Knox County, Ohio - War of the Rebellion - Concluded, 1881

War of the Rebellion - Concluded

ORGANIZATION OF COMPANY F, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT - MUSTER ROLL - OPERATIONS OF THE REGIMENT IN THE FIELD - SECOND OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY - EIGHTEENTH UNITED STATES REGULARS - CAPTAIN CoE's SHARPSHOOTERS - LIST OF REGIMENTS IN WHICH KNOX CouNnTY WAS REPRESENTED - ONE HUNDRED AND ForTY-SECOND OHIO NATIONAL GUARD - MUSTER ROLLS - 'SQUIRREL HUNTERS'"' - CLOSE OF THE WAR.

Commissioned Officers

URING the fall of 1862, the business of drafting, hiring substitutes'and volunteering was going on rapidly in this county, under the two calls of the President for six hundred thousand men. About this time one company was raised, principally in the vicinity of Martinsburgh, by Captain S. B. Parks. Colonel Banning was also at home assisting in the recruiting business, and through his exertions and those of C. C. Baugh, and Albert Barnes of Martinsburgh, about one and a half companies were raised in the county. A squad under Lieutenant Barnes formed part of company G. Captain Parks had raised a company for the three months' service, at Martinsburgh, and had conducted it to Camp Chase, where it remained on guard duty until its term of service expired. The men raised in the fall of 1862, were taken to Camp Mansfield, thence to Camp Cleveland, where they were consolidated with other parts of companies and battalions, which had been gathered at that point by Colonel Emerson Opdyke, the consolidation forming the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio; of which Emerson Opdyke became colonel and Henry B. Banning lieutenant colonel. Muster-roll of company F, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth regiment, mustered into service December 17, 1862: COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Non-Commissioned Officers

The One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth was partly composed of drafted men and substitutes, but 'became one of the best in the service. Captain Parks' company became company F of this regiment.

The regiment left Cleveland January 3, 1863, southward bound, and on the eighth went into camp a mile beyond Louisville, Kentucky. Its first skirmish was at Franklin, Tennessee, where it was placed on the skirmish line, and drove the rebels ninth of March the rebels attempted to retake the place, but were driven back by the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth, The attempt was repeated April roth, but the rebels were again 'repulsed, and pursued by the regiment to Columbia.

During the summer it did a great deal of hard marching, and on the eleventh of September was engaged in severe skirmishing near Lee & Gordon's mills, and the enemy was forced back across Chickamauga creek. From this time until the eighteenth of September the regiment was engaged in almost constant skirmishing until the opening of the battle of Chickamauga. In this great battle it saw its first hard fighting. At one Pp. M. the division to which it was attached, was ordered to support the left of the National lines. It entered the field on the double-quick, and was soon actively

Side by side and shoulder to shoulder did the men of the One Hundred and Twenty-Fifth contest that bloody field, aim. ing low and promptly obeying orders. Nine prisoners were taken, three of whom were captured by the colonel himself, and three by Adjutant E. G. Whitesides. The rebels were routed in confusion, and after dark we bivouacked on the field without fire, without supper, and many of our men without blankets, while a cold north wind chilled our wearied limbs almost to numbness. At two Pp. M. of the twentieth we were again called to arms, and having marched two miles to a new position, we halted. A hasty breakfast was prepared and eaten, and we then took our place as a reserve near the left of McCook's and at the right of Thomas' corps. The battle opened on Thomas' left at eight A. M. so severely that the division was ordered to move on the double-quick to support it. Through some misapprehension a gap was left in McCook''s line unprotected, through which the enemy poured, driving his corps almost 'completely from the field, and exposing the troops in that vicinity to a murderous cross-fire.

At this moment Generals Thomas and Garfield rode up to the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio, and the former said, "This point must be held." Colonel Opdyke replied that it could be held, and, riding to the front of the regiment, led in a charge made by the brigade, and the rebels were driven back. The enemy now advanced their second line, but the advanced position was held until the enemy's fire literally enfiladed the regiment, killing Lieutenant King and many more, and seriously wounding Captain Youmans and Lieutenant Barnes. The latter died of his wounds, October 2, 1863. The regiment retired slowly und in good order to thé former position, which General Thomas said must be held. Here the fight ground with friend and foe. Colonel Opdyke rode along the lines encouraging his men amid the flying bullets, both himself and horse being struck, but escaping serious injury. The enemy were repulsed with great slaughter. At 3 Pp. M. the Fortyfirst Ohio came up and lay down a few yards in rear of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, just as the enemy made his last assault. The men of the Forty-first recognized Colonel Opdyke, who had formerly served in that 'regiment as captain, and gave him three rousing cheers. The regiment held the position until the firing ceased and night closed upon the bloody field, then fell back with the army to Rossville, and thence to Chattanooga. So 'prominent had been the bravery of the regiment in this action that General Rosecrans complimented it, and General Woods christened it the "Tiger Regiment of Ohio." The next battle in which the regiment took part was the storming of Mission Ridge, November 26, 1863. It was in the front of the battle and captured a rebel battery located in front of Bragg's headquarters. Its loss was severe. In the pursuit of the enemy the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was in the advance, following as far as Bird's mills, when it was ordered to return to Chattanooga.

On the twenty-eighth of November the regiment started, with other troops of the Fourth corps to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville. From this place it moved on the sixteenth of December toward Dandridge, where the enemy was found and a severe fight took place in which the regiment suffered severe losses. The National troops were driven back, but night coming to their relief, they built large and numerous fires to deceive the enemy as to their numbers, and commenced a retreat to Knoxville, where they arrived in safety. The regiment went into winter quarters at Loudon.

In the spring of 1864, General Sherman concentrated the troops for his Atlanta campaign. The One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was attached to the Third brigade, Second division, Fourth army corps, and engaged in the first battle of the campaign, at Dalton, May 7, 1863. General Howard sent an order to General Harker to send a regiment of his best troops to dislodge the enemy from

Rocky Face ridge, and the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was detailed for this work. It moved up the steep side of the mountain, charged the enemy and drove him from his works, with a loss of four killed and eighteen wounded. The enemy was followed along the crest of the mountain to his main works, where the regiment halted and threw up temporary works for the night. On the following day an attack was made by-the brigade upon the rebel works, but after considerable hard fighting and loss, the National forces were compelled to withdraw and again encamped upon the ground occupied the night previous. During the night of the twelfth the enemy evacuated his position before Delton, and the National forces started in pursuit, coming up with him on the fourteenth at Resaca. Here the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was again conspicuous for its bravery and efficiency. It charged upon the enemy, driving him from his works, and holding the position until relieved at night. Colonel Harker, commanding the brigade, and Colonel Opdyke were wounded. At Lost Mountain it again distinguished itself by a sweeping charge across a deep miry stream, driving the enemy from his works in the face of a murderous artillery fire. The regiment was again in the charge at Kennesaw Mountain, where the National forces were repulsed, and the regiment lost heavily, General Harker receiving. his death wound.

After the fall of Atlanta the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth was one of the regiments sent back to watch the movements of Hood It was in the battle of Franklin where it gallantly charged the enemy, capturing eighty prisoners and two battle flags. Its lost was severe.

Part of the regiment was on the skirmish line at the battle of Nashville and did good execution. At 7 A. M. the regiment advanced upon the enemy's works, and after a sharp fight carried them. The next day, the sixteenth of December, the regiment again charged with the brigade, and the rebels fled in confusion. This was its last battle. It was mustered out at Camp Chase, October 17, 1865.

Second Ohio Heavy Artillery

holds belonging tothe enemy. It became necessary to recruit a class of troops whose duty it should be to fortify, garrison and hold these captures. This culminated in the formation of heavy artillery regiments numbering twenty-four hundred men each. Two of these were raised in Ohio. The companies numbered about two hundred men each. One of these companies was partly recruited in Mt. Vernon, about forty men from this place entering Battery I, Second Ohio heavy artillery, under Captain Thomas A. Stevenson. Battery I was mustered into the United States service September 7, 1863, at Covington, Kentucky, and October 11th moved to Fort De Wolf, at Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Remaining here until January 10, 1864, it went to Fort Nelson (Camp Nelson), Kentucky. May 26, 1865, the battery moved from Camp Nelson to Camp Sedgwick, at Cleveland, Tennessee, and while there was engaged (seventeenth of August) with a rebel cavalry force under Wheeler.

