Lorain County, Ohio - Chapter 14: Lorain Agricultural Society., 1879 (part 2 of 2)

After a few days of painful suspense, information was received at headquarters that the enemy had retreated. Immediate pursuit was ordered. The One Hundred and Third moved out on the 18th, with other forces, in pursuit, taking the pike toward Lexington.

Having followed the enemy three days, without being able to overtake him, the national forces returned as fur as Snow's Pond, where they encamped for a short time. While here, sickness prostrated nearly onehalf the regiment. It was now organized, with two other regiments, into a brigade, under the command of Brigadier-general'Q. A. Gilmore. The regiment, with its brigade, moved out, on the 6th of October, to repress the outrages of the rebel cavalry, and, becoming separated from the brigade, went into camp on the bank of the Kentucky river, at Frankfort, where it remained until the 5th of April, 1863. At this date, the regiment marched to Stanford.

Marauding bands of mounted men, nominally belonging to John Morgan's command, but, in reality, independent squads of freebooters, had kept all this region in a constant state of excitement and alarm, and gave considerable annoyance to the national troops - eapturing parties stationed at outposts, and destroying supply trains. A large force was gathered at Stanford, and, on the 25th, an advance was ordered by Generali 8. P. Carter, then commanding. The national forces moved forward to Somerset and Mill Springs, the enemy falling back all the time; but there were not wanting indications of an intention, on the part of the rebels, to concentrate their scattered forces, for the purpose' of making a stand, at some point favorable for defence. Our infantry had considerable difficulty in crossing the Cumberland, on account of high water; but, once crossed, it pushed rapidly after the enemy, preceded by the cavalry, which had crossed a little below. On the 30th, the cavalry came up with a body of rebels, when a smart skirmish took place. On the 5th of May, our forces were ordered back to the Cumberland. The One IIundred and Third took a position near Stigall's ferry, where they were soon visited by a body of rebels, who fired on them from the southern bank. Much powder was expended, by both parties, but with little result.

On the 5th of July, the regiment, with other troops, marched toward Danville, where they remained a few days, and then fell back to Hickman bridge. Returning to Danville, shortly after, this regiment, was, with others, formed into the twenty-third army corps, and placed under the command of Major-general Hartsuff. The ninth army corps having been added to the force, at this point, the troops began to move - on the 18th of August, under the command of General A. E. Burnside. No tongue can tell what that army suffered in its march from Danville, via Stanford, Crab Orchard, the Cumberland, at Burnside's Point, Chitwood, Montgomery, Emery's Iron Works, and Lenoir to Concord, Tennessee. On the 19th of September, the regiment joined in the general advance, which resulted in driving back the rebels to their main force, then assembled at Jonesboro.

On the 4th of November, the regiment proceeded by railroad to Knoxville, and was stationed with its brigade, on the south side of the river. Longstreet was now advancing upon the city, with a large force. During the investment, our troops suffered the greatest hardships from insufficient clothing, short rations, and other privations. About noon, on the 25th, six companies of the regiment were sent out to relieve a company on picket-duty, and, while so doing, a heavy charge was made by the rebels, with the intention of capturing the whole. The men, assisted by the pickets of the Twenty-fourth Kentucky, and the Sixty-fifth Illinois, poured into the ranks of the rebels a well-directed fire; but this did not check them in the least, for, with yells, of the most horrid description, they rushed upon the picket-line, and a desperate struggle ensued. The regiments of the respective pickets coming up, in full force, a bayonet charge was ordered, which soon decided the contest, for the rebels broke and fled, leaving their dead and wounded upon the field. 'The regiment lost, in this engagement, some thirty-five, in killed and wounded.

This regiment finally became a part of the grand army, with which Sherman marched to the sea, and, on the 13th of May, arrived in front of Resaca. The next day, the twenty-third corps charged the enemy's works, and carried his two lines. The regiment lost, in this engagement, over one-third of its effective force. Among those who fell, were Captains W. W. Hutchinson and J. T. Philpot. The regiment finally reached Decatur on the 8th of September. It had lost heavily during this campaign. On May 1, its effective force numbered four hundred and fifty men; but, when it encamped at Decatur, it could only muster one hundred and ninety-five.

