Coshocton County, Ohio - Chapter 35: War of the Rebellion, 1881

Chapter 35: War of the Rebellion

THE first gun fired upon Sumter, sent its reverberations around the world. Hardly an inland hamlet in the United States existed free from its influence a few hours after it occurred. Telegraph wires flashed the news to all railroad towns ; expresses were sent on foot and on horseback to all interior towns; neighbor hastened to tell it to neighbor; and thus almost before evening of the same day, the people of the Union were aroused and prepared to act. April 14, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 troops to serve three months. The magnitude of the rebellion was not then Comprehended, else the call might have been very much larger, and for a longer term of service. Hunt's history says of that time : " The news of the fall of Sumter caused in Coshocton county, as elsewhere, a thrill that passed and repassed along the nerves of the people. Many of the settlers were from south of Mason and Dixon's line, and had tender- recollections of their old homes and the people therein. But the war spirit was not wanting among even these, and as promptly as in any county the people' were up in arms."

April 16, 1861, a meeting was held at the law office of Nicholas & Williams, prior to which A. M. Williams had been to Columbvis and secured a commission to raise a company; thus receiving the honor of being the first citizen of Coshocton county to contribute to the support of war measures. The Age, in the issue of April 18, says :

At a meeting held in the law office of Nicholas & Williams this evening, for the purpose of making a call for a war meeting, R. M. Vorhees was called to the chair, and A. L. Harris was appointed secretary. On motion of Mr. S. Harbaugh, a committee consisting of R. M. Vorhees, R. A. Baker, A. M. Williams, Captain James Irvine and A. L. Harris, was appointed to issue a call for. a meeting ; they to determine the time of meeting, etc.

Call For A Union Meeting

Deeming it the duty of every patriotic Union loving citizen to gladly and speedily respond- to the demands of the country as expressed in the proclamation of the President of the United States, by either personally volunteering for service in the army, or aiding by counsel or encouragement those who do volunteer to fight for the honor of the Union and maintenance of the constitution in the coming struggle with traitors and rebels, we, as a committee, appointed by our fellow-citizens, do call a Union meeting of the citizens of Coshocton county to be held at the court house in Coshocton on Friday at two o'clock.

The meeting is called without respect to party, this being the time when every person should show his loyalty to his country. Volunteers will be enrolled at the meeting.

Mr. Nicholas R. Tidball returned on Wednesday, April 17, fron^ Columbus, with a commission in his pocket to raise a company, and all arrangements were being made to enroll volunteers at the meeting to be held Friday afternoon. But the excitement was so intense that the Union loving citizens could not. wait until Friday afternoon to enroll their names, volunteering began immediately. The Age, in the same issue in which it published the above notice, says in a paragraph: "Enlisting for the war is briskly going on. The proper papers can be found at Baker's shop, opposite the Tidball House.''

The meeting was held at the court house, and it was filled to overflowing. Immense delegations came in from every part of the county, and it became dangerous in a very short time to be known as a sympathizer with the rebels. One business establishment was surrounded by the excited and liberty loving Unionists, and because it had given utterance to sentiments of sympathy with secession and seceders, was compelled to hoist the stars and strips upon pain of being thrown, stock and all, into the river. The Age says of this meeting :

The war meeting at the court house was a boomer, and the patriotic speeches of Messrs. Nicholas, Given and Lanning elicited great enthusiasm. A band of martial music took up its position in the room and enlivened the scene with patriotic airs. John D. Nicholas was first called upon and made a soul-stirring speech, followed by Joseph Given and Richard Lanning, in capital addresses to the patriotism and national feeling of the vast crowd assembled. The volunteer roll wasoiDened and a company formed in a short time. A resolution was adopted that funds be raised to keep the volunteers without expense to themselves while waiting for orders. A. M. Williams headed a paper with $100, for the maintenance of the families of volunteers. $2,000 was raised in a short time. The ladies of the two towns (Coshocton and Roscoe), God bless them! are busy as bees preparing clothing for the volunteers. The Roscoe ladies gave each volunteer from that place a fine woolen blanket worth $5, and every provision is being made for the comfort of the brave volunteers. Six printe-rs volunteered with the company from this town, leaving the office so short for help that we have turned our devil into foreman, and are running the office on primitive principles.

The excitement kept at fever heat; everything was war, war, war! Men met to talk over who was going, and when and what the results would be ; martial music sounded everywhere upon the ear. The first company was enlisted and took the train for Columbus on Wednesday morning at 8:30 A. m., April 24, 1861. Of this departure the Age, in its issue of April 25, says : " The Union Guards, first company, left Coshocton for Columbus Wednesday morning. The roll was called on the public square at 8 o'clock, and every man was on hand. They marched to the depot, when John Nicholas, on behalf of the young ladies, presented the company with a splendid silk flag. It was received by First Lieutenant Marshall, who, in the absence of Captain James Irvine, who was at the death-bed of his father in Wayne county, had command of the company. While the flag presentation was going on, the train that was to bear the volunteers arrived, and, amidst the cheers of the immense crowd, the boys embarked for the big wars. There was a scene for old Coshocton, the details of which are sacred from the reporter's pencil. Tears coursed down manly cheeks, all unused to the melting mood, and among the ladies there was scarcely a dry eye. Although the flower of the youth of our county eagerly go to defend the flag of our country, still when we look upon their departure, almost certainly knowing that we will behold many of their faces no more, we feel a sadness even in sending them to glory."

These names are given as published at the time, some few were not accepted or withdrew, but this list comprises the first company that left Cofihocton for Columbus.

While this was making its record as the first another had already organized with a full quota, having elected Richard McLain caplain, and was waiting for orders from Columbus at the time the first left.

The Coshocton boys went to Camp Jackson, at Columbus, where, in common with all other companies, they were put upon drill of eight hours a day. At this camp the two companies were assigned to the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and, with other companies, constituted the primary organization of the regiment. As was customary at that time, the boys proceeded to elect their offi- cers, and Coshocton was favored in having elected to the colonelcy the captain of her first company, James Irvine, who received his commission as colonel of the Sixteenth O. V. I., May 8, 1861. John D Nicholas was elected captain of Company A, in his place. Richard McClain's company was known as Company D. The regiment remained at Camp Jackson a week or ten days, and then went hy the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Bellaire, where it crossed the river to Benwood, in West Virginia, having been ordered to that department. Colonel James Irvine received a telegraphic dispatch from GeneralMcClellan to go to Bellaire and camp.

At Bellaire the citizens turned out ere masse, headed by Seth Gardiner and wife, and gave the entire regiment a dinner as a compliment to the Coshocton element therein. Colonel James Irvine and some other officers were domiciled at the residence of Mr. Gardiner. The regiment was quartered in a large iron foundry at Bellaire, and remained there several days General McClellan telegraphed Colonel Irvine to make a topographical survey of Wheeling, Bellaire and vicinity. While arrangements were going on for this purpose, a very amusing yet natural incident^ occurred. Colonel Irvine had thrown out sconts to keep an eye on all that was going on down the river from Bellaire. A party of the scouts came in early in the morning with the report that there was a large force of men with artillery and boats about to cross the Ohio. All was astir in a few moments. The colonel ordered two steam tugs, with a company on board of each, to steam down the river and reconnoiter. The boats soon returned and reported that Dan Rice's circus, which was coming into town the next day, was its elephants and cattle.

Late one night toward the last of May, Colonel Irvine received a telegram to report to Colonel Kelley, at Wheeling, and co-operate with him according to orders. Colonel Kelley had raised a regiment of Virginians for home service. Colonel Irvine immediately departed to Wheeling and found Colonel Kelley going over a Confederate mail that had been forwarded to him, having been captured on a part of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. The developments implicated a number of citizens in Wheeling and thereabouts.

The two regiments of Colonels Kelley and Irvine, havir^ received orders to advance, followed the railroad till they came to the vicinity oi Glover's Gap, where they found the rebels had burned the bridges.

Here the regiments were delayed until the bridges were rebuilt. While waiting at thispoint, the two Coshocton companies of the Sixteenth Ohio were detailed to drive off a rebel outpost that had headquarters at a small town about eleven miles from the Gap. They had a sharp skirmish, and returned with three men wounded. The regiments reached Grafton on the 30th of May, finding on their arrival, the rebel forces had departed to Philippi, where they had made a stand, being 2,000 strong. The stars and stripes were flung out from almost every house in town, and ladies marched tlie streets dressed in red, white and blue, hurrahing for the Union.

While the Sixteenth Ohio.and Colonel Kelley's. regiment were on the march to Grafton, Colonel Wallace, commanding an Indiana regiment, had marched from Cumberland and attacked the rebels at Romney, surprising and completely routing them, capturing their camp equipage, provisions and, arms, and marching on to Grafton, united his forces with those already under the command of Colonel Kelley. These three regiments marched upon the rebels at Philippi, on a very dark night, in the midst of a raging storm, and took them by surprise, at four A. M. The enemy, alarmed by the fire of their pickets, had just time to form in line of battle, when the Union forces came rushing upon them, firing but one volley, and charging bayonets. The rebels discharged their pieces so wildly that but two of the Union troops were killed and twenty wounded, and breaking, from the bayonet charge of the Unipn forces, they fled in confusion to Leedsville, about ten miles further south, losing all their camp equipage and about 800 stand of arms. Colonel Kelley was severely wounded. After the engagement at Philippi, the Coshocton boys lay encamped at Rowelsburg for some days, when they received orders to march to Camp Donley, about four miles distant, and on Friday,

29th of June, were sent upon a scouting expedition. They sti'uck tents, took twenty-four hours' rations, and inarched twelve miles, to a small stream flowing into the Buflfalo river, and remained at that point until an alarm gun sounded, when they were started on a double-quick down a hill to the place where the firing was heard. One of the Coshocton boys, writing of this skirmish, says :

We passed Adjutant Marshall on the way, and he, seeing his horse could not keep up and we would be in before him, exclaimed, " Go it, you Ohio thieves ! " Let me say here that the ladies of Coshocton made a good choice in the color bearer of our company. Bob bore our colors, and frequently dashed ahead amidst the shouts of the Ohio boys. Seeing Colonel Irvine at the head of a company, we marched on quicker time until we reached them. The enemy were called cavalry, although they were mostly riding broken down mules. The boys had a short skirmish, killing and wounding several of the rebels and securing the balance as prisoners. It appears this body of rebel guerillas had been camping there for some days, and had been hanging and shooting Union men in the vicinity. Corporal Youst, of Captain McClain's Coshocton company, distinguished himself in this skirmish.

The Sixteenth Ohio was finally quartered in and about West Union, in what was termed "Camp Kelley," awaiting the consummation of Greneral McClellan's plan of attack against the rebels who were stationed at Beverly. While at this point. Colonel Irvine sent the following let^ ter to the ladies of Springfield, Ohio, who had presented the Sixteenth Ohio with a stand of colors for their gallantry at the Philippi engagement:

At the time of the receipt of the splendid stand of colors which the ladies of Springfield presented our regiment, I was on the sick list. I beg leave to assure the patriotic ladies whose kind regards were so, well expressed in what is now the regimental banner of the Sixteenth, that the members of my regiment with one heart, and as with one voice, took an oath that the honor of that flag should never be sullied while a single arm remained to raise in its defense. I beg to assure you that the ladies of Springfield will be gratefully remembered by many brave men while memory lasts, and by none more gratefully than by Your obedient servant, J. Irvine,

The Romney skirmish, Philippi engagement,, and the defeat and capture of Colonel Pegram's forces had the effect of consolidating the rebels under General Garnett, north of Laurel Hill near Philippi. Upon learning of Pegram's defeat and surrender. General Garnett endeavored to escape to Richmond by plunging into the wild roads of the AUeghenies, and was rapidly descending the- Cheat river when he was overtaken by the Unionforces. Finding escape in vain without a battle,. General Garnett looked anxiously for a commanding position. He came to a ford in the river which was approachable over an extended meadow, smooth as a floor, and waving with young corn. On the opposite side of the river, and commanding the ford, there was an almost perpendicular bluflf eighty feet high, fringed with laurel, presenting a perfect screen for his batteries and his men to lie in ambush. Here he stationed his army. The Sixteenth Ohio, encamped at West Union, was sitting down to itS' breakfast when the call to arms came, and the boys were forced to leave without a mouthful and make a hurried march to a point known as Red-house (so called from the position of a red house situated at a defile in the m ountain ), at which _ they were placed as a guard in the event the enemy made an attempt to escape by this route. Colonel Steadman, with the Fourteenth Ohio, first charged upon General Garnett's position, followed immediately by the entire body of the Union troops. For some time the battle raged with no decisive results, until Coloael Dumont, with the Seventh Indiana, crept under the right flank of the foe, when they turned and fled only to meet the outlying Union posts at every defile of the mountains. General Garnett was killed and left unattended by his troops.

On the call to march coming so unexpectedly to the Coshocton boys at West Union, they left so siufdenly that a tall Irishman was continued on picket guard alone, with no troops in the vicinity except the corporal in charge of camp equipage. Upon being questioned afterward as to his courage, he remarked, " I felt as safe as if I was in God's vest pocket as long as the corperler was with me.'' The corporal in charge was a mere boy.

ordered back to Oakland and was assigned the duty of guarding the Hne of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, until the time of its enlistment had expired when it was ordered to Columbus about the middle of August and returned home. Coshocton was changed from the time "the boys " had enlisted ; then they were the only soldiers in the town, while at the time they returned soldiers and war matters absorbed every thought of the people. The Coshocton Age says of that time:

Our quiet town has been in a continual round of excitement on account of the movement of troops. First, last week, came the Sixteenth Indiana Regiment on their way to Washington. Its cry was " Ho for !Manassas! " Two days thereafter came the Twelfth Indiana for the same city. Sunday, Lew Wallace's Indiana Zouaves returning from Harper's Ferry, Monday the First and Second Ohio passed through. Captain Given's company has recently left; other companies are forming, and now the Coshoction companies of the Sixteenth Ohio have arrived- at home. There was a big crowd at the depot and the welcome was warm and earnest as the gallant boys sprang from the cars. Bob Richardson gave the company colors to the breeze to let it be known they had come back unsullied by any dishonorable act.

As the war progressed, and its necessities became more apparent, Coshocton county did not fail to respond. A military committee was formed and issued the following circular :

Our Soldiers

In accordance with the proclamation of the Governor of Ohio, the undersigned military committee of Coshocton- county would respectfully but earnestly call upon her citizens to come to the relief of our suffering soldiers. This is no idle call. It you have but one blanket to spare, bring it along. The articles will be received and receipted for at the store of Rand H. Hay, in Coshocton, or Hiram Beall's store, in Keene'. «

The issue of this circular called forth from the liberal citizens ot Coshocton such large quantities of all articles needed, that sub-committees were appointed in every township in the county. The ladies all over the county were enthusiastic in their support ot war measures The young ladies ot the county organized a society for the purpose of inspiring the enlistment of all able-bodied young men, and published the following resolutions in all the papers in the county :

It is supposed that these patriotic resolutions had the desired effect, as the young men of Coshocton went promptly and rapidly to the front during all those dark years.

Cpiapter Xxxvi

Organization of "Given's Rangers" - Their Assignment to tlie Twenty-fourth Ohio, and Departure to the Pi eld - Sketch of Josiah Given - Organization - Captain W. M. Stanley's Assignment to the Thirty-second Ohio, and Departure for the Field - Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second at Cheat Mountain - Twenty-fourth in the Field and Mustered Out - Thirty-second in the Field and Mustered Out.

"TTTHILE the two three-month companies of V V Coshocton boys were making their record, the martial element at home was growing more and more formidable. The first three years' company was recruited by Josiah Given. The Age, of date June 6, 1S61, says : " Josiah Given established a camp at this place, and raised a company ot volunteers for three years service. The camp is in the county fair grounds, named Camp Burt, and the company is a very fine one. The boys - expect marching orders this week. This makes three full companies from Coshocton countv- Two of them are now in the heart of

