(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 267 CHAPTER XXVII. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) PIONEER TIMES. W here the Pioneers Came From-Their Condition and Char- acter-What They Lived On-The "Truck Patch"-Hominy Blocks-Mills-Cooking-Cultivation of Domestic Animals -Wild Turkeys-Whisky-Superstitions-Dress of the Men- The Flax Wheel and Loom-More About Clothing-"Kick- ing Frolics"-Dress of the Women-White Kid Slippers- Dyeing-Fourth of July and Militia Musters-Cabins and Their Construction-Furniture of the Cabins-Hoosier Poem--Early Land Laws-Tomahawk Rights-Hunting- Early Weddings-Dancing and " House Warming," School- ing, School Teachers, etc.-Spelling Schools-Conclusion. PIONEER days for Coshocton county and the State of Ohio are gone forever; the wolf, bear, deer, Indian, and all associations and reminiscences of those " good old days " have long since faded from sight, if not from memory, and the pioneers, most of them, are gone, too- "How few, all weak and withered of their force, Wait on the verge of dark eternity. " It remains to write their history, and the history of the times in which they lived, as of another race of beings; and, if possible, to impress the best of it upon the character of the present and future generations; for it is a history worthy of imitation and preservation. A study of the characteristics of the pioneer fathers and mothers is calculated to ennoble the mind and strengthen the hand for the battle of life. It would require a volume to tell of their habits and customs; of their. trapping and hunting ; of their solitary lives in the great woods, surrounded by wild animals and wilder men; of their dress, manners, and peculiar ways ; of their cabins and furniture ; of the long winter evenings by the logheap fire upon which "We piled, with care, our nightly stack Of wood against the chimney-back- The oaken log, green, huge, and thick, "And on its top the stout back-stick; The knotty fore-stick laid apart, And filled between with curious art The ragged brush; then hovering near We watch the first red blaze appear, Heard the sharp crackle, caught the gleam On Whitewashed wall and sagging beam, Until the old rude-furnished room Burst flower-like into rosy bloom." 268 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. It was a free, happy, independent life; full of hardships, indeed, but sweetened with innocence and peace; with alternations of labor, pleasure and rest. The pioneers of Coshocton were largely from New England, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland, who sought to better their condition by making permanent homes in the wilderness west of the Ohio river. They carne largely on foot over the Allegheny mountains, many of them having a single horse and wagon, or a two-horse wagon, in which their worldly possessions were j carried, and in which the very old or very young, only, were allowed to ride. Many of them were poor, and, like Jack in the story, "came to seek their fortunes." A few came with ox teams; some with horses, two, three or four of them ; some in two-wheeled carts, while others packed all their worldly possessions on a couple of old "critters." Instances are related of a bag on top, or mugged down in among the bundles, made somewhat after the fashion of a double knapsack, and a couple of babies poked their little bronzed faces out of the slits in this novel conveyance, and rode along like little "possums." From fifteen to fifty-five days were required in making the toilsome journey to the far West, by the first pioneers. Streams had to be forded frequently. It was not unusual for a team to give out on the way and cause a delay of a fortnight or a month to one of the families. The joy was very great when the team hove in sight and the family rejoined the party who had found "the end of the road," or stopped until the men looked for a suitable location. When once settled and the cabin erected, it was not only• a home and shelter for the pioneer and his family, but for every stranger who passed that way, " without money and without price." The' latch string was always out, for these pioneers were great hearted people, and no man, be he white, black or red, was turned away empty. Their cabins, often not more than fifteen or twenty feet square, made of rough beech logs, with the bark still adhering to them, were frequently occupied by a dozen, or even a score, of people for the night, and no complaints made for want of room ; genuine hospitality always finds room enough, and never apologizes for lack of more; and when breakfast time came, there was no apology for the scarcity of knives, forks and spoons, for "fingers were made before any of these." The fare was homely, but generally abundant. What to eat, drink and wear, were questions not, perhaps, difficult of solution in those days. The first was the easiest to solve. The deer, the bear, the wild turkey, the rabbit,, the squirrel, all started up and said, or seemed to say, " eat me." These had been prepared for the red men of the forest, and were equally abundant for the pioneer. The forest was full of game, the streams full of fish, and wild fruits were abundant. To get bread required both patience and labor; the staff of life was one of the articles that must be earned "by the sweat of the brow;" it could not be gathered from the bushes, fished from the streams, or brought down with the rifle. Every backwoodsman once a year added to his clearing, at least, a ° truck patch." This was the hope and stay of the family; the receptacle of corn, beans, melons, potatoes, squashes, pumpkins, turnips, etc., each variety more perfectly developed and delicious, because it grew in virgin soil. The corn and beans planted in May brought roasting ears and succotash in August. Potatoes came with corn, and the cellar, built in the side of a convenient hill, and filled with the contents of the truck patch, secured the family against want. When the corn grew too hard for roasting ears, and was yet too soft 'to grind in the mill, it was reduced to meal by a grater, and whether stirred into mush or baked into johnnycake, it t made, for people with keen appetites and good stomachs, excellent food. Place before one of those brawny backwoodsmen a square foot of johnnycake and a venison steak broiled on hickory coals, and no art of civilization could produce a mare satisfactory meal. Next to the grater comes the hominy block, an article in common use among the pioneers. It consisted simply of a block of wood-a section of a tree, perhaps-with a hole burned, or dug, into it a foot deep, in which corn was pulverized with a pestle. Sometimes this block was inside the ! cabin, where it served as a seat for the bashful young buckskinned backwoodsman while "sparking" his girl; sometimes a convenient stump in front of the cabin door was prepared for, and HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 269 made one of the best of hominy blocks. When pigs began to be raised, the natural relation between pork and beaten corn suggested the grand old idea of "hog and hominy." Hominy blocks did not last long, for mills came quite early and superseded them, yet these mills I were often so far apart that in stormy weather, or for want of transportation, the pioneer was compelled to resort to his hominy block, or go without bread. In winter, the mills were frozen up nearly all tire time, and when a thaw came and the ice broke, if the mill was not swept away entirely by the floods, it was so thronged with pioneers, each with his sack of corn, that some of them were often compelled to camp out near the mill and wait several days for their turn. When the grist was ground, if they were so fortunate as to possess an ox, a horse, or mule, for the purpose of transportation, they were happy. It was not unusual to go from ten to twenty miles to mill, through the pathless, unbroken forest, and to be benighted on the journey, and chased, or treed by wolves. A majority of the pioneers, however, settled in the vicinity of a stream, upon which mills were rapidly erected. These mills were very primitive affairs-mere "corn crackers " but they were an improvement on the hominy block. They merely ground the corn, the pioneer must do his own bolting. A wire sieve was then one of the most important articles of household furniture. It always hung in its place, on a wooden peg, just under the ladder that reached to the loft. The meal was sifted and the finest used for bread. How delicious was that "Indian pons," baked in a large deep skillet, which was placed upon coals raked from the fire-place to the hearth. Fresh coals were continually placed under it and upon the iron lid until the loaf, five or six inches thick, was done through. This was a different thing from johnnycake; it was better, and could not always be had, for to make it good, a little wheat flour was needed, and wheat flour was a precious thing in those very early days. A road cut through the forest to the mill, and a wagon for hauling the grist, were great advantages, the latter"especially was often a seven days' wonder to the children of a neighborhood, and the happy owner of one often did, for years, the milling for a whole neighborhood. About once a month this good neighbor, who was in exceptionally good circumstances, because able to own a wagon, would go about through the neighborhood, gather up the grists and take them to mill, often spending several days in the operation, and never thinking of charging for his time and trouble. Cooking, in pioneer times, was an interesting operation. The trammel and hooks were found among the well-to-do families, as time progressed. Previous to this, the lug-pole, across the inside of- the chimney, about even with the chamber floor, answered for a trammel. A chain was suspended from it, and hooks were attached, and from this hung the mush-pot or tea-kettle. If a chain was not available, a wooden hook was in reach of the humblest and poorest. When a meal was not in preparation, and the hook was endangered by tire, it was shoved aside to one end of the lug-pole for safety. Iron ware was very scarce in those days. Instances are related where the one pot served at a meal to boil water for mint tea or crust coffee, to bake the bread, boil the potatoes, and fry the meat. By fine management this was accomplished. Frequently the kettle had no lid, and a flat stone, heated, and handled with the tongs, was used instead of one, when a loaf or pons or pumpkin pie was baked. A shortcake could be baked by heating the kettle moderately, putting in the cake, and tipping it up side wise before the glowing fire. Bannock, or boardcake, was made by mixing the corn-meal up with warm water, a pinch of salt and a trifle of lard, into a thick dough, spreading it on a clean, sweet-smelling clapboard, patting it with the cleanest of hands, and standing it slanting before the fire, propped into the right position by a flat-iron behind it. Baked hastily, thin made a delicious cake, sweet and nutty and fresh, and the pretty stamp of the mother's dear, unselfish, loving fingers was plainly detected in the crisp crust. The cultivation of domestic animals, both beasts and fowls, for the purpose of food, began early. Cows for milk, butter, beef, and leather, and swine for pork were bred, ear marked-and turned into the woods to browse. "Root hog or die," was the law for rnan and beast, but the woods were prolific and the hogs grew fat. The 270 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. young pigs were exceptionally a sweet morsel for the bear. Bruin always singled out these young animals in preference to any other meat; but the pigs were often successfully defended by the older hogs, who, upon the least signs of distress from one of their number, would go boldly to the rescue, and fiercely attack the foe, however formidable; often the pig was released and bruin, or the panther, compelled to ascend a tree for safety. The boys often found wild turkeys' nests in the woods, and would bring home the eggs, and place them, to be hatched, under a trusty old hen, in an outside chimney corner, where they could assist the hen in defending the eggs and brood from the opossum or hawk. A flock of turkeys sometimes originated in this way, but more often, as they grew to maturity, they would fly away into the woods and never reappear. This grandest of birds is identical in civilized and savage life, and is the peculiar production of America. The wild ones were always a dark brown, like the leaves of their native woods, but when tamed, or "civil ized," the diversity of color becomes endless. When cornbread and milk were eaten for breakfast, hog and hominy for dinner and mush and milk for supper, there was little room for tea and coffee; and at a time when one bushel of wheat for a pound of coffee and four bushels for a pound of tea, where considered a fair exchange, but little of these very expensive articles was used. Nest to water, the drink of the pioneers was whisky-copper-still rye whisky. Everybody drank it. It was supposed to be indispensable to health, to strength and endurance during the labors of the day, and to sleep at night. It was as supposed to be absolutely indispensable to warmth and animation in cold, chilly winter weather. It was the sacrament of friendship and hospitality; it was in universal use; yet there was probably less drunkenness in those days than at present. The whisky was absolutely pure; it was no drugged, doctored and poisoned as it is to-day and, although enough of it would bring drunken ness, it did not bring delirium tremens, or leave the system prostrated, and the victim with a head ache upon "sobering up" It was the first thin in demand as an article of commerce. Stills for its manufacture sprang up everywhere, all along the streams. Pioneers soon found a market a these stills for their corn, hence corn became the great crop, and whisky the great article of commerce. It was the only thing that would bring money, and money they must have to pay taxes. Whisky could be purchased for twelve or fifteen cents per gallon and paid for in corn, and the barrel of whisky in the cellar, was as common as the barrel of cider was later. The whisky that was not consumed at home wars shipped on flat-boats or pirogues on the Muskingum, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans and sold for Spanish gold. One of the first rebellions against the Government of the United States, commonly called the whisky insurrection, had its growth out of the hardships of the Scotch-Irish of Western Pennsylvania, who in the mother country had learned to love whisky and hate gaugers; and this population gave tone and character to the first settlers of Eastern Ohio. There was this apology for the production of whisky that it was the only means of disposing of surplus crops, or bringing money into the country. The hardy pioneers, after disposing of their cargo of whisky in New Orleans, would often set out on foot for home, a distance of say fifteen hundred miles. Think of it, ye who ride in palace coaches at the rate of forty miles an hour while reclining in cushioned seats, smoking your cigar, and reading in your morning paper of the happenings of yesterday in Europe and America. While apologizing somewhat for those whisky days, it may be well to say that whisky was not probably of any special benefit, was not to be compared to the pure water of their springs, and that too many of the pioneers drank too much of it, and that too often it made their eyes and hoses red, their children ragged and their wives wretched, as it does to-day. In every neighborhood there were a few families who had brought with them the superstitions t of their forefathers, and the result was that some poor man or woman was reputed to be a witch. Not much proof was required. If a woman had very black eyes, or stepped stealthily, or spoke in a low tone of voice, and the gossips said she was g in league with the prince of the black art, it did r not take long to fasten the reputation upon her, and the ignorant looked with awe and fear upon the poor hunted, watched creature. And so they HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 271 greased their broom handles, and laid dead snakes head foremost in the paths, and hung horseshoes ever the cabin doors, and were careful to spit in the fire, and not to hook over their heft shoulders when they passed the abode of the doomed one. But sometimes her wrath fell upon them, and the oxen would lie down in the furrow, and no power could move them, not even hot coals, nor boiling soapsuds when poured upon them. One time, when the family of a poor man rose early in the morning, one of the oxen hay still and slept heavily and breathed noisily. On examination it was discovered that he had been witch-ridden; his sides were black and blue from the kicking heels that had urged him on to his best paces, and the corners of his mouth were torn from cruel bits guided by jerking hands. People who were objects of the witch's spite found a brood of downy young chicks in their chests, and piles of sprawling kittens under the half bushel; and they overheard deep, cavernous voices, and fine piping ones, in conclave at midnight up in the air and the tree-tops, and under the dead heaves and beside the chimney ; and tracks, with a cloven foot among them, were discernible. Think of the misery of a poor creature reputed to be a witch, met in her own lowly cabin by a weeping mother beseeching her to remove the spell of incantation that her sick child might recover! No denial of the absurd charge could avail her ; no sympathy offered was accepted ; and the foolish mother could do no more than return home, burn some woolen rags to impregnate the out-door air, stand the child on its head while she could count fifty backward, grease its spine with the oil of some wild animal, cut the tip hairs off the tail of a black cat and bind them on the forehead of the persecuted one, while she repeated a certain sentence in the Lord's Prayer. Then, in her own language, " If the child died, why, it jes' died ; and if it lived, it lived." A superstitious old man was often found who could divine secrets, tell fortunes, fortell events, find the places where money was buried, cur wens by words, blow the fire out of burns, mum ble over felons and catarrhs, remove warts, and with his mineral ball search out where stole goods were hidden. The "mineral ball " to whit the superstitious ascribed such marvelous power was no less than one of those hairy calculi found in the stomachs of cattle, a ball formed compactly of the hair which collects on the tongue of the animal while licking itself. This man, one of the class whose taint infects every neighborhood, could not from any consideration be prevailed upon to heave a graveyard first of all, °` Why, drat it! " he would say,"it's sure and sartin death; never knowed a fellow to leave the graveyard fast, but what he'd be the next unplanted there!" When an old neighbor of his died suddenly, this man said, with his thumbs hooked in his trousers' pockets restfully : "Why, drat him, he might a know'd more'n to leave the graveyard fust man As soon as I seed him do, it, I says to myself, says !, `Dan you're a goner; you're done for ; they'll tuck you under next time, an' nobody but your booby of a self to blame for it! "' On the frontier, and particularly among those who were much in the habit of hunting and going on scouts and campaigns, the dress of the men was partly Indian and partly that of civilized nations. The hunting shirt was universally worn. This was a kind of a loose frock reaching half way down the thighs, with large sleeves, open at the front, and so large as to lap over a foot or more when belted. The cape was large and sometimes fringed with a raveled piece of cloth of a different color from that of the hunting shirt itself. The bosom of the hunting shirt served as a pocket to hold bread, cakes, jerk, tow for wiping the gunbarrel, or any other necessary article for the hunter or warrior. The belt, which was always tied behind, answered several purposes besides that of holding the dress together. In cold weather the mittens and sometimes the bullet-bag occupied the front part of it. To the right side was suspended the tomahawk, and to the heft the scalping-knife in its leathern sheath. The hunting shirt was generally made of linsey, sometimes of coarse linen or deer skins. These last were very cold and uncomfortable in wet weather. A pair of drawers, or breeches, and leggins were the dress for the thighs, a pair of moccasins answered for the-feet: These were nmade of dressed deer skin, and were mostly of a single piece, with a gathering seam on the top of the foot and another from the bottom of the heel, 272 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. without gather:, as high or a little higher than the ankle joint. Flaps were left on each side to reach some distance up the legs. These were nicely adapted to the ankles and lower part of the leg by thongs of deer skin, so that no dust, gravel or snow could get within the moccasins. In cold weather the moccasins were stuffed with deer's hair or dry leaves to keep the feet warm, but in wet weather it was usually said that wearing them was °' a decent way of going barefooted ; " and such was the fact, owing to the spongy texture of the leather of which they were made. Owing to this defective covering for the feet more than to any other circumstance, the greater number of the hunters and warriors were often afflicted with rheumatism in their limbs. Of this disease they were all apprehensive in cold and wet weather, and therefore always slept with their feet to the fire to prevent or cure it as well as they could. This practice, unquestionably, had a very salutary effect, and prevented many of them from becoming. confirmed cripples in early life. In the latter years of the Indian war the young men became more enamored of the Indian dress. The drawers were laid aside and the leggins made longer, so as to reach the upper part of the thigh. The Indian breech-cloth was adopted. This wars a piece of linen or cloth nearly a yard long and eight or nine inches broad; it passed under the belt before and behind, leaving the end for flaps hanging before and behind over the belt. The flaps were sometimes ornamented with some coarse kind of embroidery work. To the belt were also secured the strings to which the leggins were attached when this belt, as was often the case, passed over the hunting shirt, the upper part of the thighs and part of the hips were naked. Sometimes, in winter, a waistcoat of the skin of a panther, wildcat or spotted fawn was worn. In summer, when it could be had, linen was made up into wearing apparel. The flax was grown in the summer, scotched in the fall, and during the long winter evenings was heard the buzz of the little flax-wheel, which had a place in every cabin. Even those who are not pioneers can remember this flax-wheel, for it was in use as late as 1800, or later. It stood in a corner, generally ready for use by having a large bundle of flax wrapped around its forked stick, a thread reaching to the spindle, and a little gourd filled with water hanging conveniently at the bottom of the flax-stick, and whenever the good pioneer mother had a little spare time from cooking for a dozen work hands, caring for a dozen children, milking a dozen cows, and taking care of the milk and butter, besides doing all the housework and keeping everything clean and neat as a pin, she would sit down to this wheel and with foot on the treadle, and nimble fingers, pile thread upon thread on the spindle, to be reeled off on a wooden reel that counted every yard with a snap, and then it was ready for the great loom that occupied the loft. This loom was a wonder-it would be a wonder to-day, with its great beams, larger than any beams they put in the houses of to-day-its treadles, its shuttles, etc. Day after day could be heard the pounding of that loom, the treadles went up and down, the shuttles flew swiftly from one hand to another through the labyrinth of warp, and yard after yard of cloth rolled upon the great roller. And then this cloth was to be cut into little and big clothes and made up with the needle; and, remember, this and a great deal more than any one can think of was to be gone through with every year. Wool went through about the same operation, only it was spun on the "large wheel, colored with butternut bark and other things, but woven on the loom and made up for winter clothing. Judge William Johnson, in an address at a pioneer meeting, says regarding this matter of clothing But innovations were soon made. My father had brought out a huge trunk full of coarse broadcloth, and this tempted the young men to have coats to be married in. They would bargain with my father for the cloth and trimmings, and with my mother for making the coat, and pay both bills by grubbing, making rails or clearing land. It may seem odd at this day that a woman of small stature, besides doing her own house-work, should make 200 rails a day with her needle and shears, and find time for reading and mental culture every day.. I never think of my mother's tailoring skill, without being reminded of one instance. A young man had purchased the cloth for his wedding coat, and, as a measure I of economy, employed one Nancy Clark to make it up. Nancy was an expert on hunting-shirts, HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 273 buckskin breeches and "rich," but had never cut a coat, so my mother cut out the coat, Nancy ! made it up. but on the eve of the wedding, when tried on, instead of allowing his arms to hang gracefully by his side, as became a bride-groom, it turned him into a spread eagle with arena extended upward. The wedding day was at hand, and, in his perplexity, he brought the coat to my mother to diagnose its disorder, and, if possible, administer the proper remedies. She found there was nothing more serious than that Nancy had sewed the right sleeve in the left side, and the left sleeve in the right, and put them upside down. As luxury and extravagance in dress increased, an old tailor, with shears, goose and sleeve-board, began to "whip the cat" around the neighborhood, and my mother's occupation except m her own family, was gone. The custom of whipping the cat, both for tailors and shoemakers, was in vogue many years after, and, like the schoolmaster boarding around, had this advantage, that if they received poor pay for their work, they were fed and lodged while they were about it. But the material for winter clothing was hard to get. As the woolen goods wore out, my father bought six sheep to commence with, and within the first week the wolves chased the old dog under the cabin floor, and killed two of them within a few yards of the cabin door. On account of the scarcity of wool, many a night I sat up until midnight, with a pair of hand-cards, mixing wool with rabbit's fur, and carding them together, while my mother spun and knit them into mittens and stockings for her children to wear to school. "Kicking frolics" were in vogue in those early times. This was after wool was more plenty, and it was carded, spun and wove into cloth. Half a dozen young men, and an equal number of young women (for the "fun of the thing" it was always necessary to preserve a balance of this kind), were invited to the kicking frolic. The cabin floor was cleared for action and half a dozen chairs, or stools, placed in a circle in the centre and connected by a cord to prevent recoil. On these the six young men seated themselves with boots and stocking off, and pants rolled up above the knee. Just think of making love in that shape! The cloth was placed in the center, wet with soap suds, and then the kicking commenced by measured steps, driving the bundle of cloth round and round, the elderly lady with gourd in hand pouring on more soap suds, and every now and then, with spectacles on nose and yard-stick in hand measuring the goods until they were shrunk the desired width, and then calling the lads to dead halt. Then, while the lads put on hose and boots, the lasses, with sleeves rolled up above; the elbow, rung out the cloth and put it on the garden fence to dry. When this was done, the cabin floor was again cleared and the supper spread, after which, with their numbers increased somewhat, perhaps, they danced the happy hours of the night away until midnight, to the music of a violin and the commands of some amateur cotillion caller, and were ready to attend another such frolic the following night. The costume of the woman deserves a passing notice. The pioneers proper, of course, brought with them something to wear like that in use where they came from; but this could not last always, and new apparel, such as the new country afforded, had to be provided. Besides, the little girls sprang up into womanhood with the rapidity of the native butterweed, and they must be made both decent and attractive, and what is more, they were willing to aid in making themselves so. The flax patch, therefore, became a thing of as prime necessity as the truck patch. On the aide next to the woods the flax grew tall, slender and delicate, and was carefully pulled by the girls, and kept by itself, to make finery of. The stronger growth did well enough for clothing for the men, and warp for the linsey-wolsey, and everyday dresses for the women, but for Sundays, when everbody went to "meeting," the girls, especially, wanted something nice, just as they do to-day. This fine flax, therefore, was carefully pulled ,carefully rotted, carefully broken, carefully scutched, carefully heckled, carefully spun, carefully dyed in divers colors, and carefully woven in cross-barred figures, tastefully diversified, straining a point to get turkey-red enough to put a single thread between the duller colors, to mark their outline like the circle around a dove's eye. Of such goods the rustic beauty made her Sunday gown, and then with her vandyke of snow-white homespun linen, her snow-white home-knit stockings, and possibly white kid slippers, she was a sight for sore eyes and often for sore hearts. No paint or arsenic was needed, for active exercise in the open air, under a sun-bonnet, or a broad-brimmed hat, to made by her mother out of rye straw, gave her a cheek an honest, healthful glow, and to her eyes 274 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the brightness and the beauty of the fawn's. Possibly those white kid slippers have caused a nod of skepticism. This is the way it was done Her brother, or lover, shot six fine squirrels; she tanned the skins herself in a sugar-trough, and had them done up, at a considerable expense and trouble, to wear on Sundays and state occasions. Possibly it may be wondered how the slippers would look after walking five or ten miles through the mud to church, as was frequently done. There were ways of doing these things that were only whispered among the girls, but have leaked out and the same process was indulged in more or less by young men, who were fortunate enough to own a pair of fine boots-and that was to wear the everyday shoes or boots, or go barefoot to within a few rods of the "meeting-house," and then step into the woods and take the wraps from the • precious shoes and put them on. Linen for Sunday clothes was made of copperas and was white, checked or striped, and when bleached was very pretty and soft. For very choice wear it was all flax ; for every day or second best, the warp was flax and the filling tow. Linsey-woolsey, or linsey, was wool and cotton, very much the same as water-proof or repellant is now, only that it was harsh and not finished. Dyestuffs in early times were in reach of all-butternut or walnut hulls colored brown ; oak bark with copperas dyed black; hickory bark or the blossoms of the goldenrod made yellow ; madder, red ; and indigo, blue ; green was obtained by first coloring yellow, and then dipping into blue dye. Stocking yarn was dyed black, brown or blue ; and, for very choice stockings, strips of corn husks were lapped tightly in two or three places around a skein of yarn, and dyed blue. When the husks were removed, whitish spots were found, and the rare "clouded" yarn was the result. The little tub of blue dye, with its close fitting cover, stood in the warm corner in every well regulated household, and it made a very convenient seat, and the cover was always worn smooth. Many a lad inclined to matrimony has sneaked slyly along and seated himself on the dye-tub as soon as the old folks retired. When carding machines came and lessened the labor of the toiling women, one of the first indications of anything as fine as "store clothes" was the soft, pressed flannel, grand enough for any uncommon occasion, called "London brown." The folds lay in it, and it shone to eyes accustomed to look upon nothing finer than home-made barred flannel, like lustrous satin. It smelt of the shop, however; the odor of dye-stuff and grease and gummy machinery clung to it for a long while About this time a better quality of men's wearing apparel appeared in the same wonderful color of London brown ; and, to young men coming of age, who had been indentured boys, the beautiful "freedom suit" was valued higher than the horse, saddle and bridle. It is just barely possible there is a lady in today's society, who, with five pound of colored hemp on the back of her head and thirty-five yards of silk velvet in her train, would be uncharitable enough to laugh at these pioneer mothers and daughters; ii so, those whose opinions are worth anything fully understand that there was more work and worth, more value to the world and the community in which she lived, in the little finger of one of these pioneers than in the whole body, train, hair and all, of the aforesaid `°lady:" By the testimony of all history, luxury tends to degeneracy. If the clothes of the pioneers were poor, they made up in brain and heart. The tables are turned-the vacuum of brain and heart is filled with fine clothes. Let it be remembered that the solidity and value of this beautiful structure called society, lies in the foundation in the pioneer fathers and mothers, and it is only because of this solid foundation that the structure is able to stand at all. The great days among the pioneers were the Fourth of July and those upon which the militia assembled for muster. These were the holidays, when the people ceased from labor and turned out en masse, and when plenty of fun and whisky were expected. The place of assembling was generally in some clearing near some "tavern," the landlady of which had the reputation of be ing a good cook. There was plenty of drumming, filing and noise, and somebody was always found who could readily perform the duties of president of the meeting; somebody who could read the toasts, and somebody who had been under Harrison or Van Rensselaer as orderly sergeant, to act as marshal. Plenty of men were HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 275 ready to read that wonderful document, the " Declaration," for among the settlers were not only many excellent scholars and gentlemen, but here and there could be found a veritable graduate of Yale college. When no minister was present to act as chaplain, a good pious man was called to that post. If the meeting did not end with a grand ring fight, the people went home disappointed. The houses or huts, in which these pioneers lived have been often described; their form and proportions, and general appearance have been repeatedly impressed upon the mind of the student of history. They were built of round logs with the bark on, and side chimneys of mud and sticks, puncheon floors, clapboard roof, with and without a loft or second floor, and all put together without a nail or particle of iron from top to bot tom. These buildings stood many a year after the original inhabitants moved into better quarters. They served for stables, sheep-pens, hay houses, pig-pens, smith-shops, hen-houses, loom shops, school-houses, etc.. Some of them are yet standing in this county, and occupied, to some extent, in some portions of the county as dwellings. A specimen of one of these appears in the upper right hand corner of the accompanying cut. A second grade of log cabin, built later, was quite an improvement on the first, being made of hewn logs, with sawed lumber for door and window frames and floors. Glass also took the place of paper windows of the old cabin; nails were also sparingly used in these better cabins. It was sometimes built near the old one and connected with it by a covered porch, as shown in the cut. When nails were first used, for a few years a pound of them was exchanged for a bushel of wheat. They were a precious article, and were made by hand on a blacksmith's anvil, out of odds and ends of old worn-out sickles, scythes, broken elevis-pins, links of chains, broken horseshoes, etc., all welded together to eke out the nail-rods from which they were forged. The first cabins were often erected, ready for occupation, in a single day. In an emergency, the pioneers collected together, often going eight or ten miles to a cabin-raising, and, in the great woods where not a tree had been felled or a stone turned, begin with dawn the erection of a cabin. Three or four wise builders would set the corner-atones, lay with the square and level the first round of logs; two men with axes would cut the trees and logs; one with his team of oxen, a "lizard " and a log chain would "snake " them in ; two more, with axes, cross-cut saw and frow, would make the clapboards ; two more, with axes, cross-cut saw and broad-axe would hew out the puncheons and flatten the upper side of the sleepers and joists. Four skillful axe-men would carry up the corners, and the remainder, with skids and forks or handspikes, would roll up the logs. As soon as the joists were laid on, the crosscut saw was brought from the woods, and the two men went do work cutting out the door and chimney place `. and while the corner men were building up the attic and putting on the roof, the carpenters and masons of the day were putting down the puncheons, laying the hearth and building the chimney high enough to keep out the beasts, wild or tame. In one corner, at a distance of six feet from one wall and four from the other, the bed post was placed-only one being needed. A hole was bored in the puncheon floor for the purpose of setting this post in, which was usually a stick with a crotch or fork in the upper end ; or, if an augur is not at hand, a hole is cut in the puncheon floor, and the fork sharpened and driven into the ground beneath ; rails were laid from this fork to the wall, and, usually, nice, straight, hickory poles formed the bottom, upon which straw or leaves were placed and the blanket put on. This made a comfortable spring bed, and was easily changed and kept clean. Often the chinking and daubing of the walls, putting in windows and hanging the door were left until fall or some leisure time after the corn crop and the contents of the truck patch were secured. Often the pioneers did not erect a cabin at all until a crop was secured-living, meanwhile, in their covered wagons, and cooking beside a log in the open air, or erecting a " pole cabin," or "brush cabin," mere temporary affairs, to shelter the family until time could be had for erecting a permanent one. The saving of the crop was of more importance during, the summer season than shelter; but when the first frost came, a sure indication of approaching winter, active preparations were 276 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. made for the permanent cabin. and the work was pushed forward until a snug cabin stood in the midst of the forest, with a clearing around it, made principally by cutting down the trees for the building. Every crack was chinked and daubed with. ordinary clay mixed with water, and when completed, and a fire of hickory logs in the great fire-place, no amount of cold could seriously disturb the inmates. The heavy door was hung on wooden hinges, and all that was necessary to lock it at night was to pull the latch-string inside, and the strong wooden latch held it fast against wild animals and storms. Thieves there were none, and even had there been, there was nothing in the but of a settler to tempt their cupidity. Mary of these cabins had no loft or second floor, but when this was added it was used as a sleeping room for the younger members of the family, and a general store-room for the household goods, and often for the corn crop and contents of the truck patch. Regarding the future of these cabins, Judge Johnson says: The furniture of the backwoods matched the architecture well. There were a few quaint specimens of cabinet work dragged into the wilderness, but these were sporadic and not common. I can best describe it by what I saw in my father's house. First of all a table had to be improvised, and there was no cabinet-maker to make it, and no lumber to make it of. Our floor was laid with broad chestnut puncheons, well and smoothly hewn, for the obsolete art of hewing timber was then in its prime. Father took one of these puncheons, two feet and a half broad, putting two narrow ones in its place, bared four large augur holes and put in four legs, or round poles with the bark on. On this hospitable board many a wholesome meal was spread, and many an honest man, and many a way worn stranger, ate his fill and was grateful. On great occasions, when an extension table was needed, the door was lifted off its hinges and added to the puncheon. What we sat upon first I cannot conjecture; but I remember well when my father loaded his horses down with wheat and corn and crossed the country a distance o eight or ten miles, and brought home, in ex change, a set of oak splint-bottomed chairs, some of which are intact to this day. Huge band boxes, made of blue ash bark, supplied the plat of bureaus and wardrobes; and a large tea chest cut in two, and hung by strings in the corners with the hollow sides outward, constituted the book-cases. A respectable old bedstead, still in the family, was lugged across from Red Stone. An old turner and wheelwright added at trundle-bed, and the rest were hewn and whittled out according to the fashion of the times, to serve their day quid be supplanted by others as the civilization of the country advanced. But the grand flourish of furniture was the dresser. Here were spread out in grand display pewter dishes, pewter plates, pewter basins and pewter spoons, scoured as bright as silver. Money was scarce, but our fathers learned to live without it. All was barter. The preacher's stipend, the lawyer's fee, the schoolmaster's salary, the workman's wages, the shoemakers account, the tailor's bill, were all paid in barter have seen my father, when he had a surplus of grain and a deficit of pigs, fill two sacks of corn, and on the backs of two horses carry it to a distant part of the neighborhood and exchange it for four shoats, and in each sack thrust one shoat tail foremost and another head foremost, tie up the mouths of the sack, mount them on horseback, rip a hole in the seam of the sack for each snout to stick out, and bring them home to be fattened for next year's pork. Here was a currency a denomination of greenbacks which neither required the pen of the chancellor of the exchequer to make it legal tender, nor the judgment of the chief justice to declare it constitutional. The laity of necessity governs in every case, and wise men may fret every hair off their heads without changing the results. The following poem, originally published in the Cincinnati Chronicle in 1833, portrays so graphically life in a log cabin that it is eminently worthy of preservation. Although written by a '° Hoosier," and intended to portray Hoosier life, it applies equally well to log cabin life everywhere Suppose, in riding through the west, A stranger found a " Hoosier's nest," In other words a buckeye cabin Just big enough to hold Queen Mab in ; Its situation low but airy, Was on the borders of a prairie. And fearing he might be benighted, He hailed the house and then alighted.. The " Hoosier" met him at the door, Their salutations soon were o'er; He took the stranger's horse aside And to a sturdy sapling tied, Then having stripped the saddle off, He fed him in a sugar-trough. The stranger stooped to enter in, The entrance closing with a pin, And manifests a strong desire To seat himself by the log-heap fire, Where half a dozen Hoosieroons, PAGE 277 PICTURE FARM RESIDENCE OF SAUL MILLER, KEENE TOWNSHIP PAGE 278 - BLANK HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 279 With mush and milk, tin-cups and spoons, White heads, bare feet, and dirty faces, Seemed much inclined to keep their places, But madam anxious to display Her rough and undisputed sway, Her offspring to the ladder led And cuffed the youngsters up to bed, Invited shortly, to partake Of venison, milk and johnnycake, The stranger made a hearty meal, And glances round the room would steal. One side was lined with divers garments, The other spread with skins of ' varments ;' Dried pumpkins overhead were strung, Where venison hams in plenty hung; Two rifles were placed above the door, Three dogs lay stretched upon the floor- In short, the domicil waa rife With specimens of Hoosier life. The host, who centered his affections On game, and range and quarter sections, Discoursed his weary guest for hours, Till Somnus' ever potent powers Of sublunary cares bereft 'em. No matter how the story ended The application I intended Is from the famous Scottish poet, Who seemed to feel as we as know it, That " buirdly chiels and clever hizzies Are bred in sic a way as this is." The early land laws of Western Pennsylvania and Virginia allowed to each settler four hundred acres of land, and no more, as a "settlement right;" and as the first settlers of this and adjoining counties were largely from those States, they were, of course, governed largely by the habits, customs and laws of those States in the absence of any of these on this side of the river ; therefore many of the first settlers seemed to regard this amount of the surface of the earth as allotted by Divine Providence for one family, and believed that any attempt to get more would be sinful. Most of them, therefore, contented themselves with that amount-although they might have evaded the law, which allowed but one settlement right to any one individual, by taking out title papers in other than their own names, to be afterward transferred to them as if by purchase. Some few indeed, pursued this course, but it was generally held in detestation. Owing to the equal distribution of real property divided by the land laws, and the sterling integrity of the forefathers in the observance of them; there were few, if any, districts of "sold land," as it was called, that is large tracts of land in the hands of individuals or companies, who neither sold nor improved them, as was the case in Lower Canada and some parts of Pennsyl- 280 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. vania. True, large tracts of land were purchased by companies, but this was done almost always for the purpose of establishing a settlement. The earliest settlers had become so accustomed to "getting land for taking it up," that for a long time it was believed that the lands on the west side of the Ohio would ultimately be disposed of in this way; hence almost the whole tract of country between the Ohio and Muskingum rivers was parceled out in what was familiarly known as"tomahawk rights;" that is, the pioneer, upon finding a suitable location, would cut his name with his hatchet or knife upon the trunk of a large tree, and thus lay claim to four hundred acres of land about that spot. Some of them were not satisfied with a single four hundred acre tract, but laid claim in this way to a number of tracts of the best land, and thus, in imagination, were as "wealthy as a South Sea dream." Some of these land jobbers did not content themselves with marking trees at the usual height, but climbed the large beech trees and cut their names in the bark from twenty to forty feet from the ground. To enable them to identify those trees at a future period, they made marks on other trees around for references. Nor was it an easy matter to dispossess these squatters; their claim was generally respected by the settlers, and these rights were often bought and sold, those who subsequently desired these lands for permanent settlement preferred to purchase the " tomahawk right'' rather than enter into quarrels with those who made them. Hunting occupied a large portion of the time of the pioneers. Nearly all were good hunters, and not a few lived almost entirely for many years on the results of the chase. The woods supplied them with the greater amount of their subsistence, and often the whole of it ; it was no uncommon thing for families to live several months without a mouthful of bread of any kind. It frequently happened that the family went without breakfast until it could be obtained from the woods. The fall and early part of winter was the season for hunting deer, and the whole of the winter, including part of the spring, for bears and fur bearing animals. It was a customary saying that fur was good during every month in the name of which the letter occurred. As soon as the leaves were pretty well down, and the weather became rainy, accompanied with light snow, the pioneer