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H. A. VAN
EPPS. Thirty years have passed since the "cruel
war" waged between the North and South was ended, and even the
youngest of men who served their country in those dark days are
growing old. But they never tire of the stories of camp
life, of forced marches through the burning heat and deadly
swamps of the South, of hair-breadth escapes and desperate
encounters, or of the dreary days in Libby Prison, or the
lingering horrors of Andersonville and Belle Isle. A few
more years, and these stories will be handed down by their
descendants, for the old soldiers will have answered to their
last roll call, and will have passed beyond, happy in the
thought that they leave behind them a government united and at
peace. While they live, however, it is our privilege to
honor them for their noble deeds, and to show our gratitude for
the bravery and zeal with which they defended the homes and
institutions so dear to us.
It is, therefore, with pleasure that we are enabled to
give the record of the veteran whose name opens this sketch, and
whose recollections of the war are always listened to with
delight, especially at the camp-fires and reunions of the "boys
in blue." Mr. Van Epps is a ready writer, and
portrays most vividly the scenes which were enacted under his
personal observation, especially the story of Grierson's
raid, in which he was an active participant. The limits of
a biographical sketch will not permit an extended account of
Mr. Van Epps' life during the war, but the following brief
story of his career will prove of interest to his many friends
and acquaintances.
H. A. Van Epps was born in Middlebury, Wyoming
Co., N. Y., Mar. 8, 1842, and came of good old Knickerbocker
stock. His father, Charles Van Epps, was born on
the Mohawk river, N. Y., and removed to Middlebury, Wyoming Co.,
N. Y., in 1806. He was a carpenter by trade, and
subsequently engaged in farming; in politics he was a Democrat.
He died in Middlebury in 1854. Our subject's mother, whose
maiden name was Betsy Wilson, was born in Middlebury in
1812, and died in 1893 at the good old age of eighty-one years.
She was the mother of children as follows: Elizabeth,
who married H. M. Choat, and lives in Darien, Genesee
Co., N. Y.; Jane, who died when ten years old; Charles,
who lives on the old homestead in Middlebury, and is fifty-five
years old; H. A., our subject; Fayette, deceased
when quite young; Delphene, who lives in Darien, N. Y.,
and is unmarried; George, who died when fourteen years
old. Mrs. Van Epps' father was a native of Vermont,
of sturdy Yankee ancestors, and held the rank of colonel in the
war of 1812.
The subject of our sketch grew to manhood on the home
farm in Middlebury, assisting his father in agricultural
pursuits and obtaining his schooling in the district schools and
Wyoming Academy. In March, 1861, he went to Carroll
county, Ill., where he was engaged in farming. When the
call to arms sounded throughout the land the patriot blood in
his veins responded, and laying aside all personal
considerations he enlisted Sept. 5, 1861, in Company B, Seventh
Illinois Cavalry, for the three-years' service. When the
three years had expired the Rebellion was still unsubdued, and
on Feb. 10, 1853, he re-enlisted in the same company and
regiment, and remained until the close of the war, being
honorably discharged Nov. 12, 1865, after a continuous service
of four years and two months. During this time he received
several well-earned promotions. In 1863 he was made a
corporal, in 18563 a sergeant, and April 20, 1865, he was
appointed second lieutenant.
During these four years Mr. Van Epps followed
his regiment through a considerable portion of Missouri,
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. He was in
sixty-three engagements, great and small, among which were the
following: The siege of Corinth, in the spring of 1862;
battle of Corinth, in October 1862; Iuka; Coffeeville;
Colliersville; Lynville; West Point; Okalona; Summersville;
siege of Port Hudson; fight at Clinton, La.; Campbellsville,
Tenn.; Shoal Creek, Franklin and Nashville, when Hatch's
brigade, of which he was a member, captured three forts of
redoubts. He was also with his regiment when following
Hood on his retreat from Nashville to the Tennessee river, a
distance of 125 miles. This was a terrible experience, the
marches being made through rain, sleet and snow, and when the
weary soldiers reached Gravel Springs no food was to be
obtained, and for two weeks they lived on parched corn.
Mr. Van Epps also took an active part in the
famous "Grierson Raid," from La Grange, Tenn.., to Baton Rouge,
La. He, with his company, was detached from the balance of
the command and remained alone for five days in the very heart
of the Rebels' country, during which time, it is estimated, they
traveled four hundred miles, being in the saddle night and day
and enduring untold hardships. While on picket duty at
Coldwater, Tenn., guarding a bridge eight miles from camp, the
enemy charged upon his company, capturing all but five of them -
himself among the number - who made their escape by running
across the fields. They finally reached camp at Colliersville,
giving the alarm in time to save the entire command from being
captured, as the enemy shortly made their appearance, expecting
to take the Union soldiers by surprise. They met with a
warm reception instead, and were badly defeated. While
acting as sergeant Mr. Van Epps commanded his company for
five months, and at the second day's battle before Nashville,
while engaged with the enemy in the woods, his captain, who at
the time was acting-major, fell mortally wounded; under Mr.
Van Epps' leadership his little band held the Rebel line in
check while the dying officer was removed from the field.
Mr. Van Epps served under Gens. Rosecrans, Denver,
Hatch, Grierson, Wilson, Thomas, Banks and McPherson,
in different divisions and army corps. While escaping
almost miraculously any serious accident during his long term of
service, he was not without some mishaps. While on drill
in the summer of 1864, he was thrown from his horse and received
a severe injury from which he has never fully recovered.
He was taken with the measles while at Bird's Point, Mo., and
was removed to the hospital at Mound City, Ill., and also spent
about five weeks in the hospital at Town Creek, Ala., suffering
from fever.
After the war was over Mr. Van Epps returned to
his home in New York, where in 1867 he was married to Miss
Ellen Bailey, who died July 16, 1872. To this union
three children were born: Gertrude E.; Leona M., and
Elmer A. Mr. Van Epps was married, the second time, to
Miss Isadora Cornell, who was born at Lindon, Genesee Co.,
N. Y., in 1847. Two children have been born of this
marriage- Ethel A. and Ernest C. Our subject
followed farming with success in New York until he sold out and
came west. Locating in Fremont, in 1881, he purchased the
Starr flouring-mills. These he remodeled to the roller
process, adding the latest improvements, and also erecting fine
elevators. He carried on these mills, doing a large
merchant and domestic business, until the close of the year
1893, when he disposed of this property, and the following April
purchased the flouring-mills and warehouse at New London, Ohio,
and is at present operating the same. During his residence
in Fremont he made many friends and was considered one of the
substantial business men of the town. He served four years
in the city council, and he s past commander of the G. A. R.
[BACK TO INDEX OF NAMES] |
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record
of the counties of
SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO