The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 42

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 42

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" During their stay at Fort McArthur, the friend of Blue Jacket told the story to Beaver, a young Delaware chief whom Gen. Harrison had greatly befriended; and one day, while Beaver was considering how to save the life of the General and prevent his intended murder, Blue Jacket came up to the Delaware camp, somewhat intoxicated, swearing vengeance on Col. McPherson, who had just turned him out of the fort, and whom he de- clared he would put to death for the insult he had received. The sight of the traitor aroused the indignation and resentment of Beaver to the highest pitch. Seizing his tomahawk, he advanced toward the culprit and said, ' You must be a great warrior, you will not only kill this white man for serving you as you deserve, but you will also murder our father, the Amer- ican Chief, and bring disgrace and mischief upon us all; but you shall do neither, I will serve you as I would a mad dog.' A furious blow from the tomahawk of Beaver stretched Blue Jacket at his feet, and a second blow ended his life. 'There,' said he to some Shawhees, who had witnessed the affair, 'take him to the camp of his tribe, and tell them who has done the deed.' The Shawnees upheld the conduct of Beaver and rejoiced at their happy escape from the ignominy which the success of Blue Jacket's design would have brought upon them. Gen. Harrison always believed that Blue Jacket came from the English agents at Malden for the purpose of murdering him, but with his death died the knowledge of who were the instigators of the intended crime. At the treaty held at Greeneville, in 1815, Gen. Lewis Cass related the whole story, and while publicly thanking Beaver in behalf of the Unit- ed States for saving Gen. Harrison's life, he caused a handsome present to be made him out of the goods which had been sent for the purpose of the treaty."

The war was ended by the treaty of peace signed December 24, 1814, though the battle of New Orleans, and a few naval fights occurred early in the following year. In 1816, the Government abandoned Fort McArthur, and A. B. Johnson, in his address before the Pioneer Association of Har- din County, July 4, 1876, tells the following anecdote in connection with that event. He says: "At the time of its abandonment, two of the sol- diers had a couple of gallons of whisky, which, being unable to carry, they concluded to bury. So, putting it carefully in a jug tightly corked, they

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proceeded down the river a short distance and buried it on the river bank, intending to return at some future time and reclaim it. They never re turned, however, and the people of that vicinity do say that many are the . thirsty hunters of Kenton who have made anxious and careful searches after the lost and buried treasure, so that, like the treasures of Capt. Kidd, the story of the whisky has passed into history."

The old Shawnee trace, which passes through the southeast corner of Hardin County, was also utilized during the war of 1812; for we find that, in -September, 1813, Gov. Shelby, of Kentucky, at the head of 4,000 mounted volunteers, passed over that route to Fort Ferree, now Upper San- dusky, on his march to Lake Erie. Upon arriving at Sandusky Bay, he turned his horses out to graze, and there they were left in charge of a guard, while the army went forward on its expedition into Canada. Thus has the territory embraced in Hardin County become historic ground, and many of those brave men who fought in that second war against English aggres- sion, came and made their homes upon its soil. In later times their sons and grandsons, upon many a well-contested battle-field, proved themselves worthy descendants of those noble, patriotic sires who offered their lives in defense of liberty.

THE MEXICAN WAR.

The disputed territory between the rivers Neuces and Rio Grande was the direct cause of the war between the United States and Mexico. Texas, which had first won its independence, and subsequently been admitted into the Union, claimed the Rio Grande, as the boundary line, while Mexico said it was the Neuces River. The American Government proposed to settle the controversy by negotiation, but the authorities of Mexico scornfully refused. Gen. Taylor was then ordered to advance his army, and, in No- vember, 1845, had established a camp of about 5,000 men at Corpus Christi, near the mouth of tlie Neuces River. In March, 1846, he ad- vanced to the Rio Grande and erected Fort Brown. opposite Matamoras. On the 26th of April, Gen. Arista, the Mexican commander, notified Gen. Taylor that hostilities had begun, and on the same day a company of American dragoons, commanded by Capt. Thornton, was attacked by a body of Mexicans, east of the Rio Grande, and here occurred the first bloodshed of the war.

It made no great stir among the people of Hardin County, though the progress of the victorious troops from the Rio Grande to the halls of the Montezumas was hailed with an enthusiasm similar to that over the coun- try generally. The Whig leaders claimed to see in the war a scheme for the extension of slavery, and on this ground made many bitter speeches against it; but the patriotism of the nation was aroused, and all opposition was swept away before the grand outburst of indignation which it caused. We have been unable to find any record of the soldiers who enlisted from Hardin County, but have gathered, among the old settlers, the names of the following citizens who went from here and served in that war: Andrew Huff, David Spitzer, Henry Spitzer, George Harding, Jonas Butcher, Hiram Olden, Thomas Sutterfield, Albert Zugschwert, Frederick Traeger; a young lawyer, R. J. Allison, Phillip Russell, Dr. George W. Kishler and William Lester. Some of these never returned, but found graves in the land of the Aztecs, while of those who did come back none remain in Hardin County to tell of the fierce and bloody conflicts in which the y par- ticipated.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

CIVIL WAR.

On Tuesday evening, April 16, 1861, the citizens of Kenton convened a meeting at the court house, to counsel together and take action for the pur- pose of responding, in a substantial manner, to the call of President Lin- coln for volunteers. Col. James Cantwell was elected Chairman, and David Thompson Secretary. On motion of J. S. Robinson, the following commit- tee was appointed to prepare business for the meeting, viz. . A. S. Ram- sey, James Bain, J. N. Absten, Edward Stillings, L. T. Hunt and David Thompson. Col. James Cantwell was subsequently appointed on this com- mittee. B. R. Brunson and R. L. Chase were respectively elected Chairman and Secretary, pro tem., of the meeting. During the absence of the com- mittee, H. G. Harris, David Snodgrass, Stilla Powell, Edward Stillings, A. S. Ramsey and others, being called for, responded in brief but patriotic speeches. The news from Fort Sumter obliterated 'party feeling, and the general tenor of the addresses was the sentiment uttered by Stephen De- catur: " My country: may she always be right; but right or wrong, My country."

The following resolutions were presented by the committee and unani- mously adopted:

Resolved, That a meeting of the citizens of Hardin County be called at the court house, in Kenton, on the 18th day of April, at 1 o'clock P. M., to consider the perilous condition of the country; and, in pursuance of the proclamation of the Executive, to enlist volunteers to defend the Government; and,

Resolved, That we will stand by our Government, our country, and our country's flag- now and forever more.

On motion, a committee of five, consisting of Col. James Cantwell, J. S. Robinson, J. N. Absten, L. T. Hunt and Alonzo Bogardus, was appointed to prepare papers and make other necessary preparations for receiving vol- unteers.

On motion, two more members were added to this committee.

On motion, three hearty cheers were given for the Stars and Stripes, and a committee of three appointed to raise our national banner on the court house every morning hereafter. Amid deafening cheers for the Union, the meeting adjourned, to meet again on Wednesday evening.

Pursuant to this understanding, the citizens came together at the court house on the evening designated, to perfect arrangements for receiving vol- unteers.

A committee of five was appointed to raise funds by contribution, for the payment of the expenses of volunteers until they should leave Kenton; also to see that the families of volunteers were provided for during their absence. Benjamin Eglin, Edward Stillings, Hugh Letson, J. S. Robinson and Will- iam Cary constituted this committee. David Snodgrass, O. B. Happersett and Stilla Powell were appointed to procure quarters for volunteers, and reported Kinnear's hall as the place of rendezvous. Patriotic speeches were made by Messrs. George Weaver, L. T. Hunt, Edward Stillings, H. G. Harris, J. S. Robinson, S. L. Hoge, David Snodgrass, G. A. Stewart and others, which aroused the audience to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.

On Thursday, April 18, a large and enthusiastic meeting filled the court house to overflowing. It was a gathering of the people from every section of the county, and served to convince every loyal heart that the peo- ple were for the Government, the enforcement of the laws and the preserva- tion of the Union. The addresses by C. H. Gatch and A. S. Ramsey were eloquent, to the point, had the true ring in them, and the wildest enth usi-

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asm prevailed among the large audience, in approbation of their patriotic sentiment.

On the previous day, the stars and stripes had been unfurled to the . breeze from the flag staff on the court house, amid the shouts of the people and the firing of cannon. The national banner also floated over many of the business houses, private residences and public buildings. Hardin County was thoroughly aroused; its citizens vied with each other in patriotic ardor, and volunteers were rapidly enrolling to uphold the Govern- ment.