October 9, 1864, the battery was transferred to Fort Galpin, at Knoxville, and on December 7th it marched with the forces under Brigadier General Jacob Ammen, to Bean's Station. It returned to Galpin, where it remained until August 23, 1865, when it was taken to Nashville and mustered out of service. August 29, 1865, it was paid, and finally discharged at Camp Chase.

Righteenth United States Regulars

In the summer of 1861 Lieutenant Ogden, of the regular army, opened a recruiting office in Mt. Vernon to procure men for the Eighteenth United States regulars - a new regiment then organizing under Colonel Carrington. Lieutenant Ogden was assisted by Lieutenant H. B. Freeman, a resident of Mt. Vernon.

About forty men were recruited in Knox county and forwarded, in detachments, to the general rendezvous of the regiment at Columbus. The company entered the field the following fall, and did, active and efficient service during the war. It was engaged in the battles at and near Lebanon, Mill Springs, Somerset, and Louisville, Kentucky ; also at Fort Donelson, Nashville, Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, and Mission Ridge. It fought all through the Atlanta

Lieutenant Freeman was wounded at Chickamauga and fell into the hands of the enemy. He was a prisoner in Libby, Macon, Charleston and Columbia, where he escaped and was concealed until Sherman's army came through when he joined it. Several of the Knox county boys lost their lives in this regiment, among whoin were Jesse Headington, company F, killed at Stone River; Henry Davy, company G, died in Andersonville; M. Burch, company B, killed. Several were wounded and died in the service.

In addition to the foregoing organizations that were sent into the war by Knox county there were many squads raised in different parts of the county, recruited by various individuals and placed generally in Ohio regiments, but it is not possible to give a detailed history of these scattered fragments. Captain Charles H. Coe, of Centerburgh, raised a company or squad of sharps-hooters; Captain Coe entering the service November 16, 1862. Ten companies of this class of troops were recruited in Ohio, but only three of these were recognized as sharp-shooters during the war.

Quite a number of men from Knox also went into the Third Ohio cavalry, and the county was represented in the following Ohio regiments by one or more men, often by a squad: the Second (George Hollister of Milford township being a captain in this regiment ;) Twenty-third, Thirty-first, Fifty-second, Sixty-first, Seventy-sixth, Seventy-ninth, Eightieth, Eighty-second, Eighty-fifth,One Hundred and Seventh, One Hundred and Eightyseventh and One Hundred and Ninety-fifth.

One Hundred And Forty Second O. N. G.

The incipient beginnings of the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio National Guard, six companies of which were from Knox county, date as far back as April 11, 1863, when the legislature of Ohio passed the well known militia law, dividing the State and the different counties into militiary districts, for better and more perfect organization, and to facilitate the raising of troops.

It is of the utmost importance that the people of Ohio should respond with the greatest alacrity to the call of the President for troops from this State.

[The call here referred to was one for one hundred thousand men from the States of Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania for six months, to repel a threatened invasion. Ohio's quota was thirty thousand. ]

The enemy is now threatening our northern cities with a large force. The vital necessity of promptly meeting and driving him back must be felt by every man. The sudden call of last year which resulted in such an immense loss of time, labor and money; the stoppage of all business transactions, and the risk of serious loss of property, should be remembered. The recurrence of that excitement can be avoided now by the prompt efforts of the people in aid of the President's call, and the immediate organization of a well-disciplined force. I feel confident that the people of Ohio have only to know the necessity for this call to insure an instant and hearty response.

This appeal of General Burnside must be promptly responded to or our State is certain to be invaded. Allow me to recommend that all places of business be closed at 3 P. M. of each day for the coming week, and that every man devote himself to the noble work of raising troops to save our State from invasion.

The camps of rendezvous heretofore designated by me are in complete readiness to receive all who wish to respond to the cali. If the enemy know that we are prepared to give them a warm reception, they may not attempt to invade us, but if we remain destitute of a force to meet them, they are certain to do so.

Notice is hereby given that the township of Clinton, in Knox county, has been by us, in pursuance of the act to organize and discipline the military of Ohio, passed April 11, 1863, divided into the following company districts.

