Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 56

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993

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On August 9. 1862, as a part of General Bank's corps, which was then attached to the Army of Virginia inder Pope, the Seventh participated in the bloody battle of Cedar Mountain, two hundred out of the three inm- dred men engaged being killed or wounded. Pursned by General Lee. the army retreated towards Washington, and a month of fighting and laborious marching followed. At Antie-

tam, September 7th, the Seventh was present only as a reserve force. About this time the regiment which had been depleted by disease, battle, and other causes from one thousand to less than three hundred men. received an addi- tion of two Indred recruits. The winter saw no active service save a slight skirmish with Stuart's cavalry.

On May 7th, after a ten days' march, the Seventh was thrown into the hottest of the fight at Chancellorsville, where in the two days' battle it occupied some of the most ex- posed positions and gained great credit for its gallant conduct. With two other regiments it covered the retreat of the Federal army. Its loss was fourteen killed and seventy wounded.

At Gettysburg, reached June 1, 1863. after a laborious march, the Seventh acted as a re- serve force, and having the protection of breastworks during greater part of the battle. sustained a loss of but one man killed and seventeen wounded. It was next called mixant to assist in quelling the New York draft riots. Afterwards returning to the Rapidan, it be- came a part of the Twentieth Army Corps un- der Hooker and was ordered to the Western department, which had just been placed under the command of General Grant. It assisted in driving Bragg from Lookont Mountain and pursued the enemy up the sides of Mission Ridge. At Thompson's Gap, on November 27th. while preparing as a part of Geary's brig- ade, to storm Taylor's Ridge, where the Reb- els had made a stand, the Seventh had the mis- fortune to lose its gallant commander, Colonel ! Creighton. The regiment advanced under a heavy fire which became so fierce that the colonel, finding it impossible to advance turned his men into a ravine. As the line approached j a fence a rifle ball pierced his body and he expired instantly, his only words being. "My dear wife." Lieutenant-Colonel Crane had also fallen and the regiment was compelled to retreat, with a loss of nineteen killed and six- ty-me wounded, only one commissioned of- ficer escaping unhurt. The winter was spent at Bridgeport, Alabama, and the regiment en- gaged in no more fighting until May 3rd. when with but slight loss they drove the enemy

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from Rocky Face Ridge. The veterans' term of service having now expired. the late re- cruits were consolidated with the Fifth, and ac- companied Sherman on his march through Georgia. The regiment was then ordered North and on July 8th was mustered out of the service at Cleveland.

More than one thousand eight hundred men had served with the Seventh during its three years and more of service. It had par- ticipated in more than a score of battles, some of them the hottest of the war, and with the exception of about sixty new recruits, "only two hundred and forty men remained to bring home the colors riddled with shot and shell."

The Nineteenth Regiment of Ohio Volun- teer Infantry was formed soon after the Sev- enth and mustered into the three months' serv- ice. Three of the companies-B, C, and G- were mainly from Trumbull and Mahoning counties. At Camp Jackson, near Columbus, to which they were transferred May 27, 1861, under the old militia rules, Samuel Beatty was chosen colonel, Elliott W. Hollingsworth, lieutenant-colonel, and Lewis P. Buckley. major. After the organization and drill had been perfected, it was united with the Eighth and Tenth to form a brigade, and first saw active service under General Rosecrans at Rich Mountain, West Virginia, on July 7th, receiv- ing the commendations of the commander "for the cool and handsome manner in which it held its position against a flank attack, and for the manner in which it came into line and de- livered its fire near the close of the action." Nine companies of the regiment re-enlisted for the three years' service, and November 16th it was ordered to Fort Jenkins, near Louis- ville. The winter was spent in camp at Colum- bia, the regiment forming a part of the brigade under command of General Boyle. Here the men suffered greatly from an epidemic of ty- phoid fever. Early in March the Nineteenth set out for Nashville, and marched the long distance with shoes in such condition that the men were almost barefont. From Nashville they took steamer for Savannah and there. within hearing of the guns of Shiloh they were

transferred to the boat which conveyed them to Pittsburgh Landing, which they reached at the end of the first days' fighting. They found the Union troops driven almost to the river, the banks of which were lined with thousands of stragglers who were in a state of panic. A dreary wet night was spent on the battle- field, and the battle being renewed carly the next morning the Nineteenth was ordered into action and fought with courage and ccolness contributing their full share to the final victory. The regiment lost Major Edwards, besides a number of privates killed and wounded.

During the gradual approach to Corinth under General Halleck, who had practically displaced Grant, the regiment lost Captain F. E. Stowe, of Company G, by disease. Not long after, at Battle Creek, Alabama, to which place the regiment had marched under the com- mand of General Buell, Lieutenant D. W. Hil- debrank also died of disease. At Crab Orchard the Nineteenth captured a rebel gun. At Mur- freesboro, January 2nd, the regiment saw fierce fighting and did gallant service but at a heavy cost. Out of 449 men who entered the battle 213 were lost in killed, wounded or miss- ing, five commissioned officers being among the killed. While in camp near Murfreesboro after the battle Lieutenant-Colonel Hollings- worth resigned, his place being filled by Major Manderson, and Captain H. G. Stratton be- ing made major. The time from the occupa- tion of Murfreesboro January 4th to June 28th was spent in camp.

In August the Nineteenth crossed the Cum- berland mountains, and in September lost two men in a skirmish with the enemy at Craw- fish Springs. On the 18th of the same month the regiment captured several prisoners and a battery. The battle of Chickamauga was par- ticipated in on the 20th, after which the regi- ment retreated with the army to Chattanooga. November 23 twenty men were lost at Orchard Knob, and two days later the Nineteenth took part in the unordered and spontaneous but suc- cessful storming of Mission Ridge. Then fol- lowed the tedious march to Knoxville, the men being poorly supplied with clothes and hut half shod. On learning that Longstreet had

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raised the siege of Knoxville, the army moved to Flat Creek, where over four hundred mem- bers of the Nineteenth re-enlisted in the vet- eran service. After returning to Chattanooga the regiment left for Ohio reaching Cleveland by the 16th of February.

The veterans, who reassembled in camp at Cleveland March 17, reached Knoxville on the 24th, and subsequently participated in the Atlanta campaign. The Nineteenth took part in the battle of Nashville under Thomas, in which Hood's army was completely routed, and was afterwards ordered to Huntsville and Chattanooga, and in July, 1865, to Texas. Mustered out at San Antonia, October 31st, after nearly five years service, the regiment started home, and was finally discharged at Camp Chase, Columbus, on November 22nd.

Twentieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer In- fantry .- The Twentieth Regiment of Volun- teer Infantry was organized in response to the first call for three months' troops in May, 1861. Charles Whittlesey, a graduate of West Point, was colonel, and Manning F. Force lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Whittlesey re- signing in April, 1862, Lieutenant-Colonel Force was promoted to colonel and later to brigadier-general. Harrison Wilson was the third colonel of the regiment. First Lieuten- ant John C. Fry was promoted to cap- tain, and in January, 1864, became colonel of the regiment. The Twentieth conducted itself creditably in its first action at Fort Donelson and was afterwards sent north in charge of prisoners, in which service it became scattered. By the middle of March seven companies were collected on the Tennessee river, It partici- pated in the battle of Shiloh with honor and considerable loss, and during the advance on Corinth remained on duty at Pittsburg Land- ing, suffering considerably from sickness. It was thence transferred to Bolivar. In August, 1862, with two other regiments, it repulsed the rebel general, Armstrong, with thirteen regiments, several of the officers being pro- moted for gallantry. Joining General Lio- gan's division of the Seventeenth army corps in the fall of 1862, it reached Memphis in the

following January. In May in an advance on Raymond with the Thirteenth army corps, the regiment suffered a loss of twelve killed and fifteen wounded, being cheered heartily by other regiments for its gallantry. It per- formed good service in the march through Clinton, Jackson and Champion Hills, and later took an honorable part in the Vicksburg campaign. More than two-thirds of the men re-enlisted in January, 1864, and after a visit home on furlough, rendezvoused at Camp Den- nison, May 1st, whence they were ordered to Clifton, Tennessee. On June 20th, it per- formed dangerous service at Kenesaw Moun- tain. It took part in the battle of Atlanta, ac- companied Sherman to the sea, and after the surrender of Savannah proceeded to Raleigh. Its service was brought to an end by the sur- render of Johnston, and after participating in the Grand Review of May 24, at Washington, it was transferred to Louisville, and June 18 returned to Columbus and was mustered out.

Twenty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- Company E of this regiment was recruited partly in Mahoning county. Organ- ized at Camp Chase in June, 1861, with W. S. Rosecrans as colonel, who was succeeded con- secutively by E. P. Scammon, R. B. Hayes (afterwards President), and James N. Comly, it served through the entire conflict. taking an honorable part in the battles of South Moun- tain, Antietam, Barryville, North Mountain and Cedar Creek. and was mustered out at Cumberland, July 26, 1865.

Twenty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- Mahoning county contributed one company-Company G-to this regiment, which was mustered in in July, 1861, at Camp Chase. For some time it was engaged in scouting duty in the Kanawha valley, where it remained until January. Under Rosecrans it led the advance on Sewell Mountain and guarded the retreat. It was transferred to the department of the Cumberland and was with General Buell in the campaign of 1862, and though participating in no engagements, gained a high reputation for order and dis-

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cipline. It repulsed Forrest at McMinnville, and participated in the general engagement at Murfreesboro, December 26, 1862, where, under Major Squires, it made several gallant and successful charges upon the enemy's line. In the fight at Stone river it was one of the few regiments that stood against Bragg's im- petuous assault, losing nearly one-third of its number in killed or disabled. At Chicka- mauga it was in the thickest of the fight, three- fifths of all engaged being killed, wounded or captured. Perhaps its most gallant exploit was at Mission Ridge, where it occupied the center of the front line of assault, gaining the summit with the loss of half the command and driving the enemy from their works in pre- cipitous flight, besides capturing fifty prisoners and two cannon. "Later in the day the Twenty-sixth Ohio and the Fifteenth Indiana, under command of Colonel Young, captured a six-gun battery the enemy were attempting to carry off in their retreat, and flanked and dislodged a strong body of the enemy, who, with two heavy guns, were attempting to hold in check the National forces until their trains could be withdrawn. These guns were also captured. In token of their appreciation of Colonel Young's gallantry, his command presented him with a splendid sword."

Almost to a man the regiment re-enlisted in January, 1864, being "the first regiment of the Fourth army corps to re-enlist for the vete- ran service and the first to arrive home on veteran furlough." It afterwards served through the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, participated in the pursuit of Hood to Nash- ville, and in the successful battle which fol- lowed. It took part in the Texas campaign of 1865, and was mustered out October 21, 1865. It was then transported to Camp Chase, where it was paid off and discharged.

Thirty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- This was a German regiment, of which Company I was partially enrolled at Youngstown, and was mustered into the ser- vice October 2, 1861, at Camp Dennison. It was commanded by Colonel E. Siber, an ac- complished soldier who had served in Prussia

and Brazil. It was assigned to the department of West Virginia under Rosecrans, and saw some dangerous and laborious service, though without participating in any great battles. In 1863 it was transferred to the department of the Mississippi, and here took part in the Vicksburg campaign under Grant, during the siege losing nineteen killed and seventy-five wounded. It subsequently participated in the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, pursued the rebel general, Forrest, to Chattanooga, and assisted in the capture of Mission Ridge, No- vember 25, 1863. Three-fourths of the regi- ment re-enlisted in the veteran service and took part in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman. The Thirty-seventh was mustered out in Au- gust, 1865.

Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. -This was a six months' regiment which fol- lowed an early three months' organization of the same name. The colonel was Wilson C. Lemert, who had been major of the three- months regiment, which had served chiefly in West Virginia. Company A, from Mahoning county, was commanded by Captain Seth H. Truesdale. The regiment participated in the pursuit of Morgan during the latter's raid through Ohio, and after returning to Camp Tod, was ordered to Kentucky. On Septem- ber 8th, at Cumberland Gap, with the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio, the Twen- ty-second Ohio battery and some detachments of Tennessee cavalry, it captured the command of the rebel general Frazier, taking 2,800 prisoners, 5,000 stand of arms, thirteen pieces of artillery and large quantities of commis- sary stores and ammunition. It was largely enabled to do this through the appearance of General Burnside's division on the other side of the Gap. The regiment was mustered out at Cleveland, February 10, 1864.

Eighty-seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- "This regiment was organized in response to the call of President Lincoln, in May, 1862, for three months' men. H. B. Banning was commissioned colonel. It left for the field June 15, and was stationed at

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Harper's Ferry, where it remained until the siege of that place by the rebel general, Jack- son, and was surrendered with the National forces, although the term of its enlistment had expired. When this circumstance was known the regiment was permitted to return home. It was mustered out at Camp Chase September 20, 1862." Company 1 was partly recruited in Mahoning county.

Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- Company D of this regiment was enrolled in Mahoning county. Its nucleus was the First Battalion, Governor's Guards. Independent Volunteer Infantry, organized in June, 1862, and its enrollment was not completed until June 26, 1863. In the meanwhile it did ef- ficient guard service, first over the rebel pris- oners at Camp Chase, and afterwards at Cov- ington. Kentucky, to prevent the threatened attack on Cincinnati. U'nder Colonel George W. Neff the regiment was placed under thor- ough drill and discipline and was anxious to take the field. There was much disappoint- ment. therefore, among the officers and men that they were given no opportunity to par- ticipate in active service, beyond guarding Camp Dennison against a possible attack from John Morgan. After a long monotonous rou- tine of guard duty the regiment was mustered out July 3, 1865.

One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, O. V. 1. -"The One Hundred and Fifth was recruited wholly in the eastern part of the Reserve. Companies A and H were from Mahoning county, the former being made up largely of miners .**

The last company was mustered in August 21. 1862, and was innnediately ordered to Cov- ington. Kentucky, where it remained three days, going thence by train to Lexington, where it was assigned to a brigade command- ed by Colonel Charles Anderson of the Ninety- third Ohio. Here preparations were made to meet General Kirby Smith, who was advanc- ing from Cumberland Gap towards Lexington. Angust 30 a vain attempt was made by the One Hundred and Fifth, with several other

regiments, to reinforce General Nelson at Richmond, Kentucky, but the battle had been fought and lost before they arrived. The reb- els menacing Lexington, it became necessary to evacuate that city, and with the remnants of Nelson's command, a forced march was made for Louisville, during which the new troops, being overladen with baggage, sui- fered terribly from heat and thirst. Many contracted chronic diarrhea and fevers from which some never recovered, but were dis- charged or died in the hospital. At Lonis- ville the regiment was assigned to General Terrill's brigade, which afterwards became the Third Brigade, Tenth division, of the army under General Buell. October 8th it took part in the battle of Perryville, where General Ter- rill was killed, and the regiment greatly over- powered, was obliged to retreat. Forty-seven men were killed and 212 wounded, besides several officers killed and wounded.

U'nder command of Lieutenant-colonel Tolles the regiment marched to Danville, where the brigade was ordered to Mumfords- ville, where a month was spent in post and guard duty. Later at Bledsoe's Creek the brigade was assigned to the Twelfth division commanded by General Reynolds, and partici- pated with the division in pursuit of John Morgan, going as far as Cave City. January 11. 1863, the division reached Stone river, where a permanent assignment was made, by which Hall's became the Second and Rey- nolds' the Fifth brigade, soon afterwards the Fourth division of the Fourteenth corps. March 20th the One Hundred and Fifth par- ticipated with the brigade in an engagement about fourteen miles from Murfreesboro with John Morgan's command. in which the enemy was severely chastised. June 24th the regi- ment broke camp to take part in the Tulla- homa campaign. Major Perkins succeeding to the command. The result of the brief cam- paign was to drive Bragg from his position at Tullahoma and send him across the Tennes- see river. During the next few weeks the regiment lay encamped at University Moun- tain, where Colonel King was assigned to the command of the brigade.

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Crossing the Tennessee river, August 30, 1863, the One Hundred and Fifth joined in the movement to intercept Bragg and compel the evacuation of Chattanooga. On Septem- ber 19th and 20th the regiment was engaged at Chickamauga, where it was complimented by the brigade commander for its steadiness when in a trying situation. It also executed a gallant and important movement which saved the Federal line from being thrown into confusion and overwhelmed on the withdrawal of General Wood's division, whereby General Reynolds was enabled to make such disposition as secured his right flank and prevented further disaster to the army. For this prompt movement it was highly commended by Gen- eral Reynolds and afterwards by General Rosecrans. In this action Major Perkins was severely wounded, with four other officers- Captain Spaulding mortally-and the regi- ment lost 75 men in killed, wounded and pris- oners.

Ordered to Chattanooga, the regiment was engaged there on fatigue duty until the ar- rival of General Grant. Here it participated in the battle of Mission Ridge, where it held a foremost position, and afterwards assisted in the pursuit of the rebel army as far as Ringgold, Georgia. On its return to Chatta- nooga it was rejoined by Major Perkins, who had been absent on account of disability. William R. Tolles succeeded to the colonelcy on the death of Colonel Hall. He resigned in January, 1864, and was sneceeded by George T. Perkins, who commanded the regiment un- til the close of the service.

