Tuscarawas County, Ohio - Chapter 13: The War of the Rebellion, 1884 (part 2 of 2)

Other deaths in the company during service were Benjamin H. Lacey, at Charleston, September 17, 1864; Thomas J. Perrick, at Annapolis, July 16, 1863; Joseph Boger, January 26, 1865; John Domer, at Martinsburg, January 31, 1863; John Fieckner, August 20, 1864; John L. Griffith, March 20, 1863; James Huff, January 16, 1863; and Joseph James H. Papharn, January 21, 1863, at Martinsburg; James Robinson, September 16, 1863.

Company B, of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was from Tuscarawas. Charles Mitchener had been its Captain, but when the regiment was formed he was commissioned Major, and Andrew Davis, originally the First Lieutenant, was promoted to Captain. Albert J. Beebout, the first Second Lieutenant, was promoted to the vacancy caused by the promotion of Davis, and George W. Bowers was commissioned Second Lieutenant. Lieut Beebout was honorably discharged November 14, 1863, and Lieut. Bowers was promoted to his place, whereupon Lewis J. Scott was made Second Lieutenant.

The regiment was organized at Camp Taylor near Cleveland, Ohio, August 10, 1863, and was mustered in for a term of six months. Nearly all the officers and a large portion of the men had already seen considerable service.

It started for Camp Nelson, Ky., August 10, and ten days later left that camp for Cumberland Gap, which was invested by the National forces, and capitulated without a struggle; 2,200 prisoners were taken, fourteen pieces of artillery and a large amount of war materiel of all kinds. The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth performed garrison duty here until December 1, when it was ordered to move at daylight, at two hours' notice. It marched to Clinch River and there participated in a Bharp engagement with a division of Longstreet's men. During the month of December, the regiment was kept constantly moving along the line of the river, watching the enemy and occasionally skirmishing. The winter was severe and the hardships experienced were terrible. The men and officers alike had left the Gap without baggage. The men were almost out of clothes, and their rations were of the poorest quality and smallest quantity. The country here had already been foraged by both armies, and the inhabitants themselves were reduced to abject want. About the last of December, the regiment fell back to Tazewell, where it was isolated from the main army and left to depend on its own resources. The cold was intense; the enemy near and active, so that distant foraging was impossible; consequently a great deal of suffering was endured, though the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth fared better than some other regiments. From Tazewell, the regiment returned to the Gap, where it regained until early in February, when it started for Camp Nelson, 130 miles distant. Thence it was moved to Cleveland, and there mustered out in March, 1864.

The regimental officers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio National Guards, who were from Tuscarawas County, were Oliver P. Taylor, Colonel; Martin Hagan, Surgeon; Henry C. Tucker, Assistant Surgeon; William A. Bovey, Adjutant.

Company A was raised at Gnadenhutten, and was officered by "Jesse Blickensderfer, Captain; Lewis B. Winsch, First Lieutenant; Sylvester S. Demuth, Second Lieutenant.

Company D was from New Philadelphia. Its officers were John H. Collier, Captain; Peter Swick, First Lieutenant; William B. Winsch, Second Lieutenant.

These four companies had formed the Seventieth Battalion. Besides them, the One Hundred and Sixty-first contained the Forty-third Battalion from Morgan County, the Ninety-third Battalion from Noble County, and a company of the Fifty eighth Battalion from Hancock County, all National Guards. The regiment was mustered into the United States service for 100 days at Camp Chase, May 9, 1804, with 850 men. It was at once ordered to Cumberland, reaching it May 12. On the 28th, the regiment moved to Martinsburg, W.Va., and June 4 Companies A. B,D, F and H, with other troops, were sent up the Shenandoah Valley with a supply train for Hunter's army, then supposed to be near Staunton. On reaching that place, it was found that Hunter had advanced, but they finally overtook him at Lexington on the 11th. They remained with the army until it arrived near Lynchburg, when, having turned over the supplies, they were ordered back to Martinsburg. Encumbered by many sick and wounded, by a train of over 150 wagons and ambulances, by 150 prisoners and by several hundred contrabands, they left the army on the 17th, and, with three days' rations of crackers, started on the return march through a hostile and mountainous country. They reached Beverly on the 28th, and after resting two days proceeded to Webster, the entire distance marched being nearly 500 miles. From Webster they returned by rail to Martinsburg, arriving July 2, and marched to Hainesville, where the remainder of the regiment was encamped, in charge of a corral of 125 teams and wagons. They arrived in camp about 8 o'clock in the evening, and before supper could be prepared orders were received for the regiment to return to Martinsburg. It reached that place about daylight, and after remaining in line of battle till 11 o'clock A. M., it fell back through Shepherdstown and Sharpsburg to Maryland Heights. Early on the 6th, skirmishing commenced and continued for two days, the One Hundred and Sixty-first taking an active part all the time, after which it went into position in Stone Fork Subse- quently it assisted in defending Maryland Heights until the rebels were driven from the Shenandoah. August 25, it was ordered to Ohio, and September 2, 1864, was mustered out at Camp Chase.

