MILITARY RECORD - 437 CHAPTER IV. (1) THE MEXICAN WAR, 1846-1847. The volunteers! the volunteers! I dream, as in the by-gone years, I bear again their stirring cheers, And see their banners shine, What time the yet unconquered North Poured to the war her legions forth, For many a wrong to strike a blow, With mailed hands, at Mexico. "The volunteers! the volunteers! God send us peace through all our years; But if the cloud of war appears, We'll see them once again, From broad Ohio's peaceful side, From where the Maumee pour's its tide, From storm-lashed Erie's wintry shore, Shall spring the volunteers once more." ON the 4th day of July, 1845, Texas became a State of our Union. The Mexican Minister at Washington had, previous to this time, ceased diplomatic relations with the United States, and soon after Gen. Zachary Taylor was ordered to enter Texas with his arms to protect the border, and by reason of the annexation. of Texas it became evident that war was inevitable. When the call was made for volunteers in 1846 and 1847 to invade Mexico and settle the question The principal facts in this Chapter are gathered from a pamphlet written and published by Alvin Rose, who served in Company E., Fourth Ohio Regiment, in the Mexican war. 438 UNION COUNTY of the annexation of Texas, the young men of Ohio responded gallantly to the call. The State furnished four full regiments of infantry, several companies of cavalry, and quite a large number for the artillery service-in ill upward of sixty companies, and now but one muster roll can be found on file in the Adjutant General's office at Columbus. Quite a number of the young men of this county enlisted and served in the war against Mexico. A large and enthusiastic meeting was held in Marysville, and when volunteers were called for many enrolled their names. This company went into camp on South Main street, near the Town Run which passes under the railroad bridge, where it remained about a week recruiting. Joshua Brothers) William Clevenger, Jackson Coleshine, C. P. Cavis, William Graham, George Graham, James Graham, D. W. Henderson, J. G. Hawkins, John Harrison. Elisha Glick, James Johnson, J. P. Johnson, Alexander Oliver, John Price, Alpheus Parmeter, Daniel Reed and Frederick Smith, all of Union County, enlisted and served in this company, afterward known as Company E, of the Fourth Ohio Regiment and G. A. Cassil. Jonas Clark, C. P. Garlick, Milford Phillips, Willillin Smith, John Atwood, S. W. Atkinson, Samuel Monroe and William Palmer served in Company C, of the Third Ohio Regiment, G. A. Cassil being appointed First Sergeant of the company. James Cutter, Ebenezer Carter, E. Higgans, M. Pheasant, Andrew Spratt, George Skidmore and H. Woodruff, also of Union County, served in this war, but in different companies. The majority of tire Union County boys enlisted in Capt. M. C. Lilly's company, of Columbus, and were assigned to tire Fourth Ohio Regiment. We here give a brief history of that regiment, showing the service of tire Union County soldiers in this regiment. In the spring of 1847, the excitement consequent upon the war with Mexico had reached its zenith; the tocsin of arms had sounded throughout the length and breadth of the land. From Texas and the Gulf of 'Mexico to the lakes mid rivers of the North; from the sandy shores of the Atlantic to the snow-capped mountain of the far West, was heard tire report of battles and victories ; and yet the call for troops to sustain the valor of tire American arms, and "conquer a peace," was constantly meeting tire ears, and moving the hearts of' the patriotic. On May 29, 1847, a company recruited at Columbus, moved to Cincinnati, which was the place appointed for the regimental rendezvous, and was assigned as Company E, of tire Fourth Ohio Regiment, commanded by Col. C. H. Brough, Lieut. Col. Warner, Maj. Young and Adjt. Kessler. On the 1st of July boats were ready in tire river opposite the camp and the regiment took passage for New Orleans. Company E, under the command of Capt. M. C. Lilley, was placed on the steamer Alhambra. New Orleans was reached on the 7th, and after remaining at this place until the 11th, the troops went on board the steamer Telegraph, arriving in sight of Brazos Santiago on tire morning of the 16th. The next morning preparations were made to ascend the Rio Grande in a boat the William R. McKee; on the 18th, Matamoras was reached and the regiment went into camp certain of being in the enemy's country. The camp was situated nearly opposite to Fort Brown, on the Texan side, and adjacent to it was a fine parade ground, of which good use was made every day. In the latter part of August, orders were received to proceed to Vera Cruz and march to Gen. Scott's line of operations. Accordingly, on the 4th of September, the regiment took steamboats and descended the Rio Grande to the mouth. Here it remained until the 11th, when shipping being ready at Brazos it marched over to that place, embarked on board tire sail ship Tahmroo on the l2th, and on the evening of the 15th have in sight of the sand hills near Vera Cruz ; the following morning the Tahmroo ran into the bay and cast anchor near the great castle of San Juan de Ullua. Having landled the troops, marched to a place about four miles north of the city and encamped on the beach, a miserable sandy place backed by the notable sand hills, and destitute MILITARY RECORD. - 439 of every attraction except sea breeze and good water. On the 19th a brigade was formed of the following troops: Fourth Ohio Regiment, Fourth Indiana Regiment, Capt. Simmons' Battalion of Detached Regulars and the Louisiana Dragoons, all under the command of Gen. Joseph Lane, of Indiana. Tents were struck and the long march commenced. About noon on the following day, as the troops entered a kind of a woodland the advance guard fell in with a party of guerrillas, gave them chase and killed and captured several. In this chase, Lieut. Coleman, of Columbus, died from the effects of heat and fatigue. On the 21st the troops again' moved forward, but after marching several miles stopped at Paso de Ovejas, where they remained until the 25th, then proceeded to Plan del Rio, and on the morning of the 27th moved forward, ascending the hills between the river and the heights of Cerro Gordo. This place, though picturesque in appearance, is remarkable only from the fact that here Santa Anna and his army met with a signal defeat. On the 1st of October the brigade started on the march toward the halls of Montezumas; on the 7th arrived at a place near the Aguas