HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 355

CHAPTER XXXVI.

WAR HISTORY CONCLUDED.

THE ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND AND ITS ORGANIZATION-DEATH AND BURIAL OF MAJ. MCLAUOHLIN-WAR MEETINGS-BOUNTIES-DEPARTURE OF THE ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND-ITS ROSTER-ITS HISTORY IN THE FIELD -ITS DISCHARGE-THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH-RECRUITING TO AVOID A DRAFT-DRAFT-CAMP MANSFIELD ESTABLISHED-DRAFTED MEN IN CAMP-THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH REGIMENT ORGANIZED-ITS ROSTER-HISTORY IN THE FIELD-CONSOLIDATION WITH THE ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH-DRAFTED MEN IN CAMP MANSFIELD-THEIR DEPARTURE-OTHER CALLS FOR TROOPS-MILITIA- SANITARY FAIR-OHIO NATIONAL GUARD-THE ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-THIRD REGIMENT -CLOSE OF THE WAR - RETURN OF TROOPS.

THE departure of the Sherman Brigade left Mansfield and vicinity in comparative quiet again. Winter was now holding both armies in check somewhat, and only the "regular army news " engrossed the public mind. The opening of spring. however, in 1862 was the signal for activity all over the land. In the East, late in May, the rebel army suddenly threatened the capital, and the news flashed over the North that Washington was in danger. Immediately the loyal people sprang to the rescue. The Governor of Ohio sent a dispatch to Mr. James Purdy, asking for 200 volunteers. Considerable excitement existed in the city on the receipt of the first news telling the people of the danger, and when the Governor's dispatch came the excitement reached fever heat. Word was sent all over the country, and that day (May 29) large meetings were held in Mansfield, Lexington, Belleville, Plymouth, Shelby, and other towns and before the dawn of the next day, more than the required number of men were ready to go. Happily, the danger was temporary only, the enemy becoming frightened and departing more hastily than he came.

Work for the soldiers and recruiting was, however. going on all the time. Surgeons and surgeons' supplies were continually going to the front. Capt. John Pipe was organizing a company at Lexington, in which men from Belleville and from Knox County were enlisting.

In the latter part of June and early part of, July, McClellan's defeat before Richmond occurred. It was followed by a call for 300,000 men, who should serve till the close of the war. Ohio's quota of this number was 40,000 men. In order to raise them quickly as the call was urgent the State was divided into eleven military districts, this county being placed in the Tenth. The Tenth District embraced in all, the counties of Huron, Erie, Ashland, Holmes. Wayne and Richland. It was ordered that two regiments, the One Hundred and First and One Hundred and Second, should be raised in this district and rendezvous at Mansfield. The One Hundred and First was, however, ordered to recruit at Monroeville, leaving the One Hundred and Second to be recruited here.

The military committee of the Tenth District arranged that one regiment should be raised in Wayne, Ashland, Holmes and Richland Counties. A camp was selected for this regiment (the One Hundred and Second), and preparations made to recruit it as fast as possible. Bounties for volunteers had increased, and large sums of money- were raised by subscription and personal effort. Mr. S. B. Runyan offered $100 to the first company from this

356 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

county to enter Camp Mansfield-the name of the new camp-fully recruited. Capt. George H. Bowman, Capt. Aaron E. Zody, Capt. Henry Bistline, of Shelby, and Capt. A. W. Lobaehe, of Belleville, were all energetically at work, not only trying to see who should be the first to enter camp, and thus gain the prize, but who could earn the name of being the most prompt in the call for duty.

War meetings were held all over Ohio at this period, for the intimation had come to the people that a draft might be necessary. Three companies-Bowman's, Lobache's and Zody's entered the field as contestants for the prize offered by Mr. Runyan, and each one strove earnestly for the prize. Each one had, by the latter part of July, twenty-five or thirty men.

While recruiting was at its height, the sad news of the death of the gallant Maj. McLaughlin was received in the city. He had been taken ill early in July, while in active duty, and later in the month, he died, on the Big Sandy River, in Kentucky. His command was encamped there at the time. His remains were brought home, and, Wednesday afternoon, July 23, followed to the cemetery by one of the largest concourses of people Mansfield ever witnessed, all the lodges and associations uniting in showing him the respect due such a man, of whom it was said. " Had there been more Maj. McLaughlins, the war would have been of short duration."