The "Hardin County Guards," which subsequently became Company D, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was soon filled up. George Weaver was elected Captain; Gordon A. Stewart, First Lieutenant, and Daniel Timmons, Second Lieutenant. Then followed the " Kenton Rangers," with James Cantwell as Captain, J. S. Robinson, First Lieutenant, and Peter Grubb, Second Lieutenant. This company, on the organization of the Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, became Company G. On Sun- day, April 21, divine services were held in front of the Union House and at the railroad depot. A beautiful flag was presented to Capt. Weaver's com- pany by the ladies of Kenton, while the ladies of the county presented a banner to Capt. Cantwell's company, besides furnishing each man with a Bible, blanket and other necessary articles, the supply far exceeding the demand. On Monday, April 22, immense crowds thronged the streets of Kenton; the "ordnance department" reported freely and frequently; a new flag was raised on the court house; martial music was heard and the drill- ing of volunteers seen at all hours, while the stars and stripes proudly floated in every direction and cheers filled the air as the gallant boys marched past. Speeches were made at every available point, in halls as well as in the open air, and the thrilling scenes of those first days in that great struggle for national life will never be forgotten. About sixty men left Patterson on Monday, April 22, under the command of Capt. Weaver, and were subse- quently joined at Crestline by the balance of his company under Lieut. Stewart, and thence proceeded to Camp Jackson, near Columbus, Ohio. Capt. Cantwell's company left Kenton for Columbus on Wednesday, April 24, making 195 men who had been forwarded from Hardin County inside of one week. In all of these demonstrations, the women of Hardin County bore a conspicuous part, both with heart, hand and voice. Many a "God speed you " from these noble women cheered the sons, fathers and brothers who were going forth, perhaps never to return, and steeled their hearts with a firm resolve to do their duty and never forsake the old flag.

After the volunteers had left the county, the women were indefatigable in their efforts to send provisions, delicacies and clothing to the boys in camp. In every town and village of Hardin County, some one was desig- nated to receive donations of such things as could be used, which were for- warded to the soldiers at the front. Many a sick and wavering soldier's heart was upheld and strengthened by these attentions from their loved ones at home; and who can say that many of the victories gained and heroic deeds performed were not the direct results of the material and spiritual assistance of these noble women throughout the nation whose prayers were ever ascending to the God of battles in behalf of the Union armies.

We have taken the pains to ascertain how many soldiers this county furnished for the war up to September 24, 1861, and our investigations show the following figures: Capt. Cantwell took from this county 124

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men; Capt. Weaver, 104; Capt. Furney, 60; Capt. Henderson, 23; Capt. Gardner, 80; Mr. Asbury, 32; Col. Gibson, 22; A. Gardner, 30; Marion County. 8; C. H. Gatch, 90; Allen and Wyandot Counties, 50; total, 623, or about one volunteer to every four voters. Truly this is a grand showing of patriotism and devotion to the national cause.

October 11, 1861, the following Military Committee was appointed by the Governor for Hardin County: Henry G. Harris, Edward Stillings, Thomas Rough, Benjamin R. Brunson and William Schrader.

The following military table was officially prepared by the Auditor of Hardin County, August 29, 1862, for the use of the Military Committee of said county, and we here give it for the purpose of showing the relative standing of each township during those dark days in the nation's history:

Number liable to military duty-Round Head, 195; McDonald, 149; Lynn, 72; Taylor Creek, 145; Buck, 194; Hale, 244; Dudley, 173: Goshen, 191; Pleasant, 647; Cessna, 107; Marion, 122; Liberty, 292; Washington, 154; Blanchard, 166; Jackson, 226; total, 3,077.

Number in service on the 2d of July, 1862-Round Head. 45; McDonald 44; Lynn, 24; Taylor Creek, 29; Buck, 35; Hale, 77; Dudley, 37; Goshen, 38; Pleasant, 161; Cessna, 25; Marion, 23; Liberty, 57; Washington, 31; Blanchard, 59; Jackson, 61; total, 746.

Number who have volunteered since July 2, 1862-Round Head, 29, Mc- Donald, 26; Lynn, 3; Taylor Creek, 21; Buck, 43; Hale, 46; Dudley, 36; Goshen, 18; Pleasant, 78; Cessna 4; Marion, 13; Liberty, 47; Washing- ton 3; Blanchard, 7; Jackson, 67; total, 451.

Total number in service August 29, 1862-Round Head, 74; McDonald, 80; Lynn, 27; Taylor Creek, 50; Buck, 78; Hale, 123; Dudley, 73; Goshen, 56; Pleasant, 239; Cessna, 29; Marion, 36; Liberty, 104; Washington, 34; Blanchard, 66; Jackson, 128; total, 1,197.