hunter, who had probably worked pretty faithfully on his clearing during the summer, began to feel uneasy about his cabin home; he longed to be off hunting in the great woods. His cabin was too warm ;his feather-bed too soft ; his mind was wholly occupied with the camp and the chase. Hunting was not a mere ramble in pursuit of game, in which there was nothing of skill and calculation; on the contrary, the hunter, before setting out in the morning, was informed by the state of the weather in what situation he might reasonably expect to find his game; whether on the bottoms, on the hillsides or hilltops. In stormy weather the deer always seek the most sheltered places, and the leeward sides of the hills; in rainy weather, when there was not much wind, they kept in the open woods, on high ground. In the early morning, if pleasant, they were abroad, feeding in edges of the prairie or swamp; at noon they were hiding in the thickets. In every situation, it was requisite for the hunter to ascertain the course of the wind, so as to get to leeward of the game; this he often ascertained by placing his finger in his mouth, holding it there until it became warm, then holding it above his head, and the side that first cooled indicated the direction of the wind. These hunters needed no compass ; the trees, the sun and stars took its place. The bark of an aged tree is much thicker and rougher on the north side than on the south; and the same may be said of the moss; it is much thicker and stronger on the north than the south side of the tree ; hence he could walk freely and carelessly through the woods and always strike the exact point intended, while any but a woodsman would become bewildered and lost. The whole business of the hunter consisted of a succession of intrigues. From morning till night he was on the alert to gain the wind of his game and make his approach without being discovered. If he succeeded in killing a deer, he skinned it, hung it up out of reach of wolves, and immediately resumed the chase until evening, when he bent his course toward the camp, where HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 281 he cooked and ate his supper with a keen relish with his fellow-hunters, after which came the pipe and the rehearsal of the adventures of the day. The spike buck, the two and three pronged buck, the doe and barren doe, figured through their anecdotes with great advantage. A wedding among the pioneers was a most wonderful event, not only to the parties immediately interested, but to the whole neighborhood. People generally married young in those days. There was no distinction of rank and very little of fortune. A family establishment cost little labor and nothing else. A wedding was about the only gathering at which the guest was not required to assist in reaping, log-rolling, building a cabin or some other manual labor. On the morning of the wedding day the groom and his attendants assembled at the house of his father, for the purpose of reaching the house of his bride by noon, the usual time for celebrating the nuptials, and which, for certain reasons, must take place before dinner. The people assembled from great distances, on foot and on horseback, and all dressed in the somewhat fantastic toggery of the backwoods. The dinner was generally a substantial one of beef, pork, fowl, venison and bear meat. roasted and boiled, with plenty of potatoes, cabbage and other vegetables. After dinner the dancing commenced and generally lasted until the next morning. The figures of the dances were three or four-handed reels, or square sets and jig,. The commencement was always a square four, followed by what was called "jigging it off;" that is, two of the four would begin a jig, followed by the other couple. The jig was often accompanied by what was called "cutting out;" that is, when either of the parties became tired of the dance, on intimation the place was supplied by some one of the company without any interruption to the dance; in this way the dance was often continued until the musician was heartily tired of the situation. Toward the latter part of the night, if any of the company, through weariness, attempted to conceal themselves for the purpose of sleeping, they were brought out, paraded on the floor, and the fiddle ordered to play, " We'll all hang out till morning. about nine o'clock a deputation of young ladies stole off the bride, and put her to bed, after which a deputation of young men, in like manner, stole off the groom and placed him snugly beside his bride. If the couple were not subsequently disturbed during the night it was a miracle. Generally, in the small hours of the night, "Black Betty" (the bottle) was sent up to them, or carried up by an interested delegation, together with as much bread, beef, pork, cabbage, etc., as would suffice a dozen hungry men, and they were compelled to eat and drink until they would hold no more. In later years, if there was an older unmarried brother of the bride present, he was certain to be compelled "to dance in the hog-trough." This somewhat humiliating operation was inflicted upon him as a lesson to bachelors. Sometimes he would submit quietly, cheerfully, and grace-fully, marching to the pig-pen and dancing his jig in the trough from which the swine devoured the off-fallings of the cabin table; at other times he would escape from his assailants and seek safety in flight, and if fleet on foot, sometimes escaped; but if overtaken, he would not unfrequently fight with great desperation, and it often required considerable force to accomplish the desired object. The feasting and dancing often lasted several days, during which there was much drinking, carousing, and not unfrequently, fighting. After the wedding the next duty of the neighbors was to erect a cabin for the young couple, and dedicate it by a "house warming" before they were allowed to move into it. This house warming consisted of a twenty-four hours' dance and carousal in the new cabin. This ended the ceremony, except that not half of it has been told, and thereafter the couple were considered married, according to the laws and usages, of y society. At a little later time, say from 1820 to 1840, the pioneers were living a little easier. Their farms were partially cleared, many of them - were living in hewed log houses and many in frame, and even brick houses. Most of them had barns and innumerable outhouses. They generally had cattle, horses, sheep, hogs and ' poultry, and were living in comparative comfort. Their neighbors were near, and always dear. r Their schools and churches had improved some- 282 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. what, yet even at this late day• there were hundreds of log school-houses and churches. About three months in a year was all the schooling a farmer's boy could get. He was sadly needed at home from the age of five years, to ho all sorts of chores and work on the farm. He was wanted to drive the cows to water and to pasture ; to feed the pigs and chickens and gather the eggs. His duties in the summer were multifarious; the men were at work in the field harvesting, and generally worked from early morning until late at night, and the boys were depended on to "ho the chores;" hence it was impossible to spare them to attend school in summer. There was no school in spring and fall. In winter they were given three months' schooling-a very poor article of schooling, too, generally. Their books were generally anything they happened to have about the house, and even as late as 1850, there was no system in the purchase of school books. Mr. Smucker, of Newark, Ohio, says his first reading books at school were Patrick Gass Journal of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the mouth of the Columbia river in 1804-5-6; and Weem's Life of Washington. Parents purchased for their children whatever book pleased their fancy, or whatever the children desired them to purchase. A geography was a geography, and a grammar a grammar, regardless of who was the author. This great confusion in school books made trouble for the teacher, but that was of small moment. He was hired and paid to teach whatever branches, out of whatever books the parents thought were best. The branches generally taught in the early schools, however, were reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic, and, later; geography and grammar. Boys attending school but three months in a year made but little progress. They began at the beginning of their books every winter, and went as far as they could in three months; then forgot it all during the nine months out of school, commencing again the next winter just where they commenced the previous one. In this way they went over and over the same lessons every• year under different teachers (for many of the teachers only taught one term in a place), often getting no further in arithmetic than "vulgar fractions"or the"rule of three," and in their old Webster's spelling books the first class probably got as far as "antiscorbutic" and may be through; while the second class would get as far as " cessation," and the third class probably not through "baker," certainly not beyond "amity." There were always three or four classes in spelling, and this exercise was the last before school was dismissed in the evening. Their old books were conned over year after year, until they were worn out and the children grew up to manhood and womanhood, and never knew, and perhaps ho not know to this hay, what was in the back part of them. This was the kind of a start many a great man had. These schools can not be despised when it is remembered that the greatest and best of the nation, including such men as Abraham Lincoln, Edwin M. Stanton and Stephen A. Douglas, were among the boys who attended them. There was always much competition in the spelling classes as to who should get the "head mark." In the later schools it was the custom that the best speller might stand at the head until he missed, when the one who spelled the word correctly should take his place, and he then stood next to the head; but they did things differently in the earlier schools; the head of the class once gained and held until the last spelling at night, the head mark was received and the lucky scholar then took his place at the foot of the class, to again work his way gradually to the head. These classes sometimes contained thirty or forty scholars, and it was something of an undertaking to get from the foot to the head. Spelling-schools were the beauty and glory of school-days. The scholars were always coaxing the tea^her to appoint a night for a spelling-school, and were usually gratified one or two nights in a month or oftener. A night was chosen when the moon shone, and the sleighing was good, and then the entire neighborhood and perhaps the adjoining neighborhood would turn out to the spelling school ; whole families came on the great two horse sled, including the old lady and gentleman, all the children, little and big ; even the baby and the hogs came. Schools in adjoining districts sent their best spellers to try and carry off the honors. The old log school house was crowded, and the great box stove, cast at the Mary Ann furnace, in Diary Ann township, Licking county, and HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 283 which stood in the center of the room on a box of bricks, was red hot, and kept so during the entire evening. Two good spellers were designated by the teacher to choose sides, and everybody was chosen in one class or the other; then the spelling began, the \voids being given out by the teacher, first to one class and then to the other, beginning at the head. A tally sheet was carefully kept to see who missed the most words. After recess the "spelling down" was indulged in ; the two classes stood lip, and whenever a word was missed the speller sat down, and the one who stood up after all had been spelled down, was the hero or heroine of the hour, and always chosen first in future contests. A year means a hundred-fold more now than formerly. History is made rapidly in these days. The red men's trail across the valley, and over the hills, and along the river's bank, could be traced by the fewest number in this day; their favorite haunts and play grounds are shorn of their primal charms in the sweeping aside of the grand old woodland. The cattle upon a thousand hills roam over the land that they loved, and quench their thirst in the brooks and pools, that long time ago mirrored their dusky features. The plowman with stolid face upturns in the brown furrow the relic that their fingers deftly fashioned, and the mattock and scraper bring forth to the glare of day and the gaze of the curious, the crumbling brown bones of the chieftain and his squaw; and the contents of the Indian's grave, the moldering clay, Will live anew in a pavement to be trodden under the foot of men. "Trough the land where we for ages Laid our bravest, dearest dead, Grinds the savage white man's plowshare, Grinding sire's bones for bread." Ah, these old Indian graves on breezy knolls and reedy river banks-who knows but the sit was selected by the sleepers therein ; who knows but they dreamed in their moody moments that the tide of civilization was slowly coming nears and nearer, to crowd aside their people and in trude upon, anti finally possess their vast an beautiful hunting grounds? It is hard to be reconciled to this natural order of things ; to see the pioneers passing away ; 'see them stand leaning on their staves, dim-eyed, and with white locks tossed in the winds, dazed at the change that has stamped its neat upon the wilderness whose winding paths they once knew so well. They beheld it slowly laying off its primeval wildness and beauty, and grandeur of woods and waters, until now it blooms like unto the garden of the gods. How beautiful the labors of their hands! How much we owe them! But the olden time is passing away and bearing on its bosom the dear old men and women whose "like we ne'er shall see again." The glory of one age is not dimmed in the golden glory of the age succeeding it; and none more than the pioneers of Coshocton county can comprehend its growth and its change, or more fully appreciate the sad words of the poet when he sang in mournful strain- And city lots are staked for sale, Above old Indian groves. CHAPTER XXVIII. THE CANALS. A Great work-Celebration of the Opening of the Ohio Canal at Licking summit-Work on the Canal-First Boat - Wal- honding Canal-Length, Capacity and Business of the Canals. "We make of Nature's giant powers The slaves of human art." -Whittier. A LARGE majority of the people of Ohio know but little at present about the great Ohio canal, and the interest taken in it at the commencement of the work. It was considered one of the greatest undertakings of the age, and, indeed, was the beginning of that grand series of internal improvements which has greatly assisted in placing Ohio among the foremost States of the Union. The following history of this great work is taken mostly from the writings of Col. John Noble, one of the contractors in the work, and from those of William Wing, Esq., deceased. Mr. Wing was also a contractor on the canal, and died in Columbus, Ohio, February 13, 1878, in his seventy-ninth year. He was well versed d in the pioneer history of Central Ohio, and has left behind him writings of much historical value. Before the building of the canal this county had no outlet for produce, except by wagons to 284 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the lake, or by boat down the Muskingum river, and thence to New Orleans. The country was full of produce for which there was no market. Ham was worth three cents per pound ; eggs, four cents per dozen; flour, one dollar per hundred; whisky, twelve and a half cents per gallon, and other things proportionately cheap. The commissioners appointed by the legislature to carry on the work appointed Judge D. S. Bates, an experienced engineer of the State of New York, and in their wisdom, made "Licking Summit," in Licking county, the place of beginning. They then gave notice to all concerned throughout Ohio and the adjoining States, that a commencement of the excavation would be made on the fourth of July, 1825. Samuel Forrer, of Dayton, was appointed principal acting engineer ; John Forrer, local engineer on the Summit, and the latter immediately prepared a few rods of ground, where the line of the canal would pass through a field, for the public demonstration. The invited guests included many of the notables of the State and nation, among whom were Governor De Witt Clinton, of New York; Messrs. Rathburn and Lord; General Edward King, of Chillicothe; General Sanderson, of Lancaster; Governor Morrow, of this State; Ex-Governor Worthington ; Hon. Thomas Ewing, who was the orator of the day, and many others. Governor Clinton was expected to throw out the first spade ful of earth. This gentleman had proven himself the great friend of internal improvements, having been the principal promoter in the building of the Erie canal in his own State. A correspondence between the leading friends of the enterprise resulted in the appointment of a committee to carry out the wishes of the commissioners. This committee consisted of Judge Wilson and Alexander Holmes, of Licking, and Judge Elanthan Schofield, one of the earliest surveyors in this section, and John Noble, of Fairfield county. This committee, at their first meeting, engaged Gottleib Steinman, a hotel keeper of Lancaster, to furnish a dinner, upon the ground, for the invited guests; and as many more as would pay for a dinner ticket, at one dollar and fifty cents a ticket. This proved to be a losing busi ness for Steinman. It happened to be wet two or three clays before the fourth, and as there were no houses near the site of the entertainment, rough booths were constructed in the woods; tables and seats were made of plank, hauled from saw-mills at a considerable distance from the place. All the fancy part of the dinner, including pastry, etc., was prepared at Lancaster, eighteen miles south. The entire preparation was made under the most unfavorable circumstances. The roasts and broils were prepared on the ground. The fourth opened fine and clear ; the dinner was good, and enjoyed by all that partook; but of the thousands who attended, many prepared for the emergency by bringing a hamper of provisions with them. The ceremonies began according to programme. Governor Clinton received the spade, thrust it into the soil, and raised the first spadeful of earth, amid the most enthusiastic cheers of the assembled thousands. This earth was placed in what they called a canal wheelbarrow, and the spade was passed to Governor Morrow, a statesman and a farmer. He sank it to its full depth, and raised the second spadeful. Then commenced a strife as to who should raise the next. Captain Ned King, commanding the infantry company present from Chillicothe, raised the third ; then some of the guests of Governor Clinton's company threw in some dirt, and the wheelbarrow being full, Captain King wheeled it to the bank. It is impossible to describe the scene of excitement and confusion that accompanied this ceremony. The people shouted themselves hoarse. The feeling was so great that tears fell from many eyes. The stand for the speaking was in the woods. The crowd was so great that one company of cavalry was formed in a hollow square around the back and sides of the stand. The flies, after three days' rain, were so troublesome that the horses kept up a constant stamping, much to the annoyance of the crowd. Caleb Atwater, the noted geologist, was present, and made the following remark afterward at Lancaster: "I suppose it was all right to have the horses in front of the speaker's stand, for they can not read, and we can." Governor Clinton and friends, Governor Morrow, Messrs. Rathburn and Lord, with many HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 285 others, were invited to Lancaster, where they were handsomely entertained by the citizens. Rathburn and Lord were the men who negotiated the loan of four hundred thousand dollars for Ohio; and the Lancaster bank was the first to make terms with the fund commissioners to receive and disburse the money. The wages for work on the canal were eight dollars for twenty-six working days, or thirty and three-fourth cents per day, from sunrise to sunset. The hands were fed well, lodged in shanties, and received their regular "jiggers" of whisky the first four months. Micajah T. Williams and Alfred Kelley were the acting commissioners, and proved themselves faithful public servants. They were often pass ing up and down the line, and saw the evil effects of the "jigger" of whisky. They left notice at each contract station that they would not pay estimates monthly if the contractors furnished whisky on the work-an order that caused much grumbling among a certain class of the men, but it was promptly obeyed by the contractors. A jigger was small, not a jilt in measure, but fifty or silty men taking four of these per day-at sunrise, at ten o'clock, at noon, at four o'clock, and before supper-would exhaust a barrel of whisky in four or five days. Men from Fairfield, Hocking, Gallic and Meigs counties, and all the country around, came to work on the canal. Farmers and their sons wanted to earn this amount of wages, as it was cash-a very scarce article-cud they must have it to pay taxes and other cash expenses. Before the canal was finished south of the Summit, the north end from Dresden to Cleveland was in operation; and wheat sold on the canal at seventy-five cents per bushel. Corn rose in proportion, and the enemies of the canal, all of whom were large land holders, or large tax payers, began to open their eyes. One of these, a Mr. Shoemaker, of Pickaway county, below Farlton, was a rich land owner, and bad opposed the building of the canal, as it would increase his tax and then be a failure. This gentleman, for such he was, said that his bays; with one yoke of oxen and farm cart, hauled potatoes to Circleville and sold them for forty cents per bushel until they b more money than sufficed to pay all his taxes for a year. This was an article for which, before this, there was no market, and be was now a convert to improvement. Wheat rained from twenty-five cents to one dollar per bushel before the canal was finished. The contracts for building the canal were made soon after breaking the ground at Licking Summit. The first embraced all the section from the point of breaking ground, south, including the embankment of the Licking Summit reservoir to the deep cut, so called, and there was one section at the south end of the cut let about this time to Colonel Noble. At these lettings, statements were posted up for the information of bidders, of the quantity and different kinds of work in each section, and also their estimates of the value of doing the same. Bidders from New York were present, and obtained some of the heaviest jobs-as the reservoir job, and some others The price of excavation and embankment was from nine to thirteen cents per cubic yard; grubbing and clearing, per chain, two to ten dollars, according to circumstances. But little masonry was let in this division; and the work here was let about ten per cent below the engineer's estimates. Colonel Noble probably took his contract on the engineer's estimates, as it was deemed necessary that section should be finished, in order to afford drainage when the deep cut should be put under contract. It is said that the colonel was at considerable expense in procuring machinery to pull down the large elm trees, of which there were many on the section, and that the attempt to get them out that way was not a success. His contract, therefore, did not prove a profitable one. The next letting at Newark included the deep cut, so called, and the South Fork feeder. The length of this cut was about three miles. At the deepest place it was about thirty-four feet, descending gradually in either direction to about eight feet at either end, so that it would average about twenty-four feet the whole length. It was divided into two sections, and the whole was let at fifteen cents per cubic yard; the north half to Scoville, Hathaway & Co , of New York, and the a south half to Osborn, Rathburn & Co., of Columbus. The first named party sub-let their job to Hampson & Parkinson, of Muskingum county, who carried it on for a time and abandoned it at 286 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. very considerable loss, it is said. The other party, under the firm name of Osborn, Williams &. Co., prosecuted their work to final completion, and undertook the unfinished part of the north section ; but they obtained, at different times, of the commissioners, an advance on the price originally agreed upon, so that at the close they were paid about thirty cents a yard for the work. Probably the average was twenty-five cents per yard cost to the State. It is somewhat singular, that on the highest part of the cut there was a swamp of a few acres, where the water stood in the spring of the year, and as it was raised by heavy rains, the waters flowed from the swamp north to the waters of the Licking, and south to the tributaries of the Scioto. The next work was also let at Newark. It commenced at the north end of Licking Summit, thence northward to Nashport, including all the heavy work, and the dam at the lower end of the Licking Narrows. The letting embraced some twelve to fifteen locks, two aqueducts and culverts, with the usual excavation and embankment. The masonry of the locks was bid in at from two dollars to two dollars and' fifty cents per perch of sixteen and one-half cubic feet, which included a lock finished, except the excavation of the pit and embankment around the lock. The other masonry was let at proportionate rates, and the other work went very low. There was great competition. The next letting was at Irville, in Muskingum county; commencing at the north end of the above described work, extending north to Roscoe upon which there was considerable heavy work let at about the same rates as above, competition being no less. The next work was let at Lancaster, comment ing at the south end of Colonel Noble's job, thence southward to Circleville. This included some heavy work, also. There were some twenty or twenty-five locks, a few culverts and aqueducts, dam at Bloomfield, and about the usual amount of earth work. All were let at low prices ; the first six locks south of Licking Summit at three dollars and fifteen cents per perch ; the face stone was hauled from the neighborhood of Lancaster an average distance of eight miles. Lower down about Carrot, Lockport and Winchester, the locks were about two dollars and fifty cents a perch. The light locks,. just above the junction of the main canal with the Columbus feeder, were let at three dollars and twenty-five cents a perch. At these prices it required the closest economy to do the work without loss. Some of the jobs awarded were abandoned and afterwards re-let at better prices. The price of labor was very low. Wages did not rise above ten dollars per month for four or five years. There was no "eight hour system ; " the men worked all day. Very few Irish or other foreigners had arrived at that tune, and the work was mostly done by native Americans. It was a great undertaking for the State to build the canal, and although its working has never paid the interest on its cost, yet, it has, without doubt, paid for itself many times over by the increased health it brought to the State, and the great increase in values of every marketable thing, covering a large extent of country. That part of the canal lying in Coshocton county was built in 1827-30. Among the chief contractors were the following citizens of the county, viz: Thomas Johnson, William Renfrew, Matthew Stewart, Solomon Vail, A. Ferguson, Ephraim Thayer and A. G. Wood. A sad incident in the construction of the canal was the death of Judge Brown, a citizen of Coshocton, who had a contract, and was killed while superintending his work by a falling rock. An amusing incident was the exploit of one of the M--e girls, who was employed as cook for a gang of hands. Picking up the rifle of one of the boys who was preparing for a Sunday hunt, she declared she would shoot a man on the other side of the river, who was only an old bachelor, and, therefore, as she alleged, of very little use, and so saying she fired, and actually hit the crown of the man's hat. The first boat-the "Monticello " arrived from Cleveland August 21, 1830. She remained several days at the point of the hill above the aqueduct, attracting wonder-stricken visitors in multitudes from this and even adjoining counties. The Walhonding canal was commenced in 1836, and finished in 1842. In the engineering corps were William H. Price, Charles J. Ward, John Waddle, Jacob Blickensderfer, Henry Fields and HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 287 Sylvester Medbery. Several of the gentlemen named above as contractors on the Ohio Canal were also connected with this. In addition to these were John Frew, S. Moffit, Isaac Means, John Crowley, W. K. Johnson and others. This canal lies wholly within the county, extending from Roscoe to Rochester, twenty-five miles. It cost $607,268.99, or an average of $24,290.76 per mile. The first superintendent of the Ohio canal, residing at Roscoe, was S. R. Hosmer, now of Zanesville. Alonzo Ransom, James Hay, John Mirise, James Carnes and William E. Mead also held this office. The first collector, was Jacob Welsh, from Boston, Massachusetts, who (and also John M. Sweeny) had been in the engineering corps under Leander Ransom. At his death, E. Bennett was appointed. The following persons have held that position, viz : John D. Patton (now of Washington City), Houston Hay (of Coshocton), Chauncey Bassett (now in IIlinois), William M. Green (ex-postmaster of Dayton), C .H. Johnson (of Coshocton), James Gamble (deceased, of Walhonding), and Foght Burt (now in Illinois). The Superintendents of the Walhonding canal were Langdon Hogle, John Perry, William E. Mead and Charles H. Johnson. The first canal-boat launched in the county was called the '° Renfrew," in honor of James Renfrew, a merchant of Coshocton. It was built by Thomas Butler Lewis, an old Ohio keel-boatman. It was intended to have the Walhonding canal extended to the northwestern part of the State, but there was already (1842) much talk of speedier mode of conveyance. The work been very expansive, and the members of the legislature from districts where canals were no regarded as practicable, were indisposed to con time the appropriations. The "Grand Canal," as it was first called, passes entirely across the State, connecting the waters of Lake Erie with those of the Ohio river. It is three hundred and six miles long, exclusive of the lateral canal to Columbus, eleven miles, and the Dresden side cut, together with slack-water navigation to Zanesville, seventeen miles more making in all three hundred and thirty-four miles, including its various windings. It commences at Cleveland and passes up the Cuyahoga river to the Old Portage, between it and the Tuscarawas river; by the city of Akron, and over to the Tuscarawas, down whose valley it follows to Massillon, Dover, New Philadelphia, Newcomerstown, Caldersburgh, Coshocton and Dresden; where it leaves the Tuscarawas, or rather the Muskingum, as the river is called below Coshocton, and takes a southwesterly direction, passing Nashport, and striking the Licking river just beyond the eastern line of Licking county, passing up that river to Newark; thence up the south fork to Hebron, Deep Cut, Baltimore, and Carrol, reaching the Scioto : fiver just within the limits of Pickaway county, eleven miles south of Columbus. From this point it follows the Scioto valley to the Ohio river, passing the towns of Bloomfield, Circleville, Westfall, Chillicothe and Piketon to Portsmouth. It is owned and controlled by the State, and is under the immediate supervision of the board of public works, who appoint all its officers, and have entire charge of all its affairs. It is divided into three divisions, each of which is in charge of a chief engineer, who looks after repairs and other matters, and makes a yearly report to the board. Collectors are stationed at various places along the canal, whose business is to collect tolls and water rent. A specified amount of toll is paid by those who run the boats, both upon the boat and cargo, the rate depending upon the value or quality of the cargo. It varies from two or three mills to two or three cents per mile. The boats are owned by private individuals, who have the use of the canal by a paying the tolls. Before the days of railroads, these boats did a through business, and some of them were "passenger packets," which were lightly and neatly built, and arranged for carrying passengers; and made much quicker time than the freight boats. Since the advent of railroads, however, this class of boats has, of course, disappeared, and those caring freight now do only a local business, the railroads doing all through business. The boats will carry from fifty to eighty tons, and draw from two to three feet of water. Their principal business now is to transport coal, wheat, building stone, and any freight that does not require quick transportation. In 1861 the canal was leased to a company for 288 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ten years, and at the end of that time the lease was renewed for ten years, but the company abandoned the lease in 1878, the State taking possession again in May, 1879. For several years prior to leasing it, the canal had been a heavy yearly expense to the State, the receipts falling much below the expenditures; since taking possession again in 1879, however, the receipts have largely exceeded the expenditures, and the State, probably for the first time in the history of this enterprise, is now making money out of it. CHAPTER XXIX. RAILROADS. River Transportation - The Pan Handle - Extracts from Hunt's History and the Zanesville Courier. FOLLOWING the canal came that great civilizer, the railroad, as a means of transportation. Prior to either canal or railroad, steamboats and small boats and scows were used in business operations on the river. Steamboats occasionally came up to Coshocton. The original proprietors of the town designated certain lots on the river bank as °` warehouse lots," looking to shipments by river. By act of the legislature, the Muskingum, Walhonding, and Tuscarawas rivers, and Killbuck, Mohican, and Wills creeks, within Coshocton county, have been declared "navigable streams." They have not, however, on that part within Coshocton county, been much disturbed by "prows" for many years. In 1875, a little steamboat was built at Jacobsport by Mr. Parker, proprietor of the mill, and was running as a pleasure and burden boat for short distances on Wills creek. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad is the only railroad now in complete running order through the county. It is familiarly known as the " Pan Handle route " so called from the narrow neck, or section, of West Virginia extending up and along the Ohio river, across which the Pittsburgh and Stubenville road (being a part of this line) passes. The road runs in an eastwardly direction from Columbus to Pittsburgh, one hundred and ninety-three miles, and is the shortest and most direct line between these two cities. That part of the road lying in Ohio is one hundred and fifty miles long, from Stubenville. The Steubenville and Indiana Railroad Company was chartered February 24,1848, and under its charter and amendments thereto, commenced work in November, 1851, on the eastern division, opening the road for traffic from Steubenville to Newark, via Coshocton, in April, 1855. This line, with a branch from the main line to Cadiz, eight miles in length, constituted the road of the Steubenville and Indiana Railroad Company. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 289 The delay in building the road from Steubenville to Pittsburgh, the want of proper connections east or west, and the unfinished and poorly equipped condition of the road, gave insufficient earnings to pay interest and current expenses; the company became greatly embarrassed and fell in arrears to laborers, and for supplies, and was annoyed and perplexed with suits and judgments which it was unable to fund or pay, and finally proceedings were commenced in the Court of Common Pleas, of Harrison county, Ohio, for the foreclosure of mortgages and sale of the road, and Thomas L. Jewett was appointed receiver, on the second day of September, 1859. On the first day of October, 1864, the receiver, on behalf of the company, purchased an undivided half of that part of the Central Ohio between Newark and Columbus, for seven hundred and seventy-five. thousand dollars, thus giving the company an independent outlet and direct communication with railroads running west from Columbus. Meantime the work on the Steubenville and Pittsburgh road was rapidly pushed forward to completion, and on the first of October, 1865, the receiver concluded an arrangement with the lessees of that road for opening the whole line from Columbus to Pittsburgh. The road received the name of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis, and December 28, 1867, it was reorganized under the name of Pan Handle. Upon completion, it was leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, by which it is now operated. The construction and equipment of this road cost, in round numbers, twenty million dollars. The following regarding this road is from Mr Hunt's history of this county: "The road was originally planned to go fro Coshocton up the Walhonding valley, talon much the same direction as was once propose for the Walhonding canal, and striking for Northern Indiana and Chicago; but the movement of another company anticipated part of this plan and the road was built to Newark. A few individual subscriptions of stock were made, but most of the stock, afterward in the possession of individuals, came through the contractors to whom it had been given for work, or was given to the holders of it for the right of way, etc. " The county, in 1850, took $100,000 of the stock of the company, and the townships along the line of the road (except Oxford), $80,000 more, viz: Lafayette, $20,000; Tuscarawas, $30;000; Franklin, $15,000, and Virginia, $15,000, for all of which bonds were issue. Subsequently, in the processes of consolidation and extension, nearly one-half of this stock was relinquished, and townships. No dividend has ever been paid on it, and it is all regarded as practically lost. The road paid into the county treasury, as taxes for 1875, the sum of $5,573.63. The citizens now readily recalled as haying contracts for building the road are Samuel Brown (since removed to Illinois), John Few, J. W. Rue, John Ninian and George Ross. Neither these nor any other citizens specially connected with the building of the road, reaped much benefit from it, but many have gained immensely, and the general advancement of the county through it, has in amount exceeded many times over all that was ever invested in it. Until comparatively recent years, one of the board of directors was taken from Coshocton county. Wm. K. Johnson served m that capacity from the inception of the road until his death, and was succeeded by his brother, Joseph K. Johnson, now of New York city. In 1872, a railroad was located (as a branch of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon and Columbus Railroad) through Clark, Bethlehem, Jefferson, Bedford and Washington townships, and some work was done on it. But "the panic" of 1873 prevented any further progress for some three years. At this writing fresh efforts are being made to complete the work The Massillon and Coshocton Railroad, branching from the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley and Wheeling Railroad near Massillon (Beach city), and running to Coshocton, was located in 1875, and by the hearty assistance of parties along the line, under the direction of R. B. Dennis, W. L. Holden, and others interested in the C , T. V. & W. R. R., and also in coal-fields near Coshocton, is at this writing being rapidly constructed. A. H. Slayton, J. C. Fisher, F. T. Spangler and J. C. Pomrene, of Coshocton, have been actively and officially connected with this enterprise. Several other railroads have been projected, notably one from Liberty, in Guernsey county to Coshocton, d and thence up the Walhonding valley (a part substantially of T. S. Humrickhouse's protected "Lake Michigan and Tidewater" Railroad); but up to this writing no effective measures have been taken in relation to them: The first agent of the S. & I. Railroad at Coshocton was John Frew." None of the above mentioned roads have been n finished. The branch of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Columbus road was graded as far as Tunnel 290 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Hill, where it ended and remains unfinished. The immense coal fields of the county require, and will ultimately have, additional transportation. The following regarding prospective railroads in this county is clipped from the Zanesville Courier of a recent date: Messrs. R. B. Dennis and W. L. Holden, of tire Cleveland, Canton, Coshocton and Straitsville Railway (Connotton Valley), and Messrs. D. B. Linn and J. P. Egan, returned to the city Thursday from a tour of observation to Otsego and Coshocton, in the interests of the above named railway company. The party passed over the entire route and minutely examined the country, with a view to determining the feasibility of extending the railroad from Otsego to Zanesville. It should be observed that Mr. Dennis came here by direction of the directors of the Cleveland, Canton, Coshocton and Straitsville Railway Company, to examine the route personally, and to report his observation to the board at their next meeting, to be held in Canton next week. Both of the visiting gentlemen are now satisfied, as we are informed, that the route is not only feasible, but that the territory lying between the Pan Handle on the north, and the B, & O. Railway on the south, can be divided about the center by the proposed new narrow gauge, and that the country through which the road would pass will furnish a large amount of local traffic. The gap between the head waters of Salt creek and the White Eyes branch of Wills creek is not a formidable obstacle, and can easily be traversed. It is fair to infer from all the circumstances connected with the inspection, that the report of Messrs. Dennis and Holden will be favorable to the construction of the road. The line is already under contract as far south as Coshocton, and gentlemen who have opportunities of knowing whereof they affirm, seem to be confident that the extension to Zanesville will be made this summer. CHAPTER XXX. AGRICULTURE. * Agricultural Features of the County-Present Condition Crops-Corn, wheat, etc.-Fruit Culture-Stock Raising Sheep-Cattle-Hogs-Horses-County Agricultural Society. THE topographical features of Coshocton county are so diversified by hill and valley as to afford a pleasing variance in agricultural pursuits * Compiled chiefly from Hunt's Historical Collections and the Agricultural Report. throughout the county. By the junction of the Walhonding and Tuscarawas rivers, forming the Muskingum, three broad and beautiful valleys are formed, radiating in different directions from the county seat. The valleys of Wills creek and the Killbuck are scarcely less marked, and these five, together with many others, of greater or less scope, threading the county in all directions, present an abundance of rich, sandy, fertile bottom lands, well adapted to the growing of corn, wheat, potatoes and kindred crops. The rolling or hill lands are more adapted to growing wheat and grass. The western hart of the county is composed chiefly of limestone lands; the eastern part is more of a sandy nature. The northern part of the county, between the Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers, is rolling and well adapted for grass and growing of sheep. Water is abundant throughout the entire county. It is often asserted that the soils are becoming exhausted, but this is only partially true. The bottom lands, owing to the false notion that they need no return for the generous crops annually removed, are, as a general thing, less productive than when first brought under cultivation, but the rich clay lands are constantly improving. For this there are two reasons. In the first place, all good farmers understand that these lands will not produce grain from year to year without some return being made for the crops removed. The general practice here is a rotation of products, such as corn, oats, wheat and clover, followed sometimes with meadow or pasture. Besides the direct benefit from the clover and grass as fertilizers, the condition of these clay soils is greatly ameliorated by this thorough cultivation. Deep plowing and exposure of the subsoil to the frosts of winter, the cultivation of corn in the summer and the thorough preparation of the soil by the network of clover roots will accomplish a great work in the improvement of these stiff clays. The "plain" lands, which were regarded as valueless by the early settlers, under careful cultivation have been made to yield constant and abundant harvests. The material prosperity of the farmers is amply attested by the erection of handsome brick and frame dwellings and large and commodious barns throughout the county. Particularly has HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 291 this been noticeable within the last few yearn. The log cabin in many localities is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. The maximum number of cultivators of the soil was probably reached in 1850. From that year to 1870 there was a decrease in the population of the county, owing to the fact that many of the well-to-do farmers of small tracts sold their possessions to more wealthy neighbors and moved away. These wealthy farmers, in a number of cases, own from five hundred to a thousand or more acres, and by their successive purchases have partially depopulated some districts. The most extensive landholder at present is Lloyd Nichols, of Newcastle township, who has in his possession 3,212 acres in that township. It is a gratifying fact that, from 1870 to 1880, there was an increase of population in eighteen of the twenty-two townships in this county. This in increase is due chiefly to the growth of the agricultural regions, as only in one or two instances can it be ascribed to villages. The land appraisers for 1880 returned a total acreage in the county of 352,249, valued at $7,670; 694, an acreage value of $21.77 per acre. The buildings were rated at $709,981. Of the land, 166,229 acres are reported arable, 89,438 in meadow or pasture, and 96,582 as uncultivated or wild land. The principal timber of practical use is white oak-the most useful for all purposes where large lumber is needed. Besides, there are black and red oak, poplar, walnut, hickory, ash and chestnut-all in sufficient quantities to supply the wants of the people. The timber in this county is being rapidly exhausted, there being portable saw-mills used in localities where timber is abundant, manufacturing our best timber into lumber, which is used in building post and rail fences in place of decaying rail fences. The effects of the rapid exhaustion of timber is shown by a wine action of the farmers in planting hedge fences. There is a large growth of young chestnut trees on the hill-sides and on the uncultivated portions of the farms, which are very thrifty and produce fine crops of chestnuts. It is estimated that this county produced, in 1879, twenty thousand bushels of chestnuts, which were sold as low as one dollar per bushel. The farms are as yet generally enclosed by rail fences. Many of the farmers, however, are renewing their fences with posts and boards. The osage hedge fence and the barbed wire fence have both been introduced and are meeting with some favor. Corn has always been regarded as the principal crop. More acres of it have been planted and more bushels gathered than of any other. In 1857 when the cultivation of this crop reached its maximum, when there was much discouragement in relation to the growing of wheat in consequence of the pests to which it had been for a succession of years subjected, and when the sheep interest had not yet become so great, there were more than a million and a half bushels of corn raised. The principal kind is the yellow gord seed. In 1878 there were 35,655 acres planted, and 1,242,284 bushels produced; in 1879, 33,373 acres planted, and 937,546 bushels raised. White corn is grown in small quantities. Scarcely enough pop or sweet corn is raised to supply home demand. The wheat crop in Coshocton county has always ranked next to corn in amount and value. The period of its most successful cultivation may be set down at from 1835 to 1850. The largest crop ever secured was in 1846. The roads to the canal warehouses and mills were often studded thickly for many rods with wagons waiting their turn to unload. In 1850 there was a larger acreage than in 1846, but the yield was not so great. In 1862 a half million bushels was reported as the yield. About 1850 the Hessian fly made its appearance; it was succeeded by the weevil; then there was serious trouble about winter freezing, and for twenty years this interest was much depressed. About 1870 farmers began to take good heart again, and, in 1874, there was a magnificent crop. The crop of 1875 was very seriously effected by an unusually rainy season lust at the harvest time. The last three harvests have been unusually large, that of 1879 surpassing corn in acreage and value. In 1878 there were 28,533 acres sown, and 440,376 bushels produced; in 1879, 41,395 acres sown, and 517,937 bushels produced. There is a diversity of opinion as to the variety best adapted to this soil. The principal varieties grown are the Mediterranean, Fultz, Clawson and White Wheat. The Clawson wheat is sown by many of the farmers and gives a good yield, and seems to be a hardy winter wheat. 