In the early part of the recruiting service for the One Hundred and Second, the military committees had recommended, at their meeting at Wooster, Tuesday, July 8, that Hon. William Given, of Wayne, be appointed Colonel; - Speigel, of Holmes, Lieutenant Colonel George H. Topping, of Ashland, Major; John W. Beekman, of Richland, Adjutant ; Dr. W. R. Brinker, of Richland, Surgeon; Dr. George Mitchell, Surgeon's Mate, and Rev. Hugh L. Parrish, Chaplain.

Commissions to raise four companies were given in this county. The Captains of these have all been noticed. A. W. Lobaehe, of Jefferson Township. was Captain of the first company; John Gregg and Columbus Gass, both of Troy Township, were his Lieutenants.

George Bowman, of Mansfield, was Captain of the second company; W. C. Scott. of Springfield, and William Miller, of Franklin Township, were the Lieutenants.

Henry Bistline, of Shelby, was Captain of the third company; David Blymyer and Amos A. Jump, of Weller Township, were the Lieutenants.

E. A. Zody, of Mansfield, was Captain of the fourth company; Gaylord Thomas and Gustavus Wolf, of Mansfield, were the Lieutenants.

That the full quota of men from this county might be raised, and thus avoid a draft, an immense war meeting was proposed; in order that enthusiasm on the subject might be created, and that money could be raised to offer bounties. The meeting was held in Miller's Hall, Friday evening, August 1, and was an enthusiastic gathering. Judge Jacob Brinkerhoff presided. The "Baumgardner Quartette Glee Club," of Wooster, furnished stirring, patriotic music. Judge Given, of Wooster, Colonel of the One Hundred and Second, " Bob" Donnelley, of the same city, and Hon. C. T. Sherman, of Mansfield, all made excellent speeches. The latter stated the plan to be followed in collecting the subscriptions for bounty money. Judge Brinkerhoff headed the list with $100. B. S. Runyan next came forward and put down his name for $500. Thereupon Judge B. doubled his subscription. Willard S. Hickox subscribed $500, and offered $25 to any five men who would enlist then. The offer was accepted, and five men enrolled. This started the ball. Before the meeting closed nineteen men had subscribed $500 each; one man, Z. S. Stocking, $600, while a large number had given various sums, from $5 to $300 each. The entire

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 357

amount, as reported in the neat week's Herald was $18,279. The County Commissioners had agreed to levy a tax of $25,000, all to be expended in procuring volunteers. Committees were appointed in all the townships to work matters up, and, if possible, raise the full number of men required.

Recruiting went on in the One Hundred and Second as it had done in all other companies. Just before its ranks were filled, the One Hundred and Twentieth, which had two full companies from this county, and which had been recruiting since the call for 300,000 troops was, made, assembled in Camp Mansfield August 29, and began drilling and prepairing for war.

The One Hundred and Second began recruiting July 23. August 18, it entered Camp Mansfield with 1,041, rank and file, showing that the energy of the officers, the money for bounty and the patriotism of the people were yet as strong as ever. The One Hundred and Second left Camp Mansfield Thursday, September 4, and the neat morning arrived in Covington, Ky., where the men were mustered into service, all being accepted but one. Jonas Smith, the County Auditor, and T. J. Robinson, Esq., accompanied the regiment, each man of which received about $90 bounty money, a large amount of which these gentlemen brought back to the soldiers' families.

In order that the narrative of the One Hundred and Second regiment may not be broken, the history of its service will be given in this place, and followed through its life in camp, in the field, on the march and in its triumphs, until it returns home, when the reader will be invited to return to the history of events in the county immediately following its departure. The roster of the One Hundred and Second as here given, gives the names of those officers only who went from Richland County. The history of the One Hundred and Second in the field is gleaned from "Ohio in the War," from which much is gathered regarding all the companies raised in this county.

THE ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY ROSTER.-THREE-YEARS SERVICE.

358 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

The organization of the One Hundred and Second has been given. and its course noted. until its arrival into Kentucky. It was mustered into service at Covington, Ky., September 6, 1862, and was ready for service almost every man being accepted. Immediately after being mustered, it was ordered into the works around the city, where it remained until the 22d, when it left in two divisions by boats for Louisville, Ky., arriving on the 24^th. It remained there until the 5th of October, when it was ordered to Shelbyville, Ky., in charge of a division supply-train, arriving on the 6th. Thence it moved to Perryville, where it lay in line within hearing of the battle at that place, but was not taken into the fight. Thence it proceeded to Crab Orchard and thence to Bowling Green, Ky., arriving on the 30th.

On the 19th of December, the regiment moved to Russellville, thence to Clarksville, Tenn., arriving on Christmas night. where it remained nine months.

On the 23d of September, 1863, the regiment moved to Nashville, thence proceeded by rail to Elk River and Cowan. Tenn. On the 30th of October it went into winter quarters, at Nashville, Tenn., and was assigned to Gen. Wards brigade, Rousseau's division, Twentieth Army Corps. It prepared to move to the front with the brigade. but was retained for duty in the city, where it remained six months.

On the 26th of April. 1864, the regiment was transferred to Tullahoma, Tenn. Here Col. Given was relieved of the command of the brigade, and, with his regiment only, marched across the Cumberland Mountains to Bellefonte. Ala., arriving on the 10th of June. Here the regiment was employed on the defense of the line of the Tennessee River from Stevenson to the foot of Seven Mile Island, a distance of fifty miles, every part of which was patrolled four times every twenty-four hours

On the 1st of September, at Bellefonte, the regiment went on board the cars and remained on them fourteen days, patrolling the Tennessee & Alabama Railroad, from Decatur, Ala., to Columbia, Tenn., and on the 15th of September, went into camp at Decatur.

On the night of the 23d of September, Col. Given in command of the post, was ordered to send 400 men to re-enforce the fort at Athens, which was done by taking about equal numbers from the One Hundred and Second Ohio and the Eighteenth Michigan. The next morning, this force met the enemy near Athens, cutting their way through two brigades of the enemy. When they arrived in sight of the fort, they witnessed the humiliation of our flag and the hoisting of the Confederate banner. They were surrounded by an overwhelming force of the enemy, a large number of the men were killed and wounded, and the remainder captured. The officers were taken to Selma, and afterward transferred to Enterprise. The men were paroled and placed on board the ill fated Sultana, at Vicksburg, and about eighty-one of the One Hundred and Second were lost by the disaster to that boat.

On the 24th of October, Hood, with 35,000 men and 108 pieces of artillery, attacked the garrison at Decatur, Ala., consisting of less than one thousand men for duty and seventeen pieces of artillery. During this siege, which lasted four days, the One Hundred and Second bore a conspicuous part in the defense.

After the siege of Decatur, the regiment was engaged in frequent conflicts with the enemy, in which they drove the rebels at different times from four to ten miles.

In obedience to orders, Decatur was evacuated on the 25th of November, and the regiment with other forces, marched 100 miles to Stevenson, Ala. It returned by transports from Stevenson to Decatur, arriving on the 1st of June, 1865.

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On the 30th of June, it was mustered out at Nashville. Tenn., and was finally discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on the 8th of July; 1865.

When the One Hundred and Second Regiment left Mansfield, the county lacked nearly three hundred men of filling its quota. As early as the 22d of August. Mr. James Purdy advertised in the city papers that he had been appointed by the Governor as Commissioner to conduct the draft, to fill the militia ranks ordered out by the last call. He stated that, unless the county's quota was complete by the 3d of September, he would, between the hours of 9 and 5 o'clock, draft, by lot; on the enrolled militia of the county, to fill the call for 300,000 men. He could not tell the number the draft would require, as the enlistments were going on at this time in the One Hundred and Second and One Hundred and Twentieth, as well as recruits for regiments already in the field. Before the time arrived, however, the Governor postponed the draft until October 1, hoping the enlistments would fill the quota. During this month occurred the famous raids endangering the Ohio River cities in this State and bringing out every militiaman in Ohio. The militia of Mansfield met for regular drills. It was composed of seventy men from the First Ward, fifty from the Second, fifty from the Third and about one hundred from the Fourth. T. G. Bristor, who had been out in the three-months service, was Captain Jonas Smith and B. F. Blymyer, Lieutenants : H. Colby, Orderly Sergeant. and Judge G. W. Geddes, Second Sergeant. The raids were of short duration, however, and the militia was not needed to repel an invasion. The county's quota of men was not, however full and the draft came.

On the morning of October 1. Mr. Purdy began the draft. Two hundred and thirty-six men were required to fill the quota. The proportion to each township was as follows: Madison, twenty-six men; Butler, thirty-five; Springfield, seventeen; Blooming Grove, twenty; Cass, twenty; Weller, eight; Mifflin, twenty; Sandusky, twenty-nine; Washington, seventeen, Worthington, five; Franklin, fourteen, and Jackson, twenty-five.

From this statement it will be seen that, in proportion to the area. Sandusky was the most behind in enlistments; while the townships of Plymouth, Sharon, Monroe, Jefferson and Perry had furnished their quota, and hence no draft was made in any of them.

An order had been received from the Governor, allowing all drafted men who wished, to enlist, a privilege many availed themselves of as quickly as they found they were drawn. Before the draft occurred, many persons daily besieged the offices of the examining surgeons, in the hope they could find some ill that would exempt them from military duty. An astonishing amount of disease suddenly appeared among hitherto supposedly sound men. The surgeons were, however, men of experience, and if a sound man endeavored to obtain from them some certificate of unfitness, his imaginary complaints generally vanished under their careful scrutiny, and he was given to understand that in case he was drafted he could prepare to go. Many others, who, when the committees were raising money to purchase volunteers, scoffed at the attempts and defied the draft, found themselves in a very straitened condition. They were brave in the absence of danger: when it came, the smallest favors were thankfully received. Many of this class were allowed to procure, alone, their own substitutes, paying sometimes enormous sums for them.

As fast as the men were drafted they were summoned to Camp Mansfield and drilled for war. By the end of the first week in October, over 2,500 men were in the camp. The Herald of October 13 gives the following summary of drafted men in the camp. It says ;

"There are now in Camp Mansfield 3,464 drafted men, who are being formed into companies and

360 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

regiments. They are from among the following counties: Richland, 202 ; Crawford, 454 ; Seneca, 102 ; Van Wert, 138; Columbiana, 199; Mercer, 131; Marion, 189; Wayne, 340 ; Stark, 359; Ashland, 289; Hancock, 281; Auglaize, 125; Holmes, 248 ; Putnam, 55 ; Morrow, 200 ; Carroll, 103; Hardin, 25; Wyandotte, 3. These figures test the loyalty of each county, in a manner silent, but beyond argument.

W. S. Hickox was Quartermaster of the camp, and furnished supplies to the men. By the 25th of October, the number had increased to over four thousand in camp. That day, however, the One hundred and Twentieth Regiment, which had been forming since August, and had been armed on the 17th of October, left Camp: Mansfield for the front. It contained a few of the drafted men, however not as such, for all those entering the One Hundred and Twentieth, had taken advantage of the Governor's order allowing them to enlist. Following the same plan adopted in the history of this county in the war, the history of this regiment will be given in this connection, after which the narrative will revert to the camp at Mansfield, and the history of organizations there. The following roster of the regiment shows the officers who went from this county:

Five companies of the One Hundred and Twentieth were raised in the counties of Wayne and Ashland, and the remainder in Richland, Ashland and Holmes Counties. On the 17th of October it was armed, equipped and mustered into the service of the United States, with an aggregate of 949 men. On the 25th, it left Camp Mansfield with orders to report to Gen. Wright, at Cincinnati. On its arrival, it was ordered to report to Gen. Ammen, commanding at Covington, Ky., where it remained nearly one month. On the 24th of November, it embarked on transports, reaching Memphis on the 7th of December. Upon the organization of the army for the expedition against Vicksburg, the regiment was assigned to Col. Sheldon's brigade; of Gen. Morgan's division, in the right wing of the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman. Embarking at Memphis on the 20th of Decem-

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her, it moved down the Mississippi to the mouth of the Yazoo River; thence up the Yazoo to Johnson's Landing, and there debarked preparatory to an attack on the line of fortifications defending Vicksburg. The fruitlessness of the attack on Vicksburg from the Yazoo being recognized, the National forces were withdrawn and taken on transports to Milliken's Bend, on the Mississippi River, where Maj. Gen. McClernand assumed command. The bad water of the Yazoo River, exposure to the recent storms, close confinement on crowded steamboats and poorly prepared food, here made its mark to such extent that more than one-half the number reported "Present" were unfit for active service. The movement against Arkansas Post now began. The regiment was in position on the extreme left of the line, along the river bank below Fort Hindman. At 4 o'clock, P. M., a charge was ordered on the left. The brigades of Burbridge and Landreau charged upon the outer fortifications, while the One Hundred and Twentieth charged directly upon the fort. The enemy, finding further resistance futile, displayed the white flag. The One Hundred and Twentieth, it is claimed, was the first regiment of the National forces to enter Fort Hindman, Sergeant Wallace, of Company C, color-bearer of the regiment, having gallantly scaled the parapet of the fort and planted the colors of his regiment, an act which shortly afterward brought him a lieutenant commission.

