USA > Ohio > Miami County > Piqua > The first century of Piqua, Ohio > Part 10
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Before taking up the other subjects of this chapter, we will give an account of the great "Sham Battle" of Feb. 22, 1875. (From Miami Helmet ) .
On the evening of Feb. 22nd, Mr. J. H. Horton reproduced his famous "Sherman's March to the Sea" at Conover's opera house. The characters were made up from local talent and the play was quite a success. This play was preceded by a great "Sham Battle" on Main street in the after- noon, and the following is a description of that great event.
Co. B. of the Sherman's March party arrived at 11:30 A. M .; Co. A. came at 12:30 P. M .; Co. A. was escorted by Co. B., and the "Silver Band" to headquarters. The artillery was parked in front of the city hall.
The weather up to the 21st had been very cold and much snow, but on Sunday it was much warmer, and Monday the 22nd was a warm bright day, so that by noon the snow had disappeared and was succeeded by an elegant plaster of mud on the streets. This was of small matter, however, to the "Yanks and Johnnies," for each side was determined to make this the decisive battle of the war. Soon after noon there began to be signs of a battle.
Officers in Blue and Gray, with the wrinkles of war on their faces, dashed through the streets. Scouts went plunging along at break-neck speed, as though a terrible conflict was at hand. Occasionally a bummer would come along with a cart laden with forage and poultry hanging from the axle-tree, or would be on foot with a side or two of meat dang- ling from his bayonet. In a short time the contending forces were get- ting into closer quarters, while the opposing pickets were driven in on i both sides.
The Union forces having taken posession of the Rossville bridge, were massed there in force under Prof. J. G. Wagner, who represented
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Gen. Sherman, while the Confederates advanced slowly from south Main street, a motley crowd in all kinds of dress, and with all kinds of weap- ons, under the command of Mr. T. L. Wiswall, as Gen. Joe Johnson.
The rebel cannons were advanced to the Public Square, while Sher- man's were placed near the North street corner, and after a continued connonade that was quite destructive to windows, the forces advanced on each other's lines, and the conflict became general. After a sharp fight with small arms, the Johnnies retreated pell-mell followed closely by the Yanks.
The Rebel commander rallying his flying troops, turned on the pur- suers, and the tide of battle turned in their favor for a time.
By this time the entire army on either side was engaged, and the musket fire was almost continual. After a while there came a lull in the firing, and the commanding officers met between the opposing lines under a flag of truce, and arranged for an exchange of prisoners. After the Yanks and Johnnies had bid each other good-bye, and rejoined their respective commands, the final contest was fought, which soon termi- nated in the surrender of Johnson's army, on condition that the Rebels retain their arms and equipments. After the surrender, general review, and dress parade, the fight was over. Honorary mention is made of the Harris Guards of Dayton under Capt. Miller, who were elegantly uni- formed, and undoubtedly the best drilled company in the battle; and Capt. Ad. Knecht's battery of Dayton which did splendid service; also the Covington Guards under Capt. Ullery ; the Tippecanoe Light Guards under Capt. Horton, and our new Piqua company under Capt. Fuhr, now organized only a few weeks,-all did good service.
Not less equal to their work were the Rebs, under Capt. McNeely. You would have taken them for Johnnies as far as you could see them.
Their rebel yells awoke the echoes, and though some of the men were captured, they stood their ground valiantly, and it is said that their captain took 16 union prisoners single-handed.
The crowd witnessing this interesting spectacle were estimated at over 10,000, and though some persons were knocked down in the cavalry charges, no one was seriously injured.
We will now turn back for a glance of the part taken by Piqua in the Mexican war. Early in May, 1846, war was declared between the U. S. and Mexico. There is not much to tell about this war locally, and outside the fact that quite a number of volunteers went from Piqua to Cincinnati by canal-boat, and with the exception of a few who were accepted by the government, returned in the same manner, the paper
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read by Capt. F. A. Hardy at the reunion of the Mexican War Veterans in Columbus, Sept. 8, 1906, will cover all, except the personal experiences, of our few participators in that war. It reads: A call was issued for volunteers to be apportioned among the states, north and south, 2400 being assigned as the quota for Ohio. Within a few days several thou- sand more than were called for, reported at Camp Washington, Cincin- nati, for duty.
From this number three regiments of 800 men each, that being the number then required for a regiment, were formed and commanded by Col. Alex. Mitchell, Col. Geo. W. Morgan, and Col. Sam. R. Curtis, respectively.
The three regiments named, as soon as they could be properly equip- ped for service, were forwarded to the seat of war then being waged along the Rio Grande river. After two years of bloody strife, a treaty of peace was signed between the contending countries, by the terms of which the Mexican Government ceded to the U. S. a territory contain- ing 600,000 square miles, and the U. S. gave Mexico fifteen million dol- lars.
This settlement was severely criticised by many people of the U. S., who thought this then desert land should have been ours simply by right of conquest.
In this year (1907) Capt. Hardy is still living and in good health, and is the only Piqua survivor of that long forgotten war.
PIQUA IN THE CIVIL WAR.
In treating this voluminous subject we will confine our record to local happenings, and not follow the different Piqua companies to the field of battle. Neither will we give the names of the thousand or more men who enlisted from here. This active and statistical history can be found in every public library and post-room. We will start with a list of the companies enrolled at Piqua, compiled in May, 1906, by W. W. Levering.
Co. K. 1st. O. V. I .- 104 men. Co. B. 11th. O. V. I .- 104 men. Co. F. 11th. O. V. I .- 104 men. Co. C. 94th. O. V. I .-- 104 men. Co. A. 110th. O. V. I .- 104 men.
Co. B. 147th. O. V. I .- 104 men. Co. I. 8th. O. V. C .- 104 men. Part of Co. 8th Ohio Battery-50 men. Part of Co. 12th. O. V. C. Some in 50th. O. V. I. Some in 20th. O. V. I.
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After the fall of Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, President Lincoln at once called for 75,000 volunteers to serve for three months. Orders to recruit a company in Piqua were received on April 16th, and the task was accomplished in one day. On the 17th they were ordered to report in Columbus, which they did on the 18th. This first company was under the command of Capt. Stephen Johnston, and was mustered in at Colum- bus on April 26, 1861, as Co. F., 11th Regt. O. V. I.
On the evening previous to their departure, they were given a fare- well reception at Greene street church. Patriotic speeches and songs were rendered, and the enthusiasm of the meeting was tremendous. Near the close of the services, a silk flag, inscribed with the words "Piqua Invincibles," was presented to the company by the ladies of Piqua.
This flag was not only carried through the three months service, but after the company was mustered out on Aug. 18, 1861, it was taken by members of Co. F. who reenlisted in the same regiment for three years service, and was carried by them to the end of the war. Very recently it was still in the posession of the late Carlton Belt.
Capt. Stephen Johnston resigned soon after the company was mus- tered in, and Lieut. Sol. Teverbaugh was elected captain. He not only served the three months, but reenlisted and served an additional three years, as did most of the company.
The next Piqua company of volunteers was being enrolled at the same date, and though they did not leave Piqua quite so early, were nustered into service at Columbus as Co. B. 11th O. V. I., on the same late as Co. F.
This company was raised by T. P. L. Defrees, who was elected cap- ain, with Sam. Alward as 1st Lieut. They were mustered out Aug. 18, 861, and like Co. F. many reenlisted with the reorganized 11th Regt.
When the call for volunteers for three years service was made in he summer of 1861, a company was raised by T. J. Lawton, and though ot at once called to the front, spent the intervening time in perfecting hemselves in military tactics. They were mustered in as Co. K. 1st O. T. I., Sept. 5, 1861, and served the full three years, being mustered out n Sept. 8, 1864.
In the summer of 1861, a cavalry company was formed in Piqua. t was organized under Capt. Stephen C. Writer. Was mustered into ervice at Camp Chase on Sept. 23, 1861, and became Co. I. of the Sth ). V. C. John P. Rea and Wm. J. Lawder were also captains in this ompany. It served four years and was mustered out Sept. 13, 1865. During the summer of 1862, two regiments, the 94th and the 110th
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O. V. I., were recruited and encamped on the Col. John Johnston farm at Upper Piqua. They used the field near the present memorial monu- ment for a drilling ground, and during their stay at this place were visited, especially on Sundays, by a great number of visitors.
