Hamilton County, Ohio - Chapter 11: Military History of Hamilton County, 1881 (part 3 of 3)

Station was captured without firing a gun, and another force, six miles distant, was taken after a spirited though brief action. Two fine railroad bridges were burned, and much other property destroyed. December zoth the Second battalion entered the field, with General Granger, as also, eleven days later, the Third. February 22, 1863, the entire regiment marched to Richmond, Kentucky, to repel a reported invasion. 'The latter part of March it joined in a vigorous pursuit of Pegram's cavalry, and engaged it heavily at Dutton hill, on the thirty-first, when a sabre charge by five companies of the Seventh decided the day. May rst it was in another attack upon Pegram, at Monticello, and helped to rout him handsomely. June gth, at the same place, it again, with other cavalry, attacked and drove out the same pestilent invader. Upon its retirement it was in turn attacked by Pegram, and fought successfully the desperate action at Rocky Gap, for which General Burnside complimented the regiment in orders. June roth one hundred picked men of the command joined another expedition to destroy the east Tennessee railroads, where immense mischief was done the rebels. In July it engaged in the pursuit of Morgan across Ohio, traversing Hamilton county in its march, via Harrison, Springdale, Glendale, and Miamiville; and was the first to attack the bold raider in his last stand at Buffington. Colonels Basil Duke and Smith, with their staffs and an escort, surrendered to Colonel Garrard, of the Seventh. September 3d the regiment entered Knoxville, and assisted in the capture of Cumberland Gap, with its garrison, on the ninth. It marched thence to Carter's Station, and defeated a large force there. It then held a strong post in the mountains east of Knoxville till October roth, when it took part in the battle of Blue Springs, losing Captain Hyley, of company K, while heading a charge. One of the forts at Knoxville was subsequently named from him. At Bristol, on the Tennessee and Virginia line, an immense amount of supplies and railway property was destroyed by it. At Rogersville, November 6th, it, with a Tennessee regiment and a battery, was fiercely attacked and overpowered by nearly four times the number of the Union force, losing one hundred and twelve men and some of its best officers. Colonel Garrard was in command, and a court of inquiry not only exonerated him from blame, but praised his conduct in the affair. During the siege of Knoxville, the Seventh defended Cumberland Gap, and December 5th joined in pursuit of the retreating enemy, having seven days and nights of twenty-third it drove a force from New Market, and on Christmas, after a long day's hard fight, cut its way out of a largely superior force at Dandridge. For some time in January, 1864, it picketed the fords of the French Broad above that place. On jhe twenty-seventh it aided in the defeat of two divisions of Wheeler's cavalry at Fair Garden. In May the regiment reached central Ken- _ tucky, by rail for east Tennessee, to repel Morgan, and on the twelfth participated in the suécessful attack upon him at Cynthiana. The Seventh alone captured about five hundred prisoners in this fight, but lost some, valuable officers and men, Colonel Garrard's brigade, including the Seventh, pursued Morgan vigorously to the mountains of eastern Kentucky. July 4th the regiment started for Atlanta, arriving on the' twenty-sixth, and taking active part in the operations that led to the fall of the "Gate City." It encamped at Decatur till October 4th, and then engaged fora month in scouting and forageing for the Atlanta garrison. It was in the pursuit of Hood, and held the left of the Union line tenaciously at the battle of Franklin November goth. It participated in the battle of Nashville and the subsequent pursuit; spent the winter at Gravelly Springs; aided to destroy rebel railways and iron works the next spring; engaged and defeated Forrest at Plantersville April 1st; and after Lee's surrender scouted northern Georgia to intercept Jefferson Davis. After his capture the Seventh was ordered tq Nashville, where it was mustered out on Independence day, 1865. It had numbered, including recruits, one thousand four hundred members, of whom

The Ninth Ohio Cavalry

Previous to October, 1862, a company of fifty men had been enlisted by Captain W. D. Hamilton, of the Thirty-second Ohio infantry; and early in that month the same officer received orders to complete his regiment, the fifty before secured becoming the nucleus. They rendezvoused at Zanesville. The command remained in the region near Manchester, Kentucky, having frequent skirmishes with the enemy, until June 15th, when an expedition was planned into east Tennessee. At Pine Mountain Gap the rebels were surprised, and nearly all captured without firing a gun. On the first of August it proceeded to Glasgow, where a cavalry brigade was organizing, which was destined to move with General Burnside into east Tennessee. During this march both men and horses were sometimes for two days without food. Knoxville was taken with little opposition. Major Hamilton was appginted provost marshal of the city, and the battalion did patrol and guard duty around the suburbs. On the sixteenth of December the regiment was completed by the organization of the Third battalion. It was finally ordered to report at Decatur, Alabama, on the fifth of May. Previous to this time, portions had been in different localities and had met with a great variety of experiences, some of the men having died in the horrible Andersonville prison. Between this date and June tst, cavalry skirmishes were of daily occurrence. After several movements, involving long and fatiguing marches, they joined General Sherman's army in front of Atlanta. About the middle of November the different portions of the Ninth that had been doing duty apart were again joined, and from this time were a part of General Sherman's army on the march to the coast. The command was finally ordered to Concord, North Carolina, where it remained on duty until the first of July, when it was ordered home. On the second of August, 1865, the regimental colors and other property were turned over to the Government at Columbus, and the veterans once more became citizens.and finally separated.

Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

Toward the close of the summer of 1861, William O. Collins, of Highland county, was authorized to recruit a regiment of cavalry to be named the Seventh; but about the first of December the enlistment of cavalry was stopped. The Seventh was then joined to the Sixth, taking the latter's name. The battalion from the Seventh being ready for service, was ordered to St. Louis, Missouri, leaving the other two in Ohio and never meeting thém again. While the battalion first named was at Benton Barracks, the Indians becoming hostile, it was ordered to proceed at once across the plains to open and protect communication. The command reached Fort Laramie on the thirtieth of May, having travelled seven hundred miles in twenty-six marching days. While on their way, they were fired upon by guerillas, and suffered greatly from exposure; but the Indian trouble being still farther west, with the exception of a few kept at the fort, they were moved on to the mountains. 'At last they were established near Pacific Springs and the South Pass, about two hundred miles east of Salt Lake City. In the summer of: 1863, Lieutenant Colonel Collins recruited another battalion for duty in the Rocky mountains. The two battalions were raised to a regiment, and were named the Eleventh Ohio volunteer cavalry. The second battalion was in Ohio at the time of the Morgan raid, and shared in the pursuit and capture of the invaders. It reached Fort Leavenworth about the last of August, and arrived at Fort Laramie the thirteenth of October, 1863. On the first of April, 1865, the First battalion was mustered out at Omaha, and the remaining companies were returned to Columbus for payment, in July, 1866. They were the last troops in the service from Ohio. Of the service of this regiment, it is impossible to give an outline. A complete history would be full of startling incidents and hairbreadth escapes. Its loss of life fully equaled the average loss of life in other Ohio cavalry regiments. Its most important battles were those of Mud Springs and Rush Creek. The length of its expeditions, by scouting and escorting parties, was probably not paralleled in any other service during the war. To make the circuit of the posts required one thousand miles' travel; and to keep up communication with the most distant was at times extremely difficult and dangerous. The regiment was never actually together during its term of service. It was engaged with the Sioux, Snakes, Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, and Utes. The field of its operations was in the center of the Rocky mountains, extending nearly six hundred miles east and west, and three hundred north and south. No better evidence of the regiment's courage and vigilance can be had than the fact that after the distribution of troops in the summer of 1862, until February, 1865, communications were never interrupted on either route for twenty-four hours in succession.

Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

This command was formed by the consolidation of the Fourth and Fifth independent battalions, and by recruits during the winter of 1863-64. It was mustered into service May 6, 1864, for three years. Upon leaving Camp Chase it joined immediately the Ninth army corps, composing a part of the army of the Potomac, where, acting as infantry, it took part in the following battles: White House Landing, Charles City Court House, and the protracted siege and heavy assaults on the rebel works at Petersburgh. During the terrific assault at this place, which occurred July 30th, the Thirteenth made for itself a noble name, by the courage and daring of both officers and men. Its loss was nineteen killed, one hun- 'dred and thirty-three wounded, and fifty-one taken prisoners. The regiment was also in engagements at Welden Railroad, Ream's Station, Poplar Grove Church, Pegram's Farm, and Boydtown Plank-road. On December 18th the regiment drew cavalry arms, equipments, and horses, and reported to Major General Gregg, commanding Second division, Cavalry corps, Army of the Potomac. In February it was in the battle of Hatcher's Run, and fol- lowing this, with Major General Sheridan, it aided in the rout, destruction, and capture of the rebel army under Lee. On the seventh of April, after successful engagements near Dinwiddie Court House, at Jetersville, and at Sailor's Creek, it was made the advance regiment pressing and constantly fighting Lee's rear-guard. About noon it made a dash into Farmville, capturing three hundred and eight prisoners. Soon after, at a point between Prospect Station and Appomatox Court House, it, with the Sixth Ohio. cavalry, captured a train of railroad cars, bearing forage and provisions for Lee's army. - About daybreak, April 9th, Lee's forces made an impetuous dash at the National army, attempting to break the lines, but unsuccessfully. Here the division fought manfully, when it was charged by a division of Lee's infantry. The charge was resisted, but, on account of the superior numbers of the enemy, they were forced to fall back to the edge of a wood. When+he Thirteenth reached the point to which it was ordered, the crisis came which was to determine the fate of the rebel army. General Sheridan's entire cavalry force, the Thirteenth in the front, charged the enemy's whole line, which resulted in the surrender of Lee's army. Soon after the regiment accompanied General Sheridan's command to reinforce General Sherman; but when near Danville, the news came that Johnston had surrendered his whole army, and the command at once returned to Petersburgh. At Columbus, the men received final discharge and pay, August 18th. The entire loss of the Thirteenth in the war was sixty-eight killed, two hundred and eighty-three wounded, and ninety-one captured. It took active part in fourteen hard-fought battles, captured one general, one stand of colors, and two thousand and sixty-six prisoners.