In the One Hundred and Sixty-first, Company A, Samuel Schweitzer, Jr., died of wounds received at Maryland Heights, July 7, 1864; of Company D, Alfred Goodbam.died at Frederick City, Md, July 6, 1864; of Company F, Oliver Brainerd died of typhoid fever at Cumberland, Md., May 28, 1864.

The One Hundred and Seventy-Eighth regiment was one of the series recruited for one year's service in the fall of 1864. Company H was raised at Uhrichsville. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase, near Columbus, September, 29, and was at once dispatched to Nashville with orders to report to Gen. Thomas. It performed guard "duty at Nashville two weeks, and was then sent to Tullahoma, Tenn., where it composed part of the post command. This post was evacuated in the winter of 1864, and the One Hundred and Seventy eighth was then sent to Murfreesboro. Frequent sorties were made in force from the fort for foraging purposes, under command of Gen. Milroy, with severe fighting The One Hundred and Seventy- eighth was closely engaged under Col. Stafford. In one of these engagements, it lost both its color- bearers. In the affair at Wilkerson's Pike, the force under Gen. Milroy, including the One Hundred and Seventy- Eighth, captured two fine twelve- pounder Napoleons, and 200 prisoners. After the defeat of Hood at Nashville, the regiment was brigaded in the First Division, Third Brigade, Twenty-third Army Corps, and ordered to North Carolina. It landed at Moorehead City.and a few days thereafter participated *n a smart skirmish with the enemy under Gen. Johnston, at Wise's Fork. This was the last engagement of the regiment. Gen. Sherman's army was met and joined by the Twenty-third Army Corps at Goldsboro, N. C., and # together an advance was made to Baleigh. After Johnston's surrender, the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth was ordered to Charlotte, N. C., where it performed garrison duty till mustered out of the service June 29, 1865. It was finally paid and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, J uly 10, 1865.

Of Company H, Daniel Keller died at Louisville, Ky., January 81, 1865; Isaac Yail, at Jeffersonville, IncL, February 9, 1865; Harrison Williams, at Moorehead City, N. C., February 28, 1865; Sylvester C. Meek, at Charlotte, N. C., May 17, 1865.

Company A, of the One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, contained about forty men from Tuscarawas. George W. Bowers, of New Philadelphia, was its Captain, and Patrick H. Copeland, of Tuscarawas County, its Second Lieutenant. The regiment was organized at Camp Chase for on9 year's service, February 26, 1865, with an aggregate of 1,006 men, one half of whom were veterans. It left Camp Chase, February 27, under orders to report to Gen. Thomas 'at Nashville, but was detained at Louisville by Gen. Palmer, who applied to Gen. Thomas and obtained permission to retain the regiment in Kentucky. Headquarters were established at Eminence, Ky., and the companies were scattered through the Slate from Owensboro to Cum- berland Gap on garrison duty. Little opportunity was afforded for drill, but duties were performed efficiently, and its discipline was such that no complaint was ever made of the conduct of the men. It had no opportunity of showing its fighting qualities, as the war closed soon after it entered the service. September 26, the regiment was mustered out at Lexington, Ky., with an aggregate of 889 men. It repaired to Camp Chase and was discharged October 2, 1865.

