USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 15
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
You changed cars from one road to another at the end of every railroad, and were expected to be able to take care of yourself : there was no system of tele- graph in connection with the railroad lines, and if a train failed to arrive on time there was no means of telling the cause of delay, nor the point where it had been stopped. nor the time at which it might reasonably be expected to appear: the rule was for trains passing it to wait five minutes, and if it did not then appear. to proceed cautiously, feeling its way to- wards the delayed or broken-down trav- eler.
What a change from the railroading of half a century ago: to-day you can get upon a parlor car at Bellefontaine and step off the train at New York. Boston, Chicago. Kansas City, or where you will. without disturbance. delay or transfer ; while at the same time you can have your baggage checked not only through to / your destination, or to Europe, but can have it. delivered at your hotel. and find it awaiting you upon your arrival.
The telegraph keeps in close touch with every movement of the great flyers and every moment of their time is in the keeping of the dispatchers.
It may not be possible to make such wonderful strides in another half century. but we will see electricity taking the place of steam. the distances between the oceans will be shortened, while far distant cities and villages will be brought together as neighbors : the inventive genius of man has accomplished much, but there is a mighty field for the electrician, and the Edisons. the Marconis and the Teslas of the future will solve the problems and bridle success.
CHAPTER XI.
LOGAN COUNTY IN WAR -- WAR OF 1812 -- THE MILITIA -TIL. WASHINGTON BLUTS-MEXICAN WAR-THE GREAT REBELLION -- THE WOMEN IN THE WAR- THE WAR COMMITTLE -- THE SQUIRULL HUNTERS- THE KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE-THE SPAN- INH-AMERICAN WAR.
Ohio has always responded most promptly to all calls upon the part of the country in time of need.
It must be remembered that Ohio has a population that sprang from the very loins of the heroes of the Revolution: its fertile valleys and rich hillsides were pop- vlated by those who had testified their de- votien to their country on her fields of battle and of bloodshed: they were the heroes of Brandywine and Monmouth, of Valley Forge and Trenton, who came with cer- tificates of loyalty and devotion from old Virginia to occupy the lands which had been granted by that commonwealth to her patriot sons for their services in the struggle for independence, and the blood which flowed through the veins of this younger ged- eration was as red with the fires of loy- alty and patriotism as was the blood which was shed at Concord and Lexing- ton: when the country's life and unity were threatened if they did not take down from the antlers the old muskets of the Revo- lution, which their fathers had carried. it was because the progress of human events had left these relics behind on the on- ward march of American civilization, and they grasped the newer arms which mod- ern progress had prepared for this great conflict ; they were the sons and the grand- sons of the old patriots who came from homes as loyal, from hearthstones as loving
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as any their fathers had seen, to tender to the government their services as its de- fenders.
The men who had followed Washing- ton and Green and had served with La- fayette and Lee, and had endured the hardships of the days of the Revolution. and had passed through the bitter experi- ences of the northwest. had transmitted this same spirit of loyalty to the sons and grandsons, who had been reared on this frontier, and had been a part of its growth and development within the period of the first three-fourths of a cen- tury ; it was to such as these that the call of Abraham Lincoln was as a command, and they sprang to arms with the same cour- age and devotion as their fathers and grandfathers had done when the Conti- nental Congress had declared that the colonies . hould no longer be dependen- cies of Great Britain. The blood of Con- cord and Lexington. of Ticonderoga and Bennington was in their veins, and they were ready to shed it in behalf of liberty and humanity.
THE WAR OF 1812.
The war which is commonly called the war of 1812, between Great Britain and the United States, grew out of the insolent assumption of the former power of the right to search the merchant vessels of the United States, to seize upon and compel the enlistment of American sailors into the navy of Great Britain, the claims of superior authors upon the lakes, and the continued in.siting of the Indian tribes to depredation and outrage upon the north- western frontier.
assert their rights and independence of Great Britain, finally, through the Con- gress of the United States, under the leadership of Henry Clay and John C. Cal- houn. declared their purpose to oppose these measures and to demand redress ; and on the 17th of June. 1812, by a sol- emn resolution declared that war existed between the United States and Great Britain, and President Madison issued his proclamation on the roth of June, declar- ing that war existed between the two countries.
Congress authorized the increase of the army to twenty-five thousand men, called for fifty-thousand volunteers, and one hun- dred thousand militia to guard the sea coast, and appropriated three million dollars for the navy.