Second Independent Cavalry Battalion

This command receives no notice in Mr. Reid's book, probably because it had no field service as an independent organization. It was composed of four companies, recruited for the Eighth Ohio cavalry, in September and October, 1862, and mustered in therefor at Camp Dennison, but assigned instead, February 4, 1863, to the Second Ohio cavalry, then much depleted by the casualties of war, and other causes. The service of the battalion was thenceforth with the Second.

September 21st, and accepted by the United States for six months' service. Its duty was necessarily .detached, from the character of the command and its limited term of enlistment, and was comparatively uneventful. The companies were mustered out at various periods, as their several terms expired, from February 15th to March 14, 1864. COMPANY A. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

First Ohio Independent Cavalry Company

This was raised in Cincinnati early in the war under State authority, for three months' service, before cavalry was called for by the general government. It was composed of an excellent class of young men from Hamilton and Butler counties, and was raised for three months' service by William H. Brudsall, of Cincinnati, who became its captain, aided by the active exertions and generous expenditure of the lamented Minor Millikin, who was its first lieutenant. The officers took rank from June 5, 1861; their commissions were issued June 3oth. After muster and equipment it was sent to western Virginia, and was used to superior advantage in the first campaign through that wild and broken region. It proved literally, in the familiar language of General Rosecrans, '"'the eyes of the army." During its service the officers and men were almost constantly in the saddle, guarding trains, scouting the wild passes of the mountains, and frequently meeting organized and unorganized bands of the enemy in hand-to-hand encounters. It was duly disbanded at the end of its short term, and most of its members went into the First Ohio cavalry, then recruiting for the three years' service.

[We have been unable to find the roll of this com-. pany amid the very defective records of the threemonths commands in the adjutant general's office at Columbus. ]

Third Ohio Independent Cavalry Company

The early history of this command is very much like that of the First company just recited. It was raised about the same time, and for three months' service. It was purely a Cincinnati organization, raised under the personal supervision of Captain Pfau, from whom it was frequently called ''Pfau's Company of Horse." In a short time it was ready for the field, and in early May was doing active duty in McClellan's campaign in western Virginia. While there it was noted for the energy and success with which it performed the work of scouting and skirmishing assigned it by the general. In August it re-enlisted, and was mustered in for the threeyears' service, but the next spring its separate identity was lost in the cavalry regiments then being sent from Ohio to the field.

Body Guard

This guard was a body of cavalry selected from a host of applicants, the necessary qualifications being high intelligence, fine physique, and a decided aptitude for military service. Without question it was one of the finest bodies of cavalry ever seen in the United States army. It was made up almost exclusively of young Americans from Ohio and Kentucky, only thirty foreigners being counted among its numbers. The guard especially distinguished itself at the battle of Springfield, Missouri, where one hundred and fifty men, under Major Zagonegi, routed a force of two thousand rebels. It advanced with caution until within half a mile, then halted and drew sabers; and a moment later they were dashing. forward shouting "Hurrah for Cincinnati!" "Old Kentucky forever!" "Fremont and Union!" Fifty-two men fell upon the field, four officers out of nine were wounded; but still they pressed on. The rebels soon broke and fled with a loss of one hundred and seven men killed and thirty captured. The field of battle gave distinct evidence of the fierceness of the conflict. In one place, not ten yards square, lay four dead horses and their fearless riders. This victory was achieved after a march of one hundred and five miles in forty-eight hours, upon one meal, and that little else than salt beef.

When these young heroes returned to St. Louis, they were met by an order to disband them - " for sentiments expressed at Springfield," so the official document read; and the offensive sentiments were 'Fremont and Union." No explanation was vouchsafed. The brilliant victory was ignored, and those men, returning triumphant from 'their first battle-field, were insulted out of. the service.

