438 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
CHAPTER XII.
THE COUNTY'S MILITARY RECORD.
ALLUSION TO EARLY WARS-WAR OF 1812-15-MEXICAN WAR-WAR OF THE REBELLION-SKETCH OF THE FIFTEENTH INFANTRY-FORTY-NINTH INFAN- TRY-FIFTY-FIFTH INFANTRY EIGHTY-FIRST INFANTRY-EIGHTY-SECOND INFANTRY-ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST INFANTRY-ONE HUNDRED AND. TWENTY-THIRD INFANTRY-ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOURTH INFANTRY -ELEVENTH OHIO BATTERY-MENTION OF MANY SOLDIERS BELONGING TO VARIOUS COMMANDS.
WHILE it is true that the "French and Indian War," the struggle for American independence, various desolating Indian wars, and the war of 1812-15 had all taken place long before the settlement, by the whites, of any portion of the territory now designated Wyandot County, yet
many of the pioneers who located here were descendants of Revolutionary sires, while others among them had been active participants in wars of a later date. This region, too, had already gained prominence in history as the scene of Crawford's disastrous engagement with the Indians and their British allies in 1782, and as the point of concentration, during the war of 1812-15, of a considerable body of American riflemen. Crawford' s expedition, however, has already been treated at considerable length in another place, hence this chapter begins with a brief account of the operations conducted here during the last war with Great Britain.
In October and November, 1812, several battalions of Pennsylvania Militia, mustered into the service of the United States for a term of six months, and under the command of Brig. Gen. Richard Crooks, marched from the southwestern counties of Pennsylvania-the region which had furnished men for Crawford's expedition thirty years before-towards what was then termed the "Northern" or "Canadian Frontier." Cutting out roads through the wilderness for the passage of their wagon trains and artillery, Gen. Crooks' command moved forward from Pittsburgh via the sites of the present towns of Canton and Mansfield to a point now occupied by the town of Upper Sandusky, intending to take part with the Kentucky volunteers in the reduction of British posts along the Great Lakes; but it Appears that this body of Pennsylvanians proceeded no farther than this point-Upper Sandusky. Here they erected a work of defense termed Fort Ferree, and here they remained through the following winter, or until their terms of service had expired. The locality chosen had certain ad. vantages in a military point of view, being at the junction of Gen. Harrison's military road leading southward to the Ohio River, and northward to Lower Sandusky; besides, it commanded an extended view of the surrounding country, had a fine spring of pure limpid water gushing from the foot of the low bluff near by, and was a central place in the country of the friendly Wyandots, whose principal town was about four miles distant in a north. easterly direction.
Fort Ferree occupied grounds on the east side of the present town, or near the bluff about fifty rods northeast of the court house. It was a square stockade work, inclosed an area of about two acres,
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 439
and had very substantially constructed block-houses at each of the four corners, one of which was standing as late as 1850. The troops, while stationed at this place, were rather poorly supplied with camp and garrison equipage, provisions, and medical stores; a wilderness, hundreds of miles in extent, separated them from their base of supplies and their homes, and many sickened and died. The bodies of those who died here seem to have been buried where the present public buildings stand, and for some dis. tance to the westward of the same; for street gradings, and various excavations made in the vicinity mentioned, have brought to the surface, bones of the human body, buttons bearing the letters U. S. stamped on their face, and rosettes of leather with the American eagle in brass fixed upon them.
During the same war, Gen. Harrison made this point his headquarters, for a brief period. At the same time, a number of companies of " light horse " encamped on "Armstrong's Bottom," two miles south of the fort. One mile north of Fort Ferree, near the river, Gov. Meigs encamped in August, 1813, with several thousand of the Ohio militia, then on their way to the relief of Fort Meigs. The place was called " The Grand Encampment, " and subsequently was chosen as the "Mission Farm." Receiving here the news of the raising of the siege of Fort Meigs, and the repulse of the British at Fort Stephenson, they prosecuted their march no farther, and were soon after permitted to return to their homes.
When the Mexican war began, Wyandot, as a county, had been in existence but a few months, yet many more men offered their services as volunteers than could be accepted. Thus, we learn, that during the last days of May, 1846, a. body of volunteers known as the " Sandusky Rangers," and commanded by Capt. John Caldwell, marched from Upper Sandusky to Cincinnati, Ohio. They were stationed a' " Camp Washington," near that city (where one of their number, W. L. Stearns, died of disease), until the 19th of June following, when, for some well-founded reason, they were mustered out of service. Immediately after their discharge, several of the "rangers " reenlisted in commands which were retained in service. Among those who thus joined the company from Tiffin were H. Miller, Jr., A. W. Coleman, W, L. Beard, T. D. Shue, A. Potter, John Stouffer, D. Nichols and C. West.
At a war meeting, held in Upper Sandusky June 1, 1846, another company of volunteers was formed. Its officers were Andrew McElvain, Captain; Moses H. Kirby, First Lieutenant; Christian Huber, Second Lieutenant; Thomas Officer, Ensign; and Purdy McElvain, First Sergeant. But this company also failed to be accepted for a term of service, and from. that time all organized efforts to recruit volunteers at this point ceased. Subsequently, Capt. John Caldwell was appointed Commissary of a regiment of Ohio volunteers, and proceeded to Mexico in August, 1846. In June, 1847, Lieut. H. Miller, Jr., and other Wyandot County volunteers returned home from Mexico.
"Ah ! never shall the land forget
How gushed the life-blood of her brave
Gushed, warm with hope and courage yet,
Upon the toil they fought to save." *
Immediately after the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, the rebel leaders of the South began making preparations.
From Bryant's "Battle Field."
440 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
for secession and war. During the closing months of Buchanan's adminis. tration, State after State in the slave-holding portion of the Federal Union had passed ordinances of secession, officers were commissioned, companies and battalions were organized, and long before Lincoln's inauguration, all was in readiness to seize every vestige of Government property in their midst-navy-yards, forts, arsenals, mint, revenue cutters, and the thousands of stands of arms, cannon, ammunition, etc., so conveniently placed at their disposal by the traitor Floyd. They had erected batteries on Morris and James Islands, on Stono Inlet and Cumming's Point, all looking to the bombardment and capture of Fort Sumter and a repulse of all Federal attempts to re-enforce or retake it.
At last, after too long pursuing a halting policy, which looked much like connivance at treason, President Buchanan, aroused to a sense of duty by the murmur of the loyal people, decided to re-enforce and re-victual be threatened fort. Accordingly, on the 5th of January, 1881, the steamer Star of the West, chartered by the Government, left the city of New York with 250 troops, their ammunition and accoutrements, and started for Fort Sumter. On the morning of the 9th of January, a's she slowly steamed up the bay, a masked battery on Morris Island, manned by rebels, opened fire upon her. There and then was fired the first gun in the fearful life and death struggle since known as the war of the rebellion. The "star. spangled banner" was floating over the steamer. She continued on her course some ten minutes, the batteries belching forth their shot, flame and smoke. when it was found impossible to execute the order, as it was neces. sary to pass close under the guns of the battery on the island ; also near Fort Moultrie, ere she could make for Sumter. Capt. McGowan, the officer in charge, turned her down the channel and returned to New York.. Fort Sumter was doomed.
Thus passed the hours until the 4th of March, 1861, when the Nation changed its rulers. James Buchanan retired and Abraham Lincoln as. sumed the administration of the National Government. The interest manifested by the people, both North and South, was painfully intense. The people of the North awaited with anxious solicitude the publication of his inaugural address, for in that they were to know the fate of the nationwhether its dignity, its rights and power would be upheld and vindicated or the Southern oligarchy be permitted to subjugate its power, humiliate its flag, and forever destroy the existence of the great American Republic.
President Lincoln's inaugural was received with joy by the mass of the people at the North. At the South it was accepted as a declaration of war, and they rejoiced that such a shallow pretense was afforded them. The policy of both sections now rapidly assumed shape, and preparations were made for war. The object which was to bring on the iron storm loomed up heavily in the Southern horizon. That object was Fort Sumter. Every day proved that the rebels of South Carolina intended to capture the fort. On the 11th of April, Gen. Beauregard demanded of Maj. Anderson its surrender. The Major replied that his sense of honor and his obligations to his country prevented his compliance with it. Other correspondence followed during the night of the 11th of April, but unsatisfactory to the rebel authorities. Maj. Anderson remained loyal to the " old flag,' and evinced so strong a determination to maintain it, that it was resolved to reduce the fort. Hardly had the first gray of dawn, on the 12th day of April, revealed Sumter, ere a shell was thrown from a battery on James Island, which burst directly over the works. All Charleston people were
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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 443
out on their housetops or high eminences to witness the terrible scene, and one young female rebel, in a letter written that morning it Charleston, to her mother in Columbia, S. C., began as follows: " Dear Mama - The cannons are now whizzing through the air. Cousin George thinks the Yankees will soon all be killed, or compelled to surrender. All of our friends are out to see the fun. It is just grand." *
The die was now cast. Civil war was now inaugurated. Fort Sumter fell on the 13th of April, after a terrific bombardment of thirty-four hours' duration. This was the commencement of the grand tragedy speedily to follow. On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lincoln called by proclamation for seventy-five thousand volunteers to suppress the insurrection, He also called an extra session of the National Congress, to convene on the coming 4th of July. The very next day the rebel government issued a call for thirty-two thousand volunteers, which, with their former force, equaled that of the National Government. These troops were rapidly equipped and put into the field. Departments were organized and Generals commissioned and assigned commands. Washington at once became the rallying point of the larger portion of the Northern volunteers.
Nowhere throughout the loyal North did the President's proclamation, calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers to serve for a period of three months, create more patriotic enthusiasm, or meet with a more cordial response in the immediate tender of men for service in the armies of the United States than in the county of Wyandot. For a brief period all business, apparently, was suspended, and naught was seen or heard in the streets of her towns but the display of National colors, groups of excited men in earnest discussion, small parties of volunteers marching in cadence step, or to the drum beat, and the voices of impassioned orators, who, though usually able and active workers-at home, were seldom to be seen or heard in the fore-front of battle. AS a result, hardly had the wires ceased to click the call for men ere three full companies of Wyandot County volunteers, under the command of Capts. Wilson, Kirby and Tyler, were in readiness to move forward where ordered. From that hour until the close of the war, the loyal and patriotic people of the county never lagged when called upon for men, material, or money, and her sons, sufficient in number to form nearly two regiments, performed valiant service upon all the great battle-fields of the rebellion. As a means, therefore, of perpetuating their names and their deeds to the latest generations, the remainder of this chapter will be devoted to brief accounts of the various battles, marches, etc., in which they were conspicuous participants.
FIFTEENTH OHIO INFANTRY.
This regiment was among the first to respond to the President's call for 75,000 men for three months' service, and on the 4th of May, 1861, it was organized at Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio. Four days later it moved to Camp Goddard, near Zanesville, Ohio. Here it passed about ten days in preparing for active duty in the field. It was then ordered into West Virginia, and crossing the Ohio River at Bellaire, it was employed for some time in guard duty on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, advancing as far as Grafton. Subsequently it was engaged in the rout of the rebels under Gen. Porterfield, at Philippi-June 13-and afterward took part in the movements around Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford. The Fifteenth performed a large amount of marching and guard duty and rendered valua-
* Extract from a letter picked up by the writer, near a deserted mansion, during Sherman's march through the Carolinas in 1865.
444 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
ble service to the Government in assisting to stay the progress of the enemy, who were endeavoring to carry the war into the North. Having served its term of enlistment, it returned to Columbus, Ohio, and was discharged about the 1st of August, having lost but two men-one killed and one died of disease. Three of its companies during the three months' service-C, G and I -commanded. respectively by Capts. William T. Wilson, Peter A. Tyler and Isaac M. Kirby, were recruited in Wyandot County.
Immediately after the disbandment of the three months' organization, Col. Moses R. Dickey and Lieut. Col. William T. Wilson, assisted by Maj. William Wallace and Capts. Cummings, McClenahan, Miller, Kirby, Askew, Glover, Dawson, Cummins, Gilliland and Holloway, began the reorganization of the regiment for the three years' service. Recruiting progressed rapidly, many of the original members re-enlisted, and ere the lapse of many days at " Camp Mordecai Bartley," near Mansfield, Ohio, the ranks of the Fifteenth Regiment were again filled. Of its ten companies, D, Capt. Isaac M. Kirby in command, represented Wyandot County.
The regiment left Camp Bartley for Camp Dennison September 26, 1861, and after a few days detention at the latter place, in obtaining arms, equipments, etc., it proceeded to Lexington, Ky. A few days later it was transported by rail to Louisville, and from there to Nolins Station, where it was assigned to the Sixth Brigade (Gen. R. W. Johnson), Second Division (Gen. A. McD. McCook), of the Army of the Ohio, then commanded by Gen. Wilfiam T. Sherman, subsequently by Gen. Buell. It thereafter participated in the movements of Buell's army, without sustaining any losses worthy of mention until in the second day's battle at Pittsburg Landing, where it lost six men killed and sixty-two wounded. With its division the regiment remained in the vicinity of Corinth, Miss., until the middle of June, when it marched away with Buell's army, and after moving from point to point in the States of Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, arrived at Nashville, It., Tenn., November 7,1862, as part of Gen, Rosecrans' command, the latter having succeeded Gen. Buell on the march from Louisville, Nashville.
In the battle of Stone River the regiment was heavily engaged, losing eighteen killed, and eighty-nine wounded. Subsequently it took part in the advance movements which resulted in the occupation of Chattanooga. After crossing the Tennessee River the regiment remained on the extreme right flank of the army until the morning of the 19th of September, 1863, when it marched for the battle-field of Chickamauga, a distance of thirteen miles, and was engaged soon after its arrival. In that battle the regiment lost one officer and nine men killed, two officers and sixty-nine men wounded and forty men missing. The regiment bore its share in the arduous labors and privations of the siege of Chattanooga. and on the 25th of November participated in the brilliant assault of Mission Ridge, capturing a number of prisoners and some artillery. On the 28th of November the regiment, then belonging to the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, marched with the corps to the relief of Burnside's troops at Knoxville, Tenn., arriving on the 8th of December.
On the 14th of January, 1864, the greater portion of the regiment having re-enlisted for another term of three years, it started for Columbus, Ohio, via Chattanooga, for veteran furlough. It arrived at Columbus with 350 veterans on the 10th of February, and on the 14th of March its members re-assembled at Camp Chase to return to the field, numbering, with recruits, more than 900 men. On returning to the
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 445
front the train conveying the regiment was thrown from the track near Charleston, Tenn., by which accident twenty men were more or less injured. In the, Atlanta campaign, which began the first week in May and terminated September 1, the Fifteenth Regiment, as part of the Fourth Army Corps, was an active participant. At Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River and Atlanta the regiment won imperishable honors.
