"The volunteers! the volunteers!
I dream, as in the by-gone years,
I hear again their stirring cheers,
And see their banners shine.
What time the yet unconquered North
Poured to the war her legions forth,
For many a wrong to strike a blow,
With mailed hands at Mexico."The volunteers!
the volunteers!
God send us peace through all our years:
But if the cloud of war appears,
We'll see them once again,
From broad Ohio's peaceful side,
From where the Maumee pours its tide.
From storm-lashed Erie's wintry shore.
Shall spring the volunteers once more." |
ON the 4th day
of July, 1845, Texas became a State of our Union.
The Mexican Minister at Washington had, previous to this
time, ceased diplomatic relations with the United
States, and soon after Gen. Zachary Taylor was
ordered to enter Texas with his arms to protect the
border, and by reason of the annexation of Texas it
became evident that war was inevitable. When the
call was made for volunteers in 1846 and 1847 to invade
Mexico and settle the question
-------------------------
*The principal facts in this Chapter are gathered from
a pamphlet written and published by Alvin Rose, who
served in Cmopany E, Fourth Ohio Regiment, in the
Mexican war.
Pg. 16 -
of the annexation of Texas, the young men of Ohio
responded gallantly to the call. The State
furnished four full regiments of infantry, several
companies of cavalry, and quite a large number for the
artillery service - in all upward of sixty companies,
and now but one muster roll can be found on file in the
Adjutant General's office at Columbus.
Quite a number of the young men of this county enlisted
and served in the war against Mexico. A large and
enthusiastic meeting was held in Marysville, and when
volunteers were called for many enrolled their names.
This company went into camp on South Main street, near
the Town Run which passes under the railroad bridge,
where it remained about a week recruiting.
Joshua Brothers, William Clevenger, Jackson Coleshine,
C. P. Cavis, William Graham, George Graham, James
Graham, D. W. Henderson, J. G. Hawkins, John Harrison,
Elisha Glick, James Johnson, J. P. Johnson, Alexander
Oliver, John Price, Alpheus Parmeter, Daniel Reed
and Frederick Smith all of Union County, enlisted
and served in this company, afterward known as Company
E, of the Fourth Ohio Regiment; and G. A. Cassil,
Jonas Clark, C. P. Garlick, Milford Phillips, William
Smith, John Atwood, S. W. Atkinson, Samuel Monroe and
William Palmer served in Company C, of the Third
Ohio Regiment, G. A. Cassil being appointed First
Sergeant of the company. James Cutler, Ebenezer
Carter, E. Higgans, M. Pheasant, Andrew Spratt, George
Skidmore and H. Woodruff, also of Union
County, served in this war, but in different companies.
The majority of the Union County boys enlisted in
Capt. M. C. Lilly's company, of Columbus, and were
assigned to the Fourth Ohio Regiment. We here give
a brief history of that regiment, showing the service of
the Union County soldiers in this regiment.
In the spring of 1847, the excitement consequent upon
the war with Mexico had reached its zenith; the tocsin
of arms had sounded throughout the length and breadth of
the land. From Texas and the Gulf of Mexico to the
lakes and rivers of the North; from the sandy shores of
the Atlantic to the snow-capped mountain of the far
West, was heard the report of battles and victories; and
yet the call for troop to sustain the valor of the
American arms, and "conquer a peace," was constantly
meeting the ears, and moving the hearts of the
patriotic.
On May 29, 1847, a company recruited at Columbus, moved
to Cincinnati, which was the place appointed for the
regimental rendezvous, and was assigned as Company E, of
the Fourth Ohio Regiment, commanded by Col. C. H.
Brough, Lieut. Col. Warner, Maj. Young and Adjt.
Kessler.
On the 1st of July boats were ready in the river
opposite the camp and the regiment took passage for New
Orleans. Company E, under the command of Capt.