The One Hundred and Fifth participated in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman. Under Major Edwards, Colonel Perkins be- ing away in September on leave of absence, it joined in the pursuit of Hood as far as Gales- burg, afterwards returning to Atlanta. Until the latter part of March it was moving about almost constantly, tearing up railroads and making forced marches on various expedi- tions. "At Goldsboro the troops were re- viewed by Generals Sherman and Schofield. At this time fully 25 per cent of the men were | barefooted; they were ragged and dirty, many

iu citizen's dress and some in rebel uniform. Having received clothing and other necessary supplies, the army left Goldsboro April 10th. and after four days' skirmishing with the rebel cavalry, arrived at Raleigh." The regi- ment was at Cape Fear river when Johnston surrendered. Richmond was reached May 7, 1865, and on the 24th the One Hundred and Fifth took part in the Grand Review at Wash- ington. It was mustered out June 3, and was paid off and discharged at Cleveland on the 8th, having been in the service nearly three years.

One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment, O. V. I .- Six companies of this regiment were organized at Cleveland during the months of October, November and December, 1862, under the supervision of Col. Opdycke. Two companies which had been enlisted for the Eighty-seventh Ohio, were transferred to the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth on De- cember 6th. January 3 the regiment left Cleve- land by train for Cincinnati. Being ordered to report to General Boyle, the regiment left Cincinnati by boat on the 4th for Louisville. Here, by order of Brigadier-general Boyle, on January 2d, the One Hundred and Twenty- fifth was transferred to the command of Brig- adier-general C. C. Gilbert, commanding the division, and on February ist it started with the rest of the command by boat for Nashville, where, on the 9th, it went into camp near the city. On the 12th, with the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth in advance, the command took up the line of march for Franklin, where they drove out a small force of rebel cavalry and took possession of the town. Colonel Opdycke was placed in command of the post, the rest of the division not crossing the river. From this time until the middle of June was spent chiefly in marching and skirmishing with the enemy. The regiment marched on June 21st and was assigned by General Rosecrans to the Third Brigade, First division, Twenty-first army corps. On the 24th it took part in the general advance which resulted in driving Bragg from Tullahoma and beyond the T'en- nessee river. The regiment suffered mnuch at

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this time on account of rain and heavy roads. From July 9 until August 16 was spent in camp at Hillsboro, Tennessee. A general ad- vance being ordered, it then crossed the moun- tains, went into camp at Thurman until Sep- tember Ist, then marched by way of Jasper and Shell Mound to Lookout Mountain, where it arrived on the 6th. Here, by order of Gen- eral Crittenden, it accomplished a dangerous reconnaissance to develop the enemy's batter- ies. On the 8th, 9th and toth it marched to Chattanooga, and to Gordon's Mills on the HIth and 12th, It was in the thick of the fight at Chickamauga on the 19th and 20th, where it earned from General Wood the title of "The Ohio Tigers," owing to the three desperate and successful charges with which it broke the enemy's lines and saved the Army of the Cum- berland from destruction. In this battle, which it entered with eleven officers and 298 men, it had one officer and eleven men killed, two of- ficers and. seventy-one men seriously, and ten slightly wounded. The regiment took part in the work of fortifying Chattanooga, where they remained until the 23d of November. On the 25th they took part in the memorable as- sault of Mission Ridge, and were among the first to reach the summit, capturing 100 pris- oners, together with a gun, wagon and mules and a large number of small arms. The regi- ment's loss was three killed and one officer and twenty-six men wounded. The regiment as- sisted in the subsequent pursuit of the enemy, returning to Chattanooga on the 26th. From early in December until January 15, they were encamped at Blair's Cross roads, "poorly clothed and worse fed," and then marched to Dandridge, where on the 17th they had a skirmish with a brigade of dismounted rebel calvary, whom they repulsed, losing, however, seven officers and five men killed, and twelve men wounded. They then retreated to Knox- ville which they reached on the 21st. March- ing again on the 23rd they reached Loudon, Tennessee, on January 25, where they spent the winter. "The spring was spent in East Tennessee until June, when the regiment was ordered to Louisiana, and thence to Texas,

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 56

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Sanderson, Thomas W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago, Ill., Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 993