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CHAPTER VI.

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FIRST MILITARY ORGANIZATION ON THE WESTERN RESERVE—WAR OF 1812 AND FIRST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS—JOHN HARMON'S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WAR —SECOND REGIMENT OHIO MILITIA—CAPT. JOHN CAMPBELL'S COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS—CAMP ON BARREL RUN—MARCH TO CLEVELAND, AND EMBARKATION FOR LOWER SANDUSKY—DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP AND ARRIVAL— INCIDENTS AT THE FORT, AND SICKNESS AMONG THE SOLDIERS —DEPARTURE FOR THE RIVER RAISIN—HULL'S SURRENDER—START FOR MALDEN, AND ARRIVAL AT THAT POINT—PAROLED PRISONERS—RETURN HOME OF THE SICK AND PAROLED MEN—DEATHS 1N THE COMMAND—ALARM CAUSED BY THE SURRENDER—REGIMENTAL RECORD OF THE SECOND REGIMENT—RESPONSE TO A CALL FOR TROOPS 1N 1813—MR. HARMON'S CONCLUDING REMARKS—THE INHABITANTS OF PORTAGE COUNTY FEAR AN INDIAN INVASION—DISTRESSING INCIDENT OF THE WAR—RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE MILITIA—MUSTER DAYS AND SHAM FIGHTS.

THE first military organization on the Western Reserve was effected under the general militia law of Ohio, passed at the Legislative session of 1803-04. The State was divided into four divisions, the Fourth Division embracing the whole eastern portion thereof, from Lake Erie to the Ohio

River. Elijah Wadsworth was elected Major General, of that division, and issued his first order April 6, 1804. His division was divided into two brigades and five regiments. The First Brigade, Ohio militia, comprised the 

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male inhabitants of military age inside the limits of Trumbull County, which then embraced the territory now in Portage, as well as all the country west of this county to the western limits of the Reserve. The brigade was divided into the First and Second Regiments, the north line of Township 5 being the dividing line between those forming the respective commands. The Second Regiment was divided into two battalions, and the Second Battalion into four companies.

The First Company included the present townships of Berlin and Milton, Mahoning County, and Deerfield, Palmyra, Paris, Charlestown, Edinburg and Atwater Townships, Portage County, and was called the " Deerfield Company." The Second Company included the present townships of Randolph, Rootstown, Ravenna, Franklin, Brimfield and Suffield, and was called the "Rootstown Company." The Third Company included the present townships of Windham, Nelson, Garrettsville, Hiram, Freedom, Shalersville, Mantua, Aurora and Streetsboro, and the Fourth Company included all of the remaining territory of the Reserve west of the present western boundary of Portage County. On the 7th of May, 1804, elections for officers were held in the four companies, resulting as follows: First Company—Henry Rogers, Captain; John Diver, Lieutenant; John Campbell, Ensign. Second Company —Thomas Wright, Captain; William Chard, Lieutenant; David Morse, Ensign. Third Company—Ezra Wyatt, Captain; Gersham Judson, Lieutenant; Thomas Kennedy, Ensign. Fourth Company--John Oviatt, Captain; Aaron Norton, Lieutenant; James Walker, Ensign. On the 24th of September following, Henry Rogers, Captain of the First Company, was elected Major of the battalion. The names of most of the officers of those four companies will be recognized as those of leading pioneers of Portage County, but as elections were held annually their places were subsequently filled by others who are equally well remembered as prominent early settlers of this section of the State.

With the rapid growth of population and the organization of new counties, among which was Portage, in 1808, some changes occurred in the boundaries of the territory from which the Second Regiment was originally raised, while the number of brigades in the Fourth Division was increased to four, and other regiments formed from the additional brigades. A few years passed by and the sound wisdom of these militia organizations became very apparent. The war of 1812 was brought on by the arrogant claims of the English Government, and the citizen soldiers of Portage County were among the first to respond to their country's call. In response to a call from Gov. Meigs for soldiers to defend the frontier, Capt. John Campbell's company of riflemen was organized May 23, 1812, of volunteers from the Second Regiment, Ohio Militia. Soon after the declaration of war, June 18, 1812, this company received orders to meet at the house of Capt. Campbell, July 1, and on that day pitched their tents of homespun linen sheets on the bank of Barrel Run, near the home of Capt. Campbell. The command had no uniforms, but each man was "armed to the teeth" with a rifle, a tomahawk, and a large knife. It soon afterward started for the frontier, and was encamped on the River Raisin at the time of Hull's surrender, and therefore included in that disgraceful and cowardly capitulation.

Fifteen years ago the late John Harmon, Esq., of Ravenna, who was a member of this company, compiled an article entitled "Recollections of the War of 1812, " which was published in the Portage County Democrat, March 2, 1870. The writer deems this historic sketch of sufficient importance to be worthy of preservation in the pages of this work. Mr. Harmon rendered the present and future generations a great service by rescuing from oblivion

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and placing on record important events connected with a very interesting period of our national history; but more especially are these reminiscences invaluable to the people of Portage County. None of the pioneers of this county who participated in the war of 1812 are left to tell the story of their trials and hardships, and without these reminiscences, so fortunately prepared by Mr. Harmon, it would be utterly impossible at this late day to obtain any reliable data treating of military events in this portion of Ohio. during that momentous period.

Recollections of the War of 1812. * -In compliance with the expressed wishes of some valued friends, and more particularly at the recent solicitation of the officers of the Western Reserve Historical Society, I will endeavor to write for publication some account of the campaign of Capt. Campbell's Volunteer Company of 1812, of which I was an humble member. To aid me in this task, I have a brief diary journal, kept at that time and a brief record of our organization in the book of Regimental Records of the regiment from which our company was raised. But for much that I have to record, I have to rely on memory, and I fear my task, performed at my time of life, and after a lapse of more than fifty-seven years from the time the events occurred of which I write, will not be acceptably recorded. But, as few of the actors of those days now remain to tell their tales, and fewer still are disposed to transmit our history to the present young, and the coming generations, I have been induced to commence the task, and present the record first to the people of the locality where oar company was best known, and through the medium of the local press of Portage County.

In 1812 the able bodied white male inhabitants between the ages of eight,. een and forty-five, residing on the three eastern tiers of townships of the present county of Portage, and subject to military duty, constituted the Seco ond Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia, and were commanded by Col. John Campbell, then residing on the corners of the four townships of Ravenna, Rootatown, Charlestown and Edinburg, a place since call Campbellsport. This regiment consisted of two battalions, of four militia companies each. Those residing in Mantua constituted the First Company First Battalion. Nelson, Hiram and Windham constituted the Second Company, First Battalion. Ravenna and Charlestown constituted the Third Company, First Battalion. Shalersville constituted the Fourth Company, First Battalion. Deerfield and Atwater constituted the First Company, Second Battalion. Rootstown constituted the Second Company, Second Battalion Palmyra and Paris constituted the Third Company, Second Battalion. Randolph constituted the Fourth Company, Second Battalion.