At Spring Hill, the regiment, while supporting a battery, showed conclusively what they were made of. On the 24th of February, 1865, the regiment, with its corps, arrived at Wilmington, and, on the 6th of March, it started forward, moving through Kingston to Goldsboro, where it again met Sherman's army. The whole army soon took up its march, and, on the 13th of April, reached Raleigh, where the regiment remained till the 10th of June, when it started for Cleveland, Ohio, to be mustered out. As the train, conveying the men, was descending the western slope of the Alleghany mountains, a truck broke loose, throwing three of the cars down asteép embankment, causing the death of three men, an the mutilation of a much largernumber. On the 19th, the regiment reached Oleveland, and, on the 22d, it was paid off, and mustered out.

One Hundred And Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

This regiment was composed almost wholly of Germans. It was organized August 25, 1862, at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio. It lay in camp at this place until the latter part of September, when it moved under orders to Covington, Kentucky. This move was made with reference to an anticipated attack on Cincinnati by Kirby Smith's Grey-backs. The regiment went to Washington, D. C., after a short time and was engaged for nearly a month in constructing fortifications around that city. In November it was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Eleventh Army Corps, Major-general Sigel commanding. On April 29, 1863, the regiment, with its brigadeand division, moved across the Rappahannock to Chancellorsville, where, on the 2d and 3d of May, it took part in the battle of that name. In this disastrous affair the One Hundred and Seventh suffered terribly, losing two hundred and twenty officers and men, killed, wounded and prisoners. The surgeon of the regiment, Dr. Hartman, of Cleveland, Ohio, and several officers were killed. July 1, it reached Gettysburg and was at once engaged with the enemy, taking position on the right wing. The first day's fight the regiment and eleventh corps were compelled to fall back through the town of Gettysburg to Cemetery Hill, where a new line was formed and held during the remainder of the battle. In falling back to this place the regiment lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, two hundred and fifty officers and men. In the second day's fight, in a charge made about five o'clock in the afternoon, it again lost heavily. In this affair the regiment captured a Rebel fiag from the Eighth Louisiana Tigers. Aside from slight skirmishing it was not engaged in the third day's fight. Its total loss in the battle of Gettysburg - killed, wounded and prisoners - was over four hundred out of about five hundred and fifty, rank and file with which it entered. With one hundred and eleven guns, all that was left of the regiment, it joined in the pursuit of the Rebel urmy, following it to Hagerstown, and thence into Virginia. Its subsequent engagements were principally light ones. The heaviest perhaps being at Sumterville, South Carolina, March 23, 1865, where it. defeated the enemy, capturing three pieces of artillery, six horses, and fifteen prisoners. On April 16, 1865, news was received of the surrender of Lee's and Johnston's armies. Three weeks thereafter it was taken by steamer to Charleston, where it did provost duty until July 10, when it was mustered out of the service and sent home to Cleveland, where it was paid off and discharged.

One Hundred And Twenty-Eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

This regiment, although chiefly occupied in guard duty within the borders of the State, was an organization of three years' troops, enlisted and mustered into the United States' service, the same as other volunteer troops, and was liable to service wherever required: It attained minimum strength on the 25th of December, 1863, and consisted of four companies before known as the ''Hoffman Battalion" raised at different times in 1862. At and before the time of forming the regiment, the Hoffman Battalion was under the command of a Lieutenant-colonel and Major. Six new companies were mustered in at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, between the 8th and 15th of January, 1864. The four old companies had been on duty at Johnson's Island, nearly all the time since their muster in, but had frequently furnished detachments for service elsewhere, including a short and very active campaign in pursuit of Rebel troops, in Western Virginia in 1862.

The One Hundred and Twenty-eighth was chiefly occupied at the frontier posts of Johnson's Island and Sandusky. Fortune did not give the regiment an opportunity to earn laurels in battle, but it performed its duties always with faithfulness and efficiency. It left the Island on July 10, 1865, and was mustered out. at Camp Chase, Ohio, on the 17th.