When Hood's rebel army began its march northward, the regiment formed a portion of the army under Gen. Thomas, which wag sent to thwart the plans of the enemy. It did not participate in the battle at Franklin, Tenn., but at Nashville the gallantry of its members was conspicuous. The pursuit of Hood's defeated army was continued into Northern Alabama, where the regiment remained until the middle of March, 1865, when it was ordered to move into East Tennessee. After performing the duties assigned it in that region, the regiment was ordered to Nashville, and reached the last-named point about the 1st of May. On the 16th of June it was ordered to proceed to Texas.
With a good degree of cheerfulness the men turned their backs once more upon their homes, went to Johnstonville and thence by boats to New Orleans. Moving down a short distance below the city they bivouacked on the old Jackson battle grounds until July 5, when they embarked for Texas. The regiment arrived at Indianola July 9, disembarked, and in order to obtain a sufficient supply of water marched the same night to Green Lake, a distance of about twenty miles. Remaining there just one month, on the 10th of August it marched for San Antonio, a distance of 150 miles. The scarcity of water, the extreme beat, the want of suitable rations, together with inadequate transportation, all combined, made this one of the most severe marches the regiment ever endured. It reached the Salado, a small stream near San Antonio, on the 21st of August, and remained at that point until October 20, when it was designated to perform post duty in the city, and continued to act in that capacity until November 21, when it was mustered out of service and ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for final discharge. The regiment left San Antonio on the 24th of November, and marched to Indianola, proceeding thence by way of Now Orleans and Cairo, to Columbus. Ohio, where it arrived December 25, and was finally discharged from the United States service December 27, 1865. Thus, as a regiment, the Fifteenth had been in service about four years and eight months. It was among the first to be mustered in and one of the last to be mustered out.
Following are the names of officers and men who served in the regiment from Wyandot County:
Three months' men-Field and Staff-Surgeon, Orrin Ferris; served full term.
Company C-Capt. W. T. Wilson.
First Lieut. F. W. Martin.
Second Lieut. H. C. Miner.
Orderly Sergt. D. S. Brown.
Privates, H. Aneshensley, I. L. Barger, Paul Berleen, D. P. Blaser, Thomas Boyle, J. W. Brandenburg, J. W. Brewer, O. K. Brown, Henry Carr, J. S. Chapin, George A. Clark, Thomas Clark, Jacob Clinger, D. Cover, George Crawford, Joseph DeLong, Samuel Dunn, John Ebersole, Peter Fernwalt, R. B. Ferris. Enos Goodman, J. Halstead, G. Hardin, W. Helsel, W. Holmes, J. Huey, John Keller, J. A. Kermit John Keys, A. B.
446 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Lindsay, W. P. Mahon, J. G. McClain, J. McClary, H. McLaughlin, A. T. Mitchell, Elias Morris, O. O. Myers, H. B. Nichols, Nicholas Ratz, M. Ragon, W. Reichman, O. Reed, D. Reynolds, Henry Reynolds, J. Reynolds, J. F. Rose, John Sahn, S. C. Sahn, Henry Schidigger, A. Smith, J. A. Smith, C. Stevens, F. A. Stevens, B. E. Stewart, J. Stewart, J. Stofer, Noah Stoker, J. H. Stoner, J. Straw, D. Swartz, J. H. Swinehart, D. S. Terry, A. P. Troup, H. D. Vroman, J. Wamus, J. A. White, J. D. Williams, C. Wilt, Levi Willoughby, W. H. Woodcock, H. Wuscher.
Company G-Capt. P. A. Tyler.
First Lieut. William H. Kilmer.
Second Lieut. Samuel Harper.
Orderly Sergt. R. W. Morris.
Privates, Fred Agerter, S. F. Anno, W. F. Atherton, George Babbitt, J. J. Basom, W. F. Basom, Isaac Blackburn, Conrad Bope, J. Boyer, F. Brobst, W. Bryant, Henry Campbell, Abraham Conger, John Conger, C. Copler, S. Cooper, A. Covill, M. Cowgill, H. Demming, J. Dipprey, W. Dip. prey, J. L. Durbin, R. J. Earp, H. H. Eggleston, E. Ekleberry, E. P. Emerson, W. Eyestone, J. Frank, J. Grunditsch, O. Hall, D. Hartsough, G. W. Hawk, Lewis B. Henry' G. Howell, S. F. Hughes, J. R. Ingerson, A. J. King, J. C. Kitchen, T. Laux, M. B. Layton, E. Longabaugh, R. M. Lundy, D. Maloy, D. Mays, S. Mays, H. McCormick, Jacob Mellon, P. R. Moore, F. Myers, L. Peterson, W. Picket, R. W. Pool, J. E. Reed, J. F. Reidling, J. W. Reynolds, H. Rinebarger, J. G. Risterpher, W. Rummell, A. J. Shaner, F. Sneringer, S. Spalding, E. Spencer, William Spencer, J. Spoon, W. Spoon, J. Surplus, H. Trowbridge, W. D. Tyler, W. Vanchoik, T. A. Van Gundy, G. Waggoner, D. Walton, M. Walton, Levi White, B. F. Willoughby, M. Willoughby, I. Wood, H. Yager, J. Yeager..
Company I-Capt. I. M. Kirby.
First Lieut. -D. J. Culbertson.
Second Lieut.-Samuel Bachtell.
Orderly Sergt.-J. S. Start.
Privates, James R. Ahlefeld, Charles D. Allison, David Allison, Moses Allison, J. B. Bibby, P. Bloom, James Boroff, James Bowers, Hudson Breese, John Byers, A. J. Caldwell, B. F. Culver, Oscar David, S. DeJean, Martin A. Ditty, R. W. Druckmiller, E. P. Dumm, John Estle, John M. Ewing, Matthew Ewing, Fred Forney, Peter Forney, Wm. L. Foy, Mathias Free, David Galbraith, D. A. Geiger, J. B. Getchel, David Gilliland, W. Goodin, R. T. Gormam, A. M. Gunder, H. D. Gunder, Hugh Guthery, D. E. Hale, Leonard Hartle, W. H. Hefflebower, W. Hefflefinger. W. M. Hesser, Rush Holloway, Harrison Horick, James Irvin, David James, Henry Jaqueth, Albert Jewell, J. R. Jurey, John A. Herr, C. E. Livenspire, Marvin Lumbard, W. H. Maffett, W. H. Mulford, E. S. Munger, Stephen Murphy, Michael Myers, William O'Brien, George P. Price, Hugh, Reinhard, J. S. Renshaw, Lewis Ridling, G. W. Rockwell, Marion Rockwell, Dr. C. J.
Rodig, Alonso N. Sawyer, D. J. Shay, Hiram Storm, T. M. Straw, John Warner, Harrison Washburn, Z. Welch, John Welk, James Weller, W. H. Welsh, J. B. White, W. S. White, David Whitmore, S. W. Wolf, Ephraim Yerk.
Recruits, W. H. Ashbrook, Edmund Basely, E. Blow, Peter Blow, John Burn, W. H. Cone, J. H. Corning, D. W. Doughty, W. S. Dumm, J. B. Graham, Richard Gwin, D. Hagerman, A. J. Hazen, M. Howell, Thomas Irvine, Wesley Kerr, W. J. Kuntz, West McClain, Ellis Quaintance, William Roberts, Benton Sell, A. D. Snider, George Spayth, John Spooner,
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 447
James Westenholm, John Whinnery, William Whipple, A. 8, Wormley, - Wood, William Young.
Three Years' Men-Field and Staff-Lieut. Col. William T. Wilson, commissioned August 7, 1861; resigned August 11, 1862.
Surgeon, Orrin Ferris, commissioned October 21, 1861; resigned March 15, 1862.
Company C-Corp. Julius Straw.
Privates, Henry Carr, Jerome Kennedy, West McClain, N. McFarland, C. Stevens, George Spayth.
Company D, First Term--I. M. Kirby,* Captain; D. J. Culbertson, First Lieutenant; Samuel Bachtell, Second Lieutenant; S. S. Pettit, Orderly Sergeant; William H. Mulford, Second Sergeant; Robert T. Gorman, Third Sergeant; T. M. Straw, Fourth Sergeant; William Palmer, Fifth Sergeant; John Caldwell, First Corporal; Ambrose Norton, Second Corporal; Lowry Leith, Third Corporal; John Sheehy, Fourth Corporal: James Weller, Fifth Corporal; William O'Brien, Sixth Corporal; George Kirby, Seventh Corporal; George T. Renshaw, Eighth Corporal.
Privates, John S. Albert, O. C. Brown, John Burke, William H. Campbell, William Carr, Francis A. Carter, William H. Cavins, J. A. Clark, Thomas Coffaild, Myron Conger, Dennis Conroy, William Conroy, J. W. Corwine, John Crouse, Oscar Davis, Jerry Driscol, J. T. Duly, Nelson Ellis, E. G. Emptage, James M. Ewing, John M. Ewing, James Fowler, David Galbraith, Christopher Gay, James A. Gorman, 0. E. Gravell, John Rahn, John H. Harder, Lorenzo D. Harkem, John Hart, Leonard Hartle, A. J. Hazen, Fred Hensel, John W. Hensel, John Hesser, J. D. Higginbotham, John Hollowell, Mathias Howell, Charles H. Huffman, John A. Inglehart, Silas Jones, James O. Keller, Newton Kennedy, Orville Kerr, A. B. Keyes, Edward Kightlinger, Emanuel Lambright, Adam Lautzenhiser, Moses B. Layton, Daniel Logan, Marvin Lumbard, John Martin, Wesley McCormick, A. S. Miller, George W. Myers, Christian Nafzgar, John Osborne, Eli Ragon, Thomas Ragon, Butler Reamy, Adam Reish, Cornelius Rex, Henry Schriver, T, L. Shaw, Royal Sherman, Joseph Sims, Joseph Snyder, Alexander Sproat, E. H. Stevens, George W. Tucker, Daniel Van Gundy, James Van Gundy, David, Vroman, J. N. Welsh, William R. White, Daniel D. Williams, John Williams, C. W. Williamson. Joseph Wilson, William Wolford, Jacob T. Wood, Nathan A. Worley, William Worley, Bela B. Zimmerman, John W. Zook.
Company D (at a later period)- Capts. David J. Culbertson, commission revoked; Samuel S. Pettit, resigned, April 28, 1864.
First Lieut. Samuel Bachtell, promoted to Captain April 7, 1863; resigned as First Lieutenant September 1, 1864; Charles J. Rodig, killed September 16, 1864.
Sergts. Ambrose Norton, John Sheehy, E. H. Stevens, Daniel Williams.
Corps. William H. Worley, J. C. Rasey, Daniel Van Gundy.
Privates, Charles Baldwin, J. A. Brewer, Henry Campbell, W. P. Carr. M. B. Conger, Oscar Davis, Edward Davis, L. D. Harkum, Nelson Ellis, J. M. Ewing, James M. Ewing, M. V. Ewing, J. A. Inglehart, Frederick Hensel, John W. Hensel, J. E. Hesser, James Keller, Newton Kennedy, Orvill Kerr, A. B. Keys, George Kirby, Henry C. Nagel, A. Lautzenheiser, William Mahon, E. Lambright, Henry Schnooer, Marvin Lumbard, Ed Kightlinger, Adam Risby, John Osborn, A. E. Miller, James Van Gundy, Leonard Hartle, T. R. Walker, Peter Worley, Royal Sherman.
*Resigned May 4,1862.
448 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Company G-Musician, T. A. Van Gundy.
Privates, Conrad Bope, William Cummings, Jacob Grunditsch, J. C. Kitchen, William Spencer.
Company H-Private, Thomas J. Finnell.
Company I-Privates, Alexander Ash, A. J. Hazen, William Ash, R. M. Druckemiller, J. L. Gilliland, Andrew Larick, Stephen Murphy, Hugh Rinehart, G. W. Rockwell.
Company K-Privates, Samuel Yencer, Gabriel Hardin.
Of companies not reported-Joseph Henderson, C. E. Livenspire, Richard Loder, E. S. B. Spencer, J. R. Jurey. Jessup Yencer, J. A. Simmons, Frank Simpson, William Soon, Charles Hoffman, Peter Hoffman, William Holden, E. P. Emerson, William Emptage.
FORTY-NINTH OHIO INFANTRY.
The Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry was recruited in the counties of Crawford, Hancock, Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot during the summer of 1861. The latter county was represented in all of its companies, but more largely in Company D than any other. The regimental rendezvous was established at Camp Noble, near Tiffin, Ohio, where an organization was completed on the 5th of September. Five days later, the regiment left its rendezvous and arrived at Camp Dennison, Cincinnati, on the 11th of that month, where it received arms and equipments. On the 20th of September, it embarked on the cars for Western Virginia. After waiting an hour or so, this order was countermanded, and the regiment directed to report to Gen. Robert Anderson, at Louisville, Ky., where it arrived on the 21st of September, thus gaining the proud distinction of being the first Union Regiment to occupy Kentucky soil, other than Gen. Rousseau's small command of loyal Kentuckians, which organized on the Indiana side of the river, at the falls of the Ohio, had marched though Louisville three days before, and taken position at Muldraugh's Hill, thus foiling the rebel Buckner in his plan to seize and occupy Louisville.
The reception of the Forty-ninth in Louisville was cordial in the extreme. It was not known outside of military headquarters that the regiment was on its way from Ohio. Hence, as the two boats transporting the command, lashed together, neared the wharf (the regimental band perform. ing national airs) and as the regiment landed, the people of the citywrought up to a high state of excitement by the stirring events of the two or three days immediately preceding-received it with enthusiasm, formed in its rear and marched with it through the principal streets to the headquarters of Gen. Anderson. The hero of Sumter appeared on the balcony of the hotel and welcomed the regiment in a short address, to which Col. Gibson responded in his happiest vein. These ceremonies over, the people of Louisville turned out en masse, improvised a magnificent dinner at the Louisville Hotel, and the men of the regiment had a hilarious time, while the officers dined with Gen. Anderson. In the evening the regiment proceeded by rail to Shepardsville, and thence to the Rolling Fork, where it joined Gen. William T. Sherman's command-the "Louisville Legion, " and detachments of other troops under the command of the chivalrous Col. Lovell H. Rousseau. The next morning (September 23), in company with Rousseau, the regiment moved forward, wading the Rolling Fork waist... deep, drove a small body of rebel troops from Elizabethtown, and then, supperless, bivouacked for the night. On the I 11th of October, it moved to Nolin Creek, and established Camp Nevin, and in December following was
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 449
here assigned to the Sixth Brigade (composed of the Fifteenth Ohio, Col. Moses R. Dickey; Forty-ninth Ohio, Col. William H. Gibson; Thirty-second Indiana, Col. August Willich; and Thirty-ninth Indiana, Col. Thomas J. Harrison) in command of Gen. Richard W. Johnson; Second Division, Gen. A. McD. McCook in command, Army of the Ohio.