In 1864, 173 soldiers from Hardin County veteranized, assigned among the different townships as follows: Pleasant, 56; Round Head, 11; Mc- Donald, 15; Dudley, 7; Hale, 16; Goshen, 12; Buck, 5; Lynn, 2; Blanch- ard, 8; Washington, 5; Cessna, 7; Liberty, 9; Jackson, 18; Taylor Creek, 2; and Marion, 3.

The first draft in this county occurred May 23, 1864, at which time 37 men were drafted, viz., 11 from Buck Township, 10 from Dudley, 4 from Taylor Creek, 4 from Goshen, 2 from Washington, 2 from Marion, 2 from Round Head and 2 from Hale. All the other townships were clear of the draft, having supplied their full quota, with some to spare. Of those taken in this draft, some were exempt from service, and ere the quota was filled two more drafts became necessary, one on the 13th and the other on the 24th of June. In September, 1864, another draft took place, on the call for 500,000 men. After deducting credits, the quotas from the several townships are as fol- lows: Goshen, 26; Cessna, 19; Washington, 23; Marion, 19; Jackson, 29; Blanchard, 24; Liberty, 43; Pleasant, 72; Roundhead, 22; McDonald, 20; Dudley, 29; Taylor Creek, 17; Hale, 32; Buck, 23, and Lynn, 10; total, 408. Thus, we find that the total number of drafted men from Hardin County in the Union army was 415; and that the total number of volunteers, up to the close of 1862, was 1,197; which makes a grand total of 1,642. It is safe to infer that throughout the years 1863-64, a goodly number of volunteers from Hardin County went into the army, and that, therefore, the figures are something larger than here given. There are no reliable means of know- ing the exact number of soldiers who went from any county in Ohio, as many enlisted in other counties and States, to which their services and valorous deeds are duly accredited.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Hardin County always responded bravely to every call for troops, and her soldiers, whether officers or privates, always did their duty. Many- oh, how many !- went forth never to return. They went down to death in the midst of fierce conflict, where individuality was lost, or passed away in far off hospitals, half attended or wholly neglected, unsolaced, save by the fevered dreams of far away homes, bringing the images of cool hands and loving faces, whom they shall meet only in the silent land. The proudest, the noblest, the best fell in the struggle, and naught now remains of them but their memories, cherished in the affections of a grateful people; and all over this broad land, that people have piled up the storied marble, to which the thronging generations of the future shall come and learn lessons of heroism and self-sacrifice.

ROLL OF HONOR.

Under the first call of President Lincoln, for 75,000 volunteers, Hardin County responded by presenting two full companies, which were assigned to the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. George Weaver, an old veteran of the Mexican war, was Captain of Company D; G. A. Stewart, First Lieutenant; Daniel Timmons, Second Lieutenant. James S. Robinson was Captain of Company G, Peter Grubb, First Lieutenant and William Surgeson, Second Lieutenant. James Cantwell, who was first elected Captain was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.

In August, 1861, Capt. C. H. Gatch, assisted by First Lieut. W. W. Nixon and Second Lieut. David McConnell, recruited a full company for the serv- ice, which was assigned, as Company K, to the Thirty-third Ohio Regiment. The regiment joined the Army of the Cumberland. It participated in the campaigns of that army, and finally accompanied Sherman in his march to the sea.

In July and August, of 1861, Capt. Luther Furney, assisted by Lieut. Asa Carter, recruited Company D for the Thirty-fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. The regiment was assigned to duty with Gen. J. D. Cox, on the Gauley, W. Va. It formed a part of Gen. Hayes' brigade. The regiment performed much hard service in West Virginia and in the Shenandoah Valley. Capt. Furney was subsequently promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the regiment.

Capt. Daniel Ammerman, Lieut. Nelson G. Franklin, and Capt. Com- fort H. Stanley and Lieut. A. K. Rarey, assisted by Lieut. Col. A. S. Ram- sey, recruited two full companies for the Forty-fifth Ohio Regiment in Au- gust, 1862. The regiment was assigned to duty in Kentucky, and afterward, in August, 1863, joined Gen. Burnside's command. The regiment was in the famous campaign against Knoxville, Tenn. In May, 1863, the regi- ment was transferred to the Second Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, thus enabling it to participate in the campaign against Atlan- ta. In June following, the regiment was transferred to the Second Brigade, First Division. Fourth Army Corps. It concluded its services in the bat- tles of Franklin and Nashville.

In the winter of 1862, a company was recruited by Lieut. David Snod- grass and Lient. P. W. Stumm, which was assigned, as Company H, to the Seventy-fourth Ohio Regiment. Lieut. Snodgrass was appointed Cap- tain of the company. The regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and was assigned to the Fourteenth Corps. It was in the campaign against Atlanta, and accompanied Sherman in the campaign to Richmond and Washington, via Savannah.

