USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 70
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1. Cornet Band.
2. Military companies under command of Capt. W. M. Liggett, escorting veterans.
3. Veteran Cavalry under command of Capt. John Hobensack.
4. Drum Corps.
5. Veterans under command of Capt. John Wiley, with Old Battle Flags.
6. Battery.
7. Band.
8. Governor, speakers and visitors.
9. Mayor, Council and fire department.
10. Bummers and camp followers, under command of Capt. John New- love.
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11. Citizens.
12. As the head of the column arrives at the grounds, a salute will be fired from battery to Commander-in-Chief
13. Review of Veterans and Military by Governor, Adjutant General and distinguished military officers. Invocation by Rev. H. Thrall, and Welcome Address by President J. L. Cameron.
14. Pic-nic dinner.
AFTERNOON.
15. Music-" Honor to the Soldiers " --- Philharmonic Society.
16. Oration-Gen. J. Warren Keifer.
17. Music-Band.
18. Song-" Tenting on the Old Camp Ground " -- Philharmonic Society. 19. Address.
20. Music-" Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean "-Philharmonic Society.
21. Business meeting of Regiments at Fine Art Hall.
22. Amusements and drill by military and cavalry.
Eighteen different Ohio regiments were represented in the procession, each regiment carrying its own old battle-flag which had been taken from the flag room in the State House to be present at this re-union.
Addresses were also made on this occasion by Gov. Foster, Hon. George K. Nash, Hon. Charles Townsend, Hon. J. F. Oglevee, Gen. J. S. Jones, Gen. J. S. Robinson and other distinguished guests. And thus pleas- antly closed the exercises of the day. All concerned are to be congratulated on the entire success of the re-union, and not the least of these are the ladies who so untiringly gave their labor and taste to the work of making the occa- sion a success. The number in attendance was estimated at from ten to twelve thousand.
The second re-union of this association was held at Marysville on the 17th of August, 1882, Dr. D. W. Henderson presiding, and D. T. Elliot acting as Secretary.
" Not only the soldiers themselves were present on this occasion, but they brought their families and remained all day and interlarded the proceedings with a basket dinner, thus making the occasion one of real social pleasure."
One of our newspapers, in commenting on these re-unions, says:
" The annual re-union of the soldiers of Union County has become one of the permanent institutions, as it ought to be. We hope these re-unions may become more prominent every year. The number of soldiers will from now be thinning out, but with their decreasing number will come a more vivid recollection of the events which they helped create."
Twenty years hence they will be very scarce. Hence the necessity of the present organization, which is designed to bring into closer fellowship the old veterans who bore the heat and burden of the conflict, and to keep them in the kindest regards for each other while they are living.
Let us, therefore, cherish the Soldiers' Association of Union County for the good its members have done and for the glorious memories it is designed to perpetuate. D. Webb is the present President, and W. M. Winget, Sec- retary of the Association.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
A Post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Marysville, August 25, 1881. The Post was named Ransom Reed Post, in honor of the first soldier from Union County who lost his life in the war for the preserva- tion of the Nation. Ransom Reed was a private, Company F, Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who fell at the battle of Carnifex Ferry, September 10, 1861.
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MILITARY RECORD.
The number of the Post is 113, Department of Ohio. The Post was or- ganized and instituted by Capt. D. Lanning, of Columbus, Ohio, mustering offi- cer. The charter members were W. L. Curry, M. C. Lawrence, John Hobensack, Andrew Sabine, J. V. Pearse, W. P. Anderson, S. G. Fry, S. M. Landon, D. T. Elliott, D. W. Ayers, J. L. Cameron, William M. Winget, J. B. Cole, G. P. Robinson, Frank Filler, T. P. Freeman, William H. Robb, William M. Liggett, Homer Thrall, John L. Porter. I. N. Hamilton, Thomas Martin, T. S. Mullen, B. W. Keyes, D. Webb, John Wiley, W. E. Baxter, W. H. Robinson and William Torrence.
The first officers chosen were: W. L. Curry, Post Commander; John Hobensack, Senior Vice Commander; M. C. Lawrence, Junior Vice Commander; W. M. Liggett, Adjutant; W. H. Robb, Quartermaster; Andrew Sabine, Surgeon; Homer Thrall, Chaplain; W. P. Anderson, Officer of the Day; S. G. Fry, Officer of the Guard; D. T. Elliott, Sergeant Major; S. M. Landon, Quartermaster Sergeant; J. B. Cole, Assistant Inspector; and W. M. Winget, Aid-de-Camp.
