Sandusky County, Ohio - Chapter 22: Military History, 1882 (part 1 of 5)

Chapter 22: Military History

The War of 1812 - Mexican War - Volunteers of the War of the Rebellion, with Brief Histories of Regi" ments Recruited in whole or in part in Sandusky County.

THE war of the Revolution was history, the Indian wars in which Wayne's memorable campaign occurred, the memorable battles at sea, the battles of Tippecanoe and the Thames under Harrison, the last gun fired by Jackson at New Orleans had ceased to reverberate, Packenham had surrendered, and the War of 1812 brought to a glorious termination by American valor, before Sandusky county, as a civil and political organization, came into existence.

Although the county was not organized until several years after the close ot the War of 1812, a number of the soldiers of that war were pioneer settlers and aided in the organization. Amongst these we are able to give the following names, not doubting that there were others whose names cannot now be obtained. Among those soldiers of the war with England | commonly designated as the War of 1812, who are known to have been here when the county was organized, we give the following: David Gallagher, Jeremiah Everett, Thomas L. Hawkins, Charles B. Fitch, Captain Jonathan H. Jerome, Israel Harrington, Josiah Rumery, and James J ustice.

The county, however, embraces ground rendered memorable by the War of 1812, and such localities as Fort Stephenson, in the present city of Fremont, and Ball's battle ground, in Ballville township, are places of which our people are proud, and from which they still inhale the inspiration of true patriotism. The war with Mexico offered the citizens of the county their first opportunity to display their zeal in the military service of the country. In the spring of 1847, a company of infantry was promptly recruited by Captain Samuel Thompson, a veteran who was wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane, in the War of 1812. The members of this company were :

Non-Commissioned Officers

After Captain Thompson had enlisted the required number of men for his company, he was ordered to report at Cincinnati. The company travelled by wagons from Lower Sandusky, now Fremont, to Perrysburg, where canal-boats were furnished for their further movement. Thence they were transported through the Miami Canal to Cincinnati on the same boats. They arrived at Cincinnati in due time, and in June, 1847, were mustered into service in the Fourth regiment of Ohio Volunteers, then forming in that city.

The regiment was transported by steamboat down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to a place called Carleton, eight miles above New Orleans. From New Orleans the regiment was transported by steamer to Brazos Santiago, Texas, thence it marched to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. From the mouth of the the Rio Grande the regiment moved by water transportation to Matamoras; thence to Vera Cruz, where the regiment was incorporated into, and became part of Brevet Major-General Joseph Lane's brigade.

At Vera Cruz Captain Thompson returned home, on account of age and disability, and from that time the command of the company devolved upon Lieutenant Knapp through the entire war.

The company, with the brigade, left Vera Cruz on the afternoon of Sunday, September 19, 1847. At this time General Lane's brigade consisted of a battery of five pieces from the Third regiment

! United States artillery, under Captain I George Taylor, also a battery of two pieces I from the Second artillery, under First i Lieutenant Henry C. Pratt, Lewis's cavalry, Simon's battalion, Fourth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, and Fourth regiment of Ohio volunteer infantry, commanded by Colonel Charles H. Brough. A part of the road between Vergara and Puentade Marino, lay through sand ridges almost destitute of verdure, and the soldiers were obliged to push the artillery carriages up many of the steep ascents, on account of the large, deep ruts which had been formed. General Lane and his staff accompanied the brigade. About night-fall the brigade halted for the night at a little hamlet called Santa Fe. Here were found signs of the ravages of war, in the blacked and charred remains of the beautiful little hamlet. It had been the scene of a fight on the 25th of March, 1847, between Harney, with his dragoons, and a body of Mexicans. At this place the command camped for the night.

The brigade marched thence with various interesting incidents, to the National bridge. This bridge is an ancient structure, and a brief description of it will be interesting to the general reader, and especially so to those who have an ini terest in what the volunteers from Sandusky saw on their march, as well as where they went. The National bridge of Mex- | ico is a magnificent structure, and crosses i the Rio Antaiqua, a swift stream which .rises near the base of Mount Orizaba, and rests on a number of arches. The masonry is of the most durable character. It was finished in the year 1776, and at that date, 1847, near three-quarters of a century after its completion, showed no sign of decay or displacement. At the middle \ of the bridge is a monument giving the date of its commencement and its completion, and by it are stone seats for weary travellers. There is a strong wall on each side of the bridge, running the whole length of it, which is between three and four feet high. Midway between the east and west ends of the bridge there is a high rocky eminence on which a fort was built by the Mexican empire. The bridge was formerly called Puente del Rey, or the Bridge of the King, but after Mexico became a republic the name was changed to Puenta Nacional, or National Bridge, and was a point of great military importance during the revolutions in Mexico. This bridge, with surrounding scenery, travelers say without doubt forms one of the most sublime landscapes in Mexico. The brigade of which the Sandusky volunteers formed a part, arrived at the National bridge about the 23d of September. 1847. The bridge was then under the control of the American forces, but the possession of it had cost several severe struggles and the loss of more than a hundred brave men. Finally Colonel Hughes, in command of a battalion of Maryland, District of Columbia troops, after a hard struggle obtained possession of the fort at the summit of the rocky elevation, and thenceforward there was no more trouble from that fort. This action took place on the 9th of September, and about two weeks before General Lane's brigade arrived at that point.

The ascent of this eminence, which was necessary to dislodge the Mexicans, was, if possible, more difficult than that of Lookout Mountain. Historians say that, the only way the men could get up, was to pull themselves up by clinging to the roots and branches of the shrubs which covered the rocks on the sides of the steep acclivity.

The brigade pushed forward, passing the battle ground of Cerro Gordo, and reaching the city of Jalapa on the afternoon of the 30th of September, 1847.

Although it would be interesting to describe minutely the marches, incidents, country, and scenery through which our Sandusky boys passed, still such narration would involve a portion of the history of the Mexican War, and would hardly be pertinent to our history of the county - still, to show the true state of affairs, and why Lane's brigade was urged on to Pueblo, it is proper to say, that when General Scott advanced upon the city of Mexico, which is seventy miles from Pueblo, he left Colonel Childs, of the artillery, at Pueblo with a body of men to guard the city, and protect the sick who were in the hospitals to the number of eighteen hundred men. The force left under the command of Colonel Childs numbered in all three hundred and ninety-three men. The cured from the hospitals afterward swelled this force to the number of fourteen hundred effective men.

Everything was quiet about Pueblo while Scott was fighting at the city of Mexico, but as soon as the Mexicans there were overcome, they turned their attention toward Pueblo. On the 24th of September a large body of Mexicans came into Pueblo, and commenced the siege of that place which lasted until the 12th of October, when General Lane arrived with his column.

On the 2 2d of September, 1847, Santa Anna arrived at Pueblo from Mexico, with a considerable force, and assumed command of the Mexican forces, which at this time amounted to eight thousand men. Childs was summoned to surrender, but politely declined to do so, saying that Americans were not inclined to do such things. And he did not surrender, but held the fort until the arrival of Lane with his brigade, which, after a fight in the streets of Pueblo, drove the Mexicans away, and relieved Colonel Childs.

mained at Pueblo until after the treaty with Mexico was ratified. On the 2d of June, 1848, the regiment left Pueblo on the return home. They reached Cincinnati in the latter part of July, where they were discharged, and Company C, homeward bound, travelled to Tiffin by railroad, thence to Fremont by wagons, to be warmly and thankfully received by their friends. Although the company lost few in battle, there were few sound men in the ranks when they reached home. Nearly all were greatly enfeebled by the diseases incident to Mexico and army life, and chronic diarrhoea carried off a numberafter reaching home, and enfeebled many during the remainder of life.

Captains Amon C. Bradley and J. A. Jones also recruited a number of men in Sandusky county for the Mexican war. It has been ascertained that the following named were enlisted in the company of Captain Jones, whose company, however, was chiefly composed of men from Huron county, their headquarters being at Norwalk :

The following other named men were volunteers from Sandusky county, and went into service, but whether in Captain Bradley's or Captain Jones' company, cannot be determined by the information within our reach, to wit :

The War Of The Rebellion

The baneful teachings of Calhoun had planted deejoly and widely in the minds of the Southern people the political heresy that the several States of the Union were each sovereign, and had the right to secede, and to be the judge of their cause for seceding, and when they might respectively exercise the right. Not only did this doctrine prevail in the South, but the Northern Democracy, under the same, had for years given at least tacit assent to the i teachings of Calhoun 'as the true theory of our Government. The Republican party rejected this theory, and claimed that we were a Nation, that for National purposes the Government of the United States must necessarily be supreme and the States subordinate.

The right and wrong of slavery in the Southern States, and the question of its extension into the territories which were soon to become States, had for years been debated in Congress, by the press of the country, by orators on the stump, and by lecturers on the platform, until the public mind had become profoundly agitatedjon the subject, both North and South.

The election of Abraham Lincoln demonstrated that the institution of slavery could not be extended, and Southern statesmen whose influence had dominated the Government so long, saw plainly that without an extension of their peculiar ' institution, their power was destined to I pass away, and that the sentiment of ' freedom would dominate in all depart- I ments of the Government. They clearly I foresaw that such a condition, coupled with the growing and aggressive anti-slavery sentiment in the free States, would not only take from them the ascendency in the Government and the benefits of its patronage, but threatened the very existence of their own j^eculiar institution of slavery in the States where it existed. Hence, we see, political convictions, State pride, love of power, and a tremendous force of self interest in the ownership of slaves, all converging to drive them to the terrible resort of a conflict of armeS force.

Fort Moultrie, when surrounded by ! scowling, deadly foes too numerous to be resisted, had been wisely abandoned by Major Anderson, who was compelled to trans- j fer his feeble force to Fort Sumter in the night of December 26, i860.

Jacob Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, had left his post with a heavy defalcation of eight hundred and seventy thousand dollars in his department.