M. c. Lilley, was placed on the steamer Alhambra.
New Orleans was reached on the 7th, and after remaining
at this place until the 11th, the troops went on board
the steamer Telegraph, arriving in sight of Brazos
Santiago on the morning of the 16th. The
next morning preparations were made to ascend the Rio
Grande in a boat, the William R. McKee; on the
18th, Matamoras was reached and the regiment went into
camp certain of being in the enemy's country. The
camp was situated nearly opposite to Fort Brown, on the
Texan side, and adjacent to it was a fine parade ground,
of which good use was made every day. In the
latter part of August, orders were received to proceed
to Vera Cruz and march to Gen. Scott's line of
operations. Accordingly, on the 4th of September,
the regiment took steamboats and descended the Rio
Grande to the mouth. Here it remained until the
11th, when shipping being ready at Brazos it marched
over to that place, embarked on board the sail ship
Tahmroo on the 12th, and on the evening of the 15th hove
in sight of the sand hills near Vera Cruz; the following
morning the Tahmroo ran into the bay and cast anchor
near the great castle of San Juan de Ullua.
Having landed the troops, marched to a place about four
miles north of the city and encamped on the beach, a
miserable sandy place backed by the notable sand hills,
and destitute
Pg. 17 -
of every attraction except sea breeze and good water.
On the 19th a brigade was formed of the following
troops: Fourth Ohio Regiment, Fourth Indiana
Regiment, Capt. Simmons' Battalion of Detached
Regulars and the Louisiana Dragoons, all under the
command of Gen. Joseph Lane, of Indiana.
Tents were struck and the long march commenced.
About noon on the following day, as the troops entered
a kind of a woodland the advance guard fell in with a
party of guerrillas, gave them chase and killed and
captured several. In this chase, Lieut. Coleman,
of Columbus, died from the effects of heat and fatigue.
On the 21st the troops again moved forward, but after
marching several miles stopped at Paso de Ovejas, where
they remained until the 25th, then proceeded to Plan del
Rio, and on the morning of the 27th moved forward,
ascending the hills between the river and the heights of
Cerro Gordo. This place, though picturesque in
appearance, in remarkable only form the fact that
here Santa Anna and his army met with a signal
defeat.
On the 1st of October the brigade started on the march
toward the halls of Montezumas; on the 7th arrived at a
place near the Aguas Calientes, or Hot Springs,
and on the 8th proceeded on the way with the
understanding that Santa Anna was at Huamantla and would
probably intercept them at Pass el Pinal. Early on
the morning of the 9th, Gen. Lane drew off all
the troops except the Fourth Ohio, Capt. Simmons'
Battalion and two pieces of artillery, which were left
behind to guard the train, and proceeded toward
Huamantla; when within two or three miles of the place,
he ordered Capt. Walker, with his mounted force,
to gallop on, and if the Mexicans were in considerable
force not to attack them, but await the arrival of the
infantry and artillery. On arriving near the town,
the Captain found that the main body of the enemy had
started for the pass, while perhaps five hundred
remained in the plaza. Upon these he made a
furious charge, killing several of them and dispersing
the rest, while he and his troops took possession of
their artillery and ammunition. But before the
arrival of the infantry, the Captain was surprised by a
charge from some twenty-five hundred lancers. In
this fearful fray, the Captain was mortally wounded and
fell from his horse while encouraging his men to still
withstand the fearful odds against them until the other
troops should arrive. Soon they came to their
relief, and before many minutes the place was cleared of
the enemy. Among the prisoners taken on this
occasion was Col. LaVega, brother to the General
of the same name, also Maj. Iturbide, son of the
former Emperor of Mexico.
On the 11th, the troops entered the pass, and after the
principal part of the train had proceeded some distance,
a wagon in the rear broke down and seven companies of
the Fourth Ohio were left to protect it until another
wagon could be brought back and the baggage shifted into
it. While thus detained, a party of lancers, about
1,500 in number, appeared on the right and to the rear.
