HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 343 (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) CHAPTER XXX THE MILITARY HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY The following is a list of Revolutionary soldiers buried in Erie County : John McMillen—Died in Huron, Ohio; age, 81 years; a private in the New Jersey Continental line ; a pensioner ; buried in McMillen Cemetery, Huron; on pension list September 18, 1818, under act of Congress, March 18, 1818. Daniel Carpenter—Private Connecticut Continental; on pension list February 10, 1820, under act of Congress, March 18, 1818. Michael Chapman—Private Connecticut Continental; on pension list July 5, 1828, under act of Congress, March 18, 1818; buried at Huron. Henry Cherry—Huron; private New Jersey Continental; on pension list June 7, 1819, under act of Congress, March 18, 1818. John or (Johnathon) Church-Pennsylvania Continental; on pension list October 18, 1819, under act of Congress, March 18, 1818. Isaac Curtis (Custis)—Huron; private New York State troops; on pension list September 16, 1833, under act of Congress, July 7, 1832. C. Lambert Sheffer-Private New Jersey Continental; buried about two miles south of Birmingham, Ohio, Florence Township, on bank of Vermillion River ; on pension list May 23, 1833, under act of Congress, July 7, 1832. David Carswell—Born 1764; died 1844; private in New York Continental line ; buried in Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio ; a pensioner. Aaron Van Benschotin-Born 1746; died 1836; private in Captain Coulter New York Company ; at one time hostler for George Washington; buried in Peaks Burying Ground, near Ceylon, Ohio. Jabez Parsons—Born 1753 ; died 1836; sergeant in Wolcott's Regiment, Connecticut ; buried in Huron, Ohio. Johnathon Hunt—Served in Bradstreet's command; died at Venice, Ohio, 1820. John Brooks, Sr.—Served as a private during the whole war ; buried near Spragues Corners, Florence, Ohio. Frederick Falley—Born 1764 in Westfield, Massachusetts; died July 3, 1828; at eleven years of age was fifer in his father's company at the battle of Bunker Hill ; buried at Castalia ; Massachusetts records; reported as having enlisted and served as fifer in Capt. Warham Park's company, June 10, 1775; Colonel Danielson's regiment of eight-months' men; was with the army at the siege of Boston. Chauncey Cook-Aged eighty years; Oxford Township, Erie County, Ohio. 344 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY Joseph Remington-Groton Township ; age, seventy-seven ; resided in Erie County, 1840. Joseph Ransom-Private Connecticut State troops ; placed on pension list July 24, 1833, under act of Congress, June 7, 1832. . VETERANS OF WAR OF 1812 One of the most prominent of the veterans of the War of 1812 was Col. William McCartney, who served in the Mexican war later. He died March 9, 1878. The Register of April 13, 1871, contains a list of six veterans of the War of 1812, then living in Erie County, and furnished by S. C. Wheeler : William Bridgman, aged ninety-five years,, August 5, 1870. He enlisted May 9, 1812, in Captain Towl's Company, Nineteenth Regiment United States Infantry, and was discharged August 19, 1817. He took part in the battle of Sackett's Harbor, was married to Mary McKinney, March, 1820, at Buffalo, New York, and in 1871 lived in Sandusky. Elihu Parker, aged seventy-four years, August 12, 1870. He entered Colonel Codgram's Regiment, Ohio Militia, in January, 1813, and served until the following August. He marched through the wilds of Ohio and Michigan to Detroit and to Fort Gratiot, where he worked on the fortification. He fought in the battle of Mackinaw. In 1871 he lived in Oxford Township. David Cronk, aged seventy-seven years, January 26, 1871. He was drafted at Summers, New York, in June, 1813, and entered Colonel Swartout's Squadron of Light Horse. He was quartered three months on the south side of Long Island under the command of General Courtland. He was married January 28, 1820, at Covert, Seneca County, New York, to Miss Martha Sneed, and in 1871 lived in Perkins Township. Henry James, aged seventy-three years, October 10, 1870. Enlisted in December, 1813, in the. Thirteenth Regiment, United States Infantry. under Colonel Sprawl, which was quartered at Green Bush, near Albany, New York. He was in the battles of Sackett's Harbor, Plattsburg, Lundy's Lane, and after the war served the balance of five years at Fort Gratiot, Michigan, in Captain Pellman's Company. He came to Ohio in 1818 and settled in Margaretta Township, where he still resided in 1871. Benjamin D. Wheeler was seventy-three years of age in 1871, and then lived in Carroll Township, Missouri, Mandeville County. He entered Captain Ross' Company in February, 1814, and was discharged at Upper Sandusky in August. Nathan Ladd, aged seventy-five years, May 26, 1870, was drafted in September, 1814, from Hampden, Massachusetts, and entered Captain Day's Company, Colonel Mack 's Regiment. On March 23, 1820, he was married to Hannah Webster and in 1871 lived in Milan Township, where he had resided with his wife for forty-five years.. On March 28, 1885, a reunion of veterans of the Mexican war was held at Sandusky, Ohio, and the Register notes as among the Erie HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 345 County veterans present, William Wermuth, Joseph Boals, John McGookey, Judson A. Rathburn, John Ray and C. Schelb. CIVIL WAR As early as the year 1832 John N. Sloan, then an enterprising merchant at Sandusky, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the First. Light Infantry Battalion, Second Brigade and Third Division. After this time, and while the people of the county were engaged in the arts of peace, they were unconsciously, perhaps, preparing for war. Various portions of the county had their representative companies. In Sandusky many of the older people will remember the days of glory of the Bay City Guards, an organization formed in 1851, and under the command of Capt. R. R. McMeans, a physician of the city ; the Sandusky Flying Artillery, A. Silva, commandant ; the Yeager Rifle Company, L. Traub commanding, and others, perhaps, whose greatest victories were achieved among the fair sex. But there came a time a few years later when these had. an opportunity of exhibiting their valor upon the bloody fields of battle from the first Bull Run to the Appomattox ; from the State of Pennsylvania to the Gulf of Mexico. When on that fateful morning of April, 1861, there appeared, in answer to Moultrie's guns, upon our political horizon the words "Civil War," the sturdy men of Ohio were at once to the fore, and from that day to the time that Lee yielded to that old hero, "Unconditional Surrender" Grant, this state was seldom behind her quota. Let us see what Ohio did during this four years of internecine strife. Upon the authority of Mr. Reid it may be stated that under Mr. Lincoln's call, on April 15, 1861, for 75,000 men, Ohio furnished 12,357; July 22, 1861, 84,116; July 2, 1862, 58,325; August 4, 1862, (nine months' men) ; June 15, 1863, 2,736 (militia) ; October 17, 1863, 32,837 ; March 14, 1863, 29,931 ; April 22, 1864, 36,254 (one hundred days' service) ; July 18, 1864, 30,823 ; December 19, 1864, 23,275. In all Ohio furnished under these several demands for men an aggregate of 310,654 men, while her total quota amounted to 306,322 men. The fact appears that the County of Erie was represented by men in no less than thirty different regiments, although the number in each averaged considerably less than 100. Among those were some of the most daring fighters in the service. To the military history of Erie County there attaches an additional interest from the fact of Johnson's Island having been made a national depot for the detention of captured rebel officers. This island is not a part of Erie County, but Sandusky seems to have been the central and prominent point and the base of all operations on the island. From here all prisoners were placed on boats and conveyed to the island, and furthermore, all supplies were obtained here. The establishment of a prisoner's depot on Johnson's Island was brought about through the energy and exertions of a few of the leading business men of Sandusky, 346 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY who at once saw that such a station would be of great value to trade in the city and that the officers' quarters would be in and about the town rather than on the island. The officer of the war department to whom was entrusted the duty of selecting a site for the depot was inclined to favor Detroit, and came to this city mainly in fulfillment of a duty and not that he desired to locate the place of detention here ; but the business -men accorded him such a warm reception, and showed a willingness to give the enterprise such substantial aid, that the agent could not well do otherwise than accept the offers made him. ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT The guarding force of this important point was made up, in the main, of Ohio troops,- prominent among which was the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment ; therefore, the history of that regiment, a portion of which was from Erie County, is closely associated with the events that transpired during the occupancy of the, island for the purposes stated, and will be written in connection therewith. A still greater interest and importance was given this locality during the years of the war, through the exploits of John Yates Beall, who made a fruitless attempt to rescue the prisoners on the island, which attempt will be found detailed in these pages, together with an account of the execution of that daring young officer. For the following account of the history of the Johnson's Island Prisoners' Depot, and the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment, we are indebted to the work entitled "Ohio in the War," edited by Mr. Whitelaw Reid, later of the New York Tribune. The narrative was compiled and written so soon after the close of the war that it is doubtful whether any additional facts can be stated, even at this time; therefore, we copy from Mr. Reid, giving him full credit for the original production : " The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio, although chiefly occupied in guard duty within the borders of the State, was an organization of three years' troops, enlisted and mustered into the United States service, the same as other volunteers troops, and was liable to service wherever required. It attained minimum strength on the 25th of December, 1863, and consisted of four companies, before known as the `Hoffman Battalion' raised at different times in 1862. At and before the time of forming the regiment the Hoffman Battalion was under the command of a lieutenant-colonel and major. Six new companies were mustered in at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, between the 8th and 15th of January, 1864. The four old companies had been on duty at Johnson's Island nearly all the time since their muster-in; but had frequently furnished detachments for service elsewhere, including a short and very active campaign in pursuit of rebel troops in West Virginia in 1862. "The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth having been chiefly occupied at the frontier posts of Johnson's Island and Sandusky, its services HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 347 necessarily involves much of the military history of these posts, and can better be understood by giving a brief synopsis of that history. "Early in 1862 Johnson's Island became a depot exclusively for rebel officers who were held as prisoners of war. . "It should be remembered that a cartel for a general exchange of prisoners of war had long been expected, and was finally agreed upon July 22, 1862. Under that cartel and special arrangement exchanges went on until July, 1863, and a continuance was expected. This expectation, with the belief of general loyalty in the north, and the want of help in Canada, had their legitimate influence on the prisoners, and undoubtedly prevented efforts at outbreak and resistance until late in the fall of 1863. "In the spring and summer of 1862 the garrison on the island was strengthened by one company of the Sixty-first Ohio, relieved by one company of the Eighty-eighth. The stoppage of exchanges, followed by the assembling of considerable forces from the rebel army and navy in Canada, and the machinations of disloyal organizations in Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere known to intend to rescue these prisoners with attendant devastations on the lake towns and commerce, showed these posts to be unsafe without considerable reinforcements. Six companies of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry (dismounted), with the Twenty-fourth Battery (six guns), and two detachments of the First Ohio Heavy Artillery (with seven heavy guns) were sent to the island early in November, 1863, followed promptly by the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Regiments of the National Guard and a Pennsylvania Battery. The Forty-ninth and Fiftieth remained only eight or ten days, and the Pennsylvania Battery was soon relieved. The other troops remained all winter. "The First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps, including five regiments, attended by two brigadier-generals from the Army of the Potomac, reached Sandusky on the 13th of January, 1864. Four of the regiments, with General Shaler, were stationed on the island. The other regiment, with General H. D. Terry, commanding the whole, was at Sandusky. They all remained until April 14, 1864, when three regiments under General Shaler left to rejoin the Sixth Corps. The Twenty-fourth Battery was stationed in Sandusky, and the six cavalry companies left for Camp Dennison in March. Soon after, the six new companies of the Twehty-eighth, pursuant to orders from Washington, were moved to Sandusky, and on the 14th of April, 1864, with the colonel, were stationed on the island. The whole regiment was thus, for the first time, assembled as one command. " On the 8th of May, 1864, Colonel Hill, of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, succeeded General Terry in the command, and the two remaining regiments from the Sixth Corps moved off to rejoin that corps. On the 12th of July, 1864, the detachment from the First Heavy Artillery returned to their regiment, and on the 7th of August following the Twenty-fourth Battery left for Chicago. Other troops came to the island and departed as follows : May 11, the One Hundred and Seventy-first Ohio National Guard ; it left June 9th for Cleveland and Kentucky ; 348 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY returned June 20th much reduced, eight of the companies being then paroled prisoners, not subject to duty ; they were mustered out August 20. The One Hundred and Sixty-fifth Ohio National Guard (five hundred and forty-nine men) reported for duty May 21, and left July 16. The Eighth Battery Ohio National Guard reported September 22, and left October 19, and was succeeded by the Second Battery Ohio National Guard, which left November 26. These National Guard troops were sent to the island chiefly as a place of rendezvous, equipment and instruction preparatory to service elsewhere. On the 24th- of September the Sixth Veteran Reserve Corps (five hundred and sixty-three men) from Washington, reported for duty. "The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth from the time its being first assembled on the island was kept under strict drill and discipline. " The condition of the island, and of the docks, roads and barracks upon it required heavy details of working parties to open ways of communication for defense, complete and improve the quarters, enlarge the prison grounds and accommodations, and improve the sanitary condition . of the island, which had been much neglected for many months. "The strength of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, present for duty from early in May until late in the fall, was much reduced by detachments and heavy details for special duty and necessary working parties, the guard-duty became very severe; often, and for considerable periods, requiring the majority of the men remaining for that service to go on guard duty every other day. "The number of prisoners of war confined on the island during the year 1864 ranged as follows, varied chiefly by new acquisitions and special exchanges : January 31, 2,603 ; February 29, 2,206; March 31, 2,192; April 30, 2,088 ; May 31, 2,134; June 30, 2,309 ; July 31, 2,441; August 31, 2,556; September 30, 2,663 ; October 31, 2,621; November 30, 2,747; December 31, 3,209. "From the foregoing table it appears that the average strength of prisoners for the different years was as follows: Average for 1862, 788; 1863, 1,205 ; 1864, 2,480. "In 1865, until discharges on oath of allegiance or parole became more numerous, following the surrender of Lee's army, the number of prisoners ranged considerably higher, and excepting about one hundred, they were all officers of the rebel army and navy, of all grades, from second lieutenant to major-general. "Here were officers enough for an army and navy of eighty thousand men. They were within a short distance of the Canada main, and still nearer to a Canada island. The prevailing sympathy in Canada was largely in favor of the rebels; and their every facility and encouragement, short of direct participation in our war, was extended to the large rebel force from the rebel army and navy maintained in Canada to effect a rescue of these rebel officers. If by such efforts war should be brought on between the United States and England a great point would be gained by the rebels. No other depot of prisoners of war was on a frontier or exposed like this. During the season of navigation it could HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 349 be reached from Canada in a few hours' night run, and during the winter season men and teams could conveniently cross the lake from island to island, not over five miles of ice intervening in any place. During the season of ice the location of the depot of prisoners practically ceased to be an island. The capture of that depot or the rescue of the prisoners confined there, would not only be of immense advantage to the rebel cause and give them great eclat, but would be a deep humiliation to our government and people, and would almost certainly be attended by attacks upon our lake commerce and devastation upon our lake towns. The rebel officers confined at the island had a large range of acquaintances and friends in the loyal States. For them the rebel emissaries traveling in those States, and the secret orders known as the 'Knights of the Golden Circle' and 'Sons of Liberty,' had an especial sympathy, and were anxious to aid them by means of rescue, or with places of refuge and concealment. They had the means of knowing each other. These facts, with the difficulty about exchanges, stimulated machinations for rescue, front and rear, and kept the prisoners -constantly on the qui vive, ready for any desperate adventure until after the fall of Petersburg." It appears that there was but a single well organized attempt to effect a rescue of the prisoners on Johnson's Island, and that attempt was made in the month of September, 1864, although prior to that it was well known that the Canadian side of the lake swarmed with agents of the rebel government and sympathizing residents, subjects of England, who were ever willing to lend aid to the Confederate cause in an under-handed manner, but were not so willing to participate in open, warlike hostilities. The plan of rescue that led to the open attempt on the 19th of September was conceived by John Yates Beall. He was to conduct the operations from the Canada side while one Cole was entrusted with the work of gaining the confidence of the officers at Sandusky, and particularly of the commanding officers of the gun-boat Michigan, that lay in the waters of Sandusky Bay in the immediate vicinity of the island. The Michigan was the only Government boat then acting in the defense of the island, and with an ample crew of marines, and her eighteen guns she could repel any attack that might be made, especially when acting in conjunction with the guard force of infantry and artillery on the island and at Sandusky. The first step, therefore, in accomplishing the main undertaking was to obtain control of the boat, and this was the part of the program assigned to Cole. He was well remembered by many of the residents of Sandusky as an active and energetic fellow, possessing education beyond the average, a fine conversationalist, and a royal entertainer. He made a prodigal use of his money, with which commodity he appeared to be abundantly supplied. He dined and wined the officers of the Michigan and sought to ingratiate himself wholly in their favor. But in the chivalrous acts of this daring young fellow he rather overdid the matter, and Yankee cunning proved more than a match for his arts. When he thought he had the officers just 350 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY about where he wanted them the picture reversed, and the officers had Cole just where they wanted him, and he fell a prisoner into their hands and custody. Cole arranged a wine party at the time that affairs were expected to culminate, and the liquor was heavily drugged, but the officers never partook of his bounty, and instead of their falling victims to his plans he himself fell into theirs. The plans of Beall were equally well formed but through the failure of Cole's were also futile as carrying out the main effort was concerned. Beall, with a few rough characters, took passage on the steamer Philo Parsons, as that boat was making her passage between Detroit, the islands and Sandusky, and at Malden, in Canada, twenty other men also came aboard having as baggage a heavy and well bound box. This was not an unusual circumstance and nothing was thought of it. After passing from the landing at Kelley's Island the men approached the clerk of the boat, who in the absence of the captain seems to have been in command, and with revolvers pointed at him demanded a surrender. The others at once ()timed the box and provided themselves with revolvers and knives sufficient for a small arsenal. Without much resistance the steamer passed into charge of the piratical crew of boarders and was turned back toward Middle Bass Island, where a landing was made. About this time the Island Queen reached the dock at Middle Bass, but no sooner had she touched than she was boarded and captured not, however, without a stout resistance from her commanding officer and the engineer, but both were overpowered, the latter being shot in the face. On board the Island Queen was a party of about a hundred recently discharged soldiers on their journey home, but being without arms were powerless in the face of a score or more of heavily loaded revolvers in the hands of determined, desperate men. The Queen was scuttled and sent adrift, after which the prow of the Parsons was turned toward Sandusky Bay. After cruising about for a long time, anxiously watching for the proper signal from the land party supposed to have been successfully organized by Cole, Beall wanted to make the attempt at rescue without the assistance of Cole's co-operating force, but knowing the power of the Michigan's guns, and fearful of the result. Beall's desperate crew weakened and declined to take the chances. Disheartened and discouraged, the daring leader reluctantly put about and made for the Canada side, where the steamer was abandoned and her former crew released from their temporary imprisonment. This was the only open attempt made to effect the rescue of the officers confined on, Johnson's Island, and it proved a dismal failure. What the result would have been, had Cole's effort proved successful, is wholly a matter of speculation. Several prominent citizens of Sandusky were soon after arrested and charged with complicity in this attempt. They were temporarily confined on Johnson's Island but afterwards released. Cole was also subsequently released. But Beall seems to have been less fortunate. He was captured near Suspension HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 351 Bridge, on the New York side, and taken to New York and confined on Governor's Island. Beall was charged before a military court with the seizure of the steamer Philo Parsons; with the seizure of.the steamer Island Queen; with being a spy in the employ of the rebel service, and with an attempt to wreck an express train between Buffalo and Dunkirk, in New York State, for the purpose of robbery. He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to be hanged. The day fixed for his execution was the 18th of February, 1865, but that the mother of the condemned man might have an opportunity of seeing her son once more in life, President Lincoln granted a respite