|
FIRST OHIO CAVALRY.
About fifty men
were recruited in Union County for the First Ohio Cavalry,
and this detachment was assigned about equally to Companies
D and K. They enlisted during the month of August,
1861, under the first call for three years' troops.
Company K was organized at Plain City, the men having
been recruited in Union, Madison and Franklin Counties.
They left Plain City for Camp Chase on the 8th day of
September, 1861, going across the country in carriages and
wagons. A few days later the election of officers was held,
and T. W. Forshee, of Madison County, was elected
Captain; James Cutler, of Union, First
Lieutenant; and A. H. McCurdy, Second Lieutenant; and
W. L. Curry was appointed Orderly Sergeant.
There were no commissioned officers in Company D from
this county, but several of the bravest and best
non-commissioned officers in the regiment were Union County
boys in this company, among whom were Sergeants John
Newlove, Alvin Thompson, Leroy Scott and Thomas Amrine;
and John Barbour, who was appointed Quartermaster
Sergeant of the regiment. The officers of Company D
were from Licking County. Two Captains of this
company were killed in battle - Capt. D. A. B. Moore,
who had been promoted to Major, and Capt. W. H. Scott
- and Lieut. Ira Stevens died of disease.
Page 92 -
Of Company K, Capt. Forshee and
Lieut. McCurdy both resigned in June, 1862, when the command
of the company devolved upon Lieut. James Cutler.
To record the service of the First Ohio Cavalry is to
write the history of every battle of the Army of the
Cumberland, from Mill Springs, 1862, to Nashville, 1864.
This regiment was organized during the summer of 1861, and
was mustered in at Camp Chase on the 5th day of October,
1861. Whitelaw Reid says in his history,
"Ohio in the War:" "It may well be doubted whether
more applicants were ever rejected from a similar
organization in the service or if a nobler band of men in
physical development could possibly have been selected from
the yeomanry of Ohio."
Strict military discipline was inaugurated by Col.
Ransom - who was a regular army officer - in drill,
reports, and everything that pertained to the regular
service of camp duty. On the 9th day of December,
1861, the regiment broke camp, marched through the capital
and embarked on their first campaign, from whence many
comrades were destined never again to return. Arrived
at Cincinnati at daybreak the next morning, took boats and
reached Louisville, Ky., on the morning of the 11th, the
first regiment of cavalry to enter that department save
Wolford's Kentucky regiment; and again quoting from Reid's
history: "The First Ohio was the nucleus of that lost of
cavalry which, under the leadership of Stanley, Crooks,
Mitchell, McCook, Kilpatrick, Long, Minty, Millikin and
Wilson achieved such triumphs for the country and
fame for themselves."
The history of the cavalry of the Southwest -
"its fearless rides, its daring raids, its bloody charges,
its long nights of weary marching, as it carried desolation
and destruction into the very heart of treason" - is a
record of heroic achievements unsurpassed in the annals of
that service.
The regiment remained at Camp Buell, Louisville,
drilling, until the 16th of January, 1862, when orders were
received to join Gen. Thomas, at Mill Springs.
Never will the soldiers of the First Ohio forget that four
days' march to Lebanon, through such rain as can only pour
down in Kentucky and Tennessee, or Camp Frankenberger, where
saddles and equipments were washed off by the mountain
torrents on that memorable night, January 18. On the
19th Lebanon was reached and the regiment halted and resumed
the regular routine of camp duty. While in this camp,
the First Ohio encountered the enemy for the first time and
made its first dash after John Morgan.
On the 14th of February, 1862, the regiment marched
from Bardstown to Louisville, and on the 28th embarked for
Nashville, where it arrived on the 6th of March. On
the 14th, it led the advance of Gen. Buell's army to
Pittsburg Landing, by making a dash in the night to save the
bridge was burned by the fleeing rebels, and swimming their
horses across the river, the cavalry took possession of the
beautiful little city, which it held until the army arrived,
laid pontoons, crossed the river, and made that
ever-memorable march through rain and mud to Pittsburg
Landing, leaving the wagon train and camping for weeks on
the battle-field, without tents, raining constantly, and
drinking the water from ravines draining from dead horses
and men. Here the regiment saw its first real service
in front of the rebel army, as the cavalry stood picket in
advance of the infantry, and was constantly on duty in the
advance on Corinth, skirmishing with the enemy almost daily.
After the evacuation of Corinth and the pursuit of
Bragg's army, the First Ohio went into camp, Company D
having lost in a skirmish at Blackland R. W. Irwin
and James Anderson, wounded. Col.
Smith left the regiment on the 10th of June, and on
the 17th Col. Milliken took command.
The regiment then moved east to Tuscumbia, and was
scattered along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad guarding
bridges. Companies E and K were stationed at
Courtland, Ala., and on the 23d of July B. F. Lucas,
of Company K, was killed near that place.
On the 25th, this detachment, with two companies of
Kentucky infantry, was attacked by a brigade of confederate
cavalry, under Gen. Armstrong, and after a sharp fight the
two companies of infantry and about ten men of Company K -
Lieut. Cutler, W. L. Curry, A. S.