The companies immediately concealed themselves behind
some bushes and embankments and coolly awaited the
attack. After considerable firing and maneuvering
on the part of the enemy, the wagon that had been sent
for came rattling and thundering through the mountain
pass, which they probably mistook for the approach of
artillery, and with no little haste these valorous
Mexicans took their exit to the opposite side of the
plain. Continuing the march, the troops arrived at
Amazuque, and, after resting a few hours, pressed
forward, intending to enter Puebla and relieve Col.
Childs and his gallant band before night. On
nearing the city, the clash of arms was distinctly
heard, and also the Colonel firing a salute on his
eighteen-pounder. The troops passed through the
principal parts of the city, only being occasionally
fired at by the foe concealed on the tops of the houses.
This firing was kept up for some minutes, when, being
returned with compound interest, the bells rung for a
truce, and the Mexicans abandoned the city.
The joy of Col. Childs and his men seemed to
have no bounds; and no wonder, for they had been hemmed
up in the north part of the city for nearly a
Pg. 18 -
month, and a good part of that time had been scant of
provisions and water. Day after day had they lived
upon flour, water and coffee, and these not in
abundance. The enemy, finding that Col. Childs
would not surrender the place, had attempted to starve
him out. So destitute of meat were the Colonel's
men that it has been told that they even ate cats!
Their ammunition was so near spent that they had to wrap
six-pound balls to fire from twelve-pound guns.
But upon the arrival of re-enforcements, they sallied
forth, and entering the well-filled meat stores,
appropriated some of the superfluities of their Mexican
neighbors to their own necessities.
On the 19th of October, details from the Fourth Ohio
and other regiments started on an expedition against a
party of Mexicans under Gen. Rea, the noted
guerrilla chief. When about ten miles from Puebla,
the enemy was met and a close conflict ensued;
retreating some distance, they again made a stand, and
fought desperately with the dragoons, but on receiving a
shot or two from the artillery, they again fled and ran
into Atalixco. The loss of life in this engagement
was considerable. The report of the Mexicans was
219 killed and 300 wounded; the Americans, two killed
and one wounded. The forces were about 1,500
Americans, and about the same number of Mexicans.
A detachment of some 300 men was sent to a little town
called Huacalcingo, for the purpose of capturing two
pieces of cannon belonging to the enemy. The guns
were hid on the arrival of the troops, but by a diligent
search they were found and spiked, and the Americans
re-assembled at Puebla, elated with their success and
the probable cessation of hostilities. The stay in
Puebla was somewhat long - from the 12th of October,
1847, to the 2d of June, 1848 - during which time the
prospects of peace and war were alternating with a
regularity perplexing and vexatious to the American
forces. However, after much uncertainty and many
disappointments, about the 1st of May, 1848,
intelligence was received which made the hopes of peace
more warrantable than they had ever been before.
On the 2d of June, orders were received to take up the
line of march for Vera Cruz, and the 3d found the troops
hastening homeward. After being detained at Encero
until the 16th, awaiting the arrival of shipping at Vera
Cruz, the line of march was again resumed, and three
days later the Gulf coast was reached. On the 22d,
they boarded the ship Edgar, of New York, and stood out
to sea; on the 12th of July, arrived at Cincinnati and
on the 20th the companies were disbanded and with glad
hearts the men dispersed to their homes in various
directions.
Many of these soldiers of the Mexican war took a
prominent part of the war of the late rebellion, and not
a few of the boys who enlisted in the late war were
first drilled by these heroes of Buena Vista and in the
old "Scott Tactics."
J. G. Hawkins was Colonel of the Thirteenth
Ohio; Dr. D. W. Henderson was a Surgeon in the
Ninety-sixth Ohio; C. P. Cavis was a Captain in
the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio, and Dr. James
Cutler, was a Captain in the One Hundred and
Twenty-first Ohio, and Dr. James Cutler who has
been a citizen of the county for a number of years, was
a Captain in the First Ohio Cavalry. Some of them
are "sleeping their last sleep" in honored soldiers'
graves, among whom are Col. J. G. Hawkins, killed
at Stone River, and Capt. C. P. Cavis, killed at
Bentonville. A few of them still live, honored
with the well-earned titles of two wars.