The Star of the West, carrying reinforcements and supplies to Major Anderson at Fort Sumter, had been fired upon by the rebels and compelled to turn back.

General Twiggs, commanding the United l States military forces in Texas, had, on ! the 23d of February, i860, treacherously, i traitorously, turned over to the State of rebellious Texas, all the forces under his : command, being nearly half the then regular army of the United States, with all i the property and military stores in that ! State, amounting to near two millions of dollars in value.

The ship Star of the West, which, after its return from the abortive attempt to reinforce and provision Fort Sumter, was , dispatched, laden with supplies for the army of the frontier, went into the harbor | of Indianola unsuspicious of the extent of j the rebellion, and became an easy prey to the exultant rebels.

The defensive fortifications located within the seceded States, mounting over three thousand guns, and having cost more than twenty millions of dollars, had been seized and appropriated by the Confederates - all under the eyes of President Buchanan, without a hand raised to prevent the robbery of the Nation, or to punish treason to the Government.

There it no doubt but the naturally weak President, by accepting the doctrines of Calhoun, and by pledges to administer the Government according to the requirements of Southern statesmen, was fettered and bound hand and foot, and all his powers to save the Union were paralyzed. Hence he stood stupid, amazed, and hepless while the Union was crumbling, betrayed, and robbed, and an opposing confederacy formed with the purpose of overthrowing the Constitution of the fathers, and subjugating the North by armed force.

While the later events above noticed were being enacted, and on the nth of February, 1861, Abraham Lincoln left his home at Springfield, Illinois, for Washington City. The story of his journey, how the people honored him on the way, how at Harrisburg his friends, having good ground to believe he would be assassinated at Baltimore if he should pass through there at the appointed time, started him on his journey through that city twenty-four hours in advance of the contemplated time, that he should escape from the assassins lying in wait for their opportunity ; how he arrived at Washington; how he was inaugurated, his pleading with the rebels to desist and accept his most generous offers for peace consistent with the existence of the Union, are all too familiar to the people to need particularizing here.

On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lincoln issued his proclamation for seventy-five thousand volunteer militia to be furnished by the several States according to population. The apportionment to Ohio was thirteen regiments, of seven hundred and eighty men each.

riotic indignation. And now, when this proclamation came to them, they fairly leaped into the service. The first opportunity offered was to form two companies of the Eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, to j serve three months. Hundreds of able- | bodied men of Sandusky county offered j to volunteer, but the quota for Ohio was i so suddenly filled that they were denied the coveted privilege of serving their country under this first call.

and drill, April 28, 1861. It was subsequently reorganized for three years, and left camp for West Virginia July 8, 1861, the following named officers and companies having been mustered into the service :

Field And Staff

Adjutants - Lieutenant Joseph R. Swigart, transferred to General Kimball's staff; Lieutenant David Lewis, promoted to captain, and Lieutenant John W. DePuy.

The regiment was composed of ten companies: Company A, from Seneca county; Company B, Cleveland; Company C, Crawford county; Company D, Huron county; Company E, Erie county; Companies F and G, Sandusky county;

Company F was organized in Sandusky county. Captain George M. Tillotson died at Fremont, Ohio, March 4, 1863; First Lieutenant Charles M. Fouke, resigned; Second Lieutenant E. W. Cook, resigned ; First Lieutenant Henry Farnum, promoted from sergeant, also promoted to captain, wounded at Gettysburg; Second Lieutenant Thomas H. Thornburgh, promoted from sergeant, wounded at Mine Run.

Company G was organized in Sandusky count). Captain William E. Haynes, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel Tenth Ohio volunteer cavalry; First Lieutenant Edward F. Dickinson, promoted to captain, served as regimental quartermaster (since a member of Forty-first Congress from Ninth Congressional district of Ohio);

The regiment left Camp Dennison for Virginia, July 8, 1861, and served in the campaign against Garnett's force; was present at an attempt on Romney, under i Colonel Cantwell of the Eighty second Ohio, at its capture under General Kelley.

1 It was also engaged in a skirmish at Blue Gap and at Bloomey Gap. During the winter of 1861-62 it formed a part of General Lander's force, on the Upper Potomac, Patterson's Creek, and Paw Paw Tunnel.

In November, 1861, Colonel DePuy and Lieutenant-Colonel Park resigned and Captain S. S. Carroll, of the United States Army, was appointed colonel. Major Sawyer ! was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Captain A. H. Winslow to major. Colonel Carroll was a graduate of West Point, brave, active, and devoted to his profession. During six weeks under his command, at Romney, the regiment attained a high state of proficiency in drill and tac-

In March, 1862, the regiment joined | General Shields' division, in the Valley of the Shenandoah, and took part in the campaign against "Stonewall" Jackson ; and, on the 23d of March, in the battle of Winchester, Colonel Carroll, with part of the regiment, was at one time hotly engaged on the left of the position, losing three men killed, and receiving several balls in his clothing. Colonel Sawyer, with companies C, D, E, and H, was on the right, and charged the enemy in flank, in conjunction with the Fifth and Sixtysecond Ohio. The loss in these four companies in killed and wounded was more than one-fourth the number engaged.

After this battle Colonel Carroll was placed in command of a brigade, and did not again command the regiment, which was, during the balance of its service, in command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sawyer, with brief exception. The regiment was at this time assigned to General Kimball's brigade, consisting of the Fourth and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana, and Seventh Virginia.

Shields' division now moved to Fred ericksburg, and left General Banks to his fate in the valley; and as soon as he had | been driven back into Maryland, Shields marched back to the valley. Kimball's brigade retook Front Royal, the Eighth being in front, and Captain Haynes, of Company G, entered the town, capturing ! most of the force and supplies of the rebels, also capturing the famous Belle Boyd. After Shields' failure at Port Republic he was relieved, and Kimball, with ! his brigade, sent to join McClellan, on the James, where he arrived on the 2d of j July, by steamer, and debarked at Harrison's Landing as McClellan was falling back from Malvern Hill. Immediately, under command of General Ferry, the brigade pushed out for the Chickahominy, constantly skirmishing with the enemy for several days. On the 4th of July the Eighth drove in the enemy's pickets, losing seven men killed and wounded.

The regiment remained at Harrison's Landing until the line of the James River was abandoned, August 16, 1862, when, being organized with French's division, Sumner's corps, then and afterwards known as Second Division, Second Corps, the regiment returned to Yorktown, thence to Newport News, whence, by transports, it arrived at Alexandria; thence marched to Centreville, where the retreating army of Pope was met. Here the corps protected the retreat of the army; supported Kearney at Chantilly, and moved on the left flank, crossing the Potomac at the chain bridge. From this point the corps moved to the Monocacy, having a brisk skirmish, thence to South Mountain, where the corps supported Burnside, and witnessed the battle of the 15th September. The corps crossed the mountain next morning, and took position on the Antietam which it crossed early on the morning of the 17th, and attacked the enemy by divisions in front of Sharpsburg. The First division, under Sedgwick, had been driven back, and our division, under French, was ordered forward, and finally carried an important position at the point of the bayonet. Kimball led his brigade gallantly to the work; not a man faltered, but the position was gained only at a loss of nearly one-half his men. But few over three hundred, rank and file, of the Eighth were present, and its loss in the battle was one hundred and sixty-two killed and wounded. Lieutenants Delany, Lantry, Bill, and Barnes were killed, and Lieutenants Shilletto Smith, company A, and Thompson, company G, each losing an eye, were carried from the field supposed to be dead. Nine other officers were severely wounded. Colonel Sawyer's and Adjutant Lewis' horses were both shot. Lieutenant Dickinson, then acting as quartermaster, was on the field during the day acting as aid-de-camp to General Kimball. The Fourteenth Indiana lost heavily, and in conjunction with the Eighth made a partial change of position under fire. The Seventh Virginia lost heavily also, and Colonel Oakford, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, was killed. This regiment - One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania - replaced the Fourth Ohio, which was at the time in convalescent camp at some distance from the battlefield. General French honored the brigade with the title of "the Gibraltar brigade."

From this place the brigade was pushed rapidly to Harper's Ferry, and thence to Leesburgh, on a tedious and fruitless expedition. From Harper's Ferry the regiment, with the army, marched to Falmouth, and participated in the battle of Frederieksburgh, December 12, 1862. In this battle the Eighth and Fourth Ohio and First Delaware on the left, in command of Colonel Sawyer, formed a sort of forlorn hope, being ordered to drive in the pickets and sharpshooters between the town and Marie's Hill, to cut and level the fences, etc. This was gallantly done, and the position designated taken by the troops, at a point beyond which no organization of troops passed during the terrible battle that followed.

Winter quarters were established at Falmouth. General Kimball having been severely wounded was relieved from command. On the 10th of January, 1863, Colonel Carroll assumed command of the brigade, which he retained until wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, May 12,1864.

The next battle was Chancellorsville. The Eighth regiment, though engaged in line of battle during the 2d, 3d, and 4th days of May, suffered but little, losing but one man killed and six wounded.

Next came the Gettysburg campaign. In this battle the regiment showed conspicuous bravery. Midway between the two armies the turnpike is cut through a ridge, thus forming a good rifle-pit. This the rebels held, and from it their sharpshooters were picking off our officers and men. The Eighth was ordered to take and hold the place. Colonel Sawyer led the charge, mounted, and drove out and captured the rebels in fine style. They were soon reinforced and attempted to retake it, but were driven back with great loss.