Jas. R. Dular

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

The Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment was recruited in November and December, 1861, and rendezvoused at Camp Simon Kenton, Kenton, Ohio. It was organized by Col. James Cantwell, Lieut. Col. B. R. Durfee and Maj. James S. Robinson, all officers of the Fourth Ohio Regiment, with Dr. A. W. Munson as Assistant Surgeon. Four full com- panies were recruited from Hardin County, and a portion of Company E, Capt. Main's company, was recruited from Roundhead, Taylor Creek and McDonald Townships.

Capt. David Thomson, First Lieut. S. L. Hoge and Second Lieut. James B. McConnell recruited the first company for the regiment, which was assigned as Company A. Capt. Thomson was appointed Major, April 9, 1862, and Lieutenant Colonel, August 29, 1862. After Col. Robinson was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieut. Col. Thomson. He continued in command until a few weeks before the close of the war, when he was disabled by a wound at Averysboro, N. C., March 16, 1865. He was brevetted a Brigadier General, for gallant and meritorious service, to rank from the 13th of March, 1865.

L. S. Powell was appointed Captain of Company B, which company he recruited, assisted by First Lieut. David J. Mentzer and Second Lieut. W. J. Dickson. The latter officer was killed at Resaca May 14, 1864, while acting as Major of the regiment.

Company C was recruited by Capt. P. C. Boslow, First Lieut. John Campbell and Second Lieut. Morgan Simonson. The company was princi- pally recruited in the vicinity of Patterson and Forest. It was assigned as the color company of the regiment, and nobly did it defend its standadr.

Company G was commanded by Capt. James Ewing; First Lieutenant, William Porterfield; Second Lieutenant, Preston Faught. The company was principally recruited in the vicinity of Kenton, and in Blanchard and Liberty Townships.

After the organization of the Eighty-second Regiment, it was assigned to West Virginia. It served in the Fremont campaign against Jackson, joining the Army of the Potomac at the second Bull Run, where Col. James Cantwell was killed, at the head of his regiment, on the 29th of August, 1862. Upon the death of Col. Cantwell, Lieut, Col. James S. Robinson was appointed Colonel of the regiment. On the 1st of May, 1864, he was assigned to the command of the Third Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps. He was brevetted a Brigadier General December 12, 1864, and appointed a Brigadier General January 12, 1865, and brevetted a Major General March 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the service at the close of the war, August 31, 1865. He was severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863. The regiment continued to serve in the Army of the Potomac until after the battle of Gettysburg, when it ac- companied the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps to the West, where it was as- signed to the Army of the Cumberland. It remained in that army until the close of the war. It passed through the Atlanta campaign, and accom- panied Sherman's excursion through the Carolinas, finally participating in the grand review at Washington. The regiment saw much hard service. It was particularly unfortunate in the loss of its officers. It had 16 offi- cers killed or mortally wounded on the field. From the date of its organ- ization until its final muster out, it numbered over 2,300 names on its rolls.

The One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment was organized at Lima, Ohio, in August, 1862. Capt. Solomon Kraner, First Lieut. Thomas Ax- tell and Second Lieut. A. A. Bishop recruited Company B from the vicin-

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

ity of Round Head. Lieut. Sidney Moore recruited thirty men for the regiment from Liberty Township, which were assigned to Company H. Dr. W. H. Philips, of Kenton, was appointed Surgeon of the regiment. The regiment first served in Kentucky, and afterward participated in the Knoxville campaign, where it saw much hard service and suffered many de- privations. It was assigned to the Twenty-third Army Corps, and after- ward participated in the Atlanta campaign and in the battles at Franklin and Nashville. It was transferred by rail and water to Goldsboro, N. C .; thence to Washington, D. C., and mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865.

The county furnished a company for the Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, commanded by Capt. L. S. Powell. Also three companies in the One Hun- dred and Thirty-fifth Ohio National Guard, under Lieut. Col. C. H. Gatch, which served from May 10, 1864, until September 1, of the same year. Four companies left the county, but upon reaching Camp Jackson, near Colum- bus, Ohio, a re-organization took place and these companies were con- solidated, thus becoming Companies G, H and I, One Hundred and Thirty- fifth Regiment Ohio National Guard. This regiment did guard service in the vicinity of Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry, and participated in a few light skirmishes.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 42

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076