Calientes, or Rot Springs, and on the 8th proceeded on the way with the understanding that Santa Anna was at Huamantla and would probably intercept them at Pass el Pinal. Early on the morning of the 9th, Gen. Lane drew off all the troops except the Fourth Ohio, Capt. Simmons' Battalion and two pieces of artillery, which were left behind to guard the train, and proceeded toward Huamantla; when within two or three miles of the place, he ordered Capt. Walker, with his mounted force, to gallop on, and if the Mexicans were in considerable force not to attack them, but await the arrival of the infantry and artillery. On arriving near the town, the Captain found that the main body of the enemy had started for the pass, while perhaps five hundred remained in the plaza. Upon these he made a furious charge, killing several of them and dispersing the rest, while he and his troops took possession of their artillery and ammunition. But before the arrival of the infantry, the Captain was surprised by a charge from some twenty-five hundred lancers. In this fearful fray, the Captain was mortally wounded and fell from his horse while encouraging his men to still withstand the fearful odds against them until the other troops should arrive. Soon they came to their relief, and before many minutes the place was cleared of the enemy. Among the prisoners taken on this occasion was Col. LaVega, brother to the General of the same name, also Maj. Iturbide, son of the former Emperor of Mexico. On the 11th, the troops entered the pass, and after the principal part of the train had proceeded some distance, a wagon in the rear broke down and seven companies of the Fourth Ohio were left to protect it until another wagon could be brought back and the baggage shifted into it. While thus detained, a party of lancers, about 1,500 in number. appeared on the right and to the rear. The companies immediately concealed themselves behind some bushes and embankments and coolly awaited the attack. After considerable firing and maneuvering on the part of the enemy, the wagon that had been sent for came rattling and thundering through the mountain pass, which they probably mistook for the approach of artillery, and with no little haste these valorous Mexicans took their exit to the opposite side of the plain. Continuing the march, the troops arrived at Amazuque, and, after resting a few hours, pressed forward, intending to enter Peubla and relieve Col. Childs and his gallant band before night. On nearing the city, the clash of arms was distinctly heard, and also the Colonel firing a salute on his eighteen-pounder. The troops passed through the principal parts of the city, only being occasionally fired at by the foe concealed on the tops of the houses, This firing was kept up for some minutes, when, being returned with compound interest, the bells ran- for a truce, and the Mexicans abandoned the city, The joy of Col. Childs and his men seemed to have no bounds; and no wonder, for they had been hemmed up in the north part of the city for nearly a 440 - UNION COUNTY month, and a good part of that time had been scant of provisions and water. Day after day had they lived upon flour, water and coffee, and these not in abundance. The enemy, finding that Col. Childs would not surrender the place, had attempted to starve him out. So destitute of meat were the Colonel's men that it has been told that they even ate cats! Their ammunition was so near spent that they had to wrap six-pound balls to fire from twelve-pound guns. But upon the arrival of re-enforcements, they sallied forth, and entering the well-filled meat stores, appropriated some of the superfluities of their Mexican neighbors to their own necessities. On the 19th of October, details from the Fourth Ohio and other regiments started on an expedition against a party of Mexicans under Gen. Rea, the noted guerrilla chief. When about ten miles from Puebla, the enemy was met and a close conflict ensued ; retreating some distance, they again made a stand, and fought desperately with the dragoons, but on receiving a shot or two from the artillery, they again fled and ran into Atalixco. The loss of life in this engagement was considerable. The report of the Mexicans was 219 killed and 300 wounded; the Americans, two killed and one wounded. The forces were about 1,500 Americans and about the same number of Mexicans. A detachment of some 300 men was sent to a little town called Huacalcingo, for the purpose of capturing two pieces of cannon belonging to the enemy. The guns were hid on the arrival of the troops, but by a diligent search they were found and spiked, and the Americans re-assembled at Puebla, elated with their success and the probable cessation of hostilities. The stay in Puebla was somewhat long-from the 12th of October, 1847, to the 2d of June, 1848-during which time the prospects of peace and war were alternating with a regularity perplexing and vexatious to the American forces. However, after much uncertainty and many disappointments, about the 1st of May, 1848, intelligence was received which made the hopes of peace more warrant able than they had ever been before. On the 2d of June, orders were received to take up the line of march for Vera Cruz, and the 3d found the troops hastening homeward. After being detained at Encero until the 16th, awaiting the arrival of shipping at Vera Cruz, the line of march was again resumed, and three days later the Gulf coast was reached. On the 22d they boarded the ship Edgar, of New York, and stood out to sea - on the 12th of July, arrived at Cincinnati and on the 20th the companies were disbanded and with glad hearts the men dispersed to their homes in various directions. Many of these soldiers of the Mexican war took a prominent part in the war of the late rebellion, and not a few of the boys who enlisted in the late war were first drilled by these heroes of Buena Vista and in the old "Scott Tactics." J. G. Hawkins was Colonel of the Thirteenth Ohio; Dr. D. W. Henderson was a surgeon in the Ninety-sixth Ohio; C. P. Cavis was a Captain in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio, and Dr. James Cutler, who has been a citizen of the county for a number of years, was a Captain in the First Ohio Cavalry. Some of them are "sleeping their last sleep " in honored soldiers' graves, among whom are Col. J. G. Hawkins, killed at Stone River, and Capt. C. P. Cavis, killed at Bentonville. A few of them still live, honored with the well-earned titles of two wars. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)