In this war the army of General Hull rendezvoused at Dayton, moved his camp to Urbana, manned with three regiments commanded by Colonels Duncan MeArthur, James Findlay and Lewis Cass. finally marched to the Canada border, cutting on the way llull's Trace.
In this command were a number of Lo- gan county soldiers, including General Si- mon Kenton: Captain William McColloch. of Zanesville. a son-in-law of Isaac Zane, re- cruited a company of scouts of which he was captain, and his younger brother. Samuel McColloch was lieutenant, and accompanied Hull's army to Detroit.
William McCloud, afterwards so distin- guished a citizen and a judge of the courts of Logan county, was the chief hunter of this expedition, whose duty it was to supply the army with game.
Hull, after passing over into Canada,
The people of the United States, and threatening Malden and its forts, re- driven to desperation and determined to crossed the river to Fort Detroit, where,
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
without striking a blow or sustaining a a place on these out posts of civilization. siege he made a most cowardly and unex- pected surrender, his officers and men pro- testing loudly against this most dastardly and unsoldierly act.
Hull's disastrous defeat and surrender has ever remained a blot up in the military records of the northwest, but his officers and men should not be charged with his incom- petency and indecision : a vigorous, active and fearless commander would no doubt have achieved success, and would have won distinction and renown. rather than humil- iation and defeat.
Captain William McColloch's company being upon detached duty was not included in the surrender, and they returned to their homes after more than a year's service in the fields. Captain William MeColloch him- self was shot and killed in one of the en- gagements near Brownstown, now the city of Detroit, in a battle with the Indians and English under Tecumseh called the battle of Maguagou. while Lieutenant Samuel Mc- Colloch, his brother. lost an arm.
After some distinguished exploits of our navy and privateersmen and some engage- ments on land, England finally recognized all the rights claimed by the Americans, and a treaty was agreed upon, which has remained unbroken to the present day.
The removal of the Indians by virtue of the final treaties of 1831 and '33, and the treaty with the Wyandots in 1844 finally removed all cause for contention and alarm. and there was a long continued and unbrok- en peace until the war with Mexico.
THE MILITIA.
In the early days the military spirit which came westward with the settlers from Virginia and New England, remained to find
There was a necessity of organization for protection, as well as by reason of the mil- itary spirit which prevailed, and the militia of Ohio was duly enrolled under the laws of the state.
Within this organization Logan county found a conspicuous place.
General Simon Kenton, who had for so many years been one of the most conspic- nous of her heroes, and whose fame as an Indian fighter had become national, became one of the first brigadier generals under the new organizations.
For many years the militia was kept in comparative discipline; under the laws they were required to hold annual musters and gathered at convenient points for mus- ter, drill and discipline : muster day was al- ways one of the holidays, and great numbers came from all parts of the country to witness the military displays upon these occasions, and upon these occasions, and with the rougher element, it was frequently a day for wrestling. contests and fights.
These gatherings were at some conven- ient point in the county and easy of access : the plains about Zanesfield, the meadows near McPherson's block house, the fields around Cherokee and Gunn's tavern were all central and favorite places of general muster.
Upon these occasions the soldiers were without uniforms, and only such arms as could then be obtained in the country ; the general in his full regimentals and staff offi- cers in all the splendor of military equip- ments were on hands to lend eclat to the occasion; it was the great event of the year, and was made most interesting not only by the military display, but by the gatherings of men and women, boys and
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girls, who took this opportunity to meet and enjoy the social interchanges so con- spicuously cultivated by the carly settlers.
The chief officer in command of the militia of Logan county was General John Shelby, a man of great ability and one com- petent of filling almost any position: he was one of the early and most prominent of the citizens of the new county of Logan, and for many years was recognized as one of the foremost of the laders of this fron- tier.
Colonel Martin Marmon commanded the contingent from the eastern part of the county ; he was a fine officer and a man of great influence.
General John Abel, a Virginian, and one of the recognized leaders of Me.Arthur township, was one of the staff officers of General Shelby : he was the brother-in-law of Andrew Hellman and fearlessly charged Hellman with being the murderer of his sister, Hellman's wife, and caused his ar- rest.
General Isaac S. Gardner was the in- spector general of the militia of Logan county, and acted as such until it disbanded.
The militia without great opportunity for drill and discipline. and being called to- gether but once a year for general muster were not so thoroughly fitted for field ser- vice as they might have been, but. notwith- standing all this they presented a very re- spectable appearance, and being composed of the very flower of the young men, were quite martial in bearing and acquitted them- selves with credit upon these occasions.
The general musters were especially useful in keeping up the spirit of martial training, necessary to fit the people for speedy and necessary service in case of dan- ger or war; and it has been ever regarded.
that one of the most important means of obtaining a permanent and lasting peace is to be at all times fully prepared for war.
The militia system and the general mus- ters were continued for a number of years, but finally, about 1836, were permitted to go into temporary decline.
There is, however, in the breast of the people more or less of the military spirit. and it is fortunate that our present military system is upon a good footing, and about to be rendered still more effective by such acts of Congress as will place it upon a substan- tial and lasting basis.
We must remember that it is the mili- tia we call upon in emergencies, and that organization, drill and discipline are abso- lutely essential for fitting sokliers for ser- vice either at home or in the field.
No harm can ever come to the people from a well-drilled and thoroughly discip- lined national guard, composed of the young men of the country, who have every reason for securing and maintaing peace, and none for disturbing the safety and homes of the people. It is a most important factor. in preserving quiet and good government at home and for winning for us the respect and consideration of all nations of the world.
THE WASHINGTON BLUES.
About the year 1838, Captain John B. Miller organized an independent company called the Washington Blues, which for something more than ten years was a notable military organization in Logan county; it was well drilled and equipped. and upon public occasions occupied a most conspic- nous place: no great publie demonstration was complete without Captain Miller and the Washington Blues.
I have in my possession the invitation of
8
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY
the committee appointed to arrange for the celebration of the 4th of July. 1840, invit- ing Captain Miller to participate in the cer- emonies of the day with his company, the Washington Blues.
I also distinctly recall the services over one of the Mexican soldiers. William Rover. who died on his way home from the fields of Mexico, and whose burial took place in the old cemetery, now Powell Park. in 1848. It was conducted with military honors. es- corted by the Washington Blues; a pla- toon of soldiers fired a salute over his grave. Captain Miller and some of its officers and soldiers, having gone to the war with Mex- ico, the company was soon after dishan led.
MEXICAN WAR.
The war with Mexico grew out of our annexation of Texas in 1845.
In 1836 General Samuel Houston and others had declared the independence of Texas from Mexico, and had set up an in- dependent republic: Mexico had determin- ed to re-capture and hold Texas, and Gen- eral Santa Anna. in 1836. engaged the Tex- ans in battle, but was defeated by Houston at San Jacinto, and was compelled to ac- knowledge the independence of Texas. This compulsory treaty was repudiated by Mexico, who still claimed dominion over the lone star state.
After the admission of Texas as a state of the Union, on the 24th day of December, 1845. Mexico considered it a cause for war. and breaking off diplomatic relations war was begun. and in May. 1846. battles were fought. between the Mexicans and Amer- ican forces at Palo Alto and Resca de la Palma.
The Congress of the United States on May 12th. 1846. declared that war existed
between the United States and Mesi vient the President issued his proclamado des elaring the existence of war with Meswe pes the 13th of May.
Congress by act authorized the Irs - dent to raise an army of fifty thoosamt volunteers, and appropriated ten mon dollars for the expenses of the war. @hio was asked to furnish three regiments of this fifty thousand men. The first enlist- ment in Logan county was Samuel W. Ashmead, who joined Company Il of the Fifth Regiment in May. 1847: in the war of the Rebellion. in 1861. Samuel W. Ash- mead was the captain of the first company raised in Bellefontaine, which was on its way to camp within forty-eight hours after Sumpter was fired upon.
Under the second call Ohio raised ten regiments, and a part of Company A. Fif- teenth Regiment, was raised in Logan county, the other part of the company be- ing enlisted in Champaign count : the officers of the company were Captain Colin MeDonald. First Lieutenant John B. Miller and Second Lieutenant William R. Stafford: thirty-six of its men were taken from Bellefontaine to Urbina to join the company by Lieutenants Miller and Stafford.
The Ohio troops rendered distin- guished service in the Mexican war. Cap- tain Miller was in several of its battle- and was highly commended as a brave and an efficient officer.
Lieutenant Stafford died from the ef- fects of his service in Mexico. William Royer. a Logan county soldier, died while on his way home from disease con- tracted in Mexico and was buried with the honors of war in the old cemetery now Powell Park.
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HISTORIC.IL. REVIEW OF LOGIN COUNTY.
THE GREAT REBELLION-THE WAR OF 1861-65.