Ransom Reed Post has had uninterrupted growth and prosperity. There have been only one or two meetings in eighteen months that recruits have not been mustered. The total number mustered in the Post since its organ- ization is 220; of these ten have been transferred to the Scribner Post, since organized at Plain City. In this large number of comrades there are repre- sentatives of over seventy different regiments and battalions.
Only one member of the Post has died since the organization, M. C. Law- rence, late Lieutenant Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio In- fantry, who at the time of his death was Junior Vice Commander. His death occurred December 15, 1881, and on the 18th he was buried by the Post ac- cording to the service prescribed in the ritual for the burial of the dead.
As the public are interested in knowing the objects of the Grand Army of the Republic, it may be well to give a brief statement of them here. First, the object is not political; this is distinctly declared in the following emphatic language in the rules:
" No officer or comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic shall in any manner use this organization for partisan purposes, and no discussion of par- tisan questions shall be allowed at any of its meetings, nor shall any nomina- tion for political office be made."
The objects are: 1st, "the preservation of the spirit of comradeship, to preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead."
To secure the last-mentioned object, a day is set apart, the 30th of May, to be observed as Decoration Day. The Post has an impressive service to be used on that day. 2d, mutual helpfulness. "To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen." It is the design of each Post to ac- cumulate a fund to be used for charitable purposes. 3d, the promotion of loyality to the Nation. "To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount respect for and fidelity to the National Con- stitution and laws, to discountenance whatever tends to weaken loyality, in- cites to insurrection, treason or rebellion or in any manner impairs the effi- ciency and permanency of our free institutions; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all men." No man can be- come a member of the Grand Army of the Republic who has ever borne arms against the Government, or upon whom "the stain of treason rests." All honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the war for the preservation of the Nation are eligible to membership. All distinction of rank are done away,
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the title by which members are addressed or referred to in the meetings and business of the Post being " Comrade."
The several constituted bodies of the association are Post, the State or ganization or Department, and the national organization, known as the Na- tional Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic.
A badge, consisting of a bronze star made out of cannon captured during the war and upon which is represented every corps of the army, is given to each comrade at his muster in.
The Commander of a Grand Army Post ranks as Colonel; S. V. Com- mander, Lieutenant Colonel; J. V. Commander, Major; Surgeon, Major; Offi- cer of the Day, Captain: Quartermaster, First Lieutenant; Adjutant, First Lieutenant; and Officer of the Guard, Second Lieutenant.
CURRY CADETS. 1
BY A. H. BEIGHTLER.
On the 18th day of July, 1877, under the statute of the State, authorizing the organization of military companies, to be known as the Ohio National Guard, and to be subject to the order of the Governor for the purpose of suppressing riots or repelling invasion, a company was or- ganized in Marysville, composed of forty-five young men from among the best families in the town. Their enlistment was for the term of five years. On the same date William L. Curry was elected Captain of the company, William M. Liggett First, and Charles W. Radebaugh, Second Lieuten- ant. The company was at once furnished with fatigue uniforms and Springfield breech-load- ing rifles by the State.
From the organization of the company its officers were very diligent in drilling it, and it soon became one of the best drilled and disciplined companies in the State.
The company was assigned to the Fourteenth Regiment, then being formed, with headquar- ters at Columbus, and was at first Company " E" of that organization, and afterward changed to " D." By a resolution unanimously adopted July 4, 1878, the company was named the " Curry Cadets, " iu houor of Capt. Curry, who had then been elected Lieutenant Colonel of the Fourteenth Regiment. On November 23, 1877, William M. Liggett was promoted to the captainey of the company, and Charles W. Radebaugh to the Frst Liieutenancy. John F. Zuerner was elected Second Lieutenant.
The Fourteenth Regiment having its headquarters at Columbus, was often called upon to do active duty, on important publie occasions, and in which the Curry Cadets always participated. On January 14, 1878, it took part at Columbus in the inauguration of R. M. Bishop, as Governor of Ohio, and formed a part of the great military review on that occasion.