On the 14th of February, 1862, the regiment, with its brigade and division, advanced toward Bowling Green. After some delay in crossing the river, it marched in the direction of Nashville, reaching that city on the 3d of March. On the 16th of the same month, it marched with Buell's army to join Grant's forces at Pittsburg Landing, arriving there in the evening of the first day's battle-April 6. It participated in the engagement of the 7th of April, and contributed its fall share of work in driving the enemy from the field. Thereafter, as part of Buell's army, the Forty-ninth engaged in all the battles, marches, reverses, etc., which characterized Buell's command during the spring, summer and early autumn of 1862. Subsequently it fought with Rosecrans at Stone River, Liberty Gap and Chicka. mauga; under Thomas at Missouri Ridge, and with Sherman during the Atlanta campaign.
When Gen. Rosecrans, then in command of the Army of the Cumberland, commenced his movement on Murfreesboro on the 26th of December, 1862, the Forty-ninth moved out of Nashville on the Nolinsville Turnpike with the right wing under Gen. McCook, and after constant skirmishing found itself in line of battle on the extreme right of the Union army before Murfreesboro on the evening of the 30th. At 6 o'clock the next morning, Kirk's brigade, to the left and front, was furiously assailed, and, giving way, was thrown back on the Forty-ninth, which at once became engaged, and was borne back by overwhelming numbers a mile and a half to the Nashville Turnpike. which it reached after an incessant conflict of nine hours. On the following morning, the regiment was sent to reconnoiter on the right and rear of the main army. Rejoining its brigade, it operated during the remainder of the day on the extreme right of the army, in connection with Stanley's cavalry. On Friday, January 2, 1863, it was held in reserve until late in the afternoon, when, upon the repulse of Van Clove's division on the left, it was ordered, with its brigade, to retrieve the fortunes of the day in that part of the field. It joined in a magnificent bayonet charge, which resulted in recovering the lost ground and a severe defeat to the enemy.
At Chickamauga, the Forty-ninth hold a position in the morning of the first day, on the extreme right of the Union forces, forming part of Gen. Richard W. Johnson's division. Before being engaged, however, the division was shifted to the extreme left of the army and joined Thomas' corps. At 2 o'clock P. M., the regiment became engaged with the enemy's right, posted in a dense woods. A charge was made, the enemy driven, and two guns captured by the Forty-ninth. This charge occurred between 3 and 4 o'clock P. M. At dusk, the enemy having been re-enforced, made a charge, The enemy gained a point directly in front of the brigade, delivered a withering volley, and with their accustomed yell rushed forward with the bayonet. Although on the alert, the Union forces were staggered and gave some ground. They quickly rallied, however, and repulsed the rebels, During the second day at Chickamauga the regiment was constantly engaged in various parts of the field, and with the Fifteenth Ohio and Goodspeed's battery, accomplished a brilliant exploit. The enemy had broken through the Union left and were exultingly charging for the center, when the Forty -
450 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
ninth faced to the rear and poured into the enemy a withering fire. From the other side of the circle, Goodspeed's battery and the Fifteenth Ohio poured a destructive, unceasing fire, and the rebels were checked and sent back flying to their main body. The brigade of which the Fifteenth and Forty-ninth Ohio formed part, was the last to leave the field of Chickamauga. It halted at Rossville one day, and the following night retired to Chattanooga.
By the consolidation of the original Twentieth and Twenty-first Army Corps in October, 1863, into the organization known during the remainder of the war as the Fourth Army Corps, the brigade* of which the Forty Ninth Ohio formed part, was transferred to the Third Division of the Fourth Corps. As part of the last mentioned command, the regiment fought on many other fields and always maintained the high reputation its gallant members had attained from the beginning of their service. At Mission Ridge, it was one of the first to plant its colors on the summit of that mountain. Immediately after this success, the regiment moved with Granger's corps to the relief of Burnside's forces at Knoxville. This campaign was one of the most severe that the regiment had ever been called upon to endure. The weather was intensely cold, with snow on the ground, the men almost naked and without shoes, and the rations exhausted. The march of the relieving army over the mountains of East Tennessee was literally marked by bloody foot-prints. Yet the soldiers of the West did not grumble, but were ever eager to be led-against the foe. In the midst of this campaign the men of the Forty-ninth, in common with those of all other regiments, were called upon to reenlist for another term of three years; a majority of them responded favorably to the summons, and at the conclusion of the march proceeded homeward on veteran furlough.
In the Atlanta campaign the regiment participated in the battles at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, and the series of engagements around Atlanta. Also in the movements that resulted in the battles at Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. When Sherman began his march to the sea, the regiment and corps went back with Gen. Thomas to attend to the rebel Hood in Tennessee. The subsequent movements of the regiment are told in the sketch relating to its companion regiment, the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry. It proceeded to Texas in June and landed at Victoria early in July, 1865. After remaining at San Antonio for some weeks, it returned to Victoria where it was mustered out of service on the 30th day of November, 1865.
The whole number of names borne upon the rolls of the regiment is fifteen hundred and fifty-two. Eight officers were killed in battle, and twenty wounded (six mortally). Of the enlisted men, one hundred and twenty-seven were killed in battle, seventy-one were mortally wounded, one hundred and sixty-five died from disease, seven others died 'in rebel prison pens, and six hundred and sixteen were discharged on account of wounds or disability.
Among the Wyandot County men who served in this regiment, were the following:
Company A-Capt. Daniel Hartsough.
First Lieut. John K. Gibson, died of wounds.
Sergts. John James, Cyrus DeWitt.
Corps. J. Bartison, D. H. Grindle, J. S. Grindle, Henry Stevens.
Privates, A. Willever, Allen Wilkins, C. K. Nye, Jerome Nye, James
*First Brigade, Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps.
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 451
Thompson, George W. Platt, L. Lambert, M. B. Hare, W. B. Leeper, William C. Gear, John Greek, Jacob Moyer, John I. Grindle, Dory Jackman, P. Grubb, S. T. Biles, Alfred De Witt, Salamas Bowlby, Solomon Bachar.
Company B-Second Lieut. Sheldon P. Hare.
Corp. James Burk.
Privates, Theodore Gibson, C. C. Conaghan, J. L. Bliss, H. H. Anderson Job Baker, D. A. Bennett, A. F. Conaghan, A. P. Havens, Samuel Mays, David Mays, George Wagner.. George Pancoast.
Company C-Capt. John Green.
Sergt. John Reiger.
Privates, John G. Markley, S. Bland, Sylvester Bowlby.
Company D-Capts. James Ewing, George W. Culver, George W. Pool.
First Lieut. M. Cowgill, J. Mosier.
Sergts. Samuel Bretz, Silas Barnhiser, W. R. Bliss, D. L. Kentfield, Charles Hoyt, Robert Gregg, James W. Ingle.
Corps. Joseph Battenfield, N. D. Bunn, S. S. Laird, Robert Cavit, Enos Goodman.
Drummers, W. H. Shuler, Jacob Funk.
Privates, William Updegraff, John Updegraff, Edward Marble, Martin Marble, Jesse Rifner, Henry Lowmaster, C. Morgan, B. Jewel, T. B. Hawkins, Kenry Kestner, Nathan Karr, David Hitchew; Fred W. Hine, George W. Greer, Otis S. Goodman, Anthony Kestner, J. B. Fox, Alfred Hitchew, David Cramer John Bope, Jac Allion, Jr., Francis Beek, W. S. Karr, B . F. Bunn, Frank Babcock, James Barnhiser, S. W. Barnhiser, Samuel Burk, Fleming Ewing, Isaac Burk, Jacob Everhart, S. A. Durboraw, J. Enerson, Jesse De Long, W. W. Greer, H. L. Freet, William Hitchew, Lewis Corfman, William Rice, William Burk, P. Tracy, James Nye, Jesse Paulin, Levi Pennington, William Fruit, James Fruit, J. Young, Isaac Fruit, O. W. Mullholand, F. Roberson, Perry Rice, Sylvester Pontius, I. M. Winters, J. B. Weber, Charles Wigley. Jerome Williams, Benjamin Whetsel, Allen Smalley, John Rock. C. Shireman, E. S. Willson.
Company E-Private David Goodman.
Company G-Capt. Samuel M. Harper.
Sergts. J. S. Gibson, Walton Weber, F. J. Weber, Lewis Miller.
Corps. John Caldwell, P. C. Kitchen.
Wagoner, J. C. Kitchen.
Privates, John S olley, John Ingerson, F. M. Babcock, Seymour Culver, B. F. Culver, M. G. Clapsaddle, J. R. Ingerson, J. R. Lowry, Abner Willson, W. B. Kitchen, Ross Ingerson.
Company F-First Lieut. J. F. Harper.
Company H-First Lieut. James J. Zint.
Company I-Second Lieut. William F. Gibbs.
Corp. W. J. Loudermilch.
Privates, J. S. Thompson, E. C. Warner, John Stump, D. D. Armstrong, D. D. Cole, J. A. Bell, Joseph A. Liles, Thomas Petty, J. A. Petty.
Company K-Privates David Jacob, Rezin De Bolt, H. Bland, H. Eyestone, H. Badger, George De Bolt, Silas DeBolt, William Cummings, J. Miller, H. P. Jaqueth, D. R. Martin, Henry Jacoby, 0. Lannon, G. P. Ogg, C. Whittem.
Attached to Companies not, known-G. W. Sherwood, William Johnson, Ezra Phelps, Sergeant; Frank Johnson, James Stoner, W. M. Thomp
452 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
son, Seth Kear, Willson Long, William Cowgill, Jackson Carter, Martin Heistand, Jackson Anderson, Conrad Bope, William Boyer, William Emerson, Bradford Dunn, George Inman, John Anderson, R. Baun, Joseph Barnhiser.
FIFTY-FIFTH OHIO INFANTRY.
This reregiment was organized at Norwalk, Ohio, about the middle of October, . On the 25th of January, 1862, it left Norwalk for Western Virginia, and soon after its arrival on the field of action was attached to Gen. Schenck's brigade. It participated in many minor movements against the redoubtable rebel leader-" Stonewall" Jackson-during, the early part of that year, with varying success. When the "Army of Virginia" was organized in June, the Fifty-fifth was brigaded with the Twenty-fifth, Seventy-third and Seventyfifth Ohio Regiments, and attached to Gen. Schenck's division.
On the 7th of July, the corps of which the regiment formed part, began a march to Sperryville, Va. After a few -days' rest at that point, it again marched forward, and on the 1st of September, had passed through the various marches, skirmishes and battles, which marked Gen. Pope's brief but disastrous campaign. A re-organization of the army now took place, and in the many changes made, the Fifty - fifth was assigned to the Eleventh Army Corps. Subsequently, in the fall and winter of 1862, it engaged in the movement under Burnside, which was abruptly terminated by heavy rains and bad roads.
In the Chancellorsville campaign under Hooker, in May, 1863, the regiment lost heavily. It (with the entire Eleventh Corps), was driven in confusion from the field, and sustained a loss of 153 men killed, wounded and missing. About the middle of May, 1863, it was attached to the Second Brigade of the Second Division, and remained in the same brigade during the remainder of its term of service. At Gettysburg, the regiment lost in killed and wounded, about fifty men.
On the following 24th day of September, the Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps took cars at Manassas Junction, Va., and moved over the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and through Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville and Nashville to Bridgeport, Ala., arriving on the 30th. The Elev. enth Corps moved to Chattanooga on the 22d of November. In the battle of Mission Ridge, the corps formed line to the left and front of Fort Hood, and moving forward rapidly, drove the rebel line beyond the East Tennessee Railroad. Immediately after the termination of the Union victories in the vicinity of Chattanooga, the regiment entered on the Knoxville cam. paign, and returned again to Lookout Valley on the 17th of December. This campaign was made over mountain ranges, amid the frosts and snows of winter, many men shoeless, and all without tents or blankets. On the 1st of January, 1864, 319 men of the Fifty-fifth re-enlisted. They started for Ohio on the 10th, and arrived at Norwalk on the 20th; on the 22d of February, the regiment re-assembled at Cleveland, and on the 4th of March it was again encamped in Lookout Valley, Ga. About this time the Eleventh and Twelfth Army Corps were consolidated, and denominated the Twentieth Corps (Gen. Hooker in command), and the regiment was attached to the Third Brigade of the Third Division.
During the Atlanta campaign, the regiment participated in all the movements, battles, etc., in which the Twentieth corps was engaged. At Resaca, on the 15th of May, it lost more than ninety men killed, wounded and
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 453
missing. It was also engaged at Cassville, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, and in the series of engagements around the city of Atlanta. It left Lookout Valley May 2, 1864, with about 400 men, and during the campaign of four months' duration had lost over 200.
On the 15th of November, the regiment and corps began the march, with Sherman's armies, from Atlanta to the sea. It entered Savannah on the 21st of December. On the 29th of January, 1865, the command got fairly started from Savannah on the march northward through the Carolinas. No incident worthy of particular notice occurred until the 16th of March, when at the battle of Averysboro, or Smith's Farm, N. C., the Fifty-fifth lost thirty-six men killed and wounded. The regiment was again engaged at Bentonville, N. C., on the 19th of March, and lost two killed, twenty-four wounded, and seven men missing. With Sherman's forces, it finally reached Washington, D. C., and paraded in the grand review May 24.
Upon the disbanding of the Twentieth Corps, the Ohio regiments belonging to it were organized into a Provisional Brigade, and assigned to the Fourteenth Corps. They proceeded to Louisville, Ky., starting on the 10th of June, where, on the 11th of July, the Fifty-fifth was mustered out of service. It was paid and discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 19th of July.
Following are the names of officers and men from Wyandot County who served in this regiment:
Field and Staff--Maj. Rudolphus Robbins, killed at Resaca, Ga., May 15, 1864; commissioned Second Lieutenant January 20, 1.862; Captain, December 20, 1862; Major, May 25, 1863.
