Coshocton County, Ohio - Chapter 43: War of the Kebellion - Coktinued, 1881

Sixty-Ninth Battalion, or One Hundred and Forty-Second Ohio N. G. and One Hundred and Forty-Third Ohio N. G' - Review of the Sixty-Ninth Battalion - Eosters of Five Companies - Record of the One Hundred and Forty-Second

THE Sixty-ninth Battalion was originally composed of six companies, but at the time Governor Brough made a call upon the National Guard of Ohio there were but five companies. Two of these companie's went into the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio, and three into the One Hundred and Forty-third Ohio.

The Sixty-ninth Battalion absorbed nearly all of the fighting element that was left in Coshocton county, and the interest that was felt in the organization is manifest in the following, published in the Age of date May 14, 1864:

The Coshocton county National Guards, that had been temporarily dismissed to their homes, on Wednesday, the 4th inst., reported promptly for duty again on Monday last, and rendezvoused in the fair ground at 4 p. m. Tuesday, when they went aboard a special train, provided to convey them to Camp Chase. The weather, Tuesday, was very unpropitious, a cold rain falling all day, and our streets were very muddy, but notwithstanding, a large concourse of people assembled at the depot to see the Sixty-ninth Battalion, 0. N. G., depart, and many a friend wished them God spee«i and a safe return. They are as fine a looking body of men as have yet left the county, and are commanded by officers of known ability. Although calling them into service at the present time is- very hard on many of them - in many cases no one being left to cultivate their farmsyet they went off cheerfully and in good spirits, determined to do their duty wherever they may be sent.

The Sixty-ninth Battalion was known in the military records solely as part of the two regiments to which it was assigned as mentioned above. The muster rolls of the five companies' are given as they were assigned.

The One. Hundred and Forty-second was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into the service of the United States for 100 days. May 12, 1864.

of Columbus to the State arsenal, where it was supplied with Enfield muskets. Thence it took cars for Martinsburg, Virginia, where it remained drilling until the 19th of May, and then left for Washington, D. C, but meeting with detention at Harper's Ferry, on account of the bridge being destroyed at that point, it did not reach the capitol until the 21st.

From Washington it marched out to Fort Lyon, nine miles distant. The regiment did not reach the fort until late at night, and finding no barracks, the men tasted their first experience of .soldier life by lying prone upon the naked ground. That night's experience will be long remembered; and many a good jolly laugh has been expended at the recollections of the learned and serious conversations of the night about "suffering for the country," " the Valley Forge days repeated," etc. Their subsequent experience of the hardships and privations of the soldier's Ufe threw that night's "frolic " far into the shade.

The regiment remained at Fort Lyon, busily engaged in strengthening the fortifications and perfecting its drill, until the 5th of June, when orders were received to report to General Abercrombie at White House' Landing, on the Pamunkey river. Among the men some astonishment was expressed that they should be selected for duty at the extreme front ; but as good loyal soldiers, they felt gratified at the confidence reposed in them.

The regiment took steamer at Alexandria on the 7th of June, ajid arrived at the White House Landing, Pamunkey river, on the 9th of June about midnight, and went into camp in the open field. The wounded from the battle of Coal Harbor, then in progress, were being brought in - a gloomy reception to inexperienced soldiers.

Without rest, the regiment, carrying six days' rations, left all its baggage and marched, at 4 o'clock in the morning, to guard a supply train through the Wilderness to General Grant's front, near Coal Harbor, a distance of sixteen miles. Arriving there in the evening, Colonel Cooper reported to General Meade, who ordered him to report his regiment to General Butler, at Bermuda Hundred. This point was reached, by water, on the 13th of June, where, without being permitted to land, it was conveyed on transports to Point of Eocks, about five miles below Petersburg. Here it was landed, and marched about about six miles to the extreme right of the national line. Thinking to get a night's rest, the ,tired soldiers lay down on their blankets, but just as they had lapsed into dreamy forgetf ulness, the long . roll was sounded. Leaving its tents standing, the regiment was marched three miles on the double-quick, through a dense pine forest, dark, and filled with stumps and underbrush, over which the men often stumbled and fell. The point to be defended was reached, and the men were immediately placed in rifle-pits, in which exposed position they passed about a week. They were then detailed to destroy a line of earthworks from which the enemy had been driven. While engaged in this duty, they were resisted by the rebels, but the regiment, with the aid of other troops on the line, not only effectually completed the destruction, but drove the rebels from the field.

