Union County, Ohio - Chapter 16: The Military History or Union County, 1915 (part 2 of 3)

One Hundred aiut Forty-second Ohio National Guards - Organized May 12. 1864, for one hundred days, this regiment operated around Washington City until June 5, when it was ordered to guard supply trains through the wilderness of \'irginia. It was at Petersburg when it was returned to Ohio for mustering out. Its sen-ice terminated Septeml^er 2, 1864. Union county had one man in the regiment.

One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio National Guards - This regiment was mustered into the service May 11, 1864, under Col. Samuel Hunt. Its first engagement was at Monocacy Junction, where it suffered severelv. The rest of the time it was stationed in the valley of the Shenandoah. It was mustered out August 31, 1864. Two men from Union countv were in this regiment.

One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio National Guards - This regiment sened anmnd \\'ashington from May 10. 1864, to .\ugust 2^. of the same year. The seven men from Union county were mustered out with their regiment.

One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio N'ational Guards - This regiment performed garrison duty at Fayetteville from ]May, 1864. to September, of the same year. One Union county man enlisted in this regiment.

One Hundred and Forty-eightli Oliio National Guards - This regiment was organized ]\Iay 9. 1864, and performed garrison duty at Bermuda Hundred and City Point until it was mustered out, September i, 1S64. Union county contributed nne man to the regiment.

One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio National Guards - The whole serxice of this regiment was spent in the vicinity of New Creek and Greenland Gap, \'irginia. The one man from Union county was mustered out with the regiment on September i, 1864.

One Hundred and I'ifty-nintli Ohio Xational Guards - This regiment was organized May ii, 1864. under Col. Lyman J. Jackson. It reported to General Lew Wallace at BaltinK^re and jiertormed garrison duty around that city. It took a prominent part in the hattle of Monocacy and was mustered out August 24, 1864. Two men were recruited for the regiment from L'nion county.

One Hundred and Si.vty-tliird Oliio National Guards - This regiment served from May 12, 1864, to September 10, 1864. It remained at Washington City until June 8, and then moved to White House, Virginia. Thence the regiment was taken to Bermuda Hundred and engaged in skirmishing along the James ri\er and the erection of Fort Pocahontas. Union county contributed only one man for this regiment.

One Hundred and Si.vty-ninfl! Oliio Xafioiml Guards - This regiment was stationed at Washington during its whole service. It was nuistered in on May 19, 1864, and served until September 4, 1864. Cnion county 'had one man in this regiment.

One Hundred and Seirnfy-tirst Oliio Xalional Guards - This regiment was mustered into the service on May 7, 1864, under Col. J<iel \'. .\sper. It was engaged in guard and fatigue tluty at Johnson's Island until June 9. It then moved to Kentucky and met Morgan, who succeeded in capturing the whole regiment after a desperate struggle. The men were soon paroled and returned to Johnson's Island, where they remained until they were mustereil out, August 20, 1864. There was only one man from Union county in this regiment.

One Hundred and Seventy-third Ohio Infantry - Col. John H. Hurd organized this regiment. September 18. 1864, for one year's service. It was taken at once to Nashville, where it performed guard duty until Hood's invasion, when it took an active part in the trenches and in support of the batteries. It remained in that state until it was mustered out, July 3, 1865. ITiion county had one man in this regiment.

One Hundred ami Sercufy-fonrth Ohio Infantry - Under President Lincoln's call of July, i86.|., for troops to ser\-e one year, two full companies were enlisted in LTnion county. In addition to Companies B and C, there were also three men in H and li\e men in I. Company B had ti\'e men killed in battle, six \\ ounded and Iwehe died in hospitals. Company C lost eight men on the field and in hospitals and fourteen men were wounded. The regiment was organized September 21. 1864, under Col. John S. Tones and at once went to Xaslnille. The}- were stationed at Murfreesboro for a time and then moved to Decatur. .-Mabama, to assist in defending a garrison at that place. Later they returned to Murfreesboro. They took an active part in the battle of OveralFs Creek and Cedars. In January, 1865, they moved to Washington, D. C, where they remained until February 21. At that time the\' were taken to North Carolina and fought in the battle of Fi\e Forks at Kingston. Their last engagement was on ]\Iarch 10. at which time they resisted a fierce attack by General Hoke. They were mustered out at Charlotte. North Carolina. June 28, 1865, and discharged at Columbus, Ohio, on July 7.

One Hundred and Sevcnty-Hftli Ohio Infantry - Mustered into the service on October 11, 1864, this regiment entered the field in Tennessee and performed garrison duty during Hood's invasion. It took a prominent part in the engagement of Franklin and remained in Fort Negley during the battle of Nash\-ille. It then was sent to Columbia and guarded railroads until mustered out, July 13. 1865. Four men from Union county enlisted in this regiment.

One Hundred and Scz'cnfy-sixfh Ohio Infantry - This regiment was organized September 21, 1864, for one \ear"s ser\-ice. It served in Tennessee and was in the bloody battle of Nashville. It was mustered out June 18, 1865. Two of the four Union county enlistments died in the service.

One Hundred and Se^'ciity-eightli Ohio Infantry - In the fall of 1864 Col. Joab A. Stafford organized this regiment. It reported to General Thomas at Nashville and took part in the siege of Alurfreesboro. It then went into North Carolina and joined Sherman at Goldsboro and remained with him until the end of the war. It was mustered out July 7, 1865. Five Union county men were in this regiment and two of them died at the front.

One Hundred and Sezrnty-ninth Ohio Infantry - The whole service of this regiment, September 28 to June 18, 1865, was spent in Tennessee. There were twelve men from Union county in the regiment and all but one returned to their homes.

One Hundred and Eicjlitietli Ohio Infantry - The active ser\"ice of this regiment extended from October q, 1864. to Jul\- 2^. 1S65. It was sent to Tennessee and remained in that state until January, 1865, when it was taken to Washington. Later it was sent to North Carolina and was present at the battle of Kingston, Nineteen men were enlisted for this regiment in L'nion county.

One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio Infantry - This regiment was organized October 26, 1864, and served in Tennessee until it was mustered out. in July, 1865. It served gallantly at the battle of Na.shville. Union county had four men in the regiment.

One Hundred and E'ujlity-fourth Ohio Infantry - Organized on February 21, 1865, this regiment guarded railroads in Tennessee and Alabama until mustered out, in Septemljer, 1865. Union county contributed six men to this regiment.

One Hundred and Eighty-fifth Ohio Infantry - Col. John 1':. Cummins organized this regiment February 16, 1865. It performed garrison duty in Kentucky until it was mustered out, at Louisville, on September 26, 1865. Ten men from Union county enlisted in this regiment.

One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry - This regiment operated in Tennessee and Georgia from the time it was mustered in, March 2, 1865, until it was finally discharged, on September 25, 1865. Union county had six men in the regiment.

One Hundred and Eighty-sei'enti! Ohio Infantry - Company B of this regiment was wholly recruited from Uniun county and it also had one man in both Companies E and I. This regiment was raised under the last call of the President and was mustered into the service March i, 1865. It first went to Nashville and from there to Dalton, Georgia. After drilling in the latter place for two months, it moved on to Kingston, where it received the paroles of about two thousand rebel soldiers. It then returned to Dalton and shortly afterward it was taken by train to Alacon, Georgia, where it performed provost duty until it was mustered out, on Januar)- 20, 1S60. The losses by death were tifty-four.

One Hundred and Eiglity-eiglith Ohio Infantry - VWc men from Union county performed garrison duty in Tennessee with this regiment during its short career, from March 4 to September 21, 1865.

One Hundred and Xiuety-tirst Oliin Infantry - This regiment was organized Alarch 19. 1865, and served in the Shenandoah \alley until it was mustered out, in September, 1863. There were eighteen men from Union county with this regiment.

One Hundred and Xinefy-seeond Ohio Infantry - Col. F. W. Butterfield organized this regiment March 15, 1865, and took it into A'irginia, where it remained imtil it was mustered out, on Se])tember i, 18^5. Twent\- men from Union county enlisted in this reg'iment. Two died and one was wounded.

One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry - The career of this regiment lasted from March 14 to October 24. 1865. It served in West Virginia until Lee's surrender and then performed garrison duty in Washington until it was mustered out. Only one man from Union county was in this regiment.

One Hundred and Xincty-si.vth Ohio Infantry - More than two-thirds of this regiment had belonged to other regiments and had been honorably discharged from the service. It was mustered into the service on March 25, 1865, and mustered out at Baltimore on the nth of the following September. This regiment gained an enviable reputation as a well drilled and disciplined organization and was excelled by few in appearance and soldierly bearing. Its members had been in nearly e\ery battle of the war. It was on guard dut\- at Baltimore most of the time it was in the service. Twelve men from Union county had the honor to be members of this regiment.

One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Ohio Infantry - The war closed before the organization of this regiment was completed. John Ogan represented Union county in this regiment.