Chears, Lewis Latham, John Patterson,
A. L. Sessler, John Johnson, William
Johnson, J. F. Winters and S. P. Clark
- were taken prisoners. The company was then commanded
by Sergt. John Lucas until October
1862, when Lieut. Cutler, having been
exchanged, returned to the regiment, was promoted Captain,
and commanded the company until he resigned, in March, 1863,
when Sergt. Curry, who had been exchanged in
February, 1863, and promoted to First Lieutenant, took
command of the company. The First Ohio had its full
share of hard service on the counter-march of Buell's
army back to Louisville, Company D losing Marion
Lansdown wounded in a skirmish at Bardstown, Ky.,
October, 1862, then participated in the battle of
Perryville, in which A. W. Lock and J. M. Shultz, of
Company K, were wounded.
It was actively engaged in the advance on Murfreesboro,
losing heavily at Stone River. The list of killed
included Col. Millikin, Maj. Moore,
and Lieut. Conditt; also Wesley Poling, of
Company D, and Adjt. Scott, wounded, with a long list
of heroes unnamed, but of undying fame. "The regiment
fell back from its field of glory, where it had made one of
the most heroic charges of the war, with saddened hearts,
for weltering in his life's blood on the field of carnage,
lay its young and gallant commander. He was mourned by
his comrads as the brave mourn for the brave."
On the 24th of June, 1863, the regiment moved on the
extreme left of the army, and shared in some hard fighting
around Tullahoma and Elk River. In August, Lieut.
Curry was
Page 93 -
transferred to the command of Company M, which he commanded
through the Chickamauga campaign. In the advance of
Chattanooga, the First Ohio, under command of Lieut. Col.
Cupp, crossed the Tennessee River September 2, and was
conspicuous in the expedition under Gen. Stanley in
the attempt to cut the railroad south of Chattanooga.
after a severe encounter with a large force of the enemy
near La Fayette, Ga., it passed up the Chattanooga valley,
reached the battle-field of Chickamauga early on the morning
of September 20, and lost heavily in the engagement of that
day. Col. Cupp was killed while forming the
regiment for a charge. His death was a severe blow to
the regiment, as he was universally beloved. Of the
900 men composing the Second Brigade, 134 were killed and
wounded. Company K lost in this engagement
Abe Orr, killed, and Sergt. J. W. Chapin, J. F.
Young, William Hiser and C. S. Irwin, wounded and
Lieut. Curry and C. Ziebold had horses shot
under them. After falling back to Chattanooga, the
troops were allowed no rest, but on the 26th of September
started on the famous raid, driving Wheeler's cavalry
from Washington, Tenn., to Muscle Shoals, Ala., taking more
than 1,000 prisoners and several pieces of artillery.
In an engagement at Washington, Tenn., with Gen.
Wheeler's cavalry, October, 1863, John Newlove,
of Company D, was taken prisoner, and of Company K, Sergt.
C. Byers, E. Garner and P. E. Goff were
wounded, and James Henry, Sergt. E. Young, James Stanton,
David Nedrow and Fred Wedo were taken prisoners.
P. E. Goff, E. Garner and Fred Wedo died
in Andersonville Prison. The regiment then returned to
Chattanooga and took part in the assault upon Mission Ridge,
where William Johnson, of Company K, was
killed, and Thomas Amrine, of Company D, was
wounded. After the battle of Mission Ridge, the irst
moved to the relief of Burnsides, at Knoxville, being
the first regiment to reach that city, having several
skirmishes on the way, and capturing many prisoners.
On the 16th of December a detachment of the regiment
made a brilliant charge at Calhoun upon a rebel brigade
commanded by Gen. Wheeler, with a lost of one killed
and three wounded, and capturing 130 prisoners.
In November, 1863, Lieut. Curry again took
command of Company K, re-enlisted with the regiment in
January, 1864, and after the fall of Atlanta was appointed
Captain on the 14th of December, 1864, but the company was
so much reduced in numbers he could not be mustered as
Captain.
After the veteran furlough the regiment was
re-organized at Nashville, and on the 22d of May, 1864,
started to join the advancing column of Sherman's
army near Rome, Ga., encountering the enemy near Decatur,
Ala., on the 26th, and in the skirmish which followed,
Corp. Samuel Darrah, of Company K, captured the flag of
the Seventh Alabama Cavalry. Darrah was a brave
and gallant soldier. After the war, he emigrated to
Missouri, where he died a few years ago. On the 27th,
the First Ohio took part in the engagement at Courtland,
losing on this occasion five men wounded, and on teh 29th
participated in a severe skirmish at Moulton, with a loss of
twenty killed and wounded. Of Company K. H.
George was killed and L. Cooper wounded.
The regiment was in the memorable "one hundred days
under fire" from Chattanooga to Atlanta, losing severely.
Of Company D, Daniel Shobbell was killed near
Atlanta. The losses of Company K in this campaign were
Thomas Armstrong, Jeremiah Griffith and George
Pearl, killed, and William Hiser, J. W. Robins
and J. M. Shultz wounded.
When Hood attempted to cut Sherman's
communication between Atlanta and Chattanooga, the First
Cavalry followed in pursuit and was engaged in several sharp
fights, and when Sherman commenced preparations for
his march to the sea, it joined the forces under Gen.
Thomas, and after the victory at Nashville, rendezvoused
at Gravelly Springs until March, 1865. On the 1st of
April the regiment with Gen. Alexander's division
gained a brilliant victory over Forrest's cavalry at
Ebenezer's Church, Company K losing Sergt. E. P. Allen
killed and John M. Shultz, wounded. On the 2d
of April, Selma, Ala., was taken after a hard struggle.
The last fight of the First Ohio Cavalry was at
Columbus, Ga., which was captured by a bold saber charge,
Company K losing William Griffith, wounded, on this
occasion.
A detachment of the First Cavalry under command of
Capt. J. O. Yeoman, was with the command that captured
the President of the Confederacy, among whom was John
Newlove, of Company D, and J. F. Young, of
Company K, both of Union County. Of the $100,000
reward paid for the capture of "Jeff Davis," Capt. Yeoman
received $3,000 and Newlove and Young, $402
each.
The regiment garrisoned Georgia and South Carolina from
April until September, then returned to Ohio and was
mustered out at Camp Chase on the 28th of September, 1865,
after four years; hard service, Company D having lost ten
men on the field and in the hospitals, and twenty-eight
taken prisoner, making a total loss of thirt-eight, and
Company K having lost nine killed, twelve died in hospitals,
twelve wounded and ten taken prisoner, making a total loss
of forty-three.
During its term of service, Company D lost by death
James NEwman, Lieut. Ira Stevens and Harry Hildreth,
and of Company K. Martin Brant, William Newland, David
Anderson, E. Garner, Fred Wedo, Francis Jones, J. S. Ewing
and H. D. Warner, died.
The First Ohio Cavalry carried on its muster-roll
nearly 1800 names and mustered out at Camp Chase 701 men.
It has a long roll of gallant heroes who were klled
on the field of
Page 94 -
battle, many wasted and died of diseases in the hospitals
and prison pens of the South. Of those mustered out of
service eighteen years ago, many are sleeping their last
sleep in honored graves. Col. T. J. Patton was
killed in a railroad collision on the Louisville &
Memphis Railroad. Maj. J. W. Scott, Maj. J. C.
Frankenberger, Lieut. A. Overlly, Lieut. T. Scott, Capt. L.
Pickering and Sergeon John Cannan are all dead.
Thus one by one they are being mustered out of life's
service. This regiment has written in characters of
blood upon its battle-flag, Corinth, Perryville, Stone
River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Kenesaw, Atlanta,
Jonesboro, Lovejoy and skirmishes numbered by the score.
True it was no braver nor better than other regiments.
Its roll of honored dead was no larger than many others, but
it never failed to respond to any call that was made upon
it. The unnumbered and unlettered graves of the Fiist
Ohio are scattered over every battle-field of the Army of
the Cumberland.
COMPANY A.
Corp. S. J. Robertson, e. Mar. 31, 1863, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
COMPANY D.
Sergt. Thomas H. Amrine, e. Aug.
31, 1861, wounded at Mission Ridge, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Sergt, John Newlove, e. Aug. 26, 1861, taken prisoner
at Washington, Tenn., October, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Sergt. L. L. Scott, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Oct. 6,
1864.
Sergt. Alvin Thompson, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Oct. 6,
1864.
Corp. M. C. Cole, e. Aug. 26, 18611, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Corp. Chas. J. Scott, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Barbour, John, e. Aug. 26, 1861, died at Marysville,
Ohio, Oct. 6, 1862.
Burrows, Enoch, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Cross, Robert, e. 1861.
Cole, Joshua, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Chapman, G. W., e. August, 1861, disc. October, 1864.
Foot, Horace L., e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. October, 1864.
Hildreth Harry, e. August 26, 1861.
Halliday, Thomas, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Irwin, R. W., e. Aug. 31, 1861, disc. June 20, 1865,
wounded at Blackland, Mississippi.
Kipp, William H., e. Aug. 5, 1861.
Lansdown, Marion, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. 1862.
Lee, Howard, disc. at Corinth, Mississippi.
Montgomery, H. D., e. Sept. 5, 1861, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Montgomery, G. W., e. Sept. 5, 1861.
Montgomery, B. B., e. Sept. 1863.
Martin, John, e. Aug. 31, 1864.
Newgent, William, e. Aug. 26, 1861, disc. Sept. 13,
1865. Died at home.
Powers, William.
Powers, J. W., e. Mar. 9, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Tracy, D., e. Aug. 31, 1861, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Turner, Taylor, e. Feb. 23, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
COMPANY E.
McKim, John, e. August, 1861, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
COMPANY H.
Pyers, Emett, e. Aug. 26, 1861,
disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
COMPANY K.
Capt. William L. Curry, e. Sept.
8, 1861, taken prisoner at Courtland, Ala., July, 1862,
promoted Second Lieutenant June 1862, first Lieutenant Mar.
31, 1863, and Captain, Dec. 14, 1864; disc. Dec. 30, 1864.
Capt. James Cutler, e. Sept. 30, 1861, taken prisoner
at Courtland, Ala., July, 1862, disc. Apr. 20, 1863.
Sergt. Franklin P. Allen, e. Sept. 13, 1861, killed at
Ebenezer Church, Ala., Apr. 1, 1865, promoted First
Lieutenant Mar. 1865.
Sergt. Cornelius Byers, e. August, 1861, taken prisoner
at Washin6ton, Tenn., Sept. 30, 1863. In Libby
and Andersonville seventeen months.
Sergt. Patterson Bradley, e. Sept. 23, 1861.
Sergt. A. S. Chears, e. Sept. 24, 1861, disc. Oct. 6,
1864.
Sergt. John W. Chapin, e. Sept. 24, 1861, wounded at
Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 20, 1863, disc.Oct. 6, 1864.
Sergt. C. S. Irwin, e. Apr. 23, 1861, Sixteenth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry, three months, disc. Aug. 18, 1861; e.