All persons liable to perform military duty in each of said military districts, are hereby notified to meet on Saturday, the fourth day of July, 1863, at 1 P. M., to elect by ballot one cap- tain, one first lieutenant, and one second lieutenant for the company in their respective districts - each district to raise one company. The election for the First district will be held at Ewalt's school-house; for the Second district, at the Market house; for the Third district, at the city council chamber; and for the Fourth district, at the school-house in sub-district number six in

Samuel Davis Truman Ward

Similar notices were posted in every township in the county, and thus was the county thoroughly organized and every man subject to military duty enrolled.

Lee invaded Pennsylvania, was driven back at Gettysburgh, and thus closed the threatened invasion of the northern States for the time. The One

The first company was recruited and organized at Mt. Vernon in July, 1863, by William C. Cooper, who was elected captain, and subsequently became colonel of the regiment. These militia organizations were at first intended as home guards, indeed, nothing more was expected of them, and according to the terms of their enlistment no legal means could be used to compel them to go beyond the borders of the State. Inthe spring of 1864, when the Government determined to put forth all its power and crush the rebellion at one mighty blow, it turned toward Ohio and these '"'Home Guards" for help, and was not disappointed. More than thirty-two thousand of them were suddenly transferred to "National Guards," and were, as volunteers, mustered into the service of the United States, for one hundred days. Ohio produced this great army of men after three years of volunteering, during which she had furnished nearly two hundred thousand men. The history of the National guard of Ohio would of itself make a volume, but it is sufficient here to say that it was a grand uprising of a grand, earnest, and patriotic people, in which Knox county contributed her share and added her might to the great host that swept south to the assistance of the Government, occupying the forts and defences, thus releasing the veterans to move against the rebel armies.

The men went forth, too, at a time in the war and in the year that they could not well be spared from their homres and farms. Somebody must hold the plow that the great army in front might be fed. The National Guard was called out the first of May, just as they (a large proportion of them were farmers) were preparing to put in spring crops. Many of these left the plow standing in the furrow, as did their forefathers at Lexington; and the women and children only were left in hundreds of homes, to till the soil. Others left their workshops, banks and stores, and -

The history of the National Guard reveals more clearly than almost any other act in the great drama, the terrible earnestness, patriotism, and determination of the people.

This morning's report of the adjutant general shows that since the date of the proposition made by you and other governors of the Western States to the President, thirty-eight regiments of infantry troops, numbering over thirty-two thousand men have been called out, armed and equipped, and sent from the State of Ohio to the respective points designated by the department, and this while the draft is going on for three years men, and all the veteran troops in the field have re-enlisted,

This prompt and energetic action of yourself, your staff and the loyal people of the State exhibits an unmatched effort of the devoted patriotism and stern determination to spare no sacrifice to maintain the Nation and overthrow the rebellion. You will please accept for yourself and the patriot people of Ohio the thanks of the President and of this department.

After the organization of the militia in 1863, meetings were frequently and regularly held for 'drill, and onthe first-of May, 1864, when Governor Brough asked the services of the One Hundred and Forty-second regiment, it reported promptly, and was a well drilled and as fine looking body of men as went from Knox county during the war. Its field officers were - William C. Cooper, colonel; William Rogers, lieutenant colonel; William. M. Young, major; Wilson N. King, surgeon; Jacob Stamp, assistant surgeon; Frederick D. Sturges, adjutant; Alexander H. Fritchey, quartermaster and William J. Trimble, chaplain.

The following extract from a letter written by a member of the regiment, gives a picture 'of the start. It is dated at Fort Lyon, Alexandria, Virginia, May 30, 1864:

We left Mt. Vernon on the morning of the eleventh, in open freight cars, and in a snow storm. We were all day reaching Columbus, arriving there at five o'clock and marching to Camp Chase, four miles from the city.

We met a cool reception here, as there was no preparation to receive us, and it was near midnight before wood, tents or rations were issued to the men, and more than one thought of warm suppers and good beds at home, but there was no grumbling. The next day we were made comfortable, but I must say that the first day was the roughest we have seen thus far.

On the thirteenth we were mustered into the service of the United States for one hundred days, and received orders to prepare three days rations, which consisted of salt meat and '' hard tack."

On the fourteenth we marched to Columbus, where we exchanged our arms for Springfield rifles, and at six Pp. M. we left for Wheeling, passing through Zanesville just at daylight and reaching the Ohio river at noon. ; ; : .