First Ohio Cavalry - Colonel Curry says, in his admirable history, that "to record the service of the First Ohio Cavalry is to write the history of everv battle of the Army of the Cumberland from Mills Springs (1862) to Nashville (1864). The compiler of this chapter can do no more than briefly notice the interesting career of this regiment. The reader who wishes a detailed history of the regiment is referred to the full account given by Colonel Curry, who, as a member of this regiment, was well qualified to write its history.

The First Ohio Cavalry was organized during the summer of 1861 and mustered in at Camp Chase on the 5th of the following October. Company K was organized at Plain City, the men being recruited from Union, Madison and Franklin counties. Union county also had twenty-seven men in Compan)' D and one man in each of Companies A, E and H. There were many changes among the officers in the course of the four years the regiment was in the service, but space forbids mention of all of them. The record of Colonel Curry shows that he was appointed orderly sergeant of his company when it was mustered into the service. His subsequent promotions were three in number, namely: Second lieutenant, June 16, 1862; first lieutenant, IMarch 31, 1863; captain, December 14, 1864. He was discharged December 30, 1864.

Compan^- K lost nine men on the field of liattle, twelve in hospitals, had twelve wounded and ten taken prisoner, making a total loss of forty-three. Company D lost ten men in the field and hospitals and had twenty-eight taken prisoner. This regiment was noted for its fearless rides, its daring raids, its bloody charges, its long nights of weary marching and its conspicuous bravery on all occasions. Two colonels were killed in battle. The regiment was discharged September 28, 1865.

Third Ohio Cavalry - This regiment was organized in September. 1861, under Col. Lewis Zahm and first operated with Buell in Tennessee. All of its service was in the Southern states and much of it with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign. It was mustered out August 14, 1865. Union county had only two men in the regiment.

Fifth Ohio Cavalry - Col. H. H. Taxdor organized this regiment in the fall of 1861 and its first fighting in the field was at Shiloh. .\fter the ])attle of Chickamauga it followed Sherman until the close of the war, being mustered out October 30, 1S65. There were six men from Union C(iunty in the regiment.

Sixth Ohio Caialry - This regiment was organized in October, 1861. under Col. William R. Llo\(l. It was engaged in the East during its whole career and was in nearl\" all of the bloodiest battles of Virginia. Among others, it participated \n the battles of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Fredericksburg and ever}? engagement fought l)y Grant while advancing toward Richmond. Union county had only two men in this regiment.

Eighth Ohio Cavalry - This regiment of caxalry was organized March 28, 1864, by Col. Samuel A. Gilbert, and at once mo\-ed into A'irginia. All of its service was in that state and it was very acti\e until it was captured, in January, 1865. The regiment was captured in camj) and five hundred officers and men were taken to Liibby prison, where they were exchanged the following month. The regiment was mustered out in .\ugust. 1865. Union county was represented by three men in the regiment.

Ninth Ohio Cavalry - Although the organization of this regiment was C(Wimenced in December, 1862, it was not until A])ri.r of the following year that four companies were ready for sen-ice. These companies entered the field in Kentucky, but it was near the close of 1863 before the regiment was finally completed. It mo\'ed to .\thens. Alabama, to patrol the Tennessee river and remained in that vicinity until July, 1864, when it joined Sherman on his Atlanta campaign. It was with him from that time until the close of the war. The two Union county men in this regiment were mustered out with their regiment on August 2, 1865.

Tenth Ohio Cavalrx - The regiment was organized in October, 1862. under Col. Charles C. Smith. It first operated with the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee and was a prominent factor in all of the fighting around Chattanooga. It was with Sherman from the opening of his Atlanta campaign until the close of the war. It was mustered out July 24, 1865. Union county was well represented in this regiment with eighteen men. only two of whom died at the front. , . ... . , .

Eleventh Ohio Cavalry - This regiment was organized by Ijattalions, the organization being completed in July, 1862. It was assigned to Indian warfare in the western states and had about one thousand miles of country to picket. Its territor)^ embraced Nebraska, Dakota, Colorado. Utah, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. The first liattalion was mustered out April i, 1865, and the remaining companies in July of the following year. There were seven Union county men in this regiment and all of them survived the dangers of Indian warfare.

Twelfth Ohio Cavalry - The order for raising this regiment was issued on August 20, 1863, and by November 24 the regiment was ready to be mustered into the service. Before the regiment was organized part of the men were sent to Johnson's Island to thwart a threatened invasion from Canada. After being mustered in for duty, the regiment was taken into Kentucky and assigned the difficult task of breaking up bands of guerrillas and bushwhackers. After accomplishing this to the satisfaction of the authorities, it started to Virginia, but struck the enemy at Mt. Sterling, Kentucky. Here it fought with commendable bravery and saved the army from utter annihilation. During the rest of its career it fought in Virginia. North Carolina and Tennessee, being mustered out at Nashville on November 24. 1865. Of one thousand four hundred and si.xty-two men enlisted there were only si.x hundred and twenty-eight left to be mustered out at the end of the war. Union county had eleven men in this regiment, but only one lost his life.

Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry - This regiment was mustered into the service on May 6, 1864, under Col. Stephen R. Clark. It immediately joined the Army of the Potomac and did all of its fighting in \'irginia with Grant in his advance toward Richmond. Union county had nine men in this regiment, which was mustered out August 10, 1865.

Union Light Guards - This organization was perfected in December, 1863. and was intended by Governor Tod as a bodyguard for President Lincoln. The governor had previously visited Washington and had noticed the unguarded situation of the capitol, the WHiite House and even the person of the President. It was an effort on the part of Governor Tod to better this situation that led to the organization of this special guard. The little company of one hundred and three men left Ohio for Washington in December, 1863. and, after reaching Washington, the men were distributed where they would be of the most service. There were three men from Union county in this regiment, all being mustered out on September 9, 1865, the day on which the brave little band was finally discharged.

Guard - This company was iinistered into tlie serxice t(jr tiiree years at Cleveland, Ohio, on January 2/, 1863. They first served under Rosecrans and Thomas in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. At the beginning of the Atlanta campaign, it was ordered to Shemian's headquailers and remained as his personal body-guard until the close of the war. The compan_\' was mustered out at Camp Chase on July J(S, 1865. Twenty-five men from Union county were in this company and four died in the service.

Eightcciitli Cnitcd States lnfaiity\ - This regiment was comi^osed of twenty-four companies and was (irganized in the summer of 1861. There were forty-one men recruited for this regiment in L'nion count}-. Of this number fifteen died on the field and in the hospitals, four were wounded and three were taken prisoners. The regiment was ordered to Kentucky at first and later was sent into Tennessee. A.mong other battles, it participated in the engagements at 'SViW Springs, Shiloh, Corinth, Perryville, Stone's River, Chickamauga, ^Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Franklin and Xashville. .\fter the latter liattle the regiment \\as taken east and at the close of the war was stationed at Fort Fisher.

Fifth United States Colored Troops - This regiment was <irganized in the fall of 1863 and was first sent on a raid in Xorth Carolina. It then settled down around Petersburg and did good work digging trenches and erecting forts. The regiment was later returned to Carcjlina and was in the assaults on Fort Fisher and Wilmington. It was finally discharged at Columbus. Ohio, October 15, 1865. Union county had six men with this regiment.

T-cirlffh United States Colored Troops - Xo definite records are available concerning the history of this regiment. Streeter Sanders, of Union county, was a member of this regiment and served with it until he was discharged, on January 29. 1866.

Twenty-seventh United States Colored Troops - This regiment was organized at Camp Delaware in January, 1864. and composed of colored recruits from Union and Togan counties. It was immediately sent to Virginia and later to X'orth Carolina. it was mustered out at Columbus. Ohio, September, i86v There were ten men from Union county in the regiment, of whom two were killed and two wounded.

Miscellaneous Enlistments

In addition to the Union count}' enlistments, which have been enumerated at length, there were many other men from the county who became members of regiments in other counties of Ohio and e\en of other states. Colonel Curry lists no less than one hundred and tifty-three additional enlistments from the county, many of them Ijeing in Ohio regiments and not a few in regiments representing other states.

Bv the year 1863 there were several thousand soldiers in Ohio whose regular terms of enlistment had expired, and twenty thousand of these veterans re-enlisted in the tield and offered themselves to their country again. Many Union county men were in this number, and the following summar\- is striking proof of the loyalty of the men of the county. The appended table gi\es the regiment which they joined, together with the number re-enlisting in each regiment. Colonel Curry gi\es the names of all these men in his volume.

The Siege Of Cincinnati

In the fall of 1862 Cincinnati was threatened by invasion frcjni the south and Governor Tod called fur immediate help. Thousands poured in to the city within a few hours and inside of three days there w-ere several thousands of armed men reatly to drive back any possible invaders. The rebels remained before the city for eight days, but made no overt mo\'e. These "Squirrel Hunters," as they were called, were shari)-sho(Jters and the enemy were wise in not attempting an attack on the city. Union county furnished fifteen officers and eighty prixates at this particular occasion.

On Jul}- 18, 1877, the first nulitary compan\- organized in Uniun county after the Civil War was mustered into the Ohio National Guard at Alarysville. The company assembled and was mustered in at the old town hall, a brick building located on the ground now occupied by the court house. The meeting was presided over by Edward W. Porter, who afterward became the captain of the company, and the mustering officer was Captain Charles S. Ammel, of Columbus, Ohio, an officer of the National Guard.

The companv was organized under the statute of the state authorizing the organization of military companies to lie known as the Ohio National Guard. They were to be subject to the order of the go\-ernor for the purpose of suppressing riots or repelling invasions. A company was organized in Marvsville, composed of forty-fi\e young men from the best families in the town. Their enlistment was for a term of fi\e years. On the same date William L. Curry was. selected captain of the company, William M. Liggett, first, and Charles W. Raudabaugh. second lieutenant. The company was at once furnished with fatigue uniforms and Springfield rifles by the state. From the organization the officers were very diligent in drilling it, and it soon became one of the best drilled and disciplined companies in the state.

The company w-as assigned to the Fourteenth Regiment, then being formed, with headquarters at Columbus. It was at first designated Company E of that organization, antl afterward changed to D. By a resolution unanimously adopted Jul\- 4. 1878, the company was named the "Curr\- Cadets," in honor of Captain W. F. Curry, who had been elected lieutenantcolonel of the Fourteenth Regiment. On November 23, 1877, William M. Liggett was promoted to the cajitaincy of the comjiany, and Charles W.

The Fourteenth Regiment, having its headquarters at Columbus, was often called upon to do imjiortant duty on public occasions. On January 14, 1878, it took part at Columbus at the inauguration of R. M. Bishop, as governor of Ohio, and formed a part of the great military review on that occasion.

August II. 1S80. it took part in the National reunion of ex-soldiers and sailors at Columbus, where it was re\iewe(l by President Hayes, General Sherman and other distinguished officers of the Regular Army and formed a part of the President's escort. It was also at the funeral of President Garfield at Cleveland in October, 1881, and was the recipient of special attention and honor on that memorable occasion. In an interview with Gen. W. S. Hancock, published in the Cleveland Globe at that time, the General spoke in terms of highest praise of the military bearing, strict discipline and soldierly appearance of the Fourteenth Regiment. During the funeral ceremonies the Fourteenth Regiment was given the post of honor and placed on guard duty in Lake \'iew cemetery, and by orders from headquarters the "Currv Cadets" were placed at the \ault to guard the same and assist in the decoration. Thev remained on duty there till the last sad rites in honor of the martyred President had been performed and the distinguished men of the nation there assembled had mo\ed sadly and silently away. It was also at the funeral of President McKinley and General Sherman.

One week in each year the regiment went into camp, being furnished by the state with all necessary equipments for that purpose. The time in camp was always well improved by company and battalion drill and learning the details of camp life. The first camping place of the regiment was on the fair grounds near Marysville. in August. 1878. where a week was spent in active service. The next camping place was near Delaware, where the regiment stayed from .\ugust 12 to 17, 1870. From August 5 to 10, 1880. it camped at Niagara Falls, New York, and from the loth to the 12th of that month it was at Columbus, Ohio. In 1881, from August 3 to 9, it camped at Lakeside, Ohio.

On August 18, 1882, twenty-five of the members of the company, who enlisted Julv 18, 1877, were discharged by reason of expiration of their term of enlistment, and the remaining members, with a number of recruits, reorganized the company. July 29, 1882, Captain William M. Liggett was elected lieutenant-colonel of the I'mirteenth Regiment, vice W. L. Curry, resigned. The "Curry Cadets" then elected Junot D. Buxton, captain; John L. Sellers, first lieutenant, and D. S. Alexander, second lieutenant.

At first the old town hall was used as an armory ; the state not yet making appropriations for such expenses, the company paid it themselves.

Companies from the Fourth or h'ourteeenth regiment ha\e seen active service in the preservation of life and property in Ohio at 'the following points: Railway riots, Columbus and Newark, 1877; incendiary fire troubles, Columbus, 1879; Perry comity labor troubles, 1880; Ashland, aid of civil authorities, 1884 ; Cincinnati riots, 1884: Hocking Valley miners' riots, 18S4; Carthage rendezvous, 1886; G. A. R. encampment, police duty at Columbus, eight days, 1888; Mount Sterling "Hobo War," 1894: Columbus west side flood, 1894; Wheeling creek, 1894: Washington Court House, aid of z\\\\ authorities, 1894; Clexeland street railwav riot, 1899; Akron riot, 1900; Springfield riots, 1906: Jefferson countx' mine strike, 1906; Bridgeport riots, 1910; Columbus street car riots, 1910; Columbus flood.

.\mong other encampments since the Spanish-American war are the following: Beaumont, Ohio, 1904: Strasburg, 1906; Fort Benjamin Harrison, 1908: Marietta, Ohio. 1910; Camp Sharp, Delaware. 191 J : Columlnis Centennial, 1912: Camp Perry, 1913; Camp Majile Grove. Ohio, 1914.

After the discharge of the companv Januar}- 20. 1899, at the close of the Spanish- American war, there was an interx-al until ]\Iarch 14, 1900, before another company was organized, the same designated as Company E, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantrv. On the formation of the com])an\-, T^hvard

The officers serving at this time (January i, 191 5) are as follows: Captain, Abe Newlove : first lieutenant, Herman Dollinger : second lieutenant. Robert H. Beightler : first sergeant, William C. Sellers ; quartermaster sergeant. Ant(in\- Pfarr: sergeants, Benjamin Cook, George Curl, G. Mc- Cracken, William Sellers and Fay Turner; corjx^rals, Fred Moder, Lewis Donley, John Daily, Francis Trumby, Harry Burgy, Frank Blair; artificer, Ralph Holycross; cook, Ernest Keller; musicians, Karl Kreakbaum, Gordon Beightler. There are now thirty-four privates in this company.

Since the organization of this company the following is the order in which the captains have served: William L. Curry, July 20, 1877; ^^'illiam AI. Liggett, John D. Buxton. John L. Sellers, John F. Zwerner, Frank F. Ford. Charles A, Hopkins, William B. Hershey, John L. Sellers, Charles F. Sellers, E. W. Porter, Abe Newlo\'e, Joseph A. Johnson, Frank D. Henderson, John T. Snitzler and Abe Newlove.

In every crisis thr(jugh which our nati(jn has^ passed since the firing of that shot at Concord. April ig, 1775, that "was heard around the world," there seem to have been men l)orn to meet exery emergency ; statesmen and men of military genius called from the walks of civil life to carry the ship of State safely through ; both in peace and war. Therefore when the first gun of the War of the Rebellion was fired on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. and while the smoke still hung over the battered walls the call came for volunteers, Ohio, with all the loyal North, was awakened to the danger of the hour.

But little did the citizens of this state realize the part their sons were to take in this great drama of war to follow. Ohio was fortunate in ha\"ing leaders among her citizens who were to play an important part both as statesmen and soldiers. During the war Ohio furnished a larger number of distinguished generals than any other state in the Union.

At the very outbreak of the rebellion Ohio generals were at the front organizing our \olunteer armies, and in the first battle of any note. Bull Run in i8'6i. General Irwin McDowell of Ohio commanded the Union armv. At the close of the war, the \'an(|uished and beleaguered Confederate armies of Lee and Johnston surrendered to Cirant and Slierman. both Ohio generals.

After the battle of Bull Run, N'irginia, July 21, 1861. General George B. McClellan, a citizen of Ohio, was appointed to the command of the Army of Virginia. General W. S. Rosecrans, a native of Ohio, was assigned to the command of the army of West X'irginia. General Don Carlos Buell, a native of Ohio, was called io the command of the Army of Ohio and dnne the Confederates from the Ohio river across the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, and marched on to the relief <:)f Grant's army at Shiloh, in April, 1862.

General Ormsby O. Mitchell of Ohio, cutting loose from BuelFs army at Nashville, Tennessee, in March, 1862, swept to the southeast, through Hunts\'ille, Alabama, and then east to Chattanooga. General Mitchell was called by death, and General O. A. (iilniore, another native of Ohio, was assigned to command Mitchell's dixision.

General Philip Sheridan, who gained such fame as the great ca\alry commander of the Union ami}', was from Ohio. General James 15. Mc- Pherson, who cammanded the Army of Tennessee in the .\tlanta campaign and was killed on the battle line July 22. 1864, was a native of Ohio and was the only army commander of the Union forces killed during the war.

Maior General Thomas J. Wood, a gallant soldier of the regular army, was a division commander in the Army of the Cumberland in many decisive battles, and was especially distinguished at tlie battle of Missionary Ridge, Tennessee.

