Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 57

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

USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > Youngstown > Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

where it was mustered out September 25. Re- turning to Ohio, it was discharged at Camp Chase October 17."

One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry .- The 155th regi- ment was mustered into the service May 8, 1864, in response to the President's call for 100-day volunteers. It was made up of the Forty-fourth battalion, a Mahoning County organization, and the Ninety-second Volunteer Infantry. On May 9th it left for New Creek, West Virginia. It was on garrison and escort duty at Martinsburg until June 10th, when it left under orders for Washington city. It then proceeded to the White House, and thence to Bermuda Hundred and City Point where it remained until the 20th. It was afterwards placed on garrison duty at Norfolk, Virginia. In July 500 men of the regiment with other troops, marched to Elizabeth city, North Caro- lina, where the cavalry raided the country. After this expedition the 155th remained at Norfolk till August 19th, when it was ordered home to be mustered out. It was discharged from the service at Camp Dennison, August 27. 1865.

Que Hundred and Ninety-sixth Regiment, O. V. I .- This regiment. which contained two and a third companies of Trumbull and Ma- honing county troops, was mustered into the service under the last one-year call of Presi- dent Lincoln. Many of its officers and men had seen service in other regiments. It was ordered to West Virginia, where it joined the Ohio brigade and was thoroughly drilled and disciplined. In July it was placed on garrison duty in the fortifications around Baltimore. A detachment was detailed to Fort Delaware. It was mistered out September 11, 1865, at Baltimore.

One Hundred and Ninety-seventh Regi- ment, O. 1'. I .- The 197th regiment, compa- nies A and K of which were partly recruited in Mahoning county, was the last regiment or- ganized in the state. Nearly half of the men.

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and all but five of the officers had previously been in the service. The regiment left Camp Chase for Washington city April 25th, and on arriving there learned of Johnston's surrender. After spending the time in camp until July 31st it was mustered out of the service.

Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry .- This fine military organization was recruited in the summer of 1861, chiefly by men of wealth, in- telligence and culture, the last company being mustered in October 10th. It was drilled at Cleveland and at Camp Dennison and early in January. 1862, proceeded to Platte City. Missouri. On February 22nd, while on the march to Fort Scott, Kansas, a scouting party of the regiment met and defeated an equal force of rebels under the command of the in- famous Quantrell, losing one killed and three wounded. The months of March and April were mainly spent in breaking up guerrilla hands in the border counties of Missouri and Kansas. The Indian rebel, Stanwaite, was also driven from his camp at Baxter Springs, In- dian Territory.

The regiment next participated in the at- tack and capture of Fort Gibson, after which it went into camp at Fort Scott. Many of the men had by this time suffered seriously from sickness and a number had died from brain fever caused by the heat. Near the close of August 150 men and two officers of the Sec- ond were detailed as a light battery and were soon afterwards transferred and organized as the 25th Ohio Battery. The Second then par- ticipated in the fall campaign under Blunt. at Prairie Grove, December 3rd, helping to win a splendid victory. In September Captain Au- gust V. Kautz, of the Sixth U. S. Cavalry, be- came colonel of the regiment. Colonel Charles Doubleday having been promoted to briga- dier-general. Through his influence the Second was soon after transferred to the East and reorganized at Camp Chase. Ohio. In April, 1863. it left Camp Chase, and until June 27th was engaged in some small raids, much of the time. however, being spent in camp at Somerset, Kentucky. As a part of

Colonel Kautz's brigade it participated in the pursuit of John Morgan, whom it followed for 1,200 miles through three states, until his cap- ture at Buffington's Island. For its part in this expedition it was highly complimented by General Burnside. In August, 1864, the Sec- und moved with the army to East Tennessee, in the brigade commanded by Colonel Caster, and easily put to flight the enemy at Loudon Bridge. It subsequently joined the Army of the Cumberland under Rosecrans, took an hon- orable part in the battle of Blue Springs and helped to defeat the rebels at Blountsville and Bristol. It participated in the siege of Knox- ville. on December 2nd engaged Longstreet's Cavalry at Morristown, and on the 4th had 40 men killed and wounded in an encounter with eighteen regiments at Russellville. Until Jan- vary Ist it was fighting or marching with but little rest. On this date 420 out of 470 re- enlisted in the veteran service. After a veteran furlough of thirty days commencing February 16th. it reassembled at Cleveland March 20th, one hundred and twenty recruits being added to its strength. On April 4th it it was en- camped on the Chesapeake, and on May 3d re- ported to General Burnside at Warrenville Junction. It took a very active part in the Wilderness campaign and on May 29th became a part of General J. H. Wilson's brigade in Sheridan's famous cavalry. It took a conspicu- ous part in the fight at Hanover Court House, and at Winchester where it sustained consid- crable loss. It again distinguished itself at Summit Point. Charlestown. and Harper's Ferry. and Berryville, Virginia, and on Sep- tember 13th. captured one of General Early's regiments in front of Winchester. Its next gallant exploits were performed at the battles of Waynesboro and Cedar Creek, and on De- cember 28th it went into winter quarters near Winchester.

On February 27th the Second joined Sher- idan's cavalry and on March 2nd assisted in the capture of Early's army near Wayneshoro. After Lee's surrender it served in Missouri when it was mustered out September ist, he- ing disbanded at Camp Chase, Ohio, on Sep-

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tember 11th with a record equalled by few of the military organizations in the war.

The Sixth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, re- cruited by Hon. B. F. Wade and John Hutch- ins, was organized at Warren, October, 1861. It was first employed at Camp Chase in guard- ing relel prisoners. Early in May, completely equipped. it started for Wheeling. West Vir- ginia. Under Gen. Fremont it pursued Jack- son down the Shenandoah Valley and was en- gaged with the enemy at Strasburg and Cross Keys, and subsequently at Luray Court House and Cedar Mountain. Under Pope in his struggle with Jackson for the Rappahannock it was fourteen days under fire. It next per- formed gallant service at Second Bull Run, August 29th, 1862, and at Warrenton, imme- diately afterward joining Burnside in his ad- vance upon Fredericksburg. In the spring of 1863. it joined Hooker's army and in March maintained its high reputation at Kelly's Ford. and subsequently in several other actions, at Aldie, June 17. under Colonel Steadman, mak- ing one of the most gallant charges in the record of cavalry service. As a part of Kil- patrick's brigade, it performed effective serv- ice at Gettysburg, Falling Waters and subse- quently at Culpepper Court House, Rapidan Station, Sulphur Springs, and Auburn Mills, in the last named battle losing three officers and thirteen men killed and wounded.

While in winter quarters at Warrington. the Sixth was detailed to general guard and picket duty. About January 1. about 200 of the Sixth re-enlisted and were furlonghed. After reorganization, with a large mimber oi re- cruits, the Sixth became part of Sheridan's cav- alry. It took part in the bottle of the Wilder- ness, and on May 28, at Owen Church, lost Captain Northway, one of its bravest and best belowved officers. It fought gallantly at Cold Harly r. Trevilian Station. Petersburg and Hatcher's Rim, where. October 27. Capt. E. S. Austin was killed. In all these movements. the Sixth was invariably selected as the ad- vanced guard. It was subsequently in spirited pursuit of Lee, at Farmville and Sailors' Court-house, and Five Forks, and while in the

pursuit of Lec, at Farnsville and Sailors' Creek. At Appomattox Court-house, it opened the engagement, and afterwards acted as Gen- eral Grant's escort from Appomattox to Burks- ville Station. After Johnston's surrender it was divided into detachments and stationed in the district of Appomattox. It was mustered ont of the service at Cleveland, August, 1865.