A short sketch of Josiah Given, the captain, will be appropriate in this place, in view of active service and rapid promotion. He was commissioned June 12, 1861, as captain of Company K Twenty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; August 17, 1861, ranked as lieutenant-colonel of the Eighteenth Ohio, commissioned November 2, 1861. Appointed colonel of the Seventy-fourth Ohio May 16, 1863; commission issued June 2, -1863, Colonel Given commanded the Seventy-fourth Ohio from the time of its movement towards Chattanooga, June 23, 1863, participating in the battle of Hoover's Gap, June 24 ; Dug Gap, Georgia September 11, and Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20. arriving at Chattanooga, Sept. 22, 1863. He also commanded the Seventy-fourth in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Eidge, Nov. 23, 24 and 25, 1863. On the 7th of May, 1864, Colonel Given commanded his regiment as it started with the army on the Atlanta campaign. For one hundred days and over the regiment was under fire almost daily. At Buzzard's Eoost and at Eesaoa the regiment, under Colonel Given, stormed those strongholds with heavy loss, and on the 27th of May received the following commendatory notice from the division commander :

Colonel Josiah Given : - General Johnson desires to express to you his high appreciation of the gallantry exhibited by the noble troops of your regiment in the night engagement of the 27th inst. The admirable spirit displayed by the regiment on that occasion is, above all things, desirable and commendable. Soldiers animated by such courage and fortitude are c^jable of the very highest achievements.

The regiment, still under Colonel Given's command, was engaged in the performance' of the most perilous and arduous duties at Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie Eiver, Peach Tree Creek, and in front of Atlanta. At the battle of

Jonesboro, Colonel Given led the regiment in three distinct charges, on the afternoon of September 1, and shared in the general compUmentary notice to all those engaged in that part of the fight, as follows :

Circular - " The general commanding the division congratulates officers and enlisted men of the Second and Third brigades on the success of their splendid assault on the enemy, September 1, 1864. They charged a strongly intrenched double line, passing over swamps and through thickets under a murderous fire of musketry, dragged the enemy out of his works at some points, and drove him out at others. The troops oppospd to them were the most celebrated for obstinate fighting of any division of the rebel army. The conduct of all was gratifying to our commanding general, and the day should be remembered and celebrated by every soldier engaged in battle.

The Atlanta compaign ending here, Colonel Given resigned, and returning to Coshocton, assisted this county so well in its management of its draft quotas that'it had them filled with little or no trouble. Colonel Given is now a citizen of Iowa, and is engaged in the practice of the law.

June 13, 1864, Captain Given's company left Camp Burt for Camp Jackson at Columbus. The Age of that date says: "Given's Rangers are gone. He has a spendid company and the boys will give a good account of themselves. Last week the Coshocton ladies presented each soldier with a neat needle book, fully equipped. Saturday the Roscoe ladies and gentlemen, preceded by a band, invaded the camp with five wagons loaded with provi-ions. On Saturday Parson Hickmans held divine service in the camp." The company, after reaching Columbus, was assigned to the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteers Infantry; was know as Company K, and was quartered at Camp Chase. As illustrative of the character of the Coshocton citizens whose fortunes. were cast with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, the following extract from the Age, dated June 27, will speak for itself: " The members of Company K, Twenty-fourth Regiment, Captain Given of Coshocton, have started a Sabbath-school in Camp Chase, and not satisfied with the good start have organized a social circle, and are determined to live temperate lives while battling for the maintenance of the stars and stripes."

The Twenty-Fourth left Camp Chase on the 26th day of July, 1861. They went first to Bellaire, and then started to Washington, but, after getting sixty-five miles east of Pittsburgh, received orders to return, came back and proceeded to Clarksburgh, and were compelfed to shovel dirt for two days and a night, on account of a land slide about forty miles from Clarksburgh, finally reaching Cheat Mountain Summit August 14, 1861. Here they joined the Fourteenth Indiana, which had been on duty at this mountain pass for some weeks.

The Twenty-Fourth Ohio was thus finally in the field. Another company occupied Camp Burt as soon as Captain Given's company left. Wilson M. Stanley of Newcastle township, immediately commenced recruiting a company, and, at the date of the arrival of the Twenty- Fourth at Cheat Mountain Summit, the Age speaks of Captain Stanley's company as follows : " Captain Wilson M. Stanley's company is in camp at the fair grounds or at Camp Burt. He has orders from the government to subsist his men her until the company marches to Colonel Ford's camp at Mansfield." The company, by this order, was assigned to the Thirty-Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infaniry, and was known as company I.

This company remained in Coshocton until the Thirty-second Ohio left their camp at Mansfield and went into Camp Dennison, where the regiment was completed and Company I with the others was equipped and sent to the field under the command of Colonel Thomas H. Ford, formerly Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. On the 15th of September, 1861, the regiment left Camp Dennison tor West Virginia. As was the c&se with most, if not all, of the first regiments from Ohio, the men were poorly equipped, and were armed with the almost useless old smooth bore muskets of a by-gone age. The regiment was moved by railroad, arrived at Grafton September 18, and marched the next day for Beverly, West Virginia, where it arrived on the 22d.