Manv other Ohio generals rendered distinguished ser\-ice on the field in almost e\-ery great battle of the war, among whom may be named Hayes, Schenck, Crook, Garfield, Walcutt, Custer, the McCooks, Steadman, Stanley, Grosvenor, Beatty, Keifer, Harris, Lytle. Long, Hurst. -Hamilton, and scores of others of exalted fame and under whose leadership our armies were led ".Always to honor and often to \'ict()ry."

There were two families of the "Fighting AlcCooks." The sons of Alajor Daniel McCook were Surgeon Latimer A. IMcCook : Col. George W. McCook ; Brigadier General Robert L. McCook, killed August 6, 1862; Major General Alexander McDowell McCook; Major General Edwin S. McCook: Brigadier General Daniel McCook; Private Cliarles AI. McCook, killed at the battle of Bull Run, A'irginia. July 21, 1861, and Colonel John J. McCook; midshipman J. James McC(iok, who died in the naval service before the war - ten in all. The father. Major Daniel McCook, was in the service as paymaster and was killed July 22. 1863. while leading an advance against the re])el General John Alorgan in Ins raid through Ohio.

Of the other family, sons of Dr. John McCook. brother of Major Daniel McCook, there were engaged in the service. Major General Edward M. Mc- Cook; Brigadier General Anson G. McCook; Chaplain Henry C. McCook; Commander Roderick S. INIcCook. U. S. navy, and Lientenant John J. Mc- Cook, in the two families, fifteen.

Galax V Of Ohio Generals

. In this number were some whose militar}- fame was known and praised throughout the whole of the cix'ilized world, and it may be well doubted if there was an officer in any of the European countries that stood as high as a military leader as did General Grant at the close of the war, and it is a fact and rather remarkable that the only officers that have ever attained the rank of general, excepting Washington, were Grant. Sherman and Sheridan, all Ohio soldiers.

Grant was commissioned lieutenant general. IMarch 2, 1864, and held that rank until July 25. 1866. when he was promoted to general and was succeeded by William T. Sherman, who became a general in full March 4, 1869, upon Grant's election to the Presidency. Phillip H. Sheridan was promoted to lieutenant general and held that rank until June i. 1888, when he was promoted to full general. He died August 5. 1888. The act promoting Sheridan to the rank of general provided that the rank should end with the life of General Sheridan. Grant and Sherman and Sheridan mav well be named "Ohio's Immortal Trinity."

Many persons are laboring under the mistaken idea that a general is usually in a place of safety during the battle and directs the movements of his troops from a position far from the point of real danger. This is all a delusion, as a good officer never hesitated to go where duty called him. and the most convincing evidence of this is the long "roll of honor" of the generals who were killed on the field in both the Union and Confederate armies.

Two notable instances come to mind. General McPherson of the Union army and Stonewall Jackson of the Confederate army, both of whom were killed while in adxance of their lines of battle. .\t least six Ohio generals were killed on the field, viz. : McPherson, Sill. Robert JMcCook, Dan McCook. Lytle and Harker. A score of others were severely wounded.

The loss of officers in both the Union and Confederate armies in killed and wounded, according to the best of authority, is larger in proportion than in the rank and file. This rather explodes the story of the private who claimed that he never got behind a tree in any battle, and who, when asked for his reasons, stated that "There weren't enough trees for the officers." The officers and the pri\'ates were equally brave and did their duty on every ijattlefield, and among the soldiers of both armies who saw actual service, which means "soldiers who were in battle," there is no contention.

There are good reasons wh_\- the casualties among the officers would be in e-xcess of that of their men; not that they were any braver, but they were exposed in passing along the lines. This was especially true when troops were protected by breastworks or barricades, while the duties of the officers were such that he was more exposed and sharpshooters and crack shots were always on the lookout for such marks in skirmishing or picket firing.

In the Union army there were si.x thousand three hundred and sixtyfive officers killed during the war, which is about one to each fifteen or sixteen men.

In a good organization the average in the army was about one officer to twenty-five men, so that to have made the proportion equal, the loss would be one officer to each twenty-five men. At the battle of Shiloh, which was fought without breastworks or any protection excepting trees and logs, the loss in officers was about sixteen per cent, which is perhaps a fair average, but at Gettysburg the loss in officers was about twenty-eight per cent., and in men about twenty per cent.

He was selected by his law partner. General Sherman, to lead the assault on Kenesaw Mountain on June 2"]. 1864. After all the arrangements for the assault had Ijeen made, the brigade was formed in regimental front, five deep. Just before the assault Colonel McCook recited to his men in a perfectly calm manner the stanza from Macaulay's "Horatius," in which occur these lines :

Then the brave general ga\e the word i)f command and dashed forward. He had reached the top of the enemy's works and was encouraging his men to follow when he was riddled with niinie lialls and fell l)ack into their arms, wounded unto death.

The summer of 1864 was known as the great battle summer of the war, and the tw'o most distinguished soldiers commanding the Union armies were Grant and Sherman. While Cirant, commander-in-chief, was with the Army of the Potomac battling through the Wilderness on toward Richmond, the goal for which that great army had been fighting for more than three years, Sherman, with his magnificent arni}-. one hundred thousand strong, was driving the Confederates across the rivers and through the mountain passes of northern Georgia in that "One hundred days under fire from Chattanooga to Atlanta."

Atlanta fell September 30. iSfq, antl that lirief, terse dispatch from Sherman to President Lincoln was flashed - "-\tlanta is ours and fairlv won." Then crime the "march to the sea," cutting the Confederacv in two, and the march up through the Carolinas. The surrender of the Confederate army under fighting Joe Johnston to General Sherman, at Durham's Station. North Carolina, occurred April 26, 1863. During the early spring days of 1865 Grant had been closing up the lines around the Confederate army under their greatest general. Robert E. Lee, and the cavalry under dashing Phil Sheridan at Five Forks was blocking every avenue of escape in the forlorn hope of the Confederate army to break through the lines. Then came the climax by the surrender at Appomattox. .\])ril 0. 18^)3, with Grant, Sherman and Sheridan the great central figures in the closing scenes. An OhiiT soldier commanding in the first battle of importance and Ohio soldiers receiving the surrender of the Confederate armies at the close of the Civil \\'ar are historical events in which every patriotic citizen of the state can take a just pride.

The last war in which L'nion county has i:)een called upon to send forth her brave sons in defense of the rights of humanity and the honor of our flag, was the war brought on bv the sinking of the 'Alaine" in Havana harbor ill the spring of 1898 - at least that act was the direct cause of action against Spain. It resulted in the independence of Cuba and the acquiring of the Philippine Islands.

The National Guard was used from which to gain soldiers for the Spanish-American War. The company at Alarysville was organized for the volunteer service. April 25. 1898, and was mustered into the United States serxice as Company D, Fourth Ohio \'olunteer Infantry, the Fourteenth being changed to the Fourth regiment May 9, 1898, the date of the muster-in of the regiment.

The regiment left Camp Bushnell at Columbus, May 15, for the front, arri\"ing at Camp Thomas, Georgia, on the i6th, and were assigned to the Second Brigade. First Division, First .-Xrmy Corps.

Compan\' D ser\ed continuously with the regiment in all of its campaigns during the war, leaving Camp Thomas July 22, and traveling by rail to Newport News. At that point they embarked on the steamer "St. Paul," July 28, arriving at Arroyo, Porto Rico, August 2. On debarking they were ordered on August 5 to march toward Guayama. The regiment moved out promptly, soon struck the enemy, and received a volley from the enemy in the ambuscade. An interesting account of this fight was written by Charles E. Creager, sergeant-major of the regiment, from which we are at liberty to quote :

".\fter an advance of perhaps a mile had lieen made, the flankers were strengthened in numbers and C Company was brought forward to serve as support of the advance. C Company advanced to within about five hundred yards of Company A and at about the same distance in advance of the main column, at that time consisting of B Company of the First Battalion and E and I of the Second, and the whole of the Third Battalion.

"When this dispositinn of the advance had been made, the march was pushed with considerably more caution than had hitherto been observed. Finally a house was reached over which the colors of the French nation were flying. The occupant of the house spoke English, but with a strong French accent, and in his characteristic way explained to Major Speaks and Captain Wilson that the Spaniards would be found in trenches about two thousand yards away up the road. Their position, he said, could be distinguished by the presence of a cluster of trees bearing red blossoms.

"The flankers were warned to proceed cautiously and the}- were advised as to the carrying of their guns. The extreme advance was again strengthened and the line lengthened so that the whole of Company A was now in the

"About the time the point had reached the top of the slope, and the officers and party had reached where the road parted into the held, a sharpcrack was heard from the top of the hill. An instant later, a shrill, whirring noise was heard in the air directly o\er head : this was succeeded by another and then in rapid succession a score of other sharp reports followed by the whirring, singing" noise.

"Several members of the point had advanced so far Ijeyond the crest of the hill that they could plainly see about tift\- Spanish soldiers in position to defend the approach to the city. It did not re(|uire a long-drawn-out disaission to determine what the noises were, and it did not require an eloquent appeal for the men to dodge behind trees, rocks and cactus bushes. It was the report of the deadly Mauser that the boys had heard and the disturbances in the air were made by the leaden messengers that had called home the sons of Columbia at Santiago a few brief weeks before.

"Just who was the object of the first fire will probabl_\- never be known, but whoe\'er he was he may congratulate himself upon the fact that the Spaniard who fired it was not an expert in the use of a rifle, for not a memlaer of the adxanced guard was struck at an\- time. The honor of firing the first shot at the enemv. howe\'er, is laid claim to bv private Charles Hughey, a member of the company which had reached the hilltop.

"The members of this squad returned this fire of the Spaniards, and then slowly retreated to the cuhert referred to above. Every one present, as a matter of course, sought shelter and then a steady fire was poured into the place where the enemy was supposed to l)e. This was a matter that had to be guessed at, for there was not a Spanish soldier in sight and as thev used smokeless powder, there was nothing to mark their position. It was reasoned, in as mucin as the Inillets were whizzing either directlv over the heads of the men. or striking tlie gravel in the immediate vicinitv, and that while the}' were at the foot of the hill, those who were firing were surely somewhere at the top, certainlv not behind the ridge. The (:}r(ler was. therefore, to shoot at the top of the hill or at anv object that might be used as a shelter for the lurking Spaniards.

"As evidence of the fact that the S])aniards were over-shooting their mark, if indeed thev were shooting at the .\mericans nearest them, is the circumstance before mentioned that not a single member of the extreme advance was wounded. Private John O. Cordner. however, a memlier of Company C, the command which now acted as support to the advance guard.

was wounded in the riglit knee. The ball passed directly through the limb, without striking any bones, but at the time the regiment was mustered out of the service of the United States the wound had not entirely healed. About the same time Clarence Riffle, a pri\ate in A Company, was struck by a Mauser, the bullet passing through the fleshy part of both legs. His wound, like that of private Cordner, was not healed at the time of his discharge.

"On the 8th day of August, the regiment had another engagement with the Spaniards, in a reconnoissance toward Caye_\'. in which five members of the regiment were wounded, and the enemy was dri\-en from the field and up the mountain. On the 13th of August the regiment made another reconnoissance toward Pablo Nasquez, under command of General Haines, where it was thought the Spaniards were in strong force in the mountains, toward San Juan. The regiment moved forward carefully, with a strong advance guard, and under a boiling sun. About noon, or soon after, a dispatch was received from General Brooke with the information that a peace protocol had been signed.

"The regiment did garrison duty until about the middle of September at Guavama and detachments were then dispatched to different points on the island, and soine of the companies were ordered to other islands. Company D was ordered to Humacoa in the east part of the island, and they raised the American flag at Humacoa, Yabacao, Nanzabo Juncos Piedras and San Lorenzo, and remained on duty in that district until October 25.

"During all the period from about the latter part of September until relieved, as above noted. Captain Sellers had full command of the district and he, with his company, had some thrilling experiences with the natives. The Captain was highly commended for his judicious administration during that time. AIan\- of the natives were very bitter, and opposed the new administration of (ifficers and. in some instances, were treacherous and vicious. The company remained on duty at Humacoa until the latter part of October, when the regiment arrived on the United States steamship "Chester." and the company was taken aboard. That transport sailed from San Juan, October 29, and arrived at New York, November 3. The regiment was, soon after arrival, ordered by President ]\IcKinley to report at Washington, where it was reviewed and recei\-ed at the White House by the President. The regiment arri\-ed in Columbus November 6, were gi\en sixty days furlough, and were mustered out January 20, 1S99.

"The above is Init a brief sketch of the services of Company D during the Spanish-.Xmerican war, but it may furnish some data for the future historian to write fullv an interesting account of their ser\-ices.'"

Suffice it to say that their hist<;)rv is identical with the history of the regiment. They obeyed orders and did tlieir duty, from muster in to muster out, and their relatives, neighbors and friends may well take a just pride in the record of their services. Exery guardsman who has at any time been a member of the Fourteenth or Fom"th Regiment, either before the Spanish War, during or since that war. ma\' take pride in the fact that the regiment was under fire during that war. antl was the only Ohio organization so fa\'ored.

Roster Of Comp.Xnv D, Fourth Regiment

There were others in the county, as well as those natives of Union county, who served in this war, having enlisted in various parts of the countrv. Clair Inginan, who subsequent to the war was first lieutenant of Company E, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, saw service in the Philippines.

The Grand Army Of The Republic

A post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized at Marysxille, August 2^. 1881. This post was named Ransom Reed Post, in honor of the first soldier from Cnion county who lost his life in the war for the preservation of the Union. Ransom Reed was a private in Company F, Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, who fell at the battle of Carnifix Ferry, September 10, 1861. The number of the post is 113, Department of Ohio. The post was organized and instituted by Captain D. Tanning, of Columbus. Ohio, mustering oflicer. The charter members were W. L. Curry, ^L C. Lawrence, John Hobensack. Andrew Sabine. J. V. Pearse, W. P. Anderson, S. G. Fry, S. M. Landon, D. T. Elliott, D. W. Ayers. J. L. Cameron. W^illiam yi. W'inget, J. B. Cole, G. P. Robinson, l^>ank Filler, T. P. Freeman, William H. Robb, William M. Liggett, Homer Thrall. John L. Porter. I. X. Hamilton, Thomas Martin. T. S. Mullen, B. W. Keyes. D. Webb, John Wiley, \\\ E. Baxter, W. H. Robinson and William Torrence. Of these twenty-nine old veterans, only seven survi\-e, John Hobensack, Dr. Andrew Sabine, J. L. Cameron, Homer Thrall, J. B. Cole. T. S. Mullen and ^^^ L. Curry.

Up to 1882, there had been nuistered into this post two hundred and twentv comrades. Ten were transferred to Plain City when a post was organized there. 0\er seventy different regiments and commands were represented in the membership of the ]:)ost at ^Nlarysx'ille.

The object set forth for organizing such a society of old Civil War comrades is as follows: "X(j officer or comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic shall in any manner use this organization for partisan purposes. and no discussion of partisan questions shall be allowed at any of its meetings, nor shall any noniinations for political office be made."

The objects specifically are "the preservation of the spirit of comradeship, to preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united tu surpress the Rebellion, and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead."

To secure the last mentioned object, a dav is set apart, the 30th of Aiay, to be observed as Decoration Day. The post has an impressive service to be used on that da}*. Mutual helpfulness is another object set forth. "To» assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen." It is the design of each post to accumulate a fund to be used for charitable purposes. And finally the Grand Army of the Republic stands for the promotion of loyalty to the nation, "'l^i maintain true allegiance to the United States of .America, based upmi a parammnu respect for and fidelity to the national Constitution and laws, to discountenance whate\er tends to weaken loyalty, incites to insurrection, treason or rebellinn or in any manner impairs the efficiency and permanency of our free institutions : and to encourage the spread of universal rights and liberty and justice to all men." Xo man can become a member of the Grand Army of the Republic who has ever borne arms against the government, or upon whom "the stain of. treason rests." All honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the war for the preser\ation of the nation are eligible to membership. .\11 distinction of rank is done away with. The title hv which all menibers are addressed in meetings is "Comrade."

The several constituted bodies of the association are known as the post, the state organization or department, and the national organization or encampment, known as "Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic."

Ransom Reed Post, Marys\ille, now has a membershi]^ of eighty-eight. The officers are as follows: Commander, Marion Hopkins: vice-commander, .Augustus Turner, senior vice-commander, I. J. AlclNlnnagal ; W. AI. Haines, chaplain: quartermaster, James Guy: officer of the day, \\'. H. Organ: instructor. O. M. Scott: surgeon, Edward Malone: officer of the guard, W. H. Owston : sergeant major, S. E. Mclntire: (piartermaster sergeant, Ralph Bonnett: representatives to department encampment, Harrison M'cVey, \V. H. Organ and James Guy.

Richwood and Milford Center. The post at Richwood was organized in April, 1884, by Capt. W. L. Curry. It was named Livingston No. 425, and was named for John Livingston, wlio had the honor of having eight sons in the Union army. The only posts now in e.xistence are the ones at Marysville, Richwood and Byhalia, the latter only having five or six members left. A Sons of Veteran camp was established at Marysville years ago, but lack of general interest upon the part of the soldiers' sons caused it to disband.

It was after a heated campaign for locations that the state finally located its first armorv for National (niard purposes at Marysville in 1909. The building was to cost not less than fifteen thousand dollars and was to stand on land furnished b\- the citizens of the place, which cost three thousand dollars. The city was also to do much toward furnishing the building. It stands on East Fourth street near Main street. The city had to issue bonds in order to secure this public building. It is a red brick structure, a story and one-half high, with a basement. The Grand Army post have a splendid rest and post room in this building and there is a spacious drill hall for the local company.

A Noted Union C.Walry Raid

[In response to the desire of many L^nion count}- men who served with Colonel Curry during the Civil War, the following thrilling story from his ))en is reproduced. It is the story of the raid of the Union cavalry, commanded Ijv Gen. Judson Kilpatrick. around the Confederate army in Atlanta, .\ugust, 1864. - Publishers.]

In military parlance, cavalry is called the "eyes of the army," and the life of a cavalryman in time of war is one of constant activity, hard and dangerous service. During the winter season, when the main army is snugly ensconsed in winter quarters, cavalry is the most active and has the hardest service to perform, as it is kept constantly patroling and scouting. All these movements of the cavalry arm of the service require vigilance, secrecy, energy, promptness and dash ; and whether the command is composed of a ])!atoon or division, the commander must not halt or hesitate in an emergency, but must act immediately and supply by strategy what he lacks in numbers.

During the last two years f)f the War of the Rebellion, cavalry officers were composed largely of young men, wlio were at the l>eginning of the war privates or non-commissioned officers. The older officers could but with rare exceptions endure the hard duty of picket guard, routs, raids, and scouts of fift}' and si.xty miles a day. which were of usual occurrence. Many of the most dangerous expeditions were under command of officers of the line, penetrating the lines of the enemy with a company or squadron, capturing outposts and couriers with dispatches that were of vital importance. Scores of instances of bra\'ery and heroism in the rank and file could be related that would do honor to a Kilpatrick or a Custer, and instances of individual adventure and heroic deeds in the caxalry ser\ice could l)e multiplied by the hundred.

As an instance of the importance of a cavalry expedition ordered by General Sherman on the Atlanta campaign, and how little the loss of life was considered, the order to (Jen. Kenner Garrard, bearing date of July 20, 1864, read in part as follows: "I do wish to inspire all cavalry with my conviction that caution and prudence should be but a small element in their character." "It is a matter of \-ital importance and must be attempted with great \'igor." "The importance of it will justify the loss of a- quarter of your command." Garrard's division numbered four thousand men, and the order meant that one thousand men should be sacrificed in this one raid, rather than it should fail.

A cavalrv raid is defined in a military sense "to l)e an incursion or irruption of mounted troops into the theater of war occujiied 1iy or under tlie control of the enemy."

One of the main duties of cavalry in time of war is to make raids in the rear of the enemy's army. These raids, when successful, always add to the efficiencv and raise the morale of the cavalry arm of the service and give forces engaged confidence for any expedition, however hazardous it might seem.

In fact, the cavalryman is always in his element when on reconnoissance or raid, teeming with dash and ad\enture. Cavalrv raids have been in vogue more or less from the earliest times of which we have any history of the ca\'alr\- ser\ice. yet in no prior war was it practiced to the extent that it was during the War of the Rebellion.

There is no kind of service that so develops the skill of the officer and the endurance and intelligence of the soldier as the cavalrv raid. From the time he cuts loose from the main army until the object of the raid is accomplished, the commander must depend on his own resources, as he has nothing to draw from, and his command is jjeing constantly weakened bv contact with the enemy. His men are being killed and wounded; his horses are exhausted, or killed by hard marching or by the bullets of the enemy; his ammunition is being rapidly consumed; his rations eaten up, and there is a continuous destruction of his forces.

The object of the raid is to destroy the enemy's communication by burning bridges, filling up tunnels and railroad cuts with rocks and timber; cutting telegraph wires ; burning ties ; heating and destroying rails ; burning and destroying army supplies; capturing railroad and bridge guards, and creating general consternation and ha\oc in rear of the enemy's lines. Raiding expeditions must carr_\- all their ammunition from the start, as they have no resources from whicli to draw should their ammunition become exhausted. Therefore, they usually a\'oid all large bodies of the enemy, excepting those in their immediate front, who are endea\'oring to repel the expedition from striking some point on a railroad or depot of supplies.

They capture all prisoners that come in their line of march, but the prisoners are usually paroled, as the command moves so rapidly, often marching fifty and sixty miles a day, that prisoners can not be guarded if they are mounted, and if on foot cuuid not march the distance required; besides, all the good mounts captured are needed for the dismounted troopers of the command, as many horses become exhausted, while others are killed or wounded. by the enemy.

When prisoners are captured on such raids, they are taken to the commanding officer and cjuestioned very persistently as to their commands, strength, name of commanding officer, and any other information that may be of interest or benefit to the commander.

.\o rule can be adoi)ted for the time and place of raids, but the commander must be go\erned by the de\-elopments of the campaign. If he sees an oppiirtunitv that he may think desirable to draw the enemy's cavalry away from the front, before making an attack in force, if he has the cavalry to spare from his own army, a raid may be made in the enemy's rear; or if he fears the enemy will receive reinforcements, he may attempt to cut his communications. .\11 these matters must be governed by circumstances, and tlie cnmniander considers carefully all the surroundings, and whether or not the sacrifice will justify sending out the expedition.

One of the most daring and successful raids made by the cavalry of tlie Arnu' of the C.'umlierland during the Civil War was the raid made by two di\i->ions of cavalry, cunimanded by (len. Judson Kilpatrick, in August, 1864, and as an officer of the i''irst (Jhio Volunteer Ca\'alry, I participated with my regiment in that expedition.

General Sherman's magnificent army moxed out from Chattanooga JMay 5. 1864, and the Confederate army, commanded by Gen, Joseph E. Johnston, had been dri\en back steadily through the mountain passes and across the rivers of northern Georgia during that great battle summer of 1864 - the "one hundred days under fire from Chattanooga to Atlanta." The battle of bloody Kenesaw Mountain had been fought, the Chattahoochee river had been crossed, and by the luiddle of August the Union army was closing in around the "(iate City."

During the month of July two ca\'alry e.xpeditions had been sent out, one under General Stonenian from the left tlank, and the other under Gen. Ed. McCook from the right flank. Neither of these expeditions had been as successful as (Jeneral Sherman had hoped for, as McCook's division had been repulsed by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and Stoneman, with about one thousand of his command, had been captured. Sherman, therefore, decided to make another effort to break the enem3''s communication before beginning his grand flank movement to the right. General Kilpatrick, who had been severely wounded early in the compaign at the battle of Resaca, had just returned to the front, and was chafing to again be in the saddle for a raid full of dash and danger, was selected to command the two divisions of cavalry detailed for this hazardous undertaking.

The expedition was composed of five brigades of cavalry and two batteries of artillery. The Third Cavalry Division, commanded by Brigadier- General Kilpatrick, was, on .August 17, encamped on the Chattahoochee river at Sandtown, on the right and rear of the army. The three brigades were present; Lieut-Col. Robert Klein commanding the First Brigade, composed of the Third Indiana, Major Alfred Gaddis. and the Fifth Towa, Major J. Morris "^'oung. Lieut. -Col. l-'ickler A. Jones commanding the Second Brigade, composed of the Eighth Indiana. Major Thomas Herring, commanding: Second Kentucky, Major Owen Starr commanding, and Tenth Ohio, Lieut. -Col. Thomas W. .Sanderson commanding. Col. Eli H. Murray, commanding the Third Brigade, composed of the Ninety-second Illinois Mounted Tnfantrv, Col. Smith D. Atkins commanding; the Third Kentucky, Lieut.- Col. Robert TL King commanding; Fifth Kentucky, Col. Oliver L. Baldwin commanding ; the Tenth Wisconsin Battery, Capt. Yates V. Beebe commanding.

The First and Second Brigades and a battery of artillery of Gen. Kenner Garrard's division were ordered to report to General Kilpatrick at Sandtown, to engage in the moxement against the Macon Railroad. The First

Brigade, commanded by Col. Robert H. G. Minty, consisted of the Fourth Michigan Cax'alr}'. commanded by Major Frank W. Mix; Seventh Pennsylvania, Major William H. Jennings; Fourth United States, Capt. James B. Mclntyre. The Second Brigade, commanded by Col. Eli Long, consisted of the I'irst Ohio, Col. Beroth B. Eggleston ; Third Ohio, Col. Charles B. Seidel; Fourth Ohio, Lieut. -Col. Oliver P. Robie, and the Chicago (Illinois) Board of Trade Battery, Lieut. (George Robinson commanding.

The whole command, numbering about 4,800 men, was composed of veterans of long service, well drilled, splendidly officered, and was ready and anxious for any expedition which had promise of adventure and fighting.

The brigades of AIint\- and Long were on the extreme left of the Union army at Buck Head, and marched all night on the 17th of August in the rear of the army and joined the Third Division at Sandtown. on the right of the Union army, on the morning of the iSth of August at sunrise, and General Kilpatrick assumed command and turned over the command of his division to Col. Eh H. Murray, who in turn turned over the command of his brigade to Col. Robert L. King.