Hardly a day passed without the regiment or detachments from it being detailed to perform picket and fatigue duty. At one time the whole regiment was detailed to build a fort at Turkey Bend, on James river, which duty it performed with credit and dispatch, although incessantly annoyed by shells from a hostile battery.

On the 19th of August it received orders to repair to Washington City, as its term of service had about expired. It accordingly embarked on transports at Bermuda Hundred and reached Washington City on the 21st. It then went by rail to Camp Chase, Ohio, and was there mustered out of the service of the United States on the, 2d of September, 1864.

The One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio National Guard was principally raised in the county of Knox, and was composed of men from all the various departments of life. The farmer, the mechanic, the lawyer - aye, and the minister - all ceased their vocations for a time, and offered their services- and their lives, if need be - to insure the perpetuity of the Union and its institutions.

Out of an aggregate strength of eight hundi-ed and forty-five men the regiment lost fifty, mostly from disease incident to camp Ufe, excessive fatigue and exposure.

The One Hundred and Forty-third regiment was formed by consolidating the Eighteenth Battalion, Ohio National Guard, of Colnmbiana county, with the Sixty-ninth Battalion, Ohio National Guard, of Coshocton county. It was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 13th of May, and on the 15th left for Washington City.

On its arrival it was assigned to Haskins' division, Second Army Corps, and was placed on garrison duty in Forts Slemmer, Slocum and Stevens, north of the Potomac. On the 8th of June the regiment embarked for White House, but without debarking, it was ordered to Bermuda Hundred. It was assigned to the Tenth Army Corps, and was placed in the intrenchments at City Point, where it remained until to Fort Pocahontas. It was relieved from duty at Fort Pocahontas, August 29, and proceeded to Camp Chase, where it arrived on the 5th of September, and was mustered out of service on the 12th. ^

The two companies of the Sixty-ninth Battalion 0. N. G., which were assigned to the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio, had much severer tasks assigned them than fell to the lot of the three companies forming part of the One Hundred and Forty-third. The causes are worthy of notice. The two regiments pursued the same Toute and were passing through similar expe- Tiences until the 5th of June, when both regiments were ordered to White House Landing, on the Pamunkey river, to re-enforce General -Abercrombie. On this passage, while the boat, named " lolas," - which contained the three companies of the One Hundred and Forty-third, among others - was on its route, at ten p. m., it was run into by a large schooner, and part of the deck swept overboard. Fortunately no one was up, except Captain N. R. Tidball and Private Lewis Smith, and there was in consequence no personal injury, although the boat was so much damaged, she was lashed to the schooner, and in the morning, was ordered back to Washington. The incident separated the two regimepts, and orders did not call them together again during their hundred days service.

an incident occurred that excited some consternation among the men. Quite a number' of the men, upon eating rice, were attacked with sickness and vomiting. Fifteen or twenty gasping, choking victims created quite an excitement in the mess, and it was thought that an effort had been made to poison the men, but no serious results following, and the attempt not being repeated, the matter was passed by without investigation.

During the month of June the One Hundred and Forty-third built a pontoon bridge across the Appomattox ; the regiment was then encamped at City Point. It was arduously engaged in this labor, and also in the building of heavy fortifications at Fort Pocahontas, at which point earthworks of the most extensive character were being constructed^ These were mainly built by the One Hundred and Forty-third.

The mortality among the men was very heavy, owing partly to the sudden change of climate and water in the hot months of the year, and partly to the heavy exertions required in the building of fortifications and the exposure requisite to their completion.

