Allen County, Ohio - Chapter 9: Militaby History, 1885

Chapter 9: Militaby History

AMONG the pioneers of Allen County were many who, served in the war of .1812; a few took part in that bloodless contest known as the Toledo war; while a small number represented the county in the Mexican war, and a few in the Reservoir war in Mercer County. It remained for our own times, however, to exhibit the military strength of this county - to realize what a people can sacrifice - what a people can accomplish when their country is threatened or her flag subjected to insult

In April, 1861, when the electric wire flashed the tidings of civil war into every city, town and hamlet of the United States, the President's call for volunteers was made known. Hurrying thousands from all parts of the state rushed forward to respond, and ainid those thousands none more earnest or more patriotic than the men of this county were to be found. Organization was pressed forward, ranks were filled up, and thus it was made apparent that few, if any, counties of the same number of inhabitants surpassed Allen in celerity of military movement, or in the number and quality of private soldiers and officers sent forward by her to the field.

From the moment the first news of rebellion reached the county seat the work of military organization was carried on. Charles N. Moyer, a printer in the Gazette office, was the first to enlist from Lima, having left for Columbus on April 16. During the following few days many others went to the front from various parts of the county.

On April 19, 1861, the first company of Lima volunteers was organized under Oapt. If. H. Nichols, Lieut C. M. Hughes, Second Lieut T. J. Hustler; Sergeant, J. A. Anderson; Second Sergeant, J. N. Cunningham; Third Sergeant, William Bradley; Fourth Sergeant, W. H. Ward; Corporals, C. C. Oldfield, Milton Titus, J. B. Davison and Samuel Mc- Cluer. The company, comprising ninety-two rank and file, left en route to Columbus April 22, 1861, and attached to the Twentieth Ohio Infantry May 7, 1861. Samuel Sazton, a member of this company, shot himself accidentally July 4, 1861.

This was the actual inauguration of the military enterprise of Allen Gouniy. There was more stern resolve manifested than mere enthusiasm. Men felt that the Union was in danger, and rushed forward to defend her.

"The reveille calls you, Freemen, to arms 1 Up, patriots ! forsaking your workshops and farms; Release, maid, your lover; give your son, O, proud mother. Who strikes for our banner, he, he is our brother."

Btrongy Lieutenant; George A. Taylor, Second Lieutenant; John Nuoe,. Third Lieutenant; S. B. Stevens, First Sergeant; Obristian Neise, W. J» Bashore and Fraley Fink, Sergeants; Daniel Willower, William Howell, A. J. Bowers and P. S. Hubbard, Corporals; Samuel Miller, Ensign. The private soldiers of this command numbered seventy; attached to Twentieth Ohio Infantry May 7, 1861. On June 26, 1861, a sword and sash were presented to Gapi Lamison by the citizens of Lima.

The Home Guards, organized on April 22, 1861, comprised A. N. Smith, G. Wykoff, J. Boush, J. E. Junkin, E. G. Hamilton, J. Oarpenter^ N. Pangle, J. W. Titus, A. 0. Shell, J. 0. Musser, D. Ohapin, S. D. Truesdale, G. Saint, I. Delzell, B. Metheany, S. Lisle, W. E. Lee^ Wm. Dransfield, W. B. BarroU, J. K. Bell, Gea W. Overmyer, A. Thomas, J. Keller, Thea E. Ounningham, J. Corns, K Fitch, J. Hough, and J» Davis.

The Lima Bifle Guards organized, under the Beserve Militia law, April 23,1861, with A. N. Smith, Captain; W. A. Hover, First Lieutenant-^ and George Wilson, Second Lieutenant

An Auxiliary Aid Society was organized at Lima, April 28, 1862,. with L. C. Hurd, President; George W. Overmyer, Secretary; B. C. Woodward, Beceiver; T. E. Cunningham, C. L NefF, L S. Pillars, R Metheany, G. Day, J. B. Hughes, J. B. Churchill, and A. N. Smithy Executive Committee.

Thomas K Jacobs introduced a bill in the Ohio Legislature, in April, 1861, to provide a fund for the support of soldiers' families, by authorizing the County Commissioners to levy a tax of half a milL On April 28, Bepresentative Baldwin introduced a more elaborate bill, which was accepted. It embraced the principals of the Jacobs Besolution.

The Armstrong Guards organized April 27, 1861, with Gen. William Armstrong, Captain; Theo. E. Cunningham, First Lieutenant, and Barton A. Holland, Second Lieutenant.

History Op Allen C50Uott

On May 4, 1861, the Shawnee Home Qnards organized with John D. Hnffer, Oaptain; Q. L. Davison, First Lieutenant, and William Hall, SeoGDd Lisotenant. The master roll contained sixty-eight names.

OoL Hiram Stotts' Company of Dragoons was organized at Lima, May 6, 1861, with Col. Stotts, Captain; Ed. S. Bashore, First Lientenant; F. W. Bashore, Second Lieutenant; B. Hoag, Sergeant, and fifty-six private soldiers.

The Military Committee of Allen County, in 1861, comprised James Mackenzie, Isaiah S. Pillars, James Cunningham, J. B. Roberts, William Armstrong, and O. K GriflSth. In 1863, the Committee comprised T. B. Cunningham, A. N. Smith, J. W. Hunt, Garrett Wykoff, I & Pillars, 0. E. Griffith, and Shelby Taylor.

Under the Provost Marshal's order of June 2, 1868, Subdistricts No. 7 and No. 8 were organized in Allen County, James M. Brown being Enrolling Officer of No. 7 and Oscar F. Myers of No. 8. The Board of Enrollment comprised: Capt. Dan. S. Brown, Provost Marshal; John Walkup, Commissioner, and C. L Neff, Surgeon.

Li August, 1861, Lima was selected as a military station, with Col. Pillars, Commandant The camp was opened August 11, 1862, by the Ninety-ninth Ohio Lifant;ry, and before the close of the month about 1,600 men were camped there.

Up to September 25, 1861, Allen County turned out between 900 and 1,000 troops, comprised in the following named companies: Capt. Norman Tucker's Company I, Twenty-seventh Ohio Infantry; Capt. Gtoorge A. Taylor's Company in Morton's Bifle Begiment; Capt. Hiram Stotis' Company of Ohio Cavalry; Capt George M. Baxter's Company I, Thirty-second Ohio Infantry; Capi Martin Armstrong's Company in Morton's Bifle Begiment; Capi Israel T. Moore's Company in the Fiftyfourth Ohio Infantry; and Capi Charles M. Hughes' Company in Morton's Bifle Begiment. Together with the men represented in the above named companies, there were twenty-flve men in the Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, twenty-five men in the Fourth Ohio Infantry, fifty men in the Twelfth Ohio Infantry, about twenty-five in the United States Army, and

In October, 1861, Mrs. M. Wamsley, Mrs. M. A. Hnrd, Mrs. a E. Holland, Mrs. Helen Faurot, Mrs. M. J. Shepard, Mrs. S. E. Hitchcock, Mrs. Sabra Horlbert, Mrs. M. J. Taylor and Mrs. Ann Kendall, issued an address to the ladies of Allen Oonnty calling for aid for the soldiers in the field. In December, 1862, a society was regularly organized with Mrs. Moore, President.

The foregoing memoranda of local work in connection with the opening of that terrible drama of 1861-65, conveys only a faint idea of the labor and sacrifices made by the people to sustain the General Government. The roster of commissioned officers and private soldiers, given in the following pages, forms the true index to the military worth of the county in such a crisis. This, with the Grand Army Post records and personal mention given in other chapters, embraces the names of almost every Allen County soldier who enlisted, as well as many who enlisted in other counties, now residing here.

Bosteb And Beoobd Of Commissioned Offioebs

The following is a roster of Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, Surgeons, Assistant Surgeons, Quartermaster Sergeants and Adjutants, with dates of their commission and resignation, death or* discharge. Marble, J. M. C. Col. 151st O. N. G. May 18, 1864, Aug, 27, 1864 Pillars, Isaiah S. Commissioned Commander of Camp Lima. Hill, Wm. H Lieut.-CoL 81st O. V. L Oct 10, 1864, July 21, 1865. Hughes, Rich'd S. Lieut-Col. 151st O. N. G. May 13, 1864, Aug. 27,

Bistort Of Allen Countt

Captains. - The following roster contains the names of soldiers to whom the conunission of Captain was issued, name of regiment, date of commission, and lastly date of resignation or discharge: Akermsn, John, 46th O. Y. L, Aug. 19, 1864, July 22, 1865. Anderson, David L., 99th O. Y. L, Aug. 9, 1862, July 17, 1865. Armstrong, Martin, SlstO.Y. L, Aug. 81, 1861, killed Pittsburg Landing

First Lieutenants. - The name, command, date of commission, and date of death, resignation or discharge, of each soldier from Allen Oounty, who received a First Lieutenant's commission, are given in the following record: Agerter, Fred, 81st O. V. L, Aug. 28, 1861, Nov. 11, 1863.

Second Lieutenants. - In the following roster the names of those who were commissioned Seoond Lieutenants from Allen Oounty, together with name of regiment, date of commission and date of resignation or discharge, are given:

Non-eonimi89ioned Officers and Privates. - ^In the following list the name, regiment, date of enlistment and date of death, resignation, transfer or discharge are giTen in the case of troops who enlisted from Allen Oonnty:

S80 Histobt Of Allen County

The number of troops from Allen County, whose names occur in the roster of the 100,224 men, contributed by Ohio, in 1861, to defend the Union was 776. In July, 1862, the Eighth Military District, was organized with rendezvous at Gamp Lima. The Ninety-ninth, Ohio Infantry, was ordered to be mustered in here. The regiment was full on August 11, about the time a second order was issued to form the Ond Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio, Infantry, up to September 1, 1862, out of an enrollment of 3,792, there were 1,411 men enlisted. There were 163 Allen County men in the Squirrel Hunters, who, in 1862, defended Gincinnati, and to whom the Legislature decreed that honorable discharge be given in 1863.

The Ohio Regiments, in which any considerable number of Allen County soldiers served, are the Twenty- seventh Ohio Infantry, Morton's Bifle Regiment, Thirty-second Ohio Infantry, Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, Fourth Ohio Infantry, Twelfth Ohio Infantry, Eighty- first Ohio Infantry, Ninety-ninth Ohio Infantry, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, One Hundred and Fifty-first Ohio National Guards, and McLaughlin's Squad. Almost in every Ohio command were representatives of Allen County. In the Unit^ States Army and Navy many served, of whom there is no record. The total number of troops, whose names are of record, is 1,920.

First Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized in April, 1861, and reorganized for three years, in August, 1861 ; within sixty hours after Lincoln's call for men, the First was en route to Washington. Mustered out October 14, 1864.

Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry was enlisted April 16, 1861, for three months, and on May 3, 1861, for three years at Camp Jackson, Ohio, mustered out June 23, 1864, after which many members re-enlisted in other commands.

Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized April 25, 1861, for three months* service; but a short time after reorganized as a three years' regiment, and did splendid service imti] September, 1863, when it was mustered out. Many of its members re-enlisted in Veteran Beserve Corps, and other commands belonging to the Fourth Ohio Battalion. This command served for sometime in Gen. James Shield's famous division.

Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ^ organized for three months' service April 20, 1861 ; reorganized for three years, June 20, 1861, was mustered out July 26, 1865.

Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (three months) organized in April, 1861, was mustered in for three years' service, June 18, 1861, and discharged, June 23, 1864, many of its members re- enlisted in Hancock's Corps.

Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry was mustered in April 30, 1861, as the representative command of northern Ohio, and served with marked distinction in Gen. Shield's Division. This command was mustered out July 8, 1864.

Ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a German command, was organized April 22, 1861, was re-organized in May, 1861, for three years, and served until June 7, J 864.

Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized for three months in April, 1861, re-organized for three years June 20, 1861, served until June 21, 1864

Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Jackson, Columbus, Ohio, May 4, 1861, and mustered in for three months' service. Three of its companies were recruited in Wyandot County, while a few of its members were from Seneca County. On the expiration of its term of service, the men re-enlisted for three years, served until January 14, 1864, when many of the men re-enlisted for a second term, serving until December 27, 1865.

Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized near Wooster, Ohio, October 2, 1861, served until October 31, 1863. The number of deaths from all causes was 251.

Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry organized by Joseph A. Stafford at Lancaster, Ohio, in April, 1861, was commanded by J. M. Connell, and did excellent service.

Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Athens, Ohio, and Camp Dennison in 1861, and served until November 9, 1864, when about 100 men who re-enlisted as veterans, with about 130 recruits, formed the nucleus of another regiment.

Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (reorganized) comprised detachments of the First, Second, Eighteenth, Twenty-fourth and Thirtyfifth Infantry commands, consolidated April 2, 1863, under the name of the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This command was mustered out October 9, 1865.

Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (three months) was organized in May 1861, and reorganized under Col. Whittlesey October, 21, 1861, for three years. On the expiration of its second term, the command re-enlisted as veterans, served under Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, participated in the Grand Review, and was mastered out at Louisville, July 18, 1865.

Tzoenty-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry organized originally as the Thirteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, was organized near St. Louis, Ma, November 5, 1861, went into the field in January, 1862 with a Colonel, three field officers, eight Captains, and a strong force of troops from Ohio, and served until November 18, 1864.

t Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, known as " Col. Gibson's Regiment," was recruited during the summer of 1361. From this time to muster out, November 3», 1865, its roster conuined 1.692

. of whom 14 officers were killed and 14 wounded, while 19S private soldien were killed. 165 di«d from disease, 7 died in rebel prisons, and 616 discharged on account of disability. A small representation of Allen County soldiers was found in the Forty-ninth.

BegimentB numbered 130 to 172, Ohio National Guards, were organized in the summer and fall of 1864 for 100 days service. Regiments numbered 173 to 107 were organized in the fall of 1864 and spring of 1865, enlisted for one year.

*Si£ht7HBecoDd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was recruited in November and December, 1861, br CoL Jamee Cantwell, and anicned to Weit Virginia for dntT. ('oL Cantwell was killed at the second Boll Biui,Augu8t29,1862,and was succeeded in command br Col. J. S. Robinson. This regiment serred with the Armj of the Fotomac until after the battle of Gettysburg, when it was assigned to the Armj of the Cumberland. There were no less than 2,300 names on the roster of this command from ita organisation to August, 1865, when it was mustered out.

fOne Hundred and First Ohio Volunteer Infantry was recruited in 1862, mustered August 80 that year, at MonrooTille, Ohio, and served until June 12, 1865.

t One Hundred and Twentr-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, organized in Seneca County in 1862, eontained a few soldiers firom Allen County. This command was organized by William Lang, of Tiffin. He liailed to obtain a Colonel's oommission, that position being conferred on W. T. Wilson. The command may be said to have been c»ptu red M (o<o twice by the rebels; suflfered many disappointments and losses until discharged, June 12, 1865.

National Guards, consolidated, was formed May 11, 1864, at Camp Chase. Among the great number of Wood and Wyandot Counties soldiers were a few men from Allen County, who served with the command until August, 1864.

Liobt Abtillebt

The First Begiment of Light Artillery was organized by CoL James Bamett in the fall of 1861. and Battery B of this conunand served until July 22, 1866. The organization of Batteries A to M was carried on during the winter of 1861-62.

Heavt Abtillebt Indefindent Battebie8

In the foregoing pages a measure of justice is given to the soldiers of Allen. Of those who labored at home something must also be said. Immediately succeeding the conunencement of hostilities, the ladies of the county became thoroughly conscious of the duty which they owed to their country. They formed societies of aid to the wounded soldiers of the armies, and so organized themselves as to be able to render most effective service.

The citizens whose days for service in the field ended vnth the close of the first half of the century, acted well their several parts at home. Their co-operation with the State Military Board resulted in most important aid to the Bepublia

The history of the times is one which speaks of duty nobly done. Let the people follow the sympathies and hopes of the soldiers of 1861-65; always prepared to make sacrifices like they made, and thus transmit from generation to generation a patriotism incoiTuptible, a goyemment strong and just, and a set of pablio principles honorable to the age, so that happiness may reign in every home within the Union, and without, a true knowledge of liberty, civil and religious.