USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 46
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
mile distant. Looking across the valley, the rebels were seen busily working on their lines. Near nightfall, there was heavy skirmishing for some time.
About 5 P. M., a battery opened briskly ; there were heard occasional volleys of musketry, and as night came the Sixty-ninth Ohio moved half a mile to the left and bivouacked. Skirmishing began at daylight. and shortly before 9 A. M. the command moved forward to the left oblique to the rear of a skirmish line. and at the corner of a field formed in front of this line and close upon the enemy. Two companies were deployed in advance, and shortly became actively engaged. The regiment then advanced and succeeded in driving the enemy within their works across the valley. On being relieved at 2 P. M .. the men fell back into the second line. At this place. Color Sergt. John A. Compton. of K. and four others were killed, and twenty-one wounded. The enemy evacuating during the night, the regiment entered Resacca at 2 P. M., observing many rebel dead lying where they had fallen. Soon a bridge was thrown over the Oostanonla. and the troops rapidly crossing pushed on in hot pursuit through Calhoun. Adairsville, Kingston, and halted by the railroad a few days. On the morning of the 23d, the advance was renewed, and the troops halted at the banks of the Etowah, here three hun- dred yards wide and three feet deep. Next day. this stream was forded and the march continued till the 25th, when a spur of Altona Mountains was reached. and here the regiment remained all day. helping trains up the ascent. A march of twelve miles on the 26th brought us to the seene of Hooker's action of the pre- vious day. The wounded lay in a house used as a hospital. and surgeons were busy amputating limbs on a table near by. Farther on, skirmishing showed the enemy near, as the men bivouacked in a wheat field where grass grew rank and luxuriant and the wheat was sparse and straggling. Moved next morning a half- mile to the left. and at noon advanced nearly a mile upon an open field and halted. About 5 P. M., two brigades directly in front engaged, and from then on till dark the firing was steady and heavy. Stragglers came back in squads, and there were indications of a repulse, while the force suffered severely. This action was denominated New Hope Church. The regiment moved up and threw up breastworks about one hundred and fifty yards in rear of the front line. which kept up a constant fire. During the night, the regiment occupied the front line, and made the works stronger while exchanging shots at 300 yards with the enemy. The enemy was engaged at Pumpkin-vine Creek and Dallas, losing five killed and nineteen wounded. Night and day the contest continned, one day in the front line, another in the second; marching forward as the rebels gave ground, and moving right or left as the swaying lines were influenced by obstacles. Awakened at dark hour of night by the crackle of the musketry and called to the lines, peering into the obscurity, awaiting a probable attack, working for hours building huge earthworks with head log and cover, the one to protect from balls, the other from the hot sun. Accustomed to the roar of artillery, the hum of balls; indifferent to the death or wound of a comrade; cooking where bullets struck in the fire, and holding their lives in their hands, such was the experience of the Sixty-ninth for a hundred days of skirmish, fortification, march and battle. Kenesaw Mountain was reached in the evening of June 14, an eleva- tion unknown before, but soon familiar to all the country. A glass showed men and horses, guns and tents upon the mountain four miles distant. The journal of a member of the regiment furnishes the following at this point :
"Late in the evening, we advanced half a mile and found ourselves near Big Shanty, on the railroad. The Fourteenth advanced one mile ; lay two nights here ; labored much of the last night throwing up breastworks, which we occupied next day. Our side opened with cannon, but received no reply. Part of the regiment was on the skirmish line and one man was killed. Moved back to second line at 2 P. M. A fight of two hours' duration occurred. A part of our line charged and drove the enemy from their rifle pits. A battle began on the 18th, and lasted till 9 P. M., though rainy. Advanced the line a half-mile. swinging right around
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
and bringing us in line north and south. The rebels contested the ground fiercely, but were forced back, and next morning found they had fallen back to another position. In the evening, a locomotive ran down to the skirmish line, and drew several shots from cannon on the mountain. At 3:20 A. M. next day, we moved out to support the front line, which advanced upon the rebels, who obstinately held their own. Next day, firing was heavy till dark. and this continued until the 27th, when unsuccessful attacks were made with heavy loss. On July 3, the enemy retired and the regiment followed to the Chattahoochee. The next stand was made at the river, where no loss was sustained. On July 21, in the skirmish- ing near Atlanta, one man was killed and ten wounded, and next day the men began works for the siege of the Gate City. On the last days of summer, the regiment moved away to the right, and on the 1st of September was heavily engaged at Jonesboro, losing Lieuts. Jacob S. Pierson and Martin V. Bailey, Color Sergt. Allen L. Jobes, of D, and five men killed and thirty-six wounded, a number of them mortally, who died shortly after the fight.
The Sixty-ninth joined in the pursuit of Hood to the north, and returning to Atlanta, accompanied the corps in its march to Savannah, losing four taken pris- oners and one by disease. On the lines near the city, the regiment was at the front. In the Carolina campaign the regiment was in action near Goldsboro, on March 19, 1865, in which, its last battle, the Sixty-ninth lost two killed and eight wounded. It moved to Raleigh, thence to and through Richmond, took part in the grand review at Washington, were conveyed to Louisville, Ky .. and finally came the muster-out, and the final discharge at Camp Dennison of 536 men, vet- erans in truth, with long service upon the march, with the rifle and with the spade and soldier's awl.
Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- The former of these two organ- izations was recruited for three months, from various parts of the State, and Darke County supplied one company under Capt. Charles Calkins. It was mustered in at Camp Chase, and reported ready for duty early in June, 1862. Orders came on the 12th, to report at Baltimore to Maj. Gen. Wool, commanding post. Three days later, the men reached that city, and the regiment, 1,024 strong, was sent into camp near by, and drill and discipline occupied their time for some weeks. Late in July, it was ordered to report at Harper's Ferry to Col. Miles, and on arrival, was stationed on Bolivar Heights, and placed under severe drill. Its time had expired, when the enemy under Jackson compelled a surrender of Har- per's Ferry, and the Eighty-Seventh was included in the forces captured. When the fact became known, the men were released from parole, and were transported home from Annapolis, Md., and September 20, 1862, mustered out of service.
The Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteers was organized at Camp Piqua, Miami County, under the following staff and line officers : Colonel, Joseph W. Frizell, of Greenville ; Lieutenant Colonel, Stephen A. Bassford, Xenia ; Major, David King, Springfield ; Quartermaster, Joshua C. Horton, Piqua ; B. F. Cooledge, Troy. The officers were appointed July 22, 1862, and in one month, 1,010 men had enlisted and were mustered into service. Their camp was at Upper Piqua on the farm of the late Col. John Johnson, an historic spot. Three companies from Darke County were enrolled in this regiment, of which we give the following roster :
Company.
County.
Captain.
First Lieutenant.
Second Lieutenant.
A,
Clarke.
Perry Stewart.
Hezekiah Kelshner.
A. Winger.
B,
Miami.
John C. Drury.
D. J. Mclaughlin.
F. B. McNeal.
C.
Miami.
Frank W. Walton.
James A. Petticrews.
Frank A. Hardy. Andrew Wiggins. Samuel Walton.
E,
Greene.
R. P. Hutchins. David Steele.
Jobn A. Beale.
F,
Darke.
Thos. H. Workman.
W. H. Snyder.
H. A. Tomlinson.
G,
Clarke.
Chas. C. Gibson.
N. G. McConkey.
George W. Wilson.
H,
Greene.
James Kyle.
A. L. Trader.
D. P. Davidson.
I,
Darke.
Wesley Gorsuch.
G. D. Farrar.
Charles R. Moss.
K,
Darke.
Chauncey Riffle.
Samuel T. Arnold.
M. G. Maddox.
D,
Miami.
John W. Ford.