We lay in bivouac all ilay, and on the same evening at sundown we were in the saddle, and the order from General Kilpatrick was read, stating that we "had been selected as the last hope of the commanding general to break the enem}-'s communication, and we must go forth with the determination to do or die."

General Sherman, in a communication to General Thomas, bearing date of August 17. said: 'T beg you will convey the following orders to govern Kilpatrick in his movements on the Macon road. It is not a raid, but a deliberate attack for the purpose of so disabling that road that the enemy will be unable to supply his army at Atlanta. He will have his own division of cavalrv and two brigades from General (^^arrard's division. \\'ith these lie will mn\-e tomorrow night, aiming to cross the West Point road between Red Oak and l-'airburn. If he has time, he should remove a small section nf the road without using fire, simply to lessen the chances of an infantry force being sent to intercept his return. He should move then in force to the nearest point on the Macon road, about Jone.sborough, and should destroy as much of that road as he possibly can do, working steadily until forced to take to his arms and horses fi:)r battle.

"He should avoid battle with infantry or artillery, but may safely fight any cavalry he encounters, and all the army should so engage the attention of the enemy that he can not detach infantry as against General Kilpatrick. Instruct the General to advise at the earliest possible moment of his success.

"I wish to notify General Garrard to have one of his brigades ready to make a demonstration, withcjut risking battle on our left, and have this effective part of two brigades, under Long, if possible, ready to move this night by moonlight by face's Ferry and Sandtown bridges, to operate with Kilpatrick on our right."

Strong demonstrations were niatle along the fr(jnt of the L'nion army as soon as the command drew out from Sandt(j\\n. liy infantry and artillery, making feints bv the display of troops as if to assault on both the 19th and 20th. General Garrard with hi^ remaining cavalry force made a demonstration tt) the left toward Stone Mountain, antl drew a force (_)f Ho(j(rs army in that direction. Gen. Jefferson C. Daxis. with his division of the Fourteenth Corps, moved out from the right and drove the enemy across the West Point Railroad and destroyed a portion of the track.

In spite of all these aggre-^sive movements of Sherman's army. Hood detached a division of his army to attack Kilpatrick's cavalry, which was seen from the signal station, as shown by the following dispatch :

"Howard's Headquarters, August 20, 1864 - 5 p. ni. "General Schofield : The f<]llowing just received from signal officer: '.A tiain of fifteen freight cars just left Atlanta, loaded with troops inside and outside: tops i:>f cars were crowded.'

Every officer and soldier in the command realized that the proposed expedition was very perilous, and the chances were that many of us would be either killed or wounded, or. what seemed worse, land in a rebel prison. -After the order was read, the command was gi\en for "the pack train to fall out and all troopers whose horses were lame or exhausted should go to the rear." In a few minutes, and just as the sun was dropping behind the mountain, the command was given, "Right forward, fours right!" and we were off on what proved to be one of the hardest cavalr}- raids during our four years' service. Soon after flusk we struck the enemy's pickets, which proved to be the advance of Ross' and Ferguson's brigades of cavalry, and- a brisk skirmish was kept up all night, and during a greater part of the time we were dismounted, as the enemy would throw up barricades at ever_\- good position at bridges or along the edge of a wood, and they gave us so much trouble that instead of reaching the West Point Railroad at midnight, as we intended, we did not strike it until just at daybreak of the 19th. King's brigade of the Third Di\ision had the advance during the night, but before daylight and before we struck the West Point Railroad near Fairburn, King's brigade swung to the left, and Jones" brigade of the Third Division had the advance when we reached the railroad. When the railroad was reached Long's brigade dismounted and commenced tearing up and destroying the railroad track near and southwest of Fairburn.

Cavalry, when they become accustomed to this kind of work, would tear up a track very rapidly. When the order is given to dismount, number one. two and three dismount, and number four always holds horses, remains mounted, and leads the other three horses. Number three hands his reins to number four ; number two ties his reins to the bit of number three, and number one to reins of number two. The men then form along one side of the track in close order, and at command grasp the rails and ties and turn the track over, and sometimes a half mile of tracks is turned before a joint is broken. The men move along rapidly, and many rods of the track will be standing up on edge. If there is time, the rails are then torn loose from the lies bv picks and axes, carried for that purpose ; the ties are piled up and the rails on top of them, and then the ties are fired ; thus the rails are heated in the middle and bent out of shape b}' l)eing twisted around trees or telegraph poles, are left there to cool, and no dovibt some of them are there yet to mark the trail of the cavalry raiders. The brigade destroyed about a mile of track, when we were attacked by the cavalry and artillery of the enemy in both the rear and left flank. The brigade was ordered to mount, and galloped forward to join the First Brigade, under flinty, which had crossed the track and had the advance.

T-ong's brigade formed a line of battle facing toward the left, and as we began to ad\'ance a battery galloped into position on a little knoll to the ri.ght of Dur line, just at this moment General Kilpatrick. who had been giving orders to the commander of the battery, came dashing along in front of our line, mounted on an Arabian horse, looking the ideal cavalryman, lie directed Colonel Long to move his brigade forward at a gallop, and we dashed across a field in front, over ditches and fences, and into the woods, routing the enemy and taking a number of ])risoners.

Still farther to the left the First Pirigade. under Minty. had a sharp fight with cavalry, mounted infantry and a battery of artillery, which had been carefully masked, and the fighting was terrific for a short time. The Fleventh Wisconsin Batterv was brought into action, shelled the woods to

During all of this time General Kilpatrick's headquarters' band mounted on white horses near the railroad track, where the work of destruction was being prosecuted vigorousl)-, was enlivening the scene with patriotic airs, which was rather an unusual innovation during a fight.

As the real objective point was the Atlanta and Macon Railroad, as soon as the left of the column was cleared of the enemy harassing the flank, that part of the command which had been participating in the fight joined the main column and moved forward toward Jonesborough, Long's brigade having the advance, while Minty's brigade was in close support in column, and the Third Division was protecting the rear and flanks.

W'e struck the enemy in a short time and attacked them at once, pushing them back slowly but steadily. The country was thickly wooded, and a very bad place for cavalry to operate. The enemy would throw up barricades at every favorable position, such as woods, streams or ratines, firing on the advance from ambuscades. The progress of the column was much retarded, and the enemy made every efl'ort to keep our column back from the railroad until reinforcements could l^e mo\ed down from Atlanta. About noon the advance halted and dismounted in a thick piece of woods to let the horses rest, and to eat a hard-tack, raw-pork sandwich. The men were all sitting or lying down, when all at (ince the rebels fired a volley and charged the advance guard, dri\ing them back on the reserves before we could mount.

Colonel Long ordered the brigade forward, dismounted and on the double-quick, and the bang of the carbines was soon ringing out and the rebel horsemen were suddenly checked and sent scurrying back through woods and fields. The l)rigade then advanced, dismounted, with a strong skirmish line in front and flankers to protect the column, as the rebel cavalry kept a continuous fire from the woods to the right and left. The rebel force was pushed back steadily until we reached Flint river, and on the east side of this stream they had thrown up works, dug rifle-pits, and had a strong position.

As soon as our advance appeared a rebel battery opened up and the Chicago Board of Trade Battery was put in position, and after a lively artillerv duel the rebel battery was silenced. The First and Second Brigades of the Second Division dismounted, advanced some distance in the woods on the west side of the stream, where we halted, and both of our batteries, with eight guns, were put in position on a hill in our rear, and at a signal they opened up by vollevs for several rounds, and as soon as the batteries ceased tiring the two brigades rushed forward with a yell, and the rebel line left their works and rifle-pits and fell back rapidly toward Jonesborough.

\\'hen the bridge was reached the planks had been torn up, and there was nothing left but the stringers, on which the First and Third Ohio and Fourth Michigan crossed. As we crossed, Kilpatrick himself came up, and was ordering the men to jump into the stream after the planks to repair the bridge. The dismounted men moved forward, and reached Jonesborough about sundown. The bridge across the stream was soon repaired, and the artiller\-, mounted men and led horses were closed up by the time we reached the town.

We had some skirmishing in the outskirts of the town, and to the south on the opposite side of the town a strong force of rebel cavalry was drawn up in line of battle in plain view, and the officers could be seen dashing to and fro forming the lines. Our lines were straightened up, and, moving forward, the rear guard of the enemy dismounted, opened up fire on our skirmishers from houses and buildings, and a brisk fire was kept up from a brick church. A section of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery came dashing down the street up to the skirmish line, unlimbered, and sent a few shells into the church, ma'cing the bricks and mortar fly, and the church was evacuated in short order.

The sound of the guns and scream of the shells was sweet music to the ears of the skirmishers, and they moved forward with a shout, and the bang! bang! of their sharp-ringing carbines swelled the chorus as the mayor and a few citizens appeared in the main street with a white flag to surrender the town and claim protection for the citizens.