Adjt. Frank W. Martin, commissioned June 22, 1862; promoted to Captain April 22, 1863; resigned June 6, 1863.
Company A-Capt. Robert W. Pool, resigned August 29, 1864.
Company B-Private, Joseph Earp.
Company C-Capt. Henry Miller, resigned September 28, 1864.
Privates, Philip Brewer, W. A. Gibson, George Hawk, William Thomas.
Company D-Private, W. H. Brewer.
Company F-This company, when first organized, was composed of the following members:
Captain, David S. Brown, resigned March 6, 1863.
First Lieutenant, Jacob Thomas, resigned July 17, 1862.
Second Lieutenant, Leander M. Craun.
Sergeants, Charles D. Robbins, promoted to Captain, resigned March 29, 1864; John S. Shaner, William H. Ashbrook, Butler Case (who subsequently became First Lieutenant, and resigned as such April 10, 1864), and J. Hallabaugh.
Corporals, J. R. Burkhart, J. Rumbaugh, William Rook, David Green, J. B. Gatchell, Martin Thomas, William J. Craun and Jacob Gatchell.
Drummer, Urias Swank.
Teamster, P. McLaughlin.
Privates, John H. Andrews, Samuel Adams, Anson Brewer, George W. Boyd, Amos Bowsher, John Byers, Moses Brown, J. W. Betz, John Burkhart, Samuel Cannon, Henry Casper, William B. Craven, R. W. Coots, E. P. Cole, William Clark, William Cupp, Henry Cowley, Noah Doll, Clark Edgington, William F. Edwards, Samson B. Flinchbaugh, Taylor Filson, Abraham Fulk, Abraham Freese, L. Fulmer, William Harley, J. Harley, Henry Hoppwood, John Henry, S. Hackenberger, George Hallabaugh, J. A. Kittle, James Kine, David Koble, John Lambright, C. Long, William C.
454 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Law, Wesley Lane, Isaac Lambright, William Likins, William P. Mahon, George W. Michael, Benjamin Myers, John R. Myers, Levi Martin, J. McBee, T McPherson, J. Malon, John O'Brien, Dorris Pike, Jeremiah Pisel, John Pierce, J. Robertson, Albert Roberts, Leander Riesenberger, Henry Ream, Andrew Robenalt, David Raymond, Israel Spoon, Adam J. Shaner, I. Smith, J. Saul, J. G. Sharp, J. Shuster, Michael Spout, Jacob Sprout, William Stoffulmyer, M. Tress, William C. Thomas, J. H. Vail, Hugh M. Van Wagoner, William H. Waters, S. Waggoner. Subsequently the following additional names appeared upon the rolls, Jacob Spoon, Thomas Corbin, Washington Michaels, A. J. Shannon, Fredrick Sipher, J. W. Sul liger and Anson Edgington.
Company K-First Lieut. J. F. Rieser; Sergts. Benjamin Welsh, H. W. Kramer; Corps. George Rice, Isaac Dippy, Christian Wise, W. H. Cole, Hugh Guthrie.
Privates, John Brand, M. C. Crass, - Nuss, Fred Althauser, Joseph Hoover, H. J. Compton, W. H. Edgington, Hiram Gantz, Jacob Grunditsch, Levi Kotterman, Christian Gottier, Oscar Midlam, Curtis Hoff, George Harman, Jacob Yeager, William Winich, Edward McFarland, Henry Little, Aaron McCoy, George Lott, Peter Marquart, H. Huffman, Henry Carr, Jacob Shuler, Henry Vaughn, John Webb, George Wisenbarger, Henry Yeager, John Keller', Adam Wiswasser.
Company H-Sergt. W. B. Conger. Corp. G. W. Ragon. Privates, Adam Beer, James H. Cram, C. Linn, Samuel Stom. Z. W. Ahlefeld, J. G. Armstrong.
Company not reported-Capts. Augustus M. Wormley, Jesse Bowsher; First Lieut. Pliny E. Watson; Second Lieut. James K. Agnew; Privates, John Emerson, Patrick Laughrey, G. W. Price, R. Rolson, Isaac Price.
EIGHTY-FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
The command first known as " Morton's Independent Rifle Regiment," but soon afterward designated the Eighty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was recruited to the number of eight companies in the summer of 1861. The fourth Company (D), Capt. Peter A. Tyler in command, was composed almost entirely of Wyandot County men. Benton Barracks, near St. Louis, Mo., was the rendezvous in which the regiment entered upon its first military duties.
The regiment marched out of Benton Barracks September 24, 1861, and from that time until about March 1, 1862, was employed on the Northern Missouri Railroad, and its vicinity, in keeping the region free from bands of cowardly, yet murderous and destructive Missouri guerrillas. It was then ordered to report at St. Louis. It was armed with short Enfield rifles, was embarked on board the steamer Meteor, and about midnight of the 17th of March it disembarked at Pittsburg Landing. A few days later, the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade (Col. McArthur in command) Second Division (Gen. C. F. Smith) of the Army of the Tennessee, then commanded by Gen. U. S. Grant.
During the battle of Pittsburg Landing, which was fought on Sunday the 6th and Monday the 7th days of April, 1862, the Eighty-first behaved most gallantly. Its members were ever ready to confront the enemy, many rebels fell lifeless before the furious and unceasing fire of their Enfields, and during the second day, in a wild and impetuous charge, the regiment captured many prisoners and a full battery of artillery. Until the early part of the following October, the regiment performed the various duties
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 455
assigned it in West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi; but, after the evacuation of Corinth by the rebels, its actions were unimportant. However, in the battle of Corinth, fought October 3 and 4, the regiment, then part of the brigade commanded by Gen. Dick Oglesby, and the division commanded by Gen. Davies, was hotly engaged, losing eleven men killed, fourty-four wounded and three missing. This was one of the most fiercely contested fields of the war-one, where about eighteen or twenty thousand Union men, without reserves or intrenchments, defeated, pursued and scattered more than double their numbers.
As part of Gen. Dodge's command, the Eighty-first continued to campaign in the northern parts of Mississippi and Alabama, and the middle and western parts of Tennessee, until the latter part of April, 1864. It was then moved forward to Northern Georgia, and on the 5th of May was advanced to Lee & Gordon's mills, where, with the great army there assembled Gen. Sherman was just beginning the Atlanta campaign. Thereafter, until the final victory at Jonesboro and the occupation of Atlanta by the Union forces, the history of Gen. Dodge's command is the history of the regiment. " In the battle on the 22d of July (the day McPherson was killed), the Eighty-first, with three companies in reserve, was the second regiment from the right of Sweeney's division. The command stood like a rock, and never was there made a more daring or more effective resistance. At an opportune moment, the Eighty-first Ohio and Twelfth Illinois moved forward in a resistless charge, carrying everything before them. The Eighty first captured a number of prisoners and three battle-flags. Later in the day, Gen. Logan called on Gen. Dodge for re-enforcements to. assist the Fifteenth Corps in recovering its works. Mersey's brigade, which included the Eighty-fifth, was sent. It marched on the double-quick nearly two miles, and joined in a charge by which the lost lines were recovered. The Eightyfirst furnished a detail to assist Capt. De Gress in serving his guns on the retreating rebels. Later, at night, Mersey's brigade was moved to Bald Hill, and there the Eighty-first Ohio and Twelfth Illinois built a perfect labyrinth of works."*
In September, 1864, the regiment was assigned to the Fourth Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. With that command, it made a march to Savannah, and northward through the Carolinas and Virginia, to Washington, D. C. It participated in the review of Sherman's army at the National capital, May 24, 1865. Early in June, it proceeded to Louisville, Ky., via the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to Parkersburg, W. Va., and thence by the Ohio River. The regiment remained at Louisville until July -18, when it was mustered out. It immediately started for Camp Dennison, where its members were paid in full and discharged July 21, 1865.
The Wyandot County men who served in this regiment were as follows:
Company D-Capts. Peter A. Tyler, Noah Stoker.
First Lieut. W. D. Tyler.
Second Lieut. J. W. Post; killed at Pittsburg Landing April 7, 1862.
Sergts. Noah M. Stoker, R. J. Earp,
Corps. Henry Hardly, David Agerter, David Hagerman, Benjamin Ellis, William D. Earp, Charles H. Willard.
Privates, Patrick Downey, James Anderson, Samuel Down, C, J. Fogle, Franklin Kating, J. P. Berry, Jacob Albert, J. R. Hagerman, H. H. Hawkins, William Helsel, Charles Caldwell, John Bushong, Henry Down, Anson Jones, Napoleon Crouse, David Dysinger, George Devine, William
*Whitelaw Reid.
456 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Davis, J. A. Atkinson, W. R. Heffelfinger, M. W. Kimmell, Ephraim Hoy, T. M. Blake, H. T. Carlisle, Jacob Lime, C. S. Keys, J. K. Hagerman, Stephen Healy, Levi Keller, James Gillin, J. C. Groff, John Finan, J. W. Gillin, J. B. Graham, Patrick Kelly, Martin Lipp, Elijah Longabaugh, J. Mankin, Jared Mills, Henry Miller, Jacob Miller, J. M. Nelson, Jerome Kennedy, Patrick Mulhauser, William Stamford, W. A. Reed, R. M. Reed, William Mankin, J. L. Mills, J. H. Long, John Rose, 0. H. P. Reed, J. P. Rose, J. F. Reidling, James Stol, Benjamin Stewart, W. Quaintance, M. Pendergast, Elias Stevens, James Surplus, Henry Stomb, J. F. Rose, Law. rence Smith, William Sanford, W. F. Savidge, J. E. Reed, Anderson Sullivan, A. H. Tyler, J. A. Vanorsdall. P. Whinery, Robert Whinnery, John Thompson, John Wilson.
Other companies.
B-John Albert.
C-William E. Reed, William Van Marter.
Company not reported-Fred Agerter, First Lieutenant; Henry Downing, W. C. Keller.
EIGHTY-SECOND OHIO INFANTRY.
This command was recruited during the months of November and December, 1861. It was mustered into Service at Kenton, Ohio, its regimental rendezvous, December 31, and it proceeded toward Western Virginia on the 25th of January, 1862, where it was assigned to Gen. Schenck's brigade.. Under Gens. Fremont and Sigel, the regiment performed arduous service and Considerable fighting in the region mentioned. Subsequently it was attached to G en. Milroy's Independent brigade (of Sigel's First Corps), and led by that officer, performed many gallant deeds. In September, 1862, Sigel's Corps was denominated the Eleventh, and was assigned to the Army of the Poto mac. Thereafter, the Eighty-second engaged in all the movements of the Eleventh Corps in Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. Finally, as already shown, the old Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated as the Twentieth Corps, and under Hooker and Slocum campaigned with Sherman through Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia to the National capital. The regiment made a brilliant record throughout, and, mustered out of service at Louisville, Ky., July 25, 1865, was paid and discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on, the 29th of the same month.
Among its members were the following Wyandot County men:
Company A-Sergt. Henry Robinson.
Privates, Joseph E. Johnston, J. Shover, Robert Couples, J. H. Robinson. Company B- W. H. Hollinger, Isaac P. Adams, William Ginther, J. A. Hollinger.
Company C-Second Lieut. Morgan Simonson.
Sergt. A. D. Snyder.
Privates, C. P. Taylor, Francis Taylor. Thomas Ash, Sr., J. B. Dean, Samuel Garrett, Matthew Morrison, N. E. Sibert, J. E. Kirby, William Kirby, E. L. Ross, Ephraim Shever, Joseph C. Snyder, E. L. Ross.
Company G-Private, Philip Winslow.
Company I-Corps. J. C. Chadwick, John Holloway.
Privates, Charles Spencer, W. F. Williams.
Company K-- Privates, Isaac H. Cole, Samuel Brown, W. H. Cole, Jonathan Harshbarger, George Eatherton, William Martin, Henry Martin.
Company not reported-Alfred Tracy, William Snyder. John Williams, F. J. Studebaker, Isaiah Williams, Caleb Dougherty, John Morrow.
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 457
ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST OHIO INFANTRY.
This organization was recruited in the counties of Erie, Huron, Seneca, Crawford and Wyandot, in the dark days of 1862. Its companies rendezvoused at Monroeville, Ohio, where the regiment was mustered into the United States service on the 30th day of August. Capt. Isaac M. Kirby's. command in this regiment, afterward designated Company F, left Upper Sandusky for Monroeville, on Thursday morning, August 21 , 1862. It was then stated that the company was composed of the flower of the young men of the county, with a commander who had withstood the fiery ordeal at Pittsburg Landing. The members of the company, as then published, were as follows:
Captain, Isaac M. Kirby; First Lieutenant, Franklin Pope; Second Lieutenant, Jacob Newhard; privates, Hubert Bixby, Theophilus D. Gould, John M. McLaughlin, O. J. Harris, Edwin Nye, David E, Carney, Aaron C. Shinely, A. H. Turner, Amos K. Slade, Frederick Ludwig, John H. Wells, W. J. Carney, William Shell, Edward W. Shaw, James M. Briggs, Alfred Dewitt, C. S. Vredenberg, Levi Shoemaker, Noah Sterm, Peter Sipes, George S. Myers, William. H. Wel. ter, Michael Stump, Amos Strycker, Levi Price, F. M. Sterling, S. H. Brown, James H. Herndon, W. H. Carothers, Cornelius J. Sibert, J. Lou. dermilch, William Stevens, F. G. Hill, James E. Barker, George Mann, John Liles, Joseph Harsh, William Swearingen, Elijah White, Thomas A. Clark, John Krider, William Carmichael, John Scott, Walter Foyer, John Shepard, Russel Shepard, S. F. Troup, Thomas Hollanshead, Josiah Shoafstel, C. Martin, Garret Taylor, George Gouldsby, Thomas Barry, Calvin J. Cutler, George Lawrence, J. W. Norton, J. W. Smith, William H. Kilmer, George W. Hale, David E. Hale, S. R. Myers, S. S. Waggoner, H. H. Lacy, Samuel Martin, John J. Gerstenstager, David Allison, James Stewart, John Huffer, A. A. Spafford, G. F. Spafford. J. D. Rex, W. J. Lawrence, William Good, James Reeves, Shepley H. Link, John A. Kerr, William Hallowell, R. Park, James H. Corning, H. H. Dixon, Christian H. Glazer, Andrew McElwain, H. D. Vroman, Franklin Culver, August Wise, August Sickfelt, Daniel Good, J. McAnderson, William Nichols, Oliver Bolander, David Good, Levi Scwartz, David Miller, John Grossell, Benjamin Ream, Jacob H. Flickinger, Jacob Good, Marcus L, Lowell, John H. Swinebart.