It appears that about the middle of May, 1812, Col. Campbell received orders from Goy. Meigs to raise soldiers from his regiment for the defense of the frontiers; but the number to be raised does not appear on record, but, on the Military Record Book, page 26, we find the following:

"At a special meeting of the officers of the Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division, of Ohio Militia, holden at Ravenna, the 19th day of May, 1812, for raising soldiers.

Officers present. —Col. John Campbell,' Maj. Stephen Mason, Maj. Thaddeus Andrews.

"Captains—Alva Day, Joshua Woodward, Asa K. Burroughs.

"Lieut. Isaac Merriman, for Capt. Timothy Culver's Company.

"Lieut. John Redden, for Capt. Delaun Mills' Company.

* By the late John Harmon, Eaq.

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PAGE 264 BLANK

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"Commandants of Companies.—Lieut. Oliver Snow, Lieut. John Canis, Lieut. Charles Gilbert.

"Ordered—That the regiment meet at Ravenna on the 23d inst., at 10 o'clock A. M.

"Orders given to Majors Mason and Andrews."

Then follow on the record several pages of " class rolls" of the regiment, with the name and class, as it purports, of every man of the regiment subject to military duty, comprising all able-bodied white males between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, residing in the bounds of the regiment, which we omit at present. At this time, and previous, Robert Campbell was Clerk of the regiment, but much of the records appear to be in the hand-writing of the late Col. Stephen Mason. On page 30 is recorded the appointment of Charles Curtis, of Charlestown, as Quartermaster of the regiment, and Frederick Wadsworth, Clerk of the regiment, dated 26th of May, 1812. I find no record of the mustering of the regiment "to raise soldiers," and here have to tax my memory.

According to orders the regiment met at Ravenna, May 23, and on being paraded in line, the Colonel informed us that he had orders from the Governor to raise soldiers from this regiment for the defense of the frontiers and that unless a company of fifty would volunteer, a draft must be made; that if fifty men would volunteer, they could by law elect their own officers; but if a draft had to be made, they would be commanded probably by strangers. He advised us to volunteer, and urged in a short speech, and Charles Shaler, then a young lawyer, since Judge Shaler, of Pittsburgh, a son of Nathaniel Shaler, of Middletown, Conn., the proprietor of Shalersville, being present, entertained us with a patriotic speech.

It was then announced, as the musicians stepped out before he regiment, that all who would volunteer should step forward and follow the music. Immediately volunteers began to show themselves, stepping to the front, to the music of the drum and fife. Among the first were Col. Campbell, Capt. Alva Day, Lieut. John Canis and Samuel Redfield. The last-mentioned was, I believe, the first to follow the music. The little squad thus formed continued passing to and fro before the regiment, its members constantly accumulating, until it was announced that the fifty were on hand, and one more. During the suspense before the required number were on hand, some one announced that he saw a star in our horizon, a star of promise, may be, on which George Grant Redden, of Hiram, declared if he could see the star, he too would volunteer, and on it being shown him he immediately volunteered. As it was a clear day, numbers of us saw the bright star. We were then marched to the south side of the Court House, and our names were taken by one of our number, Ralph Buckland—father of Hon. Ralph P. Buckland, late a member of Congress from the Ninth (Fremont) District, Ohio. This done, we were fully engaged, and it was debated when and where we would elect our company officers, and determined to proceed immediately, same evening, at the house of William Tappan, which we accordingly did. That house, one of the first frame structures built in Ravenna, was burned a few years ago. It stood on the ground now occupied by the Phcenix Block, northeast of the Court House square. The same room where the votes were taken was afterward used as a printing office, from which, in 1834-35, The Western Courier was issued.

The following "roll of volunteers" and list of officers elected is copied from Regimental Records, page 30, the record found in the hand-writing of the late Frederick Wadsworth, Esq. I add only their respective residences:

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OFFICERS.

John Campbell, Captain, Campbellsport.

Alva Day, Lieutenant, Deerfield.

John Canis, Second Lieutenant, Rootstown.

Aaron Weston, Ensign, Ravenna.

Lewis Day, Jr., First Sergeant, Deerfield.

John Wright, Second Sergeant, Rootstown.

Ralph Buckland, Third Sergeant, Ravenna.

Lewis Ely, Jr. Fourth Sergeant, Deerfield.

Charles Chittenden First Corporal, Atwater.

John Harmon, Second Corporal, Mantua.

Daniel Burroughs, Jr., Third Corporal, Shalersville.

John Turner, Fourth Corporal, Rootstown.

David Jones, Drummer, Randolph.

James Magill, Fifer, Palmyra.

PRIVATES.

William Tappan, Ravenna; Samuel Redfield, Randolph; David Moore, Ravenna; Samuel C. Thompson, Ravenna; Benjamin Bradley, Shalersville, William Thornton, Randolph; John McManus, Ravenna; William Ward, Ravenna; Harry 0. Pettibone, Mantua; Enos Harmon, Mantua; Chauncey Newberry, Rootstown; Robert Campbell, Ravenna; John Sabin, Randolph; Samuel Bartlett, Rootstown; Samuel Tuthill, Rootstown; John Shaler, Charlestown; Ebenezer Tibballs, Deerfield, John .Smith, Mantua; Peter Tyrrel, Ravenna; Philip Willyard, Rootstown; Zacheas Harmon, Mantua; Ebenezer Buckley, Palmyra; Abiram Amidon, Rootstown; James Ray, Jr., M Mark Moore, Mantua; George G. Redden, Hiram; Job Thompson, Jr., S vale; William Coolman, Jr., Shalersville; Henry Root, Rootstown; Samuel Hartle, Rootstown; Oliver Newberry, Rootstown; Joseph Fisher, Palmyra, Charles Carter, Ravenna; Enoch Judson, Mantua; Nathan Chapman, Rootstown; Joel Underwood, Palmyia; Charles Reed, Deerfield; Seth Day, Deerfield.

Seth Day did not at first volunteer, but joined us at the rendezvous, and acted as Clerk for the officers until taken sick.

Of the foregoing roll, Charles Reed, William Tappan, John Sabin, John Shaler, Nathan Chapman, Enoch Judson, Joseph Fisher, Oliver Newberry, Benjamin Bradley and Samuel Bartlett, and I think also Ebenezer Tibballs, failed to march to the frontier, but several furnished substitutes, to-wit: Miles Allen took the place of John Sabin; William Maxfield took the place of Nathan Chapman; Nathan Cross that of Joseph Fisher; John Jacobs that of Enoch Judson; John Williams that of Charles Reed; Richard Redden that of Benjamin Bradley. Thomas Rowley substituted for some one, and several shirked the service. Joseph DeWolf and David Thompson, of Ravenna, I believe both volunteered, but their names do not appear on the record. It was said that DeWolf, being the only physician in Ravenna, could not be spared from the place, and Thompson was detained by the condition of his family. Our company being thus organized, we were permitted to return to our homes, with the injunction to meet again on short notice and to bring with us arms and equipments for a war campaign; and we were urged to provide ourselves with rifles if possible.

On the 18th of June following, Congress passed a formal declaration of war against Great Britain, and soon thereafter we were severally summoned to meet on the 1st day of July, at the residence of Capt. Campbell. The com-

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pany accordingly met at the time and place appointed, established some temporary camps on the bottom lands of the Mahoning (west branch) and Barrel Run, near to Capt. Campbell's residence, in a pleasant natural bower. All, I believe, came provided with arms and equipments, and most of us brought rifles. We there found, besides our officers, a committee appointed to appraise our equipments, as by law provided, that if lost we could claim and obtain their value from the Government. On July 2 our arms were appraised; and I find on record a detailed statement of each article furnished by each person, set to their respective names, and signed by the appraisers, Charles Curtis, Erastus Carter and Stephen Mason. The details I omit—the whole amount of the appraisement as stated is $912.66. We had to wait some days for supplies to be collected by our Captain, who had been authorized, as he said, by the Governor for that purpose. On July 4 our Captain gave the company an Independence dinner, which was well relished and appreciated; and in the evening we enjoyed ourselves at our camps, and some patriotic songs were sung. *

On July 5, which was Sunday, there was something of an assemblage of people, from the neighboring townships, at our rendezvous in the bower, and the two old Congregational pioneer preachers, Rev. John Seward (then of Aurora, now a venerable resident of Tallmadge), and Rev. Harvey Coe, of Trumbull County—I believe Hartford—and I believe since deceased, addressed us and the people in the grove very appropriately, and prayed with us. On the next day, July 6, in the afternoon, the company commenced their march for the frontier; camped the first night at Roundy's Inn, near the southwest corner of Ravenna, on the old State Road from Youngstown to the Portage. That road is said to be the first road laid out on the Western Reserve. The second day's march was only to Hudson, and camped near the residence of David Hudson, Esq. At the end of the third day's march they encamped at the crossing of Tinker's Creek near the west line of Bedford. The tavern there was, I believe, kept by Noble. On the fourth day from our rendezvous, July 9, the company arrived at "the City," as the site of the present city of Cleveland was then called to distinguish it from "the settlement" part of Cleveland township, which then included what is now Newburg. Those of us whose homes were in Mantua had by permission passed that way to Cleveland, and were there in waiting when the company arrived, having made quicker time, not being impeded by the slow progress of the baggage wagons. Cleveland was then but a small place. I had been somewhat famil- iar here and can recollect of scarce a dozen families resident there at that time. There were two taverns, Carter's and Wallace's, and I believe three stores, Perry's, Murray's, and Hanehett's, which last mentioned, Hanchett's, was nearly sold out. The company encamped on the north side of Superior Street, among the bushes, east of Perry's store.

The next day, July 10, afternoon, we embarked on board of two boats for Lower Sandusky, as the stockade was then called, where is now the flourishing little city of Fremont. One of our boats was known as Babcock's, the other as Smith's. The first day we made only seven miles, to the mouth of Rocky River. From our encampment on the beach, east side of the mouth of Rocky River, we embarked early the following morning and arrived at the mouth of Black River about noon, and the lake being rough, we encamped with our boats in a safe harbor on the west side, in the mouth of Black River, near the residence of John S. Reid, whom I had known, when a few years previous he had resided some three or four miles from Cleveland on the Newburg road. Embarked early, July 12, and arrived about the middle of the day at

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Sandusky Bay, and stopped at a block-house on the north side of the bay, on the Peninsula of Danbury. I understood it was called Maj. Parson's block-house, and I think it was nearly opposite to where I have since found San. dusky City. We saw no settlement here, and saw no settler that I remembet but one, Capt. Charles Parker, who came from the south side of the bay, where I understood he resided. He was the same who was a pioneer in Geauga (now Lake County), at Mentor. I had known him there when he was acting Sheriff of Geauga County in 1806 and after. We had met and passed a sail boat at a distance, just before entering the bay, which was I think the only craft we had seen on our way. Those of us on Babcock's boat spent the night in the block-house; Smith's boat anchored out in the bay.

On the 13th of July both boats proceeded up the bay, and up the Sandusky River, slowly, passing some prairies but no white settlement, and moving so slowly that some of us walked along shore part of the way. While walking we passed over the stubble of Indian corn patches of the previous years, and on the way fell in with a venerable and good-looking old Indian, known to some of our comrades as Sagaman, an old chief who had in previous years had his camps in Portage County, and had been a good kind neighbor to the first settlers of Mantua, in the winter of 1799-1800, and helped them to meat, at fair rates of exchange, for pumpkins and other small articles. He was still friendly, while Wilson and other Indians had left us and gone to the British. We arrived at Widow Whittaker's, on the west side, where we found an improved farm, surrounded by timber land. This was said to be three miles by water from our destination, the fort or stockade of Lower Sandusky, as it was called.

On July 14 we proceeded up the river, and landed on the west side below the rapids, about half a mile from the fort, marched up, and were admitted into the garrison, where we found Capt. Norton, with his company of about fifty volunteer riflemen from Delaware County, Ohio. The fort was a stockade of log pickets, cut about twelve feet, and set upright, with a shallow ditob enclosing about an acre. ,'Within were one or two small houses, in one of which was kept the United States store and Indian agency. The Indian Agent, Mr. Varnum, was said to be a son of

Hon. Joseph B. Varnum, of Massachusetts, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1807 to 1811. We found him a very pleasant, gentlemanly young man. The fort was some thirty rods west of the river, at the rapids, and on the nearest high land was an open country with a few scattering oak trees about it on the north, and oak woods at the west, a large cornfield on the east side of the river on the bottom land, and a log-house on the first rise of land east of the cornfield. That was all the farming or farm houses I saw in that region.

The barracks or soldiers' quarters, we found not very commodious, but sufficient for summer quarters. They consisted of bark or puncheon, laid up with two sides seven or eight feet long and five or six feet wide, backed against the pickets and open in front where we built our cooking fires, having to go in the woods and pack the little fuel we used. We had only the ground to lie on till we peeled some oak bark for a floor, and for our:beds we stripped foliage from the hazel bushes, as straw was not to be had.

We saw very few persons here, whites or Indians, except soldiers. Our business was, besides our daily parade, to dig a well and build block-houses. We had got a well dug about twenty feet deep, when an Indian was brought there charged with horse stealing, I believe, fronf, Mrs. Whittaker. He was confined some days in our dry well, until a council was held with the Indians of Seneca Town, an Indian village several miles up the river, at which they

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agreed to furnish a good dressed beef for the garrison, and our prisoner was released, and a fine, fat, well-dressed heifer was furnished for the garrison, and the horse was restored. The fresh beef was well relished indeed, after we had been kept on salt pork and bread so long, but so many of the garrison were soon taken sick, that we suspected the Indians of poisoning the beef.

We had not yet finished our well or our block-house, when on July 21, orders were received from Gen. Hull, at Detroit, by our Captain, to march there with his and Rowland's companies to join the main army. With these orders, sent by a Capt. Curtis, came also some money to our Captain to pay for the supplies he had obtained for us; but no money came to pay soldiers. On July 22 Capt. Campbell started for Portage County, to pay those from whom he had obtained our supplies, leaving orders to make all ready while he should be absent. On July 29 Capt. Campbell returned, accompanied by Capt. Rowland, of the Columbiana County Volunteers, who came in advance of his company. About the same time nearly all the garrison were taken sick with diarrhoea and fever. Some were entirely disabled, others were just able to walk about. Capt. Rowland's company arrived at the fort by water, August 2, and on the 4th both companies started by water down the river, halted at Mrs. Whittaker's, stayed over night, and remained next day to attend to the sick, of whom Capt. Campbell and Seth Day were very low.