Company E of the One Hundred and Fortythird lost eight men, all of whom died from exposure and heavy work, even though cared for in the best wards of the hospitals. '

The first member of the old Sixty-ninth Battalion who lost his life in the one hundred days' service was Elias West, who had been assigned to Company E of the One Hundred and Forty-third. His dealii was followed by those of W. E. Butler and A. C. Hay, at Fortress Monroe ; John Dennis, Reuben Jennings and Thomas C. Scott, at Wilson's Landing.

The following item, published in the Age of date July 23, 1864, will serve to show how heavy was the tax of climate and labor on the boys during their brief, but memorable, one hiindred days' service :

F. C. Ricketts, of this place, returned a few days ago from a visit to Washington, and reports the following boys on the sick list. His report may be relied upon :

Company H - W. A. Carnahan, in general hospital, Alexandria, Virginia; Andrew Karr and T. J. Karr, in Howard hospital, Washington, D. C; Samuel Stonehocker, James Overholt, W. G. Jack, E. Spangler, Joseph Ling, S. Leavitt and J.

E. Eeedjin Hampton hospital, Fortress Monroe, and N. S. Glover, at Wilson's Landing, Virginia. All the above are convalescent. S. E. Bechtol and J. A. Wiliramson, at the same hospital, are very «ick, oases doubtful. T. C. Sayer died at Fortress Monroe, and Eli Seward at Wilson's Landing.

Company G - Sick in Hampton hospital, Fortress Monroe: A. Wright, S. S. Waddle, J. North, .J. Dawson, J. Barcroft, H. Wright and J. Fortune ; «ick in camp : L. Cain, W. Austin, W. H. Cox, A. Ogle, W. H. Bradfleld, A. McCullough and William Peoples.

Company E - Sick in hospital at Fortress Monroe : Lieutenant D. F. Denman, J. P. Randies, J. JR. Stone, A. Donohew, L. Marlatt, T. J. Wells, O. Leeclair, E. Hastings and W. H. Williamson. Captain N. K. Tidball and W. S. Tidball are at Washington, and are convalescent. J. Vinsel and <3eorge Gilbert are in the hospital at Alexandria, Virginia. In camp hospital at Wilson's Landing : Robert Sands, E. McMichael, W. Marlatt, A. P. Perkins, D. F. Meyers, J. C. Glover and W. S. Lutes.

The following extracts from letters from the boys of the One Hundred and Forty-second and One Hundred and Forty-third, will show how they demeaned themselves and how proud they felt of the old Sixty-ninth batallion.

Owing to detentions along the road we did not Teach Columbus until about twelve o'clock at night. After floundering around the freight depot until nearly two o'clock, A. M., we were ordered to repair to Tod barracks where we obtained quarters till morning.

As the night was cold, and the rhen pretty well «oaked with the rain, our slumbers were not as pleasant as we liked, but a good breakfast in the morning fixed matters all right, and at 11, A. M., we marched for Camp Chase, four miles from Columbus, and by dark we were arranged comfortably.

In organizing one of the companies of the old Sixty-ninth, Compstny B, of Spring Mountain, suddenly vanished and ceased to exist. Owing to some of the companies being below the minimum strength, it became necessary to consolidate, and Company B, being the smallest it was divided among the others as follows : one man to Company A, one man to Company C, nineteen men to Company D, fourteen men to Company E, eleven men to Company F.

Captain Wetherwax, of Company B, was offered, and accepted, the position of First Lieutenant in Company E, to fill the vacancy caused "by the withdrawal of Lieutenant Reherd, who goes home.

A consolidation has been efiected by which companies A, C and D, are attached to Columbiana county battalion, forming a regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas retains his position, as does also Surgeon S. H. Lee. We regret the loss of Major George Marshall, Lieutenant S. L. Edwards and Quartermaster George Ridgely, who are thrown out by the consolidation and are obliged to go home much against their will. They had the honor of going with us as far as they were able. The old Sixty-ninth is no more for 100 days these arrangements lasting only during the time we are mustered into the United States service, after which the Sixty-ninth will be herself again.