One Hundred And Thirty-Fifth Regiment Ohio National Guard

This regiment was composed of men from Licking and Hardin counties, and one company of the Thirtyseventh Battallion, Ohio National Guard, of Lorain county. It was mustered into the United States' service on the 11th of May, 1864, and was ordered immediately to Washington City. Proceeding by way of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the regiment arrived at North Mountain, where information was received that the bridge at Harper's Ferry was impassable; and the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth, with other 'hundred days' regiments," was delayed awaiting the repair of the bridge. A picket was established, and every precaution taken for defence. In a few days the troops moved on, and the regiment arrived at Washington, May 22. It was placed in the defences south of the Potomac, with headquarters at Fort Albany, and detachments in Forts Craig and Tillinghast. The time was occupied in repairing and completing these forts, and drilling in infantry and heavy-artillery tactics. On the 5th of June the regiment was ordered to White House Landing, where it was employed in picket duty and in guarding Rebel prisoners. On the 16th of June the regiment was ordered to Bermuda Hundred, and proceeded on steamer, via Fortress Monroe, up the James to Fort Powhattan. Here its progress was checked by the pontoon bridge on which the Army of. the Potomac was crossing the James. Theregiment debarked and marched to Bermuda Hundred, distant twenty-five miles. The march was made during two of the hottest days of summer, and the men suffered greatly from dust and the want of water. The regiment arrived at Fort Spring Hill, on the eastern bank of the Appomattox, opposite Point of Rocks, on the 19th of June, and was engaged in picket and fatigue duty at Point of Rocks and at Broadway Landing. The regiment next moved to Cherry-stone Inlet, on the eastern shore of Virginia. Headquarters were established at Eastville, the county town of Northampton county, and the companies were distributed at various points to guard the telegraph from Cherrystone to Wilmington, to prevent raids from the opposite side of the bay, and to intercept blockade runners and Rebel mail-carriers. At the expiration of its term of service the regiment returned to Ohio, and

One Hundred And Fiftieth Regiment Ohio National Guard

This regiment rendezvoused at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland. It was composed of eight companies from the city of Cleveland, one from Oberlin, this county, and one from Independence township, Cuyahoga county. It was, on the 5th of May, 1864, sworn into the United States service for one hundred days, and was immediately placed on the cars for Washington City.

On its arrival the regiment was ordered to garrison Forts Lincoln, Saratoga, Thayer, Bunker Hill, Slocum, Totten, and Stevens, forming part of the chain of fortifications surrounding the National capital. This important duty was fully and strictly performed, thereby enabling General Grant to draw from the former garrisons of these forts the re-inforcements so much desired in his movement through the Wilderness toward Richmond. The One Hundred and Fiftieth remained in these forts during the whole term of service, and participated in the fight before Washington with a part of Karly's Rebel corps, July 10 and 11, 1864. Companies G and K were engaged, but being behind breastworks, did not suffer much. One man was killed and three or four men were wounded. The regiment was mustered out at Cleveland on the 23d of August, 1864. During its term of service the regiment was rigidly and effectively drilled, and at its muster out had reached a point of military efficiency which fitted it for any emergency.

One Hundred And Seventy-Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, September 21, 1864, for one year. As soon as the organization was completed the regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps. Soon after its arrival it was detailed to perform provost duty at Nashville, and during the siege and battle at that point was in the works; but with the exception of a few companies, under Major Cummings, the regiment was not engaged. Quite a number of the officers and men were veteran soldiers, and their knowledge and experience gave the regiment considerable reputation for proficiency in drill and discipline.

was organized at Camp Dennison and mustered into the service October 8, 1861, with an aggregate strength of one hundred and forty-seven men. By order of General O. M. Mitchell it left Cincinnati to report to General George H. Thomas, then in command at Camp Dick Robinson, Kentucky. The first experience it had in the field was a brisk little affair at