This was on the afternoon of July 2d. The loss in the regiment had been severe, but the order was to "hold the fort." At daylight on the morning of the 3d the rebels again made a determined attack, but were repulsed. About noon a tremendous cannonade began, the shot from both armies passing overhead, and two of the men were killed. As soon as the artillery duel had ceased the rebel infantry began to move in force toward the line, the main body moving to our right, but three regiments confronting us. The whole regiment now remaining was drawn up in line and made a desperate charge with the bayonet as the rebel line approached, which broke and ran, leaving half its men and three battle-flags in our hands. One-half the regiment present were killed and wounded. Among the killed were Lieutenant Hayden, company H, Sergeant Kipko, company A, and Sergeant Peters, company G; among the wounded were Lieutenants Farnam and Thornburgh, company F, and Captains Pierce, Miller, Ried and Nickerson. The regiment, with its * corps, followed up the rebels, skirmish- ing continually, to Harper's Ferry, and thence to Culpeper. At this point the regiment was relieved from the front, and sent, with other troops, to New York city, by steamer, to suppress the draft riots. This trip was, to all, a most pleasant episode in army life.

Returning from New York the regiment joined its corps, still at Culpeper. General Lee had turned the right wing of the army and was forcing it back over the path of Pope's retreat of the year before. During the retreat the Eighth was engaged in a severe skirmish at Auburn, and the brisk little battle at Bristow Station. Colonel Carroll's horse was killed, our baggage horses captured, and several men wounded.

Lee now fell back to Mine Run, and Meade, commanding our army, followed. At a skirmish near Robinson's Tavern Colonel Sawyer's horse was killed, and several men killed and wounded.

The army now went into winter quarters. On the 8th of February the Eighth participated in the skirmish at Morton's Ford, crossing the ford with the division under General Alexander Hayes.

On the 3d of May, 1864, the regiment, with its corps, the Second, still commanded by General Hancock, crossed the Rapidan for the final campaign. The corps struck the enemy on the afternoon of the 5th, and the Eighth recaptured a gun just taken from Sedgwick, in which skirmish Lieutenant McKisson was wounded. The next morning the brigade was pushed forward, and the Eighth become hotly engaged in an almost hand to hand fight. Captain Craig, commanding company F, was killed, and Captain Lewis, commanding company G, was danger- 1 ously wounded, his left thigh bone being shot off. Several other losses occurred. Two wounded men fell into the hands of I the rebels, and were carried to Andersonville. Following the enemy to Spottsylvania the Eighth was engaged on the 9th, charging the enemy's works, with the division, which was repulsed. Lieutenant Huysungand Color-bearer James Conlan, were among the severely wounded.

At a little after midnight an the morning of the 1 2th, the Second Corps drew out of its position, and, amid profound darkness, passed noiselessly to the left, with the design of attacking the enemy's right wing. By daylight we were supposed to be in its vicinity. The Eighth Ohio and First Delaware, in command of Colonel Sawyer, were ordered forward to | clear out what appeared to be a few troops ' in an orchard and some negro huts in ! front. This developed the picket line, and the whole corps was soon in motion. The Eighth joined its brigade as it came up, and the whole division, moving forward at a quick-step, came upon a rebel brigade, which surrendered with hardly a shot, and soon received the first volley from the real rebel line.

was soon master of the rebel works. The whole corps suffered fearfully, and the loss in the Eighth was terrible. Lieutenant Manahan, Company D, was killed; the color-bearer, Sergeant Gallagher, mortally wounded, with many others. Colonel Sawyer wras severely wounded, at the time it was supposed mortally; Colonel Coons, Fourteenth Indiana, with other officers of his regiment, were killed; Colonel Lockwood, Seventh Virginia, terribly wounded ; Colonel Davis, Twelfth New Jersey, the captain commanding the First Delaware, and several officers of the Fourth Ohio, all from our little brigade, lay dead around us as the smoke of the battle for a moment cleared away. The enemy soon rallied, and the fight went on. During

Major Winslow now assumed command of the regiment. On the 19th it participated in the battle of the North Anna, crossing the river under fire, and losing several men. On the 26th it was again engaged at Hanover Court House, and on the 31st at Cold Harbor, in which battle the loss in the regiment was twentyfour killed and several wounded.

The regiment was not again seriously engaged, but followed the fortunes of the Second Corps to the front of Petersburg, from which place it was relieved, and returned home, its term of enlistment having expired. It arrived in Cleveland on the morning of the 3d of July, 1864, and was mustered out on the 13th, numbering less than one hundred rank and file fit for duty.

The regiment had been engaged in forty-eight battles and skirmishes. It had never wavered in its duty, never had lost its position in battle, had lost, all told, but six prisoners, and they were wounded and unable to be removed from the field. It had taken four rebel battle flags and twice its own number of prisoners. It had frequently, as a regiment, been commended by commanding generals for its bravery, and was complimented by Governor Brough as one of the best of Ohio's brave regiments.

Non-Commissioned Officers

Charles D. Atkinson, discharged for disability; Zenus Nye, wounded at Antietam; Michael Moore, killed at Gettysburg; Philip Andrews, wounded at Gettysburg; Rudolph Arman; Noah Alspah; John Ashnell; Jonas Bosler, killed at Antietam; William Burton, died September 21, 1872; Bernard Bondeli, discharged; John A. Bonnell, wounded at Winchester, discharged (since has been county treasurer of Wood county, Ohio) ; William W. Crandal, wounded at Antietam; Frank C. Culley, discharged for disability; Anthony C. Culver, discharged for disability; Isaac C. Chamberlain, wounded at Antietam; Vincent Dungheet, wounded at Chancellors ville, May 6, 1863; John B. Davis, discharged for disability; Benjamin D. Evans, discharged for disability; Josiah Fitzgerald; Joseph Fitzgerald; John S.,Fields, killed at Antietam; Matthew Freek, discharged for disability; Theodore Foster, wounded before Richmond; John D. Francis, discharged for disability; Henry Fairbanks, discharged for disability; Thomas W. Gordon, discharged for disability; Charles S. Grant; George Grisshaber, discharged for disability; Charles Guss, discharged for disability; Henry Graback, wounded in battle; Simon Gobble, wounded in battle; John Heller; Morris Hill, wounded at Antietam and discharged; William Jones, promoted to sergeant; Christian Jacobs; Joseph Kihm, discharged for disability; Josiah Linton, discharged for disability; John E. Lemon, died November 21, 1862; Balsar Leblo, wounded at Gettysburg; Emelius J. Leppleman, discharged for disability; Devit C. Lloyd, discharged for disability; John C. Mason, discharged for disability; William McBride; William Mullen, killed at Fredericksburgh, December, 1862; William Miller; George W. Myers, wounded at Winchester; Anthony Magram, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; Sophery Mayram; Jacob H. Milbum; Rufus M. Norton, wounded at Wilderness and Spottsylvania; James Olds, killed at Antietam; Samuel Paden, wounded at Cold Harbor; John Pepfer, discharged; W. S. Palmeter, killed at Antietam ; Eurotus A. Pelton, discharged; Francis B. Reynolds, killed at Antietam; Julius Reynolds, killed at Antietam; James

Richmond, killed at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864; George Saur, wounded at Gettysburg; Martin A. Shrenk, promoted to ordnance sergeant; Eli Stanley, discharged; Emanuel Smith, wounded at Antietam and discharged; John Teel, wounded in Wilderness; Charles Taylor wounded at Fredericksburgh and discharged; William A. Wilson, wounded at Gettysburg; Louis Zimmerman, wounded at Antietam and dischatged; Simon Louis, discharged; Andiew J. Beith; Myron Watts, wounded at Chancellorsville and died; George Meyers, wounded at Winchester and discharged; Joseph Gullant, died at Grafton, Virginia, August 27, 1861; George Douglass, died at Grafton, Virginia, August 31, 1861 ; David A. Lemon, killed at Mine Run, November 27, 1863; John Fisher, wounded at Antietam ; C. Shoemaker, died in Anderson ville prison.

Non-Commissoned Officers

at Antietam; Bartholomew Conner, George W. Crosley, Richard Clark, Tobias M. Edwards, killed at Winchester; Nathaniel G. Foster, wounded at Gettysburg; John Guither, wounded at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg; John Gazin; John M. Hite, wounded at Antietam and discharged; Henry Herman; Eugene A. Hodges, wounded at Gettysburg; Thos. M. Heffner, Peter Heidelman, Adam Innes, Jason J. Jack, John W. James; Professor James, wounded at Antietam; William Jacobs, wounded at Fredericksburg; Matthias Knobble, killed at Fredericksburg; John Keran, killed at Antietam; John M. Roch; Samuel Kepfer, killed at Spottsylvania; Henry Kaettz, John Keefer; Jacob Saemstell, died March 12, 1862, at Cumberland, Maryland; Daniel Sarg, Cornelius Mulachi; Philip Michael, wounded at Antietam and discharged; Samuel Metzker, died at Cumberland, Maryland; Homer Millious, wounded at Gettysburg; James McKeefer, died in Andersonville prison; Anthony Moier, wounded at Antietam and discharged; Austin J. Moore, died at Falmouth, Virginia, April 17, 1863; John Miller, Henry Nahliz, Joseph Orr, Henry Pulaski; John G. Peters, promoted to sergeant, and killed at Gettysburg J uly 3, 1863; George Reinhard, wounded at Antietam and Gettysburg; Francis M. Rivets, wounded at Gettysburg; Patrick Roch, wounded at Antietam ; William Shuher; Jefferson Taylor, died at Grafton, Virginia, September 6, 1861; John M. Vail, Isadore Wentling; Lewis Winegardner, died at Fortress Monroe; Hiram Wing, wounded at Gettysburg and Antietam; John A. Williams, died at Fremont, Ohio, in November, 1862; John Walker, Morris Yates; Absalom Zeducer, wounded at Spottsylvania; Milton Miers, James M. Johnson; Myron Watts, wounded at Chancellorsville; Samuel Nafe.

The Twenty-Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Sandusky contributed a company, or nearly a company, to the Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase in June, 1861, and contained men from various localities in all quarters of the State. On the 29th day of July, 1861, it went into service in West Virginia, and was stationed along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, from Oakland to the Ohio River. While there the regiment paid attention to bushwhackers which infested the vicinity and broke up several gangs of them, to the great. relief of the forces, as well as the loyal inhabitants. The regiment went through a long course of suffering and arduous service. It was in the battles of Cheat Mountain, Greenbriar, Camp Baldwin, Monterey; the engagements and marches in the Shenandoah Valley; in General Pope's campaign along the Rappahannock, in the second battle of Bull Run, at Gettysburg, and a great many battles, and many trying marches.

It re-enlisted on the 15th of January, 1864, and started for home, on veteran furlough, reaching Camp Chase on the 5th of March, 1864. While there, many recruits were added to the regiment, and were organized, and called Company B.

On the 1 6th of February, 1864, the regimental flags, which had passed through twenty battles, and under which eighteen color-bearers had been killed or wounded, were presented to Governor Brough, to be placed in the archives of the State, and the regiment received a beautiful new stand of colors.

It served well in the Carolinas, and, in fact, all through the war; and on the 1 8th of June, 1866, when it held its last parade at Columbus, Ohio, surrendered again its second set of colors to Governor Cox, and was then mustered out, and discharged, having been in active service over five years.

The following are the men of Sandusky county who enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and who are entitled to a share of its glory, and the thanks of the country:

The Forty-Ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry

This regiment, which did such conspicuous service in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion, was organized at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca. It left Camp Noble, near Tiffin, on the 10th of September, 1861, for Camji Dennison, where it received its equipments on the 21st of the same month, and moved for Louisville, Kentucky. The next day it reported to Brigadier General Robert Anderson, then in command at that place, and was the first organized Union regijnent to enter Kentucky, where it met a most cordial re- ception on its arrival at Louisville. Two boats lashed together, conveying the regiment, approached the wharf at Louisville, while the regimental band was playing National airs. Its arrival was a surprise to military headquarters, and as the regiment debarked, the people received them with great enthusiasm. As they marched from the landing, the citizens formed in the rear and marched with them through the principal streets to the headquarters of General Anderson. The General appeared on the balcony of the hotel, and welcomed the regiment in a short address. To this address General Gibson responded, and tradition says that his response was full of that soul-stirring, heart-warming eloquence in behalf of the Union cause for which he is so celebrated wherever he speaks on the great theme of Union and liberty.

A magnificent dinner for the regiment was given at the Louisville hotel by the citizens, and the men of the regiment were magnificently entertained. In the evening of the same day the regiment started from Louisville by railroad for Lebanon Junction, to report to General W. T. Sherman, then at that point. The next morning it crossed the Rolling Fork, wading the river, and marched to Elizabethtown and went into camp at Muldsdraugh's Hill. Here the regiment remained until the 10th of October, when it moved to Nolan Creek, and went into Camp Nevin.

The Forty-ninth regiment was soon after assigned to the Sixth Brigade under command of General R. W. Johnson, of the Second Division of the Army of Ohio. On i the 10th of December, 1861, the Second s Division moved to Mumfordsville, on the Green River, and drove the rebels to the opposite side of the river, and established Camp Wood. On the 17th of December the National pickets from the Thirty-second Indiana Infantry, on the south side of

I Green River, were attacked by Hinman's ! Arkansas Brigade and Terry's Texas Ran- | gers. In sending troops to the relief of j the pickets, the Forty-ninth Ohio was the | first to cross the river, followed by the Thirty-ninth Indiana. The enemy was met and repulsed, Colonel Terry, one of the rebel commanders, being killed.

The regiment remained at Camp Wood perfecting itself in discipline and drill until the 14th of February, 1862, when it left the camp for Bowling Green, Kentucky. It marched thence towards Nashville, Tennessee, which place it reached on the 3d of March, 1862, and established j there Camp Andrew Johnson. From this camp it moved on the 16th of March with Buell's army, to join General Grant's forces at Pittsburg Landing, and arrived there on the 6th of April. Here Colonel Gibson took command of the brigade, leaving the Forty-ninth regiment under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A. M. Blackman. The regiment went into the fight at 1 r o'clock in the morning, occupying the left of the brigade, and next to Crittenden's division. This position was maintained under a terrible fire from the enemy until 4 o'clock in the afternoon, when, with the enemy in full retreat, the regiment stacked arms and lay down to rest. In this battle the regiment twice successfully performed the hazardous feat of changing front under fire.

The Forty-ninth then moved towards Corinth. ' The other portions of the army had some severe fighting at Bredges's Creek, and at other points on the way, and entered Corinth with the army on the 30th of May, 1862. From Corinth it was sent in pursuit of the enemy, passing through Jericho, Iuka, and other points to Tuscumbia, Alabama, and Florence, crossing the river at Florence. Thence it marched to Battle Creek, Tennessee. At this time

Bragg's army was found to be threatening Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, and the Forty ninth was put in pursuit of him. On the march from Battle Creek, Tennessee, the Union forces were urged forward with all the speed the men could endure, and they suffered terribly from exhaustion, intense heat of the weather and from want of water and rations. These sufferings were, however, born with fortitude by the men, and the apprehension that their own Ohio might be invaded by rebels nerved them to most extraordinary endurance and hard marches. The regiment reached Louisville on the 29th of September, where, after a few days rest, the march in pursuit of the enemy was resumed. Moving out on the Frankfort turnpike, through Shelbyville, driving the enemy before them, Frankfort was reached on the 5th of October in time to disperse the rebel troops gathered there to guard the inauguration of Captain Dick Hawes as rebel Governor of Kentucky. The march was resumed on the morning of the 7th of October, under orders to join the main army, the junction being made the day following the battle of Perryville. During the whole of the march from Louisville to Perryville, there was daily skirmishing. At Lawrence and Dog Walk brisk engagements were fought, in each of which the Forty-ninth Ohio was conspicuously engaged, under command of Lieutenant- Colonel Levi Drake. Pursuing the enemy to Crab Orchard the regiment, with its brigade and division, marched to Bowling Green. Thence it marched toward Nashville, and on the 5th of November was with the advance that raised the siege of that city. The regiment then went into camp at Mill Creek, where it remained until the 26th day ! of December. On the 26th of Deceue- ! ber, 1862, General Rosecrans then, in I command of the Army of the Cumberland, commenced his movement on Murfreesboro. The Forty-ninth moved out of Nashville, on Nelsonville turnpike, with the right wing, under Major General Mc- Cook, and after constant skirmishing found itself in line of battle on the extreme right of the Union army before Murfreesboro, on the evening of the 30th of December, 1862. At six o'clock the next morning Kirk's brigade was furiously assaulted by the enemy, and giving way was pressed back on the Forty-ninth, which at once became engaged, and was in its turn borne back by overwhelming numbers to the Nashville turnpike, a distance of a mile and a half from the point of encounter. In this resistance to the rebel forces the Forty-ninth sustained an incessant conflict of nine hours' duration.

The following morning the regiment was sent to reconnoiter on the right and rear of the main army. Returning from this duty, it rejoined its brigade, and that day was more or less engaged, operating on the extreme right of the army, in connection with Stanley's cavalry. On Friday, January 2, it occupied a position in reserve to the centre until late in the afternoon, when, upon the repulse of Van Cleve's division on the left, it was ordered, with its brigade, to retrieve the fortunes^ of the day on that part of the field. It joined in a magnificent bayonet charge, which resulted in recovering the lost ground, and a severe defeat of the enemy.

The Forty-ninth went into this battle with the entire field and staff officers present. At its close it was under command of junior Captain S. F. Gray. The capture of General Willich placed Colonel Gibson, of the Forty-ninth, in command of the brigade. Lieutenant Colonel Drake was killed while bravely cheering on his men. Major Porter was wounded, and all the senior captains present were either killed or wounded. It should be noted here that, before this battle, Captain J. R. Bartlett had been promoted to the office of major, and was not in the immediate command of Company F, but served during the fight.

For a time after this battle the Fortyninth was engaged in various foraging expeditions, wherein it had frequent encounters with the enemy, and lost a number of men.

From Murfreesboro, the regiment marched, on the 24th of June, 1863, and found the enemy strongly posted at Liberty Gap, to dispute the further advance of the Union forces. The Forty-ninth was attached to the First brigade, which was at once formed in line of battle, and, after some hard fighting, the Forty-ninth assaulted the enemy's works on a high hill, advanced upon him, scaled the heights in the face of severe fire, and drove the enemy from that position, and compelled him to fall back upon another equally strong position about a mile in the rear.

On the following day the National forces attacked the enemy again in the new position. The Forty-ninth was brought into action about 3 o'clock p. m., after other troops had been engaged several hours. The regiment was selected to attack the enemy's centre, which rested in a valley, while the flanks rested upon the hill, on both sides. Here the Forty-ninth adopted a new method of attack, which had then lately been introduced, by the formation of four ranks, and to advance while firing. This method of attack proved efficient in this case, and the enemy's centre was soon broken, and the position occupied by the Union army. Without further fighting, the brigade, with the Forth-ninth, reached Tullahoma July 1, and the regiment then went into camp.

the Forty-ninth did great service, and displayed the fighting qualities of veterans. It made a charge on the right of the enemy, drove him out of a dense wood, and captured two pieces of artillery.

The next day the Forty-ninth was constantly engaged in various parts of the field, and accomplished a brilliant exploit in connection with Goodspeed's Battery, the Fifteenth Ohio, and other troops, which, it is claimed, saved Thomas' Corps from being swept from the field.

