Fulton County, Ohio - Chapter 5: The County's War Record, 1905

DURING the interim between the settlement and organization of Fulton county and the commencement of the Civil War, the martial spirit of the people was kept in forced abeyance. This was due partially to the stern realities of a pioneer life, with which they had to contend, and partially to the lack of opportunity or occasion to show their war-like tendencies. Before the county was organized, in 1850, most of its territory was within the limits of Lucas, and a more or less nominal militia organization was effected and carried on in that county; but the semiannual musters were enjoyed by the crowds who attended more because of the frolic and roustering than of any improvement in military discipline. Aud thus, a system that had been so popular and efficient during the old Indian wars on the frontier, bad loosened its hold on the public mind during a protracted period of profound peace. The cities and larger towns in the State were the only places where military drill was appreciated, and where strict discipline and military pride attained a proficiency nearly equal to that which prevailed in the regular army.

The mutterings of internal strife, which had engaged the attention of statesmen for some years prior to i860, in that year began to take tangible shape, and the people came to realize that the settlement of the questions of State sovereignty and slavery extension could no longer be deferred by legislative compromises. The result of the Presidential election portended the abolition of slavery in the territories and all new States to be admitted thereafter ; but in exactly what manner the decision in regard to State sovereignty should be made was a subject not agreed upon, even by national leaders at the North, where the dominant party disclosed its strength. The incoming National administration, in 1861, faced an unprecedented crisis in American history and apparently was uncertain how to proceed in the midst of the alarming dilemma that confronted it. A number of the slave-holding States had passed ordinances of secession, thereby exercising a right that had been generally claimed and not seriously disputed since the adoption of the Constitution, and those who desired the maintenance of the Union were vainly searching for a solution of the difficult problem. Able and patriotic statesmen, regardless of party affiliation, were giving their time and talents to the perplexing question, hoping to discover a pathway that would lead to a satisfactory adjustment of all differences - when all plans were disarranged by the firing on Fort Sumter, and the administration was afforded a pretext, if not a justification for waging a vigorous war of suppression. This overt act on the part of the South cleared the atmosphere for those who had advocated a policy of coercion, and to a large extent lessened the number of those who had talked of peaceable secession.

But all were not of one mind. In Fulton county, as elsewhere, there were those who denied the right and expediency of the government's action ; but they were comparatively few in number, and owing to the heated condition of the public mind they were the subjects of bitter denunciation, epithets and contemptuous opprobrium. However, it is not the purpose of this apparent digression to recall unpleasant memories or argue questions long since settled - we desire merely to describe conditions and record pertinent historical facts, before entering upon the proud record of Fulton county during those dark days of internecine strife.

The news of the firing on Fort Sumter was followed in a few days by the President's call for seventy-five thousand troops. By the 29th of April, just seventeen days after the first shot was fired, the old Buckeye State offered seventy-one thousand soldiers, and eight days later increased her offering to eighty-one thousand. Public meetings were held all over Fulton county and, in a few days, two full companies were raised. Owing to the rapidity with which Ohio's quota was filled, l*ut one of these companies could be accepted. It was ninety-seven strong and was commanded by Epaphras L. Barber, captain : Thomas M. Ward, first lieutenant, and Rezin A. Franks, second lieutenant. The other company was ordered to Camp Herrick, in Swanton, where, after being drilled for about one month, it was mustered out and paid off by the State. Captain Barber's company enlisted in the three months' service, and served in the Fourteenth regiment.

Enlistments and company organizations followed in rapid succession, and while the Wauseon company was the only completed organization from the county in the first three months' service, the men who composed it were not the only, troops, as some twenty or thirty boys residing in the northern part joined Michigan regiments, others went into Williams county, and still others sought military organizations in Henry and Lucas. It is probable that not less than sixty boys thus found means to serve their country outside the county limits. Counting these and the company in the Fourteenth, it will be seen that fully one hundred and fifty men from the county were in the first three months' service. The professions, merchants, mechanics, farmer boys and laborers, all were imbued with the same spirit, and promptly laid aside their several vocations, and joined in the supreme effort to preserve the Union of the States. Gentlemen of the cloth laid aside their shepherd's crooks and went to the front in various capacities. During the four years of bloody warfare, Ohio met every call for troops in advance of the time limit, and Fulton county was always among the first to respond with her quota.