Camp Wild Cat, in which it flred twelve rounds and silenced one of the enemy's guns. From Wild Cat it marched to London, Kentucky, where it remained two weeks. On November 5, the battery, under orders, joined the Seventeenth Ohio at Fishing Creek, and was engaged during the whole of that month in skirmishes and scout duty, with headquarters at Somersct. January 27, it moved to Mill Springs to re-enforce General Thomas. It took part in the battle of Mill Springs, and performed very effective service. February 10, it took up its line of march for Louisville, Kentucky, where it embarked for Nashville; arriving there, it was assigned to Colonel Barnett's Artillery Reserve. Nelson at Murfreesboro, and, during the months of July, August and September, was almost constantly on the march, and frequently engaged in skirmishes with the enemy. On December 26, the battery moved with its brigade and division from Nashville towards Murfreesboro, skirmishing heavily in and about La Vergne. It was here that the present county recorder lost his ''good right arm." In the battle of Stone river it was stationed on the left of General Negley's division. It was involved in the disaster on the right, but succeeded in withdrawing all its guns from the field. It bore its full part in the battle, and lost seventeen men, killed, wounded and missing, and twenty-one horses killed. June 24, 1863, it joined in the advance of the national forces on Tullahoma. September 19, it engaged in the battle of Chickamauga. On the next day it was charged by the enemy, but succeeded in beating them off. A second charge soon followed which overwhelmed the battery, and it was obliged to leave two of its guns in the hands of the enemy. In this charge several members of the battery were wounded and captured. 'This was in the siege of Chattanooga. January 4, 1864, sixtyfive of the original members of the battery re-enlisted as veterans, and were furloughed home for thirty days. Tne battery returned to Nashville in March, and on the 16th of that month reported to Bridgeport, Alabama, where it remained until July, 1866. It was then sent home to Columbus, and there mustered out, being one of the last organizations to leave the service.

Fifteenth Ohio Independent Battery

was recruited by Captain J. B. Burrows and Firstlieutenant Edward Spear, Jr. This battery was mustered into the service on the 1st day of February, 1862, and was immediately ordered. to Cincinnati, where it embarked February 16, under orders for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, but on reaching Paducah, Kentucky, was disembarked by order of General Sherman. Horses were drawn here, and the battery embarked under orders to report to General Grant, ut Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. While proceeding up the Tennessee, aud, when near Whitehall Landing, the boat was fired into by guerrillas, from the shore. The fire was returned with shell, under cover of which the men of the battery landed, drove the guerrillas from their cover, and captured some prisoners and horses. In this expedition, the battery lost one man wounded. It reported to General Grant on the 20th, and was assigned to the Fourth division, army of the Tennessee. The battery was on the first line during the seige of Vicksburg, having position on the Hall's Ferry road, southeast of the city, and within two hundred yards of the enemy's works, and enfilading several hundred yards of their line. In this, as in all the engagements in which the battery figured, most excellent. service was performed, eliciting, on every occasion, the commendations of the commanding officers. It expended two thousand, three hundred and one rounds of ammunition during the seige. The Fifteenth was with General Sherman, principally, and participated in his famous ''march to the sea." An incident is related that, at the battle of Chattahoochee River, a bird flew upon the shoulder of Private Seth Bowers, who was acting No. 1 on one of the guns, where it remained during the engagement. At every discharge of the piece, the bird would thrust its head in the man's hair. After the recoil, it would again take its position on the man's shoulder, and watch the operations of loading. After the battle, the bird remained around the men's quarters, but, after a few days, disappeared.

Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

This regiment was recruited and organized in the - summer and autumn of 1861, under the supervision of the late Hon. B. F. Wade and Hon. John Hutchins, who received special authority from the war office. The regiment rendezyoused at Camp Wade, near Cleveland, Ohio, and the last company was mustered in on the 10th of October, 1861. Being the first cavalry regiment raised in the northern part of the State, it drew into its ranks a large proportion of wealth, intelligence, capacity and culture. Men and officers were almost wholly from the Western Reserve, and represented every trade and profession. The Second was uniformed, mounted and partly drilled at Cleveland, and, in the last of November, was ordered to Camp Dennison, where it received sabers, and continued drilling during the month of December. Karly in January, 1862, under orders from the war department, the Second proceeded, by rail, via. Cincinnati, St. Louis and St. Joseph, to Platte City, Misssouri.