On the 4th of September, the regiment left Monroeville and was hurried by rail to Cincinnati, and thence to Covington, Ky., to assist in repelling a threatened attack by Kirby Smith. Remaining at Covington until September 24, it was sent by rail to Louisiville, Ky., and there attached to Gen. William P. Carlin's brigade of Gen. Robert B. Mitchell's division, Buell's army. When that army again moved southward, the battle of Perryville resulted, and in this, its first action, the regiment behaved handsomely. At Nashville, Gen. Jeff C. Davis took command of the division (vice Gen. Mitchell assigned to the command of the post of Nashville), and on the 26th it marched with the Army of the Cumberland, Gen. Rosecrans commanding, to battle with the rebel forces under Bragg in front of Murfreesboro.
The afternoon of the same day (December 26), the enemy was met and a line of battle formed. Gen. Jeff C. Davis' Second Brigade, consisting of the Twenty-first (Gen. Grant's original command in the rebellion) and Thirty-eighth Illinois, Fifteenth Wisconsin, and One Hundred and First Ohio Regiments of infantry and the Second Minnesota Battery, soon engaged the enemy with spirit, sustaining a sharp fire until he was dislodged.
458 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Although the day was fast drawing to a close, and little was known of the precise nature of the ground over which the armies were moving, Gen. Davis resolved to follow up his advantage. The enemy retreated about two miles to a rugged hill, the road passing through a defile known as Knob Gap. Deploying on either side of the road, with one section of their artillery in the defile and other pieces on the crest of the hill, they waited another encounter. In the short, sharp action which ensued, Carlin's brigade performed its work most gallantly. The enemy was driven from his position and two bronze field pieces were captured from him on that part of the line covered by the One Hundred and First,
Four days later (December 30), Carlin's brigade was the first of the Union army to arrive on the battle-field of Stone River (a small, limpid stream named after a Pennsylvanian named Stone, who, with a party of three or four others, first discovered it about the year 1760). It at once engaged the enemy's outposts, and drove them back on his main line, and just at night became briskly engaged. The regiment lay on its arms through the night, and was fully prepared to receive the shock of battle that came with daylight on the following morning. The brigade stood firm, repulsing every attempt to break it, until Johnson's division and Post's brigade of the First Division on the right being driven from their positions, the enemy appeared on the right flank and rear of the brigade, when, in obedience to orders, it fell back and took up a now position, holding the enemy in check until he again threw a force on the flank and rear. The regiment continued in the hottest of the fight, taking up six different positions, and stubbornly maintaining them during the day. Col. Leander Stern was killed, and Lieut. Col. Wooster was mortally wounded while respectively leading the One Hundred and First onto victory. The regiment was held on the front line on the right of the army until the afternoon of Janu. ary 2, 1863. When disaster was threatening the left of the Union forces, it was one of many regiments transferred to that part of the field, and with the bayonet helped to turn the tide of battle. During the series of actions termed the battle of Stone River, the regiment lost seven commissioned officers, and 212 men killed, wounded and missing.
During the remainder of the winter, the regiment was constantly engaged on expeditions through the regions surrounding Murfreesboro, suffering very much from fatigue and exposure. "It was no uncommon thing," says a writer," to see as many as fifty men of the regiment marching with. out shoes on their feet,* and so ragged as to excite both the sympathies and risibilities of their companions. This marching up and down the country, the purposes or utility of which were oftentimes wholly unknown, lasted until April, when the regiment was allowed to go into camp at Murfreesboro for rest."
When the Tullahoma campaign was inaugurated during the last days of June, 1863, the One Hundred and First moved with that portion of the army that demonstrated in the direction of Liberty Gap, and was engaged. with Cleburne's rebel division for two days at that place. It followed the fortunes of the army up to Chattanooga, and at the close of that campaign
was with Davis' division at Winchester, Tenn. On the 17th of August, the
*We deem the imagination of Reid's informant too vivid In this statement. We were there, and we never saw fifty, nor even one man marching without shoes at or in the vicinity of Murfreesboro during the winter of 1862-63. True, some ragged men might occasionally be seen, or rather men who bad stood or slept too near their camp fires and thus scorched and burned their garments, but there was no need at that time for men to march without shoes, for the army was near its base of supplies, and supplies of all kinds were issued in abundance. Besides, It is a well-known fact no general officer in the Union army was more thoughtful and zealous in seeing to it that his men were well supplied with food, clothing and equipments than Gen. Rosecrans.
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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 461
regiment marched on the Chattanooga campaign, River at Caperton's Ferry. From thence it marched out Mountains to near Alpine, Ga. It then countermarched Mountain, up Will's Valley, and re-crossed Lookout of Chickamauga, where it participated in that battle on the 1 of September, displaying great coolness and gallantry. During the second day, the 19th, the regiment retook a Union battery from the enemy, fighting over the guns with clubbed muskets.
After retiring to Chattanooga, the army was re-organized, and the One Hundred and First Ohio became a part of the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps. On the 28th of October, this brigade was ordered to Bridgeport, Ala., and thus missed taking part in the fighting at Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain.
On the 3d of May, 1864, it marched with Gen. Sherman's armies on the Atlanta campaign, and from that time until the first days of September following was almost constantly engaged in marching and fighting. After the federal occupation of Atlanta, and in the sudden change of tactics adopted by the rebel Gen. Hood, it was actively employed with other Union forces in pursuing, fighting, and heading off the enemy in his designs on the railroad communications of the Union troops. It marched with the Fourth Corps from Atlanta to Pulaski, Tenn., and from there on to Nashville. At the battle of Franklin, which took place during the execution of the last-mentioned movement, just at nightfall, the One Hundred and First was ordered to retake a position held by the enemy, which it did at the point of the bayonet, and held the position until 10 o'clock P. M., notwithstanding the fact that the rebels were almost within bayonets reach during all that time.
The regiment was engaged in the battle of Nashville December 15 and 16, and participated in the assault on the enemy's center on the 15th. After the battle and rout, it followed in pursuit of Hood to Lexington, Ala., and marched thence via Athens to Huntsville, where it went into camp. It remained at that place until June 12, 1865, when it was mustered out of service. It was sent home by rail to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio, where its members received final pay and discharge papers.
Among the officers and men mentioned at the close of the war as having served in this regiment from Wyandot County, were the following:
Field and Staff-Colonel and Brevet Brig. Gen. Isaac M. Kirby who was mustered out with the regiment,
Company F-Capts. Franklin Pope, resigned January 28,1863; William H. Kilmer, killed at battle of Chickamauga; George W. Hale, mustered out with regiment.
Second Lieut., Jacob Newhard, resigned December 23, 1862.
Sergts. F. G. Hill, J. W. Herndon, G. S. Myers, John Kerr, William Stevens, Harmon Lacy, C. N. Martin, David E. Hale, George F. Mann.
Corps. Joseph Lowdermilch, Andrew McElwain, Willam Hallowell, R. H. Parks, John Scott, Levi Price, Elijah White, John Shepherd, Alfred Do Witt.
Privates, W. I. Lawrence, David Allison, Oliver Bolander. James N. Briggs, James M. Anderson, S. H. Brown, H. H. Dixon, O. P. Cutler, William Carothers, J. H. Corning, T. A. Clark, Walter Foyer, William Good, Herbert Bixby, August Lickfelt, Samuel Martin, David Good, John Liles, George Lawrence, William Carmichael, John McLaughlin, John Hutter, John Krider, C. J. Harris, Theopholis Gould, Joseph Harsh, P.
462 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
Heller, Thomas Hollanshead, S. H. Link, Benjamin Ream, Fred Ludwig, Claudius Martin, J. P. Gastenslager, John W. Norton, William Nichols, S. R. Myers, C. H. Glasser, Daniel Good, Russell Shepherd, George Quaintance, Amos K. Slade, S. S. Waggoner, Levi Shoemaker, Levi Swartz, F. Culver, William Shell, A. H. Turner, A. Stricker, A. A. Stafford, F. M. Sterling, C. J. Sibert, David Miller, August Wise, W. H. Welter, J. D. Rex, J. H. Flickenger, H. G. Vroman, John A. Wells, C. S. Vredenberg, Ellis Quaintance, Samuel F. Troup, Peter Sipes, J. A. Stewart, Noah Stinn, William Swearingen, Josiah Shaffstall, Edward Shaw, --- Spafford.
Company A-Privates, Abel Thompson, Thomas Thompson.
Company D-George Miller.
Company E-Sergt. Enos B. Lewis.
Privates, J. Y. Good, Michael Stump.
Company H-Private, H. C. Cross.
Company I-Corp. John Salyers.
Privates, D. Funk, Joseph Funk, Valentine Wisebaker, P. Heckman, Christain Funk, S. P. Renisderfer.
Company K-Private, M. W. Shumaker.
Company not reported-Samuel Snyder, J. L. Miller.
Brev. Brig. Gen. Isaac M. Kirby, whose name has already been mentioned in the foregoing sketch of the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry, is a son of Moses H. Kirby, Esq., of Upper Sandusky, and was born at Columbus in 1834. In April, 1861, he was elected Captain of a company of Wyandot County volunteers, and with that command (afterward known as Company I, of the Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry) served during its term of three months. When the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry was re-organized for a three years' term, Capt. Kirby again took the field in command of Company D. He served with that regiment in Western Virginia and then in Buell's Army of the Ohio. He marched with it to Pittsburg Landing and participated in the second days' battle there, assisting Maj. Wallace in commanding the regiment. He resigned his position in the Fifteenth Regiment May 4, 1862. In July, of the same year, he recruited another company of volunteers for the One Hundred and First Ohio Infantry, of which be was (for the third time) commissioned Captain. The regiment soon after joined Buell's army in Kentucky, and in October, 1862, Capt. Kirby was promoted Major of that organization.
Early in the morning of the first day's fight at Stone River, Col. Stein, commanding the One Hundred and First, was killed, and Lieut. Col. Wooster, of the same regiment, was mortally wounded. Maj. Kirby thus succeeded to the command of the regiment during the remainder of the battle. On the 27th of January, 1863, he was commissioned Colonel, to take rank from the date of Col. Stems death-December 26, 1862. He continued in command of the regiment until the early part of the movement against Atlanta, when he was designated as the commander of the First Brigade, First Division, Fourth Army Corps, which he led throughout the campaign. Col. Kirby was now recommended by superiors in official reports for promotion. He commanded the brigade during the movement of Gen. Thomas' army from Northern Georgia to Nashville, and through the battles of Franklin and Nashville. In the latter, he led the first assault on the enemy's main line of works. He was now again recommended for promotion, and he finally received a commission as Brevet Brigadier General.
Gen. Kirby continued in command of the First Brigade, First Division,
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 463
Fourth Army Corps, until the close of hostilities. He was mustered out of service with his regiment in June, 1865. At the present time, he is engaged in the sale of hardware, etc., etc., in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, a town which has been his place of residence during the past forty years.
ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-THIRD OHIO INFANTRY.
The military organization thus designated was recruited during the summer and early autumn of 1862. Its place of rendezvous was Monroeville, Ohio. On the 16th of October, it moved to Zanesville, whence it was taken down the Muskingum River to Marietta, thence by rail to Belpre, and across the Ohio River to Parkersburg, Va., thence by rail to Clarksburg, reaching that place October 20. From that time until early in January following, the command was constantly engaged in marching, and skirmishing with small parties of the enemy in Western Virginia.
On the 10th of January, 1863, the regiment left Moorefield for Romney. It arrived on the 12th, and remained about six weeks, engaged almost continually in scouting duty in that vicinity, protecting the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. While at this place, one whole company of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio, of the brigade, and a small detail from the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio, were captured by McNiel's rebel cavalry, and the train in their charge burned. The men were at once paroled and sent back into the Union lines. On the 1st of March, the regiment was ordered to Winchester, Va., arriving at that place on the 4th. From that point it made several raids up the Shenandoah Valley, going as far as New Market.
Nothing further of interest occurred until the 13th of June, at which time Lee's entire rebel army, then on its March to Pennsylvania, surrounded Winchester. On the afternoon of that day, the One Hundred and Twenty Third, with its brigade, under Brig. Gen. Elliott, had an engagement with Early's corps, in which it lost in killed, wounded and missing 105 men. On the 14th the Union forces were driven into their fortifications and hardly pressed by the overwhelming numbers of the rebel army. That afternoon they were under a severe artillery fire for two hours, during which time Gen. Milroy, the division commander, directed operations from the Crow's nest of the flag staff us coolly as if on parade. The outworks being carried by the enemy, it was then determined to evacuate the place. The troops marched out of the works in silence at 2 o'clock in the morning, leaving the heavy artillery in position, but spiked. At a point about four miles out on the Martinsburg road, at 4 o'clock in the morning, the rebels were found in position, and further retreat was cut off. In attempting to cut their way through, the regiment lost in killed and wounded about 50 men. In this affair, the regiment made three distinct charges, but to little purpose. While it was forming for a fourth charge, Col. Ely, of the Eighteenth Connecticut, then in command of the brigade, surrendered to the enemy, and the whole brigade, except Company D, of the One Hundred and Twenty-third, were made prisoners and marched away to Richmond, where the major portion of the officers of the One Hundred and Twenty-third, remained in Libby Prison about eleven months. Lieut. W. A. Williams and Capt. D. S. Caldwell made their escape. Col. William T. Wilson and Lieut. Beverton were exchanged and sent home. The remainder of the officers, after eleven months' confinement in Libby Prison, were sent to Macon , Ga., thence to Charleston, S. C., and placed under fire by their inhuman captors-of the Union siege guns. Subse-
464 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
quently they were taken to Columbia, S. C. From that point several officers made their escape, among whom were Capts. J. F. Randolph, Alonzo Robbins and Oswell H. Rosenbaum; Lieuts. B. T. Blair, Frank B. Col. ver, Thomas W. Boyce, George D. Acker, J. B. Pumphrey and V. R. Davis. Capt. Randolph made his escape, with a number of the officers belonging to other States, in a wood-scow, down the Congaree and Santee Rivers, where they boarded the Union gunboat Neipsic. The remaining officers of the One Hundred and Twenty-third made their way successfully to the Union lines in Tennessee. Col. Wilson, Lieut. Col. Hunter, Capt. Chamberlain, Lieuts. Schuyler, M. H. Smith, Frank A. Breckenridge and Charles H. Sowers were exchanged. Capt. Charles H. Riggs died in Charleston, S. C., on the 15th of September, 1864, of disease contracted in prison. Capt. William H. Bender also died at Columbia, S. C., of yellow fever. The privates of the regiment were exchanged within a few months, and sent to the parole camps at Annapolis, Md., and Camp Chase, Ohio.