And while the "boys" were at the front, the citizens at home were not idle, and the devoted mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts, imbued with the same spirit which had taken their loved ones from them, assisted in organizing relief associations. There was much outward show of sympathy and interest during the first few months, but by the following year, after the disasters of the Peninsula campaign, matters settled down to a war basis, and sentiment was banished in the interest of helpful needs. Public and private donations to the Federal cause were kept up until the final capitulation at Appomattox.

It would be impossible to trace the record of Fulton county's valiant soldiers through the ranging fortunes of four years of bloody war; neither would space permit, should such be possible. Without disparagement to the heroic services of any, it shall be the purpose of this article to mention the organizations, which, as a whole, are more closely connected with Fulton county than other military organizations. Reference is here made to the Fourteenth, Thirtyeighth, Forty-seventh, Sixty-seventh. Sixtv-eighth, Eighty-fifth, Eighty-sixth, One Hundredth, One Hundred and Eleventh, One Hundred and Thirtieth, and One Hundred and Eighty-second regiments of Ohio Infantry, the Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and the Third Ohio Cavalry. While other regiments may have achieved equal honors on the bloody fields, it is morally certain that none surpassed those mentioned in the performance of stern duty. The Fourteenth, in the three months' service, contained one Fulton county company and was organized at Toledo. In three days it was ready for the field, and in twelve days after the fall of Sumter it moved from Toledo to Camp Taylor, Cleveland, where it was drilled and the organization completed. On May 18, 1861, it was transferred from the State to the General Government. On the 22nd, it received its arms at Columbus, then moved to Zanesville, Marietta and Parkersburg, Va., at which latter place its first services were required in protecting bridges from the torch of the enemy. On the 29th, Clarksburg was reached, where trains were put to running for supplies. On June 2, the march from Webster to Phillipi (thirteen miles) was made on a dismal rainy night to surprise 2,000 Confederate cavalry, upon whom an artillery fire was poured at daybreak. The enemy was routed and scattered to the hills, leaving stores, arms, and munitions behind them. The Fourteenth went into camp in the rear of the town of Phillipi, expeditions being sent out against the guerrilla bands which infested that region. It was engaged before the enemy at Phillipi, June 3, Laurel Hill, July 8, and Carrick's Ford, July 14, with a loss of eight brave men killed and many wounded. The regiment remained in camp on Laurel Hill until July 22, when its term of service having expired, it was ordered home, arriving at Toledo, July 25, and on August 13, 1861, was mustered out of the LTnited States Service.

twice their term of service, and up to this date, the Confederates had been successful on nearly every field. An enlistment for three years' seryice at this time meant more than a brief term of a few months. The first spontaneous outburst had been succeeded by a candid and thoughtful consideration of the momentous task, with the record of past events pointing to possible failure. This was the condition of affairs when the gallant Thirty-eighth was raised in response to the President's first call for three hundred thousand troops for a period of "three years or during the war.'' Capt. Edwin D. Bradley, of Stryker, who commanded Company E, of the Fourteenth, accepted the colonelcy, and the second position went to Edward H. Phelps. Recruiting stations were established in Williams, Fulton and adjacent counties, and the headquarters of the embryo regiment were located at Defiance. Company encampments were opened in other places. Enlistments moved along slowly, but by September 22d, the regimental organization was complete, and on October 5, 1861, it was mustered into the service of the United States at Nicholasville, Ky. The work of drilling and equipping the regiment had been well attended to and by the time it was ordered to the field the discipline, drill and apparent efficiency of the regiment were alike creditable to the officers and the men.