At this point Colonel Ford reported for orders to Brigadier-General Reynolds then commanding the District of Cheat Mountain, with headquarters at Huttonsville, and was assigned the command at Cheat Mountain Summit, with Colonel Nathan Kimball of the Fourteenth Indiana commanding the post. Having followed the Thirtysecond from its organization, so far as the Coshocton part of the regiment is concerned, until it reached the same field in common with the Twenty-fourth Ohio, it would not be amiss to inquire into the whereabouts and doings of that regiment in the interval. When the Twentyfourth Ohio arrived at Cheat Mountain Summit on the 14th of August the rebels with a superior force lay in front about fifteen miles, and almost every day attacked the pickets, giving frequent opportunities for skirmishing, requiring the regiment to be ready for battle day and night and making it necessary to strengthen the position by felling trees, preparing abattis and throwing out heavy pickets to prevent surprise and to be prepared for any emergency. The position being considered important and the enemy in front enterprising, the camp was reinforced by the Twenty-fifth Ohio. The night of September 11 was stormy, with heavy rain. The raw pickets, not yet taught the importance of special vigilance at such timesi were careless ; and at break of day on the 12th the camp was surrounded by a largely superior force of rebels.. Fortunately the abattis on the left of the camp of the Twentyfourth Ohio proved efficient, caused delay in the movements of the enemy and gave time to form the troops for battle, which was done promptly. In this, their first engagement, the Twentyfourth Ohio gave indications of that coolness and discipline for which the regiment at a later period was distinguished. After a combat of three hours the rebels abandoned the attack and fled, leaving on the field many blankets, arms, etc., losing some prisoners and some killed. The loss of the Twenty-fourth was only two wounded. In the next battle the Twenty-fourth and Thirty-second, with some other of the forces at Cheat Mountain Summit, were engaged. The Thirtysecond had been hurried to the field without disciphne; in fact it was hardly organized. Here, upon the rugged heights of Cheat Mountain, amid the wild scenery of the Alleghenies, the regiment received its first lesson in the art of war.

the advance of the army against the enemy at Greenbrier, through the mountains and pines of that region, by midnight, while the Twenty-fourth was exposed to a heavy fire of shell, grape and canister, but stood firm. The Age, of date October 10, publishes a letter from one of the Coshocton participants, as follows :

This morning, at 1 A. m., a portion of the brigade of Brigadier-General J. J. Eeynolds, consisting of three Ohio regiments, the Twenty-fourth, Twentyfifth and Thirty-second and portions of six Indiana regiments - Seventh, Ninth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth, together with detachments of Bracken's Indiana, Robinson's Ohio and Greenfield's Pennsylvg,nia Cavalry, and detachments of Howe's United States, Loomis' Michigan and Daum's Virginia Artillery, numbering in all about 5,000 men, left Cheat Mountain Summit to make a reconnoissance in force in front of the enemy's position on Greenbrier river, twelve miles distant. Colonel Ford's Thirty-second Ohio was sent forward to hold an important road, the possession of which prevented the enemy from flanking our main column. The expedition arrived in front of the enemy's fortification at 8 A. M., their pickets retreating after firing an ineffectual volley. Kimball's Fourteenth Indiana was immediately sent forward to secure a position for Loomis' battery. Colonel Ammen's 'Twentyfourth Ohio deployed as skirmishers on the south slope of the mountain. Loomis' battery, getting position, supported by the Seventeenth Indiana, Li'eutenant-Colonel Wilder commanding, opened the battle. The shot was immediately responded to by a volley from the enemy, concealed in bushes, who were soon routed by the Fourteenth Indiana, with a loss of seven killed and a large number wounded and prisoners. Howe's battery, supported by the Thirteenth Indiana, then moved forward, taking a position 300 yards nearer the enemy's fortifications and opened a brisk fire. The firing on both sides was almost incessant for one hour, our artillery doing execution, judging from the shrieks of the enemy's wounded. Their batteries did but comparatively little injury, being too much elevated. Our guns effectually silenced three of theirs. While observations were being made of the enemy's fortifications, occupying three more hours, an irregular artillery fire was kept up, occupying the enemy's attention. During this interval the Twenty-fourth Ohio and Fifteenth Indiana rendered very effectual service scouting the mountains. The reconnoissance proved entirely successful, affording information relative to the enemy's strength.

killed and three wounded. The Thirty-second Ohio remained at Greenbrier during the fall of 1861, engaged in watching the movements of the enemy, then commanded by the afterwards renowned rebel, General Robert E. Lee.

The Twenty-fourth Ohio, on November 18, 1861, marched from Cheat Mountain, under orders for Louisville, Kentucky; reported at that place on the 28th of the same month, and was assigned to duty in the Tenth Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of the Ohio. February 25, 1862, it reached Nashville, Tennessee, and remained there, in camp, until Jlarch 17, when the Fourth Division took up the line of march for Savannah and Pittsburgh Landing. The bridge over Duck river, at Columbia, Tennessee, having been burned by rebels, and the stream being very high, the army was detained some days, repairing the bridge. Before this was done (the river having fallen) the Fourth Division was ordered to advance. It waded the river March 29, and hurried on to Savannah, on the Tennessee river, which place it reached on Saturday, April 5, and went into camp. As the swamp on the right bank of the Tennessee was deemed impassable, boats were to be sent to transport the troops to Pittsburgh Landing, twelve miles up the river. On Sunday morning, April 6, the roar of the artillery at Pittsburgh Landing was heard at Savannah. The troops were immediately put in readinessto move. No boats arriving, to transport them, at one p. m. the brigade to which the Twentyfourth belonged started through a swamp on the march to the battlefield, the other brigades of the division following, and after a hard march, through mud and water, it reached the opposite bank o# the river. The Federal army had gradually retired to the river. The last horrible tragedy of this day seemed about to be consummated. The rebels occupied all the camps of tlie Federal army. The latter were crowded in wild confusion around Pittsburgh Landing. The arrival of the gunboatsand Buell's forces changed the face of affairs. It was at this time, on Sunday evening, the brigade containing the Twenty-fourth Ohio came upon the scene and took part in the battle, on the extreme left. During the hours of that memorable night, while a furious tempest raged and a deluge of rain descended, the Federal commanders were 1 busy in making preparations for resuming the contest. Colonel Ammen, of the Twenty-fourth, commanding a brigade, was placed on the extreme left.

On April 7, the Twenty-fourth Ohio was engaged all day in battle, and not only sustained its former reputation, but added "new laurels." A Coshocton boy, writing from the battlefield, reports:

"It was terrible. On Sunday our army was pushed from disaster to disaster, till we lost every division camp we had, and were driven within a half mile of tlie landing, when the approach of night, the timely aid of the gunboats, and the tremendous efforts of our artillery, with the timely arrival of Buell's forces, saved us. On Monday, after nine hours of hard fighting, we regained the gromid we had lost on Sunday. Not a division advanced a half mile beyond our old old camp except Lew Wallace's. An officer of the New Orleans Creole Battalion, taken prisoner, says : ' Beauregard made a speech on Saturday, before the battle, in which he told them the result was sure; they could not fail; they would capture Grant's army and whip Buell and then hold their railroads. If they lost the day they might lay down their arms and go home.' Our forces were thirty-five thousand strong. A rebel quartermaster, who was taken prisoner, says that rations for ninety thousand men were issued before they left Corinth."

The casualties to Company K, Twenty-fourth Ohio, as furnished from the report of Sergeant W. H. Knowlden, are as follows: Slightly wounded. Captain T. McChire, William Douglass, Samuel Decamp, Corporal A. D. Garven, Jacob Strieker, Matthew Campbell, David L. Norris, Chauncey Trimble ; missing, John E. Waggoner and Joseph Wackerly. It is believed that none of the wounds are mortal, and the boys have ever.y attention and comfort it is possible to bestow.

The results were so dependent upon the performance of the Ohio troops in the field that Governor Tod sent a congratulatory address to them, and, as the Twenty-fourth Ohio was entitled to her share, it is hereby appended, as follows : the gallantry, courage and endurance you have displayed. Thank God, from the best information in our possession, we are able to claim that Ohio soldiers all did their duty. Those yet in the field, we are sanguine, will avenge the deaths of their brave comrades who fell on the 6th and 7th. On, then, gallant volunteers of Ohio, and win new laurels for our State. With one heart the friends you left at home are caring, as Ohio mothers, wives, sisters, brothers and fathers, know how to care, for their sick and wounded husbands, sons and brothers.

The Twenty-fourth Ohio took part in most of the skirmishes between Pittsburgh Landing and Corinth, and was one of the first regiments that entered the latter place. It was with the army in the pursuit of the enemy in North Mississippi and North Alabama, and in July was encamped at McMinnville, Tennessee. It left that place September 3, 1862, and returned to Louisville, Kentucky, with the army, during General Bragg's invasion, having a long, dusty, and greatly dispiriting march. In October, 1862, it was assigned to the Fourth Division, Twenty-first Army Corps. It was at the battle of Perryville, but, being on the extreme right, did not take part in the general engagement. It then moved in pursuit of the retreating rebels, and on the abandonment of the chase in the mountains of Southeastern Kentucky, it marched to Nashville. When, in December, 1862, General Kosecrans advanced from Nashville, the Twenty-fourth Ohio was reduced by sickness and desertion to thirteen officers and three hundred and forty men. Company A, however, was on detached duty. With this strength it went into the battle of Stone River. Its loss was heavy, the regiment having been assigned an important position, and having held it faithfully. Tuesday, December 30, the corps commanders met at the headquarters of General Rosecrans, who explained to them his plan of battle. General McCook (commanding the right, with the divisions of Johnson, Davis, and Sheridan.) was to hold his position firmly, if attacked ; if not, he was to threaten the rebel left sufficiently to hold all the rebel forces in his front. General Thomas (commanding the center, with Rousseau's and Negley's divisions,) wa^ to open the battle with skirmishing, pushing forward his forces toward the river. General Crit- tenden (commanding the left, with Van Cleve's, Woods' and Pahner's divisions,) was to cross at the ford, gain possession of the hill, and, followed up by General Thomas, with the center, push the rebel right, gain their flank, and then advance on Murfreesboro. The Twfenty-fourth Ohio was in Palmer's division.

General McCook's brigades failed to hold their position, and the brunt of the fight came upon the center and left, until General Rosecrans had formed a new line of battle. The Twenty-fourth -Ohio lead the advance of Palmer's division, which -fought with truly chivalrous courage. Palmer's was on the Cedar Grove road. In front of him was an open field, in the center of which the remains of a brick house. This house the center of one of the most sanguinary -conflicts of the field. General Palmer ordered an advance on the burnt house to be lead by Brigadier General Cruft. Issuing from the woods, he drove the rebel skirmishers before him, and -gained possession of a fence, which served as some protection to his line. The enemy imme- charged upon him with desperate, hut, unavailing effort. Again and again they re- -newed the charge. For half an hour these waves of battle swept the plain, each time checked by a. volley which no flesh and blood could withstand. "The rebels were finally repulsed. General Cruft followed up his success by charging in his turn -and gaining possession of the brick house. This final charge has been pronoimced the most daring exploit of the day. The Twenty-fourth Ohio was in this entire struggle, losing one-fourth of the force of officers and men with which it went into battle.

Numerous promotions now occurred to fill the :sa<i vacancies thus caused. The Twenty-fourth was next in the afTair at Woodbury, Tennessee, January 24, 1863, but its loss here was small. After a long rest through the spring and summer, it advanced with the army on Tullahoma, and was on duty at Manchester, Tennessee, until the advance on Chattanooga. It was in the engagement at Lookout Mountain ; also, in the battle of Chickamauga, with a loss of Captains AVadsworth and Dry den killed, together wi-th a large number of men. The regiment was next in the battle of Mission Eidge, and in the pursuit of the

It was then assigned to the Second -Division, Fourth Army Corps, and was in an engagement near Dalton, with a loss of two killed and eight wounded. In April, 18G4, the Twenty-fourth was sent' to Chattanooga to await orders for mustering out. June 16, it received orders to proceed to Columbus for that purpose ; and June 24 it was mustered out and discharged.

The colors of the regiment were presented to the State, to be placed in the archives for preservation. Colonel A. T. M. Cockerill turning them over with a few pertinent remarks. In response. Governor Brough said :

Colonel, officers and soldiers of Twenty-fourth, I thank you in behalf of the peojile of the State of Ohio, not only for the colors, but for having borne them so nobly and gallantly as you have throughout the three years' service. They come worn and tattered ; but there is not a rent in them that is not honorable, and an emblem of your bravery and gallantry. No regiment that has gone from' Ohio has endured hardships with greater cheerfulness or more nobly discharged its duties. I shall place these banners in the archives of the State as historic mementoes wortliy of any people. Again, soldiers, I thank you.

These flags had been presented to the regiment - the regimental flag by General Jacob Ammen, then its colonel, and the national colors by the Sixth Ohio, better known as the " Guthrie Grays," of Cincinnati. The flag from the Sixth Ohio bears this inscription : " The Sixth Ohio to the Twenty-fourth Ohio; Shiloh, April 7, 1862," and was presented to the regiment during the siege of Corinth by the late lamented General William Nelson, then commmander of the Fourth Division Army of the Ohio (to which both regiments at that time belonged), in''- behalf of the oflScers and men of the Sixth.

These flags have passed through the bloody fields of Pittsburgh Landing and Stone River, Avhere Colonel Fred Jones, Lieutenant Colonel Terry, Major Weller and Captain Harmon sealed their devotion to their country with their hearts' blood. They were in the brilliant dash at Woodbury ; in theterrible strife at Chickamauga, where

Wadsworth and Dryden fell in the nation's They waved through the fierce struggle for the possession of Lookout Mountain, and the gallant charge on Mission Eidge. They were borne in the murderous assault on Taylor's Ridge ,at Ringgold ; and last, but not least, in the bold reconnoissance of the gallant Palmer, so stubbornly resisted by the enemy, at Buzzard's Roost .Gap and Rocky Face Ridge. At Stone River, the battle-ax was shot from the staff, and two balls passed through the staff. The holes made by twenty-three distinct bulletsat Stone River may be seen in the flag itself. Three color sergeants of the regiment were killed and seven severely wounded while bravely carrying their standards in the front line of battle. Two of them were at Stone River within five minutes of each .and one at Chickamauga.

December 13, 1861, the Thirty-second, unde;- command of Captain Hamilton, accompanied General Milroy in his advance on Camp Allegheny. In his report, General Milroy complimented the regiment very highly on its gallantry .and good conduct in its charge into the camp of the enemy. They captured the provision depot of the rebel camp at Huntersville, which contained a large amount of provisions, and disposed of it in as speedy a manner as possible by burning both provisions and town. The loss of the regiment in this affair was four killed and fourteen wounded, some severely. On the return from this expedition it was ordered to Beverly, where it remained the- rest of that severe winter. The time was profitably spent in still further disciplining and organizing the regiment. Some took place in the official roster of the Tegiment, and also ip. the Coshocton company, K, from which Captain Stanley resigned, and First Lieutenant C. C. Nichols was promoted to the captaincy, while Adjutant Jack was made First Lieutenant. Still retained in General Milroy's command, the regiment took the advance of the expedition made about the Ist of May, 1862, to Jiear Buffalo Gap, seven miles from Staunton, Virginia. The enemy was met at this point, and, after some severe fighting, the national forces fell back on the main army, camped at McDowell, in the Bull Pasture valley, where Generals Schenck and Milroy had united their forces, numbering about 7,000 men. The rebel general, Stonewall Jackson, advanced against the national forces on the 8th day of May, and was met on the side of the Bull Pasture mountain. A severe battle ensued, which lasted from 2 p. M. until dark, with varied success on either side. The national forces fell back on Franklin, West Virginia, closely followed by the rebel army. In this battle the Thirty-second Ohio lost six killed and fifty-three wounded, some mortally. It was the last regiment to leave the field. Lieutenant C. Fugate, of Company E, a young officer of fine promise, was among the mortally wounded. He died at Franklin five days after the battle.

On the 12th of May Major General Fremont, commanding the mountain department, effected a junction with Generals Schenck and Milroy, bringing with him about twelve thousand men. Before this junction, however, the rebel General Jackson had retired from the national front. The combined national forces lay at Franklin inactive until the 25th of May when they were ordered to the support of General Banks, then operating in the Shenandoah valley against the rebel army under Jackson. While the army was in camp at Franklin the Thirty-secpnd was transferred from Milroy's to Schenck's brigade, composed of the Thirty-second, Fifty-fifth, Seventy-third, Seventyfifth and Eighty-second Ohio volunteer infantry. In Fremont's pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah valley the Thirty-second bore its part, and participated in the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic, on the 8th and 9th days of June, 1862. The regiment returned to Strausburg about the last of June, was transferred to Piatt's brigade and moved to Winchester, Virginia, July 5, 1862. It remained at Winchester doing garrison duty until the 1st of September, the day the place was evacuated by General White, when the regiment moved with the brigade to Harper's Ferry and assisted in the defense of that place. After making a hard fight and losing one hundred and fifty of its number, the regiment, with the whole command was surrendered by the commanding officer of the post to the enemy as prisoners of war. The history of this unaccountable affair is yet to be written. The Thirty-second was paroled and sent to Annapolis, Maryland, from whence it was transferred to Chicago, Illinois. In the defense of

It had not been paid for eight months, and many of the men took " French leave," and went home to look after their families. Captain B. FPotts was sent to Columbus to ask Governor Tod to procure an order from the War Department transferring the regiment to Camp Taylor, near Cleveland. This application was successful, and the' Thirty-second, or what was left of it, thirty-five men, arrived at Camp Taylor December 1, 1862. December 2, Captain B. F. Potts was appointed by Governor Tod, Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and that energetic officer went immediately to work " reconstructing " the command. Within ten days, order prevailed, and eight hundred men had reported for duty, and Third Sergeant E. W. James was made captain of Company K. This happy result was not attained, however, without decisive action in the case of several officers who were charged with inciting dissafFection and revolt among the men. Secretary Stanton of the War Office, ordered their instant dismissal, which wa§ consumated on the 23d of December, ,1862. . The men paid in full, and on the 12th of January, 1863, declared to be exchanged.

January 18, orders were received to proceed to Memphis and report to Major General U. S. Grant, then commanding the Department of the Tennessee. January 25 the regiment reached Memphis, and was assiged to Logan's Division, Seventh Army Corps, commanded by Major General J. B. McPherson.

February 20, the Thirty-second moved with the army to Lake Providence, Louisiana, and during the campaign against Vicksburg, took a prominent part in the gallant achievments of the Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps. At the battle of Champion Hills, the Thirty-second made a bayonet charge and captured the First Mississippi rebel battery - men, guns and horses ^with a loss of twenty-four men. For this gallant achievement, the captured battery was turned over to the regiment and manned by Company F, during the entire siege of Vicskburg. The total loss of the regiment, during the campaign around Vicksburg, was two hundred and twenty-five, rank and file. It participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson. Champion Hills; was in the extreme fsont of Logan's, division, when Vicksburg surrendered, and was assigned to post duty under General Logan.

In August, 1863, the regiment accompanied! Stevenson's expedition to Monroe, Louisiana,and McPherson's expedition to Brownsville, Mississippi, in October of the same year. It was also with Sherman, in February, 1864, at Meridian, and lost twenty-two men at Boher's creek, Mississippi, February -5, 1864, in which last affair Captain W. A. McCallister was severely wounded, while gallantly leading the advance.

Colonel Potts had been assigned to the command of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Seventeenth Arm.y Corps, in the autumn of 1863, and was therefore but seldom in command of the reginient. In December and January, 1863-4, more than three-fourths of the regiment reenlisted as veterans, and on the 4th of March, 1864, it was furloughed home. It rejoined the army at Cairo, Illinois, on' the 21st of April, with its ranks largely augmented by recruits. April 27 the regiment embarked at Cairo, with its division and corps, on transports, landing at Clifton.. From thence it marched to Acworth, Georgia, where it joined General Sherman, June 10, !I864. The Thirty-second was identified with the movements of the Seventeenth Army Corps in Sherman's advance against Atlanta; participated in the assault on Kenesaw Mountain, June 27, 1864, and Nicojack Creek, near Howell's Ferry, on th& Chattahoochee - river, July 10, 1864.

Editor Age : - I herewith transmit to you, for publication, the following copy of a highly complimentary order published to Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, on the occasion of the transfer of the Thirty-second Regiment 0. V. I., to the Fourth Division of the same corps : Headquaetebs Third Division Seventeenth Army Corps, In the Field, Georgia, July 10, 1864.

general commanding takes pleasure in expressing to them and the command, his high appreciation of their gallant conduct on many a hardfought field, and soldierly conduct on the march. With such courageous men and brave officers it is only necessary to meet the enemy in order to add another to the long list of glorious victories for the Union. Obeying the order as a good soldier, the general commanding parts with the fighting Thirrty-second with regret. By order of Brigadier-General Leggett.

The health of the regiment is good. Company K has not suffered very severely during this campaign, having lost but three men up to date. Yours, etc., J. H. P.,

After the fall of Atlanta, the Thirty-second moved with the army in pursuit of Hood, after which it rejoined General Sherman, and accompanied him on his " March to the Sea."

December 10, 1864, the Thirty-second was in advance of the army, and contributed its share toward driving the enemy into his works at Savannaih. In this expedition the Savannah and Charleston railroad was cut, thus destroying the enemy's communication with Charleston. December 21, the regiment entered Savannah with the army, and went intq camp near Fort Thunderbolt. After the review, by General Sherman, of the whole army, the Seventeenth Army Corps went by transport to Beaufort, South Carolina; thence to Pocotaligo Station, on the Savannah and Charleston railroad. February 1, 1865, the regiment movedwith the army through the Carolinas, and, with the Thirteenth Iowa, was the first regiment to enter Columbia. Colonel Hibbetts, with a mounted detachment of the regiment, entered and captured Faj'etteville, North Carolina, March 10, 1865, after a severe fight with Wade Hampton's Cavalry.

March 20 and 21, it was engaged with the enemy at Bentonville, North Carolina. The regiment came out of the woods to see their friends at Goldsboro, moved with the army to Ealeigh, North Carolina, and was present at the surrender of Johnson's army, May 1, 1866. It marched with the army through Richmond, Virginia, to Washington City, where it participated in the grand review before President Johnson and Cabinet.

The regiment remained in camp, near Washington, until June 8, 1865, when it took the cars for Louisville. It lay there until July 20, when it was mustered out of the service, and proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, at which place the men received their final discharge, July 26, 1865.

The Thirty-second entered the field September 15, 1861, 950 strong, and, during the war, received 1,60,0 recruits. Only five hundred and sixty-five remained at its muster out.