Maj. Kellogg, who was wounded and made his escape from the enemy at Winchester, collected the stragglers of the regiment at Martinsburg, Va., where the paroled men of the regiment, after exchange, joined him, about the 1st of September, 1863. At this place the regiment was newly armed and equipped; but being deficient in officers, it was engaged mainly in provost and picket duty until March 1, 1864, when it was distributed as guards along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad between Harper's Ferry and Monocacy Junction.
About the 1st of March, however, the regiment was collected together at Martinsburg, and, with the Army of West Virginia, began one of the most remarkable campaigns, without adequate results, performed during the war of the rebellion. First under Gen. Sigel, and subsequently under Gen. Hunter, this army was marched up and down the valleys, and from mountain range to mountain range throughout the northwest quarter of old Virginia. As pursuers or pursued, they visited, en route, Winchester, New Market (on the 15th of May, where, in a fight with Breckinridge, the regiment lost eighty men in killed and wounded), Woodstock, Port Republic, Staunton, Lexington, Buckhannon, Liberty, Lynchburg, Salem, Gauley Bridge,' Camp Piatt, Charleston, Parkersburg, Cherry Run, Martinsburg, Harper's Ferry, and many other points. The regiment started on the Lynchburg raid with Hunter, with seven hundred men, and at the expiration of two months and a half it returned with two hundred and fifty present for duty.
However, a new era now dawned upon the Shenandoah Valley. Gen. Sheridan was placed in command of the Union troops assembled on the Upper Potomac, and with them he pressed forward to a round of victories. At Berryville, Winchester, Strasburg, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, the enemy were signally defeated, and ore the close of October, 1864, the Shenandoah Valley was cleared almost entirely of rebels in arms. This had not been accomplished without great loss of life, and in the One Hundred and Twenty-third alone about one hundred and fifty brave spirits had either been killed or severely wounded.
In December, the regiment, with other troops, was ordered to report to Gen. Butler, commanding on the north side of the James River near Bermuda Hundred, and attached to the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, Gen. Ord commanding. It arrived at Deep Bottom on the 27th of December, 1864, where it remained until the 25th of March, 1865, at which time it broke camp and moved to the Chickahominy to aid Sheridan across that stream..
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 465
The Twenty-fourth Corps was then sent to the south side of the James, to the extreme left of the Union lines, on Hatcher's Run. On the 30th of March, an advance was made on the rebel works, and skirmishing continued until the morning of the 2d of April, when a general charge was made, and the rebel works were carried. The regiment during this time was for three days and nights on the skirmish line, without relief, and their rations had to be carried to them by Regimental Quartermaster, Lieut. Brown - a most dangerous duty. The loss of the regiment was quite severe while engaged in this long skirmish. It captured two battle-flags and a number of prisoners. The rebels were followed toward Petersburg, their forts on the way being captured, excepting at one or two points, where a sturdy resistance was made. On the 3d of April, the whole Union army marched in pursuit of Lee's rebel army toward Danville, the regiment reaching Burke's Junction in the night of the 5th, at 12 o'clock. At this point, the One Hundred and Twenty-third was included in a force sent on an expedition to burn High Bridge, fifteen miles in the advance, on the South Side Railroad. Within half a mile of the bridge, just as the regiment was opening a fight with a brigade of rebel home guards, the rebel cavalry, in advance of Lee' s army, came on in their rear, and, after ter a fight of three or four hours, duration, with heavy loss on both sides, the Union command, including the One Hundred and Twenty-third, was captured. Capt. Randolph, of the regiment, was shot through the right lung in this fight, and Gen. Reed, the commander of the expedition, was killed. The One Hundred and Twenty third. being a second time prisoners of war, was marched along with Lee's army to Appomattox C. H. At that point, the rebel army surrendered to the Union forces under Gen. Grant, and the prisoners were thus rescued.
Immediately after the surrender, the regiment proceeded to City Point; thence it embarked on transport for Annapolis, Md., and finally was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where ore its members remained until June 12, 1865, when they were mustered out of service.
Following is an almost complete list of the Wyandot County men who served in this regiment:
Field and Staff. Col. and Brevet Brig. Gen. William T. Wilson, mustered out with regiment.
Maj. John W. Chamberlain, mustered out with regiment as Captain.
Surgeon Orrin Ferris, resigned November 10, 1864.
Assistant Surgeon J. H. Williams, resigned January 25, 1864.
Chaplain, Charles G. Ferris, resigned June 9, 1864.
Company A-Capt. J. W. Chamberlain.
First Lieut. J. B. Pumphrey.
Second Lieut. A. P. Ingerson.
Sergts. F. M. Anderson, J. H. Boroff, William F. Basom, J. P. Bear, Jac Clinger, D. D. Terry, Joseph Roll, H. S. Kaley, John Wentz.
Corps. D. L. Baker, W. S. Rifenberry, B. R. Reynolds, D. W. Nichols, S. A. McKenzie, W. H. Egeston, L. M. Zeigler, J. H. Ellis, D. P. Demarest, F. Egeston, T. C. Thompson.
Musicians, John Emerson. R. W. Lundy; A. S. Thompson, teamster.
Privates, Jacob Switzer, David Thompson, O. R. Torrey, E. H. Van Buren, John Thompson, Byal Tracy, W. Walters, Silas Wood, A. Davis, L. L. Wilcox, George B. Smith, George W. Smith, J. Suber, H. Stansberry, McKendree Smith, J. R. Cross, L. L. Wilson, Jacob Teal, John Davis, G. W. Davis, R. J. Craglow, E. P. Cozier, W. H. Crites, John Ellis, William Ellis, W. M. Ellis, R. J. Ewart, Elijah Emptage, George W. Finnell, R.
466 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
L. Ewart, A. Corwin, C. B. Drum, D. E. Gibson, Eli Frost, A. Debaugh, Albert Frost, D. Gipson, David Gibbon, F. M. Harris, James Haner, W. J. Hildreth, H. Hunter, Edgar Haner, G. P. Hoysington, James Gregg, E. G. Emptage, D. H. Inman, A. Ingerson, Welcome Inman, J. W. Kemp, 1. B. Kemp, W. K. Humbert, H. W. Karr, J. O. Heckathorne, W. Inman, A. Kennedy, C. M. King, H. P, King, Frank Leeper, S. C. Heckathorne, Hiram Long, J. W. Bower, Coonrod Hufford, David Mincer, H. M. McMillan, Isaac Michaels, H. Perrin, S. M. Parsons, J. H. Niebel, B. O. Neal, T. A. Miller, I. Price, Henry Palmer, John Parlet, L. Rickenbach, N. L. Robinson, E. S. Rummell, R. V. Rummell Jedediah Sears, J. Shannon, F. Robinson, R. W. Smith, J. C. Bear, Alexander Carothers, S. C. Cole, J. S.. Anderson, John S. Anderson,
Company F-Capts. Curtis Berry, Sr., resigned January 31, 1863; Alonzo Robbins, mustered out with regiment.
First Lieuts. M. W. Willoughby, mustered out with regiment; James H. Gilliam, died in service.
Sergts. A. N. Sawyer, Eli Maskey, M. F, Allison:, W. G. White, B. F. Willoughby, Jamuel Dunn, S. K. Cook.
Corps. F. Blond, Thomas Clark, W. R. Willoughby, William K. Fry, John Keys, G. G. White, N. McFarland, A. L. McBride.
J. B. Willoughby, John Swinehart, Eli Smith, musicians; J. P. Dry, color bearer; J. Gephart, teamster; N. B. Brisbine, hospital steward.
Privates, Isaac Van Doran, J. A. Smith, A. B. Smith, N. D. Young, Ezra Snyder, C. Washburn, Joseph Williams, L. P. Willoughby, J. Whinnery Levi Woodling, John Snyder, N. Cowgill, C. Cooper, R. B. Craig, J. Cook, E. L. Dunn, D. W. Dougherty, M. M. Gipson, David Galbreath, W. H. Fisher, David Hall. W. A. Gipson, Joel W. Gibson, Samuel Henley, W. H. Hefflebower, S. Hoffman, A. D. Hesser, Jacob Hayman, E. B. Holly, H. Hough, G. W. Hufford, Simon Huffman, Robert Irvin, C. H. Kiehl, J. A. Hefflebower, LaFayette Lee, Benjamin Kriechbaum, Peter J. Lott, John Mackey, W. L. Maurice, Lewis Corf man, George Mackey, E. W. McJenkins, R. N. McConnell, M. O. McClain, A. H. McClain, David McClain, S. R. Cook, John H. Miller, J, L. Milum, William Mitchell. D. McClain, J. G. Norton, Levi Noll, A. P. Reardon, H. B. Ragon, C. E. M. Oliver, J. B. Oliver, M. P. H. Oberlin, B. C. Rummell, I. H. Cathright, George Seager 0. J. Scott, J. S. Barclay, H. L. Simmons, Nelson F. Bowsher, R. Bulan David Bowsher, N. Chambers, R. Cathright, A. Caylor, Peter Altvater, David Stalter, Charles Bolyard, Lewis Blond, Reuben Berleen.
Company D-Sergt. Thomas Parkin.
Corp. H. H. Pennington; Elias Osborn, musician.
Privates, C. C. Roberts, James Kenan, Isaac C. Stalter, Pitt Stevens, Peter Swartz, George Hatfield, B. Delapline, J. A, Heckman, B. L. Hoover, B. Kinney, W. A. Mitten G. W. Naugle, D. C. Moron, Henry Reynolds, J. G. Reynolds, Gilbert Richmond, B, W. Moore, A. Folkner.
Company E-Privates, LaFayette Dunn, John Halsey, Calvin Dunn, Isaac Holden; John Loder, Corporal.
Company H-Capt. V. R. Davis, mustered oat with regiment.
Privates, James Culver, Conrad Haas, G, W. Eyestone, W. L. Foy, J. C. Andrews, Charles Hotelling, Lewis Foy, Lewis Rank.
Company K-Privates, P. Hennessy, A. L. Ragon, William Montee, Isaac Nutter, G. R. Marvin, Thomas Irvin, Benjamin Spittle, W. Costoloe, W. Straub, Leonard Zent, Jacob Switzer, C. Simmon.
Other Companies:
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 467
First Lieut. R. D. Ferris, resigned March 12, 1863; T. C. Burnet, Samuel Hayman, William Hoover, J. H. Dunlap.
Brevet Brig. Gen. William T. Wilson, who served throughout its term of service as Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, was one of the most prominent residents of Upper Sandusky during what has been mild ly termed the late unpleasantness. " He was also known both before and subsequent to that period as the publisher and editor of the Wyandot Pioneer, a Republican newspaper.
In April, 1861, he was commissioned Captain, and led into the field one of the three Wyandot County companies, which served in the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry during its first term of three months. Soon after its muster out, the same regiment was re-organized to serve for a period of three years. Many of the original members of the old organization returned to the front with the new, and among them was the Upper Sandusky editor, now the second officer in rank in the regiment. He was commissioned Lieutenant Colonel August 7, 1861, and served with credit until August 11, 1862, when he resigned and returned home, Like his townsman, Gen. Kirby, however, he could not remain in the rear while his country needed his services, and on the 26th day of September, 1862, he was appointed Colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Infantry, with which regiment he served until it was mustered out June 12, 1865. Toward the close of his term he was commissioned Brevet Brigadier General, to take rank from March 13, 1865. He now resides in the city of Columbus., Ohio.
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FOURTH OHIO NATIONAL GUARDS.
This regiment was formed by the consolidation of the Nineteenth Battalion Ohio National Guard, of Wyandot County, and the Sixty-fourth Battalion Ohio National Guard, of Wood County, at Camp Chase, on the 11th of May, 1864. The regiment was ordered to report without delay to General Wallace, at Baltimore, Md.
Upon its arrival in that city, Companies G and K were detached for duty in the fortifications, and the remainder of the regiment reported to Gen. Morris at Fort McHenry. From there, Company E was ordered to Wilmington, Del.; Company B, to Camp Parole, near Annapolis, Md., and Company I to Fort Dix, at the Relay House. On the 18th of May, the regiment, was relieved from duty at Fort McHenry and was ordered to the Relay House, where it enjoyed comparative quiet until the 1st of July, when the rebel Gen. Early came down the Shenandoah, threatening Baltimore and Washington. Companies B, G and I were in the engagement at Monocacy Junction, and suffered severely, losing in killed, wounded and prisoners about fifty men. On the 13th of July, the regiment was ordered to Washington, D. C., and from there moved toward Winchester, Va., passing through Leesburg. It was hatted at Snicker's Gap, and after a day's delay was -moved back toward Washington; but it was again faced toward the Shenandoah Valley, moving via Harper's Ferry, under the command of Maj. Gen, Wright.
At daylight on the 13th of August , a portion of the regiment, while guarding a train near Berryville, Va., was attacked by Moseby's command, with two pieces of artillery. Some confusion was caused by the first fire, but the men soon rallied, drove back the enemy and saved the train. The detachment lost five killed, six wounded and sixty captured. The men of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth were much fatigued and worn by the arduous service performed, but they never complained.
468 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
On the 31st of August, 1864, the regiment was mustered out of service, having lost during its term of a little more than one hundred days, about one hundred and twenty five men killed, wounded and captured. Many of those taken prisoners were intentionally starved to death at Andersonville and other rebel prison pens.
The Wyandot County men who served in the regiment were as follows:
Field and Staff-Col. Samuel H. Hunt.
Adjt. Jonathan Ayers.
Chaplain, J. G. Baughman.
Company A-Capt. Henry H. Ragon.
First Lieuts. William McFee., James S. Leith.
Second Lieut. E. B. Ragon.
Sergts. Levi Shults, J. S. Bowers, H. J. Pool.
Corps. E. Pool, Benjamin Morris.
Privates, Fred Kinley, William Kurtz, Isaac Blackburn, John Blackburn, Hugh Mason, Isaac Ayres, John Gatchell, Jesse Smalley, H. J. Hunt, Leonard Cole, Charles Copler, A. R. Hunt, D. J. Hale, J. M. Pool, Henry Brown, H. C. Bowen, V. L. Obenchain, George Hayman, William Parker, E. Stansbery, John Walton.
Company C-First Sergt. H. M. Cunningham.
Company D-Capt. Asa Brayton.