Twelfth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cor- alry .- This regiment was recruited in .Angust, 1863, in accordance with an order from the war department to Governor Tod. Lientenant Colonel Robert W. Hatliff of the Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was commissioned colonel, and the first company reported at Camp Taylor October 2, 1863. Most of the officers of the regiment were trained soldiers and the regi- ment in consequence was soon prepared for the field. Six companies were detailed in Na- vember to guard the prison stockade on John- son's Island, the other six companies in the meanwhile drilling for field service. March 30 found the regiment encamped on the plains near Louisville. The regiment had their first action during Morgan's raid when on June 9. it showed great gallantry in an encounter with the rebels at Mount Sterling. At Cyn- thiana, Kentucky, Morgan was again over- taken and his forces scattered by a gallant charge, and on September 20 there was a half- day's hard fighting at Saltville, the Twelfth driving the enemy from his works. The regi- ment also assisted materially in General Stone- man's defeat of Breckenridge at Marion, and in December assisted in the capture of Saltville. In March, 1865. the Twelfth, re-equipped. saw service at Nashville, whence it hastened to Knoxville and Murfreesboro. It aided in the camure of Jefferson Davis and captured in Alabama Generals Bragg and Wheeler. In Novender the regiment rendezvonsed at Nash- ville and on the rath was nistered out of the service, a few days later being paid off and discharged at Columbus, Ohio.

ARTILLERY.

The following batteries contained recruits from Trumbull and Mahoning connties.

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First Light Artillery, organized 1860, six companies, James Barnett, colonel, who was succeeded in October 1864, by C. S. Cotter. It was mustered into the United States service September, 1861 .:

Second Ohio Heavy Artillery was recruit- ed in all parts of the state in July and August, 1863, in order to garrison some captured forts with heavy arms. It consisted of 2400 men.

Second Ohio Independent Battery was or- ganized in the northwestern part of Ohio, in July. 1861, and mustered into the service at Camp Chase August 9, for a period of three years. It re-enlisted in 1864 and was mustered out in July, 1865.

TOD POST, NO. 29, G. A. R.,

Was organized in November, 1879, with a membership of -. The post has since had a useful and active existence in caring for the welfare of the Civil War veterans of Youngs- town and the vicinity ; keeping up the memory of departed comrades, whose graves are an- nually decorated on the day set apart by the Nation for that purpose, and in strengthening the bonds of patriotism and fellowship among those who survive.

UNION VETERAN LEGION.

Encampment No. 3. of the Union Veteran Legion, was instituted in this city by Encamp. ment No. 1, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, May 1, 1885, in Emerald hall, and consisted of twenty-two charter members.

At the present time Encampment No. 3 has about thirty members, with the following of- ficers : Joseph Seifert, colonel ; Dennis McKin- ney, chaplain; D. B. Stambaugh, quarter-mas- ter ; J. W. Jewhearst, adjutant; Garvin Jack, quarter-master sergeant; Jolin Moore, color- bearer.

SONS OF VETERANS.

Hillman Camp No. 10. Sons of Veterans. was mustered, June 29, 1886, with the follow-

ing officers: Commander, Charles F. Hall; senior vice-commander, Carl Woodworth : junior vice-commander, R. E. Baldwin. 1887 -Commander, J. Ed. Leslie: senior vice-com- mander, R. E. Baldwin ; junior vice-comman- der, Fred Simpkin. 1888-Commander, R. E. Baldwin ; senior vice-commander, E. J. Braun- burn; junior vice-commander, William Pat- terson. 1889-Commander. Robert N. Kerr ; senior vice-commander, E. J. Braunburn; jun- ior vice-commander, William Patterson. There was no organization kept up during 1890, '91, '92 and '93.

Baldvin Camp, No. 10, was mustered in on February 7, 1894, with the following of- ficers : Commander, Fred A. Simpkins; senior vice-commander, Robert N. Kerr; junior vice- commander, William Gill. 1895-Commander, WV. S. Watson (who resigned May 21, 1895), A. G. Rowland; senior vice-commander, P. H. Woods; junior vice-commander, E. E. Eckels. 1896-Commander, W. E. Baldwin ; senior vice-commander, J. W. Blackburn ; junior vice-commander, George B. Havey. 1897-Commander, W. E. Baldwin; senior vice-commander, J. Ralph Rigby ; junior vice- commander, Frank Wilheide. 1898-Com- mander, J. Ralph Rigby ; senior vice-comman- der, Henry J. Kuhns; junior vice commander, Charles N. Crozier. In 1898 the number was changed from No. 10 to No. 2. 1899-Com- mander, Henry J. Kuhns; senior vice-com- mander, Jolın J. Cornell; junior vice-comman- der, Cal. J. Mikesell. 1900-Commander, John J. Cornell; senior vice-commander, Cal. J. Mikesell; junior vice-commander, W. L. Dales. 1901-Commander, Cal. J. Mikesell; senior vice-commander, W. L. Dales; junior vice-commander, George Washburn. 1902- Commander, W. L. Dales; senior vice-com- mander, Charles N. Crozier; junior vice-com- mander, J. E. Nutt. 1903-Commander, W. I .. Dales; senior vice-commander, Charles N. Crozier; junior vice-commander, J. E. Nutt. 1904-Commander, J. E. Nutt; senior vice- commander. Henry J. Kuhns; junior vice- commander. George Morgan. 1905-Com- mander, William Gill: senior vice-commander, R. W. Kaiser ;. junior vice-commander, E. E.

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Eckels. 1906-Commander. William Gill; senior vice-commander, R. W. Kaiser; junior vice-commander, E. E. Eckels. 1907-Com- mander, R. W. Kaiser: senior vice-comman- der. E. E. Eckels: junior vice-commander. George Morgan.

It 1897 A. W. Jones from Camp No. 2 was elected state commander with W. E. Bald- win. state adjutant, and W. S. Watson, state quartermaster.

In 1898 A. W. Jones was elected com- mander-in-chief U. S. A. with W. E. F .ld- win, adjutant-general, and W. S. Watson, as- sistant adjutant-general.

LOGAN RIFLES, O. N. G.

The company of Ohio National Guard now known as the Logan Rifles, having been thus named after General John A. Logan of Civil War fame, was first organized in Youngstown during the summer of 1875, Ros- well P. Shurtleff, a captain in the war of the Rebellion, issued a call for a meeting of those interested, and it was held in the old Town Hall with Captain Shurtleff as chairman and John Baker as secretary. An en- listment roll was drawn up and 97 citi- zens signed it. R. P. Shurtleff was elected captain. James P. Conrad first lieutentant. and Aaron Harber, second-lientenant, and the company named "The Iron Guards." As the laws of the state in reference to the formation of military companies had not been complied with. Adjutant-General James O. Antes refused to recognize the meeting, and another meeting was held at the same place June 10. 1875. and the proper petition pre- pared. The adjutant-general approved the ap- plication, and on Jime 19. R. P. Shmirtleff was elected captain. T. F. Patton, first lientenant. and William Mellray, second lieutenant. They were commissioned July 26. 1875, at which date the organization was formally accepted and mustered into the state's service. Onar- ters were rented and the work of drilling com- menced. Lieutenant Patten resigned and was honorably discharged by S. O. 14. February 26, 1876. Lientenant Mellray resigned and

was honorably discharged by S. O. 18, March 15. 1876. Their Successors were H. G. Reed. first lientenant, and S. A. Smith, second lient- tenant, who were commissioned March 25. 1876.

In April. 1877. the company was ordered on active duty in aid of the civil authorities in preserving peace during the hanging of Charles X. Sterling for the murder of Lizzie Gre mbacher. Owing to the mystery surround- ing the identity of the prisoner and the differ- ence of opinion as to his guilt, considerable feeling had been aroused. The company was on duty for two days and without difficulty preserved peace and quiet. Col. Honstean re- signed and was honorably discharged by S. O. 115, July 9. 1877. His successor was .A. A. Ross, who was commissioned October 6. 1877. The second encampment was held at the Youngstown Fair Grounds Angust 6 to 12.

On September 19. 188t. President James A. Garfield died. and on September 24. the Eighth regiment was ordered to Cleveland to guard the public square, in which the cata- falque containing his remains lay in state. The "Iron Guards" were on duty three days, and were presented a handsome wreath made from the flowers used in decorating the bier of Presi- dent Garfield. The wreath was appropriately framed and now hangs in the company's parfor.

June 1. 1804, found the miners of Ohio on a strike and practically all the coal in the market came from "Benwood" district of West Virginia. To stop even this supply, the miners systematically "tied up" all freight traffic. Railroad cars were burned. bridges destroyed and employees assaulted. In five cnnties the civil law was at a standstill and the court officers and processes ignored or resisterl. Once convinced that the civil resources were exhausted. Gov. Mckinley promptly ord- cred regiment after regiment under arms mit- til 3.800 National Guards were scattered along the railroads from the Ohio river north, af- fording full protection to a resumption of trai- fic. June 11, at 6 p. m., the captain of the Lo- gan Rifles received telegraphic orders to re- port with his command to Col. Kenan at

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Cleveland. The company was promptly as- sembled, and at 7:30 p. m. every man was in the armory ready for duty. The company, with Surgeon Will H. Buechner and Adjutant R. T. Ellis, of the staff, boarded B. & O. train 5 at 10:57 p. m., and at noon the next day went into bivouac with the regiment at Crys- tal Springs, four miles from Massillon, wait- ing orders from Sheriff Doll, of Stark county. Early that night the railroad bridge at Stras- burgh was burned, and at 11 p. m. the Logan Rifles were ordered to go sixteen miles down the C., L. & W. Railway and save the next bridge. The company was hurried aboard a coach and with the "tender" in front of the engine started down the line. Perched high on top of the "tender" was Lieutenant Whit- ney, Captain Freed and eight soldiers in charge of Sergeant Kaercher. It was a thrill- ing ride for them. Crouching around the edge of the "tender," with weapons in hand, they peered out into the semi-darkness, carefully scanning every foot of track, every bush or fallen log. The country traversed was strange and the danger point unknown. The air was murky with smoke from the piles of burning ties and cord wood along the track. The moon in the clouded sky threw fitful and deceiving shadows over everything. Slowly and cau- tiously the train moved on. Past the mines and scattered villages, through the rocky walls of "Blue Cut." on through "Pigeon Run," and in the gray dawn of morning crossed the bridge and stopped at the village of Beach City. Quickly disembarking, a guard line with Lieutenant Reel in charge was established around the bridge and railroad property, while Lieutenant Perkins with the second platoon kept on a mile and a half farther down the track, and in a like manner protected bridge "96." A small squad was sent back up the line six miles and patrolled "Blue Cut" until the arrival of Company K two days later. Dur- ing the next night a party of miners made their way among the underbrush along the river bank and when discovered had reached a point almost directly beneath the bridge. When challenged they threw a package into