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
On the 28th of August, before being uniformed or supplied with camp equip- age, and before a single regimental drill, the regiment was hurried to Covington, Ky., and, on their arrival immediately dispatched to Lexington. They had been armed with Enfield rifles of improved pattern, and the Colonel, by energy, had succeeded in obtaining sufficient ammunition to supply each man with three rounds, when the command took the cars for Lexington, where it arrived at 9 P. M. Saturday night, and heard of the disaster of Richmond and the peril of the hour. Col. Frizell sought for the officer to whom he was to report, and found him incom- petent. from drunkenness, to give instructions. Aided by citizens, quarters were found for the men, who bivouacked for the first time. Sunday morning found the town swarming with stragglers from the Richmond rout, each relating to whoever would hearken wild stories of death and defeat. These tales, the gloomy uncer- tainty, the lack of discipline in the town, all conspired to chill the ardor of the new troops and call out their fortitude. The regiment was ordered to march to Yates' Ford, on the Kentucky, fifteen miles east, on the Richmond pike, and at once began their first march over a dusty road, under a hot sun, with a limited supply along the way of water. Their destination was reached at dark, and while the Colonel was endeavoring to find a good position for defense, the men. being greatly wearied, lay down in and by the road to rest. A sudden volley fired by a rebel scouting party from the thicket skirting the road struck momentary conster- nation into the command, thus terribly awakening from deep slumber in the dark- ness ; but the men were soon in line, and withdrawn to a more secure and advan- tageous position, having by this attack lost two men killed and six wounded. Col. Frizzell remained with his vidette near the regiment, to which he had communica- tion by Maj. King, Capt. Drury and the Adjutant posted at intermediate distances. Aware that an enemy was near, it was little surmised that the entire army of Kirby Smith was encamped but two miles north of the ford, with the intention of cross- ing in the morning. Night went slowly by, and at daylight the hungry men sur- rounded some wagons which had arrived from Lexington, in hopes of rations which had been promised. The wagons were found loaded with ammunition, 125 rounds to a man, and three sacks of green coffee. While the coffee was being issued, parched, and breakfast was being prepared from this scanty source, the vidette reported the advance of the enemy in sight, and presently a shell plunged into the earth near by ; a brief interval and then came another, and soon they fell more frequently as the battery over the stream in the woods found the position of the regiment. Col. Frizzell, from observation of the rebel movements, saw an intention to cut off his retreat, and gave orders to his Adjutant for the men to fall in and march back past a road by which they might be intercepted. The command was promptly executed. and as the rear cleared the road the enemy came trooping from it upon the pike, and opened fire upon the Miami company, under Capt. Drury, which had been detailed as rear-guard. The fire was returned and the rebels held in check, while the regiment, moving to a designated point, formed line of battle. The orders had been to "contest every foot of ground back to Lexington." and this was just what the Colonel intended to do, when orders, dated the previous evening. were brought from Gen. G. C. Smith, for the regiment to fall back to Lex- ington as rapidly as possible.
Their situation was critical, being twelve miles from possible support, new to the service, and an army close upon them ; yet the Colonel was not wanting in energy, nor his men in confidence and courage. As the regiment moved, one after another exhausted men fell by the way and were captured by the enemy. In this way, despite the efforts of the officers, quite a number of men were taken. The regiment reached Lexington at 4 P. M., and found that the troops, beaten at Rich- mond, had passed through the place, on their way toward Louisville, and that all stores left behind had been destroyed. The Ninety-fourth were hungry, tired and foot-sore, in poor condition for another more trying march. It was said that the line officers deemed it best to surrender. but Col. Frizzell declared in opposition,
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
and obeyed the orders to continue the retreat. At daylight, a halt was made, at Versailles, for breakfast, but the men had hardly got their coffee to boil when " fall in " was passed to the commanders of companies, and the disheartening journey was resumed. There was a prevailing drouth, and water, of poor quality even, was scarce. The urgency of thirst may be gathered from the fact that the soldiers paid $5 for a canteen full of muddy water, $1 for a drink, and many drank from the slimy pools where horses would not. The sun shone hot from a cloudless sky, and the hard pike was deep with a dust which enveloped the person and entered the nostrils, aggravating thirst, while the blistered feet at each step seemed as if pressed upon a sheet of needles, so painful was the pressure. The march lasted from 3 A. M. till late at night. For food, the men gathered green corn from the fields near the bivouac, and partook of a few crackers issued. These discourage- ments caused many to straggle, and these were picked up by the pursuing enemy. Upon arriving at Louisville, they went into camp without tents, in the woods, hav- ing lost on the march 317 men, and so worn were the men that the greatest want was the opportunity to rest. The men presented a pitiable appearance, as well they might, after seven days of an initiation into military life which fell to few organizations. The command soon recovered health and spirits, the paroled men came back, and they were again ready for service. As Buell was driven in, the regiment was set to work building breastworks, and when Bragg began to fall back. it followed after as a part of Russeau's division of MeCook's corps. It took a conspicuous part in the battle of Perryville, where Col. Frizzell was wounded. and the command devolved upon Lieut. Col. Bassford. In general orders, the Ninety-fourth received honorable mention, and took their accredited position as a regiment to be relied upon.