Sept. 27, 1861, wounded at Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 20, 1863,
disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Sergt. James W. Robbins, e. Oct. 1, 1861, wounded at
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 27, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Sergt. Elliott Young, e. Sept 23, 1861, taken prisoner
at Washington, Tenn., Sept. 30, 1863, in Libby and
Andersonville prisons seventeen months, disc Mar. 14, 1865.
Corp. William Griffith, e. Sept. 24, 1861, wounded at
Columbus, Ga., Apr. 16, 1865, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Corp. A. A. Hill, e. Feb. 15, 1862, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Corp. William B. Harriott, e. eb. 26, 1864, disc. Sept.
9, 1865.
Corp. A. W. Lock, e. Oct. 1, 1861, wounded at
Perryville, Ky., October, 1862.
Corp. John M. Shultz, e. Sept. 22, 1861, wounded at
Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June, 1864, and at Ebenezer Church,
Ala., Apr. 1, 1865, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Corp. John F. Young, e. Sept. 28, 1861, wounded at
Chickmauga, Ga., Sept. 20, 1863, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Armstrong, Thomas, e. Aug. 13, 1861, killed at Atlanta,
Ga., August, 1864.
Anderson, David, e. Sept. 23, 1861, died at Corinth,
Miss., May, 1862.
Bull, Eugene M., e. Feb. 26, 1864, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Brant, Martin, e. Sept. 25, 1861, died at Louisville,
Ky., Jan. 1862.
Bidwell, M., e. Feb. 27, 1864, dis. Sept. 13, 1865.
Clark, S. P., taken prisoner at Courtland, Ala., July
1862.
Clements, J. C., e. Sept. 22, 1861.
Chapman, S. W., e. Sept. 26, 1861.
Corporal Darrah, Samuel, e. Sept. 24, 1861, captured
flag of Seventh Alabama Cavalry, at Decatur, Ala., May 26,
1864, died in Missouri.
Evans, E. D., e. Feb. 26, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Ewing, James S., e. Feb. 1864, died at Columbus, Ohio,
Mar. 19, 1864.
Fox, Henry C., e. Sept. 3, 1861.
Gill, James, e. Oct. 20, 1861, died at Corinth, Miss.,
July, 1862.
George, Hannibal, e. Feb. 26, 1864, killed at Mouton,
Ala., May 29, 1864
Goff, Presley E., E. Oct. 15, 1861, sounded at
Washington, Tenn., died in Andersonville, Prison.
Garner, Edward, died in Andersonville Prison.
Garner, A. M., e. Feb. 26, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Griffith, Jeremiah, e. Feb. 16, 1864, killed at Kenesaw
Mountain, Ga., June 16, 1864.
Henry, James, E. September, 1861, taken prisoner at
Washington, Tenn., Sept. 30, 1863 in Libby and
Andersonville, Prison.
Hiser, William, e. Aug. 15, 1861, wounded at
Chickamauga, E.
Hill, Edward A., e. Aug. 15, 1861, killed at Pint Rock,
Ala, Dec. 1863.
Hill, Augustus, e. February, 1864, disc. Sept, 28,
1865.
Hahn, D. G., e. Mar. 29, 1865, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Jones, Francis, e. Feb. 26, 1864, drowned in Cotton
Indian Creek, Ga., Aug. 21, 1864.
Johnson, William, e. Nov. 24, 1861, killed at Cleveland
Tennessee, Nov. 24, 1863.
Page 95 -
Lucas, B. f., e. Sept. 27, 1861, killed at Courtland,
Ala., July 23, 1862.
Newland, William, drowned in Cumberland River, near
Clarksville, Tenn., March, 1862.
Nedrow, David, e. Sept. 10, 1861, taken prisoner at
Washington, Tenn., September, 1863, disc. Jan. 26, 1865.
Orr, A. S., e. Sept. 18, 1861, killed at Chickamauga,
Ga., Sept. 20, 1863.
Pearl, George, e. Sept. 22, 1861, killed at Lovejoy,
Ga., Aug. 20, 1864.
Ruehlen, S. H., e. Nov. 28, 1861, disc. Dec. 4, 1864.
Ruehlen, William, e. Sep. 28, 1861, disc. Sept. 13,
1865.
Robbins, D. M., e. Feb. 26, 1864, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Robbins, Z. S., e. Feb. 23, 1864, disc. Jan. 12, 1865
Stamats, M. E., e. Oct. 1, 1861, disc. October, 1864.
Spicer, O. L., e. Oct. 1, 1861.
Thompson, M. F., e. Feb. 23, 1864, disc. June 16, 1865.
Thompson, Milton L., e. Feb. 23, 1864, disc. June 26,
1865.
Tway L. B. e. Oct. 26, 1861, disc. Sept. 13, 1865.
Wedo, Frederick, e. Sept. 24, 1861. Died in
Andersonville prison.
Warner, H. D., e. Feb. 25, 1864. Died at
Nashville, Tenn., Apr. 2, 1864.
Veterinary Surgeon John F. Winters, e. Sept. 25, 1861,
disc. Oct. 6, 1864. Taken prisoner at Courtland, Ala.,
July 25, 1862.
THIRD OHIO CAVALRY
The Third Ohio Cavalry
was organized in September, 1861, under Col. Lewis Zahm.
It operated with Buell in Tennessee, took part in the
siege of Corinth and was engaged in the battle of
Chickamauga. It joined Sherman's Atlanta
campaign, participating in the engagement at Kenesaw, Peach
Tree Creek and Decatur. After the fall of Atlanta it
followed in pursuit of Hood, fighting at Franklin and
Nashville; then joined the Wilson raid through
Alabama and Georgia, losing heavily at Selma. This
regiment was mustered out Aug. 14, 1865.
COMPANY D.
Hill, N. N.,
COMPANY F.
Wood, Frank
FIFTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The Fifth Ohio Cavalry
was organized in August, 1861, under Col. H. H. Taylor.
It took an active part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing,
the siege of Corinth, and in the engagement at Davis
Mill. It was present at the battle of Chattanooga, and
followed Sherman to Knoxville. It joined the
Atlanta campaign, and having lost most of its horses, acted
as infantry. It was attached to Kilpatrick's
command, and with him marched to the sea, and moved through
the Carolinas, fighting and raiding all the way. After
the war, this regiment served in North Carolina until
mustered out Oct. 30, 1865.
COMPANY H.
Sergt. Miles Gregory, e.
February, 1862, disc. 1865.
Carter, John
COMPANY C.
Gleason, Charles
Henninger, Joseph
COMPANY M.
Lyttle, Samuel, e. Dec. 26,
1864, disc. Nov. 21, 1865.
COMPANY K.
Weldon, Robert, e. Aug. 10,
1864, disc. 1865, wounded at Deep Bottom, Va.,
SIXTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The Sixth Ohio Cavalry
was organized in October, 1861, under Col. William R.
Lloyd. It served in the Shenandoah Valley, and was
engaged in the battles of Cross Keys, Cedar Mountain and the
second Bull Run. It took part in the advance on
Fredericksburg, and in the battles of Kelly's Ford and
Gettysburg. It participated in the number of
engagements in Meade's advance on the Rapidan. In the
spring of 1864, the Sixth joined Grant's advance on
Richmond, taking part in the many hard-fought battles
culminating in the fall of that place. It was mustered
out in August, 1865.
COMPANY M.
Bugler, T. W. Burns, e. Dec. 1,
1864, disc. June 7, 1865, taken prisoner at Vaughn's Road,
1864, wounded at Habaker's Run, 1865.
COMPANY C.
McClerg, John, e. June 13, 1861,
disc. 1864.
SEVENTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The regiment was
organized Oct. 3, 1862, under Col. Israel Garrard.
It operated n Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, and in
July, 1864, joined Sherman's Atlanta campaign, fighting
almost daily. After the fall of Franklin and
Nashville, then followed in the pursuit of Hood
across the Tennessee. In March, 1865, it joined
Wilson's raid, fighting its way to Selma, Ala., and
while pursuing the enemy to Andersonville, the news of
Lee's surrender was received. The Seventh Ohio was
mustered out July 4, 1865.
COMPANY A.
Baxley, W. W.
COMPANY F.
Sergt. J. S. Howland, e.
Oct. 8, 1862, disc. 1865, wounded at Danridge, Tenn.,
Dec. 31, 1863.
EIGHTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The Eighth Ohio Cavalry was
organized Mar. 28, 1864, under Col. Samuel A. Gilbert.
It moved to Virginia, and in June joined Averill's
raid on Lynchburg. It engaged the enemy at Liberty,
and again at Beverly. A part of the regiment
participated in the battles of Winchester, Fiseher's Hill
and Cedar Creek.
In January, 1865, the enemy surprised the camp and
captured 500 officers and men. They were taken to
Libby Prison, where they remained until exchanged in
February. The regiment was mustered out in August,
1865.
COMPANY E.
Price, E. L., e December, 1863,
disc. July 30, 1865.
COMPANY F.
Slagle, James F., e. Mar. 7,
1864, disc. July 30, 1865.
Page 96 -
COMPANY I.
McNier, William H., e.
Apr. 14, 1864, disc. July 30, 1865, died at home in 1868.
NINTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The organization of this
regiment was commenced in December, 1862. In
April, 1863, four companies, designated as the First
Battalion of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, entered the field in
Kentucky; but it was not until December, 1863, that the
regiments was completed by the organization of the second
and third Battalions. It moved to Athens, Ala., to
patrol the Tennessee River.
In July 1864, it joined the Atlanta campaign, marched
to the sea, fighting at Waynesboro; moved through the
Carolinas, participating in the engagements at Aiken,
Averysboro, Bentonville and Raleigh, and after Johnston's
surrender, was mustered out Aug, 2, 1865.
COMPANY C.
Sergt. James McCune, e. 1862,
disc. 1865.
COMPANY G.
Bailey, S. S., e. June,
1863, disc. August, 1865.
TENTH OHIO CAVALRY
The Tenth Ohio Cavalry
was organized in October, 1862, under Col. Charles C.
Smith. It operated with the Army of the Cumberland
in Tennessee, participated in the battle of Chickamauga, and
was actively engaged in all of Kilpatrick's movements
during the Atlanta campaign. It followed Sherman
to the sea, fighting at Macon, Griswoldsville, Waynesboro,
and other places along the route; then moved north through
the Carolinas. It was mustered out July 24, 1865.
COMPANY A.
Flowers, Edward, e. Dec.
4, 1862, disc. July 24, 1865.
Voris, John H., e. Dec. 4, 1862, died at Sweetwater,
Ga., Aug. 16, 1864, of wounds.
COMPANY B.
Saddler, Heath Stewart, e. Oct.