292 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. In earlier days the average yield was quite up to eighteen or twenty bushels per acre, but of late years thirteen to fifteen is regarded as good. At the county fair for 1878, there was one entry of field crop of Wheat eighteen and one half acres which produced forty-five and one-third bushel per acre, by weight. In the days of high prices during the war, three dollars and twenty-five cents per bushel was paid for good wheat; the lowest price within the memory of early settlers was twenty-five cents. Rye has never been cultivated to any great extent, but much more was raised in earlier days than now. In 1867 the largest acreage for a number of years was put in-4,700 acres. It is now almost wholly abandoned, being neither very productive or very profitable. In 1878, 604 acres were sown and 6,634 bushels gathered ; the next year there were 169 acres sown and 1,816 bushels produced. In 1862 the barley crop was reported at 3,000, and has never been much above that. It has now practically ceased, there being, in 1879, only four acres returned with a yield of fifty bushels. Oats is produced in considerable quantities. The principal variety grown is known as side oats. It is of good quality and yields an average crop. In 1878, 11,009 acres were sown, yielding 333,480 bushels; in 1879 the acreage fell to 8,770 acres with a yield of 236,695 bushels. Three hundred and thirty-nine acres of buckwheat were raised in 1878, yielding 2,377 bushels ; in 1879, 460 acres produced 4,855 bushels. The principal varieties of potatoes grown are the White and Red Peachblow and Early and Late Rose. The best for early use in quality and quantity is the Early Rose. For late use the White Peachblow seems to lead. The Colorado beetle has been its principal enemy for a few years, but, in spite of its ravages, good crops are produced. In 1878, 806 acres yielded 57,116 bushels, and in 1879, 920 acres produced 73,160 bushels. Flax, in early days, received considerable attention. During the war, when cotton goods rose so in value, renewed interest was manifested in this crop. In 1862, sixty acres were planted. It may be said that none is now grown. For 1879 a solitary one-half acre was returned as the extent of its production in this county. The opinion j prevails among the farmer: that it impoverishes the land and renders it worthless for growing other crops. Broom corn has never been much cultivated in the county. Sorghum was a considerable item in war times. Three hundred and eighty-five acres of it were grown in 1862, and more still later. It is confined to small lots, chiefly for home use. In 1878, 186 acres were planted, which produced 1,397 pounds of sugar and 11,282 gallons of syrup. In 1879, the acreage fell to 99 acres, producing 62 pounds of sugar and 6,481 gallons of syrup. In early times all, or nearly all, the sugar consumed in the county was of home manufacture -maple sugar. For many years it continued to be a leading product. As late as 1865 there were reported as produced in the county 4,000 pounds of sugar and 3,000 gallons of syrup. In 1879, 1,637 pounds of sugar and 926 gallons of syrup were reported. This amount was greatly diminished in 1880, then reaching only 408 pounds of sugar and 322 gallons of syrup. A considerable amount of tobacco has been raised in Coshocton county. More than forty years ago there was the " tobacco fever." The farmers all went to raising it; the supply exceeded the demand, and there was considerable disgust, In 1858 there were only two and one-half acres raised. During the war there was a temporary extension of this interest, but not a very wide one. It is now grown only in small lots for home use. In 1879, 5 3/4 acres were raised. There have been several efforts in the manufacture of cheese, but they have not been long persisted in, nor very satisfactory. The most notable cheese factory was one set up about 1866, in Clark township. The farmers became tired of the constant and regular effort in the matter of furnishing milk, competition was heavy, and the factory, after running seven or eight years, was closed. There were, in 1878, 1,325 pounds of cheese produced in this county and in 1879, 790 pounds. The aggregate amount of butter annually made, for the last twenty-five years, has somewhat exceeded half a million pounds. In 1879, 665,990 pounds were produced. Coshocton is among the best bee counties in the HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 293 State. In 1878 it contained 4,114 hives, which produced 49,791 pounds of honey. In 1868, an average year, 30 000 tons of hay were produced. During the last several years, owing to dry weather, etc., this crop has been short. In 1879, 20,950 acres of meadow produced but 22,684 tong of hay. The average and yield was about the same for 1878. In this latter year, 3,469 acres of clover were sown ; from it 3,129 tons of hay were produced, 2.621 bushels of seed, and 144 acres were plowed under for manure. The acreage was somewhat larger, but the yield considerably smaller in 1879. The first nurseryman in Coshocton county was doubtless the eccentric, self-denying "Johnny Appleseed," an account of whom is given in another chapter of this work. The first orchards were for the most part, if not entirely, from seed ling trees. Top grafting upon these was afterward resorted to in a small degree, but without materially changing the general character of the fruit, except in a few instances. Some of the early settlers, coming in from Maryland and Virginia, brought with them sprouts from the orchards of their home regions, and these, of course, contained these varieties. Some of these still have a place in the orchards of the descendants of those who brought them. In 1832, Joshua B. Hart, of Tiverton township, had a bearing orchard of grafted fruit, consist ing of the kinds brought out by the Ohio Company when they settled at Marietta. Mr. Hart propagated some by grafting, but could not sell his trees and quit in a short time. Joseph F. Munro had a large orchard planted for him by old John Mathews, also of the Marietta sorts. The Robinsons had a few trees of the same. William Miskimen, on Wills creek, practiced grafting in a small way, and had bearing apple trees of the kinds common in western Pennsylvania. George Henderson had a bearing orchard of apples and practiced grafting in a small way. His orchard was on White Eyes, and consisted of Western Pennsylvania fruit. Old Mr. McFertridge had planted an orchard, not yet then in bearing. He brought his tree from Steubenville, and they were of the kind grown in the Kneisley nurseries. A nurseryman of Fairfield county, about 1830-31, brought by canal a large lot of grafted apple bees, but found no sale for them for orchard planting, and traded or in some way disposed of them to Nathan Spencer of Bethlehem township, who planted them in a kind of nursery, and sold them to John Frew. Eighty of them were planted by T. S. Humrickhouse in an orchard on Mill creek in the fall of 1833. John Elliott planted an orchard of the same kind on his farm in Bethlehem township. Every tree of this lot was true to name and the whole selection proved most admirable. Richard Wood, of Bedford township; practiced grafting to a small extent and had an orchard. Wishing to plant two or three apple orchards, and not being able to find all the kinds he wanted in any one nursery, T. S. Humrickhouse, about 1835, commenced making a collection and grafting in nursery. He took from'" all the orchards above mentioned all the varieties they contained, and added from a distance all the kinds he could hear of that gave promise of being valuable, and has continued that sort of work to this day. His nursery, the only one in this county, is situated on the south outlots of Coshocton. When James Matthews was in congress he procured most of the native and many foreign varieties, and they were thoroughly tried. Most of the foreign and many of the native were discarded. Both Mr. Matthews and Mr. Humrickhouse about 1840 gave considerable attention to pears, peaches, plums and grapes, introducing many fine varieties. About 1838, Robert Seevers started a nursery at West Carlisle, and many of the orchards in the western townships were stocked by him. Kellis Hord started one near Bakersville. Others in different parts of the county tried the business, but few of them continued long in it. Traveling grafters, between 1840 and 1850, abounded in the county, but have not left very distinct traces. For the last twenty-five years very heavy importations of fruit trees have been made. In one year the sales of tree peddlers reached nearly $8,000. A large proportion of the trees died, and 294 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. many of the varieties which were most highly commended, proved really very inferior. Notwithstanding, however, large and prolific orchards may now be found in all parts of the county. The total acreage of orchards in 1878 was 6,344, yielding that year 446,918 bushels of apples. Probably the largest peach orchard ever set out in the county was planted by Joseph K. Johnson, on his place about a mile east of Coshocton. It consisted of eighty some acres. The growing of peaches is extensively cultivated, which is most marked, perhaps, in Washington township, where large, fine orchards of this fruit may be seen on almost every farm. In 1878 there were produced in this county 69,860 bushels of peaches. This yield field was excelled by only two counties in the State, Muskingum and Columbiana. In the same year 373 bushels of pears were produced. Grape culture has never been very considerable in this county. In 1855 J. K. Johnson planted quite a large vineyard on his place, one mile east of Coshocton, and for a few years thereafter a considerable quantity of wine was made under his direction. he most of this was used by sick friends, of whom there proved to be a good many, and for church purposes. Some years subsequently, J. B. Elliott and F. Seward established a vineyard in Keene township, but the operation was not accounted a large success. In 1878 there were twenty-five acres in vineyard reported, producing 9,148 pounds of grapes and 177 gallons of wine. Several years ago the manufacture of wine for home consumption was begun by a few of the German farmers in Franklin, Linton, Crawford and other townships. It has since been steadily increasing among them, and bids fair to develop into a quite noticeable production. There is a gratifying increase in the interest taken in the raising of live stock of all kinds The choicest blood and most carefully bred horses and cattle are to be found, while hogs and sheep of the finest stock are in abundance. The first Merino sheep of thorough blood brought into this county were bought by Major Robinson and Major Simmons from old Seth Adams, who, as partner or agent of General Humphries, brought to the Muskingum valley some of General Humphries' importation from Spain, and had them in Muskingum county, near Dresden, as early as 1812. They were not cared for, and no trace of them is left. Fine-wooled sheep of uncertain and mixed blood were gradually introduced by farmers from eastern counties and Western Pennsylvania, between 1830 and 1836 or 1837, when Beaver and Bowman brought out from Washington county, Pennsylvania, about 2,000, and placed them on Bowman's section, adjoining Coshocton. This movement proved a failure, most of the sheep dying the next spring, and the remainder being disposed of and scattered so as to leave no trace. About 1842, S. T. Thompson and one or two of his neighbors brought from Washington county, Pennsylvania, a few sheep and founded flocks. These were the first really good Merinos that have left their mark and still exist. William Renfrew, sr., soon after brought out from the same county a few good black-tops and a few lighter colored, which he bred separately, and the descendants of which still remain. In 1846, or thereabouts, William Batchelor and George Wolf brought out a few sheep obtained from Gen. Harmon in the State of New York; they were selected by Mr. Batchelor, and, compared with what were here before, were heavier-wooled and stronger sheep. They did well. In 1850, Howe and Batchelor brought out from Vermont a French ram, of thorough Merino blood, which had been imported from France by S. W. Jewett, from the government flock at Rambouillet. After trial, they rejected him and disposed of his increase. They then, in connection with T. S. Humrickhouse, brought out some thirty head of Humphries' Atwood sheep, obtained from Edwin Hammond, of Addison county, Vermont: These are the kind now recognized on all hands as the best, and an improvement over other fine-wooled sheep. They have been added to from time to time by Mr. Batchelor and others. In 1834, Isaac Maynard emigrated from England and settled in this county. He brought with him a small flock of Southdowns and a few Lincolnshires. The Lincolnshires were entirely lost, and most of the Southdowns. In 1842, or thereabouts, William Henderson, Dr. Edmund Cone and James Miskimen furnished old Mr. Bache with money to go to England and bring HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 295 back with him some sheep. 'He brought back quite a cumber of Ellman Southdowns and a few Leicestershires, or, as sometimes called, Dishleys or Bakewells, which were divided among the owners. The Leicestershires soon disappeared, but the Southdowns are the source of most of the Southdowns now in the county. They have been added to by Bluck and others, who purchased rams at different times from, various sources. The Cotswolds have been of late tried by various parties-those of Judge Thornhill, William Hanlon, Robert Moore and J. W. Dwyer having attracted much attention and commendation. In the times of high prices during the war, one dollar and five cents per pound was paid for a few choice fleeces. Many were sold at one dollar per pound-one fleece bringing twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. When prices fell after the war, and the condition of things was unsatisfactory otherwise as to the profitableness of sheep raising, thousands of the poorest sheep were killed and fed to hogs, the pelts selling for about as much as the live sheep. A Coshocton County Wool-growers' Association was organized about 1864. In February, 1876, the National Merino Sheep Breeders' Association was organized at Coshocton, in a meeting attended by delegates from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Missouri and other States. Coshocton is one of the foremost sheep counties in the State. In the value of its sheep, in 1879, it stood sixth on the list, and in point of number, 126,000, was tenth. In 1878, 490,076 pounds of wool were shorn. In comparatively early times, John Miskimen, Judge Robinson and Daniel Miller brought some fine cattle into the county. More than thirty years ago, Frank McGuire and George Wolf bought some superior stock in this line from E. P. Prentice, of Albany, New York, and afterward some from D. D. Campbell, of Schenectady, New York. About 1851, Arnold Medberry and Samuel Rrown made purchase of some very fine cattle from Dr. Watts, of Chillicothe. In 1855, Thomas Darling imported a lot from Kentucky, and not long thereafter Samuel Moore, Frank McGuire and T. S. Humrickhouse became prominently connected with the same line of work. John G. Stewart, a few years ago, exhibited a very superior herd. J. W. Dwyer has, of late, also interested himself greatly, especially in the Jerseys and Alderneys. The number of cattle in the county in 1879 was 21,737, valued at $299,141. The hogs of the earlier day in Coshocton county were all that could be made by an abundance of corn and little care; but the original stock not being very good, and little effort being made to improve it, long snouts and blue skins were the rule. The McGuires and the Wolfs were about the first to give attention to improved breeds. Afterward the Lennons, the Burrells, and Matthew Johnson interested themselves in the same line. G. W. Silliman; after his visit to Europe, took an interest in the Berkshires, and brought into the county some of that breed. The Chester Whites beams and continued great favorites. The Leicestershires have found many approvers, and are favorites with many. The Poland Chinas, too, of late have been introduced, and are being well received. There were in the county in 1879, 23,265 hogs, having a valuation of $48,612. "Blooded" horses have, from the first, received a good deal of attention in Coshocton county. Old Colonel Williams and his compeers had the Virginia notions about these things. The race course was not then, as now, circular and level and rolled, but they had one, from the earliest days down. There was one on the Butler place, up the Walhonding. The road to Lewisville had been used. But the favorite track for years was on what is now Fifth street, in Coshocton, along which two parallel, narrow tracks were cleared. Tests of speed were there made, not witnessed by elegantly-dressed ladies and gentlemen, such as now-a-days throng the county fair grounds, but .the "homespun " crowd. It is claimed that if the associations of the place were less refined, the honesty was not less than now. They meant square business or simple fun in those days, and were severe on " jockeying." Neither did they then sell pools. Among those actively interested in this line, the following may be named : One of the Butlers in New Castle township had charge of two horses, brought in before 1812, belonging to Peter Casey, one of the first associate judges of the county. They were called " Whistle Jacket" and 296 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. " High-flyer." Colonel Williams of Coshocton, brought in from Virginia a horse, long famed in this region, called " Medley." Robert Farwell brought from New England to Keene township, "Sir Archie." Joseph W. Rue, about 1830, introduced "John of Jersey " and " Patrick Richards," colts by a horse entered for a race against "Eclipse," the famous trotter on Long Island course, but withdrawn on account of lameness. Matthew Stewart is remembered in connection with "Hickory." Lewis Rice and John Johnson had a horse called "Premium," and A. G. Wood, one called "Sir Charles." Samuel Baker's horse was " Snow Ball:' In 1866, D. L. Triplett and William Bachelor brought from Kentucky "Abdallah," who met the sad fate of being burned to death in a stable, consumed in the fall of 1869. The County Horse Fair Association was organized in 1866. In 1879, there were 7,609 horses reported in this county, valued at $382,836. As early as 1835, the County Commissioners, under provisions of law, directed a call to be issued for a meeting, looking to the formation of a County Agricultural Society. But nothing effective was done under that call, or in any other way, for many years. About 1850 the matter was taken up by some of the progressive farmers, chiefly in the eastern part of the county, among whom were Colonel C. F. Sangster, Dr. Heslip Williams, Dr. E. Cone, Judge James M. Burt, John Davis and others, and determined efforts accomplished the organization The first fair under the auspices of the society was held at Jacobsport, in 1850. Then, for several years thereafter, they were held in the public square at Coshocton Temporary stalls and sheds were enclosed each year, for the stock on exhibition, and the race course was just east of Fifth street and south of Main From the first, there was a choice selection of stock and a gradual increase in other lines. The Elliotts and John Davis soon had good displays of agricultural implements. The farmers' wives and daughters also interested themselves in the fair and materially assisted in its success. The fair of 1856 was not remarkable for display, but the talk among farmers and stock breeders had its effect in awakening interest, and then settled the matter of continuing these annual gatherings. That year an arrangement was made with John Burt for leasing, for a term of years, his land (since laid off in lots) extending east from Seventh street to the foot of the bluff, and from Main street to the south side of Hiram Beall's property. This tract contained about nine acres. It was properly fenced, buildings and stalls were erected on it, and the fair of 1857 held there. By 1865 these grounds became insufficient, and in that year the society purchased from Mr. S. H. Lee twenty acres, about four hundred yards east of the Burt tract and north of Main street, and proceeded to fit up more extensive and, as was supposed, more permanent buildings. The amount paid for the grounds was $3,200. To assist the society in purchasing these grounds, the county commissioner agreed to donate $500, and to loan the society $500 more, to be repaid out of the receipts, whenever the commissioners should require. It is understood that this was repaid when the grounds were sold by the society. In November, 1872, the present grounds, lying a quarter of a mile south of the Burt fair grounds, were purchased from J. W. Dwyer. The old fair grounds, in December, 1872, were subdivided into lots and most of them sold, but a number of them, steadily increasing in value, remain in the possession of the society. The new grounds contain thirty-four and fifty eight one-hundredths acres, and the cost of them was $10,488. For improvements on the new grounds, about $6,000 have been expended. A large grove was a chief attraction in the purchase, and access to water was made more convenient, the grounds lying on a lower level than the old ones. About $4,000 of the cost of the grounds had been paid by 1876, and the debt has since been considerably reduced. In 1879, the cash value of the real estate of the society, and improvements, was $22,000. The amount received that year, for gate and entrance fees, was $3,448.70; from other sources, $300. The amount paid in premiums was $1,575; for real estate, buildings and permanent improvements, $431.65; for current expenses, other than improvements, $1,157.18. The amount in the-treasury, at the preceding report., was $2,147.31; at this report, $2,732.18. As this showing indicates, the financial condition of the society is excellent. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 297 For a number of yearn the expenses of the society, including the premiums, were defrayed by annual fees paid by the members. Under the present constitution any one may become a member by the payment of an annual fee of one dollar. About 300 members are now enrolled. The officers consist of a president, vice president, and board of twelve directors, elected by the members, and a secretary and treasurer, elected by the directors. The society has of late years experimented in the cultivation of wheat on the grounds, which has created quite an interest among the farmers. There has been a diversity of opinion among the people, as well as members of the society and directors, as to the propriety of continuing premiums for speed horses, but the prevailing sentiment appears to be in favor of their continuance. The presidents of the society nave been, C. F. Sangster, E. Cone, William P. Wheeler, Thomas S. Humrickhouse, James M. Burt, Heslip Williams, John Miskimen, William Hanlon, J. S. Elliott, J. C. Campbell and Lewis Demoss. The present vice president is J. P. Burt, succeeding H. McFadden The secretaries have been, James M. Burt, Samuel Ketchum, John Humrickhouse, Thomas Campbell, C. H. Johnson, W. R. Forker, L. L. Cantwell, David Lanning, George Miller and Lloyd Pocock. Treasurers, William K. Johnson, Matthew Johnston, John A. Hanlon and Joseph L. Rue. In the board of managers, or directors, as it now is, besides the above, the following have served : A. D. Denman, Thomas Darling, Francis McGuire, William Renfrew, Samuel Moore, James E. Robinson, D. L Triplett, Frank Stafford, J. M. Smith, E L. Robinson, Joseph Dickenson, Francis Wolf, Adam Piffer, John Mulligan, George Factor, Peter Stevenson, J. M. Denman, William McCoy, B. C. Blackburn, Seth Christy, William Hesket, Hugh McFadden, Saul Miller, S. C. Burrell, John Hogle, Philip Moore, G. W. Wolf, Marion Darling, Alexander Dinsmore, Thomas McConnell, Wellington Darling, E. J. Pocock, T. H. Burrell, John M. Adams, John Waggoner, Samuel Gardiner, J. H. Carr, Joseph W. Dwyer, Calvin Boyd, Joseph Love, M. L. Morris, Henry King, William Porteus, G. G. Andrews, William H. McGiffen, William Morrison, W. W. Bostwick, John Richeson, Thomas M. Wiggins, Thomas Marshall, B. F. Ricketts, John A. McClure, John Lennon, Joseph H. Hay, R. A. Given, A. J. Randles, Joseph Burrell and C. C. Eckert. The last named twelve constitute the present board. CHAPTER XXXI COUNTY BUILDINGS AND OFFICERS. First Jail-First Court House-The Present Court House Other Public Buildings-List of County Officers-Commis- sioners-Auditors-Clerks-Treasurer~-Recorders-Sher- iffs-Prosecuting Attorneys-Surveyors-Coroners-Infirm- ary Directors-Representatives-Congressmen, etc. THE first measure taken by the county commissioners, looking toward the erection of county buildings was to procure the construction of a suitable place of confinement for criminals. County offices might be kept at the residences or business places of the office holders, and courts could be temporarily held in any manner of structure, but strong bars and massive doors were absolutely necessary to retain the unwilling presence of the border law-breakers of 1811, and these did not exist in the little hamlet, which then constituted Coshocton The contract for building a county jail was sold to Adam Johnson, as the lowest bidder, June 4, 1811, for $1,397, and the building was by him speedily erected. It was thirty-six feet long by sixteen feet wide and built of sound, oak logs, well hewn. The commissioners had been authorized by the legislature to sell the public square, lying just south of the present square, and the proceeds arising from the sale amounting to $957.15, were used in paying for the jail. It stood on the site of the present court house. The first courts of Coshocton county were held in the second story of Colonel Charles Williams' old tavern stand, on the northeast corner of Chestnut and Water streets. It is said that Colonel Williams received thirty dollars a year rent for the court-room and two dollars per term for the room occupied by the jury. Ashur Hart also furnished a jury room occasionally on Second 298 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. street. When Alexander McGowan became clerk to the commissioners in 1821, they entered into a contract with Wilson McGowan for a courtroom in the building occupied by William Whitten, standing near the corner of Second and Main streets, the site of part of the present Central house, and the courts were held there for some four years. In July, 1819, the contract for clearing the public square was sold to Charles Williams for nineteen dollars and fifty cents, and at the same time Adam Johnson received the contract for building a " post and rail " fence around the square. At a meeting of the Commissioners, June 6, 1821, it was determined to take measures for building a court house. It was agreed to send letters, under the hands of the Commissioners, to the different townships, as an address to the feelings of the people. The Auditor was instructed to draw up a subscription paper for the purpose of receiving donations. According to the terms, the donations were payable in lumber, labor, pork, wheat, rye, corn or oats, at the marketable price. The County Auditor was further ordered to "cause to be published in twenty-eight hand-bills, and then distributed proportionately through the county an address," in which was set forth the need of a court house, and the lack of county funds, and appealing to public patriotism for liberal donations. Several months later it was deemed proper to receive money only in subscriptions. At a meeting in June, 1822, a plan for the building was settled upon It was to be thirty-two by forty feet in size, built of brick, one story in height, and to contain a court room and two small jury rooms. Notices of the sale of contract were ordered to be inserted in the Muskingum Messenger and the Tuscarawas Chronicle for three weeks, July 9 being fixed upon as the day of sale. During the same month, however, it was resolved to defer the sale until after the December meeting. Subscriptions must have been made very slowly, if at all, for in August, 1822, the Commissioners resolved that without the aid of the citizens in donating towards its erection, the same could not be effected, and subscriptions were again made payable in materials and produce, as well as cash. March 5, 1823, the Auditor was ordered to procure the appraisement of all improvements on town-lots and houses for the purpose of collecting a tax therefrom to assist in the erection of the court house. April 18, 1823, was the day appointed for the sale, and shortly before it was effected the plan of the building was changed to one forty feet square, two stories high, with square roof. On the day of sale Peter Darnel was the lowest bidder, at $2,185. The Commissioners were unwilling to award at this bid, arid adjourned to the next day, April 19, when the contract was given to Charles Williams, for $1,984; the Commissioners agreeing that he associate with him, as joint-contractors, Peter H. Darnel, Abraham Richards and Andrew Daugherty. An allowance of several hundred dollars was afterwards made for extra work. The building was finished in the spring of 1824. The belfry was completed in 1830, under the supervision of John Elliott. The bell, still in use in the new court house, was purchased, at the request of the Commissioners, by William K. Johnson, in 1834. This court house remained the seat of justice for more than half a century, and, during a great part of this time, particularly in its earlier years, was used for many purposes other than those of justice. Before it was finished a grand ball was given in it. The pedagogue taught the future sovereigns here for a number of years. On the Sabbath the expounders of the various Christian creeds preached their doctrinal tenets to the assembled audiences, and several revivals were conducted here. Political orators harangued their partisan friends in heated campaigns, and, in fact, meetings of all kinds touching the public interest were held within its walls. The court house stood on the west side of the square, facing Third street. In 1834 two one-story brick buildings, about thirty by forty in size, were erected as county offices, one on either side of the court house, and in a line with it, fronting on Third street. The offer of William C. Blodget was accepted for their building, the bid being $1,360.75. In 1849 an additional story was built on the north building by William McFarland for $1,334. In 1854 the south building also received an additional story, W. H. Robinson and William Welch being the contractors. THERE ARE NO PAGES 299 THRU 302 HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 303 The old log jail was replaced by another upon j the same site in 1836. It was of brick, and with the sheriff's house adjoining was built by Eldridge & McGowan, for $2,300. The present substantial stone jail, located on Third street, and the sheriff's house of brick, were built in 1873. The entire cost of these buildings was about $30,000. The plan was furnished by Carpenter & Williams, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, who were consulting superintendents, John Dodd, of Roscoe, being acting superintendent. The contractors were M. Johnson and A. Wimmer. In the fall of 1872, the question of building a new court house was submitted to a vote of the people of the county, and decided in the negative by a large majority, but during the ensuing winter the State Legislature passed a special enabling act, and measures were taken for the erection of the building. Plans were prepared and the work superintended by Carpenter & Williams, of Meadville, Pennsylvania. The contract for the new building was let to S. Harold & Co., of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The structure was turned over to the commissioners in July, 1875, the county officers moving in the latter part of that month, and the District Court sitting therein the following month. Additions, extra work, furniture and appliances added greatly to the cost of the building, making the sum total almost $100,000. A farm of two hundred acres, situated two miles east of Coshocton, was purchased by the county commissioners in 1846 from W. K. Johnson R Co., at fifteen dollars per acre, for the purpose of erecting thereon a couuty infirmary. Two years later, the proposal of Davis, Richardson, Chamberlain & Richardson to build the infirmary was accepted at $3,885, a previous proposal by E. Davis haying failed from non-compliance of conditions. The building is a two-story brick, and has recently received extensive additions. An adjoining tract of land was purchased from Henry Wheeler, for $2,500, and the whole farm now amounts to nearly four hundred acres. A complete list of the county commissioners from the organization of the county to the present year, together with their several terms of service, is as follows: Charles Williams, 1811-13; Mordecai Chalfant, 1811-18; James Miskimen, 1811-21; James Calder, 1813-17; Squire Humphrey, 1817-19; Samuel Clark, 1818-29; Robert Darling, 1819-25; Robert Boyd, 1821-24; John G. Pigman, 1824-26; Benjamin Ricketts, 1825-28; Gabriel Evans, 1826-33: Richard Moore, 1828-31; John Mitchell, 1829-32; Samuel Clark, 1831-33; John Quigley, 1832-34; Andrew Ferguson, 1833-38; Joseph Neff, 1833-36; Daniel Forker, 1834-43; Eli Fox, 1836-39; Arnold Medberry, 1838-44; Samuel Winklepleck, 1839-42; J. D. Workman, 1842-45; Isaac Darling, 1843-49; James Ravenscraft, 1844-47; Samuel Lamberson, 1845-48; Alexander Matthews, 1847-50 ; George Wolf, 1848-51; Francis Buxton, 1849-52; Henry Schmueser, 1850-56; Thomas Darling, 1851-54; Lewis Swigert, 1852-55; Owen Evans, 1854-57; Abraham Shaffer 1855-58; James E. Robinson, 1856-59; William Doak, 1857-63; William Hanlon, 1858-64; James M. Smith, 1859-65; Thomas Darling, 1863-69; Joseph Keim, 1864-70; Thomas McKee, 1865-71 Joseph S. McVey, 1869-75; John Taylor, 1870-76; Samuel Moore, 1871-77; William Forney, 1875-78; John C. McBane, 1876-82; William Berry, 1877-83; S. M. Dougherty, 1878-81. County Auditors.-The first auditor (or clerk of the commissioners, as the office was then called), was Thomas L. Rue, who after a few meetings ceased to attend, and in consequence the appointment was transferred to Adam Johnson, who retained the office until 1821. The salary at that time w as forty dollars per annum. Subsequently the auditors have been : Alexander McGowan, 1821-25; Joseph Burns, 1825-38 (resigned); J. W. Rue, 1833-48; (in 1843 Wilson McGowan and J. W. Rue each temporarily served in this capacity); H. Cantwell, 1848-50; B. F. Sells, 1850-52; William Himebaugh, 1854-58; Samuel Forker, 1858-62; C. H. Johnson, 1862-66; W. R. Forker, 1866-71; William Walker, 1871-75; William Wolf, 1875-80; John W. Cassingham, present incumbent. County Clerks -At the first session of the court of common pleas, in April, 1811, Adam Johnson was appointed clerk, pro tem. At the second term in September, Thomas L. Rue was appointed temporarily to this office, but in December, 1811, Adam Johnson received the appointment for seven years. He was re-appointed and 304 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. served till his death in 1829. His successors have been John Frew, 1829-38; Alexander McGowan, 1837-43; Joseph Burns, 1843-51; B. R. Shaw, 1851-54; A. M. Williams, 1854-57; Lemuel Kinsey, 1857-63; Charles K. Remick, 1863-69; G. H. Barger, 1869-75; Israel Dillon, 1875-81. County Treasurers -William Whitten was treasurer from 1811 to 1817; Dr. Samuel Lee, from 1817 to 1825. The emoluments of the office were at first five per cent of the moneys received, afterward reduced to three per cent, and amounted to from forty to sixty dollars per year prior to 1818. Dr. Lee was succeeded by James Renfrew, who agreed to serve for three per cent, and obligated himself " not to speculate on the county's money." For many years it was customary for the county to loan money to responsible citizens. John B. Turner served for 1827 and 1828, Alexander McGowan for 1829 and 1830. Samuel Rea became treasurer in 1831. He was removed in December, 1832 and Robert Hay appointed in his stead, holding the office until 1834. William G. Williams served from 1834 to 1846, and was succeeded by Benjamin Bonnett, who resigned in 1849. J. W. Rue was appointed for the unexpired term ending 1850. William P. Wheeler held the office, 1850-52, and Lewis Demons, 1852-56. Samuel Ketchum, elected in 1856, resigned in 1859, and Samuel Lamberson finished his term and served until 1864. Then followed Samuel Burre11, 1864-68 ; Thomas Jones, 1868-72; Richard W. McLain, 1872-76; John Waggoner, 1876-80; John Beaver 1880-. County Recorders - Adam Johnson, 1811-29; Joseph Burns, 1829-36; George W. Price, 1836-40; Russell C. Bryan, 1840-46 ; G. F. Cassingham,1846-55; John F. Williams, 1855-57 (resigned); R. M. Hackenson, 1857-58; A. McNeal, 18581; C. W. Stanford, 1861-64; L. L. Root, 1864-70; M. W. Wimmer, 1870-76; John M. Crawford, 1876-82. Probate Judges -The probate court, instituted by the present constitution, has had the following judges: Thomas Campbell, 1852-55; C. S. Barnes, 1855-58; John T. Simmons, 1858-64; M. C. McFarland, 1864-70; Joseph Burns, 1870-75 (died in office); W. F. Thornhill, 1875-76 (unexpired term); Alexander Hanlon, 1876-82. County Sheriffs - C. Van Kirk, 1811-15; Charles Williams, 1815-19 (compensation, fifty dollars a year); Charles Miller, 1819-21; John Smeltzer, 1821-23; John Crowley, 1823-27; T. Butler Lewis, 1827-29; John Crowley, 1829-33; J. H. Hutchinson, 1833-37; Samuel Morrison, 1837-41; Joseph C. Maginity, 1841-45; Samuel Morrison, 1845-49; Samuel B. Crowley, 1849-53; Richard Lanning, 1853-55; W. H. H. Price, 1835-57; David Rodahaver, 1857-61; John Hesket, 1861-65; James Sells, 186.5-63; Thomas Platt, 1868-69; Joshua H. Carr, 1869-73; John Lennon, 1873-77; Jacob Severns, 1877-81. Prosecuting Attorneys -Wright Warner was appointed prosecuting attorney in September, 1811, for seven years. The court allowed him at first twenty-five dollars per term of court for his ser vices. He resigned before the expiration of his term, and was succeeded by Alexander Harper, who served until 1823, when he resigned, having been elected judge. Charles B. Goddard then served till 1827. W. Silliman, David Spangler and Richard Stilwell each served during terms of court until March, 1830, when Noah H. Swayne was appointed for a full term. But in 1833, Josephus Ricketts, having been elected, came into office. He resigned in 1834 and G. W. Silliman was appointed and afterward elected in 1835, but, his health failing in 1841, the latter part of his term was filled by T. S. Humrickhouse, by appointment. Thomas Campbell was elected in 1843 and in 1845. Then succeeded William Sample, 1849-51; John T. Simmons, 1821-55;; John D. Nicholas, 1855-57; Charles Hoy, 1857-60 (resigned); Thomas Campbell, 1860. In 1860, Richard Lanning was elected, but in the second year of his term, he resigned the office, having been commissioned major of the Eightieth Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Thomas Campbell finished his term. Asa G. Dimmock served from 1862 to 1868. He resigned shortly before the expiration of his third term, owing to ill health, and the remainder of the term, by appointment, was filled by R. M. Voorhees, who continued in the office by election and reelection until 1872. Then followed William S. Crowell, 1872-76; A. H. Stilwel, 1876-78 ; T. H. Ricketts, 1878-80; Albinus H. Stilwell, 1880-. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 305 County Surveyors -William Lockard, 1812-17; James Ravenscraft, 1811-19; William Coulter, 1819-24; William G. Williams, 1824-30; James Ravenscraft, 1830-36. Then came John M. Sweney and John M. Full. The latter was succeeded by Henry Seevers, who served until 1852. Lemuel Kinsey served 1852-55; C. W. McMorris. 1855-58; R, L. Baker, 1858-61; T. P. Latham, 1861-64; Levi Gamble, 1864-71; John A. Hanlon, 1871- 74; George Moore, 1874-8O (a vacancy existing part of this time); Samuel M. Moore, present surveyor, 1880-. Coroners.-The following list of coroner; is incomplete as to the earlier ones : David Bookless, George Leighninger, James Ravenscraft, Abraham Sells, Benjamin Coe, Thomas McAnally, Addison Syphert, James T. McCleary, Joseph Hitchens, William Jeffries, Thomas Platt, Nicholas Schott, John Richeson, Joseph Burns. Infirmary Directors. - The following have served the county as infirmary directors: Lewis Row, Jamey Jones, Henry Wheeler, Isaac W. Miller, John M. Johnson, Stephen D. Sager, Thomas Dwyer, D. E. Laughlin, George McCune, J. C. Frederick, William Simons, James McBriar, John Chambers, Nathan Buckalew, John Hawley. William McCoy. C. F. Sangster, Samuel Gardiner, Thomas Wiggins, R. C. Warren and Daniel Frey. From 1811 to 1820 Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties were represented in the State house of representatives by a single member. Until the adoption of the present constitution in 1851, the representatives were elected annually, and where two counties were combined into one district, they would usually alternate in presenting the member. Probably the first representative from Coshocton county was Robert Giffen, who served a single term about 1812, when the legislature met at Chillicothe. In 1814 Charles Williams was elected. This election was contested, and a new election ordered by the legislature. It was held in January, 1815, and the people ratified their first choice. In 1816, 1818-20, and 1823 Joseph W. Pigman was chosen, and in 1817 Squire Humphrey. In 1820 Coshocton county itself became a representative district, and James Robinson was the representative for 1820-21, also for 1824; Charles Williams, 1825; John Smeltzer, 1827-28; N. H. Swayne, 1829; James Robinson, 1830; Charles W. Simmons, 1831; James Matthews, 1832; John Crowley, 1833-34-,5; Samuel Whitmore, 1836; James Matthews and F. W. Thornhill, 1837; Joseph Burns, 1838-40; Jesse Meredith, 1841-42; George A. McCleary, 1843; Jesse Meredith, 1844; Heslip Williams, 1845; Joseph Williams, 1846-47; James M. Burt, 1848-50; Timothy C. Condit, 1851; George McKee, 1852-54; John Pierson, 1854-56; Patrick Thompson, 1856-58; C. F. Sangater, 1858-60; James Gamble and J. N. Fellows, 1860-62; Andrew J. Wilkin, 1862-64; W. F, Thornhill, 1864-70 (Speaker of the House, session of 168-69) ; John Baker, 1870-72; B. C. Blackburn, 1872-74; John Baker, 1874-76; E. L. Lybarger, 1876-78; John Hardy, 1878-82. For some years after its organization, Coshocton county was combined with Guernsey and Tuscarawas in a State senatorial district. From 1820 to 1830 the district was made up of Coshocton and Tuscarawas ; and after 1824, Holmes, which was in that year organized. Still later, Coshocton and Knox made the district. Since 1850, Coshocton and Tuscarawas have formed the district. The first citizen of Coshocton elected State senator was Wilson McGowan, serving 1821-22. Samuel Lee was senator, 1826-27; Charles Miller, 1828-29; James Ravenscraft, 1834-36; James Matthews, 1838-39; John Johnson, 1842-43; W. F. Thornhill, 1845-46; Andrew Ferguson, 1850-51; Heslip Williams, 1854-55; A. L. Cass, 1858-59; William Stanton, 1864-65; James M. Burt, 1866-7, also, 1870-71; John C. Fisher, 1873-74, and in 1878-79. Coshocton county has furnished four Congressmen. The first of these was David Spangler, who served two successive terms, from 1833 to 1837. The congressional district, which he represented, comprised Coshocton, Holmes, Knox and Tuscarawas counties. James Matthews also served two terms, from 1841 to 1845. John Johnson in 1851-53, and Joseph Burns in 1857-59, were the other two national representatives. In the State constitutional convention of 1851, this county was represented by John Johnson, and in that of 1874 by William Sample. James M. Burt represented the Coshocton and Tusca 306 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. rawas district in the State Board of Equalization in 1860. James Gamble was chosen a member 1 of the board of public works in October, 1862- entering upon his duties in February, 1863. He died in March, 1864, and James Moore was appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy in April, 1864. He was elected in October, 1866, and held the office for a term of three years. John C. Fisher was appointed a member of the Fish Commission in 1875, by Governor Allen J. W. Dwyer was, for some time-in Delano's administration of internal revenue affairs-supervisor of internal revenue for the northern district of Ohio, with office at Coshocton. He was, at a later date, pension agent, with office at Columbus.. W. A. Johnson served for several years as deputy United States internal revenue assessor; and John Flew, James Dryden and Dr. J. H. Lee as deputy collectors. CHAPTER XXXII. BENCH AND BAR. First Courts-Early Judges-Associate Judges-Judge Sample - Early Bar-First Lawyers-David Spangler-Present Members. THE building in which the first court of common pleas for Coshocton county was held is still standing. It is the desolate and dilapidated two-story frame structure near the northeast cor ner of Water and Chestnut streets. Joining this building on the south was the log cabin, where Adam Johnson tended the store started by Hedge & Hammord. Another log cabin touched it on the north, and in it was Colonel Williams' tavern within easy access of the court. The family of Mr. Williams occupied the lower floor of the frame building, and an apartment on the upper floor, reached by an outdoor stairway, was the scene of the first forensic display in the county. This cluster of buildings was for years the most important place in the county, forming as it did a private dwelling, public house, store room, court house, meeting house, jail, fort, school house and ball room. By the legislature the county was placed in the judicial district over which Hon William Wilson of Licking county was president judge. William Mitchell, Peter Casey and Isaac Evans, three substantial citizens of the county, had been appointed associate judges. The first term of court convened April 1, 1811. "Some choice hickory wood had been cut for the occasion, and `mine host' was doubtless in his best humor, feeling the importance of the occasion and his own importance as one of the head men in the new county and the host of the court. It is said new hunting-shirts were plenty in town that day. It must,. however, have somewhat diminished the glory of the occasion that the president judge did not put in an appearance. The three associate judges were on hand and the court `sat' with becoming dignity." The term was of the briefest possible duration, as there was little or no court business-to transact. The associate judges produced their commissions and legal qualifications and took their seats. Adam Johnson was appointed clerk pro tem. and recorder for a term of seven years, the election of a justice of the peace in each of the townships of Tuscarawas, Washington and New Castle and of two in Franklin township was ordered, and the court adjourned sine die. The second term was opened September 2, 1811, with a full court present. Thomas L. Rue was appointed clerk pro terra. The first grand jury was impaneled at this term of court, and consisted of the following members: James Tanner, foreman, James Craig, Benjamin Fry, Samuel Clark, Samuel Hardesty, John Hanson, Isaac Workman, Charles Miller, Michael Miller, Philip Wagoner, Windle Miller, Francis McGuire, Henry Miller, and John Mills. The jury reported "no business:" The docket shows three cases. Two of these were dismissed and the third continued. William Lockard was appointed county surveyor, and the court adjourned. At the third term, in December, the judges were again all present, and business began to increase. One jury case was tried at this term. The jury, the first petit jury in the county consisted of John D. Moore, Frederick Woolford,. William Beard, John Hanson, John G. Pigman, Huch Ballentine, Philip Wolfe, George Smith, John Bantham, Windle Miller, John McKearn and Elijah Moore. The case was that of Charles Williams against Adam Markley, an appeal from HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 307 the judgment of William Whitten, justice of the peace. The suit was to recover nine dollars and fifty-six cents, alleged to be due plaintiff. The verdict was for the plaintiff Lewis Cars was his attorney. Wright Warner was appointed prosecuting attorney, and his compensation filed at twenty-five dollars per term of court. Letters of administration were granted to Jesse and John Fulton on the estate of William Fulton, deceased. The grand jury returned one bill at this term, against George Arnokl, for assault and battery committed upon the body of one Thomas Beckworth. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined by the court four dollars and costs. Arnold terminated his career in this county five years later, by fatally stabbing John Markley, on election day, and escaping to parts unknown The legislature had provided that no term of the court should extend beyond five " working days:' For the first few years only from one to five days were required to complete the business. The cases were largely criminal, and the charges most prevalent on the docket were for assault and battery, slander and "fighting at fisticuffs," or "by agreement" A mode of punishment not very common, even in those days, was that to which one Zeba French was subjected. He had I been convicted at the December term of 1814 of "uttering and putting off" counterfeit money, and the sentence passed upon him was that he should be taken to the public whipping-post of the county and receive upon his naked back thirty-nine lashes. He was also fined twenty dollars and costs-a heavy fine at that time-and imprisoned in the county jail thirty days. The sentence was duly executed. Several other counterfeiters, equally guilty, had been arrested and incarcerated with French, but had made good their escape from the county before they were called upon to expiate their much detested crime. Counterfeiting and horse stealing, in the minds of the early settlers, were two most abominable crimes and were rarely allowed to go unpunished to the full extent of the law. Judge Wilson continued to be president judge until 1822, when he was succeeded by-Alexander Harper of Zanesville. Judge Harper had frequently visited Coshocton as a; lawyer, and for several years had acted as prosecuting attorney for Coshocton county, though a non resident. He was exceedingly popular with the bar and also with the citizens. He served two terms and was succeeded in April, 1836, by Corrington W. Searle, also of Zanesville. He served one term only and in 1843; Richard Stilwell, also of Zanesville, came into the office. About the close of his official term Coshocton county was placed in another district and James Stewart, of Mansfield, became president judge. He presided at only a few terms of court before the change in the State judiciary, wrought by the new constitution, came into effect. Under the old constitution, three citizens of the county were commissioned by the governor of the State to occupy the bench as associate judges. The names of the first judges have been mentioned. Of these, Peter Casey lived beyond Millersburg, in what is now Holmes county; Isaac Evans lived at Evansburg, Oxford township, and William Mitchell, close to Coshocton. The term of office was seven years and the following is a complete list of those who filled this position, together with their several terms of service: William Mitchell, 1811-13; Isaac Evans, 1811-16; Peter Casey, 1811-24; Lewis Vail, 1813-15; Benjamin Robinson, 1815-21; David T. Finney, 1816-17; Joseph W. Pigman, 1817-19; Mordecai Chalfant, 1819-33; Thomas Johnson, 1821-41; Henry Grim, 1824-31; James Robinson, 1831-35; John Crawford, 1833-47; James LeRetilley, 1835-42; Robert Crawford, 1841-46; Benjamin R. Shaw, 1842-51; Samuel Elliott, 1846-52; James LeRetilley, 1847-50; Josiah Harris, 1850-52; James M. Burt, 1851-52. As will be seen, these are the names of citizens who, in their day, were well known for their enterprise and public spirit. "There was little claim by or for these associate judges of any special knowledge of the law, and the system under which they served came in time to be regarded much the same as would be a wagon with five wheels; a third estate between the judge proper and the jury, and not demanded in settling either the law or the facts. One of the commonest jokes of their day was the declaration of a culprit, who thought it hard to be brought before a court of a thousand men-the president judge being one (1) and the three associates, the three 308 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ciphers (000)."However, '° it has been insisted by some of the ablest lawyers that the associate judge courts oftentimes correctly accomplished an amount of business not always attained under the present system." The first judge to sit at Coshocton under the present constitution, was Martin Walker, then of Wayne county, now Judge of the United States District Court for the northern district of Ohio. He was succeeded at the aspiration of one term in 1857, by William Sample of Coshocton He served two terms and was succeeded in 1867 by William Reed of Holmes county, who also remained on the bench for two terms. Charles C. Parsons of Wooster was elected his successor, entering upon his judicial duties in 1877. Owing to an accumulation of business, the election of an additional judge was ordered by the legislature, and C. F. Vorhees was elected in 1877, entering upon his duties the following year, Coshocton county is a part of the third subdivision of the sixth judicial district of Ohio, comprising Coshocton, Holmes and Wayne counties. As will be seen, William Sample has been the only common pleas judge from this county. He was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, February 24, 1811. When he was but two y ears old his father died, ant soon after the family removed to a farm in Jefferson county, Ohio. While still a lad, the charge of the farm and the care of the family devolved entirely upon him. During the winters he taught school, and worked on the farm in summer. His educational advantages were only such as rural districts, remote from towns, afforded in that early day, and the mastery of the education he acquired was the result of his own persevering efforts. He studied law at Steubenville with Oliver C. Gray, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. In November, 1845, he came to Coshocton and engaged actively in the practice of his profession He served one term as prosecuting attorney. His labors upon the bench were performed to the entire satisfaction of the people and won golden opinions from the members of the bar. At the expiration of his career as judge, he removed to Wooster and resumed practice in partnership with J. P. Jeffries. In 1868 he changed his residence to Newark, and was engaged in practice four and one-half ,years with Hon Gibson Atherton. Then in 1873 he returned to Coshocton and continued his professional labors until his death, which occurred July 22, 1877. His last public service was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1873. In personal appearance he was tall, towering head and shoulders above his fellow men In character he was positive and determined. His faculties remained active and vigorous to the end. He possessed a logical, judicial mind, and was known as an honest, virtuous and religious man The early history of the bar in Coshocton may be summed up in a few sentences. Times then in court matters, as in all other affairs and relations, were essentially different from what they are now. The courts then were " on wheels," the judges traveling from county to county, remaining only a few days in a place and passing on to the nest seat of justice in his large district. The lawyers would accompany the judge in his route and attend to the business that was found necessary to transact. The "foreign"lawyers, who at-tended to the Coshocton county legal affairs, were principally from Zanesville, and among those whose names recur with frequency upon the early court dockets as attorneys, may be noted Lewis Cass, Alexander Harper, Wyllys Silliman, E. B. Monroe, Ebenezer Granger, Charles B. Goddard and S. W. Culbertson Wright Warner was the first resident lawyer in Coshocton, coming in the spring of 1811. At the September term of the court in that year he was appointed prosecuting attorney for the county but retained it only a few years. He became involved in a quarrel with Colonel Williams, which resulted in several lawsuits for assault and battery, slander, etc. He did not follow the practice at the bar exclusively, but was one of the early tavern keepers of Coshocton and continued in this occupation after he removed to Steubenville, in 1814 or 1815. Aaron M. Church located at Coshocton in the fall of 1811. He has been mentioned among the early settlers of Coshocton His education, both legal and general, had been carefully attended to and his talents fitted him for a high rank in the legal profession He opened his office here under the most favorable circumstances, but dissipation HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 309 and neglect of business reduced him to a needy condition, and in the spring of 1816 he died of cold plague. The office of prosecuting attorney was then obliged to go begging and for a number of years was filled by non-resident lawyers, there being none at all in Coshocton One lawyer, whose name is unknown, is said to have "hung out a shingle"in 1819, but, not meeting with any great success, soon removed to other parts. The next resident lawyer seems to have been William G. Carhart, who began to practice about 1821. He did not devote his entire time to the profession, and soon relinquished it for other sad more congenial employment. About 1825 Samuel Rea began practice. His business was chiefly office work, having few if any cases in court. Probably the first lawyer of well-marked ability, that won and kept a practice here, was Noah Swayne, who has recently resigned a seat in the highest tribunal of this nation He came to Coshocton in 1827 from Belmont county, was prosecuting attorney for several years and in 1832 removed to Columbus in consequence of having been appointed United States district attorney for Ohio. James Matthews, who was born in Columbiana county and read law with Hon H. H. Leavitt, of Steubenville, came to Coshocton in 1829. He was twice a member of the State legislature from this county and served two terms in congress. In 1855 he removed to Knoxville, Iowa. He was a good lawyer, and possessed considerable force of character. In stature he was quite tall, thin visaged and eagle-nosed, and popular with the masses. Deeply interested in politics he never failed to be elected to a position for which he was a candidate. George Wyllys Silliman came to Coshocton about 1830. He was a native of Muskingum county, the son of Wyllys Silliman, a lawyer of Zanesville, and nephew of Lewis Cass. His education was received at Ohio University and afterwards at the military academy at West Point. He read law with his father in Zanesville, and soon after he settled in Coshocton was sent as bearer of dispatches to C. P. Van Ness, United States Minister to Spain He returned to Coshocton in 1833, and was soon after elected prosecuting attorney, and by re-election continued the office ten years. In 1843 he went on a voyage to Europe for his health, but was not greatly benefitted, and on his return voyage grew rapidly worse, and died at sea. Ills remains were brought to New York and interred in Greenwood Cemetery. In 1834 he married Miss Ann Johnson, who survived him many years, dying in 1862. There was one child, Wyllys Cass Silliman, who survived his father only about two years. Mr. Silliman's reputation is that of a genial, scholarly gentleman In 1832, David Spangler became a resident lawyer at Coshocton He was born at Sharpsburg, Maryland, December 24, 1796, the eldest son of Christian and Ann Spangler. In 1802, the family moved to Zanesville, where the father established himself in trade as a blacksmith. The youth of David was spent in his father's shop at the forge and anvil. Subsequently the father engaged in mercantile business, and here, too, David proved his chief assistant. Study, however, was not neglected, and David profited by the limited educational opportunities open to him. At the age of twenty-five he commenced the study of law with Alexander Harper, and in 1825 was admitted to practice in the supreme court of Ohio, in Cleveland.He commenced practice in Zanesville. In 1830, he was nominated by the Whig party as State representative for Muskingum county, and polled far more than his party vote, though not enough to elect him. He was induced to remove to Coshocton in 1832, in consequence of the removal of Noah H. Swayne from Coshocton to Columbus. This change of residence was well-timed and never regretted. Professional business poured in from the start, and he was called upon to take a leading position in the political arena. In the fall of 1832 he was placed in nomination as the Whig candidate for national representative in the Thirteenth Congressional District, then comprising Coshocton, Holmes, Knox and Tuscarawas counties, and, owing to the fact that there were two candidates of the opposite party in the field, although the Whigs were in the minority, their candidate was elected by a good majority. He was re-elected in 1834 by a still more decisive vote. Mr. Spangler was satisfied with the political experience 310 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. thus obtained, and proclaimed his determination to give his undivided attention thereafter to professional practice. In 1844 he was nominated for Governor by this party, then in the ascendancy in the State, but he firmly declined the nomination, insisting upon his tastes for private life, the pressure of professional business and the claims of his family, especially those of his two sons, then in course of education While at Washington, in January, 1834, he was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, and orally and successfully argued a case, carried up from Ohio, before that court, over which the venerable Chief Justice Marshall yet presided. Mr. Spangler died October 18,1856. His parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was carefully nurtured in its teachings, and ever cherished an ardent attachment for it, though never identified with it as a member. He always gave active aid in the Sabbath-school, and in the musical department of the church. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity when a young man, and held the position of Worshipful Master and representative to the Grand Lodge, of which he was S. G. Deacon Grand Orator and Deputy Grand Master. He received no college education, but by his own self-directed effort became a good belles lettres scholar a profound lawyer and an eloquent advocate. By nature he possessed both talent and genius, a vigorous mind, and a physical constitutlon capable of sustaining him throughout the most arduous preparation of a cause, and the most exhausting forensic effort in the trial of it Unbending from these in his hours of social converse, his friends were enlivened by his humor and delighted by his wit. His sympathy and readiness to associate freely with the masses, his great industry and energy, and his keen insight of human nature and ready wit, were qualities gruing him his place and power in public life. He used to joke with his friends about his growth in popularity when a candidate, stating that in one township he doubled his vote ; the fact subsequently coming from him that the first time he ran he got in that township-a Democratic stronghold-one vote, and the second time two. From about 1835, the number of attorneys in Coshocton has steadily increased. For many years after that date lawyers from Zanesville continued to transact much of the legal business in this county, but the amount gradually diminished with the growth of the Coshocton bar, and has long since become unnoticeable. At this writing, April, 1881, the following attorneys are actively engaged in practice in Coshocton Thomas Campbell, E. T. Spangler, J. C. Pomerene, R. M. Voorhees, James Irvine, J. T. Simmons, John D. Nicholas, E. W. James, G. H. Barger, J. M. Compton, A. H. Stilwell, W. R. Gault, J. P. Forbes, E. J. Stickle, and J. M. Williams. CHAPTER XXXIII. WAR OF 1812. Companies Raised in Coshocton county-Hull's Surrender Muster Roll of Johnston's Riflemen-March of Colonel Wil- liams' Command-Their Services on the Frontier-Defense of Fort Meigs-Rev. H. Calhoun's Communication. AFTER the declaration of war against Great Britain, in June, 1812, Return J. Meigs, at that time Governor of Ohio, raised several regiments, among the commanders of which was Colonel Lewis Cass of Muskingum county. Col. Cass in raising his regiment, enlisted an entire company from Coshocton county, chiefly from the south and west parts. Early in June, this company, with its regiment, marched to Urbana, where they were joined by the full force under the command of General William Hull, about the middle of June. The entire army numbered twenty-five hundred men, and began its northern march from this point; and by the end of June had reached the Maumee. General Hull's campaign ended in disaster; the surrender of all his forces and effects to the British; and the Coshocton company returned home on parole. The surrender of Hull's forces, August 16,1812, was a great shock to the people, who had up to that time complete confidence in the army for their defense. They had not built block-houses or engaged the militia to any great extent. Governor Meigs, on the receipt of the news of Hull's surrender. made a requisition for volunteers; and in response thereto, Judge Isaac Evans raised a company .in Coshocton county, immediately marched to Franklinton (across Scioto from Columbus); was mustered into service and furnished with uniforms and United States muskets. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 311 General Harrison was appointed and took command of the army, about the time of Hull's surrender and upon receipt of that news, came immediately to Ohio; reaching Cincinnati on the 27th of August, and the army at Dayton, or thereabouts, on the 31st of the month. The company of Captain Evens joined General Harrison's forces at Pique about September 3. A regular campaign was laid out for the recapture of Michigan, but for the time being the troops were employed in keeping open the communications between the upper Miami and the Maumee. General Winchester was given command of the troops at the Michigan frontier, and established himself in winter quarters by January, 1813, on the northern banks of the Maumee river. While here an arrangement was made to defend the inhabitants of. Frenchtown from threatened British and Indian invasion, but for want of due precaution, the defense was a• lamentable failure, resulting in the defeat and surrender of the entire force, including General Winchester. The result of this defeat, added to that of Hull's surrender; was a general alarm of the country; blockhouses were built all along, from the front to the interior of Ohio. Demands were made for all ablebodied men, and several companies were raised in Coshocton county, that were engaged at the Mansfield frontier outside of General Harrison's regular army. One of these companies was raised by Captain Isaac Meredith, in the northwestern section of the county, of which company one James Oglevie of Keens township is still living. Captain Tanner is also reported to have raised a company in the southern part of the county; and mention is made of one Captain Beard having raised a part of a company. These companies, with a rifle company commanded by Captain Adam Johnston, and one or two other companies, all being armed and equipped by themselves, were placed under the command of Colonel Charles Williams, and ordered by Governor Meigs to the frontier. The muster roll of " Johnston's Riflemen," as they were termed, is the only complete roll extant and is as follows: Captain, Adam Johnson; Lieutenant, William Morrison; Ensign, Abraham Miller; First Sergeant, Thomas Foster; Second Sergeant, John M. Miller; Third Sergeant, Frederick Morkley; Fourth Sergeant, Robert Culbertson ; First Corporal, John H. Miller; Second Corporal, Zebedee Baker; Third Corporal, John M. Bartman; Fourth Corporal, John D. Moore; Privates: Samuel Morrison, Edward Miller, Isaac M. Miller, Michael Miller, Isaac Hoagland, George Arnold, James Buckalew; John Baker, Matthew Boner, Joseph Neff, Allen Moors, Benjamin Workman, James Winders, John McKean, Windle Miller, John G. Miller, Isaac G. Miller, George McCullough, Daniel Miller, Joseph McFarland, Andrew Lybarger, Henry Carr, Nathan Williams and John Steirman. To these names may be added the following names of citizens of Coshocton county, who were engaged in the war of 1812, but with what companies is not on record, viz.: Joseph Severns (who is still living in New Castle township), Peter Moore, Charles Miller, John G. Pigman, Thomas Johnson, Richard Johnson, Andrew McLain, Samuel Elson, Francis Smith, W. R. Cloud, James Williams, Levi Magness, George Magness, Richard Fowler, Rezin Baker, Richard Hawk, Isaac Shambaugh, James Oglesby, James Wiley, Elijah Newcum, James Butler, Robert Corbet and Thomas Butler. The various companies under Colonel Charles Williams reached Mansfield the latter part of August, and erected a block-house on the public square. Here they were at the time of the massacre of the Zimmers, Martin Ruffner and James Copus. The particulars of the Zimmer and Copus massacre develop the fact that the massacre, in both instances, was the result of the removal of the Greentown Indians, who were part Delawares and part Mohawks, and were so called because of their camp having been located at Greentown, on Black Fork. The Indians were thrown into a violent state of excitement upon the appearance of the soldiers for their removal. Mr. James Copus was consulted in regard to allaying this excitement. He was a man much respected by the Greentown Indians, who had learned to believe in his honesty and fidelity and to trust him. Mr. Copus was opposed to the removal of the Indians, believing it to be unjust, but finding orders for removal to be peremptory, finally made the effort to persuade the Indians to consent. Upon representations that their property should be safe and their lives 312 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. respected, they departed with the soldiers, who, in violation of their pledges, immediately burnt the cabins and property of the Indians. The smoke and flames of their burning homes were seen by the departing savages, and they vowed a fearful vengeance. Two weeks after the removal of the Greentown Indians Martin Ruffner and the Zimmer family were murdered; they were living about five miles north of the burned village. After this massacre of the Zimmer family, Mr. James Copus and family went to the block house at Beam's mill, and remained there five days; after which they returned home, believing the Indians would not molest them because of the friendly relations that hitherto existed between them. Nine soldiers, from Adam Johnson's rifle company, of Coshocton county, were detailed to accompany Mr. Copus to his home. They took quarters in the barn while the family remained in the house. In the morning the soldiers went a short distance to a spring, leaving their guns behind. They were immediately attacked by the Indians, and five of the soldiers and Mr. Copus were killed in a short time. The remainder of the soldiers kept up the fight from daylight until ten o'clock, and finally repulsed the savages. This engagement was the only one in which Coshocton men are known to have lost their lives in the struggle of 1812. Some of the powder used in this war was made from saltpeter collected a few miles south of Roscoe. While these events were transpiring at the Mansfield frontier, the company of Captain Evans was engaged with the forces of General Harrison, who were constructing Fort Meigs. On the 28th of February, 1813, a large force of British and Indians under command of Proctor, Tecumseh, Walk-in-the-water, and other Indian chiefs, appeared on the Maumee in boats, and prepared for the attack. The effort to capture the fort, from the determined character of the defense, developed into a siege; which was prolonged ten weeks, and resulted in the final defeat of the British. The continued campaign in this section consisted in like attacks upon the various forts that had been erected along the frontier, with a result in all cases of victory for the forces of General Harrison. The naval victories for Americans on the lakes and one or two victories on land, finally terminated the struggle, and the Ohio troops returned to their homes; in which triumphant return Coshocton county had her share of rejoicings. During the war, when our forces were defeated at the Michigan frontier, it was rumored that the Indians were coming to this section of country to massacre and burn Word was sent all along the line of the Walhonding and Muskingum rivers to the homes of the scattered settlers; most of whom were left unprotected, the husbands and sons being at the frontier. The alarm thus sounded caused great consternation and there was a hasty gathering of friends and families into the various block-houses that were scattered through the country, awaiting the approach of the enemy. The feeling that prevailed at that time, and the sensations of terror experienced, are better portrayed in the language of one of the ministers of that day, whose mission it was to comfort and console the terror-stricken in the day of trouble, than by the pen of the historian of to-day. Rev. H. Calhoun writes of that. period in a short historical sketch as follows: The war of 1812 was severely felt upon our border settlements in the west. Small and feeble villages were deprived of nearly all their male inhabitants, and thus a few trembling wives and daughters and helpless boys, with here and there some decrepid and infirm old man, incapable of enduring the hardships of the camp, were exposed to all the cruelties of the merciless savages, maddened by British bounties and presents. In this, situation, with many others, was Coshocton. At the cry of danger nearly every man, capable of bearing arms, volunteered for the army, bade farewell to home and hurried away to the northwest, the scene of the greatest danger and exposure. There was, however, no general engagement in which the soldiers' valor could be tested.. As they lay encamped and inactive, perhaps dreaming of the dear ones left at home, and little knowing what might betide them, a scene occurred of no little interest at this place; which we shall try to describe People left in such a defenseless state in a time of general danger, are alive to every alarm and susceptible of a thousand fears. Mothers start at every strange sound which disturbs their slumbers and hug their children closely in their embraces, and many a familiar object, at twilight, by an excited imagination, is transformed into the dark outline of a murderous savage, waiting to spring upon his unsuspecting victim. In the: HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 313 midst of this prevalent state of suspense, the village was one day thrown into consternation by the arrival of a messenger, with terror marked in his countenance, and impatient to communicate the intelligence that the wilderness to the northwest, between the Tuscarawas and Walhonding, was infested with Indians, whose murderous design could be nothing better than to pillage and burn In turning attention to another part of this scene, enter a cabin and observe what is passing there. It stands far back from the river, among the thick hazel bushes which covered the most of what is now the town There might be seen the young mother, with her babe, born and bred amid the comforts of an Eastern home, now the lonely occupant of a rude cabin, her husband in a distant town, and no one to cheer her lonely hours but a poor invalid, the son of a clergyman in an eastern city, with a broken-down constitution, and he himself now suffering with the prevailing sickness of the. country. Amid the general confusion and consternation they were forgotten, and neither heard the alarm, nor assembled with the rest at Colonel Charles Williams' at night, but slept as sweetly and safely as though nothing had occurred. The nest day they heard what had been done, but thinking their own cabin as safe as any other, spent the second night as they had the first. The day following the first alarm which we have endeavored to describe, in the afternoon, a traveler, on horseback, faint and weary, might have been seen, a little to the east of where Newark now stands, making his way, in a road little better than an Indian trail, to Coshocton He looked now at the declining sun, and now into the thick gloom of the forest before him, and seemed anxious to reach some fixed point ere nightfall. The time flew by, the way seemed long and the companion of his journey weary. It was late when he passed the place where Irville now stands, but he still pressed on, as though his point of destination was yet before him. Night came on and he felt he could go no farther, and alighted at a solitary cabin, in the midst of the wilderness. As he went in, a stranger, there for the night, recognized him and asked if he was not from Coshocton He replied that he was; upon which he told him the startling news; the alarms of Indians; the momentary expectation of an attack, and that troops had been sent for, to Zanesville. The emotions of our traveler are better imagined than told. He thought no more of his own fatigue, or that of his horse; ordered him fed and, with as little delay as possible; was again on his way. It could not be expected that a father and a husband would sleep there, while hi family were in such peril. No ordinary feeling agitated his heart, as he rode on through the dark, dense forest, and thought of his wife an child as captives in the hands of the Indians, or the victims of the tomahawk. A bright moon rode the heavens above him and enabled him to discern his way. Suddenly he emerged from the wood into a small clearing, which had been deserted by some unfortunate settler, and to his utter consternation as he supposed, found himself in the midst of Indians encamped for the night. By the uncertain light of the moon, he could see one and another scat tered thick over the clearing, startled from slumber by his unexpected appearance among them. ha a moment, for there was no time to lose, he resolved not to return, but press his way through them and trust to the fleetness of his horse to make good his escape. To go back or forward seemed alike dangerous. Judge now of his surprise and joy, as he dashed into their midst, to find what his excited imagination had worked up into an encampment and the figures of dark and murderous savages, was only a herd of peaceful cattle that had been grazing in the woods, and had come out into the opening, as is their custom,. to sleep at night. Recovering gradually from his fright, he now rode along, only taking the precaution to provide himself w with a good hickory club, his only means of defense in case of emergency. As he thought over his own alarm and the ease with which in the excited state of the public mind false alarms might be raised, he could not but hope that the Indians who had been reported as threatening ruin to his own home, might prove as harmless as those he had just encountered. By noon of night, he arrived at a well-known place of entertainment, on the banks of the Muskingum some five miles above where Dresden now stands. Here he found his hopes more than realized. The kind host informed him that the alarm had all proved false; the troops had returned to Zanesville after committing various depredations upon the poultry and cattle by the way, and the inhabitants had returned to their homes. He accordingly, having fought his own battle with his imaginary foes, and feeling disposed to let the women and children defend themselves from theirs, for the rest of the night at least, retired for the night. The settlers of Coshocton county mainly congregated, during this scare, in the house of Charles Williams, except those in the far northwestern section of the county, who generally flocked to a large block house that had been built during the war at what is now the village of New Castle in New Castle township. A small portion of the citizens of Coshocton s county, among others, Levi and George Magness, were with the American army, on the Canadian side of the line, under Generals Scott and Brown. 314 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. CHAPTER XXXIV. WAR WITH MEXICO. Causes of the war-\Luster Roll of Captain Meredith's Com- pany - The Third Ohio Regiment-Its Operations in the Field-The Fourth Ohio Regiment and its Services-Close of the War TEXAS, when a province of Mexico, comprised all that section of country extending to the Indian Territory on the north, and from this line northwest to the line of Oregon Territory, on the Pacific coast, including what is now the States of California and Nevada, with the adjacent country, embraced in the territorial limits of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and part of Montana; also a portion of what is now the State of Colorado. Texas had been largely populated by Americans even as a Mexican province, and the question of what was the western boundary of Texas, was a subject upon which this country became agitated early in its history. The martial element that was developed by the successful issue of the Revolutionary war, and to which was given a fresh impetus by the magnificent victories of the War of 1812, bred a host of adventurous spirits, who in tunes of peace rushed to the frontier borders of the country with such sensitive conceptions of what was due to the national honor, that the conflict hung like an impending cloud o'er the border land long before the agitation culminated in what is known as the Mexican War. Texas had made herself an independent State by a successful rebellion .against Mexico, as the United States had done against England. As a part of Mexico, those best versed in the merits of the case gave assurances that the Rio Grande was the original western boundary of Texas; annexed to the United States in the year 1845 by virtue of her own petition, the attempts of the Mexican government to ignore this legitimate western boundary, led to the conflict, declaration of war, and a call for 50,000 volunteers. An appropriation by Congress of $10,000,000 was placed at the disposal o President James K. Polk to sustain the army an prosecute the war. Ohio furnished 5,536 volunteers, and 2,321 regulars. In Coshocton county, as elsewhere in the State, the call aroused that dormant warlike spirit of a generation that had been reared upon a fireside love for the tales of battles their sires had fought, and, consequently, the numbers of volunteers were far in excess of the requirements of the call. The successful company from Coshocton county, over 110 strong, was officered as follows: Jesse Meredith, Captain J. M. Love, First Lieutenant (afterwards Captain. S. B. Crowley, Second Lieutenant. J. B. Crowley, First Sergeant. Corbin Darne, Second Sergeant. Rolla Banks, Third Sergeant. B. F. Sells, First Corporal. ------ Patterson, Second Corporal. It left the Roscoe side of the river aboard of two canal boats on the 5th day of June, 1846. Two days later it arrived at Zanesville and encamped on Putnam Hill, and, on the 7th day of June, took steamboat via the Muskingum and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, and encamped at Camp Washington, five miles west of Cincinnati on the 10th of June. Here it remained until July 1 when it was mustered into service and became a part of the Third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was known as company "B." At the close of the first year of the war this regiment, with the First and Second Ohio, were mustered out of the service, as their term of enlistment had expired. On their return trip they met the second Coshocton company, which was then on its way to the seat of war. This company was recruited and organized by James Irvine, of Coshocton, who is now residing in Coshocton county, and an active member of its bar. He was promoted to a colonelcy during the late war of the rebellion Captain James Irvine enlisted a portion only of his company in Coshocton county. He secured, by May, 1847, an organization, and marched his company to Zanesville, taking steamboat from thence to Cincinnati, where they Were mustered into service, becoming part of the Fourth Ohio, commanded by Colonel Charles H. Brugh, and known as Company "G." In "Camp Washington," at the first call for e volunteers, were large numbers of men, from PAGE 315 - PICTURE OF JNO. D. NICHOLES PAGE 316 - BLANK HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 317 Cincinnati, determined to enlist, who, from the proximity of that city to this general rendezvous For Ohio volunteers, were in camp and under drill a much longer period than many others; when the discovery was made that the number of volunteers far exceeded the requirements, these men mutinied, and for a time the unusual occurrence was presented of men ready to fight for the privilege of being enrolled for the fatigues and dangers of war. The Third Ohio, in whose record Coshocton county was a sharer, was placed aboard a steamboat bound for New Orleans, July 3, 1846. Company B suffered the first loss, by the death of one of their number in the person of George Hitchens, who fell overboard and was drowned. On the 8th day of July a stop was made at Baton Rouge, where the regiment was equipped with arms and ammunition. Arriving at Camp Jackson on the 10th, the troops encamped on the memorable battle-field of "Old Hickory," six miles below New Orleans. The regiment was finally shipped on two old merchant vessels for Brazos Santiago, being eight days making the voyage, encountering very stormy weather, arriving safely, however, and going into camp with 3,000 regular and volunteer troops. At this camp Company B lost another member, John Darne, who died on the 29th day of July. On the 30th, the Third Ohio took up the line of march for the Rio Grande, and on the 2d day of August arrived at Camp Bareto. At this point Company B was again unfortunate in the death of Samuel Miller, he being the third citizen of Coshocton county who had fallen ere the breath of battle had crowned the company. On the 4th of August the regiment embarked for Matamoras, and on the 5th entered and took possession of Camp "Paredes," on Mexican soil. On the 12th march was made to Camp McCook, from which point the regiment garrisoned the city of Matamoras until September 3. During the interval from the 6th of August to February 2, 1841, Company B lost, by sickness and death, A. J. Darling, William Gardner, Henry Brown, Charles Wright and Joseph Parker. October 27, 1846, Captain Jesse Meredith resigned and left for home, and Lieutenant J. M. Love was promoted to the captaincy. February 2,1847, the regiment was ordered forward, and on the 13th arrived at Camargo, situated on the bank of the San Joan ricer. At Fort Camargo the government kept and furnished supplies to General Taylor's army, having steamboat navigation from that point to the gulf. The regiment remained as garrison troops at this point until March 7, when they were ere relieved and ordered to the front in the vicinity of Monterey. While on this march to Monterey, the Third Ohio had its first conflict with the enemy. The Mexicans, under General Urea, were skirmishing around them but not coming into close conflict until the 16th, when the regiment defeated and pursued them to Caderaeda; and on the 18th, after a forced march of forty miles, reached the camp at Walnut Springs, just outside the city limits of Monterey. The regiment here spent three days gazing upon the heights over which General Worth's gallant troops had swept, and upon Bishop's Palace, which had been so heroically stormed when Monterey had been compelled to surrender to the valor of American soldiers. They were then ordered forward on the 21st to Saltillo, to join the forces of General Taylor. On the 24th the regiment joined General Taylor's forces and went into camp on the battle field of Buena Vista,. Here the regiment remained until May 18, when it was ordered to the gulf; while en route, Robert Harbison died and lies buried at a little town called Mear. On the 9th of June, it embarked for New Orleans, arriving there on the 13th, and on the 20th was mustered out of service and arrived at home July 5, 1847. While this regiment, with its Coshocton company, was returning from the field of action, the Fourth Ohio, with another Coshocton company, left Cincinnati on steamboat for New Orleans, and at that point shipped on sailing vessels over the Gulf to Point Isabel. Point Isabel was the base of supplies first established by General Taylor in March, 1846, and was strengthened again in April and made a permanent point of operations during the entire war. It was situated on Brazos Island, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. The regiment after debarkation marched immediately to the Rio Grande and re-embarked on steamboats for Matamoras, twenty-five miles by land from Point Isabel, but following the winding 318 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. course of the Rio Grande was ninety miles. The regiment was retained at Matamoras, doing gar rison duty, until September 7. During this entire time they were clamorous for removal and orders to the front, but the citizens of Matamoras were equally clamorous for the retention of the Ohio men, as they were fearful of being garrisoned by Texan forces, who, influenced by the hatred developed by the border struggles, were less careful of the interests of the Mexican citizens than their more distant and Northern comrades. September 7, orders were received to re-embark for Point Isabel, and on reaching there, to ship via the Gulf to Vera Cruz. Vera Cruz had been invested on the 9th of March, 1847, by the army of General Scott. It was defended on the water side by the castle of San Juan d' Ulloa, but after four days bombardment capitulated, and on the 27th surrendered, and from that time became the seaport avenue to the capital city of Mexico. The Fourth Ohio, at this point, was assigned to General Joe Lane's brigade in the division under command of General Robert Patterson, of Philadelphia. General Patterson is still living in the Quaker city; and General Lane, commander of the brigade, was afterwards Senator Joseph Lane, of Oregon. The brigade immediately took up the line of March for the City of Mexico. While en route, they came upon a small force of four hundred regulars, commanded by Major Lally, who were holding the National Bridge against a force of several thousand Mexicans. The Fourth Ohio received orders, as advance guard, to assist Major Lally and, attacking the Mexicans in the rear, defeated them, after a severe skirmish. This engagement was the "baptism of fire" for the Coshocton boy s of this regiment, and quite a number were severely wounded. The march was resumed, and the next engagement was at Huamantla. In this conflict the Fourth Ohio was assigned the duty of rear guard, with control of prisoners. While in this position, Major Iturbide, the son of the old Emperor of the Mexicans, with a large number of prisoners, was brought to the rear, and immediately inquired of Captain James Irvine, in whose hands they were placed, what forces had charge of the prisoners? When he answered the Fourth Ohio, he remarked they were safe, and gave further explanation in the statement that Captain Walker, the celebrated Texan ranger, had been killed in the engagement, and the Texan soldiers were so beside themselves with rage, that they gave no quarter, and even the prisoners would not be safe in their hands. Colonel Samuel H. Walker was a representative of an element that was not so much American as Texan; the commander of Texan rangers, he was at the head of a body of men who were noted for their absolute disregard of danger, and fully deserved his position as commandant, by virtue of deeds of daring and nerve that made even his brave comrades willing to follow him. It is written of him, by Lieutenant W. G. Moseley, Company G, Third United States Dragoons, that he performed the feat of climbing to the top of an almost inaccessible peak, and planted thereon the American flag, as follows: On the right, in its silent and imposing grandeur of repose, ever inaccessible by the frightful chasms and tottering glaciers which surround its summit, stands the eternal snow cap ed peak of Orizola, in its bleak and solitary pride, towering17,500 feet in the blue vault of heaven; its snowy head is the first object the mariner sees on approaching; grateful, cool and refreshing it ever seems whether at sea or on land. And still to the right where the cyclopean demon of Mexican mythology writhes in his agony and wrath, belching forth huge volumes of fire, stone and lava, stands the "Coffre de Perote." Though much more insignificant than his more august neighbor, yet the peak of Perote is more remarkable and interesting in history and romance. It was there the gallant and lamented Captain Samuel H. Walker, the famous quondam Texan scout, in. a spirit of chivalry equal to the adventurous Balboa, clambered to its highest accessible point, even to the " hole in the rock," and there planted the starry banner of his country. After the engagement at Huamantla, the brigade again took up the line of march for the capital city. Arriving at Jalapa, the brigade halted long enough to make a huge bonfire of all baggage that was not indispensable on the march from Jalapa to the capital city. A forced march was then made from this city to Pueblo, where Colonel Childs, with the small force of regulars constituting the garrison, was defending the city and its hospitals, in which were 1,800 HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 319 sick and disabled soldiers, from a large besieging force of Mexicans, under General Santa Anna. In order to fully comprehend the condition of affairs at this point, and to obtain the full meed of honor that crowned the Fourth Ohio and its Coshocton county boys, it will be well to review the stirring events that had been transpiring during the march of General Lane's brigade from the Gulf to Pueblo, just in time to strike the closing blow of this brilliant struggle. To reach the capital of the Mexican Empire, a military force could approach only by causeway s which led over swampy marshes and across the beds of by-gone lakes. Each termination of a causeway was surmounted by a massive gateway strongly entrenched and defended; of this nature were the positions of Contreras, San Antonio and Molino del Rey on one side of the city, while in front of the city were the powerful defenses of Churubusco and Chapultepec. These various positions, the pride of the Mexican Empire, were not only thus strongly entrenched, but were held by a distributed force of 30,000 Mexicans, under the command of General Santa Anna. On the 20th of August the forces under General Scott commenced the attack upon these various positions, and one after another fell; first, Contreras, from which, in seventeen minutes, 6,000 Mexicans were routed ; in a few hours later San Antonio fell, and then the heights of Churubusco, while finally the United States forces, under Generals Shields and Pierce, defeated Santa Anna's reserves. These victories were followed on the 8th of September by the storming and capture of Molino del Rey, Casa de Dicta and the western defenses of Chapultepec, and on the 13th the citadel itself was carried by storm, and the conquering forces swept into the city. General Santa Anna fled by night from the city, with defeat and disaster enfolding him as the clouds of night. The character of these victories may be illustrated by a brief summary of one assault, that of Chapultepec, as set forth from portions of the official report of General John A. Quitman At dawn on the morning of the 13th, the batteries opened an active and effective fire upon the cast. During this cannonade active preps rations were made for the assault upon the castle. Ladders, pickaxes and crows were put in the hands of a pioneer storming party of select men, from the volunteer division, under command of Captain Reynolds, of the Marine Corps, to accompany the storming party of one hundred and twenty men, which had been selected from all corps of the same division, under command of Major Twiggs, of the Marines. These storming parties, led by the gallant officers who had volunteered for this desperate service, rushed forward like a resistless tide. The Mexicans, behind their batteries and breastworks, stood with more than usual firmness. For a short time the contest was hand to hand; swords and bayonets were crossed, and rifles clubbed. Resistance, however, was vain against the desperate valor of our brave troop. The batteries and strong works were carried, and the ascent of Chapultepec on that side laid open to an easy conquest. In these works were taken seven pieces of artillery, one thousand muskets, and two hundred and fifty prisoners, of whom one hundred were officers-among them one general and ten colonels. It was after a succession of defeats like