They were refused rations, forage, clothes, and pay; and were reduced to the extremest suffering. General Sturgis went to review them before mustering out; but he was so much impressed by their appearance that he declared himself unable to discharge such men, and so the ceremony was postponed. Price appeared again upon the line of the railroad, and the demand for the guard placed it at once above par. Compliments were heaped upon the men, the best offers were made them if they remained in the service; but they felt too keenly their former insults, and accordingly were mustered out. The '"'Fremont Body Guard" occupies but one page in history, and none save its slanderers need blush at what is written there. It has been the subject of a graceful little volume entitled The Story of the Guard, written by Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

This was raised in Greene and Hamilton counties, in August and September, 1861, rendezvoused at Camp Dennison, and ordered to Washington September 23d. Here it was handsomely equipped and mounted, but not long suffered to remain a distinctive Ohio organization, being attached presently to the Third New York cavalry as company L, and joining is regiment at Camp Bates, near Poolesville, December gth. It shared the fortunes of this command in the various campaigns of 1862 - 3-4, in Virginia and North Carolina, distinguishing itself greatly in the affair of September 6, 1862, at Washington, North Carolina, where it lost ten men and fourteen horses; in the battles of Kingston, White Hall, and Goldsborough Ridge; and in the raids, scouts, skirmishes, and battles around Richmond in the early part of 1864. When the time of its muster-out came, very few were left of the original organization. As an evidence of the ability of the men who composed this company, it may be

First Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery

The nucleus of this regiment was the One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio infantry which was organized September 15, 1862, at Camp Portsmouth. On May 2, 1863, the regiment was ordered by the War Department to be changed into the First heavy artillery, and was recruited to the maximum strength of that organization. It served, however, mainly as infantry throughout its whole term. In January, 1864, it was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee, where it remained till February 2gth, when it started over the mountains, in the snow, for Knoxville, which place was reached March gth. After was brigaded in the Department of the Cumberland, Colonel C. G. Howley, commanding. In connection with General Stoneman's raid and the general advance of troops, the brigade shut all the mountain passes to the retreating rebels in Virginia. After the surrender of Lee and Johnston the brigade was sent down to Ashville, North Carolina, and at Webster, Tennessee, received the surrender of the hostile Indians, under their chief, the rebel General Thomas. Returning to Greenville, Tennessee, the regiment remained in camp till July r5th, vhen it started homeward for the muster-out, and was lischarged and paid at Camp Dennison, August 1, 1865. FIELD AND STAFF.

Second Ohio Heavy Artillery

By the middle of. 1863 the National armies had made important captures of forts and other strongholds belonging to theenemy. It became necessary to recruit a class of troops whose duty it should be to fortify, garrison and hold these captures. The One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio infantry had already been used as a nucleus for the First heavy artillery, and its ranks had been recruited up to the maximum standard. The Second Ohio heavy artillery, consisting of twenty-four hundred men, rank and file, was then authorized. It was made up of twelve batteries or companies, several of which contained men from Hamilton county.

Battery 1

The nucleus of this was a company of light artillery recruited by Lieutenant Dammert, under the patronage of the city council of Cincinnati. Its first duty was that of guarding the fortifications and approaches to Cincinnati back of Newport, Mount Adams, and Price's Hill. December 3, 1861, an order was received from the War De. partment, through Adjutant General Buckingham, to muster the battery into the service of the United States, This was done at Camp Dennison, and the organization was designated as battery I, of the First regiment of Ohio light artillery, Colonel James Barnett commanding. January 26, 1862, the battery left Camp Dennison for West Virginia. It first landed at Parkersburgh, and from that place went by rail to New Creek, Virginia. It marched thence to Moorefield, February 10, 1862, and at that place had its first engagement with the enemy. It then returned to New Creek, and went by rail to Clarksburgh, where it lay for three weeks. March 26th the battery moved from Clarksburgh to Beverly, remaining at the latter place about ten days. It then moved over Cheat mountain to Monterey, and on April 25th took part in the battle of Dinwiddie's Gap, near Monterey. 'The battery was then taken over to McDowell, and near that place it aided in fighting the battle of Bull Pasture Mountain, in which it lost one man killed. Retreating down the valley to Franklin, it there joined General Fremont's forces and went into camp. On the movement of Fremont, it marcked with him to Strasburgh, and joined in the pursuit of the rebel army under Jackson up the Shenandoah valley to Cross Keys. Here it shared in the battle, losing one man killed and four wounded. After the battle the battery fell back to Middletown, Virginia, and went into camp. July sth it was again on the march, and, passing through Sperryville and across the Blue mountains, it went into camp at Luray,