In the month of February, the army was reorganized, Gen. Grant assuming command. The One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment was assigned to the Third Brigade, Ninth Division, and Thirteenth Army Corps. About the middle of March, the corps moved to Milliken's Bend, and, on the lot of April, marched to occupy New Carthage. Having reached there, the corps proceeded to Parker's plantation, on the west side of the Mississippi, twenty-five miles below Vicksburg. On the 29th of April, the Thirteenth Corps dropped down to Hard Time's Landing, about three miles from Grand Gulf. Bruinsburg was the next point of debarkation. Having landed, the troops marched at once in pursuit of the rebels under Gen. Green. At midnight of April 20, the National forces caught up with the rebels, who occupied a strong position on Thompson's Hill, near Port Gibson, Miss., where a severe battle followed The loss of the One Hundred and Twentieth in this action was one for every eight of the number engaged.

The regiment joined the main army, in the rear of Vicksburg, on the morning of the 19th of May, and the same day joined in a determined assault on the enemy's fortification. It also took part in a more determined effort on the 22d of May. On the 24th, the division was ordered to Black River Bridge, remaining there until the fall of Vicksburg. In the expedition against Jackson, Miss., the Thirteenth Corps formed the right wing of the army. During the investment, the regiment's casualties of officers were, Col. Spiegel and Lieut. Spear severely, and Lieut. Totten mortally, wounded.

The regiment returned with the army to Black River Bridge, and from there to Vicksburg, where it went into camp. On the 8th of August, the Thirteenth Army Corps left Vicksburg for New Orleans. On the 5th of September the corps moved to Berwick City, and thence to Opelouse, returning to Berwick City on the 9th of September. Soon after, the regiment, in company with the Forty-second Ohio and Twenty-second Kentucky, was sent to Plaquemine, one hundred and ten miles above New Orleans, remaining until the 23d of March, 1864, when it moved up to Baton Rouge.

On the lot of May, the regiment embarked on the City Belle, with orders to report to Gen. McClernand. At Alexandria, at 4 P. M., while the transport bearing the regiment was turning a bend in Red River, a short distance above Snaggy Point, about five thousand of

362 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

the enemy suddenly rose, on the south bank of the river, and poured a murderous volley into the boat. The enemy's batteries also opened. and in a moment the boat became unmanageable by a shell. After a most gallant resistance for half an hour. the white flag was displayed. The boat, now totally unmanageable, floated to the opposite shore from the enemy, and a large portion of the regiment jumped ashore and escaped over the levee. Others remained on.the boat, prevented from ascending the plank by the rapid firing of the enemy. About one hundred and sixty men fell into the hands of the rebels. beside the bodies of the killed.

After a terrible march, the wretched captives reached Camp Ford, on the 21st of May. In this miserable prison, they remained over a year, until the final cessation of hostilities.

Those who escaped formed themselves into a battalion of three companies, under Lieu t. Col. Slocum, coming together for that purpose about one mile from the scene of disaster. A fatiguing march of twenty-three hours brought them to Alexandria. This remnant of the One Hundred and Twentieth was assigned to duty on the 12th of May, in a division commanded by Gen. Lawler.

The regiment having shared in the hardships and privations of the retreat of Banks' army, reached the Mississippi River on the 21st of May, and went into camp at Morganza, La. On the 23d of August, it started with its division on an expedition into Eastern Louisiana, and, after dispersing a rebel force near Clinton, La., returned to Morganza.

On the 13th of September, the regiment left Morganza and proceeded up the Mississippi to the mouth of White River, thence up that river to St. Charles, Ark. On the 21st of October, Gen. Slack's brigade, to which the regiment now belonged, moved up to Duvall's Bluff' Ark., and on the 27th returned to the mouth of White River. A second expedition was made to Duvall's Bluff, returning to the mouth of White River on the 24th of November.