August 11, 1880, it took part in the National Re-union of ex-soldiers and sailors at Colum- bus, where it was reviewed by President Hayes, General Sherman, and other distinguished officers of the Regular Army, and formed a part of the President's escort.
It was also at the funeral of President Garfield at Cleveland, October, 1881, and was the recipient of special attention and honor on that memorable occasion.
In an interview with Gen. W. S. Hancock, published in the Cleveland Daily Globe, at that time, the General spoke in terms of the highest praise of the military bearing, strict discipline and soldierly appearance of the Fourteenth Regiment.
During the funeral ceremonies, the Fourteenthi Regiment was given the post of honor, and placed on guard duty in Lake View Cemetery, and by orders from headquarters, the Curry Ca- dets were placed at the vault to guard the same and assist in ,the decorations; and they re- mained on duty there till the last sad rites in honor of the martyred President had been per- formed, and the distinguished men of the Nation there assembled had moved sadly and silently away.
One week in each year the regiment went into eamp, being furnished by the State with all necessary equipments for that purpose.
The time in camp was always well improved, by company and battalion drill, and learning the details of camp life. The first camping- place of the regiment was on the fair grounds, near Marysville, in August, 1878, where a week was spent in active service.
The next camping place was near Delaware, where the Regiment stayed from August 12 to 17, 1879.
In 1880, from August 5 to 10, at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and from the 10th to the 12th of the same month at Columbus, Ohio.
In 1881, from August 3 to 9, at Lakeside, Ohio.
On the 18th of July, 1882, twenty-five of the members of the company, who enlisted July 18, 1877, were discharged by reason of the expiration of their term of enlistment, and the remain- ing members, with a number of recruits, re-organized the company, and it still maintains its reputation as a very efficient organization.
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MILITARY RECORD.
557
In 1882, Capt, William M. Liggett was elected Lientenant-Colonel of the Fourteenth Regi- ment, vice W. L. Curry, resigned.
The Curry Cadets then' elected Jnnot D. Buxton, Captain, John L. Sellers, First Lieuten- ant, and D. S. Alexander, Second Lieutenant.
From August 17 to 24, 1882, the regiment camped on Belle Isle, near Detroit, Mich.
Below is given a complete roster of the company, from its organization to the present time.
William L. Curry, Charles W. Radebaugh, Charles W. Snider, John F. Zuerner, Asbury H. Beightler, Edward W. Porter, Junot D. Buxton, Otie W. Ingman, Lester Turner, Frank J. Hill, John M. Cassil, William M. Liggett, John H. Kinkade, John L. Sellers, Oscar R. Barbour, Charles F. Wilkins, John M. Brodrick, Stedman W. Coe, Charles Stuart, Charles F. Mason, John M. Wilkins, Jasper R. King, Charles L. Onsler, Arthur G. Wetzel, Samuel W. Peacock, Frank N. Hamilton, L. R. Newhouse, George W. Marlin, Le Roy Turner, J. F. Baker, John Weisbrod, C. L. Rose, C. F. Sellers, John V. Pearse, Joe S. Wilkins, Alex Houston, Z. T. Alexander, D. S. Alexander, John W. Anderson, Harry S. Bundy, William Hopkins, Deurelle S. Price, Henry Geinike, John Fleck, John Gamble, James B. Ilealey, W. K. Liggett, A. H. Morey, John Ousler, Ed M. Pierson, J. W. Cartmell, Frank Wright, Charles W. Southard, Stevenson C. Thompson, Walter C. Fullington, Henry L. Snider, J. T. Cartmell, Leonard Huffman, John Shadrach, Deurelle S. Porter, John St. John, William Grauman, Abner D. Coe, John Brannon, Henry E. Brown, Charles. H. Childs, Charles N Coats, Fred S. Bown, J. R. Carder, Frank Ford, Edward Fogarty, George R. Gordon, Fay A. Harrington, Joel Jolley, John F. Morey, Joe Mullen, William L. McCampbell, William Peacock, A. P. Payne, Charles Smith, James R. St. John, O. L. Winget, William Weidman, A. B. Agner, J. W. Cross, L. W. Davis, W. H. Elliott, Edward Harmount, J. W. McClay, W. F. Otte, Jacob Schwarz, Lewis W. Webster, Charles W. Rice, Will- iam Smith, James A. Sellers, Byron Winget, Will E. Winget, John S. Berger, F. M. Cheney, William L. English, Emory L. Hoskins, Walter Kennedy, Charles Kennedy, C. B. Slocum, F. S. Southard, George Zuerner.