Virginia. Its duties while it lay at Luray were very arduous, as the enemy was desirous of crossing the mountains into Luray valley. In its efforts to prevent this, the battery was almost daily engaged with the enemy. From Luray it marched to Culpeper, and took part in the battle of Slaughter's Mountain. It then fell back to Warrenton, and thence to White Sulphur Springs, where it again engaged the enemy. Reaching Freeman's ford, on the Rappahannock, it was again engaged. It then moved with General Pope's forces, and took part in the second Bull Run battle. It lost twelve men killed and wounded, and twenty-two horses. It also had two of its guns dismounted, and the rest of its pieces were so disabled as to be unserviceable. Lieutenant Dammert drew at Washington a complete new outfit. October 1, 1862, it left Washington, marched to Fairfax Court House, and went into camp. November rst it marched to Thoroughfare gap, and thence to Centreville. Thence it went to Fredericksburgh, and took part in the bombardment of that place. Falling back with the army, it went into winter quarters at Brooks' station. On the opening of the spring compaign, in March, 1863, the battery joined General Hooker's army, and took part in the Chancellorsville battle. Here it lost five men killed and six wounded, one gun, and sixteen horses. It then returned to Brooks' station, and on the reorganization of the Potomac army marched with it to Gettysburgh. In this battle the battery had four men killed and fifteen wounded, losing also nearly all its horses. Impressing horses from the neighboring farms, it moved with the army in chase of Lee. Crossing the Potomac at Berlin, it went into camp at Catlett's station. In October, 1864, the battery was transferred with the Eleventh and Twelfth corps to the army of the Cumberland, near Chattanooga. Lookout valley was the scene of its first engagement in the west. It was also engaged at Mission Ridge. The battery was then sent with General Sherman's forces to "d the relief of Knoxville. Returning, it went into camp at Chattanooga, and early in the spring joined in the Atlanta campaign. It was engaged in almost every battle of that campaign; its losses summed up forty men killed and wounded, and Second Lieutenant John Kortzebue, killed in front of Kenesaw Mountain. From Atlanta the battery returned to Chattanooga, where it remained about three weeks; and its term of service having expired, it was sent to Camp Dennison, and mustered out of the service July 24, 1865. During the whole service of battery I, it was noted for its faithfulness and efficiency, and on numerous occasions was honorably mentioned in official reports by the generals commanding. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Fourth Ohio Battery

This was organized at Cincinnati by Captain Lewis Hoffman, in August, 1861, was mustered in on the seventeenth, left camp the next day, and reported in St. Louis August 21st. It there received a full equipment of James' rifled guns and all other necessaries. It was

_assigned to duty with General Siegel's division, and accompanied it in all its operations in southeastern Missourl, Springfield was occupied February 13, 1862, Price having evacuated it the night before. The battery joined in the pursuit, which continued for a week, and had frequent engagements with the rebel rear. At Bentonville, Arkansas, on the return, the rear of the Federal force was in turn attacked, and was covered in its movements by the Fourth. March 7th it moved with Osterhaus' division to the battle of Pea Ridge, in which it was very closely engaged, losing four men and one caisson captured, three men wounded, and one horse: killed. It then marched over terribly bad roads to Helena, Arkansas, reaching that place July r4th. August 16th it was in an expedition to Milliken's Bend, where it captured the rebel steamer Fair Play, loaded with munitions of war for Price's army. August 16th, at the same place, a rebel infantry regiment was surprised and put to flight, and its entire equipment captured. During September the battery was in camp at Helena, and encamped at Pilot Knob, Missouri, during part of October and November. -Returning to Helena November 234, it was taken thence to Camp Steele, Mississippi, and remained there till December 19th, when it joined Sherman's expedition against Vicksburgh, and was prominent in the assault at Chickasaw Bayou. It was also engaged at the capture of Arkansas Post, January 11, 1863, and had-a

29th the battery took position at Perkins' plantation, on the Mississippi, to keep transports from going up to Vicksburgh. There and at Ballard's farm it did such duty till April 2d, when it was taken to Greenville and watched the enemy until the twenty-sixth, when it started anew for Milbkin's Bend. In May it moved to Grand Gulf, and thence with the army to Vicksburgh, where it held its place in the lines till the surrender. It participated in the pursuit of Johnston, and in front of Jackson fired nearly five hundred rounds into the city. September 22d it was again at Vicksburgh; September 28th at Memphis, where a caisson exploded and killed three privates. October 2d it was in the battle of Iuka, and in other sharp encounters-about this time. In November it made the long march from the Tennessee near Chickasaw to Chattanooga, arriving on the twenty-third, and joining the rest of the Fifteenth corps. November 24th it, with its division (Osterhaus'), was in the battle of Lookout Mountain. At Mission Ridge two of the six-pound rifles of the battery were exchanged for four twelve-pounders taken from the enemy. In December it was mostly in camp at Larkinsville, Alabama, moving thence to Woodville, January 1, 1864, where it remained in camp four months. May rst, with the First division of the Fifteenth corps, it headed for Atlanta; was in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw, Atlanta (where it rescued the captured guns of an IIlinois battery), and Ezra Church (where it was exceedingly imperiled), and in many minoraffairs. August 14, 1864, its term having expired, it was relieved on the battleground by infantry, reached Cincinnati on the twentythird, and was mustered out on the twenty-ninth. Those of its recruits whose terms had not expired were assigned to duty with the Tenth Ohio battery.

Fifth Ohio Battery

This was recruited by authority of General Fremont, then in command in Missouri. On the twenty-second of September, 1861, the organization was éffected, and on the eleventh of October it was ordered to Jefferson City. Before the arrival there, General Fremont was removed from his command, anda long period elapsed before sufficient arms and: equipments could be procured to fit the regiment for service. March 7, 1862, the battery shipped - on a steamer, proceeded to Savannah, Tennessee, and thence to Pittsburgh Landing. On the fifth of April it joined the command of General Prentiss, encamped not far from Shiloh church. In the engagement the next day, it lost in this, its first battle, one man killed, twenty wounded, two pieces, four caissons, sixty-five horses, and all camp and garrison equipage. General Grant now organized a force to move down into Mississippi by land, to operate against Vicksburgh; and in a few days, the entire army at Corinth, except a garrison for the place, moved westward, the sixth division stopping for the time at Grand Junction, Tennessee.

On the eleventh of November, Lieutenant Burton, who was wounded at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, and since his recovery had been with his lately recruited men watching Kirby Smith's movements near Cincinnati, joined and took command of the Fifth at Grand Junction. The next day it started with the rest of General Grant's army southward into Mississippi, and reached Holly Springs on the twenty-ninth. On the twelfth of December, the battery went into camp at Yocana creek, eleven miles south of Oxford, which was the turning point of its march, though the cavalry went some distance farther. The surrender at Holly Springs, and the consequent loss of stores, put the men at once on three-quarter, and soon on half rations. January 5, 1863, the division marched to Holly Springs and remained up to the tenth, forming the rear-guard of the army. During the entire march, going south and returning, the. destruction by fire was immense; and. the climax was reached the night before the last troops left Holly Springs by the burning of more than half the town. On the seventeenth of May orders came to embark for Vicksburgh. The two months of previous inaction had put the battery in the best possible condition. On the passage down the river, the fleet of transports was fired into by guerillas, and a number of soldiers were killed and wounded. In retaliation, the troops landed and burned the village of Greenville. On the first of June the battery took position before Vicksburgh in the siege proper, and was not again off duty till the end of the siege. On the morning of July 4th, two hours after the surrender, the battery started in pursuit of Johnston. 'The first day's march was the most intensely hot, dusty, and exhausting the men had probably ever experienced, though they travelled only ten miles. The expedition was under General Sherman, and consisted of the Thirteenth, of which the Fourth battery was then part, the Fifteenth and the Ninth army corps. Jackson was reached on the eleventh. 'The morning of July 17th found the city evacuated by the rebels, and it was at once occupied by our troops, who pursued Johnston no further. Nearly all the large buildings in the place had been burned at its former occupation, and the work was now completed. Four days afterward the march back to Vicksburgh began, and ended on the twenty-fourth, without notable incident. The battery was now ordered to Helena, Arkansas, and, arriving there, started September 13th, with other troops, with the intention of capturing and occupying Little Rock. Before starting, and on the way, there was much sickness; at one time there were but two well men in the entire command. A period of rest now occurred, during which the battery reached its proper standard by the arrival of recruits from Ohio. It formed a part of the

Little Rock for the remainder of its term of service. On the twentieth of September, those of the original command who were left, excepting fifteen who had reenlisted, were mustered out and returned home. The battery was then remustered into service, and recruits gave it nearly its original strength. July 31, 1865, the war being over, the battery finally ceased to exist.

Seventh Ohio Battery

This battery was organized at Camp Dennison and mustered into the United States service January 1, 1862. April rrth it arrived at Pittsburgh Landing and reported to General Grant. On the 2oth the advance on Corinth was commenced, and the Seventh moved with the army until the evacuation of that place. At Coldwater, Tennessee, it had a skirmish with the enemy. At the Big

Hatchie, the rebels were met and routed. Between December 12, 1862, and January 6, 1865, this command bore honorable part at Vicksburgh Jackson, Mississippi, Natchez and Meridian. At the latter date the captain and fifty-one men weré mustered out of service, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment. After this time the men did duty as infantry at Jackson until July, 1865, when, at-Camp Chase, they were mustered out, paid and discharged. PRIVATES.

Tenth Ohio Battery

On the third of March, 1862, this battery completed its organization. Its first movement was to St. Louis, thence to Pittsburgh Landing. Afterwards it was in reserve at the siege of Corinth, and at Iuka did garrison duty. October 4th, near Corinth, it had a successful skirmish with the rebels, whom it pursued as far as Ripley, when it retunred to Corinth. The next movement was to Grand Junction and into Mississippi. It then formed part of the garrison of Holly Springs. After numerous changes of location, and many long and dangerous marches, on the twenty-eighth of July the battery entered

Vicksburgh, and camped just above the cemetery. In August only seventeen of seventy-two men were fit for duty. The garrison during the winter, received about ninety recruits. Thirty-two, out of fifty-four eligible men, re-enlisted, and on the eighth of April, 1864, the command left for Cairo. At Ackworth it became a part of the Fourth division of the Seventeenth army corps. On the tenth of June it took position at the front, and, with the exception of July 4th, was engaged every day for a month in front of Kenesaw Mountain and at Nicojack Creek. March 13, 1865, the Fourth and Tenth Ohio batteries were consolidated. They were mustered out at Camp Dennison, July 17, 1865. The name of the

Eleventh Ohio Battery

This was recruited in Hamilton, Athens, Butler, Vinton, and Wyandot counties, August 2oth to September with 15, 1861, and mustered in at St. Louis October 27th, one hundred and fifty-seven men. It had two six-pound rifles, two six-pound smooth-bores, and two twelve-pound howitzers, with full equipment. October 26th, at department headquarters, the battery was presented by Mrs. Fremont with a superb silk guidon. Its earlier service in Missouri was severe, but not particularly eventful. It was in the affair at New Madrid and Island No. 10, and brought in two rebel six-pounders as trophies. It. went with General Pope to Hamburgh Landing and Corinth, where it was heavily engaged, and participated in the chase to Ripley. At the battle of Iuka it was charged three times, and lost two officers and fifty-five men killed and wounded, more than half of the entire number it had on the field, besides all their horses and all their harness and equipments. It was subsequently engaged in the siege of Vicksburgh, and the battles of Raymond, Clinton, Jackson, and Champion Hills, served in Steele's expedition to Little Rock, where it became sharply engaged; and thereafter was occupied with train-guard and garrison duty, and comparatively unimportant expedi-

Eighteenth Ohio Battery

On the twenty-second of August, 1863, the necessary number of men to constitute a new six-gun battery were enlisted, and in camp. September 13th, they were mustered into service at Camp Portsmouth. The first engagement in which the battery participated, was about three miles from Spring Hill, Tennessee, on the fourth of March, 1864. The second was on the day following at Thompson's Station. From this time the enemy attacked the National pickets daily. On the tenth of April Franklin was attacked, but unsuccessfully. The twentyseventh of June Shelbyville was taken by the advance of the Fourteenth army corps, of which the Eighteenth formed an important part. In the battle of Chickamauga the battery did good service. September 21st, the enemy was again defeated at Rossville Road Gap, in Mission Ridge. Following this, the battery was under fire, and engaged with the rebel batteries on and near Moccasin Point for fifty-six days. Nothing of great importance occurred until the fifteenth of December, when it was in the battle of Nashville, where it did great execution with shell and solid shot. It joined in the pursuit that followed, and was in camp the most of the time after thaf until the order was received to muster out. The battery was discharged at Camp Dennison June 29, 1865.

Twenty-Sixth Ohio Battery

Many Hamilton county soldiers were also in the regiments and batteries from other States, and in the gunboat service. The number of men offered by Ohio, upon the first call of the President, was so greatly in excess of her quota that, notwithstanding the State put in the field several additional regiments at her own cost, many volunteers eager to serve were compelled to seek enlistment elsewhere. Kentucky offered a convenient receptacle for the overflow from southern Ohio; and the earlier Union regiments raised in that State were considerably recruited from Cincinnati and its vicinity. The Fourteenth Kentucky infantry and the First Kentucky battery, for example, contained many men of Hamilton county. Others were in West Virginia, Indiana, Missouri and other State contingents; and not a few whose names, like those of men who went abroad to enlist, cannot be obtained now without great difficulty, and in many cases not at all, went into the regular army.