It might be said that Company E of the Fourteenth regiment in the three months' service, which contained several Fulton county boys, was the nucleus of this regiment, and, as before stated, its captain was chosen as the colonel of the new organization, but he resigned on account of ill-health on February 6, 1862. That the reader may have Gsome idea of the casualties of the regiment, let it be said that sixty-four men were commissioned as field, staff and line officers, while thirty-six is the complement for a regiment. Of these, a few resigned, and some were promoted, but it is safe to assert that at . least twenty officers were killed or disabled in the service. The regiment lost one hundred and twenty-seven men, killed in battle or died of wounds; while the number who died from disease and accidents, or were incapacitated, either by wounds or ill-health, for further service, amounted to five hundred and thirty-one. The regiment when mustered in was fully a thousand strong, hence the casualties equalled at least sixty-five per cent, of the number of men entering the service with the organization of the regiment.

The active service of the Thirty-eighth began in the army operat- ' ing in Kentucky, under Gen. W. T. Sherman. It would be interesting to follow the regiment through its wonderfully active career of nearly four years at the front, but a brief. resume of events must ^ suffice. It participated in ten hard-fought battles, some of which j were the most disastrous in the annals of the war. To reach these < various scenes of carnage in several different states, it traveled thousands of miles on weary marches, through rain and snow and mud ; in intense heat, or equally uncomfortable cold ; wading streams, climbing and descending mountains, each soldier carrying, in full equipment, some sixty pounds of baggage. It is estimated that in ordinary warfare, a soldier is under fire in skirmishing, and other desultory fighting, at least five times to each general engagement in which he participates ; hence a record of battles is no fair estimate as to a soldier's actual service.

The Thirty-eighth fought under Buell in Kentucky; under Rosecrans and Grant in Tennessee, on the Atlanta campaign under Sherman and thence on the memorable "March to the Sea." At the assault on Mission Ridge, it was on the extreme left, and though the fire from the Confederate batteries was hot and terrific, it moved up, up to the very summit, losing seven men killed and forty-one wounded. It pursued the enemy to Ringgold, Ga., then returned to Chattanooga, and there "veteranized," only one hundred and twelve of the entire regiment refusing to continue in the service after the expiration of the first term of enlistment. January 14, 1864, the Fulton county contingent of the regiment reached home on veteran furlough, and a grand ovation was tendered it. A vast outpouring of citizens met the soldier boys at the station, but the veterans, after more than two years' absence, were anxious to meet loved ones around the home firesides, and so dispersed to their several homes to enjoy a thirty days' respite in the quiet pursuits of civil life. At the expiration of the furlough, the regiment reported at Ringgold, Georgia, and there resumed the routine of camp life until the beginning of the thrilling events in the campaign of 1864. It participated in. the battles, marches and skirmishes of the Atlanta campaign, and was among the first to enter the beleaguered city. Continuing the triumphal march to the sea, and up through the Caroliltas, fighting its way, as enemies confronted it, the Grand Review at Washington put a fitting finale to the record of the preceding years.

The Forty-seventh regiment of infantry was principally raised in the southwestern part of the State, and was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, August 27, 1861. The odds and ends of several companies joined it at Camp Dennison, among which were fifty-two men from Fulton county, forty-two of which were mustered info Company I, and the other ten joined different companies of the regiment. The term of enlistment was three years, and on the expiration of service the original members (except veterans) were mustered out, and the organization composed of veterans and recruits remained in service until August 11, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department.

The Sixty-seventh regiment of infantry was organized in the State of Ohio, at large, from October, 1861, to January, 1862, to serve three years. At the muster in of the regiment there were 21 1 men from Fulton county, as follows: Company A, 63 men; Company B,

30 men; Company C, 18 men; Company D, 2 men; Company E, 17 men; Company F, 35 men; Company I, 46 men; total, 21 1. On the expiration of its term of service the original members (except veterans), were mustered out, and the organization, composed of veterans and recruits, remained in the service. The Sixty-second regiment of Ohio infantry was consolidated with it, September 1, 1865. It