We did not notice any signs of war until we arrived at Cheat river, where on the top of a hill, perhaps three hundred feet high, we saw the flag of our country waving over a small fort, built to protect the bridge. From this place there was a strong guard at all important points; but it was not until we reached New creek that we saw what might be called an effective force. There is quite an imposing looking fort at this place. The next place was Piedmont, where the rebels just one week before destroyed the extensive works belonging to the railroad. The damage done was estimated at five hundred thousand dollars.

While at Martinsburgh we saw a train of wounded from Siegel's army - it was a sickening sight. We arrived at Harper's Ferry on the nineteenth, and crossed in a boat worked by ropes.

Leaving here at eight in the evening we arrived at Washington Saturday at ten A. M., having been just a week on the road from Columbus. 'They marched us to the Soldier's Rest, where we were fed and started on our way to this place (Fort Lyon) which is a group of forts, thirteen miles from Washington, two from Alexandria and five from Mt. Vernon. The men were pretty well exhausted by the time they reached the fort. , Fort Lyon is a very strong fortification, containing forty-two cannon and several mortars. The Tenth New York heavy artillery occupied these forts. before we came. This splendid regiment of seventeen hundred men was sent to reinforce General Butler. Colonel Cooper was offered a brigadier general's commission, and the command of the forts, but declined.

The regiment remained at Fort Lyon busily engaged in strengthening the fortifications and perfecting its drill, until June sth, when orders were received to report to General Ambercrombie, at White House landing on the Pamunkey river. The regiment took the steamer at Alexandria June 7th, and arrived at White House on the ninth about midnight, and went into camp in the open field. The wounded from the battle of Cold Har. bor, then in progress, were being brought in - a gloomy reception to inexperienced soldiers. With- out rest the regiment, carrying six day's rations, left all its baggage and marched (at four a. M.) to guard a supply-train through the Wilderness to General Grant's front, near Cold Harbor, a distance of sixteen miles. Arriving there in the evening Colonel Cooper reported to General Meade, who ordered him to report his regiment to General Butler at Bermuda Hundred. This point was reached by water June 13th, where, without being permitted to land, it was conveyed, on transports, to Point of Rocks, about five miles below Petersburgh. Here it was landed and marched about six miles, to the extreme right of the National line.

Thinking to get a night's rest, the tired soldiers lay down on their blankets; but just as they had lapsed into dreamy forgetfulness, the long roll sounded. Leaving its tents standing the regiment was marched three miles on double-quick, through a dense, dark pine forest, filled with stumps and underbrush over which the men often stumbled and fell.

The point to be defended was reached and the men immediately placed in rifle-pits, in which exposed position they passed about a week. They were then detailed to destroy a line of earthworks from which the enemy had been driven. While engaged in this duty they were resisted by the rebels; but the regiment, with the aid of other troops on the line, not only completed the work of destruction, but drove the rebels from the field.

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

On the nineteenth of August it received orders to repair to Washington city, as its term of service had about expired. It accordingly embarked on transports at Bermuda Hundred, and reached Washington on the twenty-first. Thence it went by rail to Camp Chase, Ohio, and was there mustered out of the service of the United States September 2, 1864. The regiment arrived in Mt. Vernon September 3d.

Following are the muster-rolls of the Knox county companies of the One Hundred and Fortysecond Ohio National Guard. These companies were mustered into the service May 13, 1864:

Speelman, David H., date of enlistment May 2, 1864. Frey, James R., date of enlistment May 2, 1864. Speelman, John W., . aa Gates, Lyman W., & ae Smith, Oscar E., sf ot Graham, Robert F., wo (3 Stoughton, Lemon, 4 # Grove, David, ae es Stults, Adam, es hs Glenn, Thomas, " a Stout, Jacob, ee Lt Graves, William, e ss Shaffer, Levi, ce " Hodges, Henry, as se Shaffer, John W., as Hall, Luther S., " " Sutton; Thomas, et os Hunter, William A., " Tegarden, David, sf wt Hyatt, William, se a

Company

Trotter, George P., a Trotter, Archibald, as Thrall, Lewis, us Williams, Henry, WY Williams, David H., es Wilson, James E., 2 COMPANY C. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