On the 18th of February, Doubleday's brigade, of which the Second was a part, was ordered to march through the border counties of Missouri to Fort Scott, Kansas. On the 22d of February, and during the march, a scouting party of one hundred and twenty men of the Second Ohio cavalry was attacked in the streets of Independence, Missouri, by an equal force, under command of the subsequently infamous Quantril. As the result of the Second's ''first fight,"

Quantril was routed in fifteen minutes, losing five killed, four wounded, and five captured, including one officer. The Second lost one killed and three wounded. Arriving at its destination about March 1, it remained for several months, doing garrison and scouting duty. j

In the fal] following, it participated in the campaign ending in the victory of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 3, 1862. It also fought at Carthage and Newtonia, Missouri, and at Cow Hill, Wolf Creek, and White River, Arkansas.

In November and December, the Second was transferred to the Hastern army, moving by rail to Camp Chase, Ohio, to rempunt and refit for the field. This accomplished, the regiment left early in April for Somerset, Kentucky, and remained in camp there, with the exception of an occasional reconnoissance, until the 27th of June.

On the 1st of July, the Second joined in the pursuit of John Morgan, and followed the great raider twelve hundred miles, through three States, marching twenty hours out of the twenty-four, living wholly upon the gifts of the people for twenty-seven days, and finally sharing in the capture at Buffington Island.

January 1, 1864, nearly the entire regiment reenlisted. But lack of space forbids us following the regiment through all its encounters and privations. It was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, September 11, 1865.

The Second fought under twenty-three general officers. Its horses have drunk from, and its troopers have bathed in, the waters of the Arkansas, Kaw, Osage, Cygnes, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, Scioto, Miami, Cumberland, Tennessee, Halston, Potomac, Shenandoah, Rappahannock, Rapidan, Bull Run, Mattapony, Pamunkey, Chickahominy, James, Appomattox, Blackwater, Nottoway, and Chesapeake. It campaigned through thirteen states and one territory. It traveled, as a regiment, on foot, horseback, by railroad and steamboat, on land, river, bay and ocean. It has marched an aggregate distance of twenty-seven thousand miles; has fought in ninety-seven battles and engagements. It has served in five different armies, forming a continuous line of armies from the head waters of the Arkansas to the mouth of the James; and its dead, sleeping where they fell, form a vidette-line half across the continent, a chain of prostrate sentinels, two thousand miles long. Even in their graves, may not these patroit dead still guard the glory and the integrity of the Republic for which they fell? ;

Third Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

This regiment was organized in September, 1861, at Monroeville, Huron county. It moved to Camp Dennison on the 14th of January, 1862. In Feb- ruary following it went to Jeffersonville, Indiana. On March 2 it was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, and arrived there March 18. On the 29th it left Nashville for Pittsburgh Landing. It reached that point on April 25, and encamped four miles from the river. It remained here some time, and made scyeral successful raids. It next moved to Iuka and Tuscumbia. Here it remained until June 30, when it went to Courtland; thence to Decatur, Alabama, and from this point to Mooresville. On the 3d of September the division marched to Nashville, arriving there on the 6th, thence to Mumfordsville, Kentucky, via Gallatin and Bowling Green. On September 21, the first battalion of the Third Cavalry had a sharp engagement at Mumfordsyille with three times its own number, and drove them into their works in three separate charges. It lost twelve wounded and two killed. The "Johnnies" lost thirtyeight killed and sixty wounded. The Third Cavalry, during its first year of service, was attached to General T. J. Wood's division, and during the most of the time was under his immediate command. 'The second and third battalions, under Colonel Zahm, was stationed, during a portion of the summer of 1862, at Woodville, Alabama. On October 19, a detachment of the Third Cavalry, with a portion of the Fourth Cavalry, numbering some two hundred and fifty, was sent as an escort to Covington, Kentucky. It encamped near the old plantation of Henry Clay, at Ashland, and the next day (20th) was captured by John Morgan, who stripped them of their horses and valuables, paroled them and sent them into the national lines. The men were soon in the field again. The regiment re-enlisted in January, 1864, and were furloughed home. Returning to Nashville, it was re-equipped, armed and mounted, and from this time until it was mustered out, it was constantly in active service. It turned over its horses and arms at Macon and proceeded to Camp Chase, Ohio, where it was paid off and discharged August 14, 1865, haying served four years, lacking twenty days.