17 1862, taken prison er Nov. 24, 1864.
Powell, Henry e. Oct. 7, 1862, disc. 1865.
Smith, M. B., e. Oct. 10, 1862, disc. July 24, 1865.
Turner, William N., e. Feb. 10, 1862, died ____ ____,
Tenn., June 28, 1863.
COMPANY C.
Mullen, Daniel, e. Feb. 25,
1864, disc. July 24, 1865.
COMPANY D.
Mattox, John A., C. D., e. May
7, 1861, disc. June 17, 1865.
Wright, Alonzo, e. Sept. 17, 1864, disc. July 24, 1864.
COMPANY E.
Sergt. J. P. Martin, e. Aug. 18,
1862, disc. Oct. 18, 1865.
COMPANY M.
Sergt. Thomas Moore, e. June 6,
1863, disc. Jan. 24, 1865, died at Richwood, Ohio, in 1868.
Corp. Sherman McBratney, e. Apr. 7, 1863, disc. July
24, 1865.
Bosh, James D., e. June 7, 1863, disc. July 24, 1865.
Bosh, W. J., e. June 7, 1863, disc. July 24, 1865.
George, James S., e. Apr. 10, 1862, disc. July 24,
1865.
Linder, Wallace, e. Apr. 1, 1863, disc. July 24, 1865.
Linder, William W., e. Apr. 6, 1863, disc. July 24,
1865.
McIntire, Darius, e. June 1, 1863, disc. Nov. 2, 1864,
ELEVENTH OHIO CAVALRY.
This regiment was
organized by battalions; the organization being completed in
July, 1862, was assigned to Indian warfare. It has
about 1,000 miles of country to picket and was engaged in
almost innumerable skirmishes. The ground of its
operations was in the center of the Rocky Mountains, and
embraced portions of Nebraska, Dakota, Colorado, Utah,
Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The first Battalion was
mustered out Apr. 1, 1865 and the remaining companies not
until July, 1866.
COMPANY C
Corp. Anson Baughman, e. Dec.
12, 1861, disc. Apr. 1, 1865.
Benedict, W. H., e. Aug. 25, 1864, disc. 1865.
COMPANY F.
Benedict, John B., e. 1861,
disc. 1862.
COMPANY G.
Sergt. Calvin Holbrook, e. June
12, 1863.
Finch, S. J., e. June 12, 1863, disc. 1865.
Gearheart, George, e. June 10, 1863.
COMPANY K.
Ports, William, e. Feb. 23,
1864, disc. July 14, 1866.
TWELFTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The order for raising this
important regiment was issued on the 20th of August, 1863.
So zealous were the officers instructed with this care, and
so filled with patriotic impulses were the true men that
responded to the call that on the 24th day of November,
1863, the regiment was organized complete and ready for
whatever duty awaited it. The men furnished from Union
County were assigned to Company C.
While the organization was yet incomplete, six
companies were called to Johnson's Island to guard prisoners
and meet, if need be, the threatened invasion of rebels from
Canada, intent on releasing the 3,000 imprisoned rebel
officers there. The companies thus employed were A, C.
D, F, I and L. The other companies were quartered at
Camp Chase until February, 1864, when the whole regiment was
brought together at Camp Dennison. Here it was
mounted, armed and vigorously drilled until the 27th day of
March, when it started to the front and entered upon its
memorable career.
Its first duty was to assist Gen. Burbridge
in breaking up the armed bands of guerrillas and
bashwhackers in Kentucky. Scattering itself over that
State, it soon became a terror to marauders and rebel
sympathizers, dispersed the guerrillas and restored order.
This task accomplished with commendable promptness, the
Twelfth joined in an expedition against Saltville, Va.
But after a toilsome journey of several days, it was halted
and turned about to make one of the most rapid marches known
to warfare, traveling over 180 miles in fifty hours.
It struck the rebel forces at Mt. Sterling, Ky., on the 9th
of June, 1864, and gallantly led the charge. In this
battle the regiment fought many times its number, but never
for a moment wavered. At one time sixty men of the
Third Battalion,
Page 97 -
mostly from Company C, fought a rebel regiment for thirty
minutes, losing many precious lives, but holding its ground
till help came. Of this devoted little band, Union
County furnished Joseph Smith, Hylas S. Moore and
J. L. Cameron, others now living here Edward Routs,
Frederick Keller, Uriah Jolley and John Van Pearse,
of Company M.
For its gallantry the Twelth was complimented at
teh close of the fight by Gen. Burbridge, who
remarked that it had saved the day for him. These
laurels were dearly bought for the loss of the regiment all
told was 197 men. Of these were Maj. Moderwell
shot through the abdomen, (afterward recovered); Capt.
Hunter, through shoulder; Orderly Sergt. Alfred
Wetterige and Corp. Conner, killed, and many
other of Company C wounded, among whom were J. O. Sweet,
Peter Black, William Blue, Jefery Williams and Bently
Williams.
The battle lasted all day, and
at night the regiment remained on the battle-field.
Company C, chosen for special guard duty, got no rest.
Three days and nights' marching and fighting was now to be
followed by a gallop of thirty-three miles to Lexington on
the 10th; fresh horses drawn and on to Paris, Ky., on the
11th. Awaiting here for supplies and ammunition until
evening, the regiment again mounted and forward for a
nights' march to Cynthiana. Early on the morning of
the 12th of June, while darkness was yet so dense that the
lurid jets of powder flame blazed from the carbines, the
regiment was leading the charge again in battle, sustaining
itself heroically, and gaining a complete victory in this
engagement. On the 14th of June the regiment received
the thanks and congratulations of President Lincoln
and the Secretary of War, and was again complimented for its
gallantry by the commanding General.
Again braking into detachments, the Twelfth scattered
over Kentucky, dispersing marauders and keeping order, until
the month of September, when it concentrated at Mount
Sterling and again started with Gen. Burbridge's
expedition to Saltville, Va.
The expedition led over 300 miles without provision, trains,
tents or ambulances, was cause of much privation,and on
the 2d of October was again at its accustomed place leading
the advance into one of the most hotly contested battles of
the war.
The rebel fortifications were in the deep mountain
gorges and rendered operations by mounted men impossible,
yet, dismounted, the Twelfth made again and again its famous
carbine charges and reaching well up to the enemies' works.
All day long the battle raged in the mountain fastness, but
toward the close of the day ammunition was exhausted and the
rebel forces re-enforced by 5,000 of Gen. Early's
fresh troops, and Gen. Burbridge was compelled to
abandon the expedition. Company C had all day been
doing duty on the body guard of Gen. McLane and its
couriers dashed here and there through the battle carrying
orders. A rapid retreat began, and as it still had
ammunition Company C was detailed a special guard for the
rear, and many times during that disastrous night and the
following day did this devoted little band halt in the
mountain passes and hold the pursuing foe in check while the
retreating column hurried on.
Forty-nine men of the Twelfth lay dead or wounded on
the field of battle this eventful day.
Returning to Lexington the regiment re-organized, drew
fresh horses and supplies, and on the 10th of November was
again in the saddle marching toward Cumberland Gap.
Reaching that point on the 26th, scattering again, it
was engaged a short time destroying bands of marauders
around Bean Station and Rodgersville. Gen. Stoneman
now took command, and being joined with Gen. Gillem
the whole force, including the Twelfth, was in the earlier
part of December marching in a third expedition against
Saltville. On the morning of December 15, Kingsford
was reached a strong rebel force appeared on the opposite
banks of the river. Halting his column, Gen.
Stoneman sent Gillem to cross above and prepare
for battle. The impatience of the Twelfth knew no
bounds when in sight of the gray uniforms and eagerly they
awaited the bugle sound to charge. That coming, with a
wild yell they galloped up to the horses; joints in water to
the opposite bank; opening a fire from carbines, and
revolvers at short ranges the enemy was for a moment
confused and Gen. Gillem then coming up aided to
complete the rout.
Pursuit was given, and many of the enemy lay dead along
the road, as the Twelfth poured into their fleeing ranks
volley after volley from their carbines. Hurrying
forward, Bristol was reached just before day. The
Yankees dashed in, and in less than half an hour Bristol,
with all its immense stores, was ours. Halting to
complete the destruction of the rebel supplies and tearing
up the railroad, the column again pushed forward to
Abington. At Abington, Company F, of the Twelfth, a
special escort of Gen. Burbridge, led the charge, and
the regiment following, that place was taken, with a large
number of prisoners and immense military supplies.
Sergt. Sherburn of Company F, and Lieut.
Holt were both wounded, the former fatally.
Several others of the regiment were wounded.
Pushing on, the column struck the army of the rebel
Gen. Vaughn which soon broke in confusion, and the boys
of the regiment joined in a headlong chase of five miles,
with drawn sabers. Many pieces of artillery were here
taken.
Without halting, the troops pushed on, and on the 12th
the regiment had the grim satisfaction of leading the charge
into Saltville, capturing the place where so many prisoners
were lost a few months previous. Every vestige of the
place was destroyed. Returning, Wytheville was cap-
Page 98 -
tured, and many skirmishes were had in the surrounding
country. At the close of the day on the 17th, a
desperate battle was fought with the troops of Breckenridge
and Vaughn, near Marion. Here the brave Orderly
Sergeant, John Van Pearse, of Company M, was
seriously wounded while aiding to form the line.
Maj. Moderwell, the favorite of the regiment,
was again among the wounded. Returning from this raid,
the regiment collected at Lexington to draw fresh horses and
close up the broken ranks. Scattering again, it was a
short time doing general patrol duty and looking after rebel
sympathizers and bushrangers in Kentucky; coming together
again the last of February, at Louisville, Ky., the whole
joined Stoneman's command and embarked for Nashville by
river. On through to Murfreesboro, and thence to
Knoxville, where a veteran brigade was formed by uniting the
Twelfth Ohio, Fifteenth Pennsylvania and Tenth Michigan
Cavalries. On the 20th of March, this brigade was in
motion marching out to Strawberry Plains, thence on through
Bull's Gap, Jonesboro to Yadkin River. The stream was
badly swollen, and several comrades drowned. Uriah
Jolly was rescued here by Comrade Cameron.
Pausing a short time to close up the ranks, the
forces swept on galloping through Jacksonville, on to the
line of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad at Christiansbury.
This road was torn up and destroyed for many miles.
Sweeping down into North Carolina, the Danville & Richmond
Railroad was struck and destroyed for a great distance.
Hastening on, the troops brought up before Salisbury, a
rebel force under Pemberton with several pieces of artillery
came out to defend the town Scarcely halting, the
twelfth led on the charge, and in spite of all opposition,
Salisbury was soon in flames, many Union prisoners were
released, and immense quantities of military stores
consigned to the flames. On the 17th of April, the
regiment marched on to Lincolnton, which place was captured
by a charge led by Company C, of the Twelfth, under
Lieut. Stewart; 200 picked men, under Maj. Moderwell
were now chosen to march eighty miles to the Catawba River
crossing and destroy the bridge of the Charlotte & South
Carolina Railroad. On the morning of the 30th, they
came across the forces of Vaughn and Duke.
Sweeping down upon them, cut their way through, captured
thirty-five prisoners, a large quantity of small arms and
two pieces of cannon and some seven officers and 223 men;
patroling the prisoners on the spot, the command returned to
the regiment at Dallas, Company C having some wounded, but
not fatally. On the 23d, the regiment started for
Knoxville; but learning that President Lincoln had
been assassinated, they joined in a head-long chase after
Davis. Finally returning to Sweet Water, Tenn.,
thence on to McMinnville, thence to Nashville, on the 24th
of November, the regiment was discharged. Of 1, 462
men, only 628 remained.
Thus melted away and passed into history the brave and
patriotic Twelfth Ohio Cavalry.
COMPANY C.
Corp. William Bushing, e. Sept.
26, 1863, disc. Nov. 14, 1865.
Corp. Jesse L. Cameron, e. Oct. 23, 1863, disc. Aug.
31, 1865.
Corp. Uriah Jolly, e. Oct. 15, 1863, disc. Nov. 14,
1865.
Channell, William S., e. Sept. 7, 1863, died in
hospital at Lexington, Ky., Aug. 10, 1864.
Moore, H. S., e. Oct. 5, 1863, disc. Nov. 14, 1865.
Routt, E. E., e. Sept. 7, 1863, disc. Nov. 14, 1865.
Smith, Joseph, e. Oct. 21, 1863, disc. Nov. 14, 1865.
COMPANY D.
Edgar, Jacob, e. Oct. 1, 1863,
disc. Oct. 1, 1865.
COMPANY I.
Ackely, Jacob, e. Nov. 6, 1863,
disc. Nov. 14, 1865.
COMPANY K.
Corp. William H. Davis, e. Sept.
27, 1863, disc. Oct. 12, 1865, wounded and taken prisoner
June 8, 1864.
COMPANY M.
Sergt. John Van Pease, e. Oct.
9, 1863, wounded and taken prisoner at Marion, Va.,
December, 1864, disc. by General Order No. 77, dated at
Washington Apr. 28, 1865, disc. June 10, 1865.
THIRTEENTH OHIO CAVALRY.
The thirteenth Ohio Cavalry was
organized May 6, 1864, under Col. Stephen R. Clark.
It immediately joined the Army of the Potomac, and, acting
as infantry, participated in the battles of White House
Landing and Charles City, in the siege of Petersburg and in
the engagements of Weldon Railroad, Ream's Station, Poplar
Grove Church, Pegram's Farm and Boydtown Plank-road.
In December, 1864, the regiment received cavalry equipments.
It took part in the battle at Hatcher's Run, aided in the
rout, destruction and capture of the army under Lee,
and was mustered out of the service Aug. 10, 1865.
COMPANY A.
Corp. George Moder, e. Feb. 22,
1864, disc. Aug. 10, 1865.
COMPANY B.
Blacksmith, R. L. Richardson, e.
Dec. 17, 1864, disc. May 3, 1865.
COMPANY C.
Wright, G. W., e. Feb. 10, 1864,
disc. June 5, 1865.
COMPANY G.
Second Lieut. J. E. Corey, e.
Dec. 17, 1863, wounded at Moorfield, died at home, disc.
June 5, 1865.
Corp. Lewis Logan, e. Apr. 24, 1864, wounded at
Richmond, disc. May 25, 1865.
Corey, C. L., e. Feb. 24, 1864, disc. Aug. 25, 1865.
Green, John, e. Apr. 6, 1864, disc. June 6, 1865, died
at home.
Morrow, W. M., e. Mar. 28, 1864, disc. June 16, 1865.
Morrow, John A., e. Mar. 20, 1864, disc. June 5, 1865.
UNION LIGHT GUARD *
"This organization was perfected
in December of 1863, and was intended by Gov. Tod as
-------------------------
*Taken from "Ohio in the War."
Page 99 -
the body-guard of President Lincoln. The
Governor had previously visited Washington, and while there
noticed the unguarded situation of the capitol, the
President's house and the person of President Lincoln,
and knowing the desperate character of the Cabinet at
Richmond, he came home somewhat apprehensive for the safety
of the public offices, and more especially for the life of
the President. He at once commenced raising the Union
Light Guard, by recruiting one man in each county of the
State. By Dec. 22, 1863, the company was completed,
and on the morning of that day it started for Washington
City.
"Reaching the capital, its commanding officer reported
to the Secretary of War, and was assigned to duty in and
around the city, a strong detail being placed near the
President's house, the Treasury building, War office, and
other public buildings.
"In this description of duty the Union Light Guard
served through 1863-64-65, and part of 1866, when it was
sent home to Ohio, paid, and mustered out of the service.
Its original strength was 103 men.
Quartermaster Sergt. W. P.
Anderson, e. Nov. 30, 1863, disc. Sept. 9, 1865.
Sergt. W. J. Barbour, e. Nov. 14, 1863, disc. Sept. 9,
1865.
Lawrence, Joseph, e. November, 1863, disc. Sept. 9,
1865.
|