We left Columbus Saturday evening, and after a long and tedious ride reached Martinsburg, about twenty miles from Harper's Ferry. We had the pleasure of meeting WiUiam A. McKee, formerly superintendent of the Coshocton Union School. He is stationed at Martinsburg with two companies of his regiment as gui,rds.

Other regiments of Ohio National Guards are constantly arriving and are being transported over the river in a common open flat boat or a rope ferry.

Our two Coshocton companies of the One Hundred and Forty-second are considered by Colonel Cooper as the best in the regiment. The Colonel is from Mount Vernon and is an older brother of Dr. P. L Cooper, formerly of Coshocton, Much surprise is shown among the people here along the line of the railroad, at Ohio being able to send so many new troops into the field. One, on being informed that the national guard numbered 40,- 000 men, all under marching orders, replied, "dey must be lots of you-uns up in 'Hio dar."

Editok Age: Having a little leisure time, I will give you all the news we have. We hear General Grant giving his batteries a little exercise at the rate of about one hundred shots a minute. We hope to hear of the fall of the rebel capitol pretty soon. We are at present stationed at a very nice, healthy place, situated about twentyfive miles below Richmond, on a high blufi overlooking the James river. " Uncle Abe " has been up to the front and is now passing this place on his way back. We have been to the front, but were sent here to guard the "Cracker Line." Our regiment is all on fatigue duty, and, if we stay here long, we will have this place well forti-

We were with the One Hundred and Fortysecond, the other day, at Point of Eocks. Several of our boys are under the weather; our long trip on the water helped make the most of them sick. Lieutenant Denman has been unfit for duty for several days. The most of the one hundred days' men take to soldiering like ducks to water, and it would be hard to tell them from veterans.

Ed. Age : By request of the members of Company E, One Hundred and Forty-third Eegiment O. N. G., I write to you, to let our friends in Coshocton county know how we are getting along. Our regiment is doing guard duty at this place, along with the One Hundred and Sixty-third O. N. G., and two batteries of artillery from New York State.

When we came here, the fortifications were only about half completed, and we were called on to do a considerable amount of fatigue duty, to put the place in a more perfect state of defense. Our defenses are now about perfect, and it will require a considerable amount of courage on the part of the rebels to make a successful assault on us. Our sick list has been very large, but it is now getting down to a very few names; it has been up to forty-three.

In a letter just received, from A. P. Pritchey, Quartermaster of the One Hundred and Fortysecond 0. N. G., he writes as follows of that regiment:

Our boys, as a general thing, are contented, and take pleasure in doing their duty, and although we have seen a little rougher times than we did at home, yet we have been favored in every way, when we compare our situation with the veterans who have been here with us. Our food is good and plenty - all receive the regular rations of pork, fresh beef, soft and hard bread, beans, hominy, etc., etc., and the Sanitary Commission, God bless it, has not overlooked us. A number of our boys have been sent to the hospital, sick, but we find the health of our regiment is remarkably good, especially Company G, from Warsaw, Coshocton county.

James river in sight of Port Darling across to. the Appomattax, the old troops relieved by ushaving gone forward with General Grant's main army, I am glad, and I think that every hundred days' man that ever called himself a " Union man" will be proud that the government has called upon us to perform some actual service.. The government has called upon us to go out in front of our last breastwork, in front of the enemy, to perform picket duty. The boys do this part of their work the most cheerfully and willingly of any, and the more so because it is not generally connected with garrison duty, which was understood to be the extent of the duty required of us when called out from Ohio. As we become more accustomed to a soldier's life we feel its roughness less. We have frequently been called out in line of battle, and the call has always: been obeyed with as much alacrity apparently as a call to dinner. We may be attacked any day; if so, I believe the One Hundred and Forty-second will acquit herself honorably.

If our soldierly qualities are not put to such a test before we come home, we want no reception but a friendly shake of the hand - your honors should be re'served for the veterans.