On the 25th of November, an order was issued from headquarters of Nineteenth Army Corps, consolidating the One Hundred and Twentieth with the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio, and carried into effect the next day. This ended the career of the One Hundred and Twentieth as a regimental organization. The consolidated regiment made several other expeditions of considerable importance before their muster-out in July, 1865.

When the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment left Camp Mansfield, there still remained nearly four thousand men. Commenting on this fact, and giving a short resume of the men this county had already furnished, the Herald gives a summary of enlisted men sent from Richland County. It says

"Mr. James Purdy has just sent the Governor a list of men that have enlisted from Richland County. From it we gather that in the first call for three months' troops we sent 247 men ; in the second, for the same service, 107 in the third, for three-years troops, 2,138, and in the fourth, drafted, 227; in, all, 2,719 men."

The same paper, of November 1, says, "A hospital has been established in Camp Mansfield." and, " that Col. Sherman (Charles T.), states that there were rendezvoused in the camp 3,652 drafted men, 765 of whom have been discharged for disability; 986 procured substitutes ; 2,155 are now in camp," he adds in another place.

Most of these drafted men remained in camp till the early part of December. They were assigned to different regiments as fast as they could be equipped and sent forward. The last of them left the 9th of that month. Portions of the Eighty-seventh Infantry and Tenth Cavalry were sent to Cleveland, while the unassigned men and officers were sent to Camp Chase at Columbus.

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The close of the year 1862 presented rather a gloomy prospect to the Union cause. The rebel forces were larger then than at any time during the war. The President had issued his proclamation in September, warning them to lay down their arms, else he would proclaim freedom to all the bondmen in the rebellious territory January 1, 1863. The insurgents, disregarding this warning, the President carried out his proclamation, and from that hour slavery in America was crushed. The year was a prosperous one to the Union arms. Important victories resulted to the Northern armies during the campaign of 1863. Early in the summer, it was deemed best to call out all the troops to the field and enlist 300,000 more men. Drafting was resorted to in many places to fill out the quotas. In New York, a serious riot occurred, continuing several days and destroying a large amount of property and many lives. Ben Butler was sent there, and quiet resulted. Several places in Ohio, particularly Holmes County, made a show of resistance to the enrolling officers, but no serious outbreak occurred. The draft was not necessary in Richland County, as the large bounties offered secured the required number of men.

The militia in this county were sent to a camp at Wooster in September, 1863, where the militia from this district were all encamped about ten days, drilling and learning the manual of arms. Over eight thousand were in camp before it was abandoned. The militia regiment organized principally in this county was the Forty-eighth, recruited during the spring and summer, which met often for drill in Mansfield.

The call for troops late in the fall of 1863 demanded another draft, but the county averted that by enlisting its quota of men.

In all parts of the Union, particularly in the large cities, sanitary fairs were organized, and great sums of money raised to aid the armies in the field. The subject was broached in the city papers in Mansfield in the fall of 1863 and early part of the winter of 1864, and received good encouragement from all quarters. Donations of money and articles were solicited in all parts of the county, committees appointed to take charge, and soon Sturges Hall was an active place. A soldiers' wood-pile was started, among other things. Farmers brought wood to a designated place, which a competent person received and distributed among the needy families of those whose husbands or brothers were in the army. The fair began in Miller's Hall, commencing February 8, and continuing about ten days. Several thousand dollars were raised by the effort, in addition to the articles distributed among the soldiers' families and what was sent to the field.

Early in 1864, the President issued another call for 500,000 men. The prospect, on the part of the North, was encouraging, and it was determined to push the rebellion to the wall. Ohio's quota of the required number was twenty regiments. A strong appeal was issued by the Governor for the State to raise that number and avoid a draft. The Ohio National Guard an organization raised in the State for home defense and not destined for foreign work, was called by the Governor to volunteer to go to the front. Though not required by the terms of their enlistment to do this, yet the Guard responded nobly to the call and went out as regular soldiers. This act and the enlistments in the State furnished the requisite number of men, and thus again the draft was avoided.