MARCHES, BATTLES AND SIEGES.
Believing that not only soldiers but the general reader, after having perused the brief history of the services of Union County's soldiers, would be interested in the " maxims of war " which govern the movements of an army in the field, I have carefully compiled, from the Army Regulations and the best military authorities, this short chapter on marches, battles and sieges.
MARCHES.
The object of the movement and the nature of the ground determine the order of march, the kind of troops in each column and the number of col- umns.
The " general," sounded one hour before the time of marching, is the signal to strike tents, to load the wagons and pack-horses, and send them to the place of assembling. The fires are then put out, and care taken to avoid burning straw, etc., or giving to the enemy any other indication of the move- ment.
The " march " will be beat in the infantry, and the " advance " sounded in the cavalry, in succession, as each is to take its place in the column.
When the army should form suddenly to meet the enemy, the "long roll" is beat and " to horse" sounded. The troops form rapidly in front of their camp.
Batteries of artillery and their caissons move with the corps to which they are attached; the field train and ambulances march at the rear of the column, and the baggage with the rear guard.
In cavalry marches, when distant from the enemy, each regiment, and, if possible, each squadron, forms a separate column, in order to keep up the same gait from front to rear, and to trot. when desirable, on good ground. In such cases, the cavalry may leave camp later, and can give more rest to the horses and more attention to the shoeing and harness. Horses are not bridled until time to start.
The execution of marching orders must not be delayed. If the com- mander is not at the head of his troops when they are to march, the next in rank puts the column in motion.
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In night marches. the Sergeant Major of each regiment remains at the rear with a drummer, to give notice when darkness or difficulty stops the march. In cavalry, a trumpeter is placed in rear of each squadron, and the signal repeated to the head of the regiment.
In approaching a defile, the Colonels are warned; they close their regi- ments as they come up (each regiment passes separately, fat an accelerated pace and in as close order as possible). The leading regiment, having passed and left room for the whole column in close order, then halts, and moves again as soon as the last regiment is through. In the cavalry, each squadron, be- fore quickening the pace to rejoin the column, takes its original order of march.
If two corps meet on the same road, they pass to the right, and both con- tinue their march, if the road is wide enough; if it is not, the first in the order of battle takes the road, the other halts.
A column that halts to let another column pass resumes the march in ad- vance of the train of this column. If a column has to pass a train, the train must halt, if necessary, till the column passes. The column which has pre- cederce must yield if the commander, on seeing the order of the other, finds it for the interest of the service.
On a road, marching by the flank, it would be considered " good order " to have 5,000 men to a mile, so that a full corps, of 30,000 men, would extend six miles; but with the average trains and batteries of artillery, the probabil- ities are that it would draw out to ten miles. On a long and regular march, the divisions and brigades should alternate in the lead; the leading divisions should be on the road by the earliest dawn, and march at the rate of about two miles, or at most two and a half miles, an hour, so as to reach camp by noon. Even then the rear division and trains will hardly reach camp much before night. Theoretically, a marching column should preserve such order that by simply halting and facing to the right or left it would be in line of battle; but this is rarely the case, and generally deployments are made " for- ward," by conducting each brigade by the flank obliquely to the right or left to its approximate position in line of battle, and there deployed. In such a line of battle, a brigade of 3,000 infantry would occupy a mile of "front;" but for a strong line of battle, 5,000 men, with two batteries, should be al- lowed to each mile, or a division would habitually constitute a double line with skirmishers and a reserve on a mile of " front."
BATTLES.
Dispositions for battle depend on the number, kind and quality of the troops opposed, on the ground, and or the objects of the war; but the follow- ing rules are to be observed generally:
In attacking, the advanced guard endeavors to capture the enemy's outposts, or cut them off from the main body. Having done so, or driven them in, it occupies, in advancing, all the points that can cover or facilitate the march of the army or secure its retreat, such as bridges, defilos, woods and heights; it then makes attacks, to occupy the enemy, without risking too much, and to deceive them as to the march and projects of the army.