Besides all these, and those who enlisted from Hamilton county in the regular army - whose names, like the others, it is not now practicable to obtain - there was the noble army of

The dangers threatening Cincinnati in the latter part of the summer of 1862 led Governor Tod, as we shall see more fully hereafter, in the chapter on "The Siege of Cincinnati," to make a general announcement to the men of Ohio that all who reported with arms in hand would be transported at public expense to that city, and received for the time being into the service of the State. Telegraphic tenders had already been made to the authorities of that city, of militia in large numbers from Preble, Warren, Greene, Butler, Franklin and _ other counties; so that thousands stood ready to answer the call without delay. Before daylight of the next morning after the proclamation of the governor, the tread of the advance of the grand army of Buckeye yeomen was heard upon the stony pavements of Cincinnati. As rapidly as possible the thronging hosts arriving were organized into companies and regiments, and sent to the works back of Covington, to the guard stations along the river, or to other posts of duty. The total number known to have entered this temporary service from_the State at large is fifteen thousand seven hundred and sixty-six - which was doubtless exceeded by several hundreds at least - of which Hamilton county furnished five hundred and four. Some peculiarity of dress in many of them, and the armament of numbers with light squirrel-guns, suggested the happy title of 'Squirrel Hunters" for the entire unique contingent; but by whom it was first applied the historian has failed to learn. The designation has, however, passed honorably into history. The squirrel, amid appropriate scenery, and the squirrel-hunter, in fitting costume and in the act of loading his fire-arm, appear in good style upon the discharge certificates granted the Hunters upon the termination of their service; and a spirited page engraving, in the first volume of Mr. Reid's "Ohio in the War," further illustrates and commemorates their personnel and deeds.

The Hunters were not long needed. Their relief from service began within ten or twelve days after they were called out, and by the middle of September nearly all were relieved and had returned to their homes. One of the last battalions to be freed from the trammels of military organization was that stationed at Gravel Pit, on the Ohio & Mississippi railroad, to guard against the possible crossing of a rebel cavalry force at a shallow place in the river opposite that point. This command was under the personal direction of Major Richard M. Corwine, in general charge of the river defences, and was relieved on 'Tuesday, the sixteenth of September, by the Nineteenth Michigan volunteer infantry. Three days previously Governor Tod telegraphed to Stanton, Secretary of War: "The minute-men, or 'Squirrel Hunters,' responded gloriously to the call for the defence of Cincinnati. Thousands reached the city, and thousands more were en route for it. 'The enemy having retired, all have been ordered back. This uprising of the people is the cause of the retreat. We should publicly acknowledge this gallant conduct."

At the next session of the legislature an act was passed and approved March 11, 1863, ordering the preparation and issue of formal discharge certificates "for the patriotic men of the State who responded to the call of the governor and went to the southern border to repel the invader, and who will be known in history as the 'Squirrel Hunters.'" These papers, handsomely engraved and printed, and issued to large numbers entitled to them, read as follows:

Our southern Border was menaced by the enemies of our Union. David Tod, Governor of Ohio, called on the Minute Men of the State, and the ''Squirrel Hunters" came by thousands to the rescue. You, , were one of them, and this is your Honorable Discharge.

THE STATE OF OHIO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, \ CoLuMBus, March 4, 1863. To - - - _ - _, £sq., of- County, Ohio: The legislature of our State has this day passed the following resolution: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Stute of Ohio, out of his contingent fund, a sufficient sum to pay for printing and lithographing discharges for the patriotic men of the State, who responded to the call of the Governor, and. went to our southern border to repel the invaders, and who will be known in history as the "SQUIRREL HUNTERS."

And in obedience thereto, I do most cheerfully herewith enclose a certificate of your'service. But for the gallant services of yourself and the other members of the corps of patriotic ''Squirrel Hunters,'' rendered in September last, Ohio, our dear State, would have been invaded by a band of pirates determined to overthrow the best Government on earth, our wives and children would have been violated and murdered, and our homes plundered and sacked. Your children and your'children's children, will be proud to know that you were one of this glorious band.

Preserve the certificate of service and discharge, herewith enclosed to you, as evidence of this gallantry.- The Rebellion is not yet crushed out, and therefore the discharge may not be final; keep the old gun then in order; see that the powder-horn and bullet-pouch are supplied, and caution your patriotic mothers or wives to be at all times prepared to furnish you a few days' cooked rations, so that if your services are called for (which may God in his infinite goodness forbid) you mav again prove yourselves '' Minute Men" and again protect our loved homes. ;