this, where fortification, artillery and number of forces were all on the side of the Mexicans, besides the fight with them being for their capital city and its treasures of wealth and beauty, that Santa Anna and many of his officers stole away in the middle of the night, gathered escaping forces that were scattered, and by a forced march besieged Colonel Childs and his garrison at Puebla, doubtless intending to wreak their vengeance upon the 1,800 sick and wounded soldiers of the hospital. For several days a gallant resistance was made by the garrison, and it was at this time and against this remnant of the Mexican army led in person by Santa Anna that General Lane's brigade hurled its forces after their hurried march from Jalapa.. General Lane's brigade was divided into three attacking columns, one of which was headed by the Fourth Ohio and commanded by Colonel Charles H. Brugh. It furiously attacked the besieging forces of the Mexicans, and fought its way up the streets of Puebla to the Quartet, and from thence to the grand Plazza in the center of the city. The street fight was severe, and left quite a Number of Coshocton county's citizens in the hospital wards of Puebla. This was the final blow to the struggling forces of the Mexicans. The Fourth Ohio was detailed to remain as garrison at Puebla, and had no other 320 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. engagement except to accompany two artillery expeditions, one at Atlixco and the other at. Plascala. These engagements did not even involve a skirmish, consisting simply of a cannonade of guerilla forces of Mexicans at those two mentioned points. The Fourth Ohio remained at Puebla during the balance of the time the United States forces occupied the Mexican territory, and shared in all the closing scenes of this brilliant campaign on the domain of the enemy. It would .tot be amiss to close this recital with a brief review of the closing incidents, as history and personal reminiscences have recorded them. In the winter of 1847-48 American ambassadors met the Mexican congress at Guadaloupe-Hidalgo, and on the second of February a treaty was concluded. By the terms of this treaty the vexed question of boundary between Mexico and the United States was established as running along the Rio Grande from its mouth to the southern limit of New Mexico; thence westward along the southern, and northward along the western boundary of that territory to the Gila; thence down that river to the Colorado and thence westward to the Pacific. Guadeloupe-Hidalgo, the village in which the above mentioned treaty was signed is worthy of the passing notice given by an actor in the scenes to the noted church within whose walls much of this business was transacted. Says the writer: The church of Nuestra Senora de Guadaloupe, is one amongst the most noted and memorable objects in this valley. A solidly paved road leads from the church into the village (at the foot of EI Cerro de Tepayac). The building is vast, heavy and not at all beautiful, something of the mediaeval style of the lower empire, but still it is the most holy spot par excellence, in the whole calendar of Mexican saints. It was here that the blessed virgin thrice appeared to the simple shepherd in that miraculous vision which is now her stereotyped national picture, and to be found in every abode in the land. But the interior of the church surpasses all expression It is fairly ablaze with barbaric splendor in precious metals, gold and silver balusters, railing, altar pieces, cloths of gold for the images, and all manner of glittering ornamentation It was wonderful and strange to see the bullion lying around loose in this land of robbers pronunciamentos and prestimos. The most singular feature of all is the stone ship, visible a long distance, towering high above all buildings, trees and other objects, cut in alto-relievo in the steep scarp of the rocky ridge is the exact resemblance of a ship in full sail. The white, calcareous nature of the stone is admirably suited to this nautical wonder on the slope of a rocky mountain, far away from old ocean's main The legend has it, a ship in crossing the ocean was caught in a fierce tempest and threatened with total destruction to all on board. A Mexican passenger, in the extremity of his terror vowed to the blessed virgin, a temple to her honor and glory, if he ever set foot on solid ground again The vessel weathered the storm and arrived safely in port, but in the place of a church for divine worship and saintly praise, the cunning fellow had this stone ship carved upon the face of the hill and never trusted himself to the treacherous deep again It was amidst such romantic surroundings and associations that the final treaty to a romantic and brilliant campaign was concluded, which was fol lowed immediately by the evacuation of the capital and all points on Mexican soil held and occupied by American troops. In the concluding sketch of this remarkable campaign, in which Coshocton county shared an honorable part, it will be interesting and appropriate to view the closing act in the drama, the evacuation of the city of Mexico, as the commencement of the final march to the gulf. Employing the language of the eloquent writer already quoted 'Tis a festive, star-lit night, on the grand Plazza; the multitude is swayed to and fro in happy, eager expectancy of a grand demonstration It is a pyrotechnic display prepared by the ordnance department in commemoration of the long-sought event. Congratulations and compliments are wafted about between the late belligerents. "A thousand hearts beat happily ; and when Music arose with its voluptuous swell, Soft eyes looked lave to eyes which sake again,, And all went merry as a marriage bell." A signal rocket shoots up athwart the luminous sky and instantly the whole heavens are ablaze with flashing, darting, fizzing objects of fiery light, flaming corruscations, blue and green meteors darting hither and across, Roman candles, flying serpents and whirling wheels. Darkness then settles over the spell-bound throng. Presently the facade of the national palace is seen to glow with returning light, and one by one, in sparkling brilliancy, the letters of the word "Peace" flashes out the glad tidings to the prolonged acclamation of the dwellers on earth. The 12th of June, 1848, is a rosy morn on the grand HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 321 Piazza. Expectancy is again on tip-toe. The last scene in the drama is to be enacted. The drums roll a salute along the line, the guards present arms, the cannons flash a salvo, down flutters the star spangled banner from the flagstaff on the national palace, up waves the red, white and green tri-color of Mexico, the transfer of sovereignty is made, and the Mexican was given back his play thing, with something of a stern lesson for future guidance. Just nine months before, we had entered this city bristling with hostility, and when resistance was at last subdued, scowling looks and defiant glances met us from both sexes. The senoritas were especially shy and unapproachable. For a while it seemed that we were to be condemned to monastic isolation from the gentle beings that flower the pathway of life in whatever clime or country. On the march across the table-lands between Puebla and Perote, a thunder storm passed over the column of troops. The electric, currents were strong; the muskets were first rite conductors; the consequence was a stunning report, and a whole company of infantry was stricken to the ground, stunned, paralyzed and blinded; some with lacerated wounds, others burnt and scorched ; happily, none killed. Jalapa, the enchanting, is reached and passed. With reluctance we left thy beautiful vales and perfumed groves; the silvery cascades, where flowers and fruits of almost every clime bloom and ripen the livelong year. Vera Cruz was reached by the Fourth Ohio, in company with the returning victorious forces from the capital, where they took sailing vessels for N New Orleans, and then steamboat via the Mississippi to Cincinnati, and at this point were mustered out in the latter part of July, 1848. CHAPTER XXXV. WAR OF THE REBELLION. Preparations in Coshocton-Three Months' Men-Muster Rolls-Operations of the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. THE first gun fired upon Sumter, sent its reverberations around the world. Hardly an inland hamlet in the United States. existed free from its influence a few hours after it occurred. Telegraph wires flashed the news to all railroad towns; expresses were sent on foot and on horseback to all interior towns; neighbor hastened to tell it to neighbor; and thus almost before evening of the same day, the people of the Union were aroused and prepared to act. April 14, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 troops to serve three months. The magnitude of the rebellion was not then comprehended, else the call might have been very much larger, and for a longer term of service. Hunt's history says of that time: "The news of the fall of Sumter caused in Coshocton county, as elsewhere, a thrill that passed and repassed along the nerves of the people. Many of the settlers were from south of Mason and Dixon's line, and had tender recollections of their old homes and the people therein But the war spirit was not wanting among even these, and as promptly as in any county the people were up in arms." April 16, 1861, a meeting was held at the Law office of Nicholas & Williams, prior to which A. M. Williams had been to Columbus and secured a commission to raise a company ; thus receiving the honor of being the first citizen of Coshocton county to contribute to the support of war measures. The Age, in the issue of April 18, says At a meeting held in the law office of Nicholas & Williams this evening, for the purpose of making a call for a war meeting, R. M. Vorhees was called to the chair, and A. L: Harris was appointed secretary. On motion of Mr. S. Harbaugh, a committee consisting of R. M. Vorhees, R. A. Baker, A. M. Williams, Captain James Irvine and A. L. Harris, was appointed to issue a call for a meeting; they to determine the time of meeting, etc. The meeting then adjourned, when the above named committee decided upon the following which was placarded all over the town the next day: CALL FOR A UNION MEETING. Deeming it the duty of every patriotic Union loving citizen to gladly and speedily respond to the demands of the country as expressed in the proclamation of the President of the United States, by either personally volunteering for service in the army, or aiding by counsel or encouragement those who do volunteer to fight for the honor of the Union and maintenance of the constitution in the coming struggle with traitors and rebels, we, as a committee, appointed by our fellow-citizens, .do call a Union meeting of the citizens of Coshocton county to be held at the court house in Coshocton on Friday at two 'o'clock. 322 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. The meeting is called without respect to party, this being the time when every person should show his loyalty to his country. Volunteers will be enrolled at the meeting. R. M. VORHEES, R. F. BASER, A. M. WILLIAMS, J. IRVINE, A. L. HARRIS. Mr. Nicholas R. Tidball returned on Wednesday, April 17, from Columbus, with a commission in his pocket to raise a company, and all arrangements were being made to enroll volunteers at the meeting to be held Friday afternoon. But the excitement was so intense that the Union loving citizens could not wait until Friday afternoon to enroll their names, volunteering began immediately. The Age, in the same issue in which it published the above notice, says in a paragraph: "Enlisting for the war is briskly going on. The proper papers can be found at Baker's shop, opposite the Tidball House." The meeting was held at the court house, and it was filled to overflowing. Immense delegations came in from every part of the county, and it became dangerous in a very short time to be known as a sympathizer with the rebels. One business establishment was surrounded by the excited and liberty loving Unionists, and because it had given utterance to sentiments of sympathy with secession and seceders, was compelled to hoist the stars and "strips upon pain of being thrown, stock and all, into the river. The Age says of this meeting The war meeting at the court house was a boomer, and the patriotic speeches of Messrs. Nicholas, Given and Lanning elicited great enthusiasm. A band of martial music took up its position in the room and enlivened the scene with patriotic airs. John D. Nicholas was first called upon and made a soul-stirring speech, followed by Joseph Given and Richard Lanning, in capital addresses to the patriotism and national feeling of the vast crowd assembled. The volunteer roll was opened and a company formed in a short time. A resolution was adopted that funds be raised to keep the volunteers without expense to themselves while waiting for orders. A. M. Williams headed a paper with $100, for the maintenance of the families of volunteers. $2,000 was raised in a short time. The ladies of the two towns (Coshocton and Roscoe), God bless them ! are busy as bees preparing clothing for the volunteers. The Roscoe ladies gave each volunteer from that place a fine woolen blanket worth $5, and every provision is being made for the comfort of the brave volunteers. Six printers volunteered with the company from this town, leaving the office so short for help that we have turned our devil into foreman, and are running the office on primitive principles. The excitement kept at fever heat; everything was war, war, war! Men met to talk over who was going, and when and what the results would be; martial music sounded everywhere upon the ear. The first company was enlisted and took the train for Columbus on Wednesday morning at 8:30 A. M., April 24, 1861. Of this departure the Age, in its issue of April 25, says: " The Union Guards, first company, left Coshocton for Columbus Wednesday morning. The roll was called on the public square at 8 o'clock, and every man was on hand. They marched to the depot, when John Nicholas, on behalf of the young ladies, presented the company with a splendid silk flag. It was received by First Lieutenant Marshall, who, in the absence of Captain James Irvine, who was at the death-bed of his father in Wayne county, had command of the company. While the flag presentation was going on, the train that was to bear the volunteers arrived, and, amidst the cheers of the immense crowd, the boys embarked for the big wars. There was a scene for old Coshocton, the details of which are sacred from the reporter's pencil. Tears coursed down manly cheeks, all unused to the melting mood, and among the ladies there was scarcely a dry eye. Although the flower of the youth of our county eagerly go to defend the flag of our country, still when we look upon their departure, almost certainly knowing that we will behold many of their faces no more, we feel a sadness even in sending them to glory." The following are the volunteers of this first company : James Irvine, Captain. David W. Marshall, First Lieutenant. J. M. McClintock, Second Lieutenant. N. R. Tidball, First Sergeant. Charles Donley, Second Sergeant. L. L. Cantwell, Third Sergeant. William Torry, Fourth Sergeant. R. M. Vorhees, First Corporal. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 323 J. Carhart, jr., Second Corporal. N. P. Emmerson, Third Corporal. William H. Coe, Fourth Corporal. Privates - S. B. Madden, W. H. H. Richards, H. Decker, Jonah Gadden, William Doyle; William Darnes, J. L. Longshore, Asa Comstock, Charles Pike. J. H. Hay, Levi McMichael, J. B. Akeroyd, James Esten, James McClure, W. H. Robinson, William llavis, William Hay, J. N. Winn, George Shaffer, William Nicholas, T. J. Carves, James Banford, T. C. Mosler. Charles McMichael, T. C. Hutchinson, Albert Lawbaugh, Samuel Compton, Harmon Morris, D. W. Stallard, P. T. Dougherty, R. B. Beardsly, James Stonehocken, B. A. Stevenson, Adonis McMath, Peter Miller, S. A. llavis James Cooper, Richard Cray, M. E. Cowee, D. W. Catherwood, Thomas Newell, John Porter, George E. Jack, James McMunn, Frederick Cullison, T. J. Edwards, James C. Carnahan, John Whalen, R. S. Richardson, Joseph Cooper, Alexander Richards, George Sykes, Henry Hogleberger, W. Bassett, William Patton, Joseph Tompkins, Arthur Sherrer, John North, G. W. Smailes, H. P. Dimmock, A. L. Barton, R. Hackinson, Ham. Roneg, A. Evans, J. N. Balch, John Mills, J. McPhearson. Isaac Wiggins, George Moffatt, S. A. Ellis, T. J. Roneg, J. N. Smith, George W. Cox, John Patton, S McNabb, George Vanhorn, J. W. Loder, John Simmons, J. D. Ross, C. Humphrey, H. Brelsford. These names are given as published at the time, some few were not accepted or withdrew, but this list comprises the first company that left Coshocton for Columbus. While this was making its record as the first company, another had already organized with a a full quota, having elected Richard McLain captain, and was waiting for orders from Columbus at the time the first left. Muster roll of Company D, Sixteenth Regiment, mustered into service April 27, 1S61: OFFICERS. Richard W. McClain, Captain. Willis C. Workman, First Lieutenant. Albert Shaw, Second Lieutenant. William Moore, First Sergeant. John Humphry, Second Sergeant. Sampson McNeal, Third Sergeant, James R. Johnson, Fourth Sergeant. Thomas B. Ferren, First Corporal. William Ringwalt, Second Corporal. Thomas J Cook, Third Corporal. Henry Forest, Fourth Corporal. Benjamin E. Ingraham, Drummer. Privates - John Bonts, Frederick C. Barth, Wil liam H. Bryan, Robert Brown, Frederick Blasser, Nicholas H. Bassett, Jesse Bassett, Harrison Bible, Henry Bird, Thomas B. Bird, George W. Baird, Edward Campbell, Nathan Carnaham, Joseph A. Cochran, Matthew D. Cochran, Washington L. Cochran, Charles Clark, Louis Crooks, Franklin Caterall, William H. Coy, Richard Cox, John Coppland, James M. Crooks, John Crooks, James M. Cockram, Thomas Dobson, James Davis, John Davis, William Derr, Jacob H. Evans, Abram Ely, Isaac Ely, Leroy Ellis, Simeon H. Ellis, John Foster, Thomas Goff, Francis D. Haines, J. Nelson Henderson, William R. House, George K Johnson, Benjamin Jones, Andrew J. Lamma, Jacob Lahr, John C. Milligan, James McCune, William T. Miller, Henry Matheny, John Myers, John H. Martin, Marcellus Morgan, John Miller, Reuben A. Mack, John McConnell, Joseph S. Miller, Simpson McFadden, Zachariah McElfresh, Franklin Newell, John Ogle, Allen M. Platt, Joseph Phillips; Ezekiel Poland, Levi Porter, John Parish, John W. Plummer, Robert Pierce, Thomas Ropers, Thomas Richardson, Osborn Richardson, Jacob Sternberg, Dennison Stuns, James Sears, Anthony W. Shearer, Jacob Stricker, William Schuck, Basil Steele, Alfred Snyder, James W. Sipes, Samuel Stephens, Morgan Snyder, Michael Snell, Eli W. Thomas, Palestine Thacker, Charles W. Tumblin, John W. Wilson, James B. Wilson, Edward Wiggins, Alexander Williams, James A. Zook, Harvey Zimmerman. The Coshocton boys went to Camp Jackson, at Columbus, where, in common with all other companies, they were put upon drill of eight hours a day. At this camp the two companies were assigned to the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and, with other companies, constituted the primary organization of the regiment. As was customary at that time, the boys proceeded to elect their offi- 324 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. cers, and Coshocton was favored in having elected to the colonelcy the captain of her first company, James Irvine, who received his commission as colonel of the Sixteenth O. V. I, May 3, 1861. John D. Nicholas was elected captain of Company A, in his place. Richard McClain's company was known as Company D. The regiment remained at Camp Jackson a week or ten days, and then went by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Bellaire, where it crossed the river to Benwood, in West Virginia, having been ordered to that department. Colonel James Irvine received a telegraphic dispatch from General McClellan to go to Bellaire and camp. At Bellaire the citizens turned out en masse, headed by- Seth Gardiner and wife, and gave the entire regiment a dinner as a compliment to the Coshocton element therein. Colonel James Irvine and some other officers were domiciled at the residence of Mr. Gardiner. The regiment was quartered in a large iron foundry at Bellaire, and remained there several days General McClellan telegraphed Colonel Irvine to make a topographical survey of Wheeling, Bellaire and vicinity-. While arrangements were going on for this purpose, a very amusing yet natural incident occurred. Colonel Irvine had thrown out scouts to keep an eye on all that was going on down the river from Bellaire. A party of the scouts came in early in the morning with the report that there was a large force of men with artillery and boats about to cross the Ohio. All was astir in a few moments. The colonel ordered two steam tugs, with a company on board of each, to steam down the river and reconnoiter. The boats soon returned and reported that Dan Rice's circus, which was coming into town the next day, was watering its elephants and cattle. Late one night toward the last of May, Colonel Irvine received a telegram to report to Colonel Kelley, at Wheeling, and co-operate with him ac cording to orders. Colonel Kelley had raised regiment of Virginians for home service. Colonel Irvine immediately departed to Wheeling and found Colonel Kelley going over a Confederate mail that had been forwarded to him, having been captured on a part of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The developments implicated number of citizens in Wheeling and thereabouts thoroughly exposing the condition of affairs in that section. The two regiments of Colonels Kelley and Irvine, having received orders to advance, followed the railroad till they came to the vicinity of Glover's Gap, where they found the rebels had burned the bridges. Here the regiments were delayed until the bridges were rebuilt. While waiting at this point, the two Coshocton companies of the Sixteenth Ohio were detailed to drive off a rebel outpost that had headquarters at a small town about eleven miles from the Gap. They had a sharp skirmish, and returned with three men wounded. The regiments reached Grafton on the 30th of May, finding on their arrival, the rebel forces had departed to Philippi, where they had made a stand, being 2,000 strong, The stars and stripes were flung out from almost every house in town, and ladies marched the streets dressed in red, white and blue, hurrahing for the Union. While the Sixteenth Ohio and Colonel Kelley's regiment were on the march to Grafton, Colonel Wallace, commanding an Indiana regiment; had marched from Cumberland and attacked the rebels at Romney, surprising and completely routing them, capturing their camp equipage, provisions and arms, and marching on to Grafton, united his forces with those already under the command of Colonel Kelley. These three regiments marched upon the rebels at Philippi, on a very dark night, in the midst of a raging storm, and took them by surprise, at four A. M. The enemy, alarmed by the fire of their pickets, had just time to form in line of battle, when the Union forces came rushing upon them, firing but one volley, and charging bayonets. The rebels discharged their pieces so wildly that but two of the Union troops were billed and twenty wounded, and breaking, from the bayonet a charge of the Union forces, they fled in confusion to Leedsville, about ten miles further south, losing all their camp equipage and about 800 stand of arms. Colonel Kelley was severely wounded. After the engagement at Philippi, the Coshocton boys lay encamped at Rowelsburg for some days, a when they received orders to march to Camp Donley, about four miles distant, and on Friday, HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 325 29th of June, were sent upon a scouting expedition. They struck tents, tool: twenty-four hours' rations, and marched twelve miles, to a small I stream flowing into the Buffalo river, and remained at that point until an alarm gun sounded, when they were started on a double-quick down a hill to the place where the firing was heard. One of the Coshocton boys, writing of this skirmish, says We passed adjutant Marshall on the way, and he, seeing his horse could not keep up and we would be in before him, exclaimed, "Go it, you Ohio thieves!" Let me say here that the ladies of Coshocton made a good choice in the color bearer of our company. Bob bore our colors, and frequently dashed ahead amidst the shouts of the Ohio bow:. Seeing Colonel Irvine at the head of a company, we marched in quicker time until we reached them. The enemy were called cavalry, although they were mostly riding broken down mules. The boys had a short skirmish, killing and wounding several of the rebels and securing the balance as prisoners. It appears this body of rebel guerillas had been camping there for some days, and had been hanging and shooting Union men in the vicinity. Corporal Youst, of Captain McClain's Coshocton company, distinguished himself in this skirmish. The Sixteenth Ohio was finally quartered in and about West Union, in what was termed "Camp Kelley," awaiting the consummation of General McClellan's plan of attack against the rebels who were stationed at Beverly. While at this point, Colonel Irvine seat the following letter to the ladle: of Springfield, Ohio, who had presented the Sixteenth Ohio with a stand of colors for their gallantry at the Philippi engagement HEAD QUARTERS OF SIXTEENTH REGIMENT, O. V. M. CHEAT BRIDGE, July 3, 1861. At the time of the receipt of the splendid stand of colors which the ladies of Springfield presented our regiment, I was on the sick list. I beg leave to assure the patriotic ladies whose kind regards were so well expressed in what is now the regi mental banner of the Sixteenth, that the members of my regiment with one heart, and as wit one voice, took an oath that the honor of that flag should never be sullied while a single arm remained to raise in its defense. I beg to assure you that the ladies of Springfield will be grate fully remembered by many brave men while memory lasts, and by none more gratefully that by Your obedient servant, J. IRVINE, Colonel commanding Sixteenth Regiment. The Romney skirmish, Philippi engagement, and the defeat and capture of Colonel Pegram's forces haul the effect of consolidating the rebels under General Garnett, north of Laurel Hill near Philippi. Upon learning of Pegram's defeat and surrender, General Garnett endeavored to escape to Richmond by plunging into the wild roads of the Alleghenies, and was rapidly descending the Cheat river when he was overtaken by the Union forces. Finding escape in vain without a battle, General Garnett looked anxiously for a commanding position. He came to a ford in the river which was approachable over an extended meadow, smooth as a floor, and waving with young corn. On the opposite side of the river, and commanding the ford, there was an almost perpendicular bluff eighty feet high, fringed with laurel, presenting a perfect screen for his batteries and his men to lie in ambush. Here he stationed his army. The Sixteenth Ohio, encamped at West Union, was sitting down to its breakfast when the call to arms came, and the boys were forced to leave without a mouthful and make a hurried march to a point known as Red-house (so called from the position of a red house situated at a defile in the mountain), at which they were placed as a guard in the event the enemy made an attempt to escape by thin route. Colonel Steadman, with the Fourteenth Ohio, first charged upon General Garnett's position, followed immediately by the entire body of the Union troops. For some time the battle raged with no decisive results:, until Colonel Dumont, with the Seventh Indiana, crept under the right flank of the foe, when they turned and fled only to meet the out lying Union posts at every defile of the mountains. General Garnett was killed and left. unattended by his troops. On the call to march coming so unexpectedly to the Coshocton boys at West Union, they left so suddenly fact a fall Irishman was continued on picket guard .done, with no troops in the vicinity except the corporal in charge of camp equipage. Upon being questioned afterward as to his courage, he remarked, "I felt as safe as if I was in God's vest pocket as long as the corperler was with me." The corporal in charge was a mere boy. After this engagement the Sixteenth Ohio was 326 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ordered back to Oakland and was assigned the duty of guarding the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, until the tune of its enlistment had expired when it was ordered to Columbus about the middle of August and returned home. Coshocton was changed from the time "the boys" had enlisted; then they were the only soldiers in the town. while at the time they returned soldiers and war matters absorbed every thought of the people. The Coshocton Age says of that time Our quiet town has been in a. continual round of excitement on account of tale movement of troops. First, last week, came the Sixteenth Indiana Regiment on their way to Washington. Its cry was " Ho for Manassas! " Two days thereafter came the Twelfth Indiana for the same city. Sunday, Lew Wallace's Indiana Zouaves returning from Harper's Ferry, Monday the First and Second Ohio passed through. Captain Given's company has recently left; other companies are forming, and now the Coshoction companies of the Sixteenth Ohio have arrived at home. There was a big crowd at the depot and the welcome was warm and earnest as the gallant boys sprang from the cars. Bob Richardson gave the company colors to the breeze to let it be known they had come back unsullied by any dishonorable act. As the war progressed, and its necessities became more apparent, Coshocton county• did not fail to respond. A military committee was formed and issued the following circular: AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTIC CITIZENS FOR AID. FOR OUR SOLDIERS. In accordance with the proclamation of the Governor of Ohio, the undersigned military committee of Coshocton county would respectfully but earnestly call upon her citizens to come to the relief of our suffering soldiers. This is no idle call. If you have but one blanket to spare, bring it along. The articles will be received and receipted for at the store of Rand H. Hay, in Coshocton, or Hiram Beall's store, in Keene. HENSTON HAY, SETH MCCLAIN, A. L. CASE, R. LANNING, GEO. W. PEPPER. Military Committee for Coshocton County. The issue of this circular called forth from the liberal citizens of Coshocton such large quantities of all articles needed, that sub-committees were appointed in every township in the county. The ladies all over the county were enthusiastic in their support of war measures The young ladies of the county organized a society for the purpose of inspiring the enlistment of all able-bodied young men, and published the following resolutions In all the papers in the county: At a meeting of the young ladies of Coshocton county, held for the purpose of promoting war measures, in was unanimously resolved, That it is the duty of every young unmarried man to go to war; That all who are physically unable to go are physically unable to support a family; That we have no further need of home guards; That young men have but one reason for staying at home-they fear battle more than they love liberty ; That the young man who fails to do his duty in this hour of our utmost need is not worthy the smiles of the ladies of this vicinity; That we will marry no home guard; That he who is not true to his country is not true to his God, nor would he be true to his wife. It is supposed that these patriotic resolution had the desired effect, as the young men of Coshocton went promptly and rapidly to the front during all those dark years. CHAPTER XXXVI. WAR OF THE REBELLION-CONTINUED. Organization of "Given's Rangers"- Their Assignment to the Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Departure to the Field-Sketch of Josiah Given-Organization-Captain W. M. Stanley's Assignment to the Thirty-second Ohio, and Departure for the Field-Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second at Cheat Mountain-Twenty-fourth in the Field and Mustered Out - Thirty-second in the Field and Mustered Out. WHILE the two three-month companies of Coshocton boys were making their record, the martial element at home was growing more and more formidable. The first three years' company was recruited by Josiah Given. The Age, of date June 6, 1861, says :"Josiah Given established a camp at this place, and raised a company of volunteers for three years service. The camp is in the county fair grounds, named Camp Burt, and the company is a very fine one. The boys expect marching orders this week. This makes three full companies from Coshocton county. Two of them are now in the heart of HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 327 Virginia, on the enemy's soil, and this one will give a good account of itself." The following is the muster-roll of tike company: OFFICERS. Josiah Given, Captain. James L. Inskeep, First Lieutenant. Gabriel B. Stitt, Second Lieutenant. A. J. Garrison, First Sergeant. George McConnel, Second Sergeant. William Knowlden, Third Sergeant. George Johnston, Fourth Sergeant. Andrew Davis, Fifth Sergeant. J. G. Butler, First Corporal. Edward Sterman, Second Corporal. A. D. Green, Third Corporal. R. U. Chapman, Fourth Corporal. A. Pocock, Fifth Corporal. R. A. Campbell, Sixth Corporal. David Norton, Seventh Corporal. J. C. Almack, Eighth Corporal. T. J. Cunning, First Musician. D. R. Morris, Second Musician. George Mahew, Wagoner. Privates - Michael Adams, J. P. Almack, Charles Baker, Daniel B. Barnes, John Babcock, Francis Bigelow, S. J. Boggy, Edward E. Bryan, George Carpenter, Joseph Carpenter, Matthew Campbell, Albert B. Campbell, John Corbit, Jacob Cockran, P. L. Cooper, John Cox, Archibald Curtis. William M. Clute, George G. Clark, William Darnes, William Douglass, Samuel Decamp, Jacob Evans, John Endermshley, Linneus Fessenden, R. R Fox, Samuel Farquhar, Robert J. Gardner, Conrad Ginther, Phillip Ginther, Samuel House, David Hagans, Joseph H. Hagans, John H. Hooker, L. Johnston, William A. Johnston, R. L. Johnston, Charles Johnston, John Johnston, John Jennings, Armstead Kitchen, John King, Francis Kiggins, Lewis Lent, Rezin Lovitt, Gideon Lovitt, Robinson Mardis, Amos Mardis, Francis Martin, Michael Mang, John Duller, Adolphus Musgrove, Martin Neighbor, Joseph F. Powell, Griffith Plummer, Thomas B. Rose, William R. Richards, Hamilton Smith, Isaac Schoonover, William F Schoonover, Bainhart Schort, J. L. Stricker, William H. Sills, J. H Shaw, Samuel M. Salyards, John Thompson, Reuben G. Tumbin, James Trott, John Allen Trott, Daniel Trainer, Chauncy Trimble, Rolls Timmons, John E. Wiggins, Andrew Vansickle, John Vankirk, William A. White, William Watson, Joseph Wackerby, Edward E. Wells, Joseph Wirr, John Wirr, John Zook. A short sketch of Josiah Given, the captain, will be appropriate in this place, in view of active service and rapid promotion. He was commissioned June 12, 1861, as captain of Company K Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; August 17, 1861, ranked as lieutenant-colonel of the Eighteenth Ohio, commissioned November 2, 1861. Appointed colonel of the Seventy-fourth Ohio May 16, 1863; commission issued June 2, 1863, Colonel Given commanded the Seventy-fourth Ohio from the time of its movement towards Chattanooga, June 23, 1863, participating in the battle of Hoover's Gap, June 24; Dug Gap, Georgia September 11, and Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20 arriving at Chattanooga, Sept. 22, 1863. He also commanded the Seventy-fourth in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, Nov. 23, 24 and 25, 1863. On the 7th of May, 1864, Colonel Given commanded his regiment as it started with the army on the Atlanta campaign. For one hundred days and over the regiment was under fire almost daily. At Buzzard's Roost and at Resaca the regiment, under Colonel Given, stormed those strongholds with heavy loss, and on the 27th of May received the following commendatory notice from the division commander HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, NEAR DALLAS, GEORGIA, MAY 28, 1864. COLONEL JOSIAH GIVEN:-General Johnson desires to express to you his high appreciation of the gallantry exhibited by the noble troops of ,your regiment in the night engagement of the 27th inst. The admirable spirit displayed by the regiment on that occasion is above all things, desirable and commendable Soldiers animated by such courage and fortitude are capable of the very highest achievements. [Signed,] E. T. WELLS, A. A. The regiment, still under Colonel Given's command, was engaged in the performance of the I most perilous and arduous duties at Kenesaw mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, and in front of Atlanta. At the battle of 328 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Jonesboro, Colonel Given led the regiment en three distinct charges, en the afternoon of September 1, and shared en the general complimentary notice to all these engaged en that part of the fight, as follows: HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, JONESBORO, September, 1864. CIRCULAR - "The general commanding the division congratulates officers and enlisted men of the Second and Third brigades en the success of their splendid assault on the enemy, September 1, 1864. They charged a strongly entrenched double line, passing over swamps and through thickets under a murderous fire of musketry, dragged the enemy out of his works at some points, and drove him out at others. The troops opposed to them were the most celebrated for obstinate fighting of any division of the rebel army. The conduct of all was gratifying to our commanding general, and the day should be remembered and celebrated by every soldier engaged in battle. "By order of Brigadier General W. P. Carlin. "(Signed) G. W. SMITH, A. A. G." The Atlanta, campaign ending here, Colonel Given resigned, and returning to Coshocton, assisted this county so well in its management of its draft quotas that it had them filled with little or no trouble. Colonel Given is new a citizen of Iowa, and is engaged in the practice of the law. June 13, 1864, Captain Given's company left Camp Burt for Camp Jackson at Columbus. The Age of that date says: "Given's Rangers are gene. He has a splendid company and the boy's well give a good account of themselves. Last week the Coshocton ladies presented each soldier with a neat needle book, fully equipped. Saturday the Roscoe ladies and gentlemen, preceded by a band, invaded the camp with five wagons leaded with provisions. On Saturday Parson Hickmans held divine service en the camp. The company, after reaching Columbus, was as signed to the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteers Infantry ; was knew as Company K, and was quartered at Camp Chase. As illustrative of the character of the Coshocton citizen whose fortunes were cast with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, the following extract from the Age, dates June 27, well speak for itself: "The members n Company K, Twenty-fourth Regiment, Captain Given of Coshocton, have started a Sabbath-school in Camp Chase, and not satisfied with the geed start have organized a social circle, and are determined to live temperate lives while battling for the maintenance of the stars and stripes." The Twenty-Fourth left Camp Chase on the 26th day of July, 1861. They went first to Bellairs, and then started to Washington, but, after getting sixty-five miles east of Pittsburgh, received orders to return, came back and proceeded to Clarksburgh, and were compelled to shovel dirt for two days and a night, on account of a land slide about forty miles from Clarksburgh, finally reaching Cheat Mountain Summit August 14, 1861. Here they joined the Fourteenth Indiana, which had been en duty at this mountain pass for some weeks. The Twenty-Fourth Ohio was thus finally on the field. Another company occupied Camp Burt as seen as Captain Given's company left. Wilson M. Stanley of Newcastle township, immediately commenced recruiting a company, and, at the date of the arrival of the Twenty-Fourth at Cheat Mountain Summit, the Age speaks of Captain Stanley's .company as follows "Captain Wilson M. Stanley's company is en camp at the fair grounds or at Camp Burt. He has orders from the government to subsist his men her until the company marches to Colonel Ford's camp at Mansfield." 'The company, by this order, was assigned to the Thirty-Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was known as company I. The muster roll of the company which was mustered into the service august 31, 1861, is as follows: OFFICERS Wilson M. Stanley, Captain. C. C. N Nicholas, First Lieutenant. George T. Jack, Second Lieutenant. Adam Carnes, First Sergeant. John McDonald, Second Sergeant. Elias W. James, Third Sergeant. Henry Matheny, Fourth Sergeant. Adam Morgan, First Corporal. George W. Seward, Second Corporal. William Coggins, Third Corporal. Charles Murray, Fourth Corporal. John Lynch, Drummer. Wm. McNabb, Fifer. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 329 Pirvates - John Arney, Cornelius Austin, William W. Bassett, Joseph R. Berry, John Beall, Henry G. Bassett, Alfred Baeby, R. L. Barcroft, Edward Barren, Samuel Clark, Nelson C. Carr, Jefferson Carnes, John D. Cooper, Thomas G. Cochran, William Crago, M: D. Cochran, E. Campbell, R. Courtright, William Cox, Hiram Croft, E. U. C Campbell, John W. Conley, J. V. Crago, Samuel Crawford, C. P. Crawford, S. Campbell, James Davis, William Dusenberry, W. C'. Daringer, Alexander C. Ellis, Henry FFisher, Morgan Felver, D. A. Gonder, John C. Gonder. E. Hays. John T. Hays, Thomas K. Hess, Webster Hogle, Andrew Jack, W. H. Jennings, Benjamin James, Joseph Kitchen, Robert Levitt. J. B. Lindsey, J. W. McChristian, Jacob Matock, J. McComber, Joshua Musser, William Mathias. L. McElfresh, S. H. McLain, Francis Norris, R. Marchman, Patrick O'Brien. James Porter, J. H. Pigman, John Porter. G W. Pierce, Levi Porter, John Baire, James Robison, Martin Shulty, T. C. Seward, Daniel Schoonover, John Sondells, A. B. Stricher, W. Smith, H. Smith,. J. H. Sobringer, J. W. Sipes, J. W. Stanton, Warren Shaw, J. Tompkins, John Thompson, George Tuttle, James Tubbs, David Tracy, William Ruter, C. P. Vankish, Wilson Wells, Edward Woods, William Wise, S. Welling, P. Williamson, D. Welling. This company remained in Coshocton until the Thirty-second Ohio left their camp at Mansfield and went into Camp Dennison, where the regiment was completed and Company I with the others was equipped and sent to the field under the command of Colonel Thomas H. Ford, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. On the 15th of September, 1861, tie regiment left Camp Dennison for West Virginia. As was the case with most, if not all, of the first regiments from Ohio, the men were poorly equipped, and were armed with the almost useless old smooth bore muskets of a by-gone age. The regiment was moved by railroad, arrived at Grafton September 1S, and marched the next day for Beverly, West Virginia. where it arrived on the 22d. At this point Colonel Ford reported for orders to Brigadier-General Reynolds then commanding the District of Cheat Mountain, with headquarters at Huttonsville, and was assigned the command at Cheat Mountain Summit, with Colonel Nathan Kimball of the Fourteenth Indiana commanding the post. Having followed the Thirty-second from its organization, so far as the Coshocton part of the regiment is concerned, until it reached the same field in common with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, it would not be amiss to inquire into the whereabouts and doings of that regiment in the interval. When the Twenty-fourth Ohio arrived at Cheat Mountain Summit on the 14th of August the rebels with a superior force lay in front about fifteen miles, and almost every day attacked the pickets, giving frequent opportunities for skirmishing, requiring the regiment to be ready for battle day and night and making it necessary to strengthen the position by felling trees, preparing abattis and throwing out heavy pickets to prevent surprise and to be prepared for any emergency. The position being considered important and the enemy in front enterprising, the camp was reinforced by the Twenty-fifth Ohio. The night of September 11 was stormy, with heavy rain. The raw pickets, not yet taught the importance of special vigilance at such times, were careless; and at break of day on the 12th the camp was surrounded by a largely superior force of rebels. Fortunately the abattis on the left of the camp of the Twenty-fourth Ohio proved efficient, caused delay in the movements of the enemy and gave time to form the troops for battle, which was done promptly. In this, their first engagement, the Twenty-fourth Ohio gave indications of that coolness and discipline for which the regiment at a later period was distinguished. After a combat of three hours the rebels abandoned the attack and fled, leaving on the field many blankets, arms, etc., . losing some prisoners and some killed. The loss of the Twenty-fourth was only two wounded. In the next battle the Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second, with some other of the forces at Cheat Mountain Summit, were engaged. The Thirty-second had been hurried to the field without discipline; in fact it was hardly organized. Here, upon the rugged heights of Cheat Mountain, amid the wild scenery of the Alleghenies, the regiment received its first lesson in the art of war. On the 3d of October, 1861, the Thirty-second, under orders, made a forward movement and led 330 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the advance of the army against the enemy a Greenbrier, through the mountains and pines o that region, by midnight, while the Twenty-fourth was exposed to a heavy fire of shell, grape an canister, but stood firm. The Age, of date October 10, publishes a letter from one of the Coshocton participants, as follows: CHEAT MOUNTAIN SUMMIT, October 3. This morning, at 1 A. M., a portion of the brigade of Brigadier-General J. J. Reynolds, consisting o three Ohio regiments, the Twenty-fourth, Twenty fifth and Thirty-second and portions of six Indian regiments-Seventh, Ninth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth, together with detachments of Bracken's Indiana, Robinson's Ohio and Greenfield's Pennsylvania Cavalry, and detachments of Howe's United States, Loomis' Michigan and Daum's Virginia Artillery, numbering in all about 5,000 men, left Cheat Mountain Summit to make a reconnoissance in force in front of the enemy's position on Greenbrier river, twelve miles distant. Colonel Ford's Thirty-second Ohio was sent forward to hold an important road, the possession of which prevented the enemy from flanking our main column. The expedition arrived in front of the enemy's fortification at 8 A. M., their pickets retreating after firing an ineffectual volley. Kimball's Fourteenth Indiana was immediately sent forward to secure a position for Loomis' battery. Colonel Ammen's Twenty-fourth Ohio deploy ed as skirmishers on the south slope of the mountain. Loomis' battery, getting position, supported by the Seventeenth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Wilder commanding, opened the battle. The shot was immediately responded to by a volley from the enemy, concealed in bushes, who were soon routed by the Fourteenth Indiana, with a loss of seven killed and a large number wounded and prisoners. Howe's battery, supported by the Thirteenth Indiana, then moved forward, taking a position 300 yards nearer the enemy's fortifications and opened a brisk fire. The firing on both sides was almost incessant for one hour, our artillery doing execution, judging from the shrieks of the enemy's wounded. Their batteries did but comparatively little injury, being too much elevated. Our guns effectually silenced three of theirs. While observations were being made of the enemy's fortifications, occupying three more hours, an Irregular artillery tire was kept up, occupying the enemy's attention. During this Interval the Twenty-fourth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana rendered very effectual service scouting the mountains. The reconnoissance proved entirely successful, affording information relative to the enemy's strength. The loss of the Twenty-fourth Ohio was two killed and three wounded. The Thirty-second, Ohio remained at Greenbrier during the fall of h 1861, engaged in watching the movements of the enemy, then commanded by the afterwards renowned rebel, General Robert E. Lee. The Twenty-fourth Ohio, on November 18, 1861, marched from Cheat Mountain, under orders for Louisville, Kentucky; reported at that place on the 28th of the same month, and was assigned to duty in the Tenth Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio. February 25, 1862, a it reached Nashville, Tennessee, and remained there, in camp, until March 17, when the Fourth Division took up the line of march for Savannah and Pittsburgh Landing. The bridge over Duck river, at Columbia, Tennessee, having been burned by rebels, and the stream being