When the enemy is hidden by a curtain of advanced troops, the command- ant of the advanced guard sends scouts, under intelligent officers, to the right and left, to ascertain his position and movements. If he does not succeed in this way, he tries to unmask the enemy by demonstrations; threatens to cut the advance from the main body: makes false attacks; partial and impetuous charges in echelon; and if all fail, he makes a real attack to accomplish the object.
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MILITARY RECORD.
Detachments, left by the advance guard to hold points in the rear, rejoin it when other troops come up. If the army takes a position, and the ad- vanced guard is separated from it by defiles or heights, the communication is secured by troops drawn from the main body.
At proper distance from the enemy, the troops are formed for the attack in several lines; if only two can be formed, some battalions in column are placed behind the wings of the second line. The lines may be formed by troops in column or in order of battle, according to the ground and plan of attack.
The advanced guard may be put in the line or on the wings, or other posi- tions, to aid the pursuit or cover the retreat.
The reserve is formed of the best troops of foot and horse, to complete a victory or make good a retreat. It is placed in the rear of the central or chief point of attack or defense.
The cavalry should be distributed in echelon on the wings and at the center, on favorable ground.
It should be instructed not to take the gallop until within charging dis- tance; never to receive a charge at a halt, but to meet it, or, if not strong enough, to retire maneuvering; and in order to be ready for the pursuit, and prepared against a reverse, or the attacks of the reserve, not to engage all its squadrons at once, but to reserve one-third, in column or in echelon, abreast of or in the rear of one of the wings; this arrangement is better than a second line with intervals.
In the attack, the artillery is employed to silence the batteries that pro- tect the position. In the defense, it is better to direct its fire on the advanc- ing troops. In either case, as many pieces are united as possible, the fire of the artillery being formidable in proportion to concentration.
In battles and military operations, it is better to assume the offensive, and put the enemy on the defensive; but to be safe in doing so requires a larger force than the enemy, or better troops, and favorable ground. When obliged to act on the defensive, the advantage of position and of making the attack may sometimes be secured by forming in rear of the ground on which we are to fight, and advancing at the moment of action. In mountain warfare, the assailant has always the disadvantage; and even in offensive warfare in the open field, it may frequently be very important, when the artillery is well posted, and any advantage of ground may be secured, to await the enemy and compel him to attack.
The attack should be made with a superior force on the decisive point of the enemy's position, by masking this by false attacks and demonstrations on other points, and by concealing the troops intended for it by the ground, or by other troops in their front.
Besides the arrangements which depend on the supposed plan of the enemy, the wings must be protected by the ground, or supported by the troops in echelon; if the attack of the enemy is repulsed, the offensive must at once be taken, to inspire the troops, to disconcert the enemy, and often to decide the action. In thus taking the offensive, a close column should be pushed rapidly on the wing or flank of the enemy. The divisions of this column form in line of battle successively, and each division moves to the front as soon as formed, in order, by a rapid attack in echelon, to prevent the enemy from changing front or bringing up his reserves. In all 'arrangements, especially in those for attack, it is most important to conceal the design until the moment of execution, and then to execute it with the greatest rapidity. The night, therefore, is preferred for the movement of troops on the flank or rear of the enemy, otherwise it is necessary to mask their march by a grand movement in front, or by taking a wide circuit.
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In making an attack, the communications to the rear and for retreat must be secured, and the General must give beforehand all necessary orders to provide for that event.
When a success is gained, the light troops should pursue the enemy promptly and rapidly. The other troops will restore order in their columns, then advance from position to position, always prepared for an attack or to support the troops engaged.
Before the action, the Generals indicate the places where they will be; if they change position, they give notice of it, or leave a staff officer to show where they have gone.
During the fight, the officers and non-commissioned officers keep the men in the ranks, and enforce obedience if necessary. Soldiers must not be permitted to leave the ranks to strip or rob the dead, nor even to assist the wounded unless by express permission, which is only to be given after the action is decided. The highest interest and most pressing duty is to win the victory, by winning which only can a proper care of the wounded be insured.
Before the action, the Quartermaster of the division makes all the neces- sary arrangements for the transportation of the wounded. He establishes the ambulance depots in the rear, and gives his assistants the necessary instruc- tions for the service of the ambulance wagons and other means of removing the wounded.
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