Twelfth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

This regiment was recruited during the months of September and October, 1863, from nearly every county in the State, rendezvousing at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, where it was mustered into the service on the 24th day of November, 1863. One-haif of the regiment was engaged in doing guard duty, during the winter of 1863-4, on Johnson's Island, haying been ordered there on the 10th of November. The regiment was mounted, armed and equipped at Camp Dennison, and moved to Louisville, and then to Lexington and Mount Sterling, Kentucky. Little of importance transpired until the 23d of May, when the regiment was a portion of General Burbridge's command on the first Saltville raid. On the arrival in the vicinity of Pound Gap, after eight days' marching, it became evident that John Morgan had entered Kentucky, and the command immediately started in pursuit. After severe marching, with but little time for eating or sleeping, the command arrived at Mount Sterling on the 9th of June, 1864. The Twelfth was closely engaged with the rebels at this point, behaving with much gallantry, and was specially complimented by General Burbridge. The Twelfth again overtook Morgan at Cynthiana, and fought with him, scattering his forces in every direction. The regiment charged through the town, crossed the river, and pursued the retreating rebels for three days. During the second expedition to Saltville in September, it became necessary to silence a battery posted upon a hill; the Twelfth, with its brigade, charged up the hill and drove the enemy from his works. this, the regiment encamped at Lexington, until ordered to Crab Orchard to join another Saltyille expedition.

The division left Crab Orchard on the 22d of November, during a severe snow-storm, and moyed to Bean's Station. On the night of their arrival the Twelfth made a successful reconoissance to Rogersville It did its full share of duty under General Stoneman, at Bristol, at Abingdon, at Marion, and thence as support to General Gillam in his pursuit of Vaughn, then back again to Marion, where General Stoneman engaged Breckenridge for forty hours, and finally defeated him. In this engagement all of the Twelfth bearing sabers, participated in a grand charge, driving back the enemy's cavalry. The régiment behaved gallantly throughout the fight, and received the praises of Generals Stoneman and Burbridge. On the 21st of December, Saltville was captured, and the forces returned to Richmond, Kentucky, where headquarters were established. As the result of this raid four boats were captured, one hundred and fifty miles of railroad, thirteen trains and locomotives, lead mines, salt works, iron foundries, and an immense quantity of stores of all sorts, were completely destroyed. During the raid Company F acted as escort to General Burbridge. About the middle of February the regiment was thoroughly armed, equipped and mounted. It then proceeded by way of Louisville and the river to Nashville, arriving March 6. From here it moved to Murfreesboro and Knoxville. At this point it again formed part of a raiding expedition under General Stoneman. The Twelfth finally rendezvoused at Nashville, and was mustered out on the 14th of November, 1865; then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where it was paid and discharged on the 22d and 23d of the same month, after two years of incessant service.

The Squirrel Hunters

During the autumn of 1862, the Confederate General Kirby Smith advanced upon Cincinnati with a large army. Governor Tod issued a proclamation calling upon all who would furnish themselves with rations and arms to turn out, organize under their own officers, and rendezvous at Cincinnati, transportation over the railroads to be provided by the govern- ment. About three hundred and fifty citizens of Lorain county responded to the call of the governor. These men, of course, saw no fighting, but their work was cheerfully performed, because they thought their services were needed. Governor Tod caused lithograph discharges to be forwarded to those whose names could be obtained. These discharges may be found in many homes in the county, where they are properly prized.