The movement upon Murfreesboro began December 26, 1862, at which date the Ninety-fourth was in the advance from Nashville, and in the battle of the 30th and 31st acted as a partial reserve. The regiment was again in the advance on Tullahoma, and was in action at Hoover's Gap; skirmished at Dug Gap, and engaged the enemy on September 19 and 20, losing two killed, twenty-two wounded, and a like number missing. At Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, the regiment again took a notable part, and was one of the many that made the historic charge upon the ridge. In the spring of 1864, the regiment was sent on a scout toward Dalton, to ascertain the situation of the enemy. They met and drove him through Tunnel Hill, both sides freely using artillery. An advance was desired and the infantry stopped for nothing. but pushed forward into the rebel works, where they found shelter for the night. Next day, K was deployed on the skir- mish line and advance continued. Here were seen the waste of war-fields fence- less, women wailing, mills gutted and ruin everywhere. The object of the recon- naissance being gained, the force retired, and the Ninety-fourth, as rear guard, reached Ringgold about midnight. The regiment went into camp nine miles from Chattanooga, on the railroad toward Knoxville, while a part of the regiment vet- eranized, were furloughed and returned home. The time soon went by, bringing back the veterans, accompanied by many recruits and imparting a buoyant and cheerful feeling to all.
It set out with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign, and was engaged at Rocky Face, Resaca and Kingston, resting at Carrville, May 22, at which date the casual- ties were thirteen killed and fifty wounded. They were familiar with the din of battle, and at Pumpkin-vine Creek, Kenesaw Mountain and the Chattahoochee River, took their share of the work and fighting. In action, July 10, twelve men were killed and forty-five wounded. Again, at Peach Tree Creek, the siege of Atlanta and the hard battle of Jonesboro, the Ninety-fourth was called upon and did its duty well. It followed Hood in his mad rush northward ; marched from Atlanta to Savannah, and January 20. 1865, set out on its long, wearisome journey through the Carolinas. It was engaged at Bentonville, N. C., and encamped at Golds- boro, on the 23d of March. Again the column moved, heavily re-enforced, to sweep
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
upward upon Lee. overwhelming Johnson on the way. but tidings of decisive battles came to us, and the joyous, exultant troops swept rapidly toward Raleigh. The Ninety- fourth was the first infantry regiment to enter the city, and soon after set out for Washington. via Richmond and Alexandria. It passed in review before the Presi- dent and the thousands of spectators that thronged the capital, and was mustered out of the service June 6, 1865, with an aggregate of 338 men, out of an enroll- ment of 1,010, and was paid off and discharged at Camp Chase, whence they returned to home, friends and families, and speedily became merged in the popu- lation.
The One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- The One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Piqua, Ohio, in August, 1862, and contained two companies from Darke County. The regi- ment was officered by Col. Keifer, Lient. Col. Foster and Maj. Binkley, all moral men, and the line officers were men of firmness and sobriety. Marching orders were received October 19, for Parkersburg, Va. On the evening of the same day, the regiment arrived by rail at Zanesville. Here it was embarked upon steamboats and conveyed down the Muskingum to Marietta, where it arrived on the evening of the 20th, passed the night on board, and next morning, the men caught their first glance of Dixie Land beyond the Ohio. The command disem- barked, entered trains and were soon taken to Parkersburg.