In the battle of Mission Ridge the Forty-ninth shone with conspicuous gallantry, and was amongst the first to plant its colors on the summit of the ridge. It next moved with Granger's Corps to the relief of Burnside's forces at Knoxville. This march was of the most severely trying nature upon the troops. The weather wras intensely cold, and snow was on the ground. The men were almost naked, and without shoes, and the rations were exhausted. Like the march from Valley Forge in the Revolutionary War, the army could be tracked by the bloody foot marks of the indomitable patriots who went out to save the Union. And yet these brave men did not complain, but were eager to be led against the foes of their country who were also the foes of liberty. At Strawberry Plain they heard that Burnside had repulsed Longstreet, and as he was no longer in need of relief the National troops returned to Chattanooga. At the heel of all this suffering, the men of the Forty-ninth were called upon the re-enlist for the war. To this call a prompt response was given in the affirmative. The regiment returned to Ohio to enjoy its veteran furlough of thirty days. At Tiffin, its place of organization, the regiment was received with every possible manifestation of respect and honor. Judge John K. Hord, now of the Cleveland Bar, but formerly a citizen of Tiffin,

Thirty days, oh ! how brief to the soldier who returns after three years' absence, to see his father, mother, wife, children and friends, and meantime hear the plaudits, and enjoy the feastings and manifestations of honor from a grateful people, for whom he has encountered danger and toiled and suffered. Still true to country, with the instinctive patriotism of the Union soldier, the Forty-ninth in due time reported at the headquarters of the Fourth Army Corps at Cleveland, Tennessee.

At this time the National forces were concentrating and reorganizing at Cleveland, Tennessee, and making all things ready for the campaign against Atlanta, Georgia. Here the Forty-ninth was incorporated into the Fourth Army Corps, and the history of that corps is the history of the Forty-ninth regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment participated in the engagements at Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River, and Atlanta, suffering severely in the loss of men killed and wounded in all these battles. The regiment pushed on with the army beyond Atlanta, and participated in the battles at Jonesborough, and at Lovejoy's Station, and after abandoning the pursuit of the enemy, returned to camp at Atlanta. The Forty-ninth from this time was assigned with the Army of the Cumberland to the command of General Thomas who was left to look after the rebel forces under General Hood, who was moving toward Nashville.

In the movements of Thomas' forces the Forty-ninth Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Strong, fully sustained its reputation for bravery and military skill, and bore a prominent part in many skirmishes and displayed great courage and efficiency in the battles of Franklin i and Nashville. The battle of Nashville ! occurred in December, 1864, and on the 15th and 16th of that month the regiment made several brilliant charges and suffered severely in killed and wounded.

After this battle* and after returning from the pursuit of Hood's army, the regiment went into camp at Huntsville, Alabama, where it remained until the middle of March, 1865. It then moved by rail into East Tennessee and went into camp at Greenville. On its return from the expedition to Nashville the regiment was, on the 16th of June, 1864, taken by transports to Texas, by way of New Orleans. Reaching Texas in July, the regiment landed at Victoria, and moved to the interior as far as San Antonio, passing by way of Green Lake and Gonzales. After suffering great hardships in this service for four months the regiment returned to Victoria, where it was mustered out of service on the 30th day of November, 1865.

The whole number of names on the rolls of the regiment was fifteen hundred and fifty-two. Nineteen were born in Europe, seven hundred and sixty in Ohio, of whom four hundred and forty were from Seneca county. Eight officers were killed in battle, and twenty wounded (six of them mortally). Of the privates, one hundred and twenty-seven were killed in battle, seventy-one were mortally wounded, one hundred and sixty-five died from hardships or disease, and seven perished in rebel prisons at Andersonville and Danville. Six hundred and sixteen were discharged on account of wounds or other disability, five survived with the loss of an arm, and two with the loss of a leg. The killed and mortally wounded of the enlisted men were as one to seven and I four-fifths, and the entire deaths as one to five and one-sixth. The men of the regiment suffered nine hundred and forty-two gunshot wounds. During two-thirds of his term of service, Colonel Gibson commanded a brigade by virtue of his rank.

Although the Forty-ninth Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer infantry, engaged in the war for the suppression of the Southern Rebellion, was organized in the adjoining county of Seneca, and drew largely and chiefly from the patriotic and able-bodied citizens of that county, Sandusky county, in her exuberance of patriotism, contributed a company to the regiment, consisting of some of her best and bravest men. The history of Company F cannot be fully and fairly written without giving an account of its organization, marches, battles, victories, achievements, sufferings and losses of the regiment, of which it formed an important part.

We would here acknowledge that for many of the facts regarding this regiment we are indebted to Colonel J. R. Bartlett, also to Ohio in the War, by Whitelaw Reid, as well as from records kindly submitted for inspection by the Adjutant- General of Ohio.

Incidents And Personal Mention

The following incident, which occurred in the battle of Shiloh, in front of the Forty-ninth regiment, illustrates the appreciation which true soldiers entertain for bravery and desperate daring, when displayed by an enemy. The Forty-ninth made a dashing and sudden charge on the enemy in front of it, and drove them with great precipitation from their position. So sudden was the onset and the retreat, that the rebels forgot their colors, leaving them standing on the ground from which they retired. A storm of bullets were flying after the retreating foe, when the enemy discovered their forsaken flag, then but a little way in advance of the Forty-ninth. Suddenly a rebel on a white horse was seen to leave the ranks, coming at full speed back to the flag. As soon as the men of the Forty-ninth realized the object of the desperate attempt to rescue the flag, struck by the bravery and daring of the act, and recognizing his qualities as a soldier devoted to his colors, they instinctively ceased firing and spared the life of the brave fellow while he took the flag and carried it back to his command, without harm. Had they not ceased firing as they did, the man would have been cut to pieces by their volleys.

Organization Of Company F.

Captain Joseph R. Bartlett began recruiting, or rather enlisting men for Company F, in July, 1861. After obtaining about forty men recruiting became dull and it seemed impossible to obtain a full company in any reasonable time. Charles A. Norton had assisted actively so far in procuring men, and expected to be first lieutenant of the company. Meantime Timothy H. Wilcox had enlisted about forty men to form a company of Home Guards, who were willing to join Captain Bartlett's company, and go into the service, on condition that Mr. Wilcox should have the position of first lieutenant. Mr. Norton generously gave way to Mr. Wilcox, and the men enlisted by the latter entered, and this, with little further effort, soon completed the company, and it went to Camp Noble, near Tiffin, Seneca county, for equipment and drill.

The generosity of Mr. Norton soon met with reward in his appointment to the office of adjutant of the regiment, in which capacity he proved a good soldier and efficient officer during the service.

About the middle of November, 1862, Captain Bartlett's soldierly qualities attracted the attention of General I. W. Sill, who appointed him Inspector-General of the Second Division of the Army of the Cumberland, of which General Sill was then in command. In December, 1862, General Sill was assigned to another command, and on leaving the division addressed to Inspector Bartlett the following complimentary and friendly letter:

Sir: In parting with you I beg to express my thanks for the zeal and fidelity with which you have performed your duties, and to assure you that if associated in future it will be a souce of much gratification, as it is now a source of regret, that I am obliged to separate from you. Whatever be your coutse hereafter, I doubt not it will be creditable in the highest degree, and I tender you my best wishes for your success and promotion.

General R. W. Johnson then took command of the division, and continued Captain Bartlett in the same position on his staff that he had held under General Sill, and, until after the battle of Liberty Gap, he acted as chief of staff and Adjutant- General of the division, in addition to the duties of Inspector-General. Captain Bartlett has numerous testimonials of faithful service, and also recommendations for promotion. Amongst these are found commendations and recommendations from Colonel Keufler, commanding Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps ; Major-General D. S. Stanley, commanding Fourth Army Corps; Major- General O. O. Howard, formerly commander of the same corps; Brigadier- General Thomas J. Wood, commander Third Division, same corps; also Colonel William H. Gibson, afterwards Brigadier- General commanding First Brigade, Third Division.

The Fifty-Fifth Regiment Of Ohio Volunteer Infantry

This regiment went into camp at Norwalk, Ohio, on the 17th of October, 1861. On the 25th of January, 1862, it left Norwalk for Grafton, West Virginia, and after a short stay there it moved to New Creek. It moved by hard marches thence through Romney to Moorefield, where it participated in some skirmishing. It was raised chiefly by the exertions of Colonel John C. Lee, who afterwards became Lieutenant Governor of Ohio. Colonel Lee resigned May 8, 1863, and the command of I the regiment devolved on Lieutenant Colo- nel Charles Gambee, of Bellevue. Colonel Gambee was killed at the battle of Resaca, on the 15th of May, 1864. On the 1st of January, 1864, three hundred and nineteen of the men of the Fifty-fifth had re-enlisted and returned to Ohio, arriving at Norwalk on the 20th of the same 1 month. On the 4th of March, 1864, it j was again encamped in Lookout Valley, j It marched through Atlanta with the Twentieth Army Corps, toward the sea ! coast, and entered Savannah, Georgia, on : the 2 1st of December and camped near j that city. After much hard service and j suffering, having passed through Goldsboro and Raleigh, on the 30th of April, 1865, it commenced its march to Washington, reaching Richmond on the nth of May, and on the 18th camped in the vicinity ot Alexandria. On the 24th of May, 1865, ^ crossed the long bridge and participated in the grand review and went into camp near Washington. On the nth ot July, 1865, the Fifty-fifth was mustered out of service, was paid off at Cleveland, Ohio, and discharged on the 19th day of July, 1865.

The fighting qualities of this regiment are displayed in a brief statement. During its term of service it enrolled one thousand three hundred and fifty men, and of these about seven hundred and fifty were either killed or wounded in battle.

A number of good men for this regiment were recruited in Sandusky county in the vicinity of Bellevue. The memoranda furnished the writer gives the names of men of certain companies of the regiment, but does not designate those of Sandusky county from those enlisted from other counties. We therefore give the list as furnished, as the time allowed the writer to finish his work will not permit of further search or investigation into the places of enlistment.

Fifty-Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

The Fifty-seventh regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp Vance, near Findlay, in Hancock county, Ohio, under authority of Governor Dennison, given September 14, 1861. Before its organization was completed the regiment, on the 22d of January, 1862, moved to Camp Chase, where its organization was completed, on February 10, 1862. It numbered, when mustered in, nine hundred and fifty six men, and thirty-eight commissioned officers.

Sandusky county furnished a number of men for different companies of the Fiftyseventh, whose services cannot be properly known and appreciated without a brief sketch of the services of the whole regiment.

On the 1 8th of February, 1862, the Fifty-seventh was ordered to report at Fort Donelson, On its way, and while at Smithland, Kentucky, the order was changed, and it consequently reported at Paducah, Kentucky. Here it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Fifth Division of the Army of the Tennessee. Thence it was moved, by the steamer Continental^ to Fort Henry, arriving there on the 9th of March, 1862. From Fort Henry it moved to Savannah, Tennessee, arriving there on the 11th of March. After participating in an ineffectual attempt to strike the Memphis and Charleston railroad at Iuka, Mississippi, they returned and went to Pittsburg Landing, where they arrived on the 16th of March. Here the Fifth Division was employed in reconnoitering towards Pea Ridge, and also towards Corinth. On the 19th it went into camp at Shiloh Chapel, three miles south of the Landing. On the 1st of April the regiment in company with other troops and two gunboats, went to Eastport, Mississippi, about thirty miles from the Landing. The Fifty-seventh was on the foremost transport. The boats shelled the woods and towns along the way, but elicited no reply. Passing up as far as Chickasaw, Alabama, they there shelled the town and the rebel works, but the enemy had left, and the Fifty-seventh was ordered to debark and scout the surrounding hills and villages. In this scouting the regiment captured a few prisoners, men and boys, and then returned to camp.

So much had the regiment suffered from sickness, that on the morning of the 6th of April there were but four hundred and fifty men for duty. Being posted with the right resting on the Corinth road immediately south of the church, it was among the first to meet the advance of the rebel forces. About six o'clock a. m., of the 6th of April, 1862, the Fiftyseventh formed and advanced until it reached the little eminence upon which Shiloh church stood. It held this position until ten o'clock, and successfully withstood the attack of the Mississippi Rifles, Crescent Guards from New Orleans, and the Fourteenth Tennessee, from Memphis. It was then ordered to fall back upon the Purdy and Hamburg road, which it did in good order. The Union line was pressed back three-quarters of a mile further. In three days fighting in and around Shiloh, the Fifty-seventh lost twenty-seven killed and one hundred and fifty were wounded (sixteen mortally), and ten captured. The regimefit remained in camp at Shiloh Church until the 29th of April, and was engaged in drilling and preparing for the coming campaign. On the 29th the regiment started for Corinth, and did good service until the rebels evacuated that place. It did good fighting at camps Six and Seven, and at the Russell House was warmly engaged. While advancing on Corinth the Fifty-seventh was assigned to the First brigade of the Fifth division. After various services in repairing roads and guarding bridges, the regiment, on the 1 2th of November, was assigned to the First brigade of the First division of the Fifteenth Army Corps. During the stay at Memphis the regiment was drilled thoroughly in the skirmish drill and bayonet exercise.

The Fifty-seventh was part of a considerable force sent against General Price on the Tallahatchee River near Wyatt, in Mississippi, which place it reached on the 2d of December, and finding the place evacuated the march was continued towards Grenada.

On the 9th of December the Fifteenth Corps returned to Memphis, where it arrived on the 13th. Here the Fifty-seventh was strengthened by receiving one hundred and eighteen volunteers and two hundred and five drafted men, which made the aggregate force six hundred and fifty men. Thence the regiment next moved, with the Fifteenth Army Corps, down the Mississippi, and reached Young's Point on the 26th of December. The corps next moved up the Yazoo River and disembarked at Sidney Johnson's plantation; marched thence to Chickasaw Bayou, where the corps, in trying to effect a crossing, was for five days engaged with the enemy. In this action the Fifty-seventh lost thirty-seven killed and wounded.

moved down the Yazoo to the Mississippi, and up the Mississippi to White River, and up the latter river to the cut-off, and through the cut-off into the Arkansas, and up the Arkansas to Arkansas Post, disembarking there on the 10th of January, 1863.

The Fifty-seventh led the brigade in the charge and assault of Fort Henderson} where, after three days hard fighting, the enemy surrendered. In this action the regiment lost in killed and wounded, thirty-seven men. The regiment then moved back towards Vicksburg, disembarking at Young's Point on the 21st of January, 1863, and went to work on the canal. The regiment advanced upon Vicksburg, participating in the battles of Raymond, Champion Hill, and Black River, and reached the works around Vicksburg on the 18th of May, and participated in the general assault on the 19th, and after considerable hard fighting, was within seventy yards of the rebel line when, at 2 o'clock of the morning of the 20th, the entire brigade was withdrawn to a position three hundred yards in the rear of the line of fortifications. Excepting a short time spent in reconnoitering between the Big Black and Yazoo Rivers, the regiment was in service in the trenches or on picket duty, until the sur^ render of Vicksburg.

After much hard service, on the 1st of January, 1864, it re-enlisted in the Fifteenth Army Corps. After spending a furlough of thirty days at home among friends, the regiment rendezvoused at Camp Chase with two hundred and seven recruits. On the 29th of March, 1864, it arrived at Nashville, and was there detained until the 4th of April when it marched to Larkinsville, Alabama, where, on the 17th of April, it rejoined its brigade. On the 1 st of May it moved with the corps in the Atlanta campaign, arriving in the vicinity of Chattanooga on the 6th, and advanced through Snake Creek Gap to Resaca, where it participated in the battle at that place, on the 13th and 14th of May, 1864. This was one ot the most severe contests in which the regiment was engaged, and its loss was fiftyseven killed and wounded. It joined in the pursuit of the enemy, who made stand at Dallas, where fighting continued for three days. The regiment here lost fifteen men. After several days skirmishing, the regiment, on the 27th of June, participated in an assault on the enemy's lines at Kenesaw. In this engagement it lost fifty-seven men in killed and wounded.

From Atlanta the regiment was with Sherman's army, doing good service and enduring much hardship, until it reached Richmond by way of Petersburg. Thence it passed to Washington city and was in the grand review there on the 24th of May, 1865; was ordered thence to Louisville, Kentucky, where it arrived on the 7th of June. On the 14th of June it was mustered out and paid at Camp Chase and finally discharged from the service.

When the Fifty-seventh was first organized the regimental officers were : Colonel William Mungen, Lieutenant Colonel William Mungen, Major Silas B. Walker, Surgeon John P. Haggett. There were many promotions and changes in rank and date of rank of these officers which are here omitted.

The following list shows the men of Sandusky county who volunteered and served with the Fifty-seventh regiment and the companies to which they belonged.

Volunteer Infantry

Although Sandusky county had furnished quite liberally of her brave and patriotic men to the Eighth, the Twentyfifth, Forty-ninth, and Fifty-seventh regiments of volunteer infantry, all of which were organized in other counties, and also to the naval, artillery and cavalry service, and although these different organizations attracted those most ready and eager to go, there remained in the county many patriotic men whose business, family ties, or some particular temporary reasons held them back. But as the progress of events developed the dangers which environed the Nation and threatened more alarmingly the existence of the Union, it became evident that another appeal must be made to the men of the county, and more sacrifices offered to save the country's flag from disgrace and to rescue the Constitution from the hands of traitors. These grave apprehensions for the Nation's existence brought out that state of feeling which induced the organization of the

Seventy-Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry

The first formal public notice of such an undertaking appeared in the Fremont Journal of October 4, 1861. It was an editorial mention that Hon. R. P. Buckland, of Fremont, had received orders from Governor Dennison, dated October 2, 1861, to raise regiment number seventy-two, and establish Camp Croghan in Fremont, of which he had been commissioned Lieutenant - Colonel. Isaac M. Keeler, then editor of the Journal, made an appeal to the people to come forward and help to fill and organize the proposed regiment, and send it forward promptly to sustain the Constitution and the Union.

The next issue of the paper, October 11, 1861, contained a call over the signature of Colonel Buckland. He reminded the men of Sandusky county that Kentuckians fought for us at Fort Stephenson, and that Kentucky was now appealing for help from us to drive back the invading enemies of the Constitution and of liberty; of the obligations we owed them and to the cause of constitutional liberty, and urged men to enlist and fill up the regiment as soon as possible, and march to the aid of brothers and fathers who had preceded them to the scenes of conflict and danger, and assist in rescuing them from impending danger and destruction.

On the 6th of December it was announced through the press that recruiting for the Seventy-second was progressing satisfactorily. At that date company A, Captain C. G. Eaton, of Clyde, Ohio, had eighty-four men ; company B, - Captain George Raymond, First Lieutenant Henry

W. Buckland, Second Lieutenant William T. Fisher - had eighty-three men; company F, - Captain S. A. J. Snyder, First Lieutenant Jacob Snyder, Second Lieutenant Daniel Huffman - had eighty-four men ; that two hundred Enfield rifles for the flanking companies, A and B, had been received at camp.

On the 19th of December, 1861, the citizens of Fremont presented Colonel R. P. Buckland with a beautiful and trusty sword, which he still retains and treasures with great care.

On the 20th of December, 1861, the citizens of Clyde presented a sword to Captain C. G. Eaton, with an appropriate address, to which Captain Eaton responded in a short address, full of patriotism and eliciting hearty applause.

On Friday, the 17th day of January, 1862, it was announced that the Seventysecond regiment was full and formed, and that the captains and lieutenants were as follows :

Regimental Color Presentation

On Friday, January 17, 1862, it was announced that the next day, Saturday the 1 8th, would be a lively day at Camp Croghan. A picnic for the soldiers had been prepared by the ladies of Fremont and vicinity, to be served out to them at 12 o'clock of that day? There was also notice that on the same day at 2 o'clock p. m., a beautiful regimental color, worked by the ladies, would be presented to the regiment by Homer Everett, on behalf of the ladies, and to Captain Weigstein's company (German) through the Rev. Henry Lang, a beautiful National silk flag, thus completing the stand of colors for the regiment.

The picnic and flag presentation took place according to announcement, and the following extracts from the Sandusky County Democrat, published on Friday, the 24th day of January, 1862, will show what was done and the manner of the ceremonies on that occasion. These extracts will also awaken in the minds of the surviving soldiers of the Seventy-second regiment, and of the men and women who participated in the ceremonies, many pleasing and many sad thoughts of persons and events connected with the regiment and the men who went out with it.

Presentation Of Colors To The Seventy-Second Regiment

The presentation of a stand of colors to the Seventy-second Regiment took place at Camp Croghan on Saturday last, and was witnessed by a large number of citizens from town and country. The day was very favorable, and the occasion was one of deep and heart-felt interest to all, but more especially to the soldiers, their families, sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers, and sweethearts, who there greeted each other with words of counsel, encouragement, and affection, while their hearts were stirred by those feelings and anxieties which none but they can know.

Through the enterprising liberality of the ladies of Fremont, a picnic dinner was served up at 12 o'clock, of which the soldiers partook with a hearty relish. They will never forget the kindness of the ladies, as evinced in this as well as other acts intended to promote their comfort.

After dinner, the chaplain of the regiment, Rev. Mr. Poe, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Bushnell, Lang» and Phelps, distributed to each officer and private in the regiment, a copy of the Testament and Psalms.

Prayer was then offered by Rev. Mr. Bushnell. Homer Everett, Esq., on behalf of the ladies, then presented the regimental flag - a splendid one - prefacing the presentation by the following address, for

Mr. Everett'S Address

"Colonel Buckland The ladies of Fremont have observed your untiring energy and labor, and your exertions in enlisting and organizing the Seventy-second regiment - the Fort Stephenson regiment. They are always patriotic, always quick to observe merit ; and they have observed, sir, how you have proved yourself willing to give up, for a time at least, the enjoyments of an ample competence, a pleasant home, a dear family, and all the enjoyments of social life amongst us, and exchange them for the labors, the trials, and the dangers of a command like yours. They have observed, sir, how, when our county had sent to the service Captains Tillotson, Haynes, Crowell, Bartlett, and Amsden, furnished with men for the service, and had furnished many to other commands to fight the battles of this country, that when more help was called for, you came forward, and by the exertion of your widely extended personal influence, your personal efforts, your zeal, your stirring appeal to the hearts and patriotism of the people, which touched in them a deeper chord than had been touched before, you impelled them to come forward and enroll themselves under your command, and they have observed that, under difficulties which would have prevented others from succeeding, by your perseverance the Seventy-second regiment is formed, and now ready for the field of action. Observing all these merits in you, they have determined to give proof of their appreciation and approval of these virtues, and to that end they have determined to present you with such proof as may be ever present to you and your command, reminding you, and stimulating you to high and noble action; and, sir, as a means of this expression on their part, have bid me present to you this beautiful regimental ban ner.

" You will see, sir, upon its azure field, that beautiful, rich likeness of the soaring eagle, and that motto, The Seventy-second, Fort Stephenson regiment;' and, sir, it is an apt and beautiful inscription. Let the one be ever suggestive to you and to the noble men under your command, of fearless and lofty sentiments; while the other, by its historic recollections and associations, will inspire you to emulate, in deeds of valor and daring, the cherished hero of Fort Stephenson. Sir, the ladies, in presenting this to you, would have me say : * Men of the Seventy-second regiment, of Fort Stephenson, officers, privates, and all : The ladies of Fremont have not been inattentive to your merits. They know well that every one of you has sacrificed much and will suffer much in the cause of our country ; and they wish me to assure you, each and all, that these sacrifices, these labors on the altar of the country, are seen and appreciated by them, and will be remem ed, too.'

"Colonel Buckland, in your regiment are those of extended relations amongst us. Fathers and brothers, sisters, wives, and lovers, who refused and could not consent that their dear ones should go forward under any other commander, relying upon your justice, your courage, your kindness, and your reputation for all the qualities that fit you for the command, have consented that under you they may go and fight for the restoration of the Government that our fathers gave us, over the rebellious territory.

"Sir, what higher expression of approbation of your character could we give ? What greater responsibility, sir, could you receive? Your regiment, sir, is composed of those who, by the ties of kindred, acquaintance - father, brother, sister, wife - extends to every heart and hearthstone throughout our county. Not only so, but many of the other counties adjoining, and in distant portions of the State. More than this, your regiment embraces men who have come from Germany, from France, from Ireland, and perhaps from other foreign lands, whose connections and sympathies stretch across the wide Atlantic itself. And, sir, the happiness of all this connection, by this voluntary act on the part of our people, is, for a great measure, committed to your hands; and these sympathies and sentiments on the part of the ladies, permit me to assure you, are entertained by all the people as far as the Seventy-second regiment is known.

" Take, then, that beautiful banner; and the ladies bid me say that it is presented to you and to all the members of the Seventy-second regiment; and when you go hence, if it shall be your fortune to do service, remember that the sympathies of all this people will follow you, and let that banner always be speaking to you of their happiness and your responsibilities. Let it be a beacon light, an assurance of the affection, respect, and confidence of the people who have given all these dear ones into your hands with such implicit confidence and trust. And when you are brought upon the soil of the enemies of this Government, whether upon the march, or in camp, or in the front of battle, remember, whenever that banner is unfurled, that the cords of affection in your regiment reach back to us; and that every heart in Sandusky county will thrill with the fortune of the Seventy-second regiment; and if it be its fate to be injured and to fall, every household in Sandusky county will shed a tear over its loss.

" Colonel Buckland, take this banner, and remember that the prayers of this extended connection will follow you through every trial, every day and every moment while you are in the service of the country, for your own welfare, and the welfare, safety, and honor of the Seventy-second, Fort Stephenson Regiment.''

"Colonel Buckland: It has fallen to my lot to present you this day, this standard, bearing the National colors. It was in the first instance the gift of the German ladies of Fremont to the German company of your regiment. In behalf of those ladies, and also of that German company, I bequeath it to you and your regiment, the noble band of patriots whom you have gathered around you to assist in fighting the battles of your country. You will perceive, sir, that it is a true pattern of the old noble ensign of '76; and I believe that the patriotism of those who bequeath it, as well as those who receive it, is of the old stamp of '76. The German company of your regiment, Colonel, will take care that j not a leaf of the laurels of the German revolutionary heroes shall be disgraced by their cowardice, their treachery, or their want of bravery. I am proud, sir, of my German countrymen, who have, al lover j the land, rushed to the rescue. You will remember I Sigel, Blencker, Willich, and other noble German patriots. You will expect bravery from this company as well as from the rest of your regiment, and be assured, sir, you may depend upon them as long as you lead them to battle for the Constitution and the Union. The officers of the German company of your regiment have seen severe military service in Mexico. They have smelt Southern powder once before, and they are going to try it again. They will stand by your side in every contest. Give them an opportunity, sir, and they will show themselves worthy of your trust.

"Accept then, this Star Spangled Banner; bear it on to victory and triumph; and be assured, sir, that my prayers and the prayers of this whole community shall follow you to the field of danger and honor; and, if called into actual service, see to it that not one star of this glorious constellation shall fall under the feet of those that have forgotten that they who take the sword shall perish with the sword. May you return with this flag after glorious deeds of mill itary honor, and may history inscribe upon its broad stripes: 'The Ohio Seventy-second was as true as the patriots of '76.' God speed you, sir, and let this be the war cry in your regiment: 'The sword of God and our country.''

Colonel Buckland S Response

" I tender my heartfelt thanks to you, the noble donors of these flags, and also the thanks of the Seventy-second regiment, which I have the honor to represent; and I know that I express not only my own feeling, but the feelings of the officers and men under my command, when I say to you that, so far as bravery and courage will do it, we have pledged ourselves here to-day to sustain the honor of the flags which you have done us the honor to present to us.

I heartily concur in the remarks made by my friend, Lang, in behalf of my German fellow-soldiers. It is true that incidents are recorded everywhere in the history of this country, in every war, proving that the Germans have been among the bravest, most loyal, and patriotic of our countrymen. They were such during the Revolution, and in the present war we have a Sigel, a Blencker, and a host of German patriots; and wherever the fight has been the hottest, there have been our German fellow-countrymen; - . and nobly have they sustained the German character by their courage and patriotism. They are friends of liberty the world over, and when they are fighting under the stars and stripes, they are fighting under the emblem of liberty known wherever civilization has made any headway. They are here now, and we rely upon those in our regiment, as well as in others, to help sustain the honor of the regiment and the honor of the colors you have this day presented to us. I am well aware of the great responsibility I myself have assumed as colonel of this regiment; and I feel that I am not competent to the task; not so well qualified for the position as I wish I were. But all I can say in leply to that is, that I consented to supply that place, and that I will devote all my energies and abilities, whatever they may be, to advance the interests, the comforts, and the glories of the Seventy-second regiment. It is perhaps the greatest undertaking of my life, and I have pledged myself and my all to sustain the honor of this regiment. More than this I cannot do. I know it is one thing to propose what we will do, and another thing to accomplish that promise when the day of trial comes; and it would be useless for me to detain you here to-day with any promises. All I have to say is, look to these praying men who are surrounding me, and ask yourselves if you have any fears of the result. I say no! you cannot. I believe, yes I have full confidence, that we shall some day return marching under these glorious banners; and when you come to examine them you will not find anywhere on them a single stain of dishonor. However much they'may be shattered and torn, they will be untarnised so far as honor is concerned. If I shall be mistaken, then I shall consider that my efforts have been in vain; but I have no fears, so far as the officers and men under me are concerned. When tney bear in mind by whose influence these banners have been conferred to-day, they will be prompted to deeds of bravery, and the presence of these flags will have an influence on every act and every duty which shall be performed by the Seventy-second regiment. Whenever they go into the battlefield and behold these banners, the glorious stars and stripes under which our fathers gained their independence, and under which our men are now in the field fighting for the honor and glory of this country - I say whenever they go into battle under these banners, they will go in with a shout, remembering the beautiful donors, and be encouraged to acts of hetoism by the recollection that they are fighting not only for themselves and the regiment, but for the honor of the ladies who have presented these banners to them. Therefore, ladies, I say I have no fear but that when these banners are returned to you, which I hope they will be, they will be returned covered .with honor, and that there will be no spot of dishonor anywhere within their folds.

1 ' Mr. Everett has referred particularly to the part I have taken in getting up this regiment. I wish in reply to that barely to remark that I owe very much to the officers and men who have taken hold with me and worked so faithfully and energetically in this cause. I do not wish to assume to myself the whole honor of getting up the Seventy-second regiment; it does not belong to me. I only say I have done what I could, and I will give honor to those who have done what they could. We have raised a regiment where it was thought none could be raised. It has been well remarked that many of these men have left families and kindred at home. They have made greater sacrifices than I have made. Some can not well leave their families; and I wish now on this occasion to ask you to look well to the families of the men who have assembled here to do battle for our country and for your benefit. In our absence let them not suffer for want of the necessaries of life. I will not detain you longer, but will return you the heartfelt thanks of the whole regiment for these beautiful flags.

"And now, fellow soldiers! Attention battalion j I propose that the whole battalion give the donors three hearty cheers. " (Cheers by the regiment.)

In the afternoon of Friday, the 24th of January, 1862, the Seventy- second left Camp Croghan, and travelled by railroad to Clyde, Ohio, and thence by the same conveyance to Camp Chase.

The soldiers were apparently in good spirits and cheerful. But the very heart- | strings of social life and love throughout ! the county quivered with suppressed an- | guish while the men cheered, and the women waved them on to duty. The | Infinite God alone can ever know and ; measure the secret anguish that found i relief in tears shed in secret, and the ] inarticulate prayers which followed the | march of the brave boys of the regiment, as they took their departure for three years to expose their lives to all the chances of war.

were formed almost entirely ot citizens of Sandusky county; company G, with a small portion of companies H and A, were recruited in Erie county, and company K was mostly recruited in Medina county, while a few men in companies C and E were of Wood county, Ohio.

As the regiment did not, when it left Fremont, contain the maximum number of men, company K was broken up, and distributed among the other companies, and the officers of that company discharged. A company originally recruited for the Fifty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was assigned to the Seventy-second at Camp Chase, and denominated company K, which made the regiment full.

*The regiment was fully equipped in February, and was ordered to report to General Sherman at Paducah. Here it was assigned to a brigade composed of the Forty-eighth, Seventieth, and Seventysecond Ohio regiments, and Colonel Buckland placed in command. The Seventysecond proceeded with Sherman's division to Fort Henry on the steamer Baltic, by way of the Tennessee River. This movement was early in March, 1862. From Fort Henry the main army proceeded to Savannah, but Sherman's division was ordered up to Eastport, Mississippi, for the purpose of cutting the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, and thus prevent General J. S. Johnson from reinforcing Beauregard. Heavy rains and consequent high water defeated the plan, and after a detention of sixteen days on board of the boats Buckland's brigade disembarked at Pitts, burg Landing, and encamped near Shiloh Church.

greatly in health, and the Seventy-second was weakened and greatly reduced in numbers. On the 3d of April Buckland's brigade was engaged in a reconnoissance, in which the Seventy-second met the rebel pickets, and exchanged shots. On the next day (the 4th of April) companies B and H were ordered to reconnoiter the front of the picket line. These companies became - separately engaged, and Major Crockett and two or three men of company H were captured, and several were wounded. Company B was surrounded, but it fought for an hour against great odds, and was saved by the fortunate arrival of companies A, D and F, which were sent forward to their relief. Company B lost four men wounded.

All this time the rebels were massing near Shiloh, and preparing to sweep away ; the Union forces there, by an unexpected attack in force. But General Buckland, j by reconnoitering, had felt the enemy, and j was too vigilant to be prepared for an attack at any moment, so far as he was concerned. Whatever has been said, or may be said about our forces being surprised at Shiloh, sure it is that General Buckland was not surprised. His brigade was ready, from the time of Crockett's capture, and all that prudence and bravery could do, General Buckland did to be 1 ready for the enemy at any and every ; moment. He felt sure from the 3d of j April, that the rebels intended an attack in force on the army at Pittsburg Land- I ing, and acted accordingly. And when,

| His brigade met the enemy on that memorable morning, and withstood the furious ! onset of three successive lines; and not- ! withstanding the defection of the brigade on his left, he held his position for two hours, when General Sherman ordered his brigade to retire. Therebels bad advanced on the left, and threatened to cut off the retreat, but Buckland's brigade made a rapid detour to the right through a dense wood, and at n o'clock was in position to the right of the National line. The regiment was constantly at the front, i and acted with great bravery and coolness throughout the day, and on the 7th effectively participated in the charge which finally swept the enemy, from the field, and that night rested in the camp from which it had been ordered to retire the day before. In this action the regiment lost Lieutenant-Colonel Canfield mortally wounded, and two company officers killed, one of them being the brave captain of the German company, H, and one officer missing. Thirteen men were killed, seventy were wounded, and fortyfive were missing. The Seventy second participated in the pursuit of the enemy as far as Monterey.

At the siege of Corinth the Seventysecond bore a conspicuous part, and although its losses in the action were not great, it suffered great loss by disease and consequent disability. During the siege General J. W. Denver assumed command of Buckland's brigade, and Colonel Buckland returned to the command of his regiment.

After the evacuation of- Corinth, Sherman's division moved along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, in a westerly direction, and on the 21st of July, 1863, entered Memphis. When the regiment arrived at Memphis it presented a dilapidated condition; the men were worn, sick, : weary, and ragged, having drawn no clothing since the battle of Pittsburg Landing. * Here the Seventy-second was brigaded | with the Thirty-second Wisconsin, Ninety- j third Indiana, Ninety-third Illinois, and the I One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois. | This brigade was designated the First brigade of the Third division. The division was placed under the command of General Lanman, while Colonel Buckland command d the brigade under the new organization.

On the 26th day of November the regiment marched toward Wyatt, on the Tallahatchie. The rebels retreated, and Sherman's forces were ordered back to Memphis. When the Memphis & Charleston Railroad was reached, the regiment was ordered to Moscow, to hold the bridge over Wolf River. Here the regiment fell in with Richardson's guerillas, but experienced no loss. It remained at Moscow about two weeks, in the performance of picket duty there, until the 9th of January, 1863, when it was ordered to Corinth. The march to Corinth was made by way of Bolivar and Purdy. In the night next after arriving at Corinth, the weather became intensely cold, from which the men suffered severely. Here Buckland's brigade was assigned to the Sixteenth Corps, and was concentrated near Memphis.

The Seventy-second reached White's Station, nine miles east of Memphis, on the 31st of January, 1863, and was engaged in picket duty, and in work on the fortifications. It moved to Memphis on the 13th of March, embarked on the steamer Champion, and on the 14th proceeded down the stream.

The regiment had been reinforced by about forty nine-months recruits, which, with returning convalescents, somewhat increased its effective strength. On the 2d of April the regiment went into camp four miles above Young's Point. Here it was for a time engaged in working on the canal, and in preparations for the coming campaign. It commenced its march for a position in the rear of Vicksburg on the 2d of May, 1863, moved seventy miles southward, through Louisiana, and reached the Mississippi opposite Grand Gulf. It crossed the river on the

7th of May, and on the 8th moved toward Jackson, Mississippi, and was in the battle there on the 14th of May. The next day the regiment continued the march toward Vicksburg, and arrived there on the 1 8th.

The regiment took a part in the assault | on the rebel works at Vicksburg, on the 19th and 2 2d days of May, and then be- ! gan the labors of the siege. The position of the regiment was on the right of Tut- | tie's division, and within a half mile of the | Mississippi River, and north of Vicksburg, j

On the 2 2d of June the Seventy-second j formed part of the force ordered to Big j Black River to intercept Joe Johnson, who was attempting the relief of Vicksburg. After this the Seventy-second was thrown out on the advance picket-line, and continued to hold that hazardous position until the surrender of Vicksburg.

The regiment then moved against General Johnson at Jackson, and after the battle pursued the rebels to Brandon, where it had an engagement. After destroying a portion of the railroad it returned to Big Black to rest and refit.

In the latter part of the summer the regiment moved to Oak Ridge, twenty-one miles distant from Vicksburg and near the Yazoo River, and in September it participated in a four days' scout to Me- ! chanisville, in which it experienced some ! very hard marching, and lively skirmishing. On the 15th of October, 1863, it took part j in General McPherson's expedition to Can- | ton, Mississippi, and on its return went into camp eight miles in the rear of Vicksburg, j About the middle of November the regi- J ment was ordered with its division to j Memphis, to guard the Mississippi and j Charleston railroad, and was stationed at j Germantown, fourteen miles east of Memphis.

I to the Tallahatchie River, to create a diversion in favor of General W. S. Smith's cavalry expedition, all being part of General Sherman's Meridian expedition. This lasted thirteen days, and the regiment marched one hundred and fifty miles.

Veteran Furlough

On the 23d of February, at Memphis, it received a veteran furlough and proceeded North. And it is the pleasing duty of the historian to follow the gallant veterans of the Seventy-second regiment, who had re-enlisted, from the scenes of their labors and suffering, their marches, sieges, and battles, back to their homes and friends and dear ones, from whom they parted more than two years before.