Alexander, Albert, " Babbs, John W., o Babbs, Thomas, is Buxton, Francis A., Buxton, Thomas, Baughman, Chris., Beach, William A., fi Babbs, Isaac V., id Boyles, James S., Boyle, Joseph M., - Bebout, William, aN Conway, Charles A., ie Crawford, James, Cake, Howard, a Daily, George C., Daily, Daniel, He Evans, George E., Edmonson, Charles, cs Fonls, John, os Fonls, James, Fry, Jacob, a

Murphy, Albin W., 44 Morey, William, a4 Montis, William H., a Neal, George, < Porter, Solomon, qi Quintard, Cyrus B., s Robinson, Allen, as Robinson, George, as Row, Daniel, J a¢ Seamons, Henry C., +f Smith, Robert H., ae Smith, Wilford, cs Smith, Harvey J., " Steinmates, Upton, " Steinmates, Jacob, " Steinmates, Benjamin, a Steinmates, John, Hy Shafer, Laman, " Shanks, John, a Tracey, James M., ss Vernon, John, sf Winn, John M., as

Craig, Clark N., "e us DeWitt, John F., we as Dazninde, John A., a as Dermody, John, " " Day, Jehiel F., ue me Elliott, William, Ue " Fletcher, Henry, We ufo Greer, Thomas EB, ue Gt Goodale, Joseph, " " Heston, Nathan, ws " Heston, John, i ve Hagaman, John, " " Hunt, Philip, os ae Hess, Joseph, ef us Hersh, Levi, wig Ws Hayes, Daniel, ue cs Lobach, Henry, nS os Long, William, uf Ms Montis, Solomon, ac as McElroy, James, "a Ma McCune, Robert, a6 ue Miller, H. Wright, cf ue Miller, Abel C., es g Mast, William H., " " Mayors, Lyman, ae a Minard, Thomas G., ue " Marsh, Eber P., 36 se Nichols, Jonas, ot Gis Neal, Joseph, eS ug Onry, Silas, a U O'Brian, William E., she ae Pealor, Mahlon, co vs Phillips, Joshua, =o Hs Reed, James H., be ce Rogers, William A., id ve Rummels, James, 5 AG " Reed, Samuel, oat ug Shetler, Jacob, . a ve Sharp, Wesley, " " Stonebrook, Mathias, 20 ou Stout, John, Ga "

Tilton, Daniel W., date of enlistment May 2, 1864. Vernon, James F., a . Whitney, Girdon, ee co Weirick, James L., "e ine Waltz, Elias L., ue U0 Wolfe, William, " " Yarnell, John W., we a

Pool, John, date of enlistment May 2, 1864. Pyle, B. Parker, - we Phifer, James D., a ee Reeve, John T., SS - Springer, Elias, a _ Stoke, Abraham, ' "s Sapp, Julius B., us i Shaw, Noah P., i {s Stoile, James, Wy US Snow, Alden, jr., es " Sapp, Solomon C., v4 Stone, C. Daniel, ss ' Scribner, John J., "e op Stadden, George W., Y u Tress, William F., " yy Taylor, Marcus H., bi Gy Thomas, Levi W., th sis Vance, Walter L., vt ue Wells, William, ve

Wade, William W., Cg " Ward, Elonzo H., de ue Watkins, Thomas P., "¢ nS White, Calvin, sh a Warden, Samuel P., * uy Wright, Edwin, a qe Well, Joseph, ss es Williamson, Henry E., yb es

Squirrel Hunters

It may not be well to close this chapter without a mention of the highly honorable and patriotic service rendered by a large number of the citizens of Knox county in 1862, in the capacity of "Squirrel Hunters."

Early in September of that year the rebel General Kirby Smith threatened Cincinnati with a strong force. The whole State was kept in a feverish state of excitement several days with the: prospect of having a rebel army on this side of the Ohio. The telegraph wires called the citizens to arms and about one hundred thousand "Squirrel Hunters" turned out to repel the invaders. Knox county furnished about one hundred men for this service.