On the 6th Rowland's company started by land up the lake toward Detroit, and with them Lieut. Canis, who was detailed with a squad of eleven men to guard the post and stores at Maumee. Of that squad I only remember the names of Sergt. Ely, Samuel Hartle, Henry Root and John Jacobs. The last mentioned died there some time after. The same day Capt. Campbell, with the remainder of our company, went by boat down the river and bay from Mrs. Whittaker's to the Parson's Block-house, on Danbury Peninsula. Next day, August 7, Capt. Campbell and Seth Day, being much worse than others of the company, were aided on board John Wallace's boat, and started down the lake for Cleveland, with one attendant, Philip Willyard; and Lieut. Day and the balance of the company started west for the River Raisin, on Babcock's boat, the same boat we came up the lake on near a month before.

From Sandusky Bay we sailed day and night till we arrived near the mouth of the River Raisin on the forenoon of August 7, where we were hindered some hours among the bulrushes and flags, hunting the channel, which we finally found, and proceeded up the river a mile or two, and arrived at the settlement of Frenchtown about noon, stopping at Godfrey's unfinished frame house on our right bank, ,about noon. There we stayed over night, and next day on an alarm of "Indians coming" we moved on to the garrison, about a half mile up the river, on same side. Next day, August 10, we moved to other quarters, some of the sick to a vacant log-house on the south side of the river, others to Capt. Downing's, a kind, good family, nearly a mile above the garrison. There Lieut. Day, Sergt.. Day, Sergt. Wright and John McManus, who were our sickest, with Ensign Weston and John Smith to attend them, were located with that kind family. The log-house where the most of us were located stood alone, had a good spring and timber near, and not far from the river, and I think it was there, some forty years after, I found the flourishing city of Monroe, Mich. We remained at those places nearly all sick, but most of us able to walk about, until an alarm of Indians coming to attack us, on August 14, when, though the alarm proved a false one, all who occupied the log-house went to the garrison, where we stayed till Monday, the 17th, when Capt. Elliott, a British officer, and a few attendants, white and red, with a flag of truce, came to the garrison, demanding its

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surrender, bringing also the articles of capitulation of Detroit and the army under Gen Hull, including also all who were on the way to join his army; which included our garrison. This, so unexpected, was indeed a damper on us all, as the last we had heard of Hull's army was by a hand-bill announcing his successful invasion of Canada. The flag party was placed under guard and a council of officers met in a marquee of the Chillicothe Cavalry Company, a company just arrived, escorting a drove of beef cattle for Detroit, said to be about one hundred head, for the army. The marquee was outside the front; gate of the garrison, and I was enabled to observe the discussions of the officers, of whom Capt. Brush, of the Chillicothe Cavalry, was or assumed:

to be the senior officer, and of the others I only knew Lieut. Creighton; of the same company. Maj. Anderson, of the local militia of the Territory, was near by on horseback, a good-looking officer, but I understood was not admitted in council because of suspicions that the local militia were not loyal to our side.

The genuineness of the articles of capitulation brought by Elliott were questioned, and, as I understood, declared to be a forgery and a trick to trap us. Finally Elliott and attendants were imprisoned in the block-house, near the front gate of the garrison, where we left them when we retired for the night. That night we slept at Lacelle's Mill, just above the garrison; and the next morning we found that the Chillicothe Cavalry and their drove of beeves were gone, and a number of our company also had gone homeward; I had left my rifle standing in the corner of the mill that night, but in the morning it was gone also, and some of my comrades suggested that it was taken by one who would carry it back to Portage County and keep it from the British. The same night Sergt. John Wright died at Captain Downing's, and was buried by his friends before morning. Our company was thus reduced to twenty-six men. The policy of leaving for home that night had been discussed, and those who felt able and were so disposed, had gone; but some were not able to go, and some who went were scarcely able to endure such a journey. For my part, I thought there was more danger in running away than in quietly submitting to be prisoners of war. Besides I was feeble, and had two older brothers along not as able as myself—one of them very feeble. We therefore submitted to the yoke, and stayed where we were, till August 25. Meantime the Indians circulated freely among us, but offered no violence to any that I heard of. One, however, meeting our comrade, John Smith, on the road, demanded his watch, which he was obliged to give up. The watch belonged to Lieut. Day, whom Smith was attending in his sickness, at Capt. Downing's. One Indian also stopped at Downing's, where our sickest friends were, and demanded of Lieut. Day his nice castor hat, and took it, leaving one that had been a poorer fur hat, but now, being wet with rain, was slouched down like a rag.

August 25 a British officer, whom we understood to be Capt. Elliott, and a squad of soldiers, came and took twenty-one of us in a small open row boat to Malden, and, at the same time, gave permission and a pass to five others, who had made arrangements to go by boat to Cleveland. Those five were Job Thompson, Jr., Daniel Burroughs, Jr., William Coolman, Jr., William Maxfield and Ebenezer Buckley, who, with a Mr. Lewis, and another man and their families, had prepared a boat, and all started down the river and lake the same day we went to Fort Malden. Of their journey down the lake to Cleveland, friend William Coolman, not long before his death, gave me a brief narrative, which will be referred to hereafter. Since his death, which occurred December 15, 1869, there are, as I believe, but two of our company left—Samuel Redfield and the writer of this article.

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Our small company of twenty-one, under our British conductors, arrived at Malden, from Raisin, the same day, August 25, and were quartered at a large and long building, on a beautiful open plain and lawn, just above and near the fort and town. This was the Indian Council House, and there appeared to be thousands of Indians swarming in the open plain back of the town and fort, and in plain sight of the Council House; and with us were quartered fifty-one other prisoners, mostly sick and wounded of Hull's army. There our beloved Orderly Sergeant, Lewis Day, Jr., breathed his last, on the morning after our arrival, August 26. August 27 our little company, now reduced to twenty, were permitted to remove from the crowded Council House and occupy a small house in town, back of the fort, where we spent the few remaining days of our captivity in Canada. While there we were guarded by a British sentinel at the door, as we had been also at the Council House, but one day the sentinel permitted an Indian to enter among us, who drew his knife and dashed about, apparently to frighten us, jabbering his Indian in a threatening tone, striking some, but not extremely hard. Zacheas Harmon, who was so feeble as to be hardly able to walk, Mr. Indian struck in the breast, and knocked down with his right hand, in which he held his knife, but with the hilt of the knife. Hewes soon induced by the sentinel to leave. We saw there several Indians well known in Portage County. I saw two in town I had known in Mantua. One of them was well known throughout that country —George Vincent, alias Wilson.

August 29, about sunset, we were embarked on board a small vessel, to be paroled and sent home, in company with about thirty other prisoners, the most of whom were sick. On the dock, as we were going on board, were some officers, apparently superintending our departure, among whom was one large and noble looking man, apparently fifty years old, whom we were told was Gen. Brock. Another, a short, thick-set fellow, of not a very prepossessing appearance, and apparently past sixty, was said to be Simon Girty, noted in Indian war annals. We were rejoiced to be thus starting for home, and dropped down to the mouth of Detroit River the same night, about two and a half miles distant. The next day we sailed slowly with light wind, and after midnight, anchored just west of Put-in-Bay Islands. Next day, August 31, a light wind wafted us on to near the mouth of Black River before day on the 1st of September, and we landed in Cleveland about sunset of the same day.

The following are the names of those twenty paroled prisoners of our company, according to my recollection, who landed at Cleveland September 1, from the cartel sloop:

Lieut. Alva Day.

Harry 0. Pettibone.

Ensign Aaron Weston.

Zacheas Harmon.

Sergt. Ralph Buckland.

Enos Harmon.

Corporal Charles Chittenden.

John Harmon.

Corporal John Turner.

Mark Moore.

John Smith.

Samuel C. Thompson.

Samuel Redfield.

Samuel Tuthill.

George G. Redden.

James Magill

Richard Redden.

David Jones.

James Ray, Jr.

John McManus.

Of the five comrades we parted with August 25, at Frenchtown, on River Raisin, as we started fqr Malden, friend Coolman informed me, the last conversation I had with him, which was December 4, 1869, that they started the same day, in a boat provided by a Mr. Lewis and another man, whose name I forget, who were going down with their families to escape from the British

272 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

and Indians; that Job Thompson, Jr., the only well one of the Shalersville boys, engaged a passage with them for himself and comrades, and helped to get the boat out of the mud, where it had been left abandon assisted to caulk and otherwise repair it; that as they were about to start, Ebenezer Buckley and William Maxfield joined them; that they were much hindered by adverse winds on their passage down the lake; and finally, at some place near Black River, out of patience with waiting for weather, they left the boat and endeavored to walk, but made poor headway, when Mr. Mygatt, of Canfield, on horseback, overtook them, and carried a message to friends at Cleveland, who, with wagons, met and helped them into Cleveland, where they arrived, he believed, September 2. Of the journey borne of Lieut. Canis and his squad from Maumee, where they were stationed, and of those who left Frenchtown on foot, I have but little information, except that in going through the Maumee Swamp, as that part of Wood and Sandusky Counties between Fort Meigs and Sandusky River was then called, they, at times, nearly gave out and one, I think it was William Ward, sat down at one time and gave up, till a comrade came along and cheered him up and helped him along. Many of us then had chills or ague. We were from thirty to fifty-five miles from our homes, but on arriving in Cleveland we found friends, a very convenient circumstance, as we discovered for those who had no money, as was the case with all or nearly all of us, except Lieut. Day, and I think he had not much. Landlord Carter entertained all free who called there. Cousin Hiram Hanchett and his kind wife—since Mrs. Andrew Johnson, of Boston—entertained the Harmons, W. W. Williams entertained the Reddens, and Samuel S. Baldwin fed some of us; but all got started home soon except Lieut. Alva Day, Seth Day and John McManus, who were very dangerously sick, and, I have understood, were kindly nursed and cared for at Judge Kingsbury's, till they were able to be conveyed home. John Turner, too, was very sick, and died on the way, perhaps at Judge Kingsbury's, but I believe I heard it said he died at Noble's at the crossing of Tinker's Creek. Of the fifty or fifty-one who went out so to cheerily together, eleven or twelve died within the year, among whom, besides those before mentioned, were, I believe, Ensign Weston, Sergt. Buckland, Corporal Chittenden, Mark Moore, Robert Campbell, David Jones, and Samuel Tuthill.

Of the rest, as far as I know, but one is left now, besides the writer of this. That one, Mr. Redfield, aids me with some information for this communication, and though about seventy-six years of age, appears likely to endure yet many years, though he has lately lost the partner of his youth and of more than half a century. Although we were so unfortunate as to cons contract sickness, and did little toward the defense of the frontier, it was because we had no opportunity, having been captured before we saw the enemy. We at least showed a willingness to do our duty in defense of our homes. We had a very good and pleasant set of officers, and there formed friendships for each other which have been pleasant and enduring. For our services and our arms we were paid after years of waiting.

Having brought to a close my narrative of the volunteering, organizing adventures, inglorious capture, parole and return home of our company—the first military company ever raised in this part of Ohio—I propose now to refer to subsequent events, in which the people of Portage and adjoining counties were concerned. The capture of the army under Gen. Hull caused much alarm, as might be expected, in all this region, as out population was then very sparse, and all the region west of the Cuyahoga River and the Portage Path was then very sparsely settled. Not an organized township or military company

HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY - 275

existed in Medina County, which then extended west to Huron County, and was attached to Portage for civil purposes, the whole region sixty-eight and a half miles in length from east to west, and twenty to twenty-five in breadth, contained in 1810 less than 3,000 people, and had not increased very much in two short years. All that region west of the eighth range included then a single battalion, commanded, by Major, afterward Col. George Darrow. The townships of Streetsboro, Brimfield, Freedom and Edinburg were then unsettled. Franklin and Suffield had but very few settlers. So that the thinly settled counties of Portage and Cuyahoga were then the frontier, and it is not strange that the people of this region were much alarmed on learning the news of the capture of all the army raised for our defense, all between us and the victorious British and their savage allies. The record I cope from our Regimental Record book will show something of the alarm felt by our home friends on the first news of the disastrous capture of our army.

Copy of records of the Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia. [Begun on page 33.]

Orders were received from Brig-Gen. Paine, dated July 6, 1812, requiring thirty men to be drafted, including one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, one Corporal and one Fifer, to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning, and orders were issued by the Major commanding, to the commissioned officers, to meet at Ravenna, the 14th of July, 1812, and on said 14th day of July the following. officers met at the Court House in Ravenna: Stephen Mason,

Major-Commandant; Major, Thaddeus Andrews; Captains, Delaun Mills, Joshua Woodward, Asa K. Burroughs and Timothy Culver; Lieutenants, Oliver Snow, John Redding, Linus Carter, Hezekiah Hine, Charles Gilbert, Ira Morse and Isaac Merriman; Ensigns, Asa Truesdale, Hezekiah Nooney, Anson Beeman, Frederick Caris, Jr.; and agreeable to said officers' request, the Major commanding ordered that there be drafted from the First Company, First Battalion, three men; from the Second Company, First Battalion, one Lieutenant and three men; from the Third Company, First Battalion, four men; from the Fourth Company, First Battalion, one man; from the First Company, Second Battalion, one Fifer and six men; from the Second Company, Second Battalion, one Sergeant and three men; from the Third Company, Second Battalion, one Corporal and four men; from the Fourth Company, Second Battalion, two men, with orders to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning, armed and equipped as the law directs.

Then follows the dates of several commissions, to-wit: Hezekiah Nooney's commission as Captain; and Ella Willmot's commission as Ensign of First Company, First Battalion, both dated June 18, 1812. Also Linus Curtis' commission of Second Company, First Battalion, dated August 28, 1812.

An express from Gen. Paine, dated Painesville, August. 22, 1812, was received the same day, and orders were immediately issued by Thaddeus Andrews, as Major commanding, to have the regiment meet at Ravenna forthwith. An express from Maj.-Gen. Wadsworth, dated August 23, was received by Maj. Andrews, to have the regiment under his command meet at Ravenna immediately and await there until further orders were received from him.. At 9 o'clock P. M., the 23d, Maj.-Gen. Wadsworth delivered verbal orders to Maj. Andrews, to have the regiment, as soon as embodied at Ravenna, march for Cleveland. The regiment was embodied at 11 o'clock A. M., the 24th, and marched at 3 P. M. the same day, and encamped at Mr. Roundy's. The next day, the 25th, marched from Mr. Roundy's and encamped at the center of Hudson. The next day, marched from Hudson, and arrived and encamped at Tinker's Creek, and the next day, the 27th, marched from Tinker's Creek, arrived at Cleveland, and reported the regiment to Maj.-Gen. Wadsworth, who ordered the regiment to encamp in Cleveland, and await further orders. The 30th, the following order was received, which was read to the regiment on the 31st.

276 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

CLEVELAND, HEADQUARTERS, August 30, 1812.

MAJ. STEPHEN MASON.—You will dismiss the regiment under your command I the present, but under the express conditions that they hold themselves in readiness march at a momentsis warning.

JOEL PAINE, General-Brigade.

After the foregoing, copied from page 33 of the Record, follow several pages of names of those who thus marched to Cleveland, with their several charges for services thus performed. The charges were mostly for nine days’ services for each private, except Capt. T. Culver's company from Randolph, and Lieut. Morse's company from Deerfield and Atwater, both of which companics had charged ten days' service for each private, all at the rate of $5 per month, carried out, the one at $1.50 and the other at $1.60. I know not whether the men were ever paid, but I know that many of them got their land warrants, for I helped obtain them, and those men who did not obtain war- rants, or their widows, can have them. I would like to help them to warrants.

That it may be known who were the pioneer men of those days—but few of whom now remain—I will here insert the names of those who thus responded to the call of their country, to defend it against the British and their savage allies, who were then daily expected on our frontier, after the news arrived of Hull's surrender,when many were so alarmed as to prepare to flee the country, and some, I believe, did leave. I copy the companies, in order as I find them on the record, each company record separate, and all charged as in actual service from the 24th of August to September 1, 1812, inclusive, and each signed by its Captain or Lieutenant commanding.

RETURN OF FIRST COMPANY.

First Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division, Ohio Militia. Captain—Hezekiah Nooney.

Lieutenant—Oliver Snow.

Ensign—Ella Wilmot.

Sergeants-Seth Harmon,

Gersham Judson, Horace Ladd,

Ariel Walden.

Corporals—Henry Blair, Phineas Pond, Moses McIntosh, Bazel Windsor, Jr.

Fifer—Joseph Skinner.

Drummer—Virgil Moore.

Privates—Jotham Atwater, Thomas Bright, Peter Carlton, Henry R. Ferris, Samuel Judson, Eleazer Ladd, Ezekiel Ladd, Lyman Leland, Samuel Moore, Jr., Moses Pond, David Pond, Franklin Snow, John Gardner, Elisha J. Wilmot, Patrick Ray, William Russell.

RETURN OF SECOND COMPANY.

First Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc. Lieutenant—John Redding.

Ensign—Asa Truesdale.

Sergeants— Chester Adams, Oliver "Mills, George Young, Benjamin Higley.

Corporals—David Bancroft, Elisha Hutchinson, Caleb Stow, Hiram Messenger.

Fifer—Freeman Conant.

Privates—Oliver Alford, Levi Alford, Artern.us Baker, Rodolphus Bancroft, Asahel Blair, Simon Babcock, Abraham .,Dyson, Hezekiah Higley, Ephraim Hacket, Thomas Johnston, Orrin Pitkin, Joseph Southard, Ephraim H. Seeley, John Streator.

HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY - 277

RETURN OF THIRD COMPANY.

First Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc.

Captain—Joshua Woodward.

Lieutenant—Linus Curtis.

Ensign—Anson Beeman.

Sergeants—Almon Babcock, Elijah Smith.

Privates—Alanson Baldwin, Ralzaman Loomis, John King, John Smith, Peter Wolford, Abel Forsha, Abel Thompson, James Knowlton, George Barnes, Quartus Noble, Ebenezer Broadway, David Crosby, Jesse Miller, James Cook, Silas Owen.

RETURN OF FOURTH COMPANY.

First Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc. Captain—Asa K. Burroughs.

Lieutenant—Hezekiah Hine.

Ensign—Richard E. Gay.

Sergeant— Samuel Munson.

Privates—Joel Baker, Abel Hine, Lyman Hine, Ephraim Brown.

RETURN OF FIRST COMPANY.

Second Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc.

Lieutenant—Ira Morse.

Sergeants--Hamlet Coe, Jeremiah Jones, Alexander K. Hubbard.

Corporal—Caleb Mattoon.

Privates—William Hartzel, Robert Taylor, Jr., Moses Baldwin, Allen C. Baldwin, Elijah Mott, John H. Whittlesey, Asahel Blakesley, Jesse Sutliff, James Laughlin, Almon Chittenden, Abraham Hartzell, Ami Baldwin, Ralph Granger, William A. Strong, Joseph Carter, John Quier, Horatio Day, Ezekiel Mott, Ira Mansfield, Peter Hartzell, Peter Mason, John Hartzell, Jr., Ephraim B. Hubbard, Amos Morse, Garrett Packard.

RETURN OF SECOND COMPANY.

Second Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc.

Captain—Frederick Carle, Jr.

Sergeants—David Collins, Titus Belding, Samuel Coe, Gersham Norris.

Corporals—Samuel B. Spellman, Ariel Case, Lemuel Chapman.

Fifer—Asahel Gurley.

Drummer—Alpheus Andrews.

Privates—Abraham Reed, Timothy Reed, Robert McKnight, Jr., John Will- yard, Mason Richardson, Ephraim Chapman, Chester Chapman, Beman Chapman, Daniel Collins, Joseph R. Bostwick, Calvin Ellsworth, Charles H. Bostwick.

RETURN OF THIRD COMPANY.

Second Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc.

Lieutenant—Charles Gilbert.

Sergeants—Hugh McDaniel, Lyman P. Gilbert, Truman Gilbert. Corporals—Gains Smith, Zebulon Walker.

Privates—Amass Preston, Chauncey Lowry, Adna H. Bostwick, John Shaw, John Fisher, James Tuttle, James Hazzard, Gabriel Cane, William Jewel, Marvin Gilbert, Dalton Trowbridge, John McKelvy, Roswell Smith, David Gano, Nicholas Shank,. Joseph Lewis.

278 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

RETURN OF FOURTH COMPANY.

Second Battalion, Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade, etc.

Captain—Timothy Culver.

Lieutenant—Isaac Merriman.

Sergeants—Walter Dickinson, William Rogers.

Corporals-Oliver C. Dickinson, Ephraim Sabin.

Privates—Arad Upson, Freeman Upson, Elisha Sears, John Goss, Theophilus Cross, Josiah Ward, Henry P. Mosier, Jehiel Savage, Joseph Harris.

After the eight companies I find a list of regimental Officers, including regimental staff, as follows:

Major Commandant—Stephen Mason.

Major—Thaddeus Andrews.

Adjutant—Erastus Skinner.

Quartermaster—Charles Curtis.

Paymaster—Hiram Roundy.

Clerk—Frederick Wadsworth.

Assistant Quartermaster—Arthur Anderson.

Quartermaster Sergeant—William Kennedy.

Surgeon—Joseph. DeWolf.

Fife Major—Philo Hall.

Privates—Horace Burroughs, Greenwood Burroughs, Daniel Ward, Ashur Gurley.

With the wagon transportation, Robert Eaton and John Sabin are named, and the United States is charged with their services with teams; Sabin's $13.75, and Eaton's $16.33. Total charged for the regiment, $546.60.

These muster or pay rolls are probably copies of those sent to the War Department, on which the money was expected to be drawn. In copying, t have abbreviated and omitted some formalities of the pay roll. As far as t know, nearly all the adult male population were included in the rolls, as not more than one man in ten was past forty-five.

On page 39 is the record of the draft made, agreeable to orders of July 14, 1812, to-wit: First Company, First Battalion, David Pond, Ezra Chaffee and Eleazer Ladd. Second Company, First Battalion, Lieut. John Redding, Hezekiah Higley as a substitute for Seth Cole, George Young and David Wood. Third Company, First Battalion, David Thompson, David Grier, William Jones, John Baldwin. Fourth Company, First Battalion, Abel Hine.

For the First Company, Second Battalion, David Abbott, David Baldwin, Lelon Landon, Merrick Ely, Robert Taylor, Jr., William Hartzell, Joseph Hartzell (Fifer). For Second Company, Second Battalion, Sergt. Gersham Norris, Ariel Case, Robert McKnight, Jr., Timothy Reed. For Third Company, Second Battalion, Corporal Zebulon Walker, Adna H. Bostwick, John Shaw, Gabriel Cane, John Fisher. For Fourth Company, Second Battalion* Levi Seeley, Jr., George Burr.

The following order was received from General Paine:

PAINESVILLE, September 18, 1812.

COL. John Campbell. - Sir: You are hereby ordered to draft out of the regiment under your command, thirty men, including one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, two Corporals, and one Fifer, to be in readiness to march at a moment's warning; and you are to march twenty-two men to join Capt. Lusk at the Portage, of the former draft. They are to furnish themselves with knapsacks and blankets, and they are to be furnished with arms and equipments by the public. JOEL PAINE, General-Brigade.

In compliance with the above order, orders were issued to the commandants, of companies, to furnish their respective quotas; and the following persons

HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY - 279

were returned by the commandants of companies, as persons legally notified to march on said tour of duty, viz.: David Pond, Eleazer Ladd, Seth Cole, Ebenezer 0. Messenger, Harvey Messenger, David Thompson, Zenas Carter, Norval Carter, Abel Hine, David Abbott, William Hartzell, David Baldwin, Robert Taylor, Jr., Benjamin Marshall, Robert McKnight, Jr., Timothy Reed, Gabriel Cane, John Fisher, Adna H. Bostwick, John Shaw, Levi Seeley, Jr., and George Burr.

And also to comply with the said order of the 18th of September, the following persons were notified to hold themselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning, viz.: From the First Company, First Battalion, Jotham Atwater, Jacob W. Pettibone, William Russell, Sergt. Gersham Judson, Corporals Moses, McIntosh, Bazel Windsor, Jr. From Second Company, First Battalion, Asahel Blair, Joseph Southard, Thomas Johnston. From the Third Company, First. Battalion, John Baldwin, John Shaler, Alanson Baldwin, Isaac P. Skinner.

From the First Company, Second Battalion, Moses Baldwin, Allen C. Baldwin, Elijah Mott, John H Whittlesey, Asahel Whittlesey. From the Second Company, Second Battalion, Robert Collins, Jr., Abram Reed, Mason Richardson. From the Third Company, Second Battalion, Jabez Gilbert, William Jewel, David Gano, David Calvin. From the Fourth Company, Second Battalion, Alpheus Dickinson, Arad *Upson.

Verbal orders were given by Maj.-Gen. Wadsworth at the Portage, to Stephen Mason, Major Commandant of the Second Regiment, Fourth Brigade Fourth Division, on the 28th of September, 1812, to march all the mounted men, who could be immediately raised in said regiment, to Gen. Wadsworth's headquarters at the Portage. And agreeably to said orders the following persons mustered at Ravenna, lst of October, marched to Portage, and reported to Maj.-Gen. Wadsworth, viz.: Stephen Mason, Major Commandant; Joseph DeWolf, Surgeon; Rufus Edwards, Quartermaster; Delaun Mills, Captain; John Caris, Lieutenant; Asa Truesdale, Ensign; Titus Belding, Gersham Norris, Samuel Coe and Chester Adams, Sergeants; David A. Rumsay, Henry Blair, Caleb Stow and Moses McIntosh, Corporals; Daniel Ward, Drummer; Joseph Skinner, Abraham Dyson, Bazel Windsor, Jr., Gersham Judson, Henry R. Ferris, Horatio Taylor, John Willyard, John Redding, John Gardner, John Shaler, Joseph R. Bostwick, Orrin Pitkin, Quartus Noble, Rodolphus Bancroft, Simon Babcock, Samuel Judson, Samuel Moore, Jr., Titon Rudolph, William Kennedy, Jr., Wareham Loomis, Ezekiel Ladd, Charles Bostwick, John Smith and Ephraim Hacket, Privates.

The following order was issued:

HEADQUARTERS, PORTAGE, October 2, 1812.

MAJ. MASON—Sir: You will march all the mounted men of Col. Campbell's regiment to Huron, with all possible dispatch. Furnish them with three days'_provisions. Report yourself to Gen. Perkins. ELIJAH WADSWORTH Major-General.

And in compliance with said orders, they marched to Huron and reported to Brig.-Gen. Simon Perkins, who on the 10th of October issued the following order:

MAJ. STEPHEN MASON—Sir: You will march the officers and privates named in the annexed list to Headquarters at Portage, and report yourself to the commanding officer.

SIMON PERHINS, Brigadier-General.

CAMP AVERY, October 10, 1812.

It further appears by the record, that on the arrival of Maj. Mason, Capt. Mills and their mounted men at Portage, that Gen. Wadsworth gave orders for their discharge, but it does not appear how many or who were discharged,

280 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

as the "list annexed" mentioned in the order of Gen. Perkins is not recorded.

It further appears, that Gen. Paine, on February 2, 1813, by an order dated at Painesville, called for one Lieutenant, one Second Sergeant, Third Sergeant, one Second Corporal, and eighteen privates from the Second Regiment, "to march to Lower Sandusky as soon as possible, to relieve the men now in service," to comply with which order the following persons werereturned by commandants of companies on February 16, 1813, as legally notified to perform said tour of duty, viz. : Virgil Moore, as a substitute for Jotham Atwater, John Gardner as a substitute for Jacob W. Pettibone, Asahel Blair, Joseph Southard, both of whom absconded, Thomas Johnston, Phineas Pond as a substitute for Orrin Pitkin, Charles Carter as a substitute for David Grier, William Jones, John Shaler, George Wilber, Merrick Ely, Moses Baldwin, Allen C. Baldwin, Robert McKnight, Jr., Sergt. Lyman P. Gilbert, John Fisher, Austin Purdy, Sergt. Walter Dickinson Corporal Oliver C. Dickinson, William Jewel, Richard Rogers, Jr., Alpheus Dickinson and Arad Upson; and on February 15 Lieut. John Redding, Corporal Oliver C. Dickinson, Richard Rogers, Jr , Robert McKnight, Jr., Alpheus Dickinson, Virgil Moore, John Gardner, John Shaler, William Jones, and Moses Baldwin appeared according to orders at Ravenna, had their equipments appraised by Charles Curtis, Linus Curtis, and John Campball, appraisers, which is the last the record says of the services of those so drafted. On page 42 is the following record: "The Major Commandant issued orders to the Major of the Second Battalion, and to the commandants of each company, in the regiment, to meet at the Court House, in Ravenna, on the 29^th of March, 1813, for the purpose of assessing fines upon persons who refused to perform tours of duty, when legally called on, and the commandants of companies ordered to notify the delinquents in their respective companies.” And this is the last of our war record, as then follows some thirteen large blank pages, left apparently to record the assessment of fines for non-performance of "tours of duty." After these blank leaves follows the regular record of ordinary regimental boards for ordinary business, but no more drafting orders. I think, however, but few of our drafted men evaded the draft. I knew of the services of many of them. Several I knew to be posted at Camp Avery, which was near the present village of Milan, Erie County.

After our return from the service, September, 1812, I knew little of this war movements, except what was found in the papers, and papers were then scarce. I can give little information of the times subsequent to those records, than what I have given in this communication, that would be valuable to the Historical Society. I spent some time in Cleveland in December, 1812, and there became acquainted with Maj. Jessup, Quartermaster Biddle, and his assistant, Mr. Downing, son of Capt. Downing, of Frenchtown, River Raisin, and was informed of the then recent raising and organization of a volunteer company in Cuyahoga and Geauga Counties, with Clark Parker, Captain, and Harvey Murray, Lieutenant. I think it was then out at one of the posts of the West.

I was in Harpersfield in the summer of 1813, when Capt. James Harper was recruiting, and was offered a position by him, but being still a prisoner on parole, would not forfeit my parole. We were not informed of our exchange for about two years after our return. But several of our company did again enter the service, before we were informed of our exchange. I believe Samuel C. Thompson, Charles Carter and John Smith, and perhaps some others, were out in the service some time in 1813 and 1814. Though we were not specially successful, we had much cause to rejoice, and be proud at

HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY - 281

the prowess and progress of our armies thereafter, and of the final success of our arms; and especially that the war finally brae up the baneful influence Of the British over the Western Indians, on our territory.

With this I close my communication on the subject of the war of 1812.

JOHN Maim, Ravenna, February, 1870.

In the summer of 1813 every able-bodied man in Portage County not then in active service or on parole was ordered to Cleveland, and the scattered settlements were left defenseless. It is a part of the tradition of that time that the sound of the cannonading in the battle of Lake Erie, fought September 10, 1813, was plainly heard in this county. A messenger arrived at Ravenna from Cleveland the same night, warning the women and children, in case of Perry's defeat, to be ready to fly to Pittsburgh. All next day the families residing in this section anxiously waited for definite information as to the result of the battle, but as night came on the sound of a horn was heard in the direction of Shalersville, then a voice was distinguished, and soon an excited horseman dashed into the village with the joyful tidings of Perry's great vic- tory. The terrible suspense and dread of Indians were past, and soon gave way to thanksgiving and rejoicing over the brilliant success of the American naval forces on Lake Erie.

The following distressing incident of this period may appropriately be given in connection with the history of Portage County in the war of 1812. Daniel Cross, an early settler of Randolph Township, hearing that produce and provisions of every sort were very scarce and commanded high prices at the military camp near Wooster, Ohio, set out from his home in December, 1812, with a load of oats for hat point. He was accompanied by his son, a young man about eighteen years old. On arriving at Wooster and selling his oats, he found teams so scarce that the army had no means of transportation, and, by the offer of high wages, Cross was induced to go with the army as far as Mansfield, and assist in transporting the forage and baggage of the camp. Here he was paid off, and started for home. On the road between Mansfield and Wooster he purchased seventeen head of oxen and steers, with which he arrived at the latter town on the last day of December, 1812. The following morning, New Year's, he and son started with their stock up the valley of the KilIbiza, intending to reach the house of Joseph Harris, who had removed from Randolph Township to the site of Lodi, Medina County, in 1811. Soon after they left Wooster, there came on a terrible snow storm, which lasted three days. Nothing further was seen or heard of Cross and his son, and the fol- lowing March, his family in Randolph Township becoming alarmed at their lengthened absence, sent another son in pursuit of them. Finding they had left Wooster on the 1st of January for the Harris settlement, the son followed their trail, and on reaching the settlement was informed that they had not been there, but that several stray cattle had been "taken up" during the win- ter for which no owner could be found. It was now evident that Cross and his son had perished in the storm which came on soon after they left Wooster, and the settlers of that section turned out en masse to try and find their remains. Nearly three miles southeast of the settlement they found the skull of Cross and some of his bones picked clean by the wolves, also his jack-knife and remnants of his clothing, but no trace of the son was ever discovered. The remains of two yokes of oxen, still in yoke, were also found near by. They had been chained to trees, and therefore could not get away with the balance of the cattle, but starved to death in their yokes. The bones of the unfortunate Cross were gathered up and buried in a field just south of the present town of Lodi, and his name was carved upon a beech tree which stood close to where he met his death.

282 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

Soon after the return of peace, in 1815, Congress passed a law re-organizing the militia, and making it obligatory for all males between the ages of eighteen and forty-five to perform military duty. The State was divided into military divisions, and certain points designated in each county where the different militia companies should meet and receive instructions in the science of war. This was called " company muster," but once a year all of the companies were required to meet, usually at the county seat, to attend the "general. muster." The militia could not draw military equipments from the Government, but at those musters armed themselves with rifles, shotguns, broom-handles, sticks, or any other implement with which they could be put through the manual exercises. The law also provided that if any company would furnish their own uniforms, and otherwise comply with its provisions, the State would supply them with arms and munitions. Several companies of this class were organized from time to time in Portage County. On performing military duty for seven years in time of peace, the members of those independent companies were exempted from poll tax. Sham fights would sometimes be gotten up the purpose of indulging the popular taste for excitement. About 1833 a celebrated sham fight, with real Indians as opponents, took place in the southern part of the county, which is yet well remembered by many of the older inhabitants. Those sham fights and training days were looked upon with much favor by all classes, as they were days of recreation, social joys and friendly greetings.