First Lieut. F. R. Baumgardner.
Second Lieut. Amos Stetler.
Sergts, D. S. Nye, A. E. Gibbs, Byron Kear, W. H. Grindle, John W. Lime.
Corps. Oliver Brayton, Amos Bixby, Amos Nye, David Lindsay.
Privates, W. Plott, William Berry, John Battenfield, J. Barnhiser, J. S. Foster, J. J. Brunning, E. Goodman, W. Lowery, James McGarvey, Henry Kimmerly, Harrison Kimball, James Clark, M. A. Clark, A. A. Carothers, A. Carothers, A. S. Gear S. J. Keeler, Lewis Bacher, J. A. J. Lang, W. Hurd, W. B. Hurd, J. W. Conn, Thomas Bliss, Gibson Busch, W. H. Davis, J. Duddleson, John Deardoff, Alonzo Ellison, James Myers, C. Humphrey, H. H. Hoysington, A. H. Hoysington, M. D. Grossell, W. H. Karr, L. D. Karr, J. H. Karr, J. C. Ish, J. E. Jones, C. L. Parker, J. W. Crum, C. R. McKenzie, E. H. Sage, James, Ritchie, O. P. Robinson, D. Sipes, Land. line Smith, W. K. Nye, L. E. Nye, George A. Nye, &. Harshberger, J. D. Shireman, Elkanah Sherman, E. Sherman, E. H. Shellhouse, D. Shell, Joseph Shane, Wellington Nesbaum, S. O. Williams, S. Y. Williams, H. Straham, Luther Stone, S. Harpster, O. Whipple, J. W. Harpster, B. F. Swartz, W. H. Straw, W. H. H. Williams, G. F. Wonder, D. Wonder, A. J. Wonder, S. R. Wohlgamuth, S. Wohlgamuth, S. A. Wisner, Asa Wisner.
Company E-Private, E. Young.
Company F-Privates, Jacob Baldwin, Robert Lindsay, Miles Bowsher, William Bowsher, Andrew Baldwin.
Company G- -Capt. William Frank.
First Lieut, Howard Kennedy.
Second Lieut. S. H. White.
Corps. G. W. Clark, John Shrank, Allen Parker, R. L. Willard, - bugler.
Privates, Thomas Emptage, James Emptage, S. B. Cook, Irvine Straw, J.- W. Atkinson, J. W. Bowers, Theodore Kellogg, -- McGha, Jerry O'Neal, John J. Inglehart, Orrin Long, John Runels, T. B. Mount, Mar. shall Cozier, S. D. Holland, R. Parks, E. L. Parker, Joseph Worthington,
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 469
Jacob Williams, Theodore Uncapher, D. H. Walker, W. A. Butler, John Campbell, D. D. Hildreth, William Hildreth, Robert Mitchell.
Company H-Capt. James A. Gibson.
Sergts. Samuel Phillips, T. B. Armstrong.
Privates, Clay Miller, John Milligan, J. W. Little, A. C. Hunt, J. W. Stinchcomb, W. H. Case, Alfred McCauley, Noble Emerson, O. W. Horrick, George H. Heistand, J. W. Shaffer, James Hibbins, Alva Bunn, T. A. VanGundy, G. W. Baldwin, Lewis Lupton, George Wilson, Benjamin Pontius, W. L. Clingman, J. O. Welty, H. C. Welty, T. C. Wood, O. C. Pancoast.
Company K-Corp. W. D. Cook, private Joseph Seager.
Company not reported-Jeremiah Kitchen, Captain; Aaron Kennedy, Sergeant; John Woessner, P. B. Oliver, Henry Karr, J. F. Myers, Ashford Nail, N. K. Eyestone, Vincent J. Flack. Warner Osborne, W. O. Phillips, W. J. Wilcox, P. P. Wilcox, C. Henry, William Hoffman, T. J. Frazer, L. Bloom, Aaron Price, J. R. Willson, Levi Willson, D. Shafer, John Midlam, J. Puffenberger.
ELEVENTH OHIO INDEPENDENT BATTERY.
The men who composed this battery were enlisted at Cincinnati, and from Athens, Butler, Hamilton, Vinton and Wyandot Counties, in August and September, 1861, and rendezvoused at St. Louis Arsenal, Mo., where they were mustered into service on the 27th day of October, 1861, with one hundred and fifty-one men, rank and file.
The battery consisted of two six-pounder rifled guns; two six-pounder smooth bore guns, and two twelve-pounder field-howitzers, with gun carriages and caissons complete, and battery-wagon and blacksmith shop. The uniforms for the men were made to, order, from actual measurement, of the best material, and each man was furnished with a pair of superior buck gauntlets in addition to the regular uniform. The noncommissioned officers. in addition to their regulation saber, were armed with Beal's patent revolvers, and the privates with saber-bayonets.
On the 26th of October, the battery marched to department headquarters, and was reviewed by Maj. Gen. Fremont, then commanding the Western Department, and was there presented by Mrs. Fremont with an elegant silk guidon. A few days later, the battery proceeded to Tipton, Mo. Subsequently it marched to Otterville, where a few weeks were passed; thence to Boonville and St. Charles. From there it was taken on transports to Commerce, Mo., where it joined a portion of Gen. Pope's Army of the Mississippi, then organizing for operations against New Madrid and Island No. 10. It participated in the Union victories at those points, and then moved with Gen. Pope's command to the re-enforcement of Grant's and Halleck's forces in front of Corinth, Miss. During the siege, and in the battles and skirmishes resulting in the occupation of Corinth the battery bore its full share.
With other troops, it remained in the vicinity of Corinth throughout the spring and summer of 1862, participating in the Ripley expedition under Gen. Rosecrans meanwhile. It was during this summer that the following incident occurred as narrated in a letter written by Lieut. Cyrus Sears at " Camp three miles beyond Corinth, Miss., July 2, 1862," to his brother, John D. Sears, Esq., of Upper Sandusky. " * * * Early Saturday morning last, Charles Rhodes and Robert Swegle, privates of our battery, were walking through the abandoned rebel camp, when having strayed incautiously too far, they suddenly came upon a couple of 'Secesh' sentinels armed with loaded double-barreled shot guns. Our men being unarmed
470 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
were very unceremoniously taken prisoners and marched off toward the enemy's camp. Their captors proving very incautious, or mistaking the character of their prisoners, soon allowed them to got close along side No sooner did they do this, than little Charley called out to Swegle to 'go in,' and suiting his actions to the words he grappled the gun of his man with one hand and, giving him a right-hander with the other, floored him. Meanwhile, Swegle, who is a big follow, served his man in the same style, and disarmed him in short meter, and came to the rescue of Charley, who was having it rough and tumble, with his customer, among the bushes. The tables were now turned, and the 'Butturnats' were marched into camp and turned over to Gens. Buford and Hamilton, who declared that it was the beat and bravest incident that had come under their notice, and that it should be properly mentioned. * * * "
About the 1st of August, the battery with Gen. Hamilton's division moved to Jacinto, Miss., where it remained until 3 o'clock A. M., of the 16th of September, when it moved forward with the forces of Gen. Rosecrans, for the purpose of co-operating with Gen. Grant against the rebel Gen. Price at Iuka. Gen. Grant, with Ord's division, did not arrive in time. As a result, Gen. Rosecrans' command of about eight thousand men, after a march of nineteen miles, met Price, who had 12,000 men posted on a densely-wooded bill just southwest of the town of Inks, at 4 o'clock P. M., of the 19th of September, and fought him single-handed. This battle, for the numbers engaged, was one of the most hotly-contested and sanguinary fought during the war. The steady blaze and roar of musketry, as the opposing forces struggled to obtain and hold the crest of the hill, continued unceasingly until 9 o'clock P. M. During the remainder of the night, Rosecrans was engaged making his dispositions to seize some adjacent heights at daybreak for his artillery, and replenishing his ammunition. He had the men called to arms at 3 o'clock, and at daylight was moving. But meantime, Price had learned of the proximity of Ord's column of 6,000 men, and had hastily retreated, leaving his dead unburied, and his wounded either on the field or in hotel buildings, churches and dwellings in the town. The enemy's loss in this engagement was 1,078 prisoners, dead and wounded, left on the field, with 350 more wounded estimated to have been carried away. The Union loss was 782 killed, wounded and missing.
The Eleventh Ohio Battery went into this action 102 strong (three commissioned officers and ninety-nine enlisted men), under the command of First Lieut. Cyrus Sears. During the engagement, it was charged on three different times, suffering a loss of two officers and fifty-five men killed or wounded, eighteen being killed on the field and others dying afterward. Not a man flinched, and numbers were killed or wounded. after the rebels, in their advance, had passed the muzzles of the guns, some of them nobly dying in the attempt to spike their pieces. More than sixty of the horses belonging to the battery were killed or disabled daring the action, with the entire loss of harness and equipments. The assaulting rebel column suffered terribly, having received over a hundred rounds of canister and other shot, while moving forward less than a hundred yards. They (the rebels) made several attempts to drag off the guns by hand, bat were thwarted each time by the hot fire of musketry poured in upon them by the Union regiments.
Although the battery suffered severely in the battle at Iuka, in the loss of men and equipments, it was, in a very short time again ready for the
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 471
field, and took a prominent part in the battle of Corinth on the third and fourth days of October following (a battle in which eighteen thousand Union troops, under Rosecrans, signally defeated more than twice their number of rebels) nobly maintaining its reputation for efficiency and gallanty. On the. 4th, after the first line in the center had given way, and when the rebels flushed with temporary success were pressing the second line with exultant shouts, the battery poured a destructive and continuous fire upon the advancing rebels, who, although coming within fifty yards, could no longer withstand the murderous discharge of canister from scores of Union guns, but broke and fled.
Subsequently the battery participated in various movements in Northern. Mississippi and West Tennessee. In January, 1863, it was moved to Mem. phis, where its corps the Seventeenth, under Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson was preparing for the Vicksburg campaign. After a futile effort to reach the immediate vicinity of Vicksburg via the Yazoo Pass, the command to which the battery was attached steamed down the Mississippi to Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, where it remained a short time, and then started with the army, under Gen. Grant for the rear of Vicksburg. In the battles of Raymond, Clinton, Jackson, and Champion Hills, the battery bore a prominent part. Also throughout the siege of Vicksburg.
In the many changes consequent upon the re-organization of the army after the capture of Vicksburg, the battery was transferred from its old command-Seventh Division, Seventeenth Army Corps-to a provisional division, and soon after moved with its now command to Helena Ark. Marching with Maj. Gen. Steele's command -the Army of Arkansas-from Helena, about the middle of August, for Little Rock, the battery passed through all the vicissitudes of a long and tedious campaign. In a short but decisive engagement fought near the capital of Arkansas on the 9th of September, 1863, the battery expended about one hundred rounds of ammunition, and both officers and men received the commendations of the General commanding for the ability with which the guns were handled, and for accurate firing at both long and short range. With this battle the active campaigning of the battery may be said to have ceased. It remained at Little Rock until the spring of 1864. About the 1st of April, with other troops, it proceeded to Pine Bluff, Ark., intending to co-operate with Banks in the Red River expedition, but Banks was defeated, and a portion of Steele's forces were halted at Pine Bluff, where the battery remained until its departure for Ohio, to be mustered out. It arrived at Columbus about the 1st of November, 1864, and on the 5th of that month its members were mustered out of service.
Lieut. Sears, already mentioned in the foregoing sketch, was, several months before the battery's term expired, appointed Colonel of a colored regiment. The men whom he enlisted at Upper Sandusky, and with whom he proceeded to St. Louis in September, 1861, joining " Constable's'' soon afterward known as the Eleventh Ohio Independent Battery, were named as follows:
M. D. Butler, H. C. Worley, J. W. Bibby, C. Miller, Ira C. Swazze, M. N. Worly, John Crocheron, James Dewine, James B. Mitchell, M. V. B. Hall, Milo Allen, J, S. Barger, John Ettle, Jerome Woolsey, Lewis Ridling, Henry McLaughlin, Oscar Carpenter, Sherlock Stofer, John F. Hefflebower, John Holland, F. Welch, J. F. Hoover, J. B. Brooks, James W. Towers, J. B. Mowry, S. D. Welch, H. M. Welch, John R. Jury, J. W. Brewer, Stephen Trimble, W. H. Woodcock, W. H. Swazze, Louis B.
472 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY,
Henry, Elias Bringman, John Bringman, Amos B. Alger, D. Baughman, Theodore Allen, Matthew Free, Jacob Everhart, Zachariah Welch.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Besides the companies and regiments of which mention has already been made, there were many others containing Wyandot County men whose record is equally as brilliant. But from the fact that these men served in organizations in each of which the county had but very few representatives, it is an impracticable task to do otherwise than to arrange their names in classified lists as follows:
OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENTS.
Second-Company F, John Pausch.
Third-Company I, J. K Waltermire; Company -, E. Cowgill
Fourth-Company D, N. G. Case, Charles Case, Philip Wickiser; Company H, Joel Straub, Charles Warner, William Burns; Company G, John F. Myers, A. W. Napers.
Sixth-Company I, John C. Lynch.
Eighth-Company A, Sergt. L. Snover, D. 0. Watson, John Beatty, J. H. Nichols, Hiram B. Brown.
Ninth-Company A, Jonas Wohlgamuth; Company F, Buell D. Chapman, Corporal; Ch arles Moessner, private Company H, J. H. Warner.
Eleventh-Company A, William Reiber.
Fourteenth-Company -, Joseph Snider.
Sixteenth-Company G, Thomas Hanna.
Eighteenth- Company H, J. M. Buff, Fifer.
Twentieth-Company K, D. B. Rinehart, First Lieutenant; Company A, R. B. Conant, Sergeant; Company B, C. O. Oldfield; Company Henry Inman.
Twenty -first-Company C, O. L. Cleveland; Company H., J. W. Daish, Corporal.
Twenty-third-Company G, J. A. Brown; Company F, Robert Ewart.
Twenty-fourth-Company K, Joseph Lehman.
Twenty-fifth-Company D, Sergt. T. A. Van Gundy; Privates, Jonas Kamble, G. W. Long, W. H. Mann, Joel Milum, George W. Bogart; Company G, Sergt. G. W. Kriling, Private J. K. Hawk.
Twenty-sixth -Company B, Francis Dawson, Barton Dawson.
Twenty-seventh-Company A, R. I. Murphy.
Thirty-second-Company I, Daniel Stam; Company H, J. S. Van Marter, Second Lieut.
