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CHAPTER XV.

LORAIN IN THE REBELLION.

All remember the early days of 1861. Sumter had fallen; the Southern Confederacy was formed; the South, with stolen munitions of war, and stolen money, had organized a formidable army; secession was unmistakably resolved upon. So appalling were these events, that the North stood awhile paralyzed and awe stricken. Then came our President's call for seventy-five thousand men. Everywhere throughout the Northern States there was a hearty response— nowhere was it heartier than upon the Reserve of Northern Ohio. Lorain took a gallant part in this first outburst of northern patriotism; and during the entire period of the war, there was no time when she was found faithless to duty. Wherever danger lurked thickest, there we find the Lorain boys. Many, very many never returned; their lives went out as a sacrilice. They died the noblest deaths for their country, and beneath the skies of the sunny South, where the groves of the magnolia and the orange shed an undying perfume—the spot, perhaps, unmarked and unknown—they "sleep the sleep that knows no waking."

"Rest on, embalmed and sainted dead,

Dear as the blood ye gave;

No traitor's footsteps e'er shall tread

The herbage o'er your grave;

Nor shall your glory be forgot

While Fame her record keeps,

For Honor mourns the hallowed spot

Where loyal valor sleeps."

" The real heroes of this war are the great, brave, patient, nameless people.' It is to their service through these varied scenes that we now gladly turn. The victory was not won through generalship—it is a libel on the word to say that generalship delayed for four years the success of twenty-five millions in conflict with ten millions, or required a million men in the closing campaigns to defeat a hundred thousand; it was won by the sacrifices, the heroism, the sufferings and the death of the men in the ranks. Their story we now seek to tell. It will not be picturesque or attractive, but full of dry details of fruitless fighting, of tedious marches, of heroic endurance, of patience, and of weariness. Even such was the life they led for us; and its record, we are firmly persuaded, will never cease to be cherished by their grateful countrymen."

But let us not forget to pay a tribute of gratitude and just praise to the noble and heroic women of Lorain county, for their labors of affection and mercy

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during these weary, gloomy days. Their generous, loving hearts sent forth pitying tears and prayers for the safety of loved ones, and the preservation of the Union. While fair hands, many of them unused to labor, were occupied in preparing comforts for the well, dainties for the sick, necessaries for the wounded, and cheer for all, noble and self-sacrificing women all over the North formed themselves into aid societies, the good results of which can hardly be over-estimated. Early and late these angels of mercy toiled and gathered, forwarding boxes of everything needed by the soldier. Yet, could the senders have seen the tears of joy which often greeted its reception, they would have felt amply compensated.

The historical sketches of the organizations following are from the very valuable work, "Ohio in the War," by Whitelaw Reid. We have spent considerable time at the office of the adjutant-general, at Columbus, in procuring records. Many muster-rolls are incomplete, or missing altogether ; those of the three-months' men especially are nearly all destroyed. In cases where less than full companies of men report for muster, the column on the muster roll, headed "where enrolled," will be filled with the place of rendezvous—for instance, the greater part of the soldrers from north-eastern Ohio rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland. They are so recorded at the office of the adjutant-general, and no reference whatever is made to the county in which they resided when enlistment occurred. We have, by correspondence with ex-company officers, endeavored to obtain the name of every oitizen of Lorain county who was a soldier of the rebellion, and if omissions occur, the " boys " will, we trust, be charitable, believing that we have done all that circumstances would allow.

The spelling of names is verbatim as given on muster-in-rolls, and the writer cannot be held responsible for errors of that kind.

SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

The first rebel gun fired at Fort Sumter was the signal for the assemblage of this regiment, and its echo had scarcely died out in the North ere this regiment was in camp. It was made up entirely in Northern Ohio, went into camp near Cleveland, Ohio, and was mustered into the United States service on April 30, 1861. John S. Casement, of Painesville, was its first major. He resigned after a time, and assisted in raising other organizations. He ascended the steps of promotion until, we believe, he was brigadier-general when he left the service. At the expiration of the term of service for which they were mustered, the regiment re-enlisted, almost to a man, for three years; and on June 26, 1861, it started for the field to take part in the opening of the campaign in Western Virginia, and on the following day first set foot on rebel soil, near Benwood. They marched along the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad to Clarksburg and went into camp. Here a beautiful stand of colors was presented to the regiment by

Captain Schulte, in behalf of the "Social Turnverein," of Cleveland, June 29. The regiment made its first march fully equipped. The day was oppressively hot, and before one mile had been laboriously overcome, many valuable and useful articles, supposed to be absolutely indispensable, had become an intolerable burden; at three miles, when a halt was ordered, the men went deliberately to work reducing their baggage. Blankets, dress uniforms, books, under-clothing, and every article that could possibly be dispensed with, were emptied on the ground and left there. This march terminated at Weston. After doing considerable marching, the regiment reached Cross Lanes on the 16th of August; and it was here, on the 25th of the same month, that they had their first fight, which proved a disastrous affair; the regiment being obliged to retreat, although they held their position for some time against overwhelming numbers. Their loss was one hundred and twenty in killed, wounded and prisoners. The next battle was at Winchester, March 23. At three o'clock p. m. the battle began in earnest and raged furiously until dark, resulting in success to the Union army. Again at Port Republic the "Seventh" fought splendidly and effectively. Here, with less than three thousand muskets, "Stonewall" Jackson's force of fourteen thousand rebel troops were held at bay for five hours. The Union forces were, however, obliged finally to retreat. On August 9, at Cedar Mountain, the regiment was again at the front and engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict. Of the three hundred men engaged in the " Seventh " only one hundred escaped unhurt. Their next battle was at Antietam, but it would require a volume to tell of all the fighting this regiment did. On Saturday, June 24, 1864, the regiment took its departure for Cleveland, where it was mustered out of the service on the 8th day of July following, having served a little more than three years. During that time eighteen hundred men had served in it, and when mustered out there were but two hundred and forty men remaining to bring home their colors, pierced by the shot and shell of more than a score of battles.

THE EIGHTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

was originally organized as a three months' regiment under the first call of the President, most of the companies having been enlisted between the 16th and 22d days of April, 1861, and all of them arriving at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, as early as April 29.

On the 2d of May, all the companies having been mustered into the service, the regiment was ordered to Camp Dennison, where it arrived on the 3d, during a drenching rain, and many of the men, for the first time in their lives, slept in the open air, with only a soldier's blanket for floor, roof, walls and bed clothes. The regimental organization was here completed by the appointment of the field and staff officers.

Instructions in the "drill" now commenced, and vigorous efforts were put forth to fit the regiment for

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service; but it soon became evident that the troops at this camp would not be sent to the field as three months' men, and an effort was made to re-enlist the regiment for three years. To this every company responded except Company I, and the regiment of nine companies was mustered into the service for three years, on the 22d, 25th and 26th of June.

In the following September, Company I joined the ent at Grafton, Virginia.

On the 9th day .of July, 1861, the regiment left Camp Dennison for Grafton, Virginia, and on the 12^th arrived at West Union, Preston county, Va., on the summit of the Alleghany mountains where they are crossed by the Great Western Turnpike, and along which Garnett's rebel army was then being rapidly driven by McClellan's troops.

For some weeks after this the regiment was mentioned at various places among the mountains and along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, during which time it suffered severely from typhoid fever; at one time over three hundred men were in hospital, and some thirty-four deaths resulted from the fever in a short time. On the 24th of September the regiment

participated in an attack on Romney. At the "Hanging Rock" it was exposed to a severe fire, and lost several men in killed and a number wounded. The regiment again participated in an attack on Romney, October 24; which, being evacuated by the enemy, was occupied by the troops under General Kelley until January 12, 1862. The next fight was at Blue Gap. In January the troops were removed to Patterson's Creek, and the following month to Pawpaw

Tunnel. On February 14 the Eighth participated in a brisk fight at Bloomey Gap, in which Colonel Baldwin, with his staff and a part of his command, were captured. General Lander died March 2, and shortly after the division moved to the Shenandoah Valley, where General Shields took command. On March 22, the outposts at Winchester were attacked by Ashby and General Shields severely wounded. The next day the battle of Winchester was fought. But few of the troops had ever been under fire, and none of them, as then organized, in any serious engagements. Colonel Kimball commanded, and made his arrangements to whip Stonewall Jackson, who had arrived during the night. The battle was one of the most severe of the mar. Jackson, towards evening, attempted to turn our right flank, but was met by Tyler's brigade in front, when Colonel Kimball threw several regiments on his right flank, and, after a desperate fight, which in some instances was hand to hand, the enemy was routed and driven furiously from the field. The regiment followed the enemy up the valley, skirmishing at Woodstock, Mount Jackson, Edinburgh and New Market; thence it joined McDowell at Fredericksburg. Here it remained a few days and was ordered back to the valley again. In the meantime Banks had executed one of those retrograde movements for which he became eminently conspicuous ere the close of the war. In August following the Eighth was united to the Second corps, then, commanded by Sumner, and with his corps it continued to act during the remainder of its service.

The Potomac was crossed at Chain Bridge, and the march through Maryland commenced, which ended in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Near Reedyville the whole army was massed by the morning of September 16, and a furious artillery duel commenced. One of the first of the enemy's shots killed W. W. Farmer, a color-sergeant of the Eighth. This cannonade lasted all day. The next day the battle of Antietam was fought. The second corps crossed the river and occupied the center of the lrne. It did effective work that day.

In the terrible battle of Fredericksburg, on December 13, the Eighth formed the right wing of the forlorn hope. At the battle of Chancellorsville, beginning April 28, 1863, the Eighth was almost constantly under fire for four days, and yet its loss was only two killed and eleven wounded. The brigade was at this time, and subsequently, commanded by General Carroll.

No further active service was had until the Gettysburg campaign. In that battle the regiment bore a conspicuous part, capturing three stands of colors. After the escape of Lee's army across the Potomac, the Eighth marched with the army to the Rapidan; but we have not space to record all the fighting done by the regiment; suffice it to say, that, from this date until June 25, 1864, when its term of service expired, and the little squad, who numbered but seventy-two officers and men, fit for duty, were taken from the trenches before Petersburg and returned to Ohio for muster out, they were almost constantly in active service of the severest character.

The regiment was formally mustered out on July 13, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio, by Captain Douglass.

TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

At the commencement of the war it was organized and officered as follows: Colonel, William S. Rosecrans ; Lieutenant-colonel, Stanley Matthews; Major, Rutherford B. Hayes.

The position of these officers has been quite different since those days—in fact, too well known to need repetition. Under command of Colonel E. P. Scammon, the Twenty-third went into active service in West Virginia, meeting with the new and exciting events common to inexperienced soldiers, which were almost forgotten amid the sterner and sad realities of active warfare.

The regiment participated in the battles of Carnifex Ferry, Virginia, September 10, 1861; Giles Courthouse, May 10, 1862; and had the honor of opening the battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862, where it lost thirty-three men killed and eighty wounded, among the latter Rutherford B. Hayes, now President of the United States. As an incident of this battle, it is said that the Twelfth and Twenty-

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third Ohio and Twelfth and Twenty-third North Carolina—Companies B on each side—were directly engaged with each other. The Twenty-third, under command of Lieutenant-colonel Hayes, was in the advance on that day. It was ordered at an early hour to advance up the mountain and attack the enemy. From behind stone walls the enemy poured a destructive fire into the Federal ranks at very short range. The command of the Twenty-third fell upon Major Comly after Lieutenant-colonel Hayes was wounded, the latter again making his appearance on the field, with his wound half dressed, and fought, against the remonstrances of the whole command, until carried off. Near the close of the day at Antietam a change was made by the division to which the Twenty-third belonged, and it was exposed to a large force of the enemy posted in a cornfield in the rear of the left. Its colors were shot down, and at the same time a feint was made in its front. The colors were planted on a new line at right angles with its former front, and the regiment formed a line in the new direction, and opened fire upon the enemy, who retired. The division. withdrew, but no order reached the Twenty-third, and it remained on the field until the division commander returned and ordered it to the rear.

The Twenty-third assisted in heading off Morgan's command at Buffington's Island, and then returned to Charlestown, West Virginia, and afterwards joined General Crook's forces for a raid on the Virginia and Tennessee railroad. May 9, 1864, the Twenty- third fought at Cloyd Mountain. The enemy occupied the first crest of the mountain, defended by artillery and - rudely-constructed breastworks. The hill was steep, thickly wooded, and difficult of ascent, and skirted by, a stream of water two or three feet deep. At the word of command the regiment advanced across the stream to the foot of the mountain, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, without returning the fire of the enemy. A furious assault was made upon the enemy's works, carrying them, with two pieces of artillery. The struggle at the guns was of the fiercest description. The Confederate artillerymen attempted to reload their pieces when the Federal line was not more than ten paces distant. . The Twenty-third was with Hunter in the attack on Lynchburg, and in numerous skirmishes and battles in the Shenandoah valley. At Winchester, July 24, 1864, it lost one hundred and fifty-three men. At the battle of Opequan, September 19, Hayes' brigade had the extreme right of the infantry. Moving forward under fire, the brigade came upon a deep slough, forty or fifty yards wide, and nearly waist-deep, with soft mud at the bottom, overgrown with a thick bed of moss. It seemed impossible to .get through it, and the whole line was staggered for a moment. Just then Colonel Hayes plunged in with his horse, and under a shower of bullets and shells he rode, waded, and dragged his way through —the first man over. The Twenty-third. was ordered by the right flank over the slough. At the 'same place men were suffocated and drowned; still the regiment plunged through, re-formed, charged forward again, driving the enemy. The division commander was wounded, leaving Colonel Hayes in command. He was everywhere exposing himself as usual; men were falling all around him, but he rode through it all as though he had a charmed life. No reinforcements, as promised; something must be done to stop the fire that is cutting the force so terribly. Selecting some Saxony rifles in the Twenty-third, pieces of seventy-one calibre, with a range of twelve hundred yards, Lieutenant McBride was ordered forward with them to kill the enemy's artillery horses, in plain sight. At the first shot a horse drops, immediately another is killed, and a panic seems to seize the artillerymen, and they commence limbering up. The infantry take the alarm, and a few commence running from the intrenchments, and the cavalry, which had been hovering upon the flanks, swept down upon the enemy, capturing them by regiments, and the battle was at an end. The Twenty-third fought at North Mountain, September 20, 1864, and at Cedar Creek, October 19—a day that is a household word throughout the land. The Twenty-third was mustered out on the 26th day of .July, 1865, at Cumberland, Maryland, and was paid and disbanded at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio.

FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT OIII0 VOLUNTEER 1NFANTRY.

Immediately after the battle of Bull Run, a number of the citizens of Cleveland, Ohio, set about raising a regiment, and the result of their labors was the Forty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which Captain William B. Hazen, Eighth United States Infantry, was appointed colonel. The camp of rendezvous was established near Cleveland. By the first of September, a large number of men were in camp, and the work of instruction had commenced. All officers' school was instituted, and the strictest discipline enforced, and, by the time the regiment was mustered as complete, on the 31st of October, 1861, the officers and men understood their duties well, and were quite proficient in drill. On November 6, the regiment moved, by rail, to Camp Dennison, where it was supplied with arms. These consisted of the Greenwood rifle, a weapon nearly useless, and soon discarded by the government. After a week at Camp Dennison, the regiment proceeded to Gallipolis, taking steamer from Cincinnati.

A few raiding excursions, from this point into Virginia, was the only relief from daily drills, and in the latter part of the month, the regiment was ordered to Louisville, and reported to General Buell, then organizing the army of Ohio. The Forty-first became a part of the Fifteenth brigade, Nelson's division, and, during the winter, remained at Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky. Here, the Forty-first was made the nucleus of a new brigade, (the Nineteenth), to which were assigned the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Indiana,

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and the Sixth Kentucky, commanded by Colonel Hazen.

On the 14th of February, 1862, Nelson's division An marched to West Point, which was reached after a severe march of three days. Here, the two Indiana regiments were sent to Grant. Nelson embarked on transports for the Tennessee river, and arrived at Nashville on the 27th of February, 1862. About the middle of March, the regiment moved with the army Savannah, on the Tennessee river, arriving within two miles of that point; the Saturday preceding the battle of Pittsburg Landing. Heavy firing was heard. On the morning of the 6th of April, and, at one o’clock, p. m., after being supplied with rations and ammunition, the regiment moved for Pittsburg Landing, one company, (G), being left to guard the camp Ind garrison equipage. At five o'clock, the troops arrived opposite the battle-field, and Hazen's brigade was the second to cross the river. The regiment lay, that night, on the field, in the driving rain, among the dead and wounded, and, at day-light, moved for. ward in its first engagement. .

The Forty-first was on the right of Nelson's division, and, when the rebels were discovered to be advanceing, Hazen's brigade was ordered to charge. The Forty-first was placed in the front line, and advanced steadily, through a dense thicket of undergrowth, and, emerging in the more open ground, was saluted with a murderous fire. The line still advanced, checked the approaching rebels, drove them back beyond their fortifications, and captured their guns. Three officers and three men, who, at different times, carried the colors in the charge, were shot down, either killed or wounded, and, of the three hundred and seventy- three who entered the engagement, one hundred and forty-one were either killed or wounded, and this, too, in the space of half an hour.

The night after the battle, Hazen's brigade, as an outlying force, occupied the Tan Bark road, upon the left of the army. The regiment occupied a miserable camp on the field of battle, surrounded by the half buried bodies of men and horses, until the army moved on Corinth. The regiment suffered very much from exposure, during the march, and in the operations immediately following. The Forty-first was with Buell's army, on its march to Louisville, moving, day after day, over dirty roads, with short rations and water scarce, until, nearly exhausted, ragged and dirty, it entered Louisville, on the West Point road, and encamped, for a three days' rest. On the 2d of October, the regiment marched against Bragg. At the battle of Perryville, its 'duties were, principally, skirmishing.

About October 20, the brigade commenced its return to Nashville.

December 26, the Forty-first, with the army, moved on Murfreesboro. At midnight, on the 30th, the regiment took position in the first line, facing Cowan's house, and from this time, until the cessation of hostilities, was actively engaged. Of the four hundred and ten officers and men of the Forty-first, the largest' number it ever took into battle, one hundred and twelve were killed or wounded.

January, 10, 1863, the regiment moved to Reedyville, where it remained, in comparative quiet, until the 24th of the following June, when the command moved to Tullahoma; but, that place being evacuated before they reached it, the troops returned to Manchester, and went into camp.

Tents were struck on the 15th of August, and the command moved toward Chattanooga. The morning of the 19th of September found the regiment again on the bank of the Chickamauga, near Gordon's Mills. About nine o'clock, a. m., the battle commenced, and, at one o'clock, p. m., Palmer's division, (in which the Forty-first was), went into the fight, attacking in echelon by brigades, Hazen's brigade being the first echelon. The regiment advanced rapidly, over an open field, to a strip of woods. After holding the position two hours, and, during the time, losing a hundred men, the regiment was withdrawn. They were immediately moved to the assistance of General VanCleve. They were continually under fire, and, at last, the brigade was formed in columns, by regiments, and advancing, one after the other, delivered its volley into the dense masses of the rebels, who reeled and fell back. This was the. last fighting on Chickamauga. The next day was spent on Mission Ridge, and, the following night, the regiment retired to Chattanooga.

In the re-organization of the army, Hazen's brigade was composed of the First, Forty-first, and Ninety- third Ohio, Fifth Kentucky and Sixth Indiana, and was assigned to the fourth army corps, Major-general Gordon Granger, commanding.

At three o'clock in the morning of October 27, fifty-two pontoons, bearing Hazen's brigade, pushed out silently from Chattanooga, and floated down the river. In half an hour's time, the leading pontoons were passing in front of the enemy's pickets on the bank, a hundred feet above. The conversation of the rebels could be distinctly heard, but their attention was not once directed to the twelve hundred silent enemies floating past, within pistol shot. Just as the first pontoon arrived opposite its landing, it was discovered; but the landing was effected, the pickets driven in, and the hill gained. When the morning haze cleared away, the rebels on Lookout saw the hills beneath them, commanding two roads to Bridgeport, covered with blue-coats, in a position from which they could not be driven, with a pontoon bridge to connect them with Chattanooga, almost completed.

At noon, on the 23d of November, the brigade was ordered to fall in, for a reconnaissance. The brigade advanced briskly, driving the enemy's skirmishers into a dense undergrowth, on a small ridge, between Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. The line followed, and received a heavy fire. Nothing could be seen; but it was too hot a fire to bear quietly. Colonel Wiley ordered the regiment to charge, and orders from

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Hazen, at the same time, directed the taking of the line on the hill. The Forty-first delivered a volley, trusting to fortune for its effect, then dashed forward through the thicket, through the balls, up to, and into the rebel works, capturing the colors of the Twenty - eighth Alabamba regiment. In this, its severest, engagement, the Forty-first was associated with the Ninety-third Ohio, which shared fully the danger and honor of the fight. The position was held without trouble, and was known as Orchard Knob. Soon after the fight, Generals Grant, Thomas and others passed along the new line, when Thomas, looking at the ground within fifty paces of the rebel works, where the fight had been fiercest, and, where lay the horses of Colonel Willey and Lieutenant-colonel Kimberley, called for the officers of the regiment, and said to Colonel Willey: " Colonel, I want you to express to your men my thanks for their splendid conduct this afternoon. It was a gallant thing, Colonel—a very gallant thing." That, from General Thomas, was better than an hour's speech from any other man.

On the 25th, Hazen's brigade moved across the valley from Orchard Knob to Mission Ridge, under a heavy artillery fire; and, at the foot of the ridge, a dash was made and the enemies' works captured. The troops were here exposed to canister and musketry, and to remain was impossible: so they advanced up the steep hill, swept by an enfilading fire of artillery; up they went, and when near the top, the fire of the Forty-first was directed to the batteries on the right. The rebels retired, and, with a cheer, the line occupied the works on the ridge. A squad of the Forty-first seized a battery almost before the rebels were away from it, turned it to the right, and discharged it directly along the summit of the ridge, where the enemy in front of Newton's division still stubbornly held out; and, as the shells went skimming along in front of and among them, the rebels turned and fled. Eighteen captured pieces of artillery graced General Hazen's headquarters that night, of which the Forty- first and Ninty-third could fairly claim six as their trophies, while the former also captured a battle-flag. The losses were severe. One hundred and fifteen of the Forty-first, most of them in the fight of the 23d had fallen.

After resting scarcely long enough to bury the dead, the regiment moved with its corps for Knoxville. Supplies had been scarce, and, before the march was half accomplished, two-thirds of the men were walking over the frozen ground bare-footed; but with their feet wrapped up in sheep-skins and cow-hides they journeyed on, and finally reached Clinch Mountain, twenty miles above Knoxville. Here the regiment re-enlisted, one hundred and eighty out of one hundred and eighty-eight becoming veterans, and on the 5th of January, 1864, started for Chattanooga, and reached Cleveland, Ohio, on the 2d of February.

With nearly a hundred recruits, the regiment joined its division, in East Tennessee, on the 26th of March,

and was placed in a battalion with the First Ohio, Lieutenant-colonel Kimberly commanding. At Rocky Face Ridge the battalion was complimented for its steadiness under a galling fire, and at Resaca it gained a crest within seventy-five yards of the enemies' main line, and effectually prevented the use of his artillery. At Dallas, on May 26, the Forty-first lost one hundred and eighty men out of two hundred and sixty. During subsequent movements the regiment was engaged at Peach Tree creek, before Atlanta, in the movement against Hood, in December, where it did noble work; it participated in the pursuit of Hood, and finally rested at Huntsville, Alabama.

In June, 1865, the corps embarked at Nashville for Texas. Near Cairo the steamer collided with a gunboat, and sunk in a few minutes, with all the regimental and company papers and most of the personal property of the officers and men. Fortunately no lives were lost. In Texas the regiment was stationed near San Antonio until November, when it was ordered to be mustered out. It reached Columbus, Ohio, about the middle of the month, and was discharged on the 26th of November, 1865, after four years and one month's service.

FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT OHIO INFANTRY.

The Forty-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio. Companies A, B, C, and D, were mustered into the service September 25, 1861; company E, October 30; company F, November 12; and companies G, H, I, and K, November 26, at which time the organization was completed.

On the 14th of December, orders were received to take the field, and on the following day it moved by railroad to Cincinnati, and thence by steamer up the Ohio river to Catlettsburg, Kentucky, where it arrived the morning of December 17. The regiment, together with the Fourteenth Kentucky Infantry and McLaughlin's squadron of Ohio Cavalry, proceeded to Green Creek. Another advance was made December 31, and on the night of January 7, 1862, the whole command encamped within three miles of Paintville. The next morning five companies, under command of Lieutenant-colonel Sheldon took possession of the village. On the evening of the same day Colonel Garfield took the Forty-second and two companies of the Fourteenth Kentucky, and advanced against Marshall's fortified position, about three miles south of Paintville village. Arriving at about nine o'clock, p. m. they found the works evacuated, and everything valuable either carried away or destroyed; marching all night, they reached Paintville a little after daylight.

About noon on the 9th, Colonel Garfield, with eleven hundred infantry from the Forty-second Ohio, and other regiments, and about six hundred cavalry started in pursuit of Marshall, and about nine o'clock - in the evening the advance was fired upon by Marshall's pickets, on the summit of Abbott's Hill. Garfield

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took possession of the bill, bivouacked for the night and the next morning continued the pursuit, overtaking the enemy at the forks of Middle Creek, three miles southwest of Prestonburg. Marshall's force consisted of about three thousand five hundred men, infantry and cavalry, with three pieces of artillery. Major Pardee, with four hundred men, was sent across Middle Creek to attack Marshall directly in front, and Lieutenant-colonel Monroe (Twenty-second Kentucky) was directed to attack on Marshall's right flank. The fight at once opened with considerable spirit, and Pardee and Monroe became hotly engaged with a force four times as large as their own. They held their ud with great obstinacy and bravery until reinforcements reached the field, when the enemy commenced to fall back. The National forces slept upon their arms, and at early dawn a reconnaissance disclosed the fact that Marshall had burned his stores and fled, leaving a portion of his dead upon the field. From this date, for a considerable time, the regiment was engaged in several expeditions against guerrillas.

The arduous nature of the campaign, the exceedingly disagreeable weather, and the want of supplies, were disastrous to the health of the troops, and some eighty-five of the Forty-second died of disease. On June, 18, this regiment led the advance, and was the first to plant the starry ensign on the stronghold of Cumberland Gap. When the regiment left the Gap it numbered seven hundred and fifty men, and while on the march there were issued to it two hundred and seventy-five pounds of flour, four hundred pounds of bacon, and two rations of fresh pork: the rest of the food consisted of corn grated down on tin plates and hundred upon them. The distance marched was two hundred and fifty miles. The weather was very dry and the men suffered for water. They were without shoes, and their clothing was ragged and filthy. The Forty-second lost but one man from all causes, and it was the only regiment that brought through its knapsacks and blankets. These proved of great service, as the men were compelled to camp at Portland, Jackson county, Ohio, two weeks before clothing, camp and garrison equipage could be furnished them. While at Portland the regiment received one hundred and three recruits, and at Memphis, whither it arrived on November 28, sixty-five more. It had from time to time received a few, so that the whole number reached two hundred or more, and the regiment could turn out on parade nearly nine hundred men. Here the division was re-organized, and denominated the Ninth division, Thirteenth army corps.

On the 20th of December the Forty-second, with other troops, under General W. T. Sherman, embarked at Memphis, and proceeding down the river, landed at Johnston's plantation on the Yazoo. The Forty-second led the advance against the defences of Vicksburg on the 27th of December, and skirmished with the enemy until dark. The next morning the regiment resumed the attack, and by a charge, which was made with great spirit, succeeded in gaining possession of the woods, driving the Rebels into their works. About nine o'clock, a. m., on the 29th, a charge was made, the Forty-second being on the extreme right of the assaulting column. The storm of shot and shell was terrific, but the regiment maintained its organization and came off the field in good order. An important victory followed, in January, 1863, being the assault upon and capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas. In this the regiment led the advance. The spoils were seven thousand prisoners, all the guns and small arms, and a large quantity of stores. At Port Gibson the regiment had hot work, and sustained a heavier loss than any regiment in the corps. After the surrender of Vicksburg the regiment marched to Jackson and participated in the reduction of that place, and then returned to Vicksburg, where it remained until ordered to the Department of the Gulf. Companies A, B, C, and D, were mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, September 30, 1864. The remaining six companies were ordered to Duvall's Bluff, Arkansas. Companies E and F were mustered out November 25, and the other four companies, December 2, 1864. One hundred and one men remained, whose term of service had not expired, and they were organized into a company and assigned to the Ninety-sixth Ohio.

FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT OHIO INFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Andrews, Mount Vernon, Ohio, February 7, 1862, and left its rendezvous for the front on the 21st of the same mouth. On the 26th of February, it reported to Brigadier-General John Pope, commanding the district of Mississippi, and was at once assigned to the Ohio brigade, composed of the Twenty-seventh, Thirty- ninth, Forty-third and Sixty-third regiments, first division, army of the Mississippi.

It was but a few days before the regiment was introduced to active service, for in March, 1862, it was under fire at New Madrid, Missouri; and in all the operations against that post, it bore a prominent part, especially in its final bombardment and capture on the 13th and 14th of March. The loss of the regiment in killed and wounded was quite severe.

In the movements against Island No. 10, and the crossing of the Mississippi river in the face of the enemy, the Forty-third bore a conspicuous part, as it did also in the subsequent capture of the forces of General McCall, at Tiptonville, Tennessee. The next movement was against Fort Pillow. In all the operations of that campaign, the Forty-third bore its part. The actions of the 8th, 9th and 20th of May, may be particularly mentioned. At Corinth, the Forty-third was posted immediately on the left of Battery Robinett, and the Sixty-third on the right of the battery; and it is said these two regiments did more to save the day than any other organization engaged. The grand assault of the rebels was made at daylight on the 4th of October. They opened on. Battery Robinett with artillery at about three hundred yards, and at

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10 o'clock a. m., led by Colonel Rogers, of the Second Texas, moved forward to the assault. The Forty- third and Sixty-third Ohio stood firmly at their posts, and succeeded in staggering the assaulting column, and in hurling it back, at a time when our lines were broken and our troops were seen flying from every other part of the field. The opposing forces were but a few feet apart, and fought almost hand to hand, and men went down on both sides in great numbers. Colonel Smith fell mortally wounded at the first onset, while gallantly discharging his duty. Adjutant Heyl and Captain Spangler were killed at about the same moment. Captain S. F. Timmons and Lieutenant S. McClaren, A. L. Howe and H. L. Prophet received honorable wounds. The casualties among the men were very severe. In a few minutes of fighting, over one-fourth of those engaged of the Forty-third were either killed or wounded. Colonel Smith died eight days after the battle. The next movement of the Forty-third was with Grant's army, at Oxford, Miss. In the campaign against Forrest, in West Tennessee, in the winter of 1862—'63, and in General Dodge's raid in North Alabama, in April, 18C3, the Forty- third was with General Sherman when he made his memorable march from Memphis to the relief of the army of the Cumberland.

In December, 1863, the regiment almost unanimously re-enlisted as veterans, and went home on a furlough of thirty days. Returning, the regiment assisted at the capture of Decatur, Alabama, and lay at this point until the opening of General Sherman's campaign against Atlanta. On the 1st of May, 1864, the command began the march for Chattanooga. On the 13th, it was engaged in the advance on Resaca, and suffered severely. At Dallas, the Forty-third took an important part; and in the advance on the enemy's position near Big Shanty, Company D, of the regiment, participated in a most brilliant charge of skirmishers, capturing a strong barricade from the Twenty-ninth Tennessee, and numerous prisoners. Immediately thereafter came the siege of Kenesaw, with its deadly skirmishing, its grand cannonading, and the disastrous repulse of the national forces on the 29th of June.

The Forty-third participated in the general movements of the corps until the advance of the army on Decatur, when it was detached to hold the bridge across the Chattahoochie. This was successfully accomplished, and during the remainder of the Atlanta campaign, the Forty-third shared the trials and glories of the sixteenth Army Corps; and on the 4th and 7th of August, particularly, in advancing the national lines, won the thanks of Ransom, the division commander, by splendid and steady fighting. After the fall of Atlanta, the Forty-third enjoyed General Sherman's " full month's rest." After this, the regiment participated in the chase after Hood, as far as Resaca, and then hurried back to join Sherman in his great "march to tile sea." Of this campaign, the history of one regiment is the history of all. It was a daily succession of easy marches, with little interruption; with plenty of forage for both man and best, and full of pleasant adventure. Savannah was reached and besieged. In this the Forty-third performed its full share of duty.

In January,1865, the regiment moved to Beaufort, and directly afterward upon Pocotaligo, where it lay until the beginning of Sherman's march through the Carolinas. On the 2d of February, the Seventeenth Corps crossed Whippy swamp, and were soon confronting the enemy, who were strongly posted at River's Bridge. Here Colonel Swayne lost a leg by a shell. The regiment lost in him a brave and competent leader, who had been with it from its organization, and who had always shown the utmost devotion. to its interests. The next .day, the regiment received a baptism of fire, in a charge on a battery which commanded the bridge and the causeway approaching it. Down this narrow causeway the regiment rushed amid a storm of shot and shell, compelling the rebels to withdraw the battery and uncover the crossing. The war closing, the regiment went to Washington, and took part in the grand review; returning to Ohio, it was mustered out of service on the 13th of July, 1865.

FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

Recruiting for this regiment began in the latter part of the summer of 1861, the place of rendezvous being Camp Dennison, where the regiment was organized and drilled during the fall of 1861. The regiment went into the field on the 17th of February, 1862, with an aggregate of eight hundred and fifty men. It reached Paducah, Kentucky, February 20, and was assigned to a brigade in the division commanded by General Sherman. On the 6th of April, the regiment engaged in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, its position being on the extreme left of the army; but, on the second day, it was assigned a new position near the center of the line.

In the two days' fighting, the regiment sustained a loss of one hundred and ninety-eight men killed, wounded and missing. The regiment was next engaged upon the movement upon Corinth, and, upon the evacuation of that point, was among the first organized bodies to enter the town, and afterward performed provost duty there. During the summer, the regiment was engaged in several short expeditions. It was engaged in .the assault on Chickasaw Bayou, December 28 and 29, with a loss of twenty killed and wounded. January 1, 1863, the regiment ascended the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers, and engaged in the assault and capture of Arkansas Post. On the 6th of May, the regiment began its march to the rear of Vicksburg, by way of Grand Gulf, and was engaged in the battles of Champion Hills and Big Black Bridge. It was engaged in a general assault on the enemy's works, in the rear of Vicksburg, on the 19th and 22d of June, losing in the two engagements forty-seven

HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO - 85

killed and wounded. It was continually employed in skirmishing and fatigue duty during the siege of Vicksburg. After the fall of Vicksburg, the Fifty- fourth moved with the army upon Jackson, Mississippi, and was constantly engaged in skirmishing from the 9th to the 14th of July. It was engaged in the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 26, and the

next day marched to the relief of the garrison at Knoxville, Tennessee. It went into winter quarters, January 12, 1864, at Larkinsville, Alabama.

The regiment was mustered into the service as a veteran organization on the 22d of January, and at once started to Ohio on furlough. Returning, it entered on the Atlanta campaign on the 1st of May. It participated in a general engagement at Resaca, and at Dallas, and in a severe skirmish at New Hope Church, June 6 and 7. It was in the general assault upon Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, losing twenty-eight killed and wounded, and was in a battle on the east side of Atlanta, July 21 and 22, sustaining a loss of ninety-four killed, wounded and missing. The Fifty-fourth lost eight men killed and wounded at Ezra Chapel, July 28; and from the 29th of July to the 27th of August, it was almost continually engaged in skirmishing before Atlanta, was in the march to Savannah, and assisted in the capture of Fort McAllister, December 15th. It was closely engaged in the vicinity of Columbia, and participated in its last battle at Bentonsville, North Carolina, March 21, 1865. The regiment marched to Richmond, Virginia, innd from thence to Washington City, where it engaged in the grand review of the western army. It was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, August 24, 1865.

It marched during its term of service a distance of three thousand, six hundred and eighty-two miles,. participated in four sieges, nine severe skirmishes, fifteen general engagements, and sustained a loss of five hundred and six men killed, wounded and missing.

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRD REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

The One Hundred and Third Ohio was composed of men from the counties of Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina. Ten companies rendezvoused at Cleveland, in August, 1862, and on the 3d of September, started for Cincinnati, which they found in a state of excitement and alarm, because of the near approach of the enemy, under Kirby Smith, upon Lexington, Kentucky. Having received arms in Cincinnati, the regiment crossed over to Covington, where it was furnished with clothing and other necessaries for camp-life. Thus equipped, it marched out to Fort Mitchell, on the evening of the 6th.

After a few days of painful suspense, information was received at headquarters that the enemy had retreated. Immediate pursuit was ordered. The One Hundred and Third moved out on the 18th, with other forces, in pursuit, taking the pike toward Lexington. Having followed the enemy three days, without being able to overtake him, the national forces returned as far as Snow's Pond, where they encamped for a short time. While here; sickness prostrated nearly one-half the regiment. It was now organized; with two other regiments, into a brigade, under the command of Brigadier-general Q. A. Gilmore. The regiment, with its brigade, moved out, on the 6th of October, to repress the outrages of the rebel cavalry, and, becoming separated from the brigade, went into camp on the bank of the Kentucky river, at Frankfort, where it remained until the 5th of April, 1863. At this date, the regiment marched to Stanford.

Marauding bands of mounted men, nominally belonging to John Morgan's command, but, in reality, independent squads of freebooters, had kept all this region in a constant state of excitement and alarm; and gave considerable annoyance to the national troops—capturing parties stationed at outposts, and destroying supply trains. A large force was gathered at Stanford, and, on the 25th, an advance was ordered by General S. P. Carter, then commanding. rube national forces moved forward to Somerset and Mill Springs, the enemy falling back all the time; but t here were not wanting indications of an intention, on the part of the rebels, to concentrate their scattered forces, for the purpose of making a stand, at some point favorable for defence. Our infantry had considerable difficulty in crossing the Cumberland, on account of high water; but, once crossed, it pushed rapidly after the enemy, preceded by the cavalry, which had crossed a little below. On the 30th, the cavalry came up with a body of rebels, when a smart skirmish took place. On the 5th of May, our forces were ordered back to the Cumberland. The One Hundred and Third took a position near Stigall's ferry, where they were soon visited by a body of rebels, who fired on them from the southern bank. Much powder was expended, by both parties, but with little result.

On the 5th of July, the regiment, with other troops, marched toward Danville, where they remained a few days, and then fell, back to Hickman bridge. Returning to Danville, shortly after, this regiment, was, with others, formed into the twenty-third army corps, and placed under the command of Major-general Hartsuff. The ninth army corps having been added to the force, at this point, the troops began to move on the 18th of August, under the command of General A. E. Burnside. No tongue can tell what that army suffered in its march from Danville, via Stanford, Crab Orchard, the Cumberland, at Burnside's Point, Chitwood, Montgomery, Emery's Iron Works, and Lenoir to Concord, Tennessee. On the 19th of September, the regiment joined in the general advance, which resulted in driving back the rebels to their main force, then assembled at Jonesboro.

On the 4th of November, the regiment proceeded by railroad to Knoxville, and was stationed with its brigade, on the south side of the river. Longstreet

88 - HISTORY OP LORAIN COUNTY OHIO.

was now advancing upon the city, with a large force. During the investment, our troops suffered the greatest hardships from insufficient clothing, short. rations, and other privations. About noon, on the 25th, six companies of the regiment were sent out to relieve a company on picket-duty, and, while so doing, a heavy charge was made by the rebels, with the intention of capturing the whole. The men, assisted by the pickets of the Twenty-fourth Kentucky, and the Sixty-fifth Illinois, poured into the ranks of the rebels a well-directed fire; but this did not check them in the least, for, with yells, of the most horrid description, they rushed upon the picket-line, and a desperate struggle ensued. The regiments of the respective pickets coming up, in full force, a bayonet charge was ordered, which soon decided the contest, for the rebels broke and fled, leaving their dead and wounded upon the field. The regiment lost, in this engagement, some thirty-five, in killed and wounded.

This regiment finally became a part of the grand army, with which Sherman marched to the sea, and, on the 13th of May, arrived in front of Resaoa. The next day, the twenty-third corps charged the enemy's works, and carried his two lines. The regiment lost, in this engagement, over one-third of its effective force. Among those who fell, were Captains W. W. Hutchinson and J. T. Philpot. The regiment finally reached Decatur on the 8th of September. It had lost heavily during this campaign. On May 1, its effective force numbered four hundred and fifty men; but, when it encamped at Decatur, it could only muster one hundred and ninety-five.

At Spring Hill, the regiment, while supporting a battery, showed conclusively what they were made of. On the 24th of February, 1665, the regiment, with its corps, arrived at Wilmington, and, on the 6th of March, it started forward, moving through Kingston to Goldsboro, where it again met Sherman's army. The whole army soon took up its march, and, on the 13th of April, reached Raleigh, where the regiment remained till the 10th of June, when it started for Cleveland, Ohio, to be mustered out. As the train, conveying the men, was descending the western slope of the Alleghany mountains, a truck broke loose, throwing three of the cars down a steep embankment, causing the death of three men, and the mutilation of a much larger number. On the 19th, the regiment reached Cleveland, and, on the 22d, it was paid off, and mustered out.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment was composed almost wholly of Germans. It was organized August 25, 1862, at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio. It lay in camp at this place until the latter part of September, when it moved under orders to Covington, Kentucky. This move was made with reference to an anticipated attack on Cincinnati by Kirby Smith's Grey-backs. The regiment went to Washington, D. C., after a short time and was engaged for nearly a month in constructing fortifications around that city. In November it was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Eleventh Army Corps, Major-general Sigel commanding. On April 29, 1863, the regiment, with its brigade and division, moved across the Rappahannock to Chancellorsville, where, on the 2d and 3d of May, it took part in the battle of that name. In this disastrous affair the One Hundred and Seventh suffered terribly, losing two hundred and twenty officers and men, killed, wounded and prisoners. The surgeon of the regiment, Dr. Hartman, of Cleveland, Ohio, and several officers were killed. July 1, it reached Gettysburg and was at once engaged with the enemy, taking position on the right wing. The first day's fight the regiment and eleventh corps were compelled to fall back through the town of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill, where a new line was formed and held during the remainder of the battle. In falling back to this place the regiment lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, two hundred and fifty officers and men. In the second day's fight, in a charge made about five o'clock in the afternoon, it again lost heavily. In this affair t he regiment captured a Rebel flag from the Eighth Louisiana Tigers. Aside from slight skirmishing it was not engaged in the third day's fight. Its total loss in the battle of Gettysburg—killed, wounded and prisoners—was over four hundred out of about five hundred and fifty, rank and file with which it entered. With one hundred and eleven guns, all that was left of the regiment, it joined in the pursuit of the Rebel army, following it to Hagerstown, and thence into Virginia. Its subsequent engagements were principally light ones. The heaviest perhaps being at Sumterville, South Carolina., March 23, 1865, where it defeated the enemy, capturing three pieces of artillery, six horses, and fifteen prisoners. On April 16, 1865, news was received of the surrender of Lee's and Johnston's armies. Three weeks thereafter it was Taken by steamer to Charleston, where it did provost duty until July 10, when it was mustered out of the service and sent home to Cleveland, where it was paid off and discharged.

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT

OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

This regiment, 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 volunteer 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

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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 Western Virginia in 1862.

The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth was chiefly occupied at the frontier posts of Johnson's Island and Sandusky. Fortune did not give the regiment an opportunity to earn laurels in battle, but it performed its duty always with faithfulness and efficiency. It left the Island on July 10, 1865, and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 17th.

HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH REGIMENT OHIO NATIONAL GUARD.

This regiment was composed of men from Licking and Hardin counties, and one company of the Thirty-seventh Battallion, Ohio National Guard, of Lorain county. It was mustered into the United States service on the 11th of May, 1864, and was ordered immediately to Washington City. Proceeding by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the regiment arrived at North Mountain, where information was received that the bridge at Harper's Ferry was impassable; and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth, with other "hundred days' regiments," was delayed awaiting the repair of the bridge. A picket was established, and every precaution taken for defence. In a few days the troops moved on, and the regiment arrived at Washington, May 22. It was placed in the defences south of the Potomac, with headquarters at

Fort Albany, and detachments in Forts Craig and Tillinghast. The time was occupied in repairing and completing these forts, and drilling in infantry and heavy-artillery tactics. On the 5th of June the regiment out was ordered to White House Landing, where it was employed in picket duty and in guarding Rebel prisoners. On the 16th of June the regiment was

ered to Bermuda Hundred, and proceeded on steamer, via Fortress Monroe, up the James to Fort Powhattan. Here its progress was checked by the pontoon bridge on which the Army of the Potomac was crossing the James. The regiment debarked and marched to Bermuda Hundred, distant twenty-five miles. The march was made during two of the

hottest days of summer, and the men suffered greatly from dust and the want of water. The regiment arrived at Fort Spring Hill, on the eastern bank of the Appomattox, opposite Point of Rocks, on the 19th of June, and was engaged in picket and fatigue duty at Point of Rocks and at Broadway Landing. The regiment next moved to Cherry-stone Inlet, on the eastern shore of Virginia. Headquarters were established at Eastville, the county town of Northmpton county, and the companies were distributed at various points to guard the telegraph from Cherrystone to Wilmington, to prevent raids from the opposite side of the bay, and to intercept blockade runners -and Rebel mail-carriers. At the expiration of its term of service the regiment returned to Ohio, and was mustered out at Camp Dennison on September 1, 1864.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH REGIMENT OHIO

NATIONAL GUARD.

This regiment rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland. It was composed of eight companies from the city of Cleveland, one from Oberlin, this county, and one from Independence township, Cuyahoga county. It was, on the 5th of May, 1864, sworn into the United States service for one hundred days, and was immediately placed on the cars for Washington City.

On its arrival the regiment, was ordered to garrison Forts Lincoln, Saratoga, Thayer, Bunker Hill, Slocum, Totten, and Stevens, forming part of the chain of fortifications surrounding the National capital. This important duty was fully and strictly performed, thereby enabling General Grant to draw from the former garrisons of these forts the re-inforcements so much desired in his movement through the Wilderness toward Richmond. The One Hundred. and Fiftieth remained in these forts during the whole term of service, and participated in the fight before Washington with a part of Early's Rebel corps, July 10 and 11, 1864. Companies G and K were engaged, but being behind breastworks, did not suffer much. One man was killed and three or four men were wounded. The regiment was mustered out at Cleveland on the 23d of August, 1864. During its term of service the regiment was rigidly and effectively drilled, and at its muster out had reached a point of military efficiency which fitted it for any emergency.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SIXTH REGIMENT OIII0

VOLUNTEER 1NFANTRY.

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, September 21, 1864, for one year. As soon as the organization was completed the regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps. Soon after its arrival it was detailed to perform provost duty at Nashville, and during the siege and battle at that point was in the works; but with the exception of a few companies, under Major Cummings, the regiment was not engaged. Quite a number of the officers and men were veteran soldiers, and their knowledge and experience gave the regiment considerable reputation for proficiency in drill and discipline.

The regiment was mustered out of service at Tod . Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1865.

BATTERY "B," FIRST OHIO LIMIT ARTILLERY

was organized at Camp Dennison and mustered into the service October 8, 1861, with an aggregate strength of one hundred and forty-seven men. By order of General 0. M. Mitchell it left Cincinnati to report to General George H. Thomas, then in command at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky. The first experience it had in the field was a brisk little affair at

88 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

Camp Wild Cat, in which it fired twelve rounds and silenced one of the enemy's guns. From Wild Cat it marched to London, Kentucky, where it remained two weeks. On November 5, the battery, under orders, joined the Seventeenth Ohio at Fishing Creek, and was engaged during the whole of that month in skirmishes and scout duty, with headquarters at Somerset. January 27, it moved to Mill Springs to re-enforce General Thomas. It took part in the battle of Mill Springs, and performed very effective service. February 10, it took up its line of march for Louisville, Kentucky, where it embarked for Nashville; arriving there, it was assigned to Colonel Barnett's Artillery Reserve. July 18, 1862, it reported to Major-general Nelson at Murfreesboro, and, during the months of July, August and September, was almost constantly on the march, and frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy. On December 26, the battery moved with its brigade and division from Nashville towards Murfreesboro, skirmishing heavily in and about La Vergne. It was here that the present county recorder lost his "good right arm." In the battle of Stone river it was stationed on the left of General Negley's division. It was involved in the disaster on the right, but succeeded in withdrawing all its guns from the field. It bore its full part in the battle, and lost seventeen men, killed, wounded and missing, and twenty-one horses killed. June 24, 1863, it joined in the advance of the national forces on Tullahoma. September 19, it engaged in the battle of Chickamauga. On the next day it was charged by the enemy, but succeeded in beating them off. A second charge soon followed which overwhelmed the battery, and it was obliged to leave two of its guns in the hands of the enemy. In this charge several members of the battery were wounded and captured. This was in the siege of Chattanooga. January 4, 1864, sixty-five of the original members of the battery re-enlisted as veterans, and were furloughed home for thirty days. Tine battery returned to Nashville in March, and on the 16th of that month reported to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it remained until July, 1866. It was then sent home to Columbus, and there mustered out, being one of the last organizations .to leave the service.

FIFTEENTH OHIO INDEPENDENT BATTERY

was recruited by Captain J. B. Burrows and First- lieutenant Edward Spear, Jr. This battery was mustered into the service on the 1st day of February, 1862, and was immediately ordered to Cincinnati, where it embarked February 16, under orders for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, but on reaching Paducah, Kentucky, was disembarked by order of General Sherman. Horses were drawn here, and the battery embarked under orders to report to General Grant, at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. While proceeding up the Tennessee, and, when near Whitehall Landing, the boat was fired into by guerrillas, from the shore. The fire was returned with shell, under cover of which the men of the battery landed, drove the guerrillas from their cover, and captured some prisoners and horses. In this expedition, the battery lost one man wounded. It reported to General Grant on the 20th, and was assigned to the Fourth division, army of the Tennessee. The battery was on the first line during the seige of Vicksburg, having position on the Hall's Ferry road, southeast of the city, and within two hundred yards of the enemy's works, and enfilading several hundred yards of their line. In this, as in all the engagements in which the battery figured, most excellent service was performed, eliciting, on every occasion, the commendations of the commanding officers. It expended two thousand, three hundred and one rounds of ammunition during the seige. The Fifteenth was with General Sherman, principally, and participated in his famous "march to the sea." An incident is related that, at the battle of Chattahoochee River, a bird flew upon the shoulder of Private Seth Bowers, who was acting No. 1 on one of the guns, where it remained during the engagement. At every discharge of the piece, the bird would thrust its head in the man's hair. After the recoil, it would again take its position on the man's shoulder, and watch the operations of loading. After the battle, the bird remained around the men's quarters, but, after a few days, disappeared.

The Fifteenth battery was mustered out June 20, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio.

SECOND REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

This regiment was recruited and organized in the summer and autumn of 1861, under the supervision of the late lion. B. F. Wade and Hon. John Hutchins, who received special authority from the war office. The regiment rendezvoused at Camp Wade, near Cleveland, Ohio, and the last company was mustered in on the 10th of October, 1861. Being the first cavalry regiment raised in the northern part of the State, it drew into its ranks a large proportion of wealth, intelligenoe, capacity and culture. Men and officers were almost wholly from the Western Reserve, and represented every trade and profession. The Second was uniformed, mounted and partly drilled at Cleveland, and, in the last of November, was ordered to Camp Dennison, where it received sabers, and continued drilling during the month of December. Early in January, 1862, under orders from the war department, the Second proceeded, by rail, via. Cincinnati, St. Louis and St. Joseph, to Platte City, Misssouri.

On the 18th of February, Doubleday's brigade, of which the Second was a part, was ordered to march through the border counties of Missouri to Fort Scott, Kansas. On the 22d of February, and during the march, a scouting party of one hundred and twenty men of the Second Ohio cavalry was attacked in the streets of Independence, Missouri, by an equal force, under command of the subsequently infamous Quantril. As the result of the Second's "first fight,"

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Quantril was routed in fifteen minutes, losing five killed , four wounded, and five captured, including one officer. The Second lost one killed and three wounded. Arriving at its destination about March 1, it remained for several months, doing garrison and scouting duty.

In the fall following, it participated in the campaign ending in the victory of Prairie Grove, Kansas, December 3, 1862. It also fought at Carthage and Newtonia, Missouri, and at Cow Hill, Wolf Creek, and White River, Arkansas.

In November and December, the Second was transferred to the Eastern army, moving by rail to Camp Chase, Ohio, to remount and refit for the field. This accomplished, the regiment left early in April for Somerset, Kentucky, and remained in camp there, with the exception of an occasional reconnaissance, until the 27th of June.

In May and June, the Second fought twice at Steubenville, twice at Monticello, and once at Columbia, Kentucky.

On the 1st of July, the Second joined in the pursuit of John Morgan, and followed the great raider twelve hundred miles, through three States, marching twenty hours out of the twenty-four, living wholly upon the gifts of the people for twenty-seven days, and finally sharing in the capture at Buffington Island.

January 1, 1864, nearly the entire regiment reenlisted. But lack of space forbids us following the regiment through all its encounters and privations. It was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, September , 1865.

The Second fought under twenty-three general officers. Its horses have drunk from, and its troopers have bathed in, the waters of the Arkansas, Kaw, Osage, Cygnes, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Scioto, Miami, Cumberland, Tennessee, Halston, Potomac, Shenandoah, Rappahannock, Rapidan, Bull Run, Mattapony, Pamunkey, Chickahominy, James, Appomattox, Blackwater, Nottoway, and Chesapeake. It dimpaigned through thirteen states and one territory. It traveled, as a regiment, on foot, horseback, by railroad and steamboat, on land, river, bay and ocean. It has marched au aggregate distance of twenty-seven thousand miles; has fought in ninety-seven battles and engagements. It has served in five different armies, forming a continuous line of armies from the head waters of the Arkansas to the mouth of the James; and its dead, sleeping where they fell, form a vidette-line half across the continent, a chain of prostrate sentinels, two thousand miles long. Even in their graves, may not these patriot dead still guard the glory and the integrity of the Republic for which they fell?

THIRD REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

This regiment was organized in September, 1861, at Monroeville, Huron county. It moved to Camp Dennison on the 14th of January, 1862. In February following it went to Jeffersonville, Indiana. On March 2 it was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and arrived there March 18. On the 29th it left Nashville for Pittsburgh Landing. It reached that point on April 25, and encamped four miles from the river. It remained here some time, and made several successful raids. It next moved to Iuka and Tuscumbia. Here it remained until June 30, when it went to Courtland; thence to Decatur, Alabama, and from this point to Mooresville. On the 3d of September the division marched to Nashville, arriving there on the 6th, thence to Mumfordsville, Kentucky, via Gallatin and Bowling Green. On September 21, the first battalion of the Third Cavalry had a sharp engagement at Mumfordsville with three times its own number, and drove them into their works in three separate charges. It lost twelve wounded and two killed. The "Johnnies" lost thirty-eight killed and sixty wounded. The Third Cavalry, during its first year of service, was attached to General T. J. Wood's division, and during the most of the time was under his immediate command. The second and third battalions, under Colonel Zahm, was stationed, during a portion of the summer of 1862, at Woodville, Alabama. On October 19, a detachment of the Third Cavalry, with a portion of the Fourth Cavalry, numbering some two hundred and fifty, was sent as an escort to Covington, Kentucky. It encamped near the old plantation of Henry Clay, at Ashland, and the next day (20th) was captured by John Morgan, who stripped them of their horses and valuables, paroled them and sent them into the national lines. The men were soon in the field again. The regiment re-enlisted in January, 1864, and were furloughed home. Returning to Nashville, it was re-equipped, armed and mounted, and from this time until it was mustered out, it was constantly in active service. It turned over its horses and arms at Macon and proceeded to Camp Chase, Ohio, where it was paid off and discharged August 14, 1865, having served four years, lacking twenty days.

TWELFTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

This regiment was recruited during the months of September and October, 1863, from nearly every county in the State, rendezvousing at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, where it was mustered into the service on the 24th day of November, 1863. One-half of the regiment was engaged in doing guard duty, during the winter of 1863-4, on Johnson's Island, having been ordered there on the 10th of November. The regiment was mounted, armed and equipped at Camp Dennison, and moved to Louisville, and then to Lexington and Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Little of importance transpired until the 23d of May, when the regiment was a portion of General Burbridge's command on the first Saltville raid. On the arrival in the vicinity of Pound Gap, after eight days' marching, it became evident that John Morgan had entered Kentucky, and the command immediately started in

90 - HISTORY OF LORAIN COUNTY, OHIO.

pursuit. After severe marching, with but little time for eating or sleeping, the command arrived at Mount Sterling on the 9th of June, 1864. The Twelfth was closely engaged with the rebels at this point, behaving with much gallantry, and was specially complimented by General Burbridge. The Twelfth again overtook Morgan at Cynthiana, and fought with him, scattering his forces in every direction. The regiment charged through the town, crossed the river, and pursued the retreating rebels for three days. During the second expedition to Saltville in September, it became necessary to silence a battery posted upon a hill; the Twelfth, with its brigade, charged up the hill and drove the enemy from his works. After this, the regiment encamped at Lexington, until ordered to Crab Orchard to join another Saltville expedition.

The division left Crab Orchard on the 22d of November, during a severe snow-storm, and moved to Bean's Station. On the night of their arrival the Twelfth made a successful reconnaissance to Rogersville It did its full share of duty under General Stoneman, at Bristol, at Abingdon, at Marion, and thence as support to General Gillam in his pursuit of Vaughn, then back again to Marion, where General Stoneman engaged Breckenridge for forty hours, and finally defeated him. In this engagement all of the Twelfth bearing sabers, participated in a grand charge, driving back the enemy's cavalry. The regiment behaved gallantly throughout the fight, and received the praises of Generals Stoneman and Burbridge. On the 21st of December, Saltville was captured, and the forces returned to Richmond, Kentucky, where headquarters were established. As the result of this raid four boats were captured, one hundred and fifty miles of railroad, thirteen trains and locomotives, lead mines, salt works, iron foundries, and an immense quantity of stores of all sorts, were completely destroyed. During the raid Company F acted as escort to General Burbridge. About the middle of February the regiment was thoroughly armed, equipped and mounted. It then proceeded by way of Louisville and the river to Nashville, arriving March 6. From here it moved to Murfreesboro and Knoxville. At this point it again formed part of a raiding expedition under General Stoneman. The Twelfth finally rendezvoused at Nashville, and was mustered out on the 14th of November, 1865; then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where it was paid and discharged on the 22d and 23d of the same month, after two years of incessant service.

THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS.

During the autumn of 1862, the Confederate General Kirby Smith advanced upon Cincinnati with a large army. Governor Tod issued a proclamation calling upon all who would furnish themselves with rations and arms to turn out, organize under their own officers, and rendezvous at Cincinnati, transportation over the railroads to be provided by the government. About three hundred and fifty citizens of Lorain county responded to the call of the governor. These men, of course, saw no fighting, but their work was cheerfully performed, because they thought their services were needed. Governor Tod caused lithograph discharges to be forwarded to those whose names could be obtained. These discharges may be found in many homes in the county, where they are properly prized.

The soldiers of the early wars, with descriptions of forts and other defences, are given in the histories of their respective townships.