for six days. Bean paid the penalty of his crimes on the 24th day of February, 1865, on Governor's Island, in New York Bay. "Soon after the arrival of the Sixth Veteran Reserve Corps considerable detachments were sent from it for provost and other duties elsewhere, for of those who remained, infirm as many of them were by wounds and disease, the climate and exposure proved too severe, so that all who remained for guard duty did not make good the absent detachments of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth. The Sixth Veteran Reserve Corps left the command early in 1865. "In view of the contingencies on the frontier, and in order to hold these posts with a less force, the United States Engineer Corps, under under the direction of the war department, began the construction of three forts in the fall of 1864; one on Cedar Point, at the mouth of Sandusky Bay opposite the island, and two on the island. The expectation was to do this work with hired labor, but laborers were so scarce that men could not be obtained at the wages offered. At this juncture the colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth detailed parties from his regiment who did at least two-thirds of the whole work including the mechanical part, and completed all three of the forts with their magazines and mounted the guns. This work was done in the most inclement seasons of the year, without extra pay, and at a time when the other details were very heavy. But in this instance, as in all others, officers and men applied themselves to the duties before them with an intelligence and zeal which promptly overcame difficulties and attained the desired result in a very creditable manner. "Although the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth was often scattered by detachments and much burdened with fatigue duty, its drill, including infantry and a considerable range of heavy artillery, was accurate and thorough, and its equipment, discipline, and constant readiness for emergencies and service wherever ordered, gave assurance that it would meet the just expectations, from which they had been discharged on account of disability by wounds or sickness. "In hastening the completion of the defenses at Sandusky Bay it was anticipated that the regiments would soon be relieved by troops of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and that then the One Hundred and Twenty- eighth would be sent to join some army in the field. Measures were taken to have it ready for such an event. Fortune did not give the 352 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY regiment the opportunity, as a body, to earn laurels in battle, but it performed its duty always with faithfulness and efficiency. "Soon after the surrender of the rebel armies in the spring of 1865, the prisoners on the island were reduced by discharges on parole to about one hundred and fifty. The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth left the island on the 10th of July, 1865, and was mustered out on the 17th at Camp Chase." THE SEVENTH INFANTRY The Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry was raised within a very few days after President Lincoln issued his first call for troops for the three months service. It required but a very short time to recruit a regiment in this section of the state, and while the sturdy young men of Northern Ohio were not anxious for war, they were, nevertheless, anxious to do their duty. The ranks were quickly filled with men averaging from twenty to twenty-five years of age, strong, willing, determined and loyal young men. To the formation of this regiment Erie County contributed one company, E. Three companies were raised at Cleveland, and one each at Oberlin, Warren, Painesville, Youngstown, Norwalk, Franklin, which with the Erie County company made a full regiment. As a three-months regiment the Seventh performed no active service on the field of battle. They were mustered in on the 30th of April, 1861, and rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, until early in May, when they went by rail to Camp Dennison near Cincinnati. Upon the organization of the Seventh the officers were chosen as follows: Colonel, Erastus B. Tyler, of Ravenna; lieutenant-colonel, William R. Creighton, of Cleveland ; major, John. S. Casement, of Painesville. The first duty of the command after the election of officers was to prepare for active field service, and at this time the boys knew but little military tactics, drill and discipline, but before they left Camp Dennison they were as well prepared for the field as any regiment of infantry at the front. But the Seventh Infantry never faded the enemy as a three-months regiment. When they were well versed in drill, then came Mr. Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men for three years, and the Seventh Regiment, almost to a man, enlisted under that call, and were thus transformed from the three-months to the three-years service, and as such first donned the blue. They were mustered into the United States service on the 19th of June, 1861, retaining, substantially, their former commanding officers. After a brief leave of absence at their homes, the men reassembled, at Camp Dennison, and on the 26th of June, 1861, started for the field, having been assigned to the campaign in West Virginia. None of the command ever forgot the march of June 29th, and it was this event as much as any, that gave them an idea of the hardships that were in store for them. Their destination was Weston, and the object of the march was the hope of possessing a goodly sum of gold on deposit in a bank at HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 353 that place, which was designed to be used for the erection of an insane asylum. The boys got it without meeting any armed opposition. The regiment then proceeded to Glenville to relieve the force at that point. The first serious engagement in which the Seventh participated was the battle at Cross Lanes, West Virginia, on the 26th of August, 1861. Here the regiment fought independently, each company taking a position where the most effective service could be rendered ; but they were outnumbered by the enemy and slowly driven back, leaving many killed and wounded upon the battlefield. The loss of the Seventh in this engagement was 120 killed, wounded and missing. The command became divided and scattered, one portion retiring to Gauley, while the others found the Union lines at Charleston several miles down the Gauley River. By reference to the roster of Company E it will be seen that more men were lost by death, wounds or capture than in any other single engagement in which that company participated. The regiment was soon gathered again and went into camp at Gauley. The effects of the recent engagement told severely on the men and many were discharged during the early days of October. One pleasing event, however, occurred while encamped at this place, and that was the presentation to the regiment of a beautiful stand of colors by Professor Peck of Oberlin College, in behalf of the people of the Western Reserve. From Gauley, on the 16th of October, the regiment proceeded to Charleston, West Virginia, where it remained until the 1st of November, but soon after that date it was engaged in a movement to get in the rear of the rebel force under Floyd, but through the disobedience of orders on the part of General Benham, the attempt was fruitless, and Floyd, though hotly pursued, succeeded in making his escape. After this the Seventh Regiment returned by steamer to Charleston, November 17, 1861. In December the regiment joined the command under General Lander and proceeded by water, rail and a march of sixteen miles and arrived in the vicinity of the rebel forces, in a new and different country, and where, on March 23, 1862, they engaged in the battle of Winchester, coming in contact with that most remarkable rebel soldier "Stonewall" Jackson. General Lander was succeeded by General Shields. General Banks occupied Winchester upon Jackson's retirement. The tactics displayed by this noted rebel commander will, probably, never be thoroughly understood. His movements were rapid and were believed to be a retreat, but it has been argued that it was simply a subterfuge, which, had the co-operating force expected by him been successful, the field of Winchester would have been strewn with Union dead and wounded and our national capital have fallen into the hands of the rebels. But "there is many a slip" ; the movement failed of accomplishment. Winchester was fought and the Seventh took an active and honorable part, losing fourteen killed, fifty-one wounded, and several prisoners taken. Among the losses here Were several of Company E. Following Winchester we find the Seventh Regiment next engaged at Port Republic, on the 9th of June. Prior to that the men endured the hardships of a march of 132 miles, from New Market to Fredricks- Vol. 1-23 354 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY burg, which was accomplished in nine days ; and thus Shields' force was joined to McDowell's. On the morning of May 13th, the army was reviewed by President Lincoln and other Government officials. Especially did the president desire to see the division that had put to flight the great Jackson, therefore Shields' command, the Seventh among them, was ordered out for inspection. When Shields withdrew with his forces from the Shenandoah Valley, Jackson with a strong command immediately occupied it, and commenced a rapid, vigorous movement toward the nation's capital. This movement COMMODORE OLIVER HAZARD PERRY necessitated a change of plan on the part of the Union forces, and the project to attack Richmond was for the time abandoned, and the army concentrated and sent to head off the notorious rebel leader, Jackson, becoming aware of this, and not easily entrapped, made a retreat up the valley, closely followed by Fremont's command. The third and fourth divisions of Shields' brigade had, by this time, reached a point opposite Port Republic. At five o'clock in the morning this battle commenced, the Seventh and the Fifth Ohio having the heaviest of the fight. Says Reid, "These two regiments fought splendidly and effectively. General Tyler, seeing the terrible odds against him, and the extent of the enemy's lines, determined to handle his inadequate force with extreme HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 355 caution, and met the wily Stonewall with his own favorite tactics of strategy and cunning. Taking advantage of a wheat field near the enemy's center, he extended his lines from hill to river, and double quicked the Fifth and Seventh from point to point along the line, under cover of some standing wheat, halting at intermediate points to deliver a galling fire. This was kept up for five long hours, and with less than three thousand muskets, the National forces repelled Jackson, with fourteen thousand veteran rebel troops." In the retreat that followed this sharp fight the Seventh was directed to cover the rear as guarding force. This they did gallantly, coming off the field in line, loading as they marched and frequently sending a telling volley into the rahks of the pursuers. In May, 1862, Colonel Tyler was promoted to the rank of brigade commander and has charge of the brigade to which the Seventh was attached. After the battle of Port Republic and lying at Little Washington, that officer was ordered to Washington, and thereafter General Geary was ordered to the command of the brigade. After Port Republic came the engagement at Cedar Mountain, Virginia, on August 9, 1862, and the Army of Virginia, under Pope, had again to contend with the noted Jackson. The fight commenced at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the Seventh occupied a position at the front where the battle waged the fiercest ; in fact, it was a hand to hand contest in which they were engaged, and was continued until night-fall, when they retired and bivouacked almost upon the field. Neither side could claim any substantial victory. The ranks of the Seventh were fearfully decimated, and out of 300 of that regiment that entered the fight scarcely a single hundred escaped injury in some form. The roster of Company E will show how that command fared. With the approach of Lee's army the Union forces fell back toward Washington, and on the 17th of September reached Antietam. During the engagement at that place the Seventh were on the field but not closely engaged, although some slight losses were suffered. After the battle the regiment encamped on Bolivar Heights, and here were received some 200 recruits, but comparatively few of whom were given to Company E. Early in December the Seventh went into winter quarters at Dumfries, but scarcely had they become settled for a season of rest and recuperation than a troop of cavalry and a few pieces of artillery, under Stuart, made their appearance. The camping forces were soon prepared to meet the attack, and drove off the rebels with considerable loss, though suffering little themselves. So ended the campaign in Virginia for the year 1862. Five battles were participated in by the Seventh Regiment, and in each "their gallantry and bravery received the plaudits of the whole Union people. go The campaign of 1863 opened with the engagement at Chancellorsville, in which the Seventh took an active part, and when the Union forces retired their retreat was covered by the regiment assisted by two others. "Its conduct," says Reid, "in this hazardous and responsible 356 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY position and its gallant action in the battle, reflected the highest honor on not only the regiment, but the State from whence it came." In this battle the Seventh lost eighty-four men in killed and wounded. Gettysburg followed Chancellorsville, and although not actively engaged the Seventh was kept busy moving to such points as required strengthening; exposed sometimes to a galling fire, but generally protected by breastworks. Their loss here was but one man killed and seventeen wounded. Among the regiments sent to quell the riots in New York, occasioned by the enforcement of the draft, was the Seventh Ohio. The regiment reached Governor's Island and went into camp on the 26th of August, 1863. The draft being over, the Seventh returned to its old camp on the Rapidan, where it remained a few weeks, after which the Twelfth Corps, to which it was attached, was ordered into the western country. The Twelfth and Eleventh were afterward consolidated and became the Twentieth, under command of "Fighting Joe Hooker." On the 24th of November occurred the battle ,at Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, and close upon that came Mission Ridge, Tennessee, and Ringgold, Georgia. The Seventh was in each engagement, but lost most heavily in the latter. During the assault Creighton said to his men: "Boys, we are ordered to take that hill; I want to see you walk right up to it." And walk they did ; straight into the face of death. They were repulsed with fearful loss, there being but one commissioned officer of the whole regiment uninjured. Nineteen killed' and sixty-one wounded was the result of that charge. It occurred .near, Ringgold, on the 27th of November, 1863. Colonel Creighton and Major Crane were both killed. Worn with constant battle and ranks fearfully thinned, the Seventh went into camp at Bridgeport, Alabama, where with a few skirmishes of no importance it remained until May, 1864, when again it was called into active service in the campaign of that year. Its first engagement was at Rocky Face Ridge, from May 5th to the 9th and later at Resaca, Georgia, from May 13th to 16th. After Resaca had been fought and won, the Seventh pursued the fleeing rebels until near the middle of June. Then the term of enlistment of the Seventh expired; and they returned to Cincinnati. Here the Fifth and Seventh, former constant companions in successes and reverses, the former from the south, and the latter from the north part of Ohio, parted company. The Seventh proceeded to Cleveland, where it was mustered out of service, after an experience in active service of a little more than three years. Col. Erastus B. Tyler was promoted to brigadier-general May 20, 1862 ; Lieut-Col. William R. Creighton was promoted to colonel May 20, 1862, and killed at Ringgold, Georgia, November 27, 1863 ; Lieut-Col. Joel F. Asper was promoted from captain, Company H, Maio 20, 1862, and. resigned March 2, 1863; LieutCol. Orris J. Crane was promoted to, major from captain, Company A, May 25, 1862, to lieutenant-colonel March 2,-1863, killed at, Ringgold, Georgia, November 27, 1863 ; Lieut-Col. Samuel McClellan was promoted from captain, Company H, December 1, 1863, Mustered out with regi- HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 357 ment July 8, 1864; Maj. John S. Casement resigned May 23, 1863; Maj. Frederick A. Seymour rcsigned March 29, 1864. THE EIGHTH INFANTRY The Eighth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, like its immediate predecessor, the Seventh, was first recruited under the President's call for 75,000 troops "to put down the rebellion." But the field life and vicissitudes of the Eighth were experienced in a generally different quarter from those of the Seventh, as we find them only engaged in the same battles at Winchester, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. For the Eighth Infantry the County of Erie contributed the greater portion of Company E. The whole regiment was recruited between the 16th and 22d of April, 1861, and the 29th of the same month found the men at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, awaiting orders to proceed to the front, but this movement was not made until July 9, following. They did, however, proceed to Camp Dennison on the 3d of May. The regimental organization was completed at Camps Taylor and Dennison, and the boys were at once put through "a course of sprouts," in order to make them as well informed on drill and military tactics as was needed in field service. While in camp on the 22d of July, 1861, came the President's call for 5,000 volunteers for three years' service, and in answer to this call the whole body of the Eighth, save only Company I, enlisted for three years and was mustered into service on the 22d, 25th and 26th of June, 1861. On the 9th of July the Eighth left for Grafton, Virginia, in which region were extensive operations between McClellan and the rebel army under Garnett, the former then having much the best of it. The first few weeks of regular army life for the Eighth were occupied in guard and station duty at various points in the Allegheny Mountains and along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and here they suffered severely from fever, over 300 of the regiment being at one time in the hospital and unfit for duty. The Eighth was first engaged at Romney, Virginia, on the 23d and 24th of September, and afterward on the 26th of October, in which engagements several men were killed and wounded, but the regiment proved that they had fighting qualities. These brushes ended the work of the Eighth for the year 1861, but the next year, from January to December, was almost a succession of skirmishes, attacks and battles, the most important of which were Winchester, Front Royal, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Early in January the regiment took part in the assault on Blue's Gap. On February 14 they had a sharp but brief fight in Bloomey Gap, and early in March moved to the Shenandoah against the rebel army under Stonewall Jackson; but preceding that fight the Eighth made a good record in skirmishing at Cedar Creek and Strasburg. This qualification, led the regiment to be deployed as skirmishers on the evening before, and the morning of, the battle at Winchester, but toward evening 358 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY of the day of the battle they were drawn into the general engagement and participated in the charge on the rebel's right flank, and by which they were thrown into confusion and utterly routed. Of the Eighth, companies C, E, D and H were engaged in this fight, and about one- fourth of these were killed or wounded. After Winchester was fought and won our skirmishing regiment, with the army, followed up the Valley of the Shenandoah, giving fight to the enemy at Woodstock, Mount Jackson, Edinburgh and New Market, as only an active skirmishing command can do. This was continued during March and April and a part of May, but on the 30th of the latter named month, under General Kimball, they participated at Front Royal, and skirmished a distance of eighteen miles. Here was captured the notorious female spy, Belle Boyd. From Front Royal the brigade to which the Eighth was attached moved to Harrison's Landing, having daily .skirmishes in the march. Arrived at this place the regiment was placed in the second corps, in Kimball's brigade and French's division. This corps acted as rear guard to the army during the retreat across the Chickahominy, thence they proceeded to Alexandria. The Eighth acted with the supporting line at South Mountain, but not actively, but crossed the mountain and skirmished with the enemy at Boonsboro and Reedyville. Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862. "In the advance," says Reid, "Kimball's Brigade formed the third time, Morris and Max Weber's preceding. They struck the rebel line and were driven back, when Kimball advanced at a double-quick, carrying the line handsomely, and holding it for four hours, and until firing ceased in front. During this time Sedgwick was driven back on the right, which made it necessary for the Fourteenth Indiana and the Eighth Ohio to change front, which was done most gallantly, and saved the brigade from rout. General Sumner pronounced Kimball's the 'Gibraltar Brigade !' " After Antietam the regiment was constantly on skirmish duty at Hulltown, Snicker's Gap, United States Ford, in the reconnaissance to Leesburg and elsewhere, and then engaged in the terrible battle at Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 13, 1862, where a loss of thirty-seven was sustained, after which the Eighth remained in camp during the rest of the winter, but early in May participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, where it was under constant fire for nearly four days, but lost only thirteen killed and wounded. In the Gettysburg campaign the regiment was as actively engaged as in any of its numerous battles. In that engagement, on the afternoon of July 2d, it was thrown forward beyond the Emmetsburg Road, to drive the rebel sharpshooters from a knoll, from which they were rapidly picking off men. At double-quick the position was taken and held during the remainder of the fight, notwithstanding the fact that three separate assaults were made against it, once by a force three regiments strong. Besides this the Eighth rendered General Hay's division effective service. Gettysburg cost the Eighth Regiment over 100 men in killed and wounded. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 359 In August, after pursuing and skirmishing with Lee's retreating army, the Eighth received much needed rest and quiet in a trip to New York City to assist in quelling the draft riots then raging. Returning to the field the regiment joined the army at Culpeper, and participated in the operations and engagements at Auburn and Bristow Station, both in October, and at Robinson's Cross Roads, Locust Grove and Nine Run, the latter three in November, 1863. The operations of 1864 were no less active with the Eighth Ohio. They opened the last six months of army service with the battle at Morton's Ford, on February 6th, after which they next participated in the Wilderness fight, occupying a prominent position supporting the right. They recaptured a section of a battery that the Sixth Corps had lost. On the 6th of May they were engaged during the entire day, while on the 7th, 8th and 9th they again showed their remarkable ability for successful skirmishing. Again at Po River and Spottsylvania Court; house from the 10th to the 18th the regiment was closely engaged, and lost heavily of its few remaining though determined men. From Spottsylvania Courthouse to Petersburg the Eighth was constantly on the move, at North Anna River, Cold Harbor and elsewhere ; now at close quarters, again on the skirmish line, wherever they were ordered, they went and did as they were ordered unflinchingly, and without a murmur of discontent. At Petersburg, from June 15th to the 19th, they were on the field or in the trenches. In the latter place were they when their term of enlistment expired, June 25, 1864. They then returned home, receiving ovations and receptions at several places along the line. The Eighth was mustered out of service on the 13th of July, 1864. Those of the regiment whose term did not expire in June were consolidated with the Fourth Regiment of Infantry and became the "Fourth Battalion Ohio