Thirty-third-Company A, Jacob Reuter ; Company C, Jacob Stam; Company D, Milton Tong; Company K, D. W. McConnell.
Thirty- fourth-Company E, Edward Quaintance, Corporal; George W. Rex, G. W. Eckert, John Lumberson.
Thirty-sixth--Company D, J. E, Goodrich, Sergeant; A. G. Barger.
Thirty-seventh-Asst. Surg. A... Billhardt.
Company F-First Lieut. M. W. Blucher.
Sergt, Jacob Schneider.
Privates, Henry Wuscher, Sebastian Glamser, Fred Fahrni, Peter Fahrni, John Michelfetter, J. Altenberger, Jacob Bastel, William Buehrle, Fredrick Waechter.
Other companies:
A-E. G. Bates.
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 473
K-Henry Gerster, John Keller, Qswald Voegel, Nicholas Volker.
Thirty-eighth-Company. C, C. Stury.
Thirty-ninth-Company, K, Joel Cole.
Forty fifth-Company B. W. R. Ramsdell; Company I, William Earp, George Morrison, George H. Morrison, J. W. Wickiser, William Wick. iser; Company K, Adam Lambert, Jesse Lambert, Isaac N. Lane, A.. G. Straw.
Company D-Nathan Rovert, Oliver Robinson.
Fifty-first-Company A, John Bart.
Fifty-third-Company H. H., W. Willingham.
Fifty-fourth-Company G, Privates David Dysinger, David Kauble, Samuel Stalter, Oregon Kerr..
Company K-Capt. William H. Hunt; Private William Brown.
Fifty-seventh-Company F, Privates, Lewis Morehart, Leander Tong, Isaac Wohlgamuth, Lewis Switzer, Jerome Propes, James Switzer, Isaac Switzer, Joseph Glick, Joseph Newel, Andrew Amrine, Marion Esterly.
Other Companies in Fifty-seventh:
B-Sergt. J. F. Kemmel; Private Jacob Rumple.
C-Private George A. Gibbs.
D-Capt. David Ayres, Jr.
G-Capt. E. A. Gordon.
I-Private Samuel Gordon.
Fifty. eight-Company D, Christ. Woessner.
Sixty-first-Company K. Sergts. A. Bope, J. W. Brewer; Corp. Matthew Walton; Privates J. C. Spencer, Isaac Lott, H. Keller, Samuel Longabaugh, Jacob Greek, Nicholas Mott, P. H. Brewer.
Company G-Sergt. Israel Walterhouse.
Jac. Ludwig, Jacob Eckleberry.
Sixty second Company K, John Kriechbaum; Company A, Jacob Kennedy; Company D, Emmanuel Bowlby.
Sixty-fourth-Company A, Joseph Haupt; Company B, Joseph Richmond, E. B. Messenger; Company -, O. E. Fox.
Sixty-fifth-Company D, Privates, George W. Finnell, S. Perry, Theodore Stubbs, F. F. DeTray; Company C, Privates, J. C. Miller, George Zabriska.
Sixty-sixth-Company B, M. A. Parlet; Company E, Isaac Wood; Company H, S. H. Stricker; Company K, John Burk.
Sixty- seventh-Company C, J. O. Duffield.
Sixty- eighth-Company K, H. C. Rime.
Seventy-first-Company O, Jacob McPike; Company not known, John DeBolt, S. Barnhiser.
Seventy-second-Company C, A. P. Kelley; Company D, Orsin Bower, Corporal.
Seventy-third-Company A, Thomas Dawson.
Seventh-sixth-Company K, John McMullen.
Seventh-eighth-Company C, Rush Holloway; Company G, I. Hart, N. Willoughby, L. W. Scott.
Eightieth- Company A, Peter D. Newell.
Eighty- seventh-Company G, Theodore Dame.
Ninety-sixth-Company C, C. O. Oldfield, First Lieutenant; Company E, Thomas H. Carter; Company F, J. E. Breese.
One Hundredth-Company G, Patrick Farley.
One Hundred and Second-Company C, Samuel Miller; Company O, Chester Bowsell; Company D, Samuel Lutz.
474 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
One Hundred and Sixth-Company I, F. Shrank.
One Hundred and Seventh-Company D, John Russell; Company F, Frederick Bush.
One Hundred and Ninth-Company G; William Van Marter.
One Hundred and Thirteenth-George W. Kemp, Assistant Surgeon.
One Hundred and Twentieth-Company B, W. W. Chow.
One Hundred and Twenty-first-Company E, E. G. Bartram; Company G, Job Hoffmire.
One Hundred and Twenty-second-Company F, McDonald Savage.
One Hundred and Twenty-sixth- Company A, Titus Lowmiller, John Whittaker.
One Hundred and Twenty-eighth-Company C, M. M. Starr, Sergeant; George W. Starr; Company D, F. M. Brown.
One Hundred and Thirty-second-Company A, William Plott.
One Hundred and Seventy-fourth-Company H, W. E. Webber, First Lieutenant.
One Hundred and Seventy-fifth-Company I, Sergt. J. H. Plott; Corp. William Baker; Privates, Elias Wentling, J. D. Wickiser, David Spoon, Daniel Spoon, G. H. Carey, A. J. Shellhouse, W. H. Kimmell, Jesse Edg. ington, Henry Cram, L. A. Cole.
One Hundred and Seventy-sixth-Company B, G. Spitzer.
One Hundred and Seventy-seventh-Company B, S. B. Bechtel.
One Hundred and Seventy-eighth-Company G, W. Lundy; Company F, James Williams.
One Hundred and Seventy -ninth-Peter Grubb, Lieutenant Colonel-, Company B, Privates, B. F. Smith, T. C. De Jean, John Keller, G. W. Gregg, G. S. Barber, Joseph Ralston, William Washburn, William Limberson, L. Wilson; Company G, Corp. E. Mutchelknaus; Company H, Jacob Hawdenshield; Company I, Privates, Uriah Bechtel, F. Caldwell, F. H... Chatlain.
One Hundred and Eightieth-Company C, Privates, E. Reynolds, Reuben Inman, J. E. Healey, Martin Inman; Company E, Private Samuel Bare; Company G, Corp. Frederick Scheufler; Company K, Privates, Jacob Opp, drummer, S. D. Blue, Simon Kachly, P. J. Liles, W. H. Moore, William Robey, Thomas M. White.
One Hundred and Eighty-second-Company K, E. R. Earp; Company I, S. G. Liles, Second Lieutenant; Company, A. P. Inman.
One Hundred and Eighty-seventh-Company G, C, Wilt.
One Hundred and Eighty-eighth-Company G, Alfred Epley.
One Hundred and Ninety-second-Privates, Company E, John J. Mayer, John Tirey, J. L. Barick, John Weaver; Company H, Private G. W. Halsay; Company 1, Privates, Isaiah McCleary, John Loubert, Theodore, Henry, J. P. Berleen.
One Hundred and Ninety-fifth-Company B, Park Ludwig, John Wise, A. Hemrick; Company -, C. S. Sherwood.
One Hundred and Ninety-seventh -Company B, W. H. Spore; Company E, Hosea Tong.
One Hundred and Ninty-eighth-Company A, Robert Gerster, J. J. Gerster.
OHIO NATIONAL GUARDS, ONE HUNDRED DAYS' SERVICE.
One Hundred and Thirty-fifth-Company -, Charles Wooley; Company I, L. E. Landon.
HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 475
One Hundred and Thirty- sixth-Company O, Wilbur Brown; Company E, Robert Seaton.
One Hundred and Fifty-fifth-Company F, Henry W. Peters.
One Hundred and Sixtieth-Company G, L. Chilcote.
One Hundred and Sixty third-Company C, Wesley Cashel, First Lieu. tenant.
One Hundred and Sixty-fourth-Company C, C. W. Longwell, Corporal, Company G, H. Dwire.
Regiment not known-Company E, John Freet.
OHIO VOLUNTEER CAVALRY REGIMENTS.
Second-Napoleon B. Brisbine, Surgeon; Company D, F. A. Singer.
Third-Company E, T. P. Miller; Company G, A. J. Caldwell, J. F. Gregg; Company L,. Perry Roswell, Sergeant; G. M. Wisner, Corporal; Ashley Bixby, William Hewing, E. A. Nye, John L. Martin, Andrew Nye, S. A. Shepherd; Company M, J. S Chapin, First Sergeant; L. C. Chapin, John Lindsey, Sergeants; Daniel Clinger, C.. H. Bradley, John Warner, Reese Hunter, Jacob Payne, W. H. Smith, Sergeant; William Young, Sims Irwin, G. B. Harness, William Hollanshead.
Company not known-Nelson Wilkins, Albert Harvey, Henry Lear.
Fourth-Company A, Henry Dodge.
Fifth-R. J. Brennen.
Eighth-Company L, J. M. Henry, First Lieutenant.
A. Fitzgerald, James Fitzgerald, J. Fitzgerald.
Ninth-Company F, L. C. Moody, Sergeant; H. W. Karr, John Karr, H. K. Inman, J. W. Holloway, J. C. Graham, Enos Gatchell, Jacob Gatchell, William J. Gatchell, William H. Branyon; Company, Joseph. McCutchen, Captain; George Sherman.
Tenth-Company B, John Venter; Company H, Daniel Dubbs, Sergeant; Company L, S. T. Jaqueth, Corporal.
Eleventh-Company H, Henry A. Hoffman.
Twelfth-Company A, Abraham Conger, F. M. Wort.
Thirteenth-Company -, S. A. Worley.
Thirtieth-Company L, Frank Kurtz,
____, Company A, J. W. Lilley.
OHIO ARTILLERY COMMANDS, VOLUNTEERS.
First Ohio Heavy Artillery-David Gatchell, William Moore. Second Ohio Heavy Artillery-Henry Larick. Sixth Battery, Light Artillery-Second Lieutenant, Lemuel Krisher.
OTHER STATES.
INDIANA.
Fifth Infantry- -Battery, John Kennedy, H. C. Worley. Eighth Infantry-Company H, John Reiger.
ILLINOIS.
Seventy-seventh Infantry-Company B, J. A. Poyers.
One Hundred and Seventh Infantry -Company C, E. B. Norris.
One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Infantry-Company H, Joseph Coon, Daniel Williams.
Ninth Cavalry-William Walters.
476 - HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.
PENNSYLVANIA.
Eleventh Cavalry-Company M, Irvin Bacon, Captain.
Seventeenth Cavalry-Company A, I. M. Walterhouse.
Fifth Artillery-Company B, John Andrews.
NEW YORK
First Infantry-Company G, W. M. C. Durbarow.
Fifth Infantry-Company C, W. H. Spore.
Ninth Infantry-Company I, A. J. Shuler.
Thirty-second Infantry-Company H, George W. Cyphor.
Thirty-fifth Infantry-Thomas Shuler.
Forty-second Infantry-Company H, J. M. Crawford, Sergeant.
Fifty-eighth Infantry-Company E, G. W. Nibloe, First Lieutenant.
One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Infantry-Company I, P. J. Van Marter. Third Artillery-Company H, George W. Cypher.
Thirteenth Artillery Company E, Christian Birk, Sergeant.
First Light Artillery-Company C, Edgar Ingerson.
Twenty-fourth Cavalry-Company A, James Morrison.
IOWA.
Fourth Infantry-Company D, John Swinehart.
Thirty. fourth Infantry-Company H, David Sheldon.
Thirty-first Infantry-Company D, Edward Brown.
MASSACHUSETTS.
Twenty-first Infantry-Company H, W. T. Durlow.
Fifty-fifth Infantry- Company E, I. W. Brickney, Color Sergeant.
MICHIGAN.
First Infantry-William High.
Third Infantry-Rolando Freet.
Eighth Infantry-Company D, Theodore Freet.
Second Cavalry-Company A, Alfred Foy.
Eleventh Cavalry Company B, Willis Baker, First Sergeant.
MISSOURI.
Twelfth Infantry-Company E, Christian Birk.
Second Cavalry-Company C, J. B. Pool, Second Lieutenant.
KANSAS,
First Infantry-Company H, T. B. Armstrong.
Seventh Cavalry-Company A, George W. Kenan.
CALIFORNIA.
First Infantry-Company A, A. F. Smith, Captain.
Third Infantry-Company I, C. S. Swank, Sergeant.
NEW JERSEY.
Second Cavalry-Company M, George W. Karr.
MARYLAND.
Second Infantry-Company F, E. Thomas.
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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY. - 479
VIRGINIA.
Infantry-Samuel Hart.
LOUISIANA.
Second Infantry-Company A, Christian Birk, Corporal.
COLORADO.
First Infantry-John E. Shepherd.
UNITED STATES.
Eighteenth Infantry-Company F, John Leslie.
Forty-ninth Colored Infantry-Cyrus Sears, Colonel.
Seventh Cavalry-Edward Emptage.
United States Signal Corps-E. P. Shepherd, W. Strahan, M. B. Smith, Allen Smalley, J. W. McKenzie, Thomas 0. McKenzie, A. McLeod, George Litle, J, L. Kaley, Nathan Jackson, C. B. Hare, D. D. Hare, Elijah Brayton, Ira J. Baker, John Carothers, Fred Harpster.
United States Engineer Corps-C. V. D. Worley,
Hospital Surgeon- John A Royer.
James W. White, Surgeon of the United States.
Navy-Robert Bovard, John Reilly, W. H. Morris, R. S Mullholland.
The following soldiers whose regiments and companies were not reported were also accredited to Wyandot County:
G. B. Kelley, D. H. Walton, James F. Rich, I. B. Cross, P. Brashares, Page Blackburn, Peter Parsell, S. C. Anderson, W. S. Bowers, Martin Snyder, J. A. Dumm, William Sweet, Frank Switzer, Murray Switzer, J. A. Ankrum, J. O. Studebaker, J. O. Haner, John Kerr, Nathan Kimball, A. M. Johns, D. H. Young, E. W. Ekleberry, George Bowers, James M. Beam, James Miller.
We conclude this article by adding that Messrs. J. G. Roberts, Samuel H. Hunt, John D. Sears, S. H. White and T. E. Grisell, composed the county military committee during the last years of the war. That from 1861 to 1865 inclusive, the county received credit for one thousand five hundred and forty-five men, of whom only nineteen were drafted. That the total of all quotas called for amounted to one thousand five hundred and fifty; thus a deficit of five men was marked against the county at the close. However, thirty-five of the sixteen thousand non-enlisted "Squirrel Hunters" who hastened toward Cincinnati in August and September, 1862, at the time that city was threatened by the rebel forces under Kirby Smith - were Wyandot County men.