Hancock County, Ohio - An Incident. General Muster, 1881

AN anecdote, which is vouched for by persons now living, is told of Wilson Vance and Philip McKinnis, two of the pioneers of the county, and who have both been dead for some years. The story illustrates, not only the honor of the early settlers, but also shows the light in which they regarded an agTeement.

In consequence of the want of flouring mills in the county, flour and other bread stuffs had to be procured from distant and more favored settlements. Urbana, Perrysburg and Sandusky City were the principal points visited. On one occasion Vance and McKinnis, who were warm fi-iends, had occasion to go to Urbana for proAdsions, each with his own team of oxen. Everything went along smoothly until they arrived at Mud Fort, near the south line of the county, on their return. From that point there were two roads leading to Findley, one of which roads Vance wanted to take, but McKinnis objected, and desired to travel the other. They were in a dilemma, neither wanting to yield the point, and yet both compelled to travel the same road as a protection against the savages, as well as to assist each other in case either team should get stalled in the mud.

After a heated discussion of the matter for some time, and not being able to agree, JNIcKinnis proposed this novel compromise. They should take the road indicated by Vance with the understanding that if either of the teams stalled before reaching Findley, that Vance should submit to a whipping from McKinnis, but that if they did not stall, that he - McKinnis - would submit to a whipping from Vance, for insisting that they should take the other road. The whipping to be done with the ox-w'hip. To this Vance agi'eed.

They then started, with Vance in the lead. In this way they travelled until they had almost reached Findley, without meeting with any mishap, and McKinnis began to shrug his shoulders, and had made up his mind that Vance had beaten him for once. But Vance's team suddenly halted, having failed to touch solid bottom in one of the mud holes, so common at the foot of Chamberlain's Hill. Nor could they with all the whipping and coaxing expended on them by Vance, extricate the wagon, and with a rather solemn countenance, McKinnis was called on to assist. He readily consented, and with the help of his team, Vance's wagon was soon placed on solid ground again. Now came Mc- Kinnis' time, and insisting on the contract, Vance accepted the situation as gracefully as possible, while his opponent, who had fairly won, laid on the ox-gad right lively.

A general muster in the olden time was an event of no small importance, especially to the younger portion of the population. For months before the annual parade, people began preparing to attend. The soldiers were busy in repairing and polishing up their old flint-lock muskets, those who were fortunate enough to have one. The commissioned officer was busy studying up his words of command, and brushing up his regimentals. The farmer, who always had an eye to business on such occasions, was carefully cultivating his melons, and vigilantly watching them to see that no thieves should break through and steal them. Everything seemed to be so arranged that general musters and ripe melons both came at the same season of the year, and we boys could never quite decide whether general muster came in water-melon time, or whether water melons came just when general musters were ripe. The thrifty house wife was gathering up the eggs and laying by the butter, for she intends going to town on training day, and with the proceeds of her produce, buy a little tea for her next quilting, and an extra bit of muslin for a new cap.

The grown up girls - now called ladies - were busy making dresses, for their beaux had been over and invited them to go to town on muster day, and had offered them a seat on the horse behind them, and the small boys were carefully getting and keeping all the pennies they could, for when they went to militia muster - and had they not industriously picked up brush in the clearing and pulled weeds in the corn-field all summer under the promise that they should go ? - they expected to invest their savings in ginger-bread and candy.

When the long looked for day came, the farmer hitched up his ox-team, took his wife and little ones in his wagon, together with his melons, and butter, and eggs; and the beaux on horse back with their sweethearts behind them on the same horse, with their rifles on their shoulders, wended their way to the county-seat, the place of general rendezvous. Here almost the entire population of the county was assembled. Officers in blue coats, brass buttons, red sash, monstrous epauletts, and broad" swords, mounted on the stately plow horse, cavorting up and down the street, the terror of anxious mothers, in danger themselves of broken necks, and to the admiration of small boys. Oh ! but wasn't it gay ?

-Oeorge Washington in all his glory was never arrayed like -one of these militia ofiicers, and we doubt if he ever felt half so important. The men l)y companies, some aimed with ritles, but more with sticks and mullein stalks, marched and counter marched, and performed evolutions not now laid down in the regulations. They were formed into lines, into circles, into hollow-squares - a great deal more hollow than square. There were the Findley Rangers under the command of Capt. Lape, arrayed in Aaron Baker's uniform. The Captain, I believe, still survives the dangers of those troublous times. The Rangers were dressed in uniforms of green, profusely trimmed with yell(5w tape. There were the T'an Buren Rangers commanded l)y the now venerable Col. Wall, with uniforms of green, trimmed with red, marching to the music of fife and drums. There were other companies, clothed every man according to his taste, or comfort, or ability. But the "Light Horse Company," commanded by Capt. John Byal, was to us boys the very highest military achievement. To see the men mount and dismount, to face and right face, was to us truly wonderful. True the evolutions were not performed as rapidly and as gracefully as Phil Sheridan would have done, l)ut then what does he know tibout cavalry mustering on farm horses.

Under the direction of Gen. Bell, Col. Byal and other field and staff officers, the companies were put through their facings until noon, when they were dismissed for dinnei'. After dinner the fun commenced, in the shape of running, jumping, wrestling, pitching horse-shoes, drinking and fighting. The few groceries in the town were places of lively interest, and a good gingerbread and small beer business was done.

Each company had its fighting man, a much more economical and comfortable plan than keeping up a whole fighting company, and he was expected to whip any and every man who dared offer an indignity to the company or any member thereof; and it was a very dull day, indeed, if there were not as many fights as there were companies on parade. After these amusements, and the wounded had been properly cared for, those who were not disabled in the engagement, and could walk, were marched to the green on the river-bank - now the circus ground - for "Grand Review,'' or dress parade. Here they were inspected by the General in command who sat on his horse, "grand, gloomy and peculiar," under the shade of his umbrella, whilst the heated warriors marched solemnly and silently by. Tired, foot-sore, and hungry, they were discharged until the next mustering day. These veterans can now well quote the stanza ;