From 1861 to 1865 Ohio furnished more than three hundred thousand sol- diers to the atmies of the Union, and her great leaders and generals were seen on every battlefield from Bull Run to Appo- mattox, and when Lee surrendered to Grant Ohio had two hundred regiments in the field.
In this conther Logan county was not behind hand. od ber gallant boys in blue were not only among the first to enlist. but were to be found in every army of the Union and upon every field of battle. To them he call of Abraham Lincoln for volunteers was a command.
THE 13TH OHIO REGIMENT.
Fort Sumpter was fired upon on the 12th of April. 1861, and was surrendered on the 14th. and within twenty-four hours after its surrender the first company of volunteers from Logan county was on its way to the front: it was commanded by Captain Samuel W. Ashmead, an old vet- eran of the Mexican war, with First Lieu- tenant Isaac K. Gardner and Second Lieu- tenant I. B. Robinson: it became Com- Fany .\ of the Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, commanded by Colonel .1. Saunders Piatt, also a Logan county man. This company reorganized for the three years' service with Isaac R. Gardner as captain, and became Company F of the Thirteenth Regiment, with James D. Sto- ver as first lieutenant and Frank J. Jones as second lieutenant. Captain Gardner died from wounds received at Shiloh. in 1802. Company C of the Thirteenth Reg- iment was also raised in Logan county by
Donn Piatt, who was succeeded by Cap- tain Thomas R. Roberts.
The following is the official list of bat- tles in which the Thirteenth Regiment bore an honorable part, published by the War Department :
Shiloh. Tenn .: Corinth, Miss .: Stone River. Tenn. : Liberty Gap. Tenn. : Chick- emauga. Ga .: Missionary Ridge. Tenn. : Rocky Face Ridge, Ga .: Cassville, Ga .: Dallas. Ga .: Picketts Mills. Ga .: Kene- saw Mountain. Ga .: Atlanta, Ga .: Love- joy Station. Ga. : Frankling, Tenn. ; Nash- ville. Tenn.
THE 23D OHIO REGIMENT.
The very next morning after the depar- ture of Capt. Ashmead's company for the front. Captain Israel Canby, First Lieuten- ant Cyrus W. Fisher and Second Lieuten- ant Robert P. Kennedy began the organ- ization of a second company, which was completed and paid from the 17th day of April. 1861. Before it got into the field. however, the call for three hundred thou- sand men for three years' service was made by President Lincoln, and it was at once turned into a three years company and became Company F of the Twenty- third Ohio Regiment, the first three years' regiment from Ohio; this company was mustered into the three years' service June 1, 1861, at Camp Chase, Ohio.
It may not be out of place here to speak of that famous regiment. the Twen- ty-third Ohio. Its first colonel was Gen- eral William S. Rosencrans, who became so distinguished during the war; its sec- ond colonel was General E. P. Seammon. an old Mexican war veteran and engineer officer in the regular army, who soon won a brigadier-general's star: he was toi-
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
lowed by Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, who became a major-general and after- wards President of the United States. Its lieutenant-colonel was Stanley Mat- thews. a distinguished lawyer of Cincin- nati, who became colonel of the Fifty-ec- ond Ohio, and after the war was ap- pointed to the Supreme Court of the United States.
One of the younger officers was Wil- liam Mckinley, who, like Hayes, became President of the United States.
It furnished some thirty or forty com manders to other regiment- and filled the whole army with its splendid young sol- diers, drilled and disciplined under the eyes of its careful commanders.
Its history has added to the glory of the State and has shed its luster upon the whole country.
The following is the list of battles in
gaged :
Carnifax. W. Va. : Clark's Hollow, W. Va .: Princeton. W. Va .: South Moun- tain, Md .: Antietam. Md .: Buffington Island. Ohio: Cloud's Mountain. Va. ; New River Bridge, Va. : Buffalo Gap. W. Va .: Lexington, W. Va. : Buchanan. Va. : ' Otter Creek. Va. : Lynchburg, Va .: Bu- ford's Gap. Va. : Winchester. Va. : Berry- ville. Va .: Opequan, Va .: Fisher's Hill. Va. : Cedar Creek, Va.
FIRST OHIO.
Company G of the First Ohio Regi- ment was organized in Logan county on the 24th of August. 1861, for three years. The First Ohio was originally a three months' regime 't under the first call for volunteers. but the company raised in Logan county did not join the regiment
until the second call for three years' regi- ments. Its officers were Captain Nicholas Trapp, a Mexican war veteran : James W. Powell, first lieutenant, and John J. Pat- ten. second lieutenant. Powell after- wards became a captain in the regular army and Patten was made lieutenant- colonel of the One-hundred-and-thirty- second Ohio.