Company I, of the Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, contained a detachment of soldiers from Tuscarawas County. The Twelfth recruited from nearly every county in the State; was mustered into service November 24, 1863, near Cleveland, Ohio. It was mounted and equipped at Camp Dennison, proceeded to Kentucky and became a portion of Gen. Burbridge's command on the first Salt vi lie raid. The Twelfth pursued John Morgan, and after severe marching arrived at Mount Sterling June 9, 1864, where it was closely engaged with the rebels. It again overtook Morgan at Cynthiana, fought and scattered his forces and pursued them three days. September 20, it started in Gen. Burbridge's command, on a second expedition to Saltville. The salt works were reached and the regiment engaged for half a day in hard fighting. With its brigade, it charged up a hill and drove the enemy from a battery posted there. Headquarters were established at Lexington, the companies being scattered through different counties. Another Saltville expedition was determined on, and Gen. Burbridge left Crab Orchard with his division, November 22, during a severe snow storm. The Twelfth did its full share of duty under Gen. Stoneman at Bristol, at Abingdon, at Marion, and thence as support of Gen. Gillam in his pursuit of Vaughn; then back again to Marion, where Gen. Stoneman engaged Breckinridge for forty hours and finally defeated him. In this engagement, all of the Twelfth bearing sabers participated in a grand charge, driving back the enemy's cavalry. The regiment behaved gallantly throughout the fight, and received the praises of Gens. Burbridge and Stoneman. Saltville was captured December 21, and the forces returned to Richmond, Ky. As the result of this raid, four boats were captured. 150 miles of railroad, thirteen trains and locomotives, lead mines, salt works, iron foundries and an immense quantity of stores were completely destroyed. March 6, 1865, the regiment reached Nashville; thence it moved to Murfreesboro, and to Knoxville, where it again formed part of a raiding expedition under Gen. Stoneman. They penetrated North Carolina; then, by an angular movement, reached Christiansburg, Va., and destroyed thirty miles of the Lynchburg & East Tennessee Railroad; they next cut the Danville & Charlotte Railroad at Greensboro, N. C. This drew the garrison from Salisbury, and cut* ting the road again between them and Salisbury, that place with its stores and the Union prisoners confined there fell into our hands April 12. Moving south, they destroyed the railroads to Morgantown and Rutherford and the Danville & Columbia road south of Charlotte. They then aided in the capture of Jefferson Davis, moving through South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, capturing Gens. Bragg and Wheeler, and reaching Bridgeport, Ala., after being sixty -seven days in the saddle. Thence the regiment went to Lenoir, Tenn., remaining three months; tlience to Pulaski, where regimental headquarters were established and the companies scattered through several counties, enforcing law and order. The Twelfth finally rendezvoused at Nashville, and was mustered out November 14. 1865. It proceeded to Columbus where it was paid and discharged on the 2*2d and 23d of the same month.

Of Company I, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, Henry Crossland, of New Philadelphia, died at Johnson's Island, Ohio, February, 1864; and Vincent Patterson, of Dover, was killed in action at Monnt Sterling, Ky., June 9, 1864.

Quantbill, The Rebel Guerrilla

William Clark Quantrill, the noted rebel guerrilla, whose name spread terror wherever it was known in the Southwest, was a native of Tuscarawas County and of Dover. He was born in 1837. His father, a native of Hagerstown, Md., emigrated to Dover, and for awhile operated a tin shop, then became Superintendent of the Public Schools, in which position he died. Young Quantrill, at the age of sixteen, became a teacher in one of the lower grades of his father's schools. A year later, he attended school at Fort Wayne, Ind., studying Latin and the higher mathematics, returning to Dover in 1856. The following spring, with two companions, he started for Kansas, and there acquired his fame as an outlaw. He taught a term of school in Stanton, Kan. During the spring of 1860, with three others, he went to Independence, Mo. , for the purpose of robbing a rich farmer, who lived near Blue Springs, ten miles distant. Preliminaries were arranged, and the party rode to the house, where they were met by an armed force and QuantrilPs three companions were killed. It was claimed that he betrayed them. He then taught school at or near Santa ¥6 until the breaking-out of the rebellion. He placed himself nnder the banner of Gov. Price, and was put in command of 100 desperadoes, including the notorious James and Young brothers. WTith this band, he pillaged and burned towns " and reddened the prairies of Kansas with the blood of defensless women and children until the world shuddered." Soon after the organization of his force, Quantrill visited Richmond, and it is believed was commissioned a Colonel in the Confederate service, for he assumed that title. His principal devastations were committed in Missouri and Kansas, his permanent quarters and hiding place being in Jackson County, Mo. Charles F. Taylor, of Joplin, Mo., who was for some time QuantrilPs Lieutenant, says of him: u Quantrill was humane and kind, as some can testify at Lawrence, where he saved a great many. Kansas was the State he preferred to fight in. He was not half strict enough with his men. His success lay in his men, who were all made desperate by one cause or another, and who were always anxious to fight. He was of a jealous disposition, and frequently bad trouble with his officers, a number of whom left his command and became 'operators' on their own account. He would occasionally divide his band and send small squads off in all directions, directing those in command to strike in the name of Quantrill, and thus it appeared that he was in three or four different sections at the same time." He received his death wounds March 1, 1865, near Fairfield, Ky., while on his way to Richmond to join Lee. Taking shelter, with fifteen of his men, in a barn during a rdin, it was surrounded by Capt. Edward Terrill and forty- five Federal bushwhackers, and as Quantrill was trying to escape, he was twice shot. He was removed soon after to a hospital in Louisville, where he died a few weeks later and was buried in a Catholic cemetery. When captured, he gave his name as Capt. Clark, bat after his death his men acknowledged his identity.

The people about Dover who knew Quantrill in his youth, speak of him only in kindness. He then resembled other boys in tastes and disposition, was fond of hunting and fishing, and a fine shot with the rifle, and had always been civil and quiet. His venerable mother, a highly respected lady, still resides at Dover, and, except her son Thomas, living somewhere in the West, is the sole survivor of her once large and happy family.