Cuyahoga County, Ohio - Chapter 40: The National Guard, Etc, 1870

Chapter 40: The National Guard, Etc

Fifteenth Regiment - Its Organization - First Officers - Services - Present Officers - Cleveland Light Artillery - Its Original Formation - The Regiment of 1860 - Reorganization after the War--A }."'sterious Fight - The New Light Artillery - Its Present Situation - The VUleveland Grays - The Original Company - The Officers of 18387 - Officers of 1838 - Its high Reputation - Lapsed after 1845 -Again Aetive - Reorganized since the War - Present Condition - Cleveland Gatling-Gun Battery - Its Formation - Armory - Power of the Gatlings - First Cleveland Troop-- First Officers - Their New Armory---Conclusion.

EARLY in 187% Colonel A. T. Brinsmade, of Cleveland, an aid on Governor Hayes' staff, received a letter from Adjutant General Charles W. Carr, in which he incidentally remarked: "'I think you ought to have a regiment in Cleveland." Pleased with the suggestion, Colonel Brinsmade set about carrying it into effect, and to two unattached companies of the National Guard - the Brooklyn Blues, of Brooklyn, and the Emmett Guards, of Cleveland - already in existence, were promptly added the Veteran. Guards, Forest City Guards, Townsend Guards, and Buckeye Guards, all of Cleveland, and the complement of six companies being thus filled they were organized in June, 1877, as the Fifteenth regiment of infantry of the Ohio National Guard, with the following field, and staff officers:

Shortly after the organization of the regiment, the maximum number of ten companies was reached by the accession of the Hart Guards of Elyria, Chagrin Falls Guards of Chagrin Falls, Washington Guards of Cleveland, and Berea Light Guards of Berea. In July, 1877, the regiment was ordered to Newark, Ohio, to take part in suppressing the disturbances created by actors in the great railway strike of that year, but, as the men were unsupplied with arms, the order was countermanded. On the 2nd of August following, the mayor of Cleveland called on the Fifteenth to assist in preserving the peace in Cleveland when the railway-strike troubles threatened to take a serious turn in thecity. The command secured rifles enough to arm five companies, and assembled on Michigan street between seven and ten o'clock on the morning of August 2d, prepared for action, but happily the clouds of unrest blew over, and the soldiers were dis, missed.

Since the regimental organization, each company has occupied quarters of its own, but the city of Cleveland is now building, on Champlain street, a fine brick armory for the use of the National Guard, to cost twenty-eight thousand dollars, and according to indications it will be oecupied by the Fifteenth regiment late in the fall of 1879. The regiment included on the Ist of August, 1879, ten companies, six of which were from Cleveland, with six hundred and twenty-eight men, rank and file, and a fine band of nineteen pieces. The officers at that time were as given here:

This company is a revival of the old Cleveland Light Artillery of thirty-three years ago, and contains among its members men who were members of the original organization. The latter came into existence in January, 1846, when what had been previously known as the gun-squad of the Cleveland Grays organized, with sixteen members, as the Cleveland Light Artillery. D. L. Wood was elected captain; W. A. Lawrence, lieutenant; John Walworth, clerk; and W. L. Standart, commissary. There were at first but two gunsin the battery, but these were in a short time increased to four, while the number of men was raised to forty.

In 1860 the organization was, under the State law, divided into four companies witb one gun each, and then, with one company each from Brooklyn and Geneva, composed what was known as the First regiment of Light artillery, under Col. Jas. Barnett. The service of this force in the beginning of the war for the Union is noticed in the chapter devoted to the First Volunteer Light Artillery.

After the war closed, members of the old artillery organization made several unsuccessful efforts to restore the organization, but it was not until 1872 that the object was effected. In May of that year, Capt. Louis Smithnight, an old member of the artillery, and a volunteer soldier, received from the Alleghany arsenal a six pound 'brass cannon, marked ''Capt. Louis Smithnight, Cleveland Light Artillery," but who the donor was, he did not know. This circumstance led him to attempt a revival of the ''Artillery,"' and at the first meeting held at his residence, the project was accomplished, and forty members signed the roll. Besides the gun above referred to, the battery was supplied with an iron six-pounder, captured by Col. Barnett's three months regiment above mentioned, at the battle of Carrick's Ford, West Virginia, July 13, 1861. Later, that gun was set, as a war relic, upon Monumental Park, Cleveland, where it may still be seen.

Up to May 20, 1873, the artillery was an independent organization, but on that date it was enrolled in the State militia, and forms now a portion of the Ohio State National Guard.

In the Adjutant General's report. of 1877 he remarks: ''In all that constitutes a first class organization, the Cleveland Light Artillery is a model."

The company now includes seventy-three men, rank and file, and has a battery of four brass six-pounders, while its equipment is so complete that it could take the field at onee, if called upon - all the property save the guns belonging to the company. 'The armory is now on Frankfort street, but the location will be changed to the new city armory on its completion in the fall of 1879. The officers of the Artillery are Louis Smithnight, captain; F. H. Flick and W. H. Reynolds, lieutenants; N. P. Sackrider, surgeon. The officers in 1872 were the same, with the exception that F. H..Flick who was then second lieutenant has succeeded Nicholas Schrob as first lieutenant, and W. Reynolds followed Flick as second lieutenant.

Cleveland Grays

The military company -known as the Cleveland Grays is considered as practically the same organization that was called into existence under the same name July 12, 1838. There have been one or two periods, of a few years each, during which the Grays failed to assemble as a company, but the command was never formally disbanded and in each case was ere long revived. This company was first organized - August 28, 1837, as the Cleveland City Guards, being the pioneer military company of Cleveland.