Though these two regiments were recruited at "Camp Piqua" at the same period, the 94th was first mustered into the regular service. This was on Aug. 23rd, and on Aug. 28th was ordered to the front. On that day they left Piqua over the D. & M. R. R. for Lexington, Ky., and were immediately plunged into active service in the field. Co. C. of this regiment was nearly all of Piqua men, and although as with the 110th, Piqua men were scattered through the entire regiment.
The 110th remained at "Camp Piqua" until they were mustered into service on Oct. 3, 1862, and left over the "Panhandle" for Columbus in freight cars on Oct. 19th. Of this regiment Co. A. was composed of nearly all Piqua men.
Co. C. of the so-called "Hundred Days Men" was recruited early in the year 1864 at "Camp Mckinney." north of Piqua. They were in this camp only a few days, when on May 2nd they marched through six inches of snow to the camp near Troy, where the regiment was to assemble. They were mustered in at Camp Dennison, May 16, 1864, as Co. C. of the 147th O. V. I., and sent to Washington for the defense of that city.
They were under the command of Capt. John M. Ried and Liet, Jas. W. Statler, and were mustered out on Aug. 30, 1864.
When the great excitement caused by Morgan's raid in southern Ohio in 1863 was at its height, it was feared that the capture of Cincin- nati was its object. Many Piqua men, and others over the state, left at once for its defense. These men were equipped with all manner of weap- ons, and at first there was no organzation whatever. After reaching Cincinnati they were mobilized into some kind of order, but their serv- ices not being required, they soon disbanded and returned home. They were known as the "Squirrel Hunters," and as such were given honorable discharges by the government.
This completes the list of Piqua companies in the Civil War, but before closing this subject we wish to call attention to the patriotism displayed, not only by the men that went to the front, in some instances leaving their families to depend upon the kindness of the community. but to the equal devotion of the women of the town, who, while helping these unfortunate families, also did much to ameliorate the condition of the soldiers themselves.
The following, written by Mrs. Louise W. Mckinney, describes bet.
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ter than we could the work and patriotic interest of these women :
Ever since the days of Hecuba, it has been the women who sat on the walls and saw the men go out to battle, while they had only to wait, and wait. But the women of Piqua, when, amid tears and sighs they saw the defenders of the Union march away, many never to return, determined to send comfort to the brave men who had gone. The day after they had started, while the echoes of the drum and fife still lingered in the air, the first Soldiers' Aid Society was organized. The president was Mrs. Henry Kitchen ; vice-president, Mrs. Preston Defrees, whose hus- band had gone out in command of one of the companies; secre- tary, Mrs. J. F. Mckinney; treasurer, Mrs. Jas. Starrett.
SOLDIERS' MONUMENT AT CAMP PIQUA
The organization was effected in the Greene street M. E. Church, but Mrs. Rachel Davis invited the society to her house to work, and generously gave up her two front rooms, one to be used as a work room, the other as a packing room, where the boxes were filled.
Once a week the ladies met, and never ceased their efforts through the long dark days of the war. They rolled bandages, scraped lint, knit stockings and mittens (some of the latter with a separate forefinger, so the soldiers could wear them while load- ing and firing their guns), made garments of all kinds, and made and filled the house-wives, as the little cases of sewing imple- ments were called. Many impromptu dinners were given by the women of Piqua, not only for the Piqua soldiers, but often for others merely passing through the town. But "the tree of
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life has been shaken," and the men who lived and worked and fought in the days of the civil war have, many of them, dropped like ripened fruit from the branches. The fight with the world and Father Time has thinned the ranks of those who marched back from Chattanooga, Gettysburg, and Chickamauga, and soon there will be only a memory of them left.
Other means of helping the families of the volunteers were resorted to. The city and township each voted money for this purpose, and the people of the surrounding country made many donations of produce and money.
A letter from Piqua to the Cincinnati Daily Gazette on Thanks- giving day, 1863, gives an account of one such occasion. It reads :
Piqua, Nov. 28, 1863.
The day has come and gone, and with it has come the means and substantials of life in the way of wood, meat, potatoes, apples, flour, and last but not least, solid comfort in the way of greenbacks, which will make glad the hearts of many a soldier's family. At an early hour in the day wood commenced coming in loads ranging from a half-cord to three and a half cords, and so continued until some 150 loads were contributed. Nor was their generosity limited to wood. Large quantities of pro- visions were brought in. One school district contributed 72 bushels of wheat in addition to a large amount of wood. School district No. 4, Washington Township, contributed wood and pro- visions amounting to nearly $200. This district was awarded the splendid flag for the largest donation. Large contributions were made by the citizens of Piqua, and the ladies, desirous of doing their share in the noble work, prepared a splendid dinner for the farmers, and also prepared an oyster supper for tonight, the proceeds to be given to the soldier's families.
The contributions reached the value of $800.
The flag spoken of in the above letter was kept for many years by the late Jas. W. Hunter, of "Beech Grove District," and is now in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. Jos. M. Fink.
Another such donation was made on Dec. 31st of the same year and the flag this time was given to the man bringing in the largest load of 4-foot wood. This was won by D. C. Statler, who came in with eigh cords on a six-wheel wagon.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
War was declared on April 21, 1898, and President Mckinley calle(
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for 120,000 volunteers on April 23rd. Co. K., 3rd Infantry, O. N. G., was at once organized with McPherson Brown as captain, and on June 23rd left for Columbus.
On July 6th this company left for the south, where they were held as reserves in case of need. The war was so short and decisive that they were not needed in Cuba, so they returned to Columbus, where they were mustered out Oct. 17, 1898.
Another volunteer company was enrolled in Piqua at the same time, but owing to political machinations, was not mustered in.
PIQUA FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Fires were not frequent in the early existence of the town, and very primitive methods were employed in fighting them. When an alarm of
WASHINGTON
OLD WASHINGTON FIRE-ENGINE. STILL IN USE AT ANSONIA, OHIO
re was given, each and every citizen responded, simply snatching up bucket or any utensil that would hold water, and rushing to the scene disaster, would carry to, and throw water on the flames until it was ther extinguished or had burned itself out.
The first record we have of any organized effort to fight the fire mon was an ordinance passed by the Town Trustees in May, 1836, aking it compulsory for every owner of buildings in Piqua to provide ladder of sufficient length to protect and make accessible any part of s building in case of fire. Also to provide each and every building th at least two leather buckets of three gallons capacity, which shall
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have the owner's initials on, and be numbered from one up. Must b kept in convenient place to get in case of fire.
(Signed),
L. R. BROWNELL, President. W. R. BARRINGTON, Recorder.
These old leather buckets were made by Jacob Landes, and ther are still a few of them remaining in the older families of the town.
This organization of fire-fighters was called the "Bucket Brigade, and upon an alarm of fire, would form in lines to the nearest well o stream, and pass the filled buckets along one line to the burning build ing, where the contents were dashed upon the flames, and then sendin them back along the other line to the point of supply. The line passin the empty buckets was frequently composed of women and children, an the excitement of a fire in those days was only equaled by the advent a circus.
The next effort for fire protection was made by our citizens in 183 when a subscription paper for the purpose of buying a hand fire-engil was circulated. By November, 1838, $700 had been subscribed and I doubt the balance was raised by the time the engine was delivered.
The old paper from which the following was taken says: It wou be advisable to have a regular fire company organized, hold regul meetings, and prepare themselves for its operation when the engi arrives.
The following letter will explain the details of the purchase of ths first fire-engine :
LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF PIQUA.
Rochester, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1839.
Stephen Johnston, Esq.
I have concluded an agreement with Mr. Briggs, (successor to Lewis Seyle), for a first rate fire-engine to be delivered at Columbus in May next, in complete order for $1,075, New York funds, to be paid in June next, or at the time I shall be in Piqua.
It will be ornamented with a painting on the back appro- priate for the name, together with the name of your town. It will be supplied with 250 feet of hose, suction hose, coupling boxes, wrenches, etc.
The machine will be ready by the opening of navigation on
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the Erie canal, which will be about the first of May, and will arrive at Columbus not far from the 15th of the same month. From all I can learn the machine will be superior to any one now in our city, and am confident will give satisfaction.
I will endeavor to be in your town as soon as the engine, and will assist in putting together such parts as may be neces- sary to take down for the convenience of shipping.