The following is a list of battles in which the First Ohio was engaged :
Shiloh, Tenn .; Stone River. Tenn. ; Liberty Gap. Tenn .: Chickamauga, Ga .: Orchard Knob. Tenn .: Lookout Moun- tain. Tenn .: Mission Ridge. Ten. : Buz- zard Roost. Ga .: Resaca, Ga .: Adairs- ville. Ga. : Burnt Hickory, Ga. : Keresaw Mountain, Ga. : Chattahoochee River. Ga.
SEVENTEENTHE OHIO.
The Seventeenth Ohio Regiment had which the Twenty-third Ohio was en- one company. Company C. recruited from the eastern part of Logan county: most of its enlisted men were from Zane and Perry townships. Joel Haines was its captain, with Jacob Humphreys first lieu- tenant and Joseph H. Pool second lieu- tenant.
Captain John D. Inskeep later became captain of this company and was mus- tered ont with the regiment at the end of the war. Captain Haines afterwards be- came colonel of the One-hundred-and- thirty-second Ohio, a three months' regi- ment.
The official list of battles in which this regiment was engaged is as follows: Wildcat. Ky .: Corinth. Miss .: Stone River. Tenn .: Tullahoma Campaign. Tern .: Hoover's Gap. Tenn .: Chicka- mauga. Ga .: Orchard Knob. Tenn .; Lookout Mountain. Tenn .: Mission
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Ridge. Tem: Rocky Face Ridge. Ga .; Resaca. Ga. : Dallas. Ga. ; Kenesaw Moun- tain. Ga .: Chattahoochee River. Ga .: Peachtree Creek.+ Ga .: Jonesboro. Ga. : Bentonville. N C.
FORTY-SECOND OHIO.
The Forty-second Ohio, commanded by Colonel James \. Garfieldl. afterwards President of the United States, drew upon Logan county for one company. It was. orgarized at Camp Chase. September. 1861. and became Company K of the For- ty-second. Its officers were Captain An- drew Gardner, Jr .: First Lieutenant Thompson L. Hutchins, and Second Lieu- tenant Porter H. Foskett.
Captain Gardner continued in com- mand of the company until January. 1863. when on account of ill health he resigned. lieutenant Hutchins was promoted to captaincy and remained in command of the company until the discharge of the regiment : Lieutenant Foskett was promoted to a captaincy and transferred to another company.
The following is a list of the battles in which the Forty-second Regiment was engaged during the war:
Middle Creek, Ky. : Chickasaw Bayou. Miss .; Arkansas Post. Ark. : Thompson's Ilill. Miss. : Raymond. Miss. : Champion Hills. Miss .: Big Black River. Miss. : Vicksburg. Miss .: Jackson. Miss .: Ope- lousas. La.
FORTY-FIFTH OHIO.
The Forty-fifth Ohio Regiment. com- manded by Colonel Ben P. Runkle, took .lieutenant in April. 1863. and to first lieu- tenant July. 1864. and resigned on the 24th of July. 1865.
three companies from Logan county -- C. D and E. It was organized at Camp Chase in August. 1862.
Company C had for officers Captain James B. Stover, First Lieutenant W. G. Franklin and Second Lieutenant William MeBeth. Captain Stover was honorably discharged July 20, 1864. Lieutenant Franklin was promoted to captain and then to major of the regiment.
Lieutenant MeBeth was promoted to first lieutenant and then to captain, and honorably mustered out in February. 1865.
Samuel E. Allman was promoted to second and then to the first lieutenancy. and commanded the company until Sep- tember 15. 1864. when he resigned.
Company D of the Forty-fifth had for its officers Captain Robert Dow, First Lieutenant Adam R. Eglin and Second Lieutenant William Gee.
Captain Dow resigned October. 1862, and Lieutenant Eglin was made captain and commanded the company until its muster out of service.
Stephen L. Dow was promoted to sec- ond lieutenant of this company.
Company E was mostly raised in the western part of Logan county. Its owi- cers were Captain Lewis Taylor, First Lieutenant John M. Holloway and Second Lieutenant Joseph R. Smith.
Captain Taylor was honorably dis- charged January. 1865. Lieutenant Hol- loway resigned November. 1862, and Lieutenant Smith was promoted to first lieutenant and captain and remained in command of the company until its muster out.
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