The Sixty-eighth regiment of infantry was composed in part of Fulton county troops, one company being gathered entirely from this county. This regiment was enlisted in Northwestern Ohio counties, and was organized at Camp Latty, Napoleon.. On January 19, 1862, it moved to Camp Chase, and from there, on February 7, to Fort Donelson, where it arrived on the evening of the 14th, during the time of the fighting at the fort. It was assigned to Gen. Charles F. Smith's division and moved, about the middle of March, to Pittsburg Landing, and at the battle there guarded ordnance and supply trains. In the Spring of 1863, it worked on various canals in Louisiana, and, on April 25, it began to march around Vicksburg and reached the Mississippi at Grand Gulf, May 1, 1863, by a forced march; it fought at Thompson's Hill, and subsequently at Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, and was engaged throughout the siege of Vicksburg. On February 5, 1864, it fought at Clinton and Jackson, Miss. Just before this,' it "veteranized," and soon after returned home, where it was received with all the "pomp and circumstance of glorious war." On June 10, the regiment joined Sherman's army at Acworth, Georgia, and during the remainder of the Atlanta campaign, the Sixty-eighth was almost constantly under fire, being on the advance sixty-five days. It fought at Kenesaw fountain, Big Shanty, Nickajack Creek, Atlanta, July 22 and 28, Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. It then moved with Sherman to the sea, up through the Carolina campaign ; then by the way of Washington to Louisville, Kentucky, whence it was ordered to Cleveland for payment and discharge - the latter taking place on July 18, 1865.

The Eighty-fifth regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was organized in the State of Ohio at large, in May and June. 1862, to serve three months, and was retained at Camp Chase, Ohio, to aid in guarding the large number of Confederate prisoners in confinement at that place. It was mustered out, September 23 and 27, 1862. by reason of expiration of term of service. Fulton county furnished one full company (G), for this regiment, ninety-seven men rank and file.

The Eighty-sixth regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry was enlisted in June. 1863, for six months. It was organized at Camp Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio, July 14, 1863, and was mustered out at the same camp, February 10, 1864, because of expiration of term of service. It was made up of companies from various counties in Northern Ohio, Fulton county furnishing one whole company (H), and part of another (F), besides a few in other companies. It was a regiment of boys, 676 of them being under twenty-one years old, many being only sixteen to eighteen. In July, the regiment was moved to Camp Tod. Columbus, Ohio, and when Morgan's raiders passed through the State, they were put into the chase and were within a few miles of him when he was captured, July 26* 1863.

The regiment left Camp Tod, on August 9, 1863, for Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and soon after started for Cumberland Gap, arriving near there September 8. The next day (September 9), the place was surrendered to Colonel De Courcey and the Eighty-sixth, in fact, but in form to General Burnside, who was two miles away at the time. The regiment guarded the 2,100 prisoners to Lexington, Kentucky, and then marched back to the Gap, where they remained to guard the place until the middle of January, 1864, and then returned to Camp Cleveland.

The One Hundreth regiment of Ohio Volunteers had one company entirely made up of Fulton county boys, and about twenty other men scattered through the different companies of the regiment. The Fulton county organization was Company H, and it was commanded first by Lawrence B. Smith, captain; John H. Palmer, first lieutenant, and Emmett Losure, second lieutenant. This regiment was organized at Camp Toledo, Ohio, in July, August and September, 1862, to serve three years, and was mustered out of service, June 20, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department. The regiment participated in the defense of Knoxville, and after active duty in East Tennessee, moved, in the Spring of 1864, to Tunnel Hill, Georgia, and joined General Sherman. It participated in the Atlanta campaign, fighting in almost every battle. On August 6, it assaulted the Confederate works at Utoy Creek, in front of Atlanta, suffering a loss of 103 men, killed and wounded, out of 300 engaged. The regiment joined in the pursuit of Hood, participated in the desperate battles of Franklin and Nashylle, and finally moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, where it was actively engaged. It lost during its term of service, sixty-five men killed in action; one hundred and forty-two wounded; twenty-seven died of wounds; one hundred and eight died of disease; three hundred and twentv-five were captured by the enemy, and eighty-five died in Confederate prisons.

Company K, of the One Hundred and Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was largely if not entirely a Fulton county company. Its captain was Dening W. H. Day, while its first and second lieutenants were Joseph O. Allen and Jeremiah Bowlin, respectively. The One Hundred and Eleventh regiment was organized at Camp Toledo, Ohio, September 5 and 6, 1862, to serve three years, and was mustered out of service, June 27, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department. It began its active military operations in Tennessee. After various marches, expeditions, scouts and skirmishes, the regiment found itself, on November 14, 1863, confronted by Longstreet at Huff's Ferry. It charged with its brigade and was successful, forcing the Confederates back and losing but few men. At Loudon Creek, the regiment skirmished briskly with the Sixth South Carolina, and lost four killed and twelve wounded. In the engagement at Campbell's Station, the regiment was for six hours exposed to the artillery fire of two Confederate batteries, though the loss was only eight, owing to the percussion shell used, which fell mainly in the rear. At the siege of Knoxvil^ it lost six men killed and wounded. It skirmished at Blair's Cross Roads and Dandridge, Tenn. It participated in the Atlanta campaign, fighting at Buzzard's Roost Gap, Dalton, Resaca, Kenesaw, Pine Mountain, Lost Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Chattahoochee River, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta and the skirmishes at Utoy Creek and Lovejoy Station. It skirmished at Columbia, Tenn., and repulsed two Charges of the enemy near Franklin. It fought desperately in the engagement that followed, losing in this "hottest battle of the war," twenty-two men killed on the field and forty wounded out of the one hundred and eighty men engaged. The regiment fought gallantly both days at Nashville, and in a charge on the second day captured three Confederate battle-flags and a large number of prisoners, losing seven killed and fifteen wounded. Soon after this it participated in the Carolina campaign, which ended hostilities. The regiment numbered one thousand and fifty men when it entered the service, and received eighty-five recruits. Two hundred and thirty-four were discharged for disability, disease and wounds; two hundred died of disease contracted in the service ; two hundred and fifty-two were killed in battle or died of wounds, and four hundred and one were mustered out.

The One Hundred and Thirtieth Volunteer Infantry was organized at Johnson's Island, Ohio, from the 13th to the 31st of May, 1864, to serve one hundred days. It was composed of the First Regiment Ohio National Guard, from Lucas county, and the Seventy-fifth Battalion Ohio National Guard, from Fulton county. Fulton county reported with three full companies, but there being eleven companies already reported, one of them from Fulton county was broken up and distributed among the other companies of the regiment, filling those companies nearly to the maximum number. The regiment left Toledo, May 12, 1864, to report to Brigadier-General Hill, at Sandusky, for consolidation and muster-in. It removed to Johnson's Island, and was engaged in guarding Confederate prisoners. On June 4, the regiment took the cars for Washington City. It remained there three days, and then embarked on the transport George Weems, and reported to General Butler, at Bermuda Hundred, from which place it was ordered to Point of Rocks. The time was occupied in drilling, digging rifle-pits, and picketing the lines, until June 21, when it marched to Deep Bottom. On August 11, it marched to Bermuda Hundred, and proceeded, on transports, to Fort Powhatan, where it was ordered to be mustered out. It was mustered out at Toledo, Ohio, September 22, 1864, on expiration of term of service.

The One Hundred and Eighty-second regiment was organized in the State of Ohio at large from August 4, to October 27, 1864, to serve one year. On November 1, the regiment was ordered to move to Nashville, Tennessee, and on November 6, joined General Sherman's forces at that place. The One Hundred and Eightysecond took part in the battle of Nashville, where it remained per- forming guard and provost duty until July 7, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department. Fulton county furnished sixty-one men for this regiment, forty-five for Company B, and sixteen for Company K.

Fulton county furnished one entire company (Company D). for the Forty-fourth Illinois infantry. The company was commanded by E. L. Hayes, captain; Jacob Hoffmire, first lieutenant; Jacob Fashbaugh, second lieutenant. The regiment was raised in Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, and some other of the Western States, and was to be called the Northwestern Sharpshooters, but as the officers from other States were commissioned by the governor of Illinois, they came under the control of that State, and despite the agreement that the regiment should be known as the First Regiment Northwestern Sharpshooters, it was mustered into the United States service as the Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served as such during the war. Capt. Hayes and others made strenuous objection, but without avail. Many of the officers were put under arrest on account of their opposition to being forced to go into an organization for which they did not volunteer, and for the first year and a half after the regiment entered the service, there was a continual quarrel and dispute between the officers and men representing die different States. It, however, quieted down to some extent, and the regiment for the last two years of the war did efficient service. At the muster in of the regiment Company D had ninety-seven men, including officers, and during the war it received twenty-seven recruits from Fulton county.

The Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, containing Fulton county men in each of Companies A, C, F, H and I, was organized from the State at large, at Monroeville, Huron county, Ohio, from September 4, 1861, to December 11, 1861, to serve three years. On the expiration of their term of service, the original members (except veterans) were mustered out, and the organization composed of veterans and recruits was retained in service until August 4. 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the War Department. The greatest number of the Fulton county men were mustered into Company H, and this company was commanded originally by Charles W. Skinner, with William Maxwell and Samuel J. Hansey as. first and second lieutenants, respectively. The regiment's first initiation into actual warfare was during the siege of Corinth. Mississippi, beginning on April 30, 1862. After occupying various positions and participating in numerous foraging and other expeditions and several skirmishes, the first battallion of the Third had a sharp engagement with the enemy at Munfordville, Kentucky, losing two killed and twelve wounded. In a severe' attack on the enemy, near Fardstown, Kentucky, the Third lost six men killed, twenty wounded and seventeen captured. After the battle of Stone River, in Tennessee, the regiment pursued the enemy, captured one of his trains, and then encamped at Murfreesboro. The regiment fought at Middleton and McMinnville, losing many killed and wounded. It fought on the Shelbyville Pike, near Farmington, Tennessee, losing in the latter engagement two killed and twenty-three captured. After "veteranizing" and being furloughed home, it took the field again in Tennessee, fought the Confederates at Decatur, Alabama, at Moulton, Alabama, and at Noonday Creek. A severe fight was had at Peach Tree Creek, and on the return raids into Tennessee. It participated in the Kilpatrick and the Stoneman raids around Atlanta, skirmished at Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station in pursuit of Hood. It fought at Franklin, Tennessee, losing heavily, after which it pure sued Hood into Alabama, and then participated in the Wilson raid, fighting at Selma, Columbus and Macon, and participated in the chase of Jeff Davis.

The field and staff officers of the various regiments, in which Fulton county was represented, were subject to frequent change, there being resignations, discharges and deaths. A number of resignations were due to promotions to higher rank in the same or other organizations, and the places thus made vacant were filled by promotions. A number of line officers were chosen from among Fulton county soldiers, and usually promotions were made from thfe companies where the vacancies occurred. Some of the Fulton county officers are given more extended mention on other pages of this volume, but it will be eminently appropriate to mention a few of them here.

Col. Epaphras Lord Barber was a native of Ohio, and was born at Cleveland, December 16, 1830. The days of his boyhood and youth were spent on hi9 father's farm at work, and in attending the district school during the winter terms. At the age of eighteen years young Barber joined an engineer corps and was employed on the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati railroad, where he obtained a practical education in surveying and civil engineering. After a few months engaged in this work- he attended a private school for nearly two years, but again returned to engineering and perfected himself in that profession. After leaving the C., C. & C. road he was engaged on other work of the same character, and in 1853 came to Fulton qpunty, being then employed on the Air Line, now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad. In conection with the work in this county he had headquarters at Delta. Mr. Barber continued his connection with the construction of this road until about 1856, when, having become interested in lands in the vicinity* of Wauseon and elsewhere in the county, he severed his connection with the road to give attention to the real estate business. Two years later he was appointed station agent at Wauseon, and held that position for two years, resigning in i860 to resume his real estate business, but to continue therein for a single year only, when loyalty and patriotism called him into an entirely new field of action. When, in April, 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon, in answer to the President's call for droops, a company was at once raised at Wauseon, and among the others Mr. Barber's name was found. At the election cff officers he was chosen captain of Company H, of the Fourteenth Ohio In- fantry, and served with that command during the term of its enlistment, and was mustered out at Toledo in August, 1861. Prior to the muster-out, and while awaiting that event, Captain Barber re-enlisted and was appointed major in the Thirty-eighth Infantry, which was then forming. With this regiment he served for a period of eight months in Kentucky, when, on account of. the death of his business partner, Nathaniel Leggett, he resigned his commission and returned home. Not long, however, was he to remain there, for he was soon called to Columbus by Governor Tod, advanced to the rank of colonel and directed to organize the One Hundredth and the One Hundred and Eleventh regiments. This he did promptly and well, and was placed in command of the latter and went to Cincinnati with them to repel the threatened invasion of the State by the Confederate forces under General Bragg. The duties assigned him by the governor being fulfilled, Colonel Barber returned to his business interests at Wauseon in the fall of 1862. In connection with the military career of Colonel Barber it may be remarked that at the time of his enlistment, in the spring of 1861, he had no special desire for advancement to a position more exalted than that occupied by his comrades; but they made him captain, knowing his capacity as a* man of business, and having full confidence in his ability as a commanding officer. As an officer, in preparing his command for the field, Colonel Barber was a strict disciplinarian; so rigidly, indeed, did he enforce the rules and regulations of tactics, and so thoroughly did he instruct and drill the men, that murmurs of discontent were not infrequent; yet, after the three months men were discharged and re-enlisted, of those of his company that returned to the service no less than twelve were made commissioned officers, thus reaping direct benefit from the instruction received at his hands. Again, as an organizer he was no less efficient; insomuch that the governor called him from private life to organize two regiments for the -service, besides the other important duties entrusted to his charge.

Jacob B. Fashbaugh was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, June 5, 1834. He enlisted in 1864, in the First Regiment, O. N. G., Company C. He was appointed eighth corporal, and was afterwards transferred to the 130th Regiment, O. N. G., and received a commission, first of second lieutenant, and then of first lieutenant. While engaged in a skirmish, August 4, 1864, before Petersburg, he was sunstruck and disabled from further duty.

Charles Luther Allen was bom in the town of Clarkson, New York, November 16, 1838. Until 1859, he lived at his father's home, blit in that year came to Fulton county and took up his abode in Gorham township, where his brother, Dr. Allen, was then a resident. There Charles taught school for a time, but afterward accepted a position in the store of Thompson & Cadwell, where he remained until August, 1861. He then enlisted in Company K, Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and, upon the organization of the company, was elected second lieutenant. In this capacity he served for about six months, when, after the battle at Mill Springs, he was assigned to duty on the staff of General Shoeppf, commanding the Ohio brigade. Some time later, Lieutenant Allen was promoted to first lieutenant and made regimental quartermaster, serving as such nearly a year, when he was assigned to duty as regimental adjutant. On January i, 1864, Lieutenant Allen, on account of disabilities that unfitted him for active field service, resigned, which resignation being accepted, he returned to Fayette the same month. For the succeeding four or five months, Mr. Allen acted as enrolling officer at Fayette, and rendered efficient service in that capacity during the latter part of the war.

Brice H. Jay entered the service as a private in Company K, in the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was promoted to sergeant major of the regiment on March 16, 1863. He died, December 20, 1863, of wounds received, November 25, 1863, in the battle of Mission Ridge, Tennessee. Martin H. Trowbridge entered the service on August 25, 1861, a* a private in Company I, of the Thirtveighth regiment. He was appointed corporal on June 1, 1862, and promoted to sergeant on July 15, 1862, and to quartermaster sergeant on June 10, 1865. He "veteranized" and was mustered out with the regiment, July 12, 1865.

Lewis Butler entered the service on October 4, 1861, as second lieutenant, and on December 18, 1861, was appointed captain of Company I, Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and was promoted to major, January 13, 1863. On October 10, 1864, he was promoted to colonel of the One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

A large majority of the soldiers which comprised the Sixty-eighth Regiment were gathered from other counties, and consequently Fulton was not extensively represented among the field and staff officers. There were two exceptions, however, Ithamer Culbertson serving as principal musician and John B. Mikesell as fife major. Ithamer Culbertson entered the service on December 5, 1861, as a private in Company E, and was promoted to principal musician on April 12, 1862. He was mustered out with the regiment, July 10, 1865, as a veteran.

John B. Mikesell was bom July 12, 1837, in that portion of Lucas which is now included in Fulton county, and there he grew to manhood. At the alarm of war, he enlisted in Company H, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, three months service, and served during the term of his enlistment, being discharged August 13. 1861. He enlisted again the following November, in Company E, Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry. He was appointed fife major of the regiment on January 19, 1862, and served in that position until his death. Exposure at the battle of Fort Donelson, in February, 1862, brought on a cold which developed into pneumonia, from which he died on March 12, 1862.

Elihu T. Crout and Paul Lingle entered the service on May 28, 1862, as musicians of Company G, Eighty-fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They were promoted to principal musicians of

Edwin L. Hayes entered the service from Wauseon, in the Northwestern Rifle Regiment (mustered in as the Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry), in June, 1861. He was chosen captain of Company D and served as such until 1862, when he resigned and was appointed major of the One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on August 26, 1862. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, May 13, 1863, and to colonel, January 2, 1865, but was not mustered. He became a brevet brigadier general, January 12, 1865, and resigned from the army on May 12, 1865. Immediately after the war he located in New Jersey and still resides there, having been a prominent real estate dealer for years. Thus, the One Hundredth Regiment had only one field or staff officer from Fulton county, but the One Hundred and Eleventh had three - Lieutenant Colonel Moses R. Brailey, Adjutant Wesley S. Thurston, and Sergeant-Major Rudolph Williams. Colonel Brailey is given extended mention in the chapter devoted to Bench and Bar. Wesley S. Thurston entered the service as first sergeant of Company K, August 12, 1862. He was promoted to second lieutenant, June 15, 1863, and to first lieutenant and adjutant, September 10, 1863; to captain of Company D, May 31, 1865, and was mustered out with that company June 27, 1865. Rudolph Williams entered the service as sergeant of Company K, August 12, 1862, and was promoted to sergeant major, February 6, 1863 ; to second lieutenant of Company A, February 9, 1863. He was promoted to first lieutenant on March 3, 1864, but was not mustered. He was detailed as ordnance officer in Twenty-third army corps to date, July 23, 1863, and was mustered out with his company, June 27, 1865.

Did space permit, it would be a pleasure to include the names and service of the "men who bore the guns," many of whom performed feats of daring, and services of incalculable value to the cause, wholly prompted by the innate desire for national preservation, and without the hope of official reward. Some even declined promotion, on the conscientious ground that they would then be serving for the emoluments and honors of office, while the charge would be groundless if the salary remained at thirteen dollars a month ! Such conduct as that, it seems, should be a sufficient refutation of the latter-day doctrine that greed is the only incentive to human exertion. There were representatives of Fulton county in nearly every regiment organized in Northwestern Ohio and Southern Michigan, either by original enlistment, transfer or promotion; and wherever they were, and by whatever organization they were known, the famous Buckeyes always performed their duty, and reflected honor upon themselves, and credit upon the noble State which they represented.

In conclusion, we may add that Fulton county was represented, to a greater or less extent, in the following organizations : Ohio infantry regiments - Seventh, Fourteenth, Twenty-fifth, Thirtv-seventh, Thirty-eighth, Forty-seventh, Fifty-second, Sixtieth, Sixty- seventh, Sixty-eighth, Sixty-ninth, Seventy-fifth, Eighty-fourth, Eighty-fifth, Eighty-sixth, One Hundredth, One Hundred and Eleventh, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, One Hundred and Thirtieth, One Hundred and Fiftieth, One Hundred and Sixty-third, One Hundred and Eighty-second, One Hundred and Eighty-fifth, One Hundred and Eighty-ninth, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth and One Hundred and Ninety-seventh; of cavalry - the Third, Sixth, Tenth and Thirteenth; also the Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry, the Fourth, Sixth and Ninth Michigan Cavalry, Fourth Michigan Infantry and Sixth Michigan Heavy Artillery; and perhaps some others, besides a few men in the naval branch of the service.