Infantry," and were mustered out in July, 1865. THE TWENTY-FOURTH INFANTRY The Twenty-fourth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camps Chase and Jackson during the latter part of May and the early part of June, 1861. To its formation no less than eleven counties made a contribution of men, young men most of them, strong and active. The County of Erie sent into this command a large contingent of Company E. The greater portion of this company was enlisted in June, 1861, but recruits were received during 1863 and 1864. Although the regiment entered the service in June, it was not until about the middle of September following that it engaged in its first battle. During the latter part of July the Twenty-fourth left camp for Cheat Mountain, Virginia, where they encamped and prepared for guard duty. The enemy were within a short marching distance and picket firing and skirmishing were not infrequent. On the morning of September 12th the regiment was surrounded by 360 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY the rebel forces and barely escaped capture. Lack of proper vigilance was the cause of disaster. But the boys soon rallied and formed a line of battle and made a stout and successful resistance, but not without some loss in killed and wounded. The roster will disclose the fact that as many of Company C were killed or wounded at Cheat Mountain as in any other place, excepting possibly Chickamauga, Georgia. The Twenty-fourth was next engaged at Greenbrier, Virginia, on the 3d of October, where they were exposed to a heavy fire, but for all of that their loss was inconsiderable, two being killed and three wounded. This ended the fighting for 1861. The regiment proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, arriving there on the 28th of November. While here the Twenty-fourth was attached to the Fourth Division of the Tenth Brigade of the Army of the Ohio. Late in February, 1862; the command reached Nashville, Tennessee, where it remained some weeks, and then proceeded to Savannah, reaching that place on April 5th, much worn and fatigued by marching over heavy roads and wading through streams and marshes. The regiment next participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, losing thirty killed and wounded, and afterward skirmished with the enemy on the march toward Corinth, which latter place the Twenty-fourth was one of the first regiments to occupy. In October the regiment was assigned to the Fourth Division of the Twenty-first Army Corps. At Perryville, on the 8th, it was present on the field but not actively engaged. In December General Rosecrans moved toward Nashville. The Twenty-fourth was in an exceedingly unfortunate condition. Company A was on detached duty, and the balance of the command numbered less than 350 serviceable men, sickness, discharges for disability, transfers, losses and desertions having reduced the regiment to that number. However, with that strength the Twenty-fourth went into the battle of Stone River, Tennessee, on the last day of the year 1862. It was given an important position in this battle, and held firmly, doing excellent work, but losing heavily, there being nearly ninety lost in killed and wounded, or about one-fourth its entire strength. Next came Woodbury, on the 24th of January, with bu slight loss. No further important battle was participated in by the regiment until the Chickamauga engagement, in which it also lost a number of officers and men. After this was over Colonel Higgins and Major McClure were "permitted" to resign from service. At Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863, at Mission Ridge, November 25, and at Taylor's Ridge, Virginia, November 27, the regiment was engaged in battle, after which it was assigned to the Second Division of the Fourth Corps. The final battle in which it participated was at Buzzard Roost; on Rocky Face Ridge, on February 25-27, 1864, and in April following was sent to Chattanooga to await orders to muster out. In June it proceeded to Columbus and was, excepting Company D, mustered out by companies. at different dates, from June 17 to 24, by lreason of expiration of term HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 361 of service. Company C was mustered out on June 22 by J. M. Eyster, captain Eighteenth Infantry United States Army. THE FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY To the numerical strength of this regiment Erie County contributed as largely as to any represented by the county in the three years service. Companies A, C, D and I were recruited in this and Huron counties, while the field and staff of the regiment were also in part composed of men from the sections named. The regiment was raised during the months of September, October and November, 1861, and rendezvoused at Norwalk, the county seat of Huron County. It was not until the latter part of January, 1862, that " the Fifty-fifth broke camp at Norwalk and proceeded to Grafton, West Virginia, where it remained for a short time, and thence went to New Creek. Here the men experienced some severe marching service and engaged in a brisk skirmish at Moorefield, but in February the regiment returned to Grafton. Like all commands of northern troops, unused to the climate of the South, the men of the Fifty-fifth suffered severely from contagious and infectious diseases ; many died and others were rendered wholly unfit for active service. During the latter part of April the regiment, except companies D, E and G, moved with Schenck's Brigade, to which it was attached, to McDowell, in the battle at which place they were engaged, acting in support of a battery and not under heavy fire. At Cross Keys the regiment was on the field but not engaged. After this they moved to _Middletown, near Winchester, where the regiment was brigaded with the Twenty-fifth, Seventy-third and Seventy-fifth Ohio regiments and, was attached to General Schenck 's Division. On August 9, 1862, the brigade participated in the fight at Cedar Mountain and suffered some loss. Again at the Second Bull Run, on the 30th of the same month, they lay in support of a battery when the rebels appeared on their flank, with whom they at once engaged and continued until dark when the whole line fell back to Centreville. After this the regiment went %to camp for a few days on Munson's Hill, but on September 22 returned to Centreville. From this point a number of reconnoissances were made but no general engagement was participated in until the battle of Chancellorsville, May 2, 1863, with the Eleventh Corps; to which it had been assigned. In the Chancellorsville fight the Fifty-fifth lost 153 men in killed and wounded and missing. The regiment was then assigned to the Second Brigade of the Second Division and so remained until the end of its terms of service. From Brook's Station the Fifty-fifth, with its brigade, marched to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where it again was engaged, first being posted on Cemetery Hill, but afterward moving to the left of the Baltimore Pike. While not in the regular battle line, the regiment was continually exposed to a severe fire and lost fifty men. The regiment 362 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY joined in pursuit of the retreating rebel forces for some days and on July 25th went into camp at Catlett's Station, when it was assigned to picket duty. In September the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps left camp, and by a series of movements by rail and marching, reached the battle ground of Mission Ridge, where they were engaged on November 25, and suffered a slight loss, their position being on the extreme left. After this the Fifty-fifth entered on the Knoxville campaign. This was made in the dead of winter, without tents or blankets. On the 1st of January following the Knoxville campaign 319 of the men of the Fifty-fifth re- enlisted, and thus became veterans. They were granted an extended leave of absence, and it was not until early in March, 1864, that they again encamped in the Lookout Valley. At about this time the Eleventh and Twelfth Army corps were consolidated and denominated the Twentieth, of which the Fifty-fifth formed a part of the Third Brigade of the Third Division. Then commenced the Atlanta campaign, and in it the regiment participated. The month of May witnessed a succession of active operations, commencing with the affair at Buzzard's Roost Gap, Georgia, on the 5th; again on the 15th came the engagement at Resaca, where the regiment was under heavy fire and lost nearly 100 men. From May 19 to to the early part of June the Fifty-fifth were in a series of maneuvers about Cassville, Dallas, New Hope Church and Marietta, and the 9th of June found them engaged in the operations at Kenesaw Mountain, which continued during the best part of the month. The month of July found the brigade to which the Fifty-fifth belonged engaged in the movements and battle at Chattahoochie River, on the 12th, and also at Peach Tree Creek on the 20th. Further, they participated in the other operations just prior to and during the siege of Atlanta. This latter occupied from July 28 to September 2, 1864, and about this time the city was occupied and comfortable quarters found for the men. When the regiment left Lookout Valley to enter upon this campaign it numbered about 400 men fit for service, but in the events that followed up to the time that Atlanta was occupied, that number was reduced by about one-half, so that the entire available force amounted to less than 200. About the 1st of November the regiment received drafted men, substitutes, and some recruits, numbering in all some 200, and about this time those who were not veterans were mustered out. On the 15th of November the brigade left Atlanta and took up the line of march toward the sea. On the 21st of December it arrived at Savannah, and went into camp on the northwest of-the city. Here it remained until the early part of January, 1865, when it moved to the opposite side of the river. In March commenced the campaign of the Carolinas, and on the 16th and 19th the regiment encountered the enemy at Smith 's farm, and lost, in the two fights, about fifty men. On the 24th Goldsboro was reached, and the troops passed in review before their gallant commander, General Sherman. From Goldsboro the Fifty-fifth- went to Raleigh, and on the HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 363 30th commenced the return to Washington. Richmond was reached May 11th, and on the 18th the regiment encamped near Alexandria. On the 24th it crossed Long Bridge and participated in the grand review, after which it went into camp near Washington. Upon the disbanding of the Twentieth Corps, the Ohio regiments belonging to it were organized into a provisional brigade and were assigned to the Fourteenth Corps. On the 10th of June they proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, and here, on the 11th of July, the Fifty-fifth was mustered out of service. Three and one-half years of army life told seriously against the Fifty-fifth. From all sources it received during this time 1,350 men, and of these 750 were either killed or wounded. Ten officers were wounded and eight were either killed or died from wounds. The regiment was engaged in about thirty battles or skirmishes, of greater or less severity, the more prominent of which were McDowell, Virginia, May 8, 1862, and thereafter at Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain, the Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Orchard Knob; Tennessee, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost Gap, siege of Atlanta, Turner's Ferry, Savannah, Arnysboro, Resaca, Cassville, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek and Bentonville. This list of battles is credited the regiment in the work entitled "Roster of Ohio Soldiers." THE SIXTY-FOURTH INFANTRY This regiment formed a portion of the Sherman Brigade. It was organized and recruited at Mansfield during the summer and fall months of 1861. In several companies of the regiment were men from Erie County, although no considerable portion of either company was from here. At Nashville, Tennessee, the Sixty-fourth joined the national forces. Its first lively battle was fought at Pittsburg Landing on the 7th of April, and even here but a part of the regiment was engaged, General Garfield commanding the brigade. It participated in the events just preceding and in the battle of Corinth, and afterward built Fort Harker, at Stevenson. It joined in pursuit of Bragg in August, and was then repulsed in a battle with the rebels at Munfordsville. The next important battle was at Stone River, where the regiment was attached to Crittenden's Corps and Wood's Division. In this fight it was more or less closely engaged for three days and lost about seventy-five men in killed and wounded. For some days preceding Chickamauga it was skirmishing frequently, and in the main battle was closely engaged during the whole day on the 19th of September. It here lost over 100 in killed, wounded and missing. On November 25th it was engaged at Mission Ridge with, but slight loss. In January, 1864, about three-fourths of the regiment veteranized, after which the men returned home on a thirty days' furlough. The regiment joined Sherman's army and participated in the charge at Rocky Face Ridge. Loss, twenty-one killed and sixty-five wounded. Next came Resaca, on June 14th, and thereafter daily skirmishing until 364 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY the 20th of July, at which time it took part in the fight at Peach Tree Creek. Until the latter part of August the regiment was almost daily under fire. It next engaged at Jonesboro, September 3d, and then at Lovejoy Station on the 6th. After the fall of Atlanta, the Sixty-fourth encamped in the city, but two weeks later, with the Fourth Corps, joined in pursuit of Hood's forces as far as Chattanooga. Here 400 recruits were added to the regiment and the veterans were paid off. After following Hood about fifty miles south of Chattanooga the regiment returned to that point, after which it was sent to Athens, Alabama, and thence marched to Pulaski and Spring Hill, at which latter place it had another sharp fight. From Spring Hill the regiment marched to Franklin, Tennessee, and engaged in the battle there with heavy loss. After that it returned to Nashville and was engaged in sorties and battles before that city. It then pursued Hood again and finally went into camp at Huntsville, but soon left and moved to Decatur and Athens, remaining about two months and then returned to Huntsville ; thence into East Tennessee and soon after returned to Nashville. From the latter place it was sent to New Orleans, where Any died from sickness. About the middle of September, 1865, the Sixty-fourth went to Victoria, Texas, where on the 3d of December following the men were paid off, discharged and sent home. THE SIXTY-FIFTH INFANTRY The Sixty-fifth was one of the regiments raised at Mansfield, and known as the "Sherman brigade," having been recruited mainly through the efforts of Hon. John Sherman. It was organized at Camp Buckingham, and was mustered into service on the 1st of December, 1861. Erie County was represented in this regiment by about thirty-five men, nearly all of whom were members of Company G, while a few and only a few, were scattered through other companies. The army life and experiences of this regiment, according to Whitelaw Reid, in his " Ohio in the War," were as follows: " The regiment left Mansfield for active duty on the 18th of December, and moved by way of Cincinnati, to Louisville, Ky., where it remained for a week, and then marched to Camp Morton, arriving there on the 30th. The Sixty- fifth was assigned to a brigade composed of the Sixty-fourth and Sixty- fifth Ohio, the Fifty-first Indiana and Ninth Kentucky. Colonel Harker, of the Sixty-fifth, commanded the brigade, and General Wood the division." On January 13, 1862, the brigade broke camp and proceeded to Hall's Gap, arriving there on the 24th, when it was at once placed at work to corduroy the roads. On account of the swampy, miasmatic nature of the country many of the men fell sick and died. Op February 7 the regiment left this place and marched to Lebanon, where by rail it proceeded to Green River, and remained in camp at Munfordsville until the 23d, after which it went to Nashville, arriving there on March 13th, tired and HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 365 worn from having marched over obstructed roads and carrying baggage over places impassable for the loaded wagons. In the latter part of March, with General Garfield commanding the brigade, the regiment again took up the line of march by way of Columbia to Savannah, awl thence by steamer to Pittsburg Landing, at which place a fight was in progress, but the Sixty-fifth was not engaged though on the field. Following close upon this event came the siege of Corinth, in which the regiment participated, being under fire much of the time and meeting with some loss. After the enemy evacuated the place the regiment moved to Bridgeport, and was assigned to guard duty along the Tennessee River, until the latter part of August, when it joined in pursuit of Bragg's retreating forces, and finally reached Perryville late in September. A week later it marched to Nashville. At this place 366 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY the army was reorganized, the Sixty-fifth holding its place in the brigade, with Colonel Harker in command. On December 26th the brigade moved on the Nashville Pike, fighting its way into Lavergne, across Stewart Creek, and up to Stone River. On the 29th, at night, the regiment forded the river, armpit deep, in the face of a galling fire, and gained the opposite bank, where they formed and engaged the enemy ; but supporting troops, failing to arrive, they were forced to retire, which was done in good order. The men lay on their- arms all night and early the next day moved to the support of McCook's Corps, which was having much the worst of it in a fierce battle. For eight hours the regiment was engaged before the enemy was finally put to rout. The loss of the Sixty-fifth in this engagement amounted to nearly 175 killed, wounded and missing. Forty officers and men were killed. Stone River was the most destructive battle in which the regiment participated. At Chickamauga, on September 19th and 20th, the regiment was again engaged, but on the last named day retreated to Mission Ridge, thence fell back to Chattanooga, at which latter place, on November 23-25, it was again closely engaged and lost heavily, there being in killed, wounded and missing no less than 100 men. Added to this was the loss in the battle at Mission Ridge, on the 25th, in which thirteen were killed and two wounded. The regiment next participated in the Atlanta campaign, and was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, May. 5-9, 1864 ; at Adairsville, May 17th, 18th ; at New Hope Church, May 28th ; at Kenesaw Mountain, from June 9th to 30th, losing ten in killed and wounded ; at Big Shanty, on June 28th; at Peach Tree Creek, with a loss of four killed, one wounded and one missing. During the siege of Atlanta the regiment was also engaged, It participated in the flanking movement to Jonesboro, and from there advanced to Lovejoy. After the rebels evacuated Atlanta the regiment returned to that place and went into camp. Three weeks later it joined in pursuit of Hood. It marched to Mission Ridge and thence by rail went to Alpine, Georgia. After four days of rest it again moved to Chattanooga, and did guard duty along a line of railroad near the Tennessee River. On November 29th it participated in the battle at Springfield, losing forty-one killed, wounded, captured and missing. Again, on the 30th, at Franklin, it was engaged with a loss of forty-two men. On the 3d of October the non-veterans were discharged and sent home. This left the Sixty-fifth with only 130 available men. The last battle of the regiment was fought at Nashville, Tennessee, on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864, and after following the defeated rebels for some time returned to the city and went into camp. In June, 1865, the regiment moved from Nashville to Johnsonville, when it embarked on transports for New Orleans. It remained here for several weeks, and was then ordered to Texas, where it performed garrison duty at San Antonio until December, 1865, when it was ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio, and was mustered out, paid and discharged, on the 2d day of January, 1866. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 367 THE SEVENTY-SECOND INFANTRY This regiment in the main was recruited in the County of Sandusky, Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, H, and I being raised almost wholly in that county, while Company G, and a very small contingent of Companies H and A were recruited in Erie County. Company K was principally from Medina County, and a few men in C and E were from Wood County. The regiment, about 950 strong, left Fremont for Camp Chase, on the 24th of January, 1862. In February it was ordered to General Sherman's army and reported at Paducah, where it was brigaded with the Forty-eighth and Seventieth Ohio regiments, and placed under command of Colonel Buckland. The first regular engagement in which the Seventy-second took part was at Pittsburg Landing, and it was not until the third day's proceedings at that place that it became fully initiated in army service. On this day, the 6th of April, 1862, the brigade to which our regiment belonged withstood three successive attacks from the enemy, and firmly held their position until General Sherman ordered it to retire. The next day it was again engaged and took part in the charge that routed the rebels and drove them from the field. This battle cost the regiment 135 men in killed, wounded and missing. During the service of the regiment down to and after the siege of Corinth, the ranks were fearfully reduced by disease, and nearly as many were lost or unfitted for field service from this cause, as by the results of battle. At Corinth the army proceeded to Memphis, the Seventy-second being stationed at Fort Pickering. While here it was brigaded with the Thirty-second Wisconsin, the Ninety-third Indiana, Ninety-third Illinois, and the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois, and designated as the First Brigade of the Third Division, Colonel Buckland again assuming command of the brigade, and General Layman the division. While holding the bridge over Wolf River the brigade had a taste of guerrila tactics, but they suffered no loss. It remained in this place some two weeks and in January, 1863, received orders to proceed to Corinth, where it arrived After a long and weary march in the dead of winter. Here the brigade was assigned to the Sixteenth Corps, and placed on picket duty at White's Station, nine miles from the city. The strength of the regiment was increased while at this place by about forty nine months recruits and other men formerly of the command who had been absent and sick. About the middle of March commenced the movement southward, by a series of journeys by land and by water until Jackson, Mississippi, was reached and a battle fought on the 14th of May, and after that came the labor of the siege of Vicksburg. After the surrender of that city the regiment participated in the movement against General Johnson, at Jackson, and afterward pursued the rebels to Brandon where another engagement took place. In September the command joined in the four 368 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY days' scout to Mechanicsville, and on the 15th of October moved on General McPherson's expedition to Canton, but soon afterward went into camp in rear of Vicksburg. From here it went to guard duty on a line or railroad between Memphis and Charleston. This occupied the remainder of the year. On January 2d, the men of the Seventy-second re-enlisted and moved to Memphis, and after taking part in the expedition of the Tallahatchie River, returned to Ohio on veteran furlough on the 23d of February, 1864. Early in April, having been strengthened by many recruits, the regiment returned again to the seat of operations and made a stand at Paducah to defend that place, and shortly after moved to Memphis where it remained till the 30th of April, and when it again joined an expedition against the rebel, Forrest, thence to Bolivar, and from there to Ripley, but soon returned to Memphis. In June following twelve regiments, of which the Seventy-second was one, again started in pursuit of Forrest, and found him much to their sorrow at Brice's Cross Roads, and were badly defeated and routed, losing a part of their wagon-train and destroying the rest. They retreated in disorder and confusion, and escaped annihilation or capture only by a rapid retreat to Memphis, nevertheless, many were killed and captured. After this disastrous campaign the regiment, or what was left of it, was attached to the First Brigade of the Sixteenth Corps. It next participated in the battle at Tupelo in which the rebels were defeated, as -they were also at Tishomingo Creek. In both of these fights the brunt of battle fell upon the brigade of the Seventy-second, and its loss amounted to twenty-five men. The regiment then joined the Atlanta expedition, but Mower having, charge of the division, was ordered to Arkansas to resist Price, but failed to meet him. It then marched northward continuing eighteen days, and finally reached the Mississippi, where it embarked on transports for St. Louis, thence moved to Jefferson City. It then pursued Price's cavalry as far as Little Santa Fe, and then turned back to St. Louis, which point was reached on the 16th of November. The Seventy-second next participated in the battle at Nashville, December 7th and 8th, and also at Walnut Hills soon afterward. McMillan's Brigade in this battle numbered less than 1,200 effective men, still they captured 2,000 prisoners and thirteen pieces of artillery, but sustained a loss of 160 of their own force. The division then moved to Eastport, Mississippi, and went into camp. In February, 1865, the brigade moved to New Orleans and camped on the old battle-ground. On the 28th of the same month it went to Dauphin Island; moved to the east side of Mobile River on the 19th of March, and on the 27th laid siege upon Spanish Fort, which was evacuated on the 8th of April. The next day it captured Fort Blakeley. It was then ordered to Meriden, Mississippi, where it was assigned to garrison duty. In September the Seventy-second moved to Corinth, and soon afterward to Vicksburg, where it was mustered out September 11, 1865, after which it returned to Camp Chase and was paid and discharged. HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 369 THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST INFANTRY This regiment was organized during the summer of 1862, and at a time when almost every engagement resulted disastrously to the Union arms, and at a time, too, when it required something more than enthusiasm or mere love of excitement to become a soldier; it was a stern and positive duty, and the recruits knew full well that untold privations and hardships awaited them. The One Hundred and First was raised in the counties of Crawford, Wyandot, Huron, Erie and Seneca ; the contingent from Erie County comprising Company B and a large part of Company G. On the 4th of September, 1862, and before being fully organized for field duty, the command proceeded under orders hurriedly to Cincinnati and thence to Covington, Kentucky, to repel the threatened invasion of Kirby Smith's forces; and on the 24th the regiment moved to Louisville, when it was placed in Carlin's Brigade, Mitchell's Division and attached to the army under General Buell. Soon after the 1st of October commenced the pursuit of Bragg's rebel force, which culminated in the battle of Perrysville on the 8th. Again the retreating rebels were overtaken and their rear guard attacked at Lancaster. The regiment then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where Gen. Jefferson C. Davis took command of the division, and on the 26th of November joined the Army of the Cumberland, General Rosecrans being chief in command. At this time was fought a battle near Nashville, at Knob Gap, where the regiment made an excellent record for coolness and bravery, being, as they were much of the time, under a heavy and telling fire from infantry and artillery. On December 30th commenced the battle at Stone River, the brigade to which the One Hundred and First belonged having the right of the line and was the first on the field. On the day following they had it "hot and heavy," no sooner being driven from one position than they made determined stand at another, all through the day. They held their position on the right until January 2d, when the brigade was ordered to support the left. From this time until April the regiment was posted at or near Murfreesboro from which point they were constantly moving on various wearying expeditions; but from April to June it rested in camp at Tullahoma. In June was fought the battle at Liberty Gap, after which, in August the brigade crossed the mountains into Georgia, but returned shortly afterward and took part at the Chickamauga battle, August 19th and 20th. In this fight the One Hundred and First made a fierce charge and regained a national battery, fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets. After this splendid achievement the command retired to Chattanooga, where the regiment was made a part of the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps. During the latter part of October the brigade moved to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it remained in camp until January 16, 1864, when it proceeded to Oldtawah, Tennessee. The regiment participated in the Atlanta campaign in 1864, making Vol. 1-24 370 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY its first move in May, and first engaging the enemy at Catoosa Springs, and drove him as far as Tunnel Hill, from which place it went to Buzzard Roost Gap, where misfortune awaited it, as the command got much the worst of it in a mountain fight, and was compelled to seek refuge behind rocks and remain concealed until late in the evening. It afterward took part in the operations about Atlanta during the siege of that city, and fought at that place and at Jonesboro and Lovejoy. At Franklin it regained an important position that another command had lost. The regiment was afterward engaged at Nashville, and pursued Hood's retiring force for a time, but soon after went into camp at Huntsville. At this place, on the 12th of June, 1865, the One Hundred and First was mustered out of service. Soon after it returned to Camp Taylor, where the men were paid and discharged. THE ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH INFANTRY This was one of the regiments composed of steady-going Germans that joined the Union Army. Many of those who were in what was known as the German regiments were unable to speak English, and some were taken prisoners by the rebels. When the "Johnnies" found so strong a foreign element among the Union soldiers, they supposed as a matter of course that the North had been receiving aid from Germany, and were at great loss to thoroughly understand it. This was noticeably the case among the Pennsylvania regiments, a large number of whom were what might aptly be termed "solid Dutch." The German regiments were, as a rule, somewhat slow in their movements, but they were, nevertheless generally on hand when wanted. They were hard, determined fighters, and made excellent soldiers. The One Hundred and Seventh was a part of the Second Brigade, First Division, and Eleventh Army Corps, under command of Major-General Sigel, whose fighting qualities were well known all through the army. One company, F, of this regiment, was raised in Erie County and was called the "Sandusky Yaegers." The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, and first took to the field in September, 1862, at Covington, Kentucky, where Kirby Smith was threatening an invasion. After this scare was past the regiment came to Delaware, Ohio, but soon left for work and duty on the defenses about the national capital. In November it went into Virginia at Stafford Court House, at which place it was assigned to Sigel's army as already stated. Some two weeks later it participated in the movement designed to bring the command in rear of Fredericksburg, and acting with Burnside's Corps, make a second attack on the city, but the exceedingly bad condition of the roads made the plan fail. In the early part of May, 1863, the regiment-participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, but Stonewall Jackson proved too much for Howard, and defeated him with serious loss, the One Hundred and Seventh alone losing 229 in killed, wounded and captured. After this the regiment lay in camp at Brook's Station until the 12th of June, at which time it moved HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 371 northward to engage with the forces against General Lee. It took a prominent part in the Gettysburg fight, commencing July 1st, and was engaged actively for that and the next day. The regiment went into the battle about 500 strong, and its total loss in killed and wounded and missing amounted to nearly four-fifths of that number. This was a terrible fight for the One Hundred and Seventh, and their loss was in a measure offset by their capture of a stand of colors from the famous Louisiana Tigers. Having but a trifle over 100 serviceable men left, the command joined in the pursuit of Lee's army following it to Hagarstown, thence to Catlett's Station. The regiment started by boat for Folly Island on the 1st of August and remained at that place performing garrison and picket duty until the following February, when an expedition was made to Seabrook Island and Jones Island. After that it went to Jacksonville, Florida, where it remained except for about a month, until December, 1864. Its fighting days were now about over, nevertheless, until the latter part of March, 1865, it performed valuable service, and had a short but sharp brush with the rebels at Sumpterville, capturing three pieces of artillery and a number of horses and prisoners. Afterward, at Singleton's Plantation, it captured a railroad train and a large amount of stores and ammunition. After Lee's surrender the regiment went to Charleston, where it remained on provost duty until July 10, when it was mustered out, sent home and discharged from the service. THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY This was among the latter regiments raised in Ohio for three years service. It was mustered into service by companies during the months of September and October, 1862. Erie County was represented by Company G and a small portion of K, the larger part of the latter being recruited at Tiffin and vicinity. The regiment rendezvoused and was organized at Camp Monroeville, in Huron County, and immediately after the muster-in of the last company it was ordered to Zanesville; thence into Virginia, where its time seems to have been occupied in scouting and marching from place to place, and eventually brought up at Webster, not twenty-five miles from its starting place. Soon afterwards the regiment went to New Creek, and remained there in camp nail the 12th of December. In January it marched to Morehead to relieve the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio, and on the 10th left that place for Romney. Here it was employed in scouting duty along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and while so doing one company of the One Hundred and Sixteenth and a small detail of the One Hundred and Twenty-third were captured by McNeil's Cavalry. But this loss was comparatively trifling as against that that fell to the regiment at Winchester on the 13th of June and the days following, and although the men fought like demons, this regiment making three desperate charges in attempting to break through the rebel lines, it was 372 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY of no avail; they were surrounded, their retreat cut off, and the command, with but few exceptions, were captured and taken to Richmond. The officers were confined in Libby prison, but a few managed to effect their escape. The privates were exchanged in the course of a few months and sent to the parole camps at Annapolis, and at Camp Chase, Ohio. About the 1st of April, 1864, the regiment was re-assembled at Martinsburg, and from thence moved to Winchester, the city of their recent downfall. From here it moved, under General Sigel, up the Shenandoah and engaged in battle at New Market, on May 15th, but with heavy loss was compelled to retreat to Cedar Creek. Here General Sigel was succeeded by General Hunter in the command of this branch of the army. On the 5th of June Port Republic was fought and 2,000 prisoners taken from the Confederacy. After this commenced Hunter's retreating fight from Lynchburg to Salem, a retreat memorable for its disasters, and when the command arrived at Gauley Bridge it was in a most forlorn and pitiable condition. On the 6th of July the regiment reached Parkersburg, and thence marched to Martinsburg, which latter place it left two and a half months before with 700 men, but on its return could muster but 250. With the Army of West Virginia the One Hundred and Twenty-third fought at Snicker's Ferry on July 18th, and afterward joined in the pursuit of the rebels with alternating success and reverses for some days. Then the regiment joined the army under Phil Sheridan. It participated in the battle at Berryville, on. September 19th; at Strasburg; at Cedar Creek, on October 19th, when Sheridan made his famous ride and turned disaster into victory ; at Hatcher's Run, on the 2d of April of the following year; at High Bridge, where the One Hundred and Twenty-third was again captured and taken to Appomattox Courthouse. But at this place the whole of Lee's army surrendered to General Grant, and thus the prisoners were rescued. The regiment then returned to Camp Chase, Ohio, where on the 12th of June the men were mustered out of service. NATIONAL GUARDS-ONE HUNDRED DAYS' SERVICE . The One Hundred and Forty-fifth Infantry.-This command was called into the United States service in the spring of 1864, and was the first regiment composed in any considerable part of Erie County volunteers that enlisted in the one hundred days' service. Parts of several companies were raised in Erie County. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Chase, but not long was it permitted to remain there, for it-was at once ordered to the national defenses at Washington. Upon the arrival of the regiment at the capital it was assigned to garrison duty at Forts Whipple, Woodbury, Cass, Tillinghast and Albany, on the south of the city, on what is known as Arlington Heights. The men of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth, during their months of service, were not once engaged with the rebels, but their duty was nevertheless laborious and severe. At that period of the war the capital HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 373 was threatened with invasion and the defending force was kept constantly on the alert, ready at any minute for an attack should it come. In July the rebel commander, General Early, with his force made a raid down the valley of the Shenandoah River and threatened to lay siege to Washington, and from where the regiment lay encamped the noise of his troops could be heard, but he made no attack. The One Hundred and Forty-fifth was in service from the 10th of May until the 20th of August, 1864, and after the expiration of its term of enlistment the men returned to Camp Chase, where they were mustered out of service. It is not deemed important for the purposes of this chapter to furnish a roster of this regiment, or the portion thereof from Erie County, other than to give the field and staff and the commissioned officers, which were as follows: Colonel, Henry C. Ashwell ; lieutenant-colonel, Lloyd A. Lyman ; major, Henry C. Olds ; surgeon, Henry Besse ; assistant surgeon, John D. Janney ; adjutant, William E. Moore ; quartermaster, James H. Stead ; chaplain, W. G. Crawford ; Richard W. Reynolds, John J. Penfield, David H. James, Archibald Freswater, William H. Wilson, John Cellar; first lieutenants, Hugh J. Perry, Frederick W. Cogsville, Cornelius Hull, David G. Cratty, John A. Cone, William E. Bates, G. W. Fleming, Jackson S. Post, James W. McGookey ; second lieutenants, Joseph S. Hall, James S. Harmon, Henry M. Bronson, John Neley, John T. Munsell, John D. Van Deman, E. H. Draper, H. B. Wood, Chris. R. Caulkins, Samuel M. White, Jr., Aaron M. Decker. THE THIRD CAVALRY This regiment was recruited largely from the counties of Erie and Huron, the contingent from Erie being represented in the companies B, E, I and K. It was organized and prepared for service at Camp Monroeville, in Huron County, from which point it proceeded to Camp Dennison on the 14th of January, 1862, but one month later moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana. On the 18th of March the command arrived at Nashville, and ten days later left for Pittsburg Landing, where it arrived and went into camp on April 25. In May the first engagement of the battalion was had at Monterey, and there the enemy were driven back. After this it moved to a point near Corinth, when it took a position within sight of the rebel lines, but being compelled to fall back, the rebels pursued and a brisk battle followed. Again, on May 27, on the railroad west of Corinth, another battle was fought, and the enemy beaten. On July 18th the Third reached Winchester, where it camped until August 14, and then moved to McMinnville. Major Foster took his battalion to Dunlap, five miles distant, where the enemy was again encountered and their pickets driven in, after which the command returned to its division. On September 3 Nashville was again reached, thence Gallatin, and from there to Mumfordsville, arriving at the latter 374 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY place on September 21, just in time to meet the enemy and drive them three successive times into their earthworks, and with a loss to themselves of less than fifteen. On the next day began the march to Louisville, arriving October 1. and from here the Third took up the work of following and harassing Bragg's rebel army, but on the 20th a detachment of the regiment. some 250 strong, fell into the hands of the guerrilla, John Morgan. The prisoners were robbed of their personal effects and paroled and allowed to return to the Union lines, but subsequently sent to Camp Chase. Theremaining force of the Second and Third battalions was then stationed along the railroad between Bowling Green and Gallatin, where a battle was soon brought on against Morgan's force and a large amount of supplies taken as well as many prisoners. The regiment then went into camp at Hartsville. From this place the detachment under command of Capt. Elisha Colver moved up the Cumberland River to Carthage to intercept a drove of mules and rebel stores, which were being molted by rebel quartermasters, and accompanied by an escort of Morgan's raiders. After chase of twenty-six miles, fording the river four times, the detachment captured the entire train and drove off 146 mules, besides routing the escort and taking seventeen of them prisoners. During the greater part of the month of December the Third was actively engaged in skirmishing and foraging the enemy's country. On the 26th it took a position on the right of Rosecrans' army, near Franklin. On the 27th a battle was fought here and the rebels routed. The regiment then moved to Triune, and at night again engaged the enemy. The next few days it saw plenty of service. On the 29th a reconnaissance in force was made ; on the 30th the Third was assigned to a position on the extreme right, and at 2- o'clock on the morning of the 31st the rebels made an advance, whereupon the brigade to which the Third belonged was advanced as skirmishers; at 4 o'clock the line was driven in by Wheeler's cavalry, and after a sharp battle of two hours and was driven back from the field. The next morning General McCook's corps ammunition train was captured, but the Second and Third battalions of the Third made a dash and recaptured the whole train, as well as a large number of prisoners. In this efficient work the Third sustained thirteen killed and a large 'number wounded. The year 1863 witnessed many stirring events for the regiment. On the 1st the Third left the field to escort a train of 4,000 wagons to Nashville for supplies. The train was attacked by the rebel cavalry under Stewart and Wheeler, but the attack was repulsed by the Third, supported by the Tenth Cavalry. During the whole journey the rebels hung about and made frequent attacks, but as often were they defeated by the escorting party. Their duty was at length performed faithfully and well. After this, and after the battle of Stone River, the Third was sent in pursuit of the enemy, and at Middleton, Tennessee, attacked the rear guard and captured a wagon train. It then went into camp at Murfreesboro. Here the Second Battalion was detached and sent to HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY - 375 Readyville to battle against John Morgan's guerrillas. The Third Battalion, remaining at Murfreesboro, was surrounded by rebels and a surrender demanded, but Lieutenant Brenard, in command, could not see it in that light, and at once ordered a saber charge, cutting his way out and taking a number of prisoners. On the general advance of the army from Murfreesboro, in July, the Third was engaged almost daily. In the Sequatchie Valley the enemy was encountered, and a running fight of three days' duration ensued. During the battle at Chickamauga the Third occupied the extreme left of the line, and afterward pursued Wheeler's cavalry through Tennessee, engaging him at McMinnville and Farmington, and in the latter battle secured a large number of prisoners. In November detachments of the Third scouted through the mountains of East Tennessee, and thus ended the year's campaign. While at Pulaski, Tennessee, in January, 1864, the regiment veteranized, but its ranks were fearfully decimated, the results of its many engagements. It therefore became necessary to recruit and add to its effective strength, there being then but 400 men fit for duty in the whole command. Through the efforts of Major Skinner and Capt. Elisha M. Clover nearly 1,000 troops were raised in Northern Ohio, and when the regiment, returned to the front, at Nashville, it numbered over 1,300 serviceable men. At Nashville the regiment was re-equipped, armed and mounted. Much was expected of the command, and it more than fulfilled that expectation. We find them first engaged with Rhoddy's command at Courtland, Alabama, early in May, 1864, at which fight the rebel loss amounted to upwards of thirty men in killed and wounded. At Rome the Third was on the left of Sherman's army, and was engaged at Etowah, Kenesaw Mountain, Noonday Creek, and at the crossing of the Chattahoochie River. It was sent to Roswell, Georgia, to destroy the rebel stores and factories at that place. In this affair 400 factory girls were captured and sent through the lines. At McAfee Bridge, on July 9, four companies of the Third, commanded by Captain Colver, became engaged with a large force of rebel Texas cavalrymen, in which battle several rebels were killed and ,a large number fell into the regiment's hands as prisoners. The regiment participated in the battle at Peach Tree Creek, in the raid upon Covington, Stone Mountain, and in the Stoneman raid, in each of which engagements it met with severe losses. After the fall of Atlanta it went in pursuit of Hood's rebel force, and was engaged at the battles of Franklin and Nashville ; also in the Wilson raid through Alabama and Georgia. It was at Selina, Montgomery, Macon and Griffin, and in the chase after Jefferson Davis, the Confederate president. Under the orders of General Thomas, the Third Cavalry turned over to the Government its horses and arms, at Macon, after which it proceeded to Nashville and was mustered out of service. It was then returned to Camp Chase, where, on the 14th of August, 1865, after a severe service of almost four years, it was paid off and discharged. 376 - HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR On May 26, 1899, Company B returned from thirteen months' service in the Spanish war. They came in about 1.15 o'clock P. M. on the Big Four and were welcomed with a parading escort and an enormous crowd which went wild as the boys marched down the street headed by Capt. Charles Stroud. They made a creditable record in the war. The company left Sandusky on the 26th of April, 1898, and went to Toledo and thence to Columbus, where they were mustered into the service of the United States. They endured hardship and disappointment at Chickamauga, Knoxville and Cienfuegos, Cuba. On the 17th of January, 1899, the regiment was divided, the Second Battalion under Maj. George Barker being sent to Santa Clara Province, where Company B was stationed. The regiment remained in Cuba four months and was then ordered to return to be mustered out. On the 25th day of April, 1899, the regiment sailed on the steamer Chester for the United States, arriving at quarantine Charleston Harbor April 29th, where they remained fiVe days. On May 2nd the regiment went into camp at Augusta and was mustered out May 24, 1899. Gen. Henry W. Lawton, who commanded at Santiago, was born at Venice, Ohio, July 19, 1848, and his career as a soldier, which was ended at the battle of San Mateo in the Philippines by his death, is part of the creditable record of Erie County soldiers.