the river and quickly disappeared in the dark- ness, escaping the shots sent after them. At bridge "96" Corporal Barclay and Harvey Kelly were fired upon from the underbrush. The company remained here for eleven days, and almost every night the guards were fired upon by unseen men from the wooded hillsides and gullies. Every effort was made to capture these bushwhackers, but without avail. Being perfectly familiar with the country they could creep up unseen and after firing escape in the darkness. Pickets were posted on the hilltops, but they, too, were fired upon and the mis- creants escaped. At one time a party of men gained a point of vantage on the hills around bridge "go" and fired a long range volley at the bivouac there. The bullets cut the leaves and bark from the trees over the soldiers' heads, but when a squad charged up the hillside they found the enemy gone. The miners' object in pursuing this kind of warfare evidently was to draw the guards in pursuit of them and give their comrades a chance to dynamite the bridge. Had they been better shots, or better armed, or approached nearer, some of the soldiers would undoubtedly have been shot. The only time when they showed themselves was on Saturday night when they appeared in the village just after midnight. Captain Freed had been visiting the sentinels and not- iced a group of men near a flouring mill. As he passed the corner of the building and step- ped out into the moonlight a voice cried, "Give it to the white striped - ," and a score of shots were immediately fired from the end of the wagon bridge 50 yards distant, toward which the men had retreated. Quickly firing his revolver into the darkness after the re- treating men, the captain "turned out the guard" and took up the pursuit. In the wood- land across the river two men were captured, and one of them was induced by threats to tell where the rendezvous of the gang was and guided a squad two miles into the country where four more rioters were captured. They were armed with cheap new revolvers of 38 calibre containing the shells of recently fired cartridges. They were marched back to the

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camp and confined in a tool honse until Mon- day, when they were turned over to Sheriff Doll at Massillon.

When the United States declared war with Spain the Governor of Ohio called into serv- ice the entire National Guard of the state. The local organization, Logan Ritles, Com- pany H, Fifth Infantry, O. N. G., responded with the other companies of the regiment ren- dezvoused at Cleveland and from there pro- ceeded to Camp Bushnell at Columbus, The local company was enrolled in the United States volunteer service April 26, 1808. The company as mustered consisted of Captain James A. Freed, First Lieutenant Harry W. Ulrich, Second Lieutenant Fred C. Porter and sixty enlisted men.

The regiment left Colunibus and arrived at Tampa, Florida, May 21, and went into camp as part of the Seventh army corps under com- mand of Major General Fitzhugh Lee. Soon after this the regiment was transferred to the Fifth army corps under conmand of Major Gen. William T. Shafter and ordered to em- bark for Cuba. Owing to the damage to the transport Florila, the Fifth regiment did not sail with the rest of the corps, and were trans- ferred to the Fourth army corps mmler com- mand of Major General J. J. Coppinger. The regiment was transferred to camp at Fernan- dina. Florida. July 23. and remained there until September 8, when it was ordered to Cleveland, Ohio, for muster out. It was duly mistered out November 5. 1898.

During the time the company was in Tam- pa it was recruited to a total of too officers and enlisted men, the recruits being local men.

While the company was cucumped at Fer- nandina an epidemie of typhoid fever broke out and Sergeant Henry G. Woolie and Private Clifton Dalzell died. During the Time that the company was encamped in Cleveland Sergeant George Spigler and Private Daniel G. Ken- nedy died from typhoid fever contracted in Florila.

In the fall of iSoy Captain Freed resigned. Lieutenant U'Irich was elected captain and commissioned December 9. 1899. The com- pany attended the funeral of President Me-

Kinley at Canton, Ohio, in September, 1901.

The present officers of the company are: Captain, Harry W. Ulrich ; first lientenant, Wade C. Christy ; second lieutenant, Charles FF. Redman. The Logan Rifles has long been considered ont of the best military companies in the state.

SPANISH WAR VETERANS.

Soon after the close of the war with Spain several organizations of the veterans of that war were formed. The local veterans appliedl for a charter for a camp and it was organized in December, 1899 and named Major Logan Camp, Spanish-American War Veterans. Later on it surrendered its charter in that or- ganization and accepted a charter in the Span- ish War Veterans, a stronger organization. In 1904 most of the many societies of the war with Spain united under the name United Spanish War Veterans and the local camp was granted a charter in that organization and is now known as Major Logan Camp No. 26. Department of Ohio, United Spanish War Veterans. The commanders of the local camp have been. Jimne. A. Freed, Peter Cummings, William Smoker, Joseph Leonard, John J. Klager and Robert F. Kroll. The meetings are held in Grand Army Hall every second Thursday evening.

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Twentieth Century History of Youngstown and Mahoning County Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 57

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