Yours,
H. TAYLOR.
ild in in ano to This engine arrived in Columbus the first week of March, 1839, and a team was sent there to haul it to Piqua. The fire-company had been organized with Stephen Johnston as leader, and took the name of "The Reliance Fire Company No. 1." This company took charge of the new engine and named it "Reliance No. 1," though it was usually called the "Teakettle" on account of its fantastic shape. This engine was kept for a time in the old frame market-house, just south of the present town 8 hall, but on Dec. 5, 1842, the fire-company was authorized to rent a room gir from Col. John JJohnston just south of the National hotel, at a yearly dmrent of $42.
Early in August, 1845, another ordinance in regard to leather fire- oul buckets was passed, and at the same meeting hooks and ladders were gulabordered from Caleb Jones & Son, at a cost of $50, for the use of the nginnewly organized Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1. They were placed in the market-house portion of the newly completed town hall.
In the summer of 1845 three fire-wells were dug. They were situated hear the curb-line of the street, and were six feet in diameter with the vater at least four feet deep. There was one at the southwest corner of North and Downing streets, one at the southwest corner of Ash and Downing, and one at the southwest corner of High and Downing. These vells cost the town $136.79, and were supplied with large wooden pumps, out in by Jonathan Legg.
They were intended to supply water to the bucket brigade or the ire-engine, and were also public drinking places. Other public wells of arly date were on the north and south sides of the public square, about 0 feet from Main street.
In this same year (1845) fire-wardens were appointed in each ward, hose duties consisted in directing the work of the bucket-men at fires, nd to see that each householder had complied with the leather-bucket rdinance.
These wardens were: 1st Ward, Isaac S. Clark; 2nd Ward, Simeon
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French; 3rd Ward, Valentine Butsch; 4th Ward, David Jordan; 5th Ward, John Keyt.
In June, 1846, the small fire-bell that had been used by the Reliance Company at their engine-house near the National hotel, was removed and hung in the cupola of the town hall. In the fall of 1848, a committee of the town council bought a Farnam & Swift hand fire-engine in Cin cinnati at a cost of $900. This engine was peculiar from the fact that the men working the brakes were seated in two rows on top of the ma chine, and pulled back and forth very much like rowing a boat. Its seating capacity was 24 men.
The engine was originally named the "Ohio No. 2," but was after ward better known as the "Old Row-boat." It was taken in charge by "Independent Co. No. 1," and soon after the new market-house was built, (1850), the engine was placed in the lower east room of the towi hall, formerly occupied by the market.
In December, 1853, a large fire-bell was purchased by the city, and was hung in the cupola of the town hall in January, 1854. This is the same bell now in use at the central fire station. It cost $350.
It seems that after the advent of the Old Row-boat engine, interes in the Reliance company became apathetic, for on Jan. 2, 1855, a nev Reliance company was organized, and the era of competition and rivalry between the fire companies was inaugurated. At this date new fire wardens were appointed as follows: 1st Ward, S. S. Mckinney ; 2nd Ward, W. N. Foster; 3rd Ward, T. J. Lawton; 4th Ward, Henry Rouzer
On April 4, 1856, a new hand fire-engine similar to but larger tha the Reliance No. 1, was bought of a Mr. Jeffries at a cost of $1,598.54 It was named the "Washington No. 1," and was kept temporarily in th engine room of the town hall, while the Reliance was moved to a build ing on River street between Main and Wayne, which was rented fror Mr. Humpreville at $50 per year.
In 1857, "Messengers" were appointed for the different fire con panies. Their duties were to call out the firemen when needed, and t take care of the engines and hose. The following year F. D. Jorda was messenger for the Washington company at a salary of $50 per year and B. F. Baily for the Reliance company at $40 per year. In 1857, tw torches were purchased for each of the companies, and several hundre feet of spiral copper-riveted leather hose was ordered from Seymore, ( Cincinnati.
In July, 1857, the first fire-cistern was constructed at the interse
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tion of Water and Downing streets. Its capacity was 300 barrels, and its cost $150. Later in the year another was built at the intersection of North and Downing by Stephen Winans for $193. These cisterns were pumped full of water and used as a supply for the fire-engines.
On Jan. 1, 1858, a fire company was organized in the 2nd ward and called the "German Fire Engine Co." They were given the "Ohio" en- gine, (Old Row-boat), which they rechristened "The Jefferson."
At the burning of the old Manning Mill on Water street, March 20, 1858, members of the Washington company were reported intoxicated, and the city council gave warning that if these actions were repeated, the company would be disbanded.
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