Timothy Ingraham was chosen captain; A. 8. Sanford, first lieutenant; and Benjamin Harrington, second lieutenant; with George W. Lewis, E. Sanford, J. Gillett and T. P. Spencer as sergeants, and W. B.

The National Guard, Eto

On the 7th of June, 1838, it was resolved to change the name of the company to the Cleveland Grays, and under the new organization the first election was held July 12, 1838, when the officers chosen were: Timothy Ingraiam, captain; A. 8. Sanford, David Russell and Jonathan Gillett, lieutenants; EK. Sanford, Bushnell White, W. B. Dockstader and D. W. Cross, sergeants; W. K. Adams, 8. A. Fairchild, B. B. Ifastings, Theo. Umbstacter, Andrew Lyttle, Jas. A. Craw, and Y. H. Russell, corporals.

The company made its first parade (in new uniforms) November 29, 1838, and then numbered twenty-eight rank and file: The "Grays" was a famous company and included as members many of the foremost men in the town; men, too, who are to-day among the leading representative citizens of Cleveland. In the exercise of arms it was a claimant for the highest honors, and on more than one occasion established by public test its superiority over all other companies in the State, in drill and discipline.

Shortly after 1845 the Grays lapsed into a state of inactivity, and for some time there was no tangible evidence of the existence of the organization, but a revival sect in in 1852 and the "Grays" flourished vigorously until after the company's service in the war, when its identity was lost until the close of the rebellion. It was then reorganized and since that time has been uninterruptedly in active existence.

The command now numbers sixty-eight, rank and file, is armed with Springfield muzzle-loading rifles, and is, as it has always been, an independent military organization. It occupies an armory on Frankfort street with the Light Artillery, but upon the completion of the new city armory, will be assigned quarters in that building. he officers of the Grays are J. N. Frazee, captain; J. H. Miller and W. Morrow, lieutenants; Rey. C. S. Pomeroy, chaplain; Geo.

Cleveland Gatling-Gun Battery

Late in 1877 General Barnett, Major Goodspeed and other of Cleveland's citizens agitated the subject of forming a battery in pursuance of the purpose of the city in purchasing two Gatling-guns, and, as the result of several preliminary meetings, the Cleveland Gatling-Gun Battery was organized June 26, 1878, by Messrs. W. F. Goodspeed, Frank Wilson, Thomas Goodwillie, Wm. Il. Harvey, L. ©. Hanna, Jobn A. Norton, John R. Ranney, Chas. A. Uhl, J. F. Evans, R. W. Hickox and J. A. Kirkwood. In the preamble to the constitution they set forth the following: ;

An old church building, at the corner of Prospect and Perry streets, was secured as an armory, and under the experienced direction of Captain Goodspeed, the company entered at once upon a rigid system of drill, which, having since been pursued with unflagging energy, has brought the command to a gratifying standard of proficiency. The old armory is still used, but is likely to be replaced ere long by a fine armory building, the crection of which is now contemplated by the battery.

The members of this organization, numbering at present twenty-cight, are men prominent in Cleyeland's business and social circles, whose aim in one respect is to maintain the membership of the battery in an elevated social position. The command is perfectly equipped, is a thoroughly independent organization, and owns everything connected with the battery. The guns, as has been noted, were donated by the city of Cleveland. They are of fortyfive inch calibre, and are capable of firing one thousand shots per minute.

The officers (the same now as at the company's organization) are W. F. Goodspeed, captain; Frank Wilson, lieutenaut; Thomas Goodwillie, orderly sergeant; J. Ford Evans, quartermaster-sergeant.

First Cleveland Troop

Early in the autumn of 1877, a number of Cleveland's representative men discussed the advisability of adding another to the city's military organizations, and a call being issued for a meeting of business men interested in the project, a liberal gathering of prominent citizens in Weisgerber's Hall, September 10, 1877, was the result. Col. W. H. Harris was the chairman, and Dr. Frank Wells, the secretary, and after a decision by the assemblage that a cavalry company should be organized - on account of there being no such command in the city - an adjournment was voted until October 10th following. On this occasion the organization was perfected by the election of W. H. Harris as captain, E..S. Meyer as first lieutenant; G. A. Garrettson as second lieutenant, Charles D. Gaylord as first sergeant, and Frank Wells as surgeon. The name of First Cleveland Troop was adopted, and the roll was signed by forty members who, in the preamble to the Constitution, declared that their object in effecting the organization was *' to perfect

Temporary quarters were occupied in Weisgerber's Hall until the winter of 1878, when the Troop took possession of a fine brick armory which was built by the eompany with its own resources, and Completed in Deeember, 1878. This structure, located on Euclid avenue between Sterling and Case avenues, measures one hundred and fifty feet by fifty, and is substantially built and perfectly appointed. The organization now includes sixty active and twenty honorary mem- bers, with constantly increasing numbers, and is officered as follows: W. H. Harris, captain; G. A. Garrettson, first lieutenant; Charles D. Gaylord, second lieutenant; Rev. C. T. Collins, chaplain; N. S. Schneider, surgeon, - the commissioned officers being West Point graduates. Weekly drills are held the year round - dismounted drills only, with carbines and sabers during the winter season.

The Troop stands high as a body representing culture and intelligence, and includes in its ranks some of the best known merchants, bankers and professional men in Cleveland. It is an absolutely independent command, and is the only independent cavalry organization in Ohio. Financially it rests upon a firm foundation, owning the armory, and everything pertaining to the company's equipment. The arms are the regulation United States cavalry sabre and Sharp's improved carbine, model of 1878. Were sudden occasion to arise, the Troop is in such condition that it could take the field at an hour's notice.