very high, the army was detained some days, repairing the bridge. Before this was done (the river having fallen) the Fourth Division was ordered to advance. It waded the river March 29, and hurried on to Savannah, on the Tennessee river, which place it reached on Saturday, April 5, and went into camp. As the swamp on the right bank of the Tennessee was deemed impassable, boats were to be sent to transport the troops to Pittsburgh Landing, twelve miles up the river. On Sunday morning, April 6, the roar of the artillery at Pittsburgh Landing was heard at Savannah. The troops were immediately put in readiness to move. No boats arriving, to transport them, at one P. M. the brigade to which the Twenty-fourth belonged started through a swamp on the march to the battlefield, the other brigades of the division following, and after a hard march, through mud and water, it reached the opposite bank of the river. The Federal army had gradually retired to the river. The last horrible tragedy of this day seemed about to be consummated. The rebels occupied all the camps of the Federal army. The latter were crowded in wild confusion around Pittsburgh Landing. The arrival of the gunboats and Buell's forces changed the face of affairs. It was at this time, on Sunday evening, the brigade containing the Twenty-fourth Ohio came upon the scene and took part in the battle, on the extreme left. During the hours of that memorable night, while a furious tempest raged and a deluge of HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 331 ruin descended, the Federal commanders were busy in making preparations for resuming the ' contest. Colonel Ammen, of the Twenty-fourth, commanding a brigade, was placed on the extreme left. A communication, regarding the Twenty-fourth Ohio at this time, says: On April 7, the Twenty-fourth Ohio was engaged all day in battle, and not only sustained its former reputation, but added "new laurels." A Coshocton boy, writing from the battlefield, report " It was terrible. On Sunday our army was pushed from disaster to disaster, till we lost every division camp we had, and were driven within a half mile of the landing, when the approach of night, the timely aid of the gunboats, and the tremendous efforts of our artillery, with the timely arrival of Buell's forces, saved us. On Monday, after nine hours of hard fighting, we regained the ground we had lost on Sunday. Not a division advanced a half mile beyond our old camp except Lew Wallace's. An officer of the New Orleans Creole Battalion, taken prisoner, says: 'Beauregard made a speech on Saturday, before the battle, in which he told their the result was sure; they could not fail; they would capture Grant's army and whip Buell and then hold their railroads. If they lost the day they might lay down their arms and go home.' Our forces were thirty-five thousand strong. A rebel quartermaster, who was taken prisoner, says that rations for ninety thousand men were issued before they left Corinth." The casualties to Company K, Twenty-fourth Ohio, as furnished from the report of Sergeant W. H. Knowlden, are as follows: Slightly wounded, Captain T. McClure, William Douglas, Samuel Decamp, Corporal A. D. Garven, Jacob Stricken, Matthew Campbell, David L. Morris, Chauncey Trimble; missing, John E. Waggoner and Joseph Wackerly. It is believed that none of the wounds are mortal, and the boys have every attention and comfort it is possible to bestow. The results were so dependent upon the performance of the Ohio troops in the field that Governor Tod sent a congratulatory address to them, and, as the Twenty-fourth Ohio was entitled to her share, it is hereby appended, as follows: To the Ohio Troops engaged in the recent Battle of Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee In behalf of the loyal citizens of the State you love so much, I tender their profound thanks for the gallantry, courage and endurance you have displayed. Thank God, from the best information m our possession, we are able to claim that Ohio soldiers all did their duty. Those yet in . the field, we are sanguine, will avenge the deaths of their brave comrades who fell on the 6th and 7th. On, then, gallant volunteers of Ohio, and win new laurels for our State. With one heart the friends you left at home are caring, as Ohio mothers, wives, sisters, brothers and fathers, know how to care, for their sick and wounded husbands, sons and brothers. The Twenty-fourth Ohio took part in most of the skirmishes between Pittsburgh Landing and Corinth, and was one of the first regiments that entered the latter place. It was with the army in the pursuit of the enemy in North Mississippi and North Alabama, and in July was en camped at McMinnville, Tennessee. It left that place September 3, 1862, and returned to Louisville, Kentucky, with the army, during General Bragg's invasion, having a long, dusty, and greatly dispiriting march. In October, 1862, it was assigned to the Fourth Division, Twenty-first Army Corps. It was at the battle of Perryville, but, being on the extreme right, did not take part in the general engagement. It then moved in pursuit of the retreating rebels, and on the abandonment of the chase in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, it marched to Nashville. When, in December, 1862, General Rosecrans advanced from Nashville, the Twenty-fourth Ohio was reduced by sickness and desertion to thirteen officers and three hundred and forty men. Company A, however, was on detached duty. With this strength it went into the battle of Stone River. Its loss was heavy, the regiment having been assigned an important position, and having held it faithfully. Tuesday, December 30, the corps commanders met at the headquarters of General Rosecrans, who explained to them his plan of battle. General McCook (commanding the right, with the divisions of Johnson, Davis, and Sheridan,) was to hold his position firmly, if attached; if not, he was to threaten the rebel left sufficiently to hold all the rebel forces in his front. General Thomas (commanding the center, with Rousseau's and Negley's divisions,) was to open the battle with skirmishing, pushing forward his forces toward the river. General Crit- 332 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. tenden (commanding the left, with Van Cleve's, Woods' and Palmer's divisions,) was to cross at the ford, gain possession of the hill. and, followed up by General Thomas, with the center, push back the rebel right, gain their flank, and then advance on Murfreesboro. The Twenty-fourth Ohio was in Painter's division. General McCook's brigades failed to hold their position, and the brunt of the fight came upon the. center and left, until General Rosecrans had formed a new line of battle. The Twenty-fourth Ohio lead the advance of Palmer's division, which fought with truly chivalrous courage. Palmer's position was on the Cedar Grove road. In front of him was an open field in the center of which stood the remains of a brick house. This house formed the center of one of the most sanguinary conflict of the held. General Palmer ordered an advance on the burnt house to be lead by Brigadier General Cruft. Issuing from the woods, he drove the rebel skirmishers before him, and gained possession of a fence, which served as some protection to his line. The enemy immediately charged upon him with desperate, but. unavailing effort. Again and again they renewed the charge. For half an hour these waves of battle swept the plain, each time checked by a. volley which no flesh and blood could withstand. The rebels were finally repulsed. General Cruft followed up his success by charging in his turn and gaining possession of the brick house. This final charge has been pronounced the most Glaring exploit of the day. The Twenty-fourth Ohio was in this entire struggle, losing one-fourth of the force of officers and men with which it went into battle. Numerous promotions now occurred to fill the sad vacancies thus caused. The Twenty-fourth was next in the affair at Woodbury, Tennessee, January 24, 1863, but its loss here was small. After a long rest through the spring and summer, it advanced with the army on Tullahoma, and was on duty at Manchester, Tennessee, until the advance on Chattanooga. It was in the engagement at Lookout Mountain ; also, in the battle of Chickamauga, With a loss of Captains Wadsworth and Dryden killed, together with a large number of men. The regiment was next in the battle of Mission Ridge, and in the pursuit of the enemy in the affair at Taylor's Ridge, near Ringgold. It was then assigned to the Second Division. Fourth Army Corps, and was in an engagement near Dalton, with a loss of two killed and eight wounded. In April, 1864, the Twenty-fourth was sent to Chattanooga to await orders for mustering out. June 15, it received orders to proceed to Columbus for that purpose; and June 24 it was mustered out and discharged. Company D, of the Twenty-fourth, re-enlisted as veteran volunteers, to serve during the war. The colors of the regiment were presented to the State, to be placed in the archives for preservation, Colonel A. T. M. Cockerill turning them over with a few pertinent remarks. In response, Governor Brough said: Colonel, officers and soldiers of Twenty-fourth, I thank you in behalf of the people of the State of Ohio, not only for the colors, but for having borne them so nobly and gallantly as you have throughout the three years' service. They come worn and tattered; but there is not a rent in them that is not honorable, and an emblem of your bravery and gallantry. No regiment that has gone from Ohio has endured hardships with greater cheerfulness or more nobly discharged its duties. I shall place these banners in the archives of the State as historic mementoes worthy of any people. Again, soldiers, I thank you. These flags had been presented to the regiment the regimental flag by General Jacob Ammen, then its colonel, and the national colors by the Sixth Ohio, better known as the "Guthrie Grays," of Cincinnati. The flag from the Sixth Ohio bears this inscription: "The Sixth Ohio to the Twenty-fourth Ohio; Shiloh, April 7, 1862," and was presented to the regiment during the siege of Corinth by the late lamented General William Nelson, then commander of the Fourth Division Army of the Ohio (to which both regiments at that time belonged), in behalf of the officers and men of the Sixth. These flags have passed through the bloody fields of Pittsburgh Landing and Stone River, where Colonel Fred Jones, Lieutenant Colonel Terry, Major Weller and Captain Harmon sealed their devotion to their country with their hearts' blood. They were in the brilliant dash at Woodbury ; in the terrible strife at Chickamauga, where PAGE 333 - PICTURE OF RESIDENCE OF ISREAL DILLIN, WALNUT STREET PAGE 334 - BLANK HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. -335 Wadsworth and Dryden fell in the nation's cause. They waved through the fierce struggle for the possession of Lookout Mountain, and the gallant charge on Mission Ridge. They were borne in the murderous assault on Taylor's Ridge at Ringgold; and last, but not least, in the bold reconnoissance of the gallant Palmer, so stubbornly resisted by the enemy, at Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Face Ridge. At Stone River, the battle-ax was shot from the staff, and two balls passed through the staff The holes made by twenty-three distinct bullets at Stone River may be seen in the flag itself. Three color sergeants of the regiment were killed and seven severely wounded while bravely carrying their standards in the front lice of battle. Two of them were killed at Stone River within five minutes of each other, and one at Chickamauga. December 13, 1861, the Thirty-second, under command of Captain Hamilton, accompanied General Milroy in his advance on Camp Allegheny. In his report, General Milroy complimented the regiment very highly on its gallantry and good conduct in its charge into the camp of the enemy. They captured the provision depot of the rebel camp at Huntersville, which contained a large amount of provisions, and disposed of it in as speedy a manner as possible by burning .both provisions and town. The loss of the regiment in this affair was four killed and fourteen wounded, some severely. On the return from this expedition it was ordered to Beverly, where it remained the rest of that severe winter. The time was profitably spent in still further disciplining and organizing the regiment. Some changes took place in the official roster of the regiment., and also in the Coshocton company, K, from which Captain Stanley resigned, and First Lieutenant C. C. Nichols was promoted to the captaincy, while Adjutant Jack was made Firs Lieutenant. Still retained in General Milroy's command, the regiment took the advance of the expedition made about the 1st of May, 1862, near Buffalo Gap, seven miles from Staunton Virginia. The enemy was met at this point, and after some severe fighting, the national force fell back on the main army, camped at McDowell, in the Bull Pasture valley, where General Schenck and Milroy had united their forces numbering about 7,000 men. The rebel general, Stonewall Jackson, advanced against the national forces on the 8th day of May, and was met on the side of the Bull Pasture mountain. A severe battle ensued, which lasted from 2 P. M, until dark, with varied success on either side. The national forces fell back on Franklin, West Vir ginia, closely followed by the rebel army. In this battle the Thirty-second Ohio lost six killed and fifty-three wounded, some mortally. It was the last regiment to leave the field. Lieutenant C. Fugate, of Company E, a young officer of fine promise, was among the mortally wounded. He died at Franklin five days after the battle. On the 12th of May Major General Fremont, commanding the mountain department, effected a junction with Generals Schenck and Milroy, bringing with him about twelve thousand men. Before this junction, however, the rebel General Jackson had retired from the national front. The combined national forces lay at Franklin inactive until the 25th of May when they were ordered to the support of General Banks, then operating in the Shenandoah valley against the rebel army under Jackson. While the army was in camp at Franklin the Thirty-second was transferred from Milroy's to Schenck's brigade, composed of the Thirty-second, Fifty-fifth, Seventy-third, Seventy-fifth and Eighty-second Ohio volunteer infantry in Fremont's pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah valley the Thirty-second bore its part, and participated in the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic, on the 8th and 9th days of June, 1862. The regiment returned to Strausburg about the last of June, was transferred to Piatt's brigade and moved to Winchester, Virginia, July 5, 1862. It remained at Winchester doing garrison duty until the tat of September, the day the place was evacuated by General White, when the regiment moved with the brigade to Harper's Ferry and s assisted in the defense of that place. After making a hard fight and losing one hundred and fifty to of its number, the regiment, with the whole command was surrendered by the commanding officer of the post to the enemy as prisoners of war. s The history of this unaccountable affair is yet to be written The Thirty-second was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, from whence it was transferred to Chicago, Illinois. In the defense of 336 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Harper's Ferry the regiment lost some gallant officers and brave men. At Chicago the regiment became almost completely demoralized. It had not been paid for eight months, and many of the men took " French leave," and went home to look after their families. Captain B. F. Potts was sent to Columbus to ask Governor Tod to procure an order from the War Department transferring the regiment to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland. This application was successful, and the Thirty-second, or what was left of it, thirty-five men, arrived at Camp Taylor December 1, 1862. December 2, Captain I3. F. Potts I was appointed by Governor Tod, Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and that energetic officer went immediately to work "reconstructing" the command. Within ten days, order prevailed, and eight hundred men had reported for duty, and Third Sergeant E. W. James was made captain of Company K. This happy result was not attained, however, without decisive action in the case of several officers who were charged with inciting disaffection and revolt among the men. Secretary Stanton of the War Office, ordered their instant dismissal, which was consummated on the 23d of December, 1862. The men were paid in full, and on the 12th of January, 1863, declared to be exchanged. January 18, orders were received to proceed to Memphis and report to Major General U. S. Grant, then commanding the Department of the Tennessee. January 25 the regiment reached Memphis, and was assigned to Logan's Division, Seventh Army Corps, commanded by Major General J. B. McPherson. February 20, the Thirty-second moved with the army to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and during the campaign against Vicksburg, took a prominent part in the gallant achievements of the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. At the battle of Champion Hills, the Thirty-second made a bayonet charge and captured the First Mississippi rebel battery-men, guns and horses with a lox of twenty-four men. For this gallant achievement, the captured battery was turned over to the regiment and manned by Company F, during the entire siege of Vicksburg. The total loss of the regiment, during the campaign around Vicksburg, was two hundred and twenty-five, rank and file. It participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson. Champion Hills; was in the extreme front of Logan's division, when Vicksburg surrendered, and was assigned to post duty under General Logan. In August, 1863, the regiment accompanied Stevenson's expedition to Monroe, Louisiana, and McPherson's expedition to Brownsville, Mississippi, in October of the same year. It was also with Sherman, in February, 1864, at Meridian, and lost twenty-two men at Boher's creek, Mississippi, February 5, 1864, in which last affair Captain W. A. McCallister was severely wounded, while gallantly leading the advance. Colonel Potts had been assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, Third Division,. Seventeenth Army Corps, in the autumn of 1863, and was therefore but seldom in command of the regiment. In December and January, 1863-4, more than three-fourths of the regiment reenlisted as veterans, and on the 4th of March,. 1864, it was furloughed home. It rejoined the army at Cairo, Illinois, on the 21st of April, with its ranks largely augmented by recruits. April 27 the regiment embarked at Cairo, with its division and corps, on transports, landing at Clifton. From thence it marched to Acworth, Georgia, where it joined General Sherman, June 10, 1864. The Thirty-second was identified with the movements of the Seventeenth Army Corps in Sherman's advance against Atlanta; participated in the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864,. and Nicojack Creek, near Howell's Ferry, on the Chattahoochee river, July 10, 1864. In The Age, of July 23, the following letter from one of the Coshocton boys engaged in the above mentioned battles, is published: CAMP NEAR CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER, GEORGIA, July 13, 1864. EDITOR AGE:-I herewith transmit to you, for publication, the following copy of a highly complimentary order published to Third Division,. Seventeenth Army Corps, on the occasion of the transfer of the Thirty-second Regiment O. V. I, to the Fourth Division of the same corps HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, IN THE FIELD, GEORGIA, July 10, 1864. SPECIAL FIELD ORDER No. 44. - IV. The Thirty-second Veteran Volunteer Infantry, having been transferred from this command, the HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 337 general commanding takes pleasure in expressing to them and the command, his high appreciation of their gallant conduct on many a hard fought field, and soldierly conduct on the march. With such courageous men and brave officers it is only necessary to meet the enemy in order to add another to the long list of glorious victories for the L Union. Obeying the order as a good soldier, the general commanding parts with the fighting Thirty-second with regret. By order of Brigadier-General Leggett. J. C. DOUGLAS, A. A. G. The health of the regiment is good. Company K has not suffered very severely during this campaign, having lost but three men up to date. Yours, etc., J. H. P., Company K. Thirty-second O. V. I. July 20, 21, 22 and 23, the Thirty-second was engaged before Atlanta, and lost more than half its number in killed and wounded. after the fall of Atlanta, the Thirty-second moved with the army in pursuit of Hood, after which it rejoined General Sherman, and accompanied him on his "March to the Sea." December 10, 1864, the Thirty-second was in advance of the army, and contributed its share toward driving the enemy into his works at Savannah. In this expedition the Savannah and Charleston railroad was cut, thus destroying the enemy's communication with Charleston. December 21, the regiment entered Savannah with the army, and went into camp near Fort Thunder bolt after the review, by General Sherman, of the whole army, the Seventeenth Army Corps went by transport to Beaufort, South Carolina; thence to Pocotaligo Station, on the Savannah and Charleston railroad. February l, 1865, the regiment moved with the army through the Carolinas, and, with the Thirteenth Iowa, was the first regiment to enter Columbia. Colonel Hibbetts, with a mounted detachment of the regiment, entered and captured Fayetteville, North Carolina, March 10, 1865, after a severe fight with Wade Hampton's Cavalry. March 20 and 21, it was engaged with the enemy at Bentonville, North Carolina. The regiment came out of the woods to see their friends at Goldsboro, moved with the army to Raleigh North Carolina., and was present at the surrender of Johnson's army, May 1, 1365. It marched with the army through Richmond, Virginia; to Washington City, where it participated in the grand review before President Johnson and Cabinet. The regiment remained in camp, near Washington, until June 8, 1865, when it took the cars for Louisville. It lay there until July 20, when it was mustered out of the service, and proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, at which place the men received their final discharge, July 26, 1865. The Thirty-second entered the field September l5, 1861, 950 strong, and, during the war, received 1,600 recruits. Only five hundred and sixty-five remained at its muster out. CHAPTER XXXVII WAR OF THE REBELLION-CONTINUED. Fifty-first Regiment-fluster Rolls-Its Orations in the Field. THE return of the three months' men was the signal for an earnest canvass for three years troops, and many of the boys obtained commissions to raise companies. The Age says: Captain John D. Nicholas is now engaged in re-organizing Company A, Sixteenth regiment, for three years service. D. W. Marshall, Adjutant Sixteenth regiment, O. V. L, has been appointed a captain, with power to raise a company for three years' service. He is now recruiting and can be found at the Tidball House, where his headquarters are located. Public meetings were held all over the county, to assist and encourage enlistment. The Age, August 22,1861, says: A rousing Union meeting was held at Chili on the 13th. There were nearly a thousand persons present. A large delegation of ladies, with their escorts, from Keens, was escorted into the village by Captain Joseph Shook's company.. The ladies wore aprons representing our national colors, azure field and white stars covering the breast, and the graceful folds of the apron showing the stripes of white and red. The crowd repaired to a beautiful grove near the village, where a table and seats had been prepared. Scott R. d Crawford was appointed chairman of the meet- 338 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ing, who introduced R. Lanning and A. J. Wilkin, who made strong Union speeches and urged I, the boys to enlist. In the same edition, the Age says: At Bedford, at the same time, an immense meeting was held. The ladies had prepared a free dinner for the volunteers and all present; over a thousand people ate dinner upon the ! ground. Short speeches were made by Sandford McNeal (a volunteer), John D. Nicholas and M. B. Wood. They all breathed words of earnest patriotism, and urged the support of war measures by enlistment. The five companies that were raised in Coshocton county by this general enthusiasm were all assigned to the Fifty-first Ohio. Their muster rolls are as follows: Muster roll of Company C, Fifty-first Ohio. OFFICERS. B. F. Heskitt, Captain. Allen Gaskill, First Lieutenant. James Stonehocker, Second Lieutenant. John Q. Winklepleck, First Sergeant. Lester P. Emmerson, Second Sergeant. William H. Lyons, Third Sergeant. Thomas Rodgers, Fourth Sergeant. Philip Everhart, Fifth Sergeant. Robert B. Ford, First Corporal. William Hawk, Second Corporal. Milton H. Holliday, Third Corporal. William Stonebrook, Fourth Corporal. William J. Morris, Fifth Corporal. Lewis M. Higbee, Sixth Corporal. Wesley Barge, Seventh Corporal. Albert Dent, Eighth Corporal. James M. Emerson and Chapman Burr, Musicians. Isaac Morris, Wagoner. Privates -T. Burkshire, J. W. Brewer, C. W. Bureh, A. Babcock, M. Burr, J. P. Carr, J. A. Carr, S. M. Childs, D. Carnahan, J. Carruthers, E. Cutchall, W. Crogan, A. H. Cosgrave, T. Cosgrave, W. Davis, R. Dewalt, P. Dickey, W. Engle, J. Ferrell, H. Ford, J. Ginther, A. Graham; J. Gray, J. Goodhue, E. Grewell, D. Grewell, J. J. Horn, J. H. Horn, J. A. Ronald, W. H. Hardy, J. Harbold, B. Hevalow, G. Hursley, G. Huston, G. W. Long, N. Larders, J. Long, L. Mowder, W. McFee, S. Miller, J. Miller, M. Morris, M. V. Nargrey, J. W. Neighbor, J. B. Morris, W. Morris, J. Morris, D. Olinger, H. Powers, J. G. Rounbaugh, J. H. Ripley, A. M. Robinson, T. Sharon, A. Scott, T. Spakling, D. Souals, J. D. Stonehocker, F. Spalding, S. H. Spears, R. Stonehocker, M. Smith, W. Stonehocker, J. W. Sayers, G. W. Sells, J. T. Simmers, L. J. Simmers, L. Steffy, C. Lonbry, C. Stewart, R. Scott, G. Snyder, W. H. Wolfe, F. Wolfe, D. L. C. Wood, M. Whellemore, G. Wise, E. Williamson and J. Wolfe. Muster roll company D, Fifty-first Ohio. OFFICERS William Patton, Captain. John North, First Lieutenant. Samuel Stephens, Second Lieutenant. Alonzo Barton, First Sergeant. E. C. Conn, Second Sergeant. Samuel Payer, Third Sergeant. Thomas A. Reed, Fourth Sergeant. Peter L. Phillips, Fifth Sergeant. Thomas Dickerson, First Corporal. John Q. Ogan, Second Corporal. John E. Smith, Third Corporal. Clark M. Bell, Fourth Corporal. John W. Graves, Fifth Corporal. John Parrish, Sixth Corporal. Jonathan Phillips, Seventh Corporal. John Patton, Eighth Corporal. Privates. - J. W.. Barkhurst, George W. $ell, William Briant, John T. Bonre, Sidney Bonre, Samuel Bagnoll, James Blackford, W. Blackford, Joseph Corder, Joseph N. Corder, J. T. Daugherty, J. Dusenberry, J. C. Dickerson, W. H. Dickerson, L. Dusenberry, John Demons, David Evans, N. Everson, Jacob Fulks, Van Buren Fulks, Laban Guillians, Asa H. Giffin, Robert Gibson, William Griffee, W. H. Howell, William Irwin, William Jones, B. F. Jones, William Kimble, Gabriel Kincaid, David L. Lash, Martin Latier, Stanton Mains, John McCoy, Samuel McCoy, Isaac Middleton, Daniel F. Mack, Jacob Mansfield, Arthur McCiver, Phillip McGuinn, John C. Morris, John W. Morris, John Nixon, Laban Ogle, Evans Greens, William Ogle, Christopher Oft, James M. Peoples William Phillips, A. Passmore, Josiah Passmore, HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 339 Madison Pomeroy; James Pierce, Martin Roberts, E. Randles, John Richcreek, Eli Richards, Benjamin Rasan, Isaac Randles, John Reed, Gaton A. Settles, James Stephens, Joseph Stanford, Thomas Smailes, W. R. Smith, William Smith, W. C. Thomas, Thomas Titus, Martin Thicker, L. Thicker, Levi Williams, David Weaver, Thomas Wright, J. W. Chalfant, Sanford Carter, John A. Young. Muster roll Company F, Fifty-first Ohio: OFFICERS. D. W. Marshall, Captain. J. M. McClintock, First Lieutenant. J. M. Frew, Second Lieutenant. Carl F. Mosher, First Sergeant. Charles McMichael, Second Sergeant. Robert Hackinson, Third Sergeant. James H. Hay, Fourth Sergeant. Robert; B. Beardsley, Fifth Sergeant. Sidney Harper, First Corporal. William Retilley, Second Corporal. Allan Platt, Third Corporal. David Stollard, Fourth Corporal. John W. Wilson, Fifth Corporal. George V. Ferguson, Sixth Corporal. Nicholas H. Bassett, Seventh Corporal. William H. King, Eighth Corporal. Ralph McClintock, Musician. Levi McMichael, Wagoner. Privates -James M. Agner, Jesse P. Arnold, James Banford, Samuel Barclay, Frederick Birth, William F. Batty, Edwin W. Bell, Charles M. Belknap, Frederick Blaser, Franklin Blaser, John Brown, Oliver Browning, William B. Bryant, William Carr, L; Cartright, Mathias Crater, James H. Davis, Presley Davis, Walter Davis, David Douling, Joab Douling, Sylvester A. Ellis, Charles Eckhart, John Foster, John G Fox, Isaac B. Finney, John Flynn, Samuel Gertch. Martin Hart, Lucien Harbaugh, Thomas Heslip, John Hilliker Charles Hopp, David Husson, Peter Johnson, Albert Layton, Jacob Lahr, Jacob Lenhart, George W. Long, E. Loringe, George M. Matson, Charles F. Meek, David Minnick, Ezra Minnick, George W. Miller, J. Montgomery, Isaac Morrison, John W. Mowry, George Murphy, James H. McMichael, Lloyd Rhineman, Martin Rositer, T. A. Southwell, William H. Starkey, George W. Sipes, William Smith, N. H. Smith, Asa Sellers, John Smailes, J. D. Stonehocker, Samuel Stucker, Ryan Sibley, Eli W. Thomas, James Ury, Hiram J. Vance, George Vanhorn, William A. Wales, William Welch, A. M. Williams, D. W. Wilsori, Charles W. Wilson, John Wier, Robert Wier, Reuben D. Wright. Muster Roll of Company H, Fifty-first Ohio; OFFICERS. John D. Nicholas, Captain. Charles Donley, First Lieutenant. William Nicholas, Second Lieutenant. Robert Cunning, First Sergeant. Edgar J. Pecock, Second Sergeant. Benjamin D. Day, Third Sergeant. Henry F. Buck, Fourth Sergeant. David L. Barton, Fifth Sergeant. Samuel Holtishaum, First Corporal. Charles M. Pike, Second Corporal. Joseph H. Shuck, Third Corporal. Charles Craige, Fourth Corporal. Washington Cain, Fifth Corporal Simpson McFadden, Sixth Corporal. Solomon Duncan, Seventh Corporal. Henry Bird, Eighth Corporal. Privates.- Aaron Albert, John Armstrong, William Adams, Philip Bash, William C. Barnes, J. P. Cooper, A. C. Brink, Wilson Buck, Franklin Buck, Charles Pelser, C. Batenhead, James Brister, Jack Cain, E. B. Crawford, George Carnehan, James Crelly, Samuel Conins, N. C. Davis, J. G. Dougherty P. Dougherty, J. B. Dewalt, M. Davidson, W. Davidson, John Darnes, John Davidson, George Edwards, T. J. Edwards, J. Flemming, David Gibson, Thomas Hogle, T. C. Hutchinson, S. Wotterboum, Samuel Hoobler, W. B. Jennings, Jacob Jones, David Jones, N. Jones, R. E. Carr, L. Locklin, L. Larengood, John Larengood, J. D. Luke, John Lennon, Joseph Linn, M. Kugler, Levi Joce, Samuel Luke, J. Martin, G. Morrow, J. Murphy, L. Miller, W. Miller, J. Moore, J. Nelson, D. Nachdouns, T. Phillips, R. Phillips, J. Perry, T. Retherford, C. Richardson, L. Row, S: K. Barger, N. Smith, K. M. Smith, E. Stippy, G. Shellinery, N. Shannon, W. B. Shannon, A. Sertt, R. V. Thompson, Henry Undine, Jacob Wolf, John G. Wolf, 340 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. M. Wilson, John Wier, W. C. Workman, L. Wise, John Walker, R. B. Whtaker. Muster Roll of Company I, Fifty-first Ohio. OFFICERS. James M. Crooks, Captain. William Moore, First Lieutenant. Louis Crooks, Second Lieutenant. Ulysses B. Kinsey, First Sergeant. William McCoy, Second Sergeant. Henry Hazlebarger, Third Sergeant. James McFarland, Fourth Sergeant. John A. Weatherwax, Fifth Sergeant. John Crooks, First Corporal. Andrew J. Stover, Second Corporal. Hysam Sapp, Third Corporal. Isaac McNeal, Fourth Corporal. John Willis, Fifth Corporal. Jackson Williams, Sixth Corporal. Andrew J. Holmes, Seventh Corporal. Lyman B. Church, Eighth Corporal. William Calkglesser, John M. White, Musicians. John Cochran, Wagoner. Privates, - A. Ammons, John Ammons, S. Anderson, James G. Arnold, Charles W. Barr, John Barnes, William Barnes, Orin M. Baker, Harrison Bible, Lewis Bible, W. Buckalew, L. D. Bricker, N. D. Carpenter, Henry Crooks, John Dewitte, Jacob Dahler, Lyman Dial, Lorenzo D. Dial, C. Comstock, William Evans, Thomas Elliott, David Firecoat, John Fox, Francis D. Hains, John Hunter, G. Hoglebarger, J. Hofstuttler, Isaac Hardsock, George W. Hess, Josiah Hoagland, A. Hoagland, George Kline, John Kelsey, Leander Kinsey, John Livingstone, I. Livingstone, F. M. Landers, R. McFarlin, S. McNeal, Samuel McCoy, William Mobler, L. Matticks, Jonathan Mullet, Samuel Mullet, William Duller, Peter M. Duller, Jacob Duller, John McConnell, Francis Oglevie, Joseph N. Rollins, O. Richeson, John Smith, William Sapp, Tames L. Stone, Calvin A. Stone, J. O. Sitteran, W. C. Sullivan, Joseph Sigman, Isaac Sickles, W. Teters, C. C. Thompson, Thomas Beefe, Daniel Trump, Albert Ulman, I. Vanscootor, Harrison Walton, John Wilson. Mathias Denman, of this county, was a private in Company A, Fifty-second Ohio, enlisted May 31, 1862. The Fifty-first Ohio went into camp near Canal Dover, in Tuscarawas county, at Camp Meigs. Colonel Fitzgerald, of the regular army, was at first appointed in command, but he resigned October, 1861, and his place was filled by Stanley Mathews, October 23, 1861. Major R. W. McClain, of Coshocton, was promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy: The Age October 3, 1861, says Camp Meigs is a most beautiful camp ; hard, dry sod, just the. thing for drilling purposes. Many of the companies have become very proficient in their drill, and all are in good health and the best of spirits. Companies, under the following captains, all from Coshocton and Tuscarawas counties, are now in camp: Captains J. D. Nicholas, D. W. Marshall, J. M. Crooks, William Patton, M. H. Bortleson, C. H. Wood, David Chalfant, B. F. Heskitt, and J. T. Shanton. All these companies are. formed of fine, able men in muscle and intellect. Success to Camp Meigs and all in it ! In the issue of September, 1861, it says: The Roscoe and Coshocton band has been engaged as the regimental band for the Fifty-first Ohio, now forming at Camp Meigs. Good for the boys, and good for the Fifty-first! The Coshocton complement was half the entire regiment, and great interest was manifested in its success. Large crowds were going from Coshocton to Camp Meigs daily, for this regiment contained in her rank and file large numbers of ' Coshocton's best citizens and most successful business men. Whitelaw Reid, in his "Ohio in the War," says: The Fifty-first Ohio was organized October 3, 1861, at Camp Meigs, near Canal Dover, Tuscarawas county. On November 3, it left Camp Meigs and went by rail to Wellsville, on the Ohio river, It was there placed on transports and taken to Louisville, Kentucky, remaining by the way at Cincinnati and Camp Dennison, some ten miles from the city. It remained in this camp up to the 10th of December, and then, under orders, reported to General Nelson, at Camp Wickliffe, near New Haven. While the regiment lay at Camps Jenkins and Wickliffe, quite a number of letters from the "Coshocton boys" were sent home, portions of which we give below from the "Age:" HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY, - 341 CAMP JENKINS, LOUISVILLE, KY., December 3, 1861. EDITOR AGE: We are at Camp Jenkins, three and a half miles from Louisville, Ky. A brigade j is forming here under the control of Brigadier General 0. M. Mitchell. About 15,000 men are camped here, with several batteries of artillery patiently waiting the command to march southward. There has nothing unusual happened to the Fifty-first since our arrival here; quite a number of the men have had the measeles, but are recovering. John T. Brown, Company D, Fifty-first Ohio. CAMP WICKLIFFE, KENTUCKY, December 25, 1861. EDITOR AGE We left Camp Jenkins on the 10th inst. for parts unknown to us. I have often heard of the scene as presented by soldiers on a march, but the half had not been told. Blankets, boils, drawers, shirts, boots, shoes, stockings, etc., were scattered by the wayside. I never saw so many limping men before. The fifth day out we reached this camp, having traveled about seventy miles. This beautiful Christmas morning finds its in a strange land, surrounded by scenes widely differing from those of a year ago. The health of the regiment has not been better at any time than it is at present, since we left Camp Meigs. We are in the Fourth Division, under General Nelson, and the Tenth Brigade, under General Ammen. We are about 8,000 strong in this camp. Yours truly, B. F. HESKITT, Captain Company C, Fifty-first Ohio. CAMP WICLIFFE, KENTUCKY, December 29, 1861. EDITOR AGE: I desire, through your paper, to acknowledge the receipt of a large box, filed with a variety of the creature comforts for our boys liege, the gift of some of the patriotic ladies and ; gentlemen of Roscoe. They were contributed by the following parties: Mrs. J. D. Nicholas, Mrs. S. Fallas, Mrs. Lewis Carhart, Mrs. H. Carhart, Mrs. John Mirise, Miss P. Barton, Miss Mary Carhart, Messrs. R W. Thompson, T. Wilson, James Carnes, L. R. Miller, John Whirl, J. C. Harrison, R. A. Wilman and Henry Carhart. may have omitted to mention some names, but it was not intentional. The Fifty-first regiment is in fine health and spirits, and anxious for a forward movement. Yours truly, JOHN MIRISE, Brigade Wagon Master, Tenth Brigade. And from the same camp and party the following: JANUARY 24, 1862. I desire to again acknowledge the receipt of four large boxes, the gift of the following patriotic tic ladies and gentlemen of Keene and Bethlehem townships, to the gallant soldiers composing Captains Crooks' and Nicholas' companies in the Fifty-first: Robert D. Miller and wife, George W. Miller and wife, William Brillhart and wife, George Bible and wife, Mathew McConnell and wife, Thomas Ogilvie, James Ogilvie and wife, Adam Dunken and wife, Paul Dunken and wife Mr. Rutherford and wife, Tobias Dunken and wife, and Miss Louisa Miller. JOHN MIRISE. Taking up the history of the Fifty-first: It remained in Camp Wickliff until February 6, 1862, when the regiment moved with its brigade to West Point, at the mouth of Salt river, where transports were provided, on which the national army was conveyed to Nashville, Tennessee. It remained at Nashville on provost-guard duty until the 9th of July, when it marched, under orders, to Tullahoma, and there joined General Nelson's division of the Army of the Ohio, then on its march from Pittsburgh Landing. With this division the regiment returned to Nashville, and there joined the combined movement toward Louisville, to checkmate General Bragg in his advance on that place. While at Nashville, the following letter was received from Captain B. F. Heskitt, Company C: NASHVILLE, MARCH 10, 1862. EDITOR AGE: Tuesday morning we reached Nashville. Many citizens cheered us as we passed to the landing. Not a Union flag could be seen in the city. Our brigade was the first landed here, and the Fifty-first was about the first in line on the streets of Nashville. The people were astonished at the good conduct of the soldiers. I was informed that ladies hall not been on the streets for three weeks, but. we had been here but a short time when the streets were full of women and children. After being in camp two or three days, about a mile or two from town, we were ordered into Nashville, General Nelson declaring that the Fifty-first was the regiment he could most rely upon. Our colonel, Stanley Mathews, is provost-marshal, and the regiment is guarding the city. The Fifty-first occupies a very honorable and trustworthy position, and we dunk the so-called band-box regiment will give a good account of itself. Of my company, two have died, Everhart Caton and David Carnahan; two of my best soldiers, beloved and esteemed by all. Jesse Arnold, of Company F, was fired at last night, while on patrol duty, the ball passing through his cap. Yours truly, B. F. HESKITT, Captain Co. C, Fifty-first. 342 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. While the Fifty-first lay at Nashville it lost, besides the above mentioned soldiers, William Miller, Company H, and William Miles, Company I. The Fifty-first was in all the marches, and most of the skirmishes, from Nashville to, Louisville and return, but engaged in no battles, although it was held in reserve at Perryville; it remained at Nashville inactive until late in the fall. Says the historian: November 9,1862, the regiment and brigade, under Colonel Stanley Mathews, were sent out on a foraging expedition, and at Dobson's Ferry, Stone River, met and defeated Wheeler's rebel cavalry, which had by some means got in their rear. The fight was made by five companies of the Fifty-first Ohio and five companies of the Thirty-fifth Indiana. Of the five companies from the Fifty-first, three were the Coshocton companies, D, F and I. The Fifty-first lost thirteen men wounded, three of whom subsequently died; and the Thirty-fifth Indiana Lost its lieutenant colonel, severely wounded, its adjutant, killed, and a number of men. Colonel Mathews, while in the thickest of the fight, was thrown from his horse and severely injured, but kept the field and command until the troops arrived safely in camp. December 26, the regiment moved out on the Murfreesboro turnpike with Brigadier General VanCleve's division of the Twenty-first Army Corps. Marching toward Stone river on a reconnoissance, it found the enemy in force, and returned to ifs camp. January 7, 1863, it again crossed the river and took position, four companies being thrown out as skirmishers, including companies C and H, of Coshocton. Captain B. F. Heskitt, of Company C, was in command, and was mortally wounded. Advancing half a mile, they met the enemy and skirmished with him all that day and night, and part of the next day. The afternoon of January 2, Breckinridge's rebel division made a charge, and flanking the right swept it to the west side of Stone river. The Fifty-first left thirty-two of their number dead on the field, one hundred and five wounded, and forty-six captured. It was at this juncture that General Rosecrans massed his artillery and settled the fortunes of the day by almost literally blowing the rebel column of attack into and across Stone river. The enemy retreated during the night of the 2d and on the morning of the 3d opened a furious cannonade; but reconnoissances being made, it was discovered that he was drawing his forces off toward Shelbyville: January 4, the enemy having disappeared, the army marched into and took possession of Murfreesboro. The army lay at Murfreesboro until the 24th of June, when it moved on the Tullahoma campaign. The route of the Fifty-first and its division was by way of McMinnville, crossing the Cumberland Mountains into the Sequatchie valley; thence to Point Lookout, near Chattanooga, and from, thence to Ringgold. At the latter place, on September 11, Wheeler's rebel cavalry was met, defeated and driven to Tunnel Hill. September 12, the regiment marched to Lee and Cordon's Mills; on the 13th, it made a reconnoissance to Shield's Gap, and on the 14th went into position at Crawfish Springs. From that time until the opening of the battle of Chickamauga the members of the regiment feasted on roasting-ears and sweet potatoes. On the evening of the 18th of September, the Fifty-first being relieved by the Sixth Ohio, marched back to Lee and Cordon's mills, where it went into position and lay upon its arms all night. On the morning of the 19th it met the enemy and drove him back a quarter of a mile ; but in doing so, lost eight men killed, twenty-five wounded and as many captured. The enemy receiving reenforcements, in turn drove the regiment back to its former position, where it lay on its arms for the night. September 20, the regiment was marched to the left to re-enforce General Thomas' column, and on arriving at its position it took part in the effort to stay the enemy in his attempt to get into the rear of the national forces, through a gap left in the lines. The regiment struck the rebel General Adams' division, wounded and captured its commander, and then drove it pelf mell. It was then brought back and again formed on the extreme left of General Thomas' command. In this battle the Fifty-first lost twelve men and one officer wounded, and thirty captured, including Colonel R. W! McClain and Lieutenant Retilley of Coshocton, and Lieutenants McNeill, James Weatherbee and Assistant Surgeon Wing. A very interesting narrative is given by Colonel HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 343 Edgar J. Pocock (who participated in the strut gle), as follows: In the second day's battle at Chickamauga, the brigade to which the Fifty-first belonged was ordered to report for duty to Major General G. H. Thomas. It was ordered to take position on the left of General King's regulars. The enemy had broken the line, and was driving it back. The Fifty-first Ohio and Eighth Kentucky formed the front line, Colonel R. W. McClain commanding ; the advance Ovals mule steadily, holding fire until the broken ranks in front had passed to the rear and the enemy were close upon the lines; Colonel McClain gave the command, " Steady boys, ready, fire:" Which (after the volley ), was followed immediately by, " charge," when, as never in the history of the Fifty-first, the boys with fixed bayonets, sprang forward and drove the enemy back, completely routing them. Colonel E. J. Pocock enlisted in Company H, Fifty-first, and was appointed second sergeant, and carried his musket twenty-two months; was then appointed second lieutenant, assigned to Company F, and commanded from the battle of Chickamauga though the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge and until the regiment returned to camp. At Resaca, Colonel Pocock was wounded, and was appointed aid-de-camp on General Whitaker's staff during the retrograde march from Atlanta, Georgia, to Nashville; commanded Company F during the battle of Nashville and pursuit of the enemy to Huntsville, Alabama; was commissioned first lieutenant and appointed brigade quartermaster January, 1865. Colonel Pocock is still a resident of Coshocton and in times of peace is not without a military record. He was elected captain of the Coshocton Light Guards. when they were organized, September, 1876; and lieutenant colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment Ohio National Guards, October 1877, and was elected colonel of the same regiment, January, 1881. The burial of one of the heroes of Chickamauga is in fitting place at this point. The Age of November 19 says: George Wilson's remains were brought home and buried with military honors last Sunday. Rev. M. Moffit of Roscoe M. E. Church preached the funeral sermon in the Second Presbyterian Church Of Coshocton, and the dead patriot was buried in the Coshocton cemetery, escorted by Coshocton and Roscoe military companies under command of Colonel Irvine. The coffin was enfolded in the American flag. George Wilson was twenty-two years old, son of Thomas Wilson, Esq., of Roscoe. He was a noble boy and a true soldier.. The Age of December 31, 1863, also says in a published letter of another hero and martyr SHELL MOUND, TENNESSEE, HEADQUARTERS FIFTY-FIRST O V. I, DECEMBER 5, 1863. EDITOR AGE: A word about the patriot Jas. P. Cooper, or Captain Cooper as he was always called in the regiment. We have been officially notified of his death,. such a death-starved by his enemies. At Stone River he stood at his post until surrounded, and, not seeing any other way out, he dropped as if shot, and lay there while our own and the rebel shell screamed and plowed the ground up all around him, until we drove the enemy back and found-Captain Cooper sound and ready for fight, At Chickamauga, he could not wear a shoe or march, but while forming in line of battle old Company H was joined by the captain. We ordered him back, but he was determined and remained with us; he fought most of the time on his knees, as he could not stand up. No words can express our appreciation Of him as a man and as a soldier. WILLIS C. WORKMAN. September 21, 1863, the army retired behind entrenchments to Chattanooga, and was there besieged by the rebel forces until the latter part of the following November, when the siege was raised. November 24, the regiment participated in the storming of Lookout Mountain, and, on the 25th, took part in the taking of Rossville Gap, through Mission Ridge. Its loss in these two affairs was one killed and seven wounded. January 1, 1864, the Fifty-first re-enlisted, and, on February 10, arrived at Columbus On veteran furlough of thirty days. While on this furlough trip home a very amusing incident occurred at Louisville, Kentucky, as follows : The boys of the Fifty-first had with them a game cock they had picked up at the South. As they were coming home, some of them went into a saloon in Louisville, and were followed by the rooster, who jumped upon the counter and crowed defiance. The saloon keeper said he had a bird that could whip him for seventy-five dollars. The boys put up the green- 344 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. backs, and they were covered, and the birds fought on the counter. At the third clip the Fifty-first rooster drove his gaff through the brain of the other, and the boys took their victorious " pet" and came home. The regiment returned to the front at Blue Springs, near Cleveland, Tennessee. It remained at this place in camp until May 4, when it marched to Catoosa Springs, and entered on the Atlanta campaign, May 14 it was engaged at Resaca, and on the 20th of June at Kenesaw. At the first named place it lost one officer and tea men wounded, and one man killed. At Kenesaw it lost two officers (Captain Samuel Stephens and Lieutenant Workman) killed, and ten men killed and thirty wounded. Front this tune until Atlanta was taken the regiment was almost hourly engaged with the enemy. Of the part the Fifty-first took in the Kenesaw engagement, the Age, in its issue of July 2, says: Stanley ordered Whitaker to charge a knob in his front, the possession of which, by our forces, was of the utmost importance, inasmuch as from its summit an enfilading fire could be got upon Kenesaw and Bald Top. Whitaker promptly responded, and, with his skirmishers, the Twenty-first Kentucky and Fifty-first Ohio, charged up the steep slope, on the treat of which the enemy had a strong line of breastworks. The Twenty-first was the first regiment to charge the hill and were promptly supported by the Fifty-first, which arrived in time to make a desperate charge upon . the works, which they- did with a cheer and a determination to succeed at whatever cost. But five minutes passed e'er the brave fellows of these two regiments were seen mounting the works and disappearing on the other side. For a few moments the suspense was painful, for the capture of the whole party by the enemy was not improbable. A number of rebels soon emerged from the works, closely followed by a guard of the captors of the ridge. The rebels made a number of furious charges in the attempt to regain possession, but were defeated with terrible slaughter. September 1, 1864, the Fifty-first was at Jonesboro, and took part in that engagement, and on the 2d pursued the enemy to Lovejoy's Station. Here it lost ten men wounded. It then fell back to Atlanta, and on the 8th of September, entered that city. It lay there quietly in camp until the 3d of October, when it marched toward Chattanooga, passing through Cassville, Kingston, Rome. Resaca and Snake Creek Gap. This march was made in consequence of the rebel General Hood's movement to the rear of Atlantic, and the consequent return of General Hood's army. At this time a series of arduous marches were made in pursuit of the enemy through Tennessee and Alabama, ending at Pulaski, Tennessee, where it went into camp until November 22, 1864. It then fell back with General Thomas' command to Columbia, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. It was engaged at Spring Hill, but in the battle of Franklin it occupied a position not involved in the fight. A number of its men were, however, engaged as skirmishers. December 14 and 15, the regiment took part in the battle of Nashville, with a loss of one man killed and a number wounded. It joined in the pursuit of the enemy to Lexington, Alabama. This march was arduous in the extreme, the roads being almost knee deep in mud and water. The regiment then proceeded to Huntsville, where it w went into camp, January 5, 1865. March 20 it went by rail to Strawberry Plains, and from thence to Bull's Gap, Tennessee. April 5 it went by rail to Nashville, where it remained until June 16. It was then taken to Texas, via New Orleans, and landed at Indianola, Texas, July 25, 1865. Thence it marched to Blue Lake, and again to Victoria. October 3, 1865, the regiment was mustered out at Victoria, by Captain William Nicholas, Commissary of Musters of the Central District of Texas, and on the 4th was on its way to Ohio, where it arrived November 1, 1865. It was discharged at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio, after a long and faithful term of arduous service; honorably performed. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 345 CHAPTER XXXVIII. WAR OF THE REBELLION-CONTINUED. Eightieth Ohio-Time of Enlistment-Muster Rolls of Co shocton Companies-Paducah and Corinth-On to Vicks burgh-Resignation of Captain Mathews-Battles of Jack son and Mission Ridge-Defense of Resaca-Sherman's March to the sea-Closing Scenes of the Eightieth's History WHILE the slain of the Thirty-second and Twenty-fourth were being silently sent home from the battlefield: with the dead from the fever-stricken camps of the Fifty-first, at Wickliffe: while: these martyrs were being laid away in their graves by the loved ones who could not see them die: amidst the enactment of these scenes, that wrung from the agony of broken hearts a solemn dirge which told of the tortures of cruel war; brave hearts and patriotic hands were steadily filling the rosters of new companies for a regiment that was to be known as the Eightieth Ohio. Three companies in the Eightieth, namely, F, G, and H, were recruited solidly in Coshocton county, and a large portion of Company B also came from this county. These companies repaired to Camp Meigs, near Canal Dover. Muster roll of Company H: OFFICERS George W. Pepper. Captain. John Kinney, First Lieutenant. Jacob W. Doyle. Second Lieutenant. Nicholas R. Tidball, First Sergeant. S. M. Baldwiu. Second Sergeant. H. W. Brelsford. Third Sergeant. Robert Dickey, Fourth Sergeant. F. A. Norman, Fifth Sergeant. A. Teas, First Corporal. J. H. P. Dimmock, Second Corporal. E. D. Swan, Third Corporal. W. H. Anderson, Fourth Corporal. J. T. Crawford, Fifth Corporal. J. B. Wilson, Sixth Corporal. P. Moore, Seventh Corporal. A. Spellman, Eighth Corporal. P. S. Campbell and J. H. McClure, Musicians. Privates - J. Baily, H. Bell. J. Bechtol, G. B. Boyd, R. E. Brown, Perry Bakar, J. D. Clark, T. J. Cook, J. B. Cross, Eli Crosa, H. P. Cross, John Chub, J. Carnahan, F. Cullison, J. P. Davis, J. Dayton, James Douley, H. H. Decker, J. Derr, Thomas Dobaon, James Duffee, W. Derr, S. H. Ellia, J. F. Ellis, M. Failing, J. J. Finlay, P. S. Geren, G. W. Goodhue, J. E. House, R. E. Hull, G. W. Huff, W. H. H. Hout, J, Hoyle, Perry Infield, Phineas Infield, Charles Infield, W. A. Johnson, L. Kinney, C. Lint, F. Lockhart, M. Langhead, W. Lawrence, W. McKee, J. Mills, J. Masten, J. Marks, S. B. Madden, W. Madden, E. W. Morrow, S. Mulford, D. Mulford, J. F. Diurrill, H. Magness, G. W. Duller, John Ogle, Jacob Ogle, J. Oakleaf, P. Poland, W. H. Robinson, W. H. H. Richards, J. Ross, A. C. Ricketts, A. Retherford, D. Ridenbacll, H. Sharers, W. A. Syphert, W. A. Stewart, J. Stewart, D: P. Sickels, A. Steele, J. Vankirk, T. Wilson, W. Warner, R. W. Willis, J. R. Williams, J. Watson, J. B. Zook. Muster roll of Company G: OFFICERS. William F. Marshall, Captain. Peter Hack, First Lieutenant. John D. Ross, Second Lieutenant. John W. Simmons; First Sergeant. Milton B. Coulter, Second Sergeant. Benjamin A. Stevenson, Third Sergeant. John Ewing, Fourth Sergeant. William Hay, Fifth Sergeant. Christopher Humphreys, First Corporal. Robert S. McCormick, Second Corporal. Augustus Erman, Third Corporal. John J. Sonogle, Fourth Corporal. Joshua Dawson, Fifth Corporal. John C. Miller, Sixth Corporal. John Moss; Seventh Corporal. Joseph Wood, Eighth Corporal. James W. Langhead and Josiah Gadden, Musicians. Robert Lockhard, Teamster. Privates -Abrana R. Akroyd, David Ashbraker, James Bailey, Hugh Barler, John Berton, Patrick Bird, R. M. C. Broas, George Brodenkircher, John Bayer, John Carnahan, Patrick Creeley, William harr, James Cain, William Clendenuin, John H. Davis, John Davis, James Eastman, Simon Fisher, George W. Ford, William M. Forrest, Edward S. 346 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Freely, Viditius Fuller, Michael Gosser, David Gray, Patrick Hartigau, Jacob Henderson, Milton Himebaugh, Noah Hustin, Lewis Huff, Wilson Hutchinson, William Jones, A. Kooble, Robert Lemon, Moses Lillyhridge, Jonathan Longshore, David Loyd, Samuel Mason, Gotleib Merely, John E. Miser, George H Nash, William Nash, William Nihurst, John Reed, Thomas Reed, John Robinson, Nelson Raney, George Roe, John W. Roderick, Henry Ross, John Ryan, Henry Samuel, John Samuel, Michael Snell, Theodore Snell, Alexander Shultz, William Smith, George Sununers, David Switzer, George W. Traxler, Peter Tye, Sylvester Vandusen, Lewis Vancisell, David Williams, John Wise, Samuel Vise, Nicholas Wise, John Wood and Theodore Miller. Muster roll of Company F: OFFICERS. Pren Metham, Captain. James Chanes, First Lieutenant. Francis Farmer, Second Lieutenant. T. Willis Collier, First Sergeant. John Humphrey, Second Sergeant. James Cochran, Third Sergeant. Solomon McNabb, Fourth Sergeant. John N. Henderson, Fifth Sergeant. George B. Wilson, First Corporal. Samuel Clark, Second Corporal. George W. Cox, Third Corporal. Thomas Kanard, Fourth Corporal. N. E. Clendeunin, Fifth Corporal. Fernando C. Wright, Sixth Corporal. Samuel Compton, Seventh Corporal. Wesley Welling, Eighth Corporal. Coan Culter and James S. Gordon, Musicians. Jesse A. Bassett, Wagoner. Privates. -Andrew Alt, Samuel Arm, Bernhard Bonham, William Bills, James Bair, Dennis Baranan, Mathew Baranagen, W. L. Cochran, Lorenzo Carr, John Coplen, Joshga Cochran, Richard Cox, John Clark, Mathety Campbell, Lemote Clark, Daniel Cunuingham, Robert Cross, Richard Croy, William Daruns, Tuner Drummond, Nathan Daniels, Levi Daliere, David Decoursey, Isaac Daniels, James Ecely, Isaac Fortune, Thomas Fortune, Bartholomew Frickley, August Frickor, Peter Good, Jacob Launder, Michael R. Launder, John Gault, Stewart Gault, William A. Giffin, John S. Graybill, Jacob Harmon, John Hyde, Henry Hinds, Thomas Hinds, Alfred Hardenbrood, John G. Johnson, George B. James, George W. Kanard, Edward Kitchen, Phillip G.. Kiser, Charles P. Keyes, Daniel Levengood, Andrew J. Lama, Daniel McCullick, Alex. McCullough, Pren Metham, William McCumber, :Ambrose B. Meredith, Isaac Meredith, James Nash, Burris Noland, Ephraim Orlison, John Parker, Samuel Phillips, Jonas Richcreek, James Robison, Ashburn Richardson, Thomas Richardson, James Richmond, John Schock, Jones Thatcher, Thomas Turner, John B. Taylor, Caleb Tharp, James B. Thompson, Benjamin Viol, Wilson Willis, Silas Yanker, Harvy H. Zimmerman. The regiment left Camp Meigs on the 17th of February,1862,and marched ten miles to Uhrichsville, Ohio, at which point it left by rail for Columbus, where it made a brief halt at Camp Chase, during a heavy storm, from which considerable sickness resulted, thence via rail to Cincinnati, from which point the journey was continued by river to Cairo, Illinois. The regiment was divided into two boat loads, and that portion on board the transport Leonora, was delay ed by the breaking of her shaft, and being compelled to float down to Aurora, Indiana, where it changed boats and caught up with the first section at Paducah, Kentucky. A stay of one week was made by the regiment at Fort Holt, on the opposite side of the river from Cairo, Illinois, and then returned to Paducah, Kentucky, at which point it arrived on the 8th of March, 1862. It was not till the regiment reached this point that it was armed, and then not until the 19th of April. The regiment also received its first pay at this point, on the 23d of April, 1862. During the interval of its arrival and its being armed, the regiment was engaged in the heaviest fatigue duty, consisting in the loading and unloading of steamboats, and daily drills in the tough Kentucky mud. As a result, from heavy labor and exposure in this service, there was much sickness and the following deaths: Geo. Traxler of Company G, aged twenty-five years; R. Petty of Company I, aged twenty-four years ; Corporal Samuel Compton, Company F, aged twenty-five years, HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 347 and Corporal Culter of Company I, aged twenty-four years. On the of 24th April the regiment left Paducah and went to Hamburg, Tennessee. .Here, three companies, C, E and I were detailed as a guard, to unload supplies at that point. These companies afterwards rejoined the regiment previous to its leaving Camp Clearcreek, in August. They were under the command of Major Richard Lanning, of Coshocton. Here the regiment was assigned to General Pope's command, and was consolidated into a brigade composed of the Eightieth Ohio, Tenth and Seventeenth Iowa and Fifty-sixth Illinois, under the command of Colonel Purzcell, and were accompanied by the Sixth Wisconsin Battery. The regiment was now upon the ground made historic by the bloody battle of Pittsburgh Landing. On the 28th of April the regiment, with the brigade, commenced a series of marches over muddy roads where, in many instances, it assisted to build heavy corduroy roads, after which the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Seventeenth Corps, Army of the Tennessee. By the 8th of May the regiment had been in front of the enemy several days, and, on the 9th, was ordered to the support of a Missouri battery in front of Farmington, where it was, for the first time, under fire; but from this time on, during the entire siege of Corinth, it was frequently under fire in skirmishes and reconnoissances. On the 12th of May another forward movement was made, cannonading was brisk, and a second halt was made in front of Farmington, Mississippi. May 17 orders were received to have two days' rations ready cooked, and to be prepared for a forward movement at any moment. Rifle pits were dug, fortifications were built., and occasional skirmishing indulged in until the 30th, when word came about 7 A. M. that Corinth was evacuated. The Eightieth received orders, with other regiments, to pursue the retreating enemy, and, at 6 P. M., moved out on the Booneville road, and marched until 12 that night, when they stopped in one of the enemy's camps so recently deserted, where they found meat cut up and in pans to fry, and biscuit mixed and in the oven. Sunday June 8, the regiment bivouacked in the woods and rested, but soon after getting to bed that night was called up, ordered two days' cooked rations, and marched at 5 o'clock in the morning, passing through the small town of Danville and Rienzi, Mississippi, and finding them almost depopulated. The advance frequently came up with the rear guard of the rebels, always giving them battle taking many thousand prisoners and many stand of arms. It got to Boonville on the 9th, remained until the 11th, then started back to Corinth arriving on the 12th and going . into camp on Clear creek. June 22 the regiment made a forced march to Ripley, Mississippi, a distance of forty-six miles, during which it suffered intensely from dust and heat, and a number of the men died from the effects of sunstroke. July 17 the regiment was paid off for the months of March, April, May and June. August 14 the regiment left its comfortable quarters on Clear creek and marched fifteen miles to near Jacinto, on one of the hottest days of the season, and camped. It was here that Second Lieutenant Jacob W. Doyle of company H died very suddenly. Lieutenant Doyle gave out on the road and was left at a house on the roadside and brought on after the regiment got to camp by a detail under Sergeant N. R. Tidball, dying a half hour after reaching the camp. August 24, George Early, of company B, aged thirty years died in the brigade hospital; and on the 28th, Jeremiah Burress, of the same company, worn clown by hardship and exposure, died very suddenly. The regiment remained in camp Sullivan near Jacinto, doing guard and picket duty, until the 8th of September. On September 19 the regiment marched twenty miles in the direction of Iuka, to meet and give battle to the rebel forces under General Sterling Price. For the last eight miles of the march the rebel outposts were being driven in continually. The battle began about 4 P. M., and the Eightieth was marched into the action on double quick; under a heavy fire, early in the engagement; took an active part therein, and did not leave the field until ordered at 2 A. M., in pursuit of General Price. In this engagement Lieutenant-Colonel Bartleson had his horse killed under him, and was himself severely-wounded in the thigh while gallantly leading the regiment. Adjutant Philpott was wounded in the arm,and also the followi rig named parties from different com- 348 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. panies were wounded: H. H. Whitcraft, J. F. Huddleson ; Corporals Jesse Gaumer, A. Hodge and N. E. Clendenning; James Andrews, J. Delanomer, Simon Darst, Thomas Elder, R. G. Hill, Allen Talbott, T.Drummond (mortally), and Benjamin Viall. The regiment lost forty-five killed and wounded. The Eightieth was now ordered to Jacinto for the purpose of watching the movements of the rebels under General Price. It remained there until October 3, scouting and drilling, when it was ordered to Corinth, and again went into line of battle. The regiment maneuvered and skirmished all day, and toward evening made a dash on the rebel lines just across the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, capturing two lieutenants, one captain and fifty privates. During that night the regiment laid on its arms, and at daylight, October 4, was in line of battle, and on that memorable day the decisive battle of Corinth was fought, resulting in a glorious victory for the Federal arms. The following is the list of killed, wounded and missing in the Eightieth at this battle Major Richard Lanning, in command of the regiment, killed on the field. Company A-Joseph E. Hutton and Milton Stemple, missing. Lieutenant O: C. Powelson, of Company B, wounded in left side ; Private Abel Fuller, killed on the field, and Christ. Lerch, wounded in the head. Company C-Lieutenant John J. Robinson, killed on the field while bravely leading his company on to retake a battery which we had lost ; Private John Wade, wounded in the foot; Joseph Stinchcomb, missing. Company D-Private Conrad Perch, mortally wounded; Sergeant W. C. Wiard; Corporal John Richards; Privates T. J. Elder, John McBain, Alfred Johnson, James Beaty and Lewis W. Wiard, wounded. Company E-Private Isaac Cottrap, killed on the field ; private John Messer, shot through the lungs, died after six weeks of great suffering; Privates David Charnock, Adolphus Reynolds, Lewis Furbay and Reuben Tedrow, wounded. Company F-Private Joshua Cochrane, killed; Sergeant T. W. Collier and Corporals N. E. Clendenning, wounded; Privates Wilser Williams, Bartholemew Flick (mortally), Arthur Woods, Isaac Fortune and B. M. Noland, wounded. Company G-Lieutenant George F. Robinson and Corporal John Dawson; Privates Michael Snell, wounded, and Patrick Crilley, missing. Company H-Privates John Ogle, Daniel Mulford, James M. Falkenson, wounded, and Abraham Steel, missing. Company I-Corporal Thomas H. Johnson killed on the field; Privates John M. Furney, Joseph B. Westfall and Reuben White, wounded ; privates Oliver Atherton, John Anderson, Enos Cahill and Lapold Goldsmith, missing. Company K-Privates Emanuel Miller and Daniel McAfee, wounded, and George Schweigheimer, Samuel Burns and Frank Speaker, missing. Major Richard Lanning, who fell on this battle field, was one of Coshocton's most honored citizens. He was connected with one of the oldest families in the county, was a farmer in earlier years, and was prosecuting attorney of the county when commissioned. He was about fifty years of age. After he n was shot, while lying in the arms of a friend, he said : " I am willing to die for my country, my wife and my children." His last words, uttered midst the din of battle, were: "I am killed; give it to them:" His body was sent home and now lies in Coshocton cemetery. The total loss of the regiment in this, battle was eighty officers and men killed and wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Bartleson, although still suffering severely from his wound, hearing of Major Lanning's death, mounted his horse and commanded the regiment through the remainder of the battle. The regiment joined in the pursuit of the rebels and made some very severe marches in the direction of Holly Springs, and on returning went into camp at Corinth; at which place, October 30, 1862, Captain Morris, with about one hundred new recruits reached the regiment. November 21, Lieutenant Colonel Bartleson, suffering from his wound at Iuka, was sent to Columbus on Government orders. The regiment marched with Grant's army through Central Mississippi. Or. this march the Eightieth, in company with General Sullivan's brigade, took part in a reconnoissance from Davis' Mills to Cold Water. General Sullivan in pressing for- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. -349 ward on November 28, went into Holly Springs, Mississippi, surprised the rebels, and took a number of prisoners. Holly Springs was beyond the point to which General Sullivan was ordered, and he was immediately ordered brick to Davis' Mills. In executing that order a forced march of twenty-two miles was made. For several miles on this march, the rebels in heavy force were in plain view, but for some cause they failed to attack. Colonel Eckley, commanding the Second Brigade, was ordered on the 5th of December, with the Eightieth Ohio, Seventeenth Iowa, and Tenth Missouri, on a recousoissance to the front. The rebels were in force on the Tallahatchie river, about four miles in advance. A brisk cannonading was kept up for some lists, the rebels being driven back to their entrenchments. The reconnoissance proved a success, the Union troops suffering no loss and capturing 500 rebel prisoners,: and one rebel sutler's store; the starch was continued across the Tallahatchie in a snow storm, with almost impassable roads, and on the 6th and 7th of December, the brigade went into camp at Oxford. December 9, the regiment was reviewed by General Grant and staff; remained in this camp until the 12th, then marched back five miles. December 17, Lieutenant Wagstaff brought twenty-two drafted men to the regiment. On the 18th, Lieutenants Powelson and Hay arrived with twelve recruits. Sunday, December 21, the regiment starched from Yockona creek back to 0xford, six miles ; at 9 P. M. were in lice of battle, and laid on its arms during the night in expectation of an attack. On the 22d, moved to Abbeyville, across the Tallahatchie, fifteen mile:. On the 23d, at 7 A. M., marched to Holly Springs, and bivouacked for the night; rations short on account of supplies having been captured by the rebel General Van Dorn. On the 24th, marched to Lumpkin's Mills, pitched tents and remained over Christmas. December 26, at 8 A. M., the regiment was again on the march, but on account of heavy rains made but thirteen miles and were then placed, under orders, in General Quinby's division with the purpose of guarding a provision train to Mem phis, Tennessee. December 27, made fifteen mile to Byhalia, and on the 29th marched into Memphis On this march the rear of the train was fired into by guerillas, killing one man and wounding two others. December 31, regiment marched fifteen miles out on the Memphis and Charleston road and halted at Germantown. January 1, 1863, marched twelve miles to Colliersville. At this point Surgeon E. P. Buell, Adjutant James E. Philpot, Lieutenant Thomas Patton and Lieutenant Robert Hill were taken prisoners, while trying to procure some forage for their horses and refreshments, but were eventually paroled and returned to the regiment, with the exception of Surgeon Buell, who declined to sign a parole, and was unconditionally released and resumed his c duties as surgeon of the regiment. On the 3d of January, 1863, the Eightieth went into camp at Forest Hill, eighteen miles out of Memphis, and remained, doing guard duty until February 8, 1863. January 16, it was again paid off to August 31, 1862. January 18, Captain Mathews resigned his commission, on which the following resolutions were adopted HEADQUARTERS EIGHTIETH REGIMENT O. V. I, January 23, 1863: At a supper given by the officers in honor of Captain C. H. Mathews, late of this regiment, the following resolutions were adopted unanimously 1. Resolved, That by the resignation of Captain C. H. Mathews, we regret having to part with a gentleman whose social powers, urbanity of manners, and gentlemanly deportment, have deservedly won for hint the high esteem and lasting respect of every officer of this command. 2. Resolved, That in the resignation of Captain C. H. Mathews the regiment loses a faithful officer, and the country a brave and dauntless defender, as the bloody fields of Iuka and Corinth have well attested. COLONEL E. R. ECKLEY, Pres. ADJUTANT J. E. PHILPOT, Sec'y. January 23, Private James E. Graham, who was promoted from the ranks, received his commission as second lieutenant. February 8, the regiment went into camp in the suburbs of Memphis, preparatory to a Vicksburg expedition. While at Memphis, Colonel Eckley, having been elected to Congress, resigned his commission, in March, 1863; and returned to Ohio. March 1,1863, the regiment embarked on the steamer "Ed Walsh," and was taken to Woodoruff's Landing. It arrived at Grand Lake, March 350 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 4. where it disembarked; but on the, 7th was ordered to proceed below Helena, Arkansas, where .it was to await transportation to convey it to the Yazoo Pass, on which expedition it was ordered with Quinby's division. It arrived opposite the Pass on the 9th, camping on a sand bar. March 21, the regiment embarked for the Pas,. By the 26th, it had succeeded in making four miles, the currents being so swift that they smashed the wheel-house and damaged things generally. Disembarkation occurred on the 3d of April, the boats being divested of smoke-stacks, guards and wheel-houses; return was ordered almost immediately, and the regiment got back into the Mississippi on the 10th of April, when three rousing cheers went up from all the boats, and cannon were fired. Thus ended the Yazoo Pass expedition which, it is said, was one of the wildest the Eightieth participated in during its whole service. April 16th, the regiment having returned to Helena, took boat, and disembarked at Milliken's Bend. Here it was paid for the months of November and December, 1862, January and February, 1863. April 20, it started for Carthage, Louisiana, where it was contemplated to cross the Mississippi with General Grant's forces, under cover of the gunboats at Grand Gulf. Carthage was reached on the 26th, where the regiment was ordered down to Bruinsburgh, where it crossed over into Mississippi on the first of May, 1863. The battle of Port Gibson was fought on that day, but the regiment did not get up in time to participate. It marched however, in line of battle, and skirmished with the enemy almost the whole way to Little Black river. May 12, the regiment participated in the battle of Raymond, but did not lose any men. May 14, Quinby's division, in which was the Eightieth Ohio, took the advance in the battle of Jackson. About four miles from Jackson the enemy came out to meet the United States forces. While the troops were forming, a heavy shower of rain came up, and the shells of the rebel can non were flying thick and fast. The First Missouri battery returned the fire. The brigade charged half a mile through an open field, and broke down a picket fence before it reached the enemy. The lice consisted of the Eightieth Ohio in the center, Tenth Missouri on the right, and the Seventeenth Iowa on the left; a portion of the Eleventh Ohio battery came into service immediately after the charge and poured a few shots into the retreating foe. Just after the charge was ended, General McPherson, in command of the Seventeenth Army Corps, rode up to the regiment and, raising his hat, exclaimed, "God Almighty bless the Eightieth Ohio." This has passed into history as one of the most gallant charges of the Union forces during the entire war. The brigade lost about one-third of its number killed and wounded; the loss of the Eightieth Ohio was ninety killed and wounded. The field officers in this battle were Colonel M. H. Bartleson, with Lieutenant Colonel William Marshall and Major Pren Metham, both of Coshocton County. Among the wounded was Lieutenant Tidball, also of Coshocton, and John Mills, of Company H, was instantly killed. At Champion Hills, May 16, the Eightieth occupied the rear, as train guard, and did not actively participate in the battle. The next morning it was detailed as a guard to 1,500 rebel prisoners, and ordered to take them to Memphis. This duty being performed it returned, and then marched to Vicksburg, where, for forty-seven days and nights, it was under the incessant fire of the enemy. It had the proud satisfaction of aiding in the memorable siege of Vicksburg, and on the 5th of July marched into the town and treat into camp. After the evacuation of Vicksburg about two months, the regiment received orders to go to the reenforcement of General Steele, at Helena, Arkansas, who was moving on Little Rock. But before it reached General Steele, information was received of the repulse at Chickamauga, and it was immediately ordered to Memphis, there to join General Sherman's forces in their march to Chattanooga, a distance of nearly four hundred miles. It reached the banks of the Tennessee river, opposite the mouth of Chickamauga creek, and the regiment, with other troops, crossed in pontoon boats, soon after midnight, on the 22d of November. By daylight strong earthworks were thrown up to cover the men until the pontoon bridge was laid over the riser. On the evening of the 23d the regiment, with PAGE 351 - PICTURE OF F. C. HAY PAGE 352 - BLANK HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 353 its division, marched out and took the east end of Mission Ridge. That night the regiment was on the skirmish line for some hours without re lief. Next day, entering the battle, it was compelled to pass around a point of rocks covered by three rebel batteries, and was exposed to a most terrific artillery fire. Singular to relate, says one account, not a man was hit. The Eightieth Ohio entered the fight just east of the tunnel, was hotly engaged until near nightfall, and lost several commissioned officers and nearly one hundred men. Chaplain G. W. Pepper says, in his history of Sherman's campaign: "When a number of other regiments had lost their colors, Sergeant Finley, of the Eightieth, with a manly courage, bore the regimental standard through the iron storm in triumph. For personal gallantry this young man was unanimously recommended for promotion:' In this battle, Captain John Kinney, a brave soldier, was shot through the heart and instantly killed. Lieutenant F. M. Ross was also instantly killed. Lieutenant George F. Robinson was wounded and captured. Private Kinney was also killed. After the battle the regiment pursued the rebels to Graysville, Georgia, and then returned to its old camp near Chattanooga. From thence it went to Bridgeport, and while there was, with its division, permanently transferred from the Seventeenth to the Fifteenth army corps, under command of General John A. Logan. January 6, 1864, found the regiment at Huntsville, Alabama. Shortly after this it re-enlisted for another term. After wintering in Huntsville the regiment started on the 1st of April to enjoy its veteran furlough of thirty days. And while it is thus engaged, it would be well to review briefly some of its official records and also some letters sent home at various times during the campaign. Colonel Pren Metham went out in 1862 as captain of Company F; was promoted to major January 15, 1863, commission issued February 20 1863; was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy July 23,1863, commissioned August 21,1863, promoted to colonelcy January 4, 1864, and commissioned at the same time. Colonel Metham has command of the Eightieth from the siege of Vicksburg and practically, on account of the wounded and weakened condition of Colonel M. H. Bartleson, during the siege. In the bloody fields of Mission Ridge, at Resaca, at Cox's Bridge and in all the marches and skirmishes, Colonel Metham displayed all the qualities of a courageous and able commander; Colonel Pren Metham still resides in Coshocton county, his sword turned to a plowshear, and pursues the peaceful avocation of a farmer. Captain F. W. Collier entered the service as a private, and, owing to his efficient services in securing the comfort of the recruits when at Camp Meigs, was, upon organization, appointed first sergeant; ranked as second lieutenant October 4,1862, commissioned December 31; ranked as first lieutenant July 12, 1863, commissioned August 21, promoted and commissioned captain October 12, 1864, at which point of his promotion Captain F. W. Collier was detached on special service at his own request. Captain Collier is still a citizen of Coshocton county, having held. the responsible position of postmaster for twelve years, previous to which and during part of his term as postmaster he has owned and edited the Coshocton Age. As a sample of the official relation of both Colonel Metham and Captain Collier, the following mess rules will testify, as published in the Coshocton Age of May 1,1862 MESS NO: 1,. PREN METHAM'S COMPANY. The boys of mess No. 1, Captain Metham's company, send a list of their mess officers, and their regulations, which are as follows : Captain, T. W. Collier; First Lieutenant, F. C. Wright; Second Lieutenant, T. Drummond; Orderly Sergeant, S. Arm ; Second Sergeant, J. N. Henderson; Third Sergeant, L. W. Cochran; Fourth Sergeant, J. Taylor; Fifth Sergeant, B. Noland; First Corporal, A.. Frickey; Second Corporal, J. Blair; Third Corporal, L: Clark; Secretary, J. Wilson; First Cook, Pren Metham (Eng.) Rule No.1. Every member of this mess shall take his turn carrying water, subject to the order of the cook. Rule No. 2. If any friend of a member of this , mess visits us, he shall be treated with respect by pro the members of the mess. Rule No. 3. Members of this mess shall not use any profane language in our tent. Rule No. 4. Any member of this mess violat- 354 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY ing one or more of these rules is liable to be expelled from the mess at any time. T. W. COLLIER, Captain. JOHN WILSON, Secretary. While the Eightieth lay at Vicksburg, the following was published: HEADQUARTERS OF THE EIGHTIETH OHIO, VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI, August 20, 1863. WHEREAS, Our Assistant Surgeon, Dr. G. Bambeck, being compelled, by affairs of a domestic nature, to resign his position and return home, therefore, Resolved, That, while with us in the field and camp, his noble conduct, untiring energy and impartial attention to his duties, has won for him the respect of every officer and the undying affection of every man in the regiment: Resolved, That by his sepration from us, we have each lost an individual friend, the afflicted a protector, the regiment a surgeon in whom it placed unbounded confidence and one of its most able and efficient officers. JAMES E. GRAHAM, Chairman. H. W. KIRBY, Secretary. From Chattanooga comes the following list of the wounded axed killed, in addition to those already noted: HEADQUARTERS OF THE EIGHTIETH OHIO, NEAR CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, November 30, 1863. EDITOR AGE: The casualties of the Eightieth among the Coshocton boys, at Chattanooga, are as follows: Company F-Killed, Levi Dallier; wounded, Benjamin Viall; missing, Silas Yorker. Company G-Killed, Corporals Jonathan Longshore and Henry Ross ; wounded, G. Messerly, Robert Lemon, Nelson Roney; missing, Corporal J. N. Wood, Privates R. S. McCormick and Henry Sampsel. Company H-Killed, Captain John Kinney and Private Leander Kinney; wounded, Sergeant P. H. Moore, Isaac Ross, William Madden; missing, A. Steele. (Signed,) E. D. SWAN, First Sergeant Company H, Eightieth Ohio. The Age, of March 19,1864, publishes a series of resolutions adopted by the Eightieth Ohio, upon the death of Captain John Kinney, of which the following is a portion: HEADQUARTERS OF THE EIGHTIETH O. V. I, BRIDGEPORT, ALABAMA, December 20, 186I. WHEREAS, We are called upon to mourn with deep sorrow, the death of our late comrade in arms, Captain John Kinney, who fell on Mission Ridge, near Chattanooga, while gallantly charging at the head of his company. AND, WHEREAS, We desire to express our profound regret at the loss of so tried a comrade, and to extend that expression of our feelings to his bereaved family; therefore, we, his late comrades, the officers of the Eightieth O. V. I, have unanimously Resolved, That in the death of Captain John Kinney, we have been deprived of a valued friend, and the country of chivalrous officer. Resolved, That as a soldier he was the bravest of the brave, always baring his breast to the brunt of battle. Resolved, That we tender our sympathies to his bereaved wife and family in their affliction JAMES CARVES, Captain. WILLIAM WAGSTAFF, Captain. ROBERT HILL, First Lieut. At the same time, by the same committee, were passed similar resolutions and published in the same issue of The Age, on the death of Lieutenant Marion Ross, who also fell in the battle of Mission Ridge. In the issue of The Age, May 4, is the following notice The thirty-days' furlough of the Eightieth having expire they have again departed for the front. On the Wednesday evening before their departure they were treated to a splendid supper prepared for them in Harbaugh's Hall, by the ladies of Coshocton and Roscoe. The Eightieth has received many new recruits during its visit; on its departure It had over nine hundred in its ranks, and when it returned as veteran it had but three hundred ; and under the lead of their present commander, Colonel Pren Metham, the boys will, as in times past, be found where the fight is the fiercest. The Louisville, Kentucky, Journal, of date May 27, 1864, says: The Eightieth Ohio Veteran Volunteers, Colonel Pren Metham, commanding, arrived in the city yesterday, fresh from furlough and home. en route to the front. We took occasion to compliment the Eightieth when it passed through the city over a month ago, homeward bound. Whether in the camp, on the weary march, or gallantly charging amid the thundering echoes of the battle field, we feel confident that the veteran Eightieth Will exhibit discipline, and prove its effectiveness as an organization. At the expiration of its furlough, the Eightieth HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. -355 returned to Larkinsville, Alabama, where it performed guard duty on the line of the Memphis and Charleston railroad. In June, 1864, the regiment went from Huntsville to Charleston, Georgia, a long and tedious march. From there it went to Kingston. Then it went to Altoona, and remained two weeks, and was then ordered . to Resaca, to relieve the Tenth Missouri. While at Resaca, the rebel general, Hood, made his dash to the rear of Sherman's army. October 12,1864, 28,000 rebels appeared before Resaca, invested the place, and demanded its surrender, in the following terms Commanding Officer United States Farces at Resaca, Georgia: demand the immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command. If these terms are acceded to, all white officers and soldiers will be paroled in a few days. If the place is carried by assault, no prisoners will be taken. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. HOOD, General. Colonel Weaver, of the Seventeenth Iowa, in command of Resaca, replied General J. B. Hood: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of to-day, and must say I was somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph, to the effect that if the place is carved by assault no prisoners will be taken. In my opinion, I am able to hold thin post. If you want it, come and take it. I am very respectfully, CLARK R. WEAVER, Commanding Officer. They immediately opened on the garrison with artillery and musketry from the entire line. The national force barely numbered 613 officers and men; but by a ruse in displaying numerous flags, and placing the entire force on the picket line, the rebels were made to believe it consisted of at least 10,000 men, and that it would cost too much loss of life to risk an assault... From Resaca, the Eightieth marched back to Atlanta, and joined in General Sherman's memorable " March to the Sea." It went through to Savannah without meeting or performing anything of special interest. After the capture of Savannah, the regiment was quartered near the city and remained in camp until the 19th of January, 1865. It was then, with its division, ordered to Pocotaligo, and from that point made its way through to Goldsboro', participating on the way in a brisk skirmish with the enemy at Salkahatchie river. In this fight, it is said "the Eightieth dashed like a storm from the clouds upon Wheeler's cavalry, chasing and dispersing them." March 19, at Cox's Bridge, over the Neuse river, the regiment performed an important flank movement under Colonel Pren Metham, for the purpose of preventing the rebels from burning the bridge. The movement was successful, the rebels being compelled to withdraw and leave the way open to Goldsboro'. For distinguished gallantry at Cox's Bridge the regiment ass complimented by General Logan. The Eightieth then marched to Bentonville, and reached that place in time to participate in the closing scenes of that battle, which was the last of the war. It then marched to Goldsboro', where, after being refitted, it went to Raleigh, North Carolina. On this march the Eightieth held the advance of the whole army the day it crossed the Neuse river. It was ordered to make a forced march to an important bridge over that river, and, if possible, prevent the rebels from destroying it. As it came in sight of the bridge several rebel wagons were in the act of crossing it, the Eightieth having made seventeen miles in four hours' time and accomplished its order to the letter. The Eightieth reached Raleigh, North Carolina, on the day it was first occupied by Federal troops. After the surrender of Johnson's army to General Sherman, the Eightieth marched with the national forces through Richmond to Washington City, and there participated in the grand review. A few days thereafter it was taken by rail and river to Louisville, Kentucky, and from thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, where for some months it performed guard and garrison duty. This closed its; military career. It was mustered out of the service at Little Rock, 15th of. August, 1865, arrived at Columbus, Ohio, a few days thereafter and was finally discharged, August 25,1865, with as much honor as any regiment from the State of Ohio. 356 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. CHAPTER XXXIX. WAR OF THE REBELLION-CONTINUED. Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry-Muster Roll - Services in the Field-Seventy-sixth Ohio-\luster Roll and Record. LARGE numbers of men enlisted in the various counties immediately adjoining Coshocton, who, though residents of Coshocton county, were credited to regiments whose names have gone down in history as haying been recruited exclusively in those counties. Fortunately, in the case of the Sixty-ninth and Seventy-sixth regiments, this difficulty has been partly remedied by virtue of such facts as are furnished by the following items from the Age setting forth the times and manner of recruiting these regiments in the counties to which they are credited. The Age of January 12,1862, publishes the following: CAMP SHERMAN, NEWARK, OHIO, January 12, 1862 The company to which the men I recruited in Coshocton county were united, is the seventh company now organized, and is known as Company G. The three other companies in whose recruits you are interested, are not yet full. R. W. BURT, Second Lieutenant. As to the company assigned to the Sixty-ninth Ohio, the Age has the following item, under date of February 27 J. V. Heslip, of Linton township, is recruiting another company. And, in an issue of later date, the following: Captain John V. Heslip has succeded in recruiting a very fine company and is justly entitled to its command. His company has been assigned to the Sixty-ninth, and is now at Camp Chase. And in the same issue is the following from the Seventy-sixth. The Coshocton boys of the Seventy-sixth are getting along very comfortably here; we have Sibley tents with stoves in them. About sixteen or seventeen men lodge in each tent, lying with their feet towards the stove. Rations first-class. R. W. BURT, Company G, Seventy-sixth Ohio. The Sixty-ninth was raised from various counties, among which was Coshocton, from which came the company of John V. Heslip, who is still a resident of the county, in the hamlet of Plainfield, commonly called Jacobsport. Besides this company, there was quite a number of individual members of other companies in the regiment, hailing from Coshocton. SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. Muster roll of Company G, Sixty-ninth Ohio,. mustered into service March 21,1862: OFFICERS John V. Heslip, Captain. James G. Elrick, First Lieutenant. Thomas B. Hoffman, Second Lieutenant. John H. Johnson, First Sergeant. Francis A. Stone. Second Sergeant. James A. Clark, Third Sergeant. Adam Sturts, Fourth Sergeant. George F. McClary, Fifth Sergeant. John M. Williams, First Corporal. Rufus R. Wells, Second Corporal. John McAllister, Third Corporal. Thomas B. Hill, Fourth Corporal. Thomas Platt, Fifth Corporal. John R. Neal, Sixth Corporal. Thomas F. Hall, Seventh Corporal. Thomas J. McCartny, Eighth Corporal. Privates. -William Armstrong, John W. Brooks, Samuel C. Blackford, George G. Braxton, Robert Bromfield, John Buch, Thomas C. Brumell, Thomas F. Beckett, James B. Cane, James Dean, James W. Dean, Joseph Daty, George B. Dickey, Barney Donely, Freeman Dulin, John K. Eddy, Tunis Elson, William M. Elson, John Fultry, Richard F. Fisher, James F. Fisher, Aaron Farman, Joshua M. Gardner, Lebanon Ganner, William George, Thomas H. Haney, Matthew Henry, William A. Hill, Samuel Holmes, John J. Johnson, James D. Johnson, Henry C. Johnson, James. Johnson, Thomas M. Kildon, John B. Kildon,. James Marshall, David Maple, John Maple, John Monson, Alexander Mattem, Robert McKelvey, Henry F. McKendree, Jacob B. Miller, Daniel Martin, Lonous McKeever, Joseph Penn, Robert Platt, John Robbins, John N. Smith, James F. Stone, David A. Sayre, Henry Stribbling, William Sayre, Calvin Sturty, James R. Stone, Daniel H. Spear, George Stidd, Jacob Stortry, John W. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 357 Thompson, Henderson Vance, Thomas Vance, Henry Vensel, Stephen Wisenburger, Oliver Wilkinson, Daniel Williams. Riley Wiggins, John D. Elson, Anderson Maple. On April 19, 1862, the Sixty-ninth received orders to report for duty at Nashville, Tennessee, at which place it arrived on the 22d. Went into camp on Major Lewis' grounds, near the city, and was reviewed by Andrew Johnson, then Military Governor of Tennessee. Remaining here until the 1st of May, it then went west to Franklin, Tennessee, and was there detailed to guard forty miles of the Tennessee and Alabama railroad. Aside from frequent alarms, nothing of moment occurred while the regiment was performing this duty. The rebel women of Franklin were especially bitter, and on one occasion evinced their venom against the national dead buried in the cemetery, by dancing on their graves. Colonel Campbell, of the Sixty-ninth, issued an order commenting in severe terms on this indignity, and warning the people of Franklin against a repetition of such dastardly insults. On June 8, the regiment left Franklin and returned to Nashville. From thence it went by rail to Murfreesboro, where it joined an expedition under General Dumont, of Indiana, to McMinnville, and thence marched across the Cumberland Mountains to Pikeville. Its object having been effected the expedition returned to Murfreesboro. This march and counter-march was very severe, and the suffering was much aggravated by the fact that the rations were almost completely exhausted. June 20 found the Sixty-ninth at Nashville again, where it remained performing provost and guard duty, until the last of July. Its Colonel, Hon. LeWis D. Campbell (since Minister to Mexico), was appointed Provost Marshal of Nashville, Which position he held until his resignation, in the following August. During the stay of the regiment here, the rebel, General Morgan, made a raid on the town of Gallatin. The Sixty-ninth Ohio and Eleventh Michigan, were ordered there, and drove the enemy from the place, the Sixty-ninth losing one man killed, Isaac Repp, o Dayton. This was the first lose of the regimen in battle. When Bragg's army attempted a flank movement toward Louisville, the Sixty-ninth and other regiments were left at Nashville as garrison for the city. From the scarcity of troops, this duty• was rendered quite severe. Hardly a day passed without some fight or skirmish with the enemy, who were continually making demonstrations on the Nashville and other turnpikes. This duty was performed until the 20th of December, when the regiment went into camp about five miles from the city. On December 26, 1862, the Sixty-ninth moved, with the army under General Rosecrans, toward Murfreesboro. It was brigaded in the Fourteenth Corps, which marched on the Franklin turnpike. On the 31st, the first day of the battle of Stone River, the regiment, with its brigade, was engaged with the enemy, taking position in the advance line of General George H. Thomas' Fourteenth Corps. It became involved in the disaster on the right, and was compelled to fight its way back to the Nashville turnpike. On this day the regiment suffered severely both in killed and Wounded. It was not engaged in the movements on the 1st of January, 1863. On Friday, January 2, the Sixty-ninth took . part in the brilliant and desperate charge across Stone River against Breckinridge's rebel corps, in which the rebels were driven back with heavy loss. In this charge it captured a section of the famous Washington Battery, from New Orleans. Sergeant Frederick Wilson, of Company E, captured the flag of the battery. This fight lasted until after dark, and proved the termination of the battle, as on the neat day the rebel army was not to be seen. Captain L. C. Consellor, of Company H; Sergeant McGillam, of Company B; Corporal D. P. Albright and Private Stopher, of Company E, were killed in the charge. Many others were wounded. On June 24,1863, the Tullahoma campaign was commenced. The regiment moved with the Fourteenth Corps, under General George H. Thomas, on the Manchester road. No opposition was met with until in the passage through Hoover's Gap, the enemy's rear-guard was engaged in a brisk fight: At Elk river, also, the enemy made t a stand, but was quickly driven. Reaching Cowan's Station, on the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad, the army went into camp, it being im- 358 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. possible to make further progress through the deep mud and terrible roads of that region. When the army moved again, the Sixty-ninth was left at Cowan's Station, as guard to the general hospital, and it remained at that point until the 8th of September it was then detailed as guard to an ammunition train of 450 wagons, going to Bridgeport, on the Tennessee river. It then marched to Chattanooga. Preparatory to the battle of Chickamauga, the Sixty-ninth Ohio, with the reserve corps, under General Gorden Granger, marched from Rossville to Chickamauga creek. At this point, in obedience to an order from Colonel Dan McCook, commanding the brigade, the regiment advanced, under Colonel Brigham, and burned Reed's Bridge, thus preventing the enemy from coming in on the rear of the national army. The regiment then fell back to Rossville, and immediately thereafter took charge of the division trains. For this reason it did not participate in the battle of Chickamauga. On September 20, in the afternoon, the Sixty-ninth was ordered to report at the front, near Rossville, where it per-formed picket duty and aided in covering the retreat of the Fourteenth Corps toward Chattanooga. The regiment participated in the battle of Mission Ridge, and was among the first to reach the top of the mountain. In this charge it was commanded by Major J. J. Hanna, who was highly complimented for his bravery and efficiency. In ascending the Ridge, Lieutenant J. S. Scott, Color Sergeant Jacob Wetzell, Color Corporals D. W. Leach and John Meredith, Corporal E. J. Mauche, Privates Kluger, Elson, Sewers and Hefling were killed, and a large number wounded, many of whom subsequently died. , On March 16, 1864, the regiment, after having reenlisted as veterans, started for Ohio, on a furlough of thirty days. At the end of their furlough the men reported promptly at Camp Dennison, and on the 22d of April again started for the field. Arriving at Nashville the regiment was compelled, for lack of transportation, to march to Cowan's Station. It joined Sherman's forces at Buzzard's Roost on the 11th of May. On May 14, the regiment, with the army, moved through Snake Creek Gap to a point near Resaca where the enemy was met and engaged. At this place Color Sergeant John A. Compton and four others were killed and twenty-six men wounded. At Pumpkin-Vine Creek, and at Dallas, the enemy was again engaged. In these affairs the regiment lost five killed and nineteen wounded. Kenesaw Mountain was reached in the evening of June 14. During this siege two men were killed. At Marietta, July 4, another engagement was had with the enemy, in which the regiment lost one man killed and seven wounded. The next stand was at the crossing of the Chattahoochie river: In this affair the regiment escaped without loss. On the 21st the regiment lost one man killed and ten wounded. July 22 brought the regiment and the army before Atlanta. During the siege nine men were wounded, two of whom subsequently died. On September 1 the Sixty-ninth took part in the fight at Jonesboro, and lost Lieutenant Jacob S. Pierson, Martin V. Baily, Color Sergeant Allen L. Jobes, of Company D, and five men killed and thirty-six wounded, some of whom died in a few hours after the fight. This battle caused the evacuation of Atlanta, and the national forces occupied that city. The regiment participated in the subsequent chase after Hood, through the upper part of Georgia and into Alabama. It then returned to Atlanta and joined Sherman's march to the sea. On that march it lost one man by disease and four captured. Arriving in front of Savannah, it took position in the front line. In the campaign through the Carolinas, the regiment was engaged with the enemy near Goldsboro;, North Carolina, March 19, 1860, and lost two killed and eight wounded. This was the last affair in which it participated. Then came the march through Richmond, the review at Washington, the transfer to Louisville, and lastly the final muster out of the service, on the 17th of July, 1865. SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT. Muster roll of Company G, Seventy-sixth Ohio. OFFICERS. James Stewart, Captain. John Winstrode, First Lieutenant. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 359 Richard W. Burt, Second Lieutenant. Jacob A. Jury, First Sergeant. James G. Evans, Second Sergeant. Rufus W. Hentrom, Third Sergeant. Hiram Vandyburg, Fourth Sergeant. Denton Whips, Fifth Sergeant. Martin Armstrong, First Corporal. Harry W--------, Second Corporal. Jacob Rumer, Third Corporal. Horace Reynolds, Fourth Corporal. Thomas J, Davis, Fifth Corporal. Lewis Williams, Sixth Corporal. Daniel Heckard, Seventh Corporal. George Kinupf, Eighth Corporal. David Jones, Musician. Charles H. Paramore, Musician. Joseph Martin, Wagoner. Privates - Reuben Abbott, William E. Boylan, Edward Beverly, John Binkley, Isaac Bounds, Henry R. Bumer, Thomas Coffman, William H. Coffman, James Carnahan, Henry Davis, jr., Henry Davis, sr., James H. Dame, Cornelius Dispennet, Samuel Dispennet, Asias Deacon, Thomas Dutroe, Philip W. Evans, Aaron Evans, Thomas Evans, Thomas Evans, Perry Flowers, Jacob Fetzel, Henry H. German, John Gillespie, Solomon Holtsbury, Isaac Holtsbury, Philip Harter, Calvin Hart, William Hall, Thomas Hancock, Crosby Johnson, Israel Jones, John R. Jones, Leander Jennings, Frederick Krauss, Adam Lawyer, William Lyle, Peter McKeiver, John Mitchell, James Madix, Paul Murphy, Henry H. Martin, William 0ard, William Oliver, James M. Parmer, Jeread Price, Thomas Pool, David Patterson, Reason Roby, John Rickets, Barney Rogers, David Sams, Patrick Sullivan, Isaac Switzer, Haas P. C Smith, Hugh Tagart, Lemuel Thompson, Abram Walker, John Walker, George Whips, Silas Ward, John Webber, James Wiley, John Wilson, Emanuel Yiesley, George Whitehead. Captain Charles R. Woods, of the Ninth United States Infantry, having been authorized to raise a regiment for the three years' service, recruited and organized the Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Newark, Ohio, on the 9th of February, 1862. The regiment left Newark, and, proceeding via Paducah, Kentucky, to Fort Donelson, took an active part in the engagement at that place. On the 6th of March it moved to the Tennessee river, and then up the river to Crump's Landing, where it remained until the 31st, when it marched to Adamsville, and took position in General Lew Wallace's division, in the right wing of General Grant's army. The division mule a forced march to Pittsburgh Landing on the 6th of April, and was in line of battle by dark, and during the entire engagement was constantly exposed to the enemy's fire. In the latter part of April the regiment formed a part of a reconnoitering party toward Corinth, charging the rebels, driving them from their position and, destroying their camp equipage. It formed a part of the grand reserve during the advance on Corinth, and, after the evacuation, moved to Memphis, arriving on the 11th of June, having marched 130 miles with wagon supplies. The Seventy-sixth moved down the river on the 24th of July, and encamped near Helena, Arkansas. In the reorganization of the Army of the Southwest the Seventy-sixth was placed in the second brigade, commanded by General P. J. Osterhaus. On the 16th of August the regiment, forming a part of an expedition of observation, moved down the Mississippi, landed at Milliken's Bend on the 18th, surprised the Thirty-first Louisiana Regiment, and captured all its camp and garrison equipage. The enemy was followed nine miles, and forty prisoners were captured. The fleet moved down to the mouth of the Yazoo, and a detachment, comprising a portion of the Seventy-sixth, proceeded up the Yazoo, surprised Haines' Bluff, and captured four siege guns, two field pieces and a large quantity of filed ammunition. The expedition returned to Helena on the 27th. The regiment embarked for St. Genevieve, Missouri, early in October, and, remaining a week, moved with the division to Pilot Knob, where it encamped for rest and reorganization. It became very healthy and efficient during its stay here, and on the 12th of November returned to St~ Genevieve and embarked for Camp Steele, Mississippi. On the 21st of December it formed a part of General Sherman's expedition for Vicksburgh. The fleet arrived at Johnson's Landing, on the Yazoo, on the 26th, and the division, then com- 360 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. minded by General Steele, disembarked; and Hovey's brigade, of which the Seventy-sixth was a part, made a feint on Haines' Bluff, and then took position on the extreme left of the army. On the 29th the division moved to the main army at Chickasaw Bay ou ; and, during the battle, the regiment was held in reserve. General Sherman having abandoned the assault on Vicksburg, the troops re-embarked and proceeded up the Mississippi landing at Arkansas Post on the evening of the 10th of January, 1863. That night the regiment marched six miles through mud and water, and by two next morning the troops occupied the cantonments of the enemy. Shortly after daylight they moved upon the enemy's works, and about one o'clock the Seventy-sixth charged within 100 yards of the rifle pits, halted, opened fire, and held the position for three hours, when the enemy surrendered. On the 14th, after burning the cantonments of the enemy, it returned to the river, and, embarking on the 23d, the troops landed at Young's Point, Louisiana. On the night of the 14th of February, two non-commissioned officers of Company B were killed and four disabled by lightning. During the entire month heavy details were made from the regiment to work upon the canal then in progress across the neck of land opposite Vicksburg. On the 2d of April, the regiment, with Steele's division, proceeded on transports up the river, to Greenville, Mississippi. The command marched down Deer creek after the rebel force under Colonel Ferguson, and on the 7th made an attack and routed them. The command returned to Greenville, after destroying $1,000,000 worth of cotton and corn, and bringing off a. large number of cattle, horses and mules. About 300 negroes followed the troops and were enlisted in colored regiments. On the 24th the Seventy-sixth returned t Young's Point, and on the 26th moved to Milli ken's Bend, and prepared to march with the grand army southward. On the 2d of May the Fifteenth Corps started for Hard Times Landing, where it arrived on the 6th and crossed the Grand Gulf. The Seventy-sixth moved east ward, and, at Fourteen Mile creek, the division was attacked by a mounted force of the enemy Colonel Wood's brigade pushed across the tree in the face of a sharp fire, and drove the enemy back. At Jackson the regiment charged the works on the enemy's left. The works were evacuated, and the city surrendered. On the 16th the corps marched for Vicksburg, and on the 18th took position in the line of investment. The next day the regiment pushed along the foot of the bluff near the river, and established itself in position six hundred yards from the main lines of the enemy. The batteries of the enemy in front of the Seventy-sixth were silenced, and none of his guns could be manned except those of the water batteries. Heavy details were constantly made for strengthening the works. In the course of several nights eight guns were taken off the sunken gunboat Cincinnati and placed in position, with telling effect. After the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment marched in pursuit of Johnston, and arrived at Jackson on the 10th of July. While here it was chiefly employed in foraging and making reconnoissances. On the 23d the regiment marched for Big Black Bridge, where the corps went into camp for rest and reorganization. On the 23d of September the division (General Osterhaus in command) embarked at Vicksburg for Memphis, and on the 30th moved from the latter place, by railroad, to Corinth. During the months of October and November the regiment marched and skirmished in Northern Alabama and Tennessee, arriving at Chattanooga in time to join General Hooker in the assault on Lookout Mountain; was engaged at Mission Ridge, and on the 27th of November charged up Taylor's Ridge under a heavy fire, suffering a fearful loss. In one company of twenty men eight were killed and eight wounded, and seven men were shot down while carrying the regimental colors. After marching and bivouacking in various o places, on the 1st of January, 1864, the regiment - Went into camp for the Winter at Paint Rock, Alabama. On the 4th of January, 1864, about two-thirds of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and leave to was granted to proceed to Ohio. On the 30th it moved via Nashville, Louisville and Cincinnati to Columbus, Ohio, and on the 8th of February took the train for Newark. The regiment disembarked one mile from the city and moved into HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 361 town in a column by company. It was enthusiastically welcomed by a large concourse of citizens; speeches were made, and a sumptuous repast was partaken of at City Hall. The members were furloughed to their homes. The Seventy-sixth went away 962 strong, and returned in two years with less than 300. It returned to Cincinnati on the 15th of March, and proceeded via Louisville, Nashville and Huntsville to the old camp at Paint Rock. On the 1st of May it broke camp and moved with the division for Chattanooga. At Bridgeport it was presented with a new stand of colors, from the citizens of Newark. The troops arrived at Chattanooga on the 6th, and pushed forward twelve miles. On the 9th the regiment moved through Snake Creek Gap, and continued moving forward, skirmishing and fortifying, until the 14th at 6 o'clock in the evening, when the regiment, with the brigade, charged across the fields under a hot fire, and gained a footing on the first line of hills west of Resaca. On the 16th, the enemy having evacuated, the Seventy-sixth moved through Resaca and Adairsville to Dallas. Hardie's corps assaulted the lines of the Fifteenth Corps on the 28th, and was repulsed, leaving many dead on the field, some of them within 50 yards of the works in front of the Seventy-sixth Ohio. On the 1st of June the corps moved to the left, near New Hope church, then to Acworth, then south, and so on, each day- advancing and fortifying, until, on the 22d, it occupied a position near the railroad at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain. The Seventy-sixth remained in the rifle-pits until after the rebels evacuated it, then moved to Rossville ; thence across the Chattahootchie, through Decatur, to within four miles of Atlanta, on the 20th of July. On the 22d, the rebels captured four twenty-pound Parrott guns, and the Seventy-sixth Ohio and the Thirtieth Iowa, of the first brigade, were the first to drive the enemy from the works and to recapture the guns. About noon on the 28th, the enemy attacked the whole line of the Fifteenth Corps, and three successive charges were made, each one proving unavailing. 1,000 of the rebel dead were found in front of the Fifteenth Corps. On the 30th of August, the skirmish line in front of the division was advanced and the Seventy-sixth captured fifty prisoners. On the 26th, the regiment moved out of the works, with the division, to the Nest Point and Montgomery railroad, which they destroyed; marched southward toward Jonesboro, and on the night of the 30th formed in line across Flint river. The next day the rebels charged the line and were repulsed, the Seventy-sixth taking an active share in the engagement, without the protection of rifle-pits. On the 8th of September, the division moved to East Point and encamped for rest and reorganization. On the 4th of October, the regiment crossed the Chattahoochie, marched through Marietta, north of Kenesaw Mountain, near Adairsville, through Resaca, through Snake Creek Gap, and on the 16th skirmished with the enemy at Ship's Gap. On the next day the regiment marched through Lafayette, and on the 18th mover' south through Summerville and bivouacked. Here the non-veterans were mustered out. The regiment moved with the army to Little River, Cave Springs, near to Atlanta. On the 15th of November, the Fifteenth Corps cut loose from Atlanta and moved southward with the right wing of the army, averaging fifteen miles per day and foraging off the country. The route of the Fifteenth Corps was via McDonough, Indian Springs, Clinton and Irwintown, crossing the Mason and Augusta railroad twenty miles east of Ma on; thence eastward across the Oconee river to Ogeechee, and down the west bank of that stream to the mouth of the Cannonchee; thence across the Ogeechee eastward to Savannah, where it arrived on the 18th of December, being twenty-six days out from Atlanta. After the evacuation, the regiment performed provost guard duty in the city until the 9th of January, 1865, when it embarked on the gunboat Winona for Beaufort, South Carolina. From Beaufort it marched to Gardner's Corners, where preparations were made for the march northward. and on the 31st the command broke camp on the "Campaign of the Carolinas" On the 16th of February the troops formed on the outskirts of Columbia, and the Seventy-sixth was engaged in skirmishing until the evacuation of the city, when it again performed provost guard duty for four days. The troops arrived at 362 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Fayetteville on the 12th of March; crossed Cape Fear and Black rivers; moved to Bentonville, where they engaged the enemy, and thence via Goldsboro' to Raleigh, where the Seventy-sixth remained until Johnston's surrender. On the 30th of April the army broke camp and marched via Richmond and Hanover C. H., to Washington, reaching the Capitol on the 23d of May, 1865. The Seventy-sixth shared in the grand review, and shortly after moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out, It then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where, on the 24th of July, 1865, it was discharged. This regiment participated in fifty-four battles; moved 9,625 miles on foot, by rail and by water; passed through the rebellious States of Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina., North Carolina and Virginia. Two hundred and forty-one men were wounded in battle; 351 died on the field or in hospitals; 222 carry scars as evidence of their struggle with the enemy, and 282 contracted the seeds of disease. CHAPTER XL. WAR OF THE REBELLION-CONTINUED. The Ninety-Seventh-Rosters of Companies H and I-Re- view by John M. Compton-Historical Record of the Regi- ment-Correspondence and Reminiscences. THE Ninety-seventh was recruited in the counties of Muskingum, Morgan, Guernsey and Coshocton. Coshocton claims Companies H and I, whose muster rolls at enlistment were as follows Muster roll of Company H: OFFICERS. C. C. Nichols, Captain. Noah McClain, First Lieutenant. C. M. Mathews, Second Lieutenant. Milton H. Lakin, First Sergeant. Baxter Ricketts, Second Sergeant. Nathaniel B. Mills, Third Sergeant. George Coggins, Fourth Sergeant. Jesse S. Lake, First Corporal. William F. Bunton, Second Corporal. Jeremiah Peart, Third Corporal. Elijah C. Richards, Fourth Corporal. Stephen Zuck, Fifth Corporal. Jesse J. Deviney, Sixth Corporal. Daniel Elliott, Seventh Corporal. George Smith, Eighth Corporal. Spencer Fry, Franklin Newell, Musicians. Richard Roll, Teamster. Privates.-David E. Almack, Aeo. (Could be Geo.) W. Bricker, George W. Boring, John Barrett, David Balo, William Blenning, John Blackburn, Benjamin Bush, John Bush, Stephen Balo, Abram Balo, Frank Cattrell, John M. Compton, William Collins, William Clough, John Chicken, Joseph Clark, Newton G. Dunn, Jared Doolittle, Charles Emmerson, David Evans, Henry Foster, John B. Frey, Abram Farquar, Lewis Williams, Robert Gould, Samuel Harris, William Hook, William Haines, Adam Hogle, David Houser, John F. Hammer, Christopher Hall, George Hagans, Joseph House, Alfred Shultz, Levi Harmon, George Hinkin, George Holsworth, William Ishmall, William James, George W. Johnson, James Jarvis, Benjamin F. Jones, David Jenkins, Christian Krouss, Joseph Layton, Samuel H. Lynch, John Maston, Isaac McNabb, John Moore, Oliver McQuine, John G. Mackey, Joseph H. Moore, Thomas Morgan, Sylvester Norman, George Nixon, George R. Nichols, William Owens, David Owens, Elias Oden, George Page, Robert Price, Nathan Price, William A. Rannels, William Rodgers, John W. Richards, William Skillman, James Sears, Albert Smith, Mark Trumbull, Joseph Trumbull, Alfred B. Walford, Morgan Williams, Daniel Williams, J. C. Walford, Jacob Wiker, Hiram Wilson, Thomas Westmoreland, Isaac Wiggins, John Wiggins, Thomas Youngs. Muster roll of Company I: OFFICERS. Emmanuel Shaffer, Captain. Martin Weiser, First Lieutenant. G. W. Smailes, Second Lieutenant. A. B. Barton, First Sergeant. James McClure, Second Sergeant. George Jack, Third Sergeant. William Davis, Fourth Sergeant. William C. Harrison, Fifth Sergeant. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 363 Jules Suitt, First Corporal. Joseph Cooper, Second Corporal. Albert Graves, Third Corporal. Peter Miller, F Fourth Corporal, Daniel W. Simmons, Fifth Corporal. T. J. McBride, Sixth Corporal. Albert Taylor, Seventh Corporal. J. J. Ernmerson, Eighth Corporal. Privates. - Samuel Browing, John E. Baker, Edwin Birchheld, W. J. Boyd, Henry Babcock, Tunis S. Brown, Richard Cassner, William Coy, Warren Clemens, J. W. Cooper, Charles Clark, John Day, Samuel Dickison, Eli Dickson, James Dwyer, James Dillon, Isaac Dusenberry, Charles P. Ellis, Albert Emmerson, Crispin Foster, Charles Funk, Daniel Fortune, Daniel Felton, James Felton, John W. Flag, James W. Grover, Clint J. Goodner. Benjamin Howell, Martin Howell, William Hughes, Christopher Huttinger, Charles Hawk, Thomas Hamilton, A. J. Hughes, Frederick Harbaugh, Henry Infield, David King, Ira Riser, W. W. Kennedy, John Kepler, J. T. Lacey, Jacob Lerch, Alexander McClure, William McEveny , F. A. Mobley, William S. Marshall, James Murphy, George McCreary, Jabez Norman, George W. Newell, Charles Norman, William Porter, James Riser, John Robson, Peter Reny, William Roderick, Henry Pick, Harrison Stockman, Coan Seward, Martin Sowers, George Starkey, Hamilton Saxton, Samuel Smailes, Samuel Sharron, George Shaffer, Robert Thornsley, James Treanor, Mathas Tapzin, Joseph Thornsley, George Toland, William Toland, James Thomas, Adam Tincel, Salathial Wright, Henry Williams, John Wright, W. R. Wilson, John West, James Wolfs, John Worthington, George Wicken, Joseph A. Wilson, William Weiser, Adam Weiser, John Watson, George Westlick, B. W. Williams, W. M. Musgrove. John M. Compton, Esq., a resident citizen and practicing attorney of Coshocton, was a member of Company H of the Ninety-seventh Ohio, and was chosen color bearer of the brigade to which the Ninety-seventh belonged for the last eighteen months of the war. Mr. Compton gives a very interesting sketch of the incidents more directly affecting the Coshocton companies as follows: There was in the Ninety-seventh front Coshocton county besides Companies H and I a large part of Company F. The companies suffered from sickness, superinduced by the march of the regiment after Bragg's retreating army in 1862. There being a drouth in Kentucky that y ear, and no water on the line of march but the poorest kind, Coshocton's two companies though full when mastered in at Zanesville, Ohio, when they arrived in Nashville with Buell's army were reduced about one- third. Clinton Gardner, of Company I, was one of the first ten men who crossed the Tennessee river at Chattanooga on an old scow under command of the now Secretary of State of Ohio, Colonel Milton Barnes, then lieutenant-colonel of the Ninety-seventh. The Companies H and I had been engaged in a skirmish for some hours before the ten men crossed on the scow. At Mission Ridge Companies H and I were in the hottest of the fight, losing six killed and a large number wounded. In East Tennessee, these companies lived for some time on foraged cornbread and hog meat captured in expeditions made by them to the mountains of East Tennessee. June 22, 1864, Companies H and I were with the regiment in the charge on Kenesaw Mountain; they charged almost up to the works of the enemy, but were compelled to lie down, the fire from the rebel works being very heavy; while thus prostrate, a great number were killed or wounded by the rebel sharpshooters; of one hundred and fifty three men who went out on this charge, one hundred and twelve were either killed or wounded. Instances of personal bravery in these two companies are numerous. Nate Price, of Company H, was severely stunned by a s spent cannon ball, which struck the breeching of the gun and demoralized it. On recovering from the shock Price picked up a dead man's musket, went up to the top of the Ridge and fought it out. This incident occurred at Mission Ridge. In the same battle Daniel Fortune, of Company I, was severely stunned by a solid shot passing close to his head. After recovering he followed the example of Nate Price, of Company H. Kit Hall, also of Company H, succeeded in bringing down the rebel color bearer, who was on the top of the Ridge and seemed to defy the Union marksmen. The Ninety-seventh was recruited in the counties of Muskingum Morgan, Guernsey and Coshocton, during the months of July and August, 1862. It was mustered into the service at Camp Zanesville on the 1st and 2d of September; moved from Zanesville by cars on the 7th for Covington Heights, opposite Cincinnati; and on the morning of the 8th, took position near Fort 364 -HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Mitchel, three miles from the Ohio river, during the Kirby Smith raid. September 20, the regiment embarked on the steamer Emma Duncan, arrived at Louisville on the evening of the 22d, and was immediately brigaded with General Buell's army, then in pursuit of Bragg's rebel forces. It moved out of Louisville on the Bardstown road, with Buell's army, on the 2d of October. On the 4th the rearguard of the enemy was met at Bardstown, and a brink skirmish ensued, in which the enemy was driven in the direction of Perryville, Kentucky. On the morning of the 8th, the day on which the battle of Perryville was fought, the Ninety-seventh was with the main part of Buell's army, within ten miles of that place. At the commencement of the battle, the regiment, with its brigade and division, was ordered up to the battle field, where it held in check and drove back the rebel forces in an attempt to turn our right. On the 9th, the rebels having evacuated Perryville, the regiment joined in the pursuit, and continued it up to Wild Cat, Kentucky. On the 22d, the pursuit was abandoned, and the national army commenced its movement toward Nashville, arriving on the 21st of November, and going into camp three miles from the city, on the Murfreesboro railroad. On the reorganization of the army by its new commander, General William S. Rosecrans, the Ninety-seventh Ohio was retained in General Crittenden's corps, which formed the left wing of the :army of the Cumberland. While lying near Nashville, perfecting its drill and preparing to move on the rebel forces under Bragg, the regiment was frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy. December 26, Rosecrans' forces commenced the movement on Murfresboro; and on the 27th the Ninety-seventh met and engaged the enemy's outposts at Lavergne, fifteen miles from Nashville. Moving on with the army, the regiment was not engaged until the morning of the 31st. General McCook's right wing having been badly placed, and thus driven back on the Nashville turnpike, the left, under General Crittenden, withstood the shock and repulsed every assault of the exultant enemy, and at 9 o'clock at nigh occupied its original line. At 3 o'clock on the morning of January 1, the national lines were reformed, the Ninety-seventh Ohio taking a position on the left of General T. J. Wood's division, the left wing of the regiment renting on Stone river. It remained in this position without engagement during the whole of the next day. On the afternoon of the 3d of January Breckinridge's rebel corps made an attack on Van Cleve's division (which had crossed the river), and drove it back. At this point the Ninety-seventh Ohio became engaged, and aided in repulsing the enemy's determined assault, crossing Stone river and following him up closely to his original line. In this battle the Ninety-seventh lost twenty-five men killed and wounded. It went into camp on the Las Casas turnpike, and remained there (excepting when on occasional skirmish duty), until the 25th of June, when the movement on Tullahoma commenced. Marching with Crittenden's corps, the Ninety-seventh was not engaged. On the 20th of August, the regiment took position on Waldron's ridge, within five miles and in eight of Chattanooga. On the 9th of September at 9 A. M., the Ninety-seventh crossed the Tennessee river, drove the enemy's sharpshooters from Chattanooga, and entered the place three hours before the main army. For this gallant act General Rosecrans assigned the regiment and brigade to garrison the post. For this reason the Ninety-seventh was not engaged in the battle of Chickamauga. In the reorganization of the Army of the Cumberland, under Major-General George H. Thomas the Ninety-seventh Ohio was assigned to Sheridan's (second) Division of the Fourth Army Corps. In the battle of Mission Ridge the Ninety-seventh lost one hundred and fifty-six officers and men killed and wounded. Following the retreating enemy to Pigeon Mountain, the Ninety-seventh, in company with the Fortieth Indiana, encountered his rear guard in position, and drove him in the direction of Campbell's Station, and across Chickamauga creek. During the night of the loth of November the command was moved up to Chickamauga creek but did not again encounter the enemy. On the 26th the regiment with its division moved back to Chattanooga. On the 28th of November it accompanied Gen- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 365 eral Granger's command to the relief of General. Burnside, then besieged in Knoxville by General Longstreet's rebel corps. On this march the men suffered intensely, being thinly clothed, and without tents or transportation. On the arrival of the regiment at Knoxville seventy of the men were reported as without shoes or stockings. While in Knoxville, the Ninety-seventh occupied the East Tennessee University as quarters About the 15th of December the enemy was again reported as moving on Knoxville. The Ninety-seventh, with the Fourth Army Corps, was ordered to proceed to Strawberry Plains and Blain's Cross Roads, where it assisted in driving back the rebels under Longstreet. It remained at Blain's Cross Roads, on the Holston river, from the 15th of December until the 16th of January, 1864, subsisting off the already impoverished country, without tents, in midwinter, and suffering from intense cold and lack of rations. On the 16th of January the regiment (with the army) crossed the Holston river, and on the 17th arrived at Dandridge, on the French Broad river, where a brisk skirmish was had with the enemy. On the 18th the fight was renewed, and on the night of the same day General Sheridan, then in command at Dandridge, ordered the national forces to fall back to Strawberry Plains. On the 19th of January, 1864, the Ninety-seventh moved (with Sheridan's division) by easy marches to London, Tennessee, arriving at that place on the 1st of February. It remained at London until the 4th of March, and then (under orders) moved to Charleston, on the Hiawassee river, where it guarded the railroad bridge across that river until the 25th of April. On that day it joined the main army at Cleveland, Tennessee, and on the 3d of May entered (with Sherman's army ) on the Atlanta campaign. On the 7th of May the enemy's outposts were met near Red Clay, and on the 8th the regimen went into position on Rocky Face Ridge. On the 11th of May the Ninety-seventh participated (with Harker's brigade) in an unsuccessful charge on the ridge, with slight loss. At Resaca the regiment was under constant fire for two days, (the 14th and 15th of May); and at Adairsville, on the 17th, it had a sharp fight, losing twenty men in the space of less than fifteen minutes. At Dallas the regiment was under constant fire from the 25th of May up to the 5th of June. The enemy then fell back to Kenesaw Mountain. On the 17th of June the regiment made a charge on the enemy's position, and, with the assistance of the Twenty-eighth Kentucky, drove his out posts into his second line of works. On the 22d of June, the Ninety-seventh was ordered to drive in the rebel outposts Of 153 men sent forward to perform this duty, 112 were either killed or wounded in the space of thirty minutes. Major J. W. Moore, Captain W. S. Rosemond and Lieutenant J. T. Gossage, in command on the skirmish line, were seriously wounded, two of them so severely as to be disabled from further military service. Another historian, writing of this attack, in which the Ninety-seventh took such a prominent part, says: Suddenly, on the 22d, the enemy, who were restive under the unremitting pressure of the Union forces, rallied and attacked General Hooker. The ground was quite open, and the enemy easily drove in the skirmish lines. An advanced regiment, the Ninety-seventh, was then purposely thrown forward as a temporary check to the assailants. The point of attack was a wooded ridge, occupied by Williams' division and Whittaker's division of the Army of the Ohio. The rebels made repeated attempts to drive these divisions, but were met with such rapid and deadly volleys, accompanied by an enfilading fire from the batteries, that they finally retired, leaving the dead and wounded in the hands of the Union troops. This action is known as the battle of Kulp's House. On the 27th of June, the second division, including the Ninety-seventh, made another charge on Kenesaw Mountain, and were badly repulsed. In this disastrous affair the regiment lost thirty-five men killed and wounded. On the 4th of July the enemy evacuated Kenesaw Mountain, and fell back toward the Chattahoochie river. At Smyrna Church, on the evening of the same day, the enemy was found strongly posted behind works, and attacked so vigorously by the national forces that he was compelled to fall back the same night to the Chattahoochie river. On the 6th of July, the regiment arrived at the Chattahoochie river, and went into camp on its banks; and on the 9th, marched up to Rossville and destroyed 366 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the factories at that place. On the 13th, it crossed the Chattahoochie river, being the first national troops to appear on the south side of that stream. On the morning of the 20th it crossed Peachtree creek and drove in the outposts of the enemy. A line of battle was immediately formed, the Ninety-seventh occupying the extreme left. At this point the rebel General Hood made his first dash against the national forces. The Ninety-seventh, occupying as it did the extreme left, received the first onset of the enemy. The shock was terrible; but during seven determined charges made against it, this little band of less than three hundred men stood firm. So pleased were General Howard (commanding the corps) and General Newton (commanding the division to which the Ninety-seventh belonged) that they sought out that regiment, and personally thanked the men for their bravery in standing up against the dreadful shock of the rebel charges on the left. In addition, General Newton issued an order exempting the regiment from all further picket and fatigue duty during the campaign. The Ninety-seventh Ohio participated in the action at Jonesboro, and assisted in driving the enemy back to Lovejoy's Station. On the 2d of September the national army entered Atlanta, and the troops went into camp around that city, with the promise from General Sherman of a month's rest. On the 25th of September the Ninety-seventh (with the second division of the Fourth Army Corps) was sent by rail to Chattanooga, and on the 30th relieved the pioneer brigade on Lookout Mountain, in order that the brigade might go to the assistance of the national forces at Tullahoma, then menaced by Forrest's rebel cavalry. In the flurry of Hood's dash on Sherman's rear, the Ninety-seventh was kept for some time almost continually on the move up and down the railroads. On the 19th of October the regiment again joined Sherman's army at Alpine, Georgia, and, after moving to Will's Valley and Stevenson, it took cars for Athens, Alabama. It arrived at Pulaski, Tennessee, on the 5th of November, and remained there until the 17th. At this time Hood's rebel army was advancing on Columbia, hoping to beat the national forces into Nashville. The Ninety-seventh Ohio (with its corps) moved up in advance of the enemy to Columbia, and his advance was driven from the vicinity of the place. On the 29th of November, Columbia was evacuated by the national forces, and, after blowing up the fort at that place, they marched in the direction of Franklin, Tennessee. The second division of the Fourth Army Corps encountered the enemy at Spring Hill at 3 o'clock P. M., on the 29th day of November, and fought him until dark. In the night the remainder of the national force came up from the vicinity of Columbia, and the march was resumed and continued to the town of Franklin. The second division of the Fourth Army Corps covered the rear in this march, and was almost continually skirmishing with the enemy. This march was made arduous in the extreme, the enemy giving no chance for rest. In the battle of Nashville, the Ninety-seventh was with the second division of the Fourth Army Corps on the left center, and took part in the first assault on the rebel lines, driving the enemy in great confusion. On the 16th of December the enemy was found strongly posted on the Bedford hills. He was again attacked and driven, the Ninety-seventh participating in the charge. The pursuit was continued, with some fighting, and the Ninety-seventh (with the Fourth Army Corps), reached Huntsville, Alabama, on the 3d of January, 1865. It remained at Huntsville in quarters, until the 28th day of March, when the entire corps moved to Bull's Gap, in East Tennessee, and commenced rebuilding the East Tennessee and Virginia railroad, with a view of advancing on Richmond, Virginia, by the way of Lynchburgh. Receiving information of the fall of Richmond and the surrender of the rebel armies, General Thomas moved his forces back to Nashville, and was immediately in that city on the 2d of May. On the 12th of June, 1865, the Ninety-seventh was mustered out of service at Nashville, and was immediately sent home to Columbus, where it was paid off and discharged, on the 15th day of June, 1865. During the campaign of the Ninety-seventh, it was under fire over two hundred days, and took an active part in the battles of Perryville, Lavergne, Stone River, Chattanooga, Mission HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 367 Ridge, Charleston (Tennessee), Rocky Face, Resaca., Dallas, Adairsville, Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro', Lovejoy's Station, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. It lost in these battles one hundred and thirteen officers and men killed and five hundred and sixty wounded. The following correspondence was sent from the front, when the Ninety-seventh was at the different places from which the letters were dated. They were published in the Age as follows CAMP AT CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, August 28, 1863. On Sunday morning, August 16, 1863, the Ninety-seventh, then in the second brigade, fell in at the sound of the bugle, and soon found itself climbing the rugged heights of the mountain. Ere it gained the summit, the rain began to descend in torrents, which continued until every thread of clothing was saturated. As the sun reached the meridian however the storm ceased, the regiment halted and the men dined. The afternoon and night was consumed in pushing the wagons and artillery up the mountain. Imagine, if you can, everything as dark as Egyptian night; a road ascending at about forty-five degrees; mud many inches deep; six jaded mules hitched to a heavy government wagon, and a squad of tired, muddy men at the wheels, at midnight, and you have a poor pen-picture of what the Coshocton men of the Ninety-seventh are doing in front of Chattanooga. Respectfully, H. M., Company F, Ninety-seventh Ohio. The following communications, published in the Age of date September 24, 1863, speak for themselves: FLAG PRESENTATION. To the Officers and Enlisted Men of the Ninety-seventh Ohio: Soldiers of the Ninety-seventh, we are commissioned by the ladies of Coshocton to present you the accompanying flag. It is the old flag which for many a weary month you have followed so faithfully and defended so well. We present it, that when you look upon it you may think of the hands from which it came, and know that you are not forgotten at home. Be assured that from the trenches of Covington Heights to the mountain. passes of the Cumberland, our hearts have followed you. We have not forgotten how, when you had been barely mustered into the service, you hurried to bear your part with the defenders of Cincinnati; how you suffered and endured in the terrible march to Perryville; how, unprovided with tents or knapsacks, you expose yourselves, without a murmur, to the storms of approaching winter; how, at Stone River, you helped to win the day that has given immortal glory to the army of the Cumberland. May kind heaven spare you to a grateful country, made by the valor of yourselves and your companions in arms, united, happy and free. LIZZIE TAYLOR, Committee. MARIA HATTERSLY, Coshocton, August 6, 1863. CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS, TENNESSEE, WITHIN SIGHT OF CHATTANOOGA, August 27,1863. Being requested, on behalf of Company I, Ninety-seventh Regiment, O V. I, to acknowledge the receipt of a beautiful flag, which has been presented to the regiment by the patriotic ladies of Coshocton, on behalf of the members of Company I, I will say, we will stand by this flag. We marched the day the flag was received, and already it has taken part in leading our boys where victory should perch o'er its folds. Our flag now floats within sight of the fortifications of the rebels at Chattanooga. LIEUTENANT GEORGE SMAILES, Company I, Ninety-seventh Ohio. The following news from Missionary Ridge, giving the names of a number of Coshocton boy s that were killed or wounded in front of Chattanooga, was published in the Age, of date December 10, 1863: Lieutenant James McClure, Company I, Ninety-seventh O. V. I, has returned home from Chattanooga on a short leave of absence. Lieutenant McClure is severely wounded in the left hand. He reports the following casualties in Company I. Killed, Joseph Lacey, shot through the heart; Peter Reay, In the right eye; Jacob Leech, through the head. Wounded, Captain Martin Weiser, Lieutenant James McClure, Sergeant George Jack, Sergeant Joseph Cooper, Sergeant William Harrison, Corporal George Starkey, Joseph Thornsley, Jack Watson, William Coy, J. W. Wright, Chris. Hootinger, Benjamin Howell, Thomas McClain, William McElveney, William Musgrove, William J. Boyd and Thomas Hamilton. Company H-Killed, David Owens and John Masters. Wounded, L. Harmon, Sergeant Mills, William Rodgers and D. Jenkins. Our boys have fought like veterans, and we sincerely mourn for the fallen ones and hope for the speedy recovery of the wounded. 368 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. In addition to the above, the following list killed and wounded, from Coshocton county, b longing to the Ninety-seventh, was published in the Age, of date July 9, 1864: By letters from Captain C. C. Nichols, Captain Weisser and others, we have received the follow ing list of killed and wounded in Companies and I, of the Ninety-seventh O. V. I, from May to July 1: Company H-Wounded, Abraham Balo, mortally (died May 10); John Chickenleg, Benjamin Bush, William Haines, Corporal D. E. Almack, Levi Hamon, Samuel Haines, Sergeant Jesse S. Lake Corporal John F. Hummer, Elias Ogden, Charles H. Emmerson, Corporal William Collins, mor tally (since died), and Stephen hen Balo. Killed, Corporal Joseph Tumbull, E. C. Richards an Jacob Wiker. Company I-Wounded, Albert P. Taylor (since died); Warren Clemens, Albert B. Emmerson Crispin Foster, mortally ; Daniel Fortune, Chris Hootingen, John H. Robson, Harrison Stock man, Henry Williams, John Worthington, John A. Wilson. Killed, James T. Dillon and Willis D. Thomas. The Aqe, of July 16,1864, publishes the follow ing interesting letter from a member of Com pang F, Ninety-seventh O. V. I: CAMP IN FRONT OF MARIETTA, GEORGIA, July 1, 1864. EDITOR AGE:-Notwithstanding you have official reports of all engagements, I can not refrain from giving you a short sketch of a skir mish on the picket in which our Coshocton boy took a prominent part, and lost heavily. On the morning of the 22d of June, the Ninety seventh was sent out to the picket reserve, an four companies (two of them H and I), were immediately sent out to the picket line, under command of Major J. Wat. Moore. Nothing o special interest occurred until 4 P. M., when Major Moore received orders, to advance his line which being done, the enemy soon opened fire upon us. A most desperate and determine struggle ensued, when finding our brave fellow were encountering far superior numbers, reinforcements were called for and sent, until 200 were engaged on the picket line, out of which 10 were killed or wounded. Major Moore being wounded, the command devolved upon Captain C. C. Nichols, of Coshocton, who demeaned him self with credit and gallantry. When darkness came with its friendly curtain, pioneers immediately proceeded to intrench and dig rifle pits, to screen the pickets from the cross fire to which they had been subjected. At 2 A. M., the following morning, we were relieved, leaving the lines to be held without very great danger. in A MEMBER OF COMPANY F, Ninety-seventh O. V. I. The part that the Ninety-seventh took in the engagements from Jonesboro to Atlanta is set forth in a letter to the Age, bearing date September 5, 1864, portions of which we give as follows: "On the 30th ultimo the Fourth (to which the Ninety-seventh belonged) and Twenty third Corps struck the Macon line some five miles beyond Eastport Junction, and commenced skirmishing briskly with the enemy on the right, driving them across Flint river towards Jonesboro. While the other corps were thus engaged, the Army of the Tennessee and the Fourth Corps were vigorously pressing the enemy on the right and left. At the break of day when Sherman found the enemy had retreated, he put his whole army in motion and followed in hot pursuit." During all this march the Ninety-seventh was at the front until the army went into Atlanta and camp. The following letter in the Age of date February 25,1865 explains itself : CAMP OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH O. V. I. HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, February 8, 1865. Allow us through the Age to say : the members of Company I, being highly impressed with the gallant, brave ,and noble manner in which Captain M. Weiser has commanded his company (I) through the several engagements in which it has participated, as well as the gentlemanly and generous course he has at all times pursued, have presented him with a sword and belts with sash at a cost of one hundred and fifty dollars as a token of our appreciation of his meritorious conduct. Respectfully, COMPANY I, NINETY-SEVENTH O. V. I.