Perry County, Ohio - Chapter 13: The Military in Time of Peace, 1883

Tue war with the Indians in Ohio and Indiana, subsequent to the close of the revolution, and the bloody part that the red man took in the war of 1812, was inducement enough to cause the emigrants in what is now Perry county, Ohio, as well as elsewhere, to keep and guard well their trusty rifles, and learn to use them in squads and companies, in case emergencies might arise. Tlence, with or without statute requirements, many of the pioneers organized into military companies, and had their place and times of regular drill. The uniform of these early military companies, was the ordinary hunting shirt of the times, and a fur cap. Themen were armed with a rifle gun, usually of large bore and long range. These hunting suits were gotten up with considerable care, and made quite a nobby dress. As a military uniform, they corresponded with the times and surroundings, and were both picturesque and handsome. 'There was one or two of these companies about Rehoboth, and New Lexington; the same number about Somerset and Overmyertown, (New Reading). 'The hunting shirt, when new and bright, was worn to church, and many ot the elder sons of the first settlers, wore this comfortable garment, trimmed with variegated homespun fringe, when they called upon their sweethearts on Sunday evenings, and afterwards were married in the same suit.

These hunting shirt companies, as they were called, lasted some ten or twelve years, when the times required a change. A law had also been enacted authorizing the organization of Light Infantry companies, which were armed with heavy flint lock muskets, with bayonets attached, at the expense of the State. Some of the old rifle companies re-organized under the new;law, and were furnished with the State arms ; other new companies were organized and equipped in accordance with the provisions of the new military law.

The Perry Guards declined to organize under the new order, and stuck to their old arms, the common domestic rifle. Phe members of this company lived mostly in Clayton and Harrison townships, The Perry Guards became known and spoken of as the "Old Rifle Company.' It mustered for ten or twelve years along with the Light Infantry and Militia. "The company laid aside the hunting shirt uniform however, and adopted a suit of mingled white and red, that was very showy and quite comfortable in the summer season, but would not do so well in cool weather. oy ae

Under the new State law, authorizing the Light Infantry and furnishing arms, there were organized and equipped, the Somerset Guards, Reading Guards, Thornville Guards, National Guards, New Lexington Guards, Rehoboth Guards, Jackson Guards, and possibly others, Hach com- pany had a different uniform. They had their regular days for drill, and, once a year, were required to meet and muster as a battalion or regiment, though there was probably never a sufficient number of companies for a full authorized regiment. Somerset, New Lexington and Rehoboth, were the usual places for battalion or regimental muster.

These companies were never thoroughly drilled, but, nevertheless, with their varied uniforms, drums beating, flags waving, and bayonets glistening in the sunshine, they made a fine display on battalion or regimental parade.

A military company called the Keokuks was organized at Somerset, about 1842 or 43, which adopted a nice black uniform, with black caps, trimmed with ostrich plumes. The company, under command of Capt. Fletcher Noles, became very proficient in drill, and was the nucleus of several companies, of like uniforms, that were organized in the county, or reorganized from old ones, forming a battalion, which lasted several years. According to the amended military laws, these companies were reqnired to hold a two days camp muster, which they did, one year at least, in May's woods, one mile south of Somerset. here was a general collapse of the Military in 1849. The Corn Stalk Militia had collapsed several years previous.

In accordance with a statute enacted at an early date, all male members between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, who were not members ot volunteer companies, were required to be enrolled, organized into companies, and drill two days each year; for company muster, on the first Friday of September, and for regimental muster, on Wednesday after the second Monday of the same month.

_ The militia of Perry were organized into two regiments. The men of military age, of Reading, Thorn, Hopewell and Madison townships, constituted one regiment, and those of Pike, Clayton, Harrison, Bearfield, Monroe, Saltlick, Monday Creek and Jackson, made up another. The regimental muster of the former, was held yearly at Somerset, the latter at New Lexington. The company musters were held in the several townships. . When the militia was first organized, every man that could, obtained and carried a domestic rifle on drill days, but the number of rifles in the ranks yearly grew less, and the corn stalks more, until the time came when there was scarcely riflemen enough for guard

The regimental muster days of the militia were, nevertheless, red letter days for many, and in addition to eight hundred or a thousand militia men, there was a large assemblage of spectators. Early in the morning of muster days, the clans would begin to gather. Guns or no guns, there was always martial music, and plenty of it. The man who could beat the long roll the best, was the admired of the hour. At ten o'clock sharp, the Captains would form their companies upon the village green. Regimental and staff officers, sitting on restiveesteeds, with plumes waving, drawn swords and scabbards rattling, proceed to form the regimental line. The several companies receive their orders, file out on to a principal street, and take their appointed place in the line. The columns close up, the men being rather densely formed in sections of four, six or eight. At last all is ready. 'The music is ordered to strike up, and the colonel gets in his heaviest work of the day. Kis- ing straight up in the stirrups, he opens his mouth, and in clarion tones, calls out 'Attention the Regiment! Forward March!" and the grand column moves along. As the regiment counternarches, the corn stalk militiamen get in their jokes as they pass and repass each other. 'Phe, regiment is marched out of 'town, to a convenient field, where the miliia spend the day in ranks, except an hour of recess for dinner. About four P. M., the regiment is marched back to town, where it is dismissed by companies, somewhere again on the village greeu. The oflicers of the militia, as well as those of the volunteer companies, were required to meet once a year for camp muster, which was usually held at Somerset. This was designed as a sort of Military school. 'The laws requiring militia muster, were repealed about 1842 or 1843, and the business collapsed.

There were two companies of Cavalry in the county, at an early day, and fora great many years. One of these belonged to the north, and the other to the south end of the county. The members of these companies were uniformed, and carried immense swords and pistols. These accoutrements would be great curiosities, if preserved until this day. Some of the old swords and pistols are, like enough, in existence at this time.

There was a universal "collapse of all military companies in the county, about 1849 or 1850, so that in 1853, when the "I hppodrome War" broke out, military companies from other counties had to be called upon to quell the disturbance.

There was one organized at Straitsville, in 1860, but nearly all of its members went into the war in 1861, and the home company was disbanded. i

The organization of the National Guard was authorized by enactment of Legislature in 1861-62, and in a few months, seven 'or eight companies thereof were organized and equipped in Perry county; one at Somerset, one at New: Reading, one at New Lexington, one at Oakfield, one at Straitsville, one at Maxville and one in Clayton and Madison townships. They all wore the army blue and were equipped by the State. They were required to drill at stated times, in time of peace. They were all called into active service in 1864, an account of which is given in another chapter.

Soon after the close of the war, the military laws were again changed, and the National Guard Companies disbanded, and for ten years there was no organized military company in the county. It was, of course, full of citizen soldiers, who had proved their valor, by long, active and faitlgful service, where hardships and dangers were the common lot. But, as previously stated, there was no organized body of military in the county. ; ;

The Ewing Guards were organized early in 1876, and made their first public ¢ ppearance,. uniformed, armed and well drilled yon the fourth of July, 1876, to participate in a Centennial Celebration. The Captain, T. J. Smith, had been a boy soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and had seen and taken part in many of its deadliest battles, including Gettysburg. The First Lieutenant, J. M. Holmes, had been in the war, and an inmate of Southern prisons. Several of the non-commissioned officers and privates, had also seen the hardest of military service; but many of the members of the company were boys, or quite young men, who could remember but dimly, if at all, the stirring and alarming scenes of 1861.

The Ewing Guards have been very faithful in drill, and prompt to appear on all public occasions. They are required by the law to spend a week in camp muster every year. They camped at Thornport in 1877, Zanesville, in 1878-79, Newark in 1880, Lakeside, on Lake Erie, in 1881, and last at Coshocton, in August, 1882. The Company was called into active service in the '"'Corning War," an account of which is given in another place. The name has lately been changed, and the company is now called the New Lexington Guards.