Of the Ohio National Guard, but one regiment, the Forty-eighth, was raised chiefly in this county. It was attached, with several battalions, to the One Hundred and Sixty-third Regiment Ohio National Guard, which all composed. Along with all the other regiments of this kind, it cheerfully complied with the requests of the Governor, and went to the front. Its history there is here appended. Its

364 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

roster shows the following officers from this county:

This regiment was composed of the Forty-eighth Ohio National Guard, of Richland County; the Seventy-second Battalion, Ohio National Guard, of Henry County; the Ninety-sixth Battalion, Ohio National Guard, of Ashland County, and the Ninety-ninth Battalion, Ohio National Guard, of Stalk County.

The Forty-eighth was organized in the spring of 1864, and was composed of Company A, from Mansfield, Capt. Avery (when he died, in July, 1864, William B. Niman was appointed Captain) ; Capt. William F. Curtis' company, raised in Weller Township; Capt. Jacob M. Leedy's company, raised in Belleville ; Capt. William F. Cockley's, in Lucas; Capt. John Saltagaber's, in Shelby, and Capt. Wells Rogers', in Plymouth, the five companies comprising about four hundred men. The One Hundred and Sixty-third Regiment was mustered into the United States service at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 12th of May, 1864, and, on the 13th, proceeded to Washington City, under orders from Gen. Heintzelman, commanding the Department of Ohio. Upon its arrival at Washington, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Twenty-second Army Corps, with headquarters at Fort Reno, District of Columbia. It remained here on duty until the 8th of June, when it was ordered to the front, and proceeded in transports to White House, Va., and thence to Bermuda Hundred. It reported to Gen. Butler, at Point of Rocks, Va., on the 12th of June, and, on the 14th, took part (with Gen. Turner's division) in a reconnaissance on the Petersburg & Richmond Railroad. Two hundred and fifty of the men were engaged in a severe skirmish on the 15th, and were highly complimented by the brigade commander, who said: "They comported themselves like veterans." On the 16th, the regiment proceeded to Wilson's Landing, and from that point made several reconnaissances to the west side of the James. It also assisted in building a large portion of the works known as Fort Pocahontas. On the 29th of August, the regiment was released from duty, and proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where it was mustered out September 10, 1864.

The regiment's return home brought them a warm welcome and a great dinner. This was the common greeting to all, and was beginning to be an every-day affair, as many soldiers were returning from the war. To those that were in the field, supplies were being sent through relief committees, who were organized and at work in nearly every township in the county. This work went on through the summer and autumn months of 1864.

Late in the fall, a final call for 300,000 men was made by the President, and an income tax of 8 percent on all incomes exceeding $600 ordered. It was intended to speedily crush out the rebellion, now drawing to a close. More men went to the front, while in the spring of

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1865, in March, a draft was ordered in Franklin, Blooming Grove, Mifflin, Butler, Worthington, Jefferson and Cass Townships, to fill out their quotas. Seventy-eight men were drafted in these townships, but were not needed, as, April 9, Lee surrendered, and the war practically closed.

The surrender of Lee's army caused great rejoicing in all parts of the Union. Drafting and recruiting at once stopped. Friday, April 14, an immense jollification meeting was held in Miller's Hall, and at night, huge bonfires and the display of rockets and fireworks illuminated the city. The rejoicing was, however soon turned to mourning by the assassination of the great and good man who had been at the helm of the nation through all its struggles for existence. The nation was cast into deep mourning by this dastardly deed, emanating from the old slaveholding spirit, which had seen its own downfall.

May 6, Hon. John Sherman delivered a masterly oration on Mr. Lincoln's life and services to the citizens of Mansfield.

This same summer. the steamer Sultana blew up, carrying to a watery grave, in the depths of the Mississippi, 172 of Richland County's soldiers, members of the One Hundred and Second, Sixty-fourth, Eighty-second, Sixty-fifth and the Fifteenth. This cast a gloom over the county, as the lost soldiers were all residents and were soon expected home.

Returned soldiers began coming home by July 4, and on that day a great concourse of peoplo assembled at Mansfield, where a dinner was served to all veterans, and a great celebration of the day held.

July 9. the One Hundred and Second returned, and received a welcome similar to its predecessors. Along through the summer and fall, others returned, and early in the year 1866 the Sixty-fourth, the regiment that had seen so much service, came home, and the war was beginning to be one of the things of the past.

Richland County, through the whole conflict, had done nobly. She had furnished in all about three thousand men, who had been an ornament to her and the State. Many of them lay in Southern burial fields ; others, on Southern battlefields ; others, in the waters of the rivers ; while many were brought home and buried in the cemeteries in the county: