jail.
"Little occurred during the remainder of the night. Surgeons Guerin and Gunsaulus secured Burdsal's drug store, 400 Main street, as a temporary hospital, where they attended the wounded soldiers and did good service. Sunday morning we were rein- forced by Colonel Picard, of the Thirteenth Regiment, with Company A of his command, bringing with him 10,000 rounds of ball cartridges. During the after- noon a barricade was built at the corner of Main and Ninth streets. 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 at the barricades. The roughs in front of the Court street barricade succeeded
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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 or firing a revolver. At Main street and the canal, under cover of 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. At last one fellow advanced, brandishing a revolver and defying the guard, and fell. His friends carried him away. The shot had the de- sired effect, stopping all disturbance at this point. Be- tween 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 Col- onel Hunt, it was deemed advisable to move forward and strengthen the barricade on Sycamore and Ninth streets; also the one on Court street facing the canal. At dusk the positions of the companies were changed from what they were the night before. All was com- paratively quiet until between 10 and 11 o'clock, when the mob, which had gathered at the Market House on Court and Walnut, commenced firing from this point, protecting themselves by the stands at the Market House and by the buildings at the corner. When the aim of the mob became too accurate for endurance, it being evident by the balls striking the barricade and the Court House beyond, that larger weapons than re- volvers were being used, it was thought best, at least,
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to give the mob the benefit of one case of cartridges from the battery gun by firing it into the Market House; but before this was done, due warning was given by the officers that it would be done if the firing did not cease. Oaths and a volley from the mob was the response; then the twenty shots were fired from the gun. A number of casualties was the result. This caused 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 magazine at that point. Colonel Picard, of the Thirteenth Regiment, with three companies of his regiment, were detailed for that purpose and remained there until about 5 o'clock A. M. After firing the battery gun at 11 o'clock, positive orders were issued against the firing of any single shots by the soldiers and that no firing should be done unless some soldier was shot or the mob endeavored to charge the works. Near 1 o'clock it became evident that another attack would be made. I took my station at the corner of Court and Main with Sheriff Hawkins, Colonel Hunt, Major Schwarz, Captain Sintz and other officers, and in speaking distance with the officers in charge of the barricade. A fusilade 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 per- haps fifteen minutes over fifty shots had been counted striking the Court House, others having hit the barri- cade, the mob became bold and decided to charge, and
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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, in quick succession were fired. Five persons were known to have been wounded. This was the last firing done and gradually all became quiet.
"At 7 o'clock Monday morning it became evi- dent that the rioting for the day was over and orders were given to unload pieces.
"During the day, orders were received for Com- pany B of the Ninth Battalion to join the other com- panies of the command at the City Building. Com- pany E and a detachment of Company K of the Four- teenth Regiment and two companies of the Thirteenth Regiment arrived and reported for duty. By orders from General Finley the Seventeenth Regiment re- ported at the jail for duty. Monday night was quiet and in marked contrast with the night previous, the men doing their duty without loads in their pieces. The men of the companies that had been on continuous duty since Saturday were relieved and allowed to se- cure such quarters as were available for rest. Tues- day morning Company D was detailed to represent the regiment at Captain Desmond's funeral as per General Finley's order.
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