They drew tents the same evening, put them up and named their camp, in honor of their commander, Camp Keifer. November 3, the regiment moved to Clarksburg ; remained there three weeks and then took the cars for New Creek, where it arrived about 3 A. M., next day. and for over two weeks was occupied in drill, picket and other duty. The men felt great repugnance to camp guard, and this hated duty soon " played ont," and the men went where they chose. A favor- ite resort was Queen's View, a rocky eminence, some three hundred feet above the surroundings. The men amused themselves, tumbling rocks into the river below, to the great discomfiture of those coming for water. Mulligan's Irishmen, espying men on the rock, would cry out : " Hello, phwat regiment are yez ?" If the reply was, "One Hundred and Tenth Ohio," they beat a hasty retreat. The rock-tum- bling continued until an order was read on parade to arrest the first man seen on the rock. December 13, the regiment marched by way of Burlington and Peters- burg to Moorfield. " At the close of the first day, the boys, being desirous of writing and desks being scarce, went to a neighboring farmhouse and returned with a box which was found to be filled with honey. It was dark, and they did not want to carry it back, so some of the men had honey and hard tack the rest of the march." Part of the regiment was sent toward Winchester, and the remainder with other forces toward Romney. The detachment was hurried through, and indignantly characterized the journey as " an infernal forced march." The main body reached Winchester a week later, where the regiment was placed in the First Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Army Corps, while A and D were detailed as provost guards. A round of scout, raid, drill and other duty occupied the time during the winter. A party sent to Front Royal captured supplies ; another engaged in like work dispersed a party of rebels at Summit Point, and in May the regiment moved to New Market and back on a species of marching drill. On the 13th of June, the regiment was moved out to Kernstown, and engaged Lee's advance. This was the first time the regiment was under fire, but it fought bravely, disputing every foot of ground against far superior numbers. On the morning of the 14th, the command was posted in a light breastwork, about three- fourths of a mile in front of the main defenses. The day wore away, and in the afternoon a crash of artillery and a rain of projectiles announced the rebel onset. Twenty-six cannon were directed upon this thin line for a brief period, and then came the serried ranks of infantry moving in fine array upon the outworks. The regiment held its ground till the enemy were near, and then fell back. At night it attempted to retreat farther, and, meeting the enemy, a running fight of two hours
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
ensued, during which it cut its way through and moved to Harper's Ferry. It encamped on Maryland Heights a short time, and then made its way to Frederick City, Md., where it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division. Third Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. It took part in the pursuit of Lee through Williamsport, London and Upperville to Manassas Gap, there skirmished, and, finally, August 1, reached the Rappahannock, at Fox's Ford. Two weeks elapsed, when orders came to proceed to New York, and the cars were taken for Alexandria and thence by water on the steamship Mississippi to their destination. The camp was located for a time on Governor's Island, whence they moved to South Brooklyn and encamped in Carroll Park, where much kindness and many favors were received from the citizens. Early in September, the regiment was ordered back to the Ford, and marched in charge of an ammunition train from there to Culpepper, Va., where it remained quietly till October 10, when it was ordered under arms in anticipation of an attack, and stood to arms through the night ; and next day, cross- ing the Hazel and the Rappahannock. moved into the front line near the latter- named stream. A month went by, and November 7, the One Hundred and Tenth crossed the river, exchanged shots with the enemy, and, the day following, made a scout in the morning and took some forty prisoners.
Moving during the day somewhat to the front of Brandy Station, the regi- ment was made the target for the rebel artillery, but advancing, was one of the first to enter the position from which the rebels were driven. Subsequently four companies were detailed as guards to trains, and the others, being engaged at Locust Grove, lost five killed and twenty wounded. The united regiment, return- ing to the station December 1, went into winter quarters. In March, 1864, the One Hundred and Tenth became part of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Artillery Corps, and May + crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and on the day following occupied a position on the extreme National right at the Wilder- ness. Preceded by a lively skirmish, the regiment, charging, drove the enemy within their works, held the ground till after dark, and fell back by reason of deficiency of ammunition. Maj. William S. McElwaine was killed and six officers were wounded ; eighteen men were killed, eighty-two wounded and eleven were missing. May 6, the regiment held the second line under fire of artillery, and at dark the defeat of troops on the right compelled a retrograde movement for about a mile, when a halt was made for a day, and at night the retreat was continued through Chancellorsville to the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House, where works were thrown up and skirmishing done until May 14, when it marched toward Spottsylvania, forded Nye River after dark, and took possession of works from which the enemy had been driven.
Several reconnaissances were made, the enemy was frequently encountered, and the regiment, moving via Guinea and Chesterfield Stations, crossed the Pamunky and threw up breastworks. The One Hundred and Tenth was engaged June 1 at Cold Harbor, and on the 3d advanced in the front line upon the mass- ive rebel works, and when the line halted was ordered to push forward, and for two long hours held an exposed position, when ordered to retire. On this day, the last to so many in the assault, the regiment lost five killed and thirty-four wounded. Under orders the regiment left the works, crossed the Chickahominy, passed to Winona Landing, was transported to Point of Rocks and marched to Bermuda Hundred. On the evening of June 19, the Appomattox was crossed, and the vicinity of Petersburg was reached. Preceded by a day's rest, the regi- ment marched to the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad, advanced upon the enemy, drove in the skirmish line, and, some days later, marched to the Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. On July 2, it returned to its post near Petersburg, then em- barked at City Point for Baltimore, where it arrived on the 8th, and was taken on the cars to Monocacy Junction. It took post on the south side of the river, and advanced in the face of a heavy fire of cannon and rifles from all directions. Numbers threatened destruction, and the line fell back to Ellicott's Mills at noon
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