There were two calls for "Squirrel Hunters." The first of these was September 4, 1862, when a company of eighty men was immediately dispatched from Mt. Vernon, armed with squirrel rifles, shotguns, etc., without organization or discipline. The following extract from a letter written by one of these men at the time discloses the condition of affairs :

Our company, some eighty strong, which had been christened the ''Copperhead Killers," left Mt. Vernon on Tuesday at 11 A.M. Midnight found us tramping-through the streets of the ©

We were taken to the Fifth street market house where the animals were regaled with bread and ham; thence we were marched to our present camping grounds, being the fourth story of a five story building, where we passed the remaining two hours of night in fitful slumbers on the floor.

This morning we were aroused and after a hasty organization by electing Cal. captain, and Mit. and Ball. lieutenants, we proceeded to the quarters of Colonel McDowell and tendered our services for six days.

We learn that Kirby Smith is falling back, having no doubt earned through his spies and scouts that our company had left Owl creek and were approaching Cincinnati. The citizens seem to think since our arrival that the city is safe. Citizen soldiers have been pouring into the city for the last four days at the rate of several thousand per day, armed with rifles, smooth-bores, pumpkin slingers, slug shooters, shot-guns, etc. The streets are packed with squads, companies and regiments marching and countermarching all the day and night long. All are drilling, drilling, drilling, drilling. Kirby Smith must be tickled at the thought of what a muss he has kicked up here and what a panic-maker he is.

It is said that thirty-five thousand of our troops have crossed the river to Covington, and still they come. We expect to return to our homes and firesides about Tuesday next when we shall rest from our labors. If you have any drums or fire-crackers left you might call a meeting and welcome us home from the wars.

The citizen soldiers had scarcely returned to their homes when Kirby Smith concluded to recall them by again threatening Cincinnati. On the eleventh of September the following dispatch was received by C. H. Scribner, secretary of the Knox county Military committee. It was from Newark:

Each man who goes should be provided with a gun and plenty of ammunition suited to it. It would be well also to take a blanket, tin cup, and two or three days' provisions. Those who jhave guns and cannot go are requested to bring or send them n together with their bulletmoulds.

Their services were not, however, needed and they were recalled before they were fairly on the way. Governor Tod subsequently caused lithographic discharges to be issued and sent to each of these "Squirrel Hunters."

As all things must have an end, so the end of. the great war came to fill the fand with rejoicings. Mount Vernon, in common with the rest of the country, went wild on that fair April day when the wires carried the news that the 'Silent Man" had received the surrender of Lee's great army. A copy of the dispatch was taken to the high school and read to the pupils by Mr. Mitchell ; the school was dismissed for the day and the scholars rushed into the street, and added their glad shouts and songs to the rejoicings of the multitude that thronged the streets. All business was suspended, and the people gave themselves up to rejoicings. Bands paraded the streets; cannons were fired; flags and streamers were flung to the breeze; every building was decorated; men of all parties, colors, and conditions met on an equality, shook hands, and congratulated each other; the name of Grant was on every lip, and people stood before his picture, exhibited in every window, with hearts too full for utterance. In the evening there were music, bonfires, illuminations, and speeches by Mr. Delano and others.

A few days later came the news of the assassination of the President, and Mount Vernon became acity of mourning. Those were days in which every moment was weighted with some mighty event, each of which would require a volume to faithfully portray.

'Knox county may well be proud of her part in the great Rebellion. Her sons sleep on almost every battlefield of the South, and by every prisonpen. Many of them are resting in the beautiful cemetery in the suburbs of Mount Vernon, where they are remembered each succeeding year when the flowers are in bloom; and as the years go by they are still dropping one by one into the grave from the seeds of disease engendered in these years of strife and blood. They are not forgotten; the tears of the living cannot wash out the deeds of these heroes; an undivided, free, happy country is their monument; a people freed and a land purified by their blood, and a government established on a solid foundation for all time is the inheritance they have left behind.

Sleeping the years of their manhood away ; Years they had marked for the joys of the brave; Years they must waste in the sloth of the grave. All the bright laurels they fought to make bloom, Fell to the earth when they went to the tomb. |

Give them the meed they have won in the past ; Give them the honors their merits forecast ; Give them the chanvlets they won in the strife, Give them the laurels they lost with their life. Cover them over - yes, cover them over - Parent, and husband, and brother, and lover; Crown in your heart these dead heroes of ours, And cover them over with beautiful flowers."