The line advanced rapidly through the town, the rebels fell back along the railroad, and we soon had undisputed possession. The shells from the artillery had fired the cotton bales, used as barricades around the railroad building, and soon both cotton and buildings were blazing, and the water tank at the station had been shivered by a shell. Our men took possession of the telegraph office, and it was reported that an old operator in our command caught a dispatch stating that reinforcements were on the way from Atlanta, which was verv important news to Kilpatrick. Jonesborough is about twenty-five miles south from Atlanta, and a considerable amount of clothing and commissary stores were found, with whisky and other necessary munitions of war. All of these supplies that we did not need for immediate use were burned and destroyed.

,^s Hood's whole army was now between us and Sherman's army, it was not particularly desirable for less than five thousand cavalrymen to re- main in this position \ery long, ami the destruction of the railroad, which ran through the main street of the town, was commenced at once. Tearing up the track and destroying the rails and ties was done principally by the Third Division, as they had not been engaged in the fight when we entered the town. The Second Brigade formed a line of battle south of the town and across the railroad; the First Brigade was formed facing Atlanta, and skirmishing was kept up all night. It was a wild night and a most graphic scene. The sky was lighted up with burning timbers, buildings and cotton bales; the continuous bang of carbines, the galloping of staff officers and orderlies up and down the streets carrying orders or dispatches, the terrified citizens peering out of their windows, the constant marching of troops changing position, Kilpatrick's headquarters' band discoursing national airs, with the shouts of men - all made up a weird scene never to be forgotten by the troopers who were on that raid.

By midnight about two miles of the road had been effectually destroyed, and in attempting to mo\e farther south along the road a strong force of infantrv was found posted behind barricades, with timber cut in front. This position could not ha\'o been taken without a hard fight and heavy loss, and Kilpatrick then determined to withdraw from Jonesborough, make a detour to the east and strike the road again farther south. The movement was commenced about two o'clock on the morning of the 20th by Murray's division and Minty's brigade of the Second Division marching on the McDonough road to the east, and the Second Brigade, under Colonel Long, remaining in the barricades to hold the infantry in check. The Second Brigade withdrew just as the first streaks of dawn began to appear in the east, and they were followed up closelv b\- the enemy, both cavalry and infantry, the First Ohio holding the rear. After we had marched about five miles, the advance regiments halted to feed their horses, and the enemy made an impetuous attack on the rear guard, and one battalion was dismounted, throwing up barricades hurriedly of logs and rails, and prepared to give the enemy a warm reception.

The enemv attacked the barricades, and as their line was much longer, the battalion was outflanked on both sides, and the balls were soon whizzing from the flanks, and, as the Johnnies would say, they took us "end ways." Although heavilv outnumbered, this battalion of the First Ohio held its position until reinforcements were ordered by Colonel Long, and the rebels were soon driven back in confusion toward Jonesborough. General Kilpatrick, in speaking of the fight, complimented Colonel Long for the manner in which he maneuvered his command. As Gen. Phil Kearney once said to a brigade commander W'ho reported to him during one of the great battles in Virginia, and asked as to the position his brigade should take, "Fighting Phil" replied, "Just go in anvwhere; there is lovely fighting all along the line." This seemed to be about the situation at this time.

As soon as the enemy was repulsed, Long's brigade was ordered to the front on a gallop of three or four miles toward Lovejoy Station, where we found that ^Minty's brigade, on striking the railroad, had been attacked by a heavy force of cavalry and Reynolds' division of infantry. The infantry line was concealed in a railroad cut, and the Seventh Pennsylvania and the Fourth L'nited States Cavalry dismounted, drove the enemy's line in, and were within twenty or thirty rods of the railroad, when the infantry line raised up, delivered a Aery destructive volley, and, rushing from the cut, drove the line of Mint}-'s brigade back in considerable confusion. Just at this moment Long's brigade arrived on the field with the Chicago Board of Trade Battery. The brigade was dismounted, formed a line of battle, and by this time some of the dismounted men of Minty's brigade came rushing back through our line, and it was not safe to fire, as it would endanger the Haxs of some of our own men. Although the balls from the rebel infantry were whizzing on all sides, the oflicers of Long's brigade made every effort to keep their men from firing until the rebel line was almost upon us, but when our troops did open up, the rebel line was repulsed and driven back with hea\y slaughter. The Chicago Board of Trade Battery was up on the front line, and did excellent execution, and the rebel infantry fell back into the railroad cut. During this fight the lines were so close together that the officers of the First and Second Brigades used their revolvers with good execution.

Our ammunition was exhausted, and a detail was sent back to the ammunition train and got a supply in boxes, and the boxes were broken open with stones, and the cartridges were distributed in a few moments, much to the delight of the troopers.

The Second DiA-ision held this line for an hour, and during this time staff officers were busilv engaged in forming the led horses in columns of fours facing the rear. One of the gims of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery was disabled in a cornfield jusc to the left of the First Ohio, and it was hauled to the rear by some of the troopers of the Second Division. When the Second Division had driven the rebel line back, and the firing had about ceased. Colonel Long and Minty were ordered to withdraw their brigades and fall back to the led horses, a few hundred yards in the rear.

to look desperate, as our aninuinitiuii had already been pretty well exhausted, and we must cut our way through the lines. The distance between the two lines of the enemy could not have been more than three-fourths of a mile. When the Second Division was fighting along the railroad and near the station, King's brigade was in support of the rear and right and had some hot work. Jones' brigade was protecting the rear, and was hard pressed by the divisions of Ross, Ferguson, and Martin, and kept up a continuous fight for two hours all along the lines. The rattling volleys from the front and rear echoed back and forth alternately, mingled with the shouts and cheers from both the Union and Rebel lines.

At this critical time the situation was as follows : In our rear were two brigades of Clebourne's division of infantry, the cavalry brigades of Ross and Ferguson, and about a thousand state troops which had been sent from below Lovejoy Station, and on the right were the remaining brigades of Clebourne's division. Martin's and Jackson's brigades of cavalry were on the left, while Reynolds' division of infantry, with a brigade of infantry and a six-gun battery sent up from Macon, were along the railroad at Lovejoy Station, with twelve pieces of artillery sent down from Atlanta. A total of five brigades of infantry, eighteen pieces of artillery, si.x brigades of cavalry, in all a force of more than ten thousand of all arms surrounding our two divisions of cavalry, numbering less than five thousand.

Kilpatrick, finding that he was completely surrounded, ordered his di\'ision and brigade commanders to cut their way out. His cavalrv had been up to this time fighting almost entirely as infantry, but thev soon were going to be given the privilege of drawing their sabers from their rusty scabbards for a cavalry charge, and the opportunity was hailed with delight. Saddle girths were tightened, revolvers examined, saber belts and spurs adjusted, and all equipments were made taut for the shock and melee of the charge. When all was in readiness and the order was gi\'en to mount, many a brave trooper sprang into his saddle for the last time and rode to his death in that ^vild charge, cheering bis comrades on to the front as he fell.

Kilpatrick, a cavalry general, remembering the mistakes which had been made on a former expedition for the same purpose, instead of scattering his troops, massed them. The brigades of Minty and Long were formed on the right of the road, and one regiment of Minty 's brigade formed in the road. The Third Division, under Colonel IMurray, formed on the left of the road, all facing toward McDonough, while the artillery, ambulances filled with wounded, and ammunition wagons, were formed in the road with orders to follow up the charging columns as closely as possible. The troops were formed in columns of fours or platoons with the proper intervals, as it was thought best to strike the rebel line and pierce it in several places rather than charge in line, as it was a long distance to charge, and in some places the ground was cut up by ditches and washouts, with two or three fences between our forces and the rebel lines.

During the time the troops were forming the surgeons and ambulance corps were busy gathering up the wounded, and caring for them as best they could. The rebels had formed two or three lines with infantry behind barricades of fence rails and logs, as it seems they had anticipated a charge, and they were not disappointed in their expectations. When our troops were forming two batteries opened up on our lines from the front, and the infantry was closing up from our now rear from the railroad. When all was ready e\er\- eye was turned intently toward the line of barricades in front, from whence shells were now coming thick and fast, and through this line and over these barricades we must cut our way out, or surrender, and, perhaps, starve in Andersonville.

Draw saber! and forty -five hundred sabers ring out as they are drawn from their scabbards, the reins are tightened, the horses are excited, with nostrils extended as if they "snifYed the battle afar off."

It was a glorious sight, with horses stamping and champing the bits as if eager for the fray, standards and guidons flung to the breeze, with the dashing here and there of staff officers carrying orders, the serious face of the commander, the stern, quick commands of the officers as the squadrons are forming. Many of the lioys who witnessed and participated in that charge, but whose hair is now silvered with gray, can feel the flush of youth again mount their cheeks, and the blood course more rapidly through their veins, as they go back in memory to the day they charged with Kilpatrick, August 20. 1864.

The command "Forward!" is given, the bugles ring out "Trot! Gallop! Charge!" in quick succession, and the columns swept forward under the spur with a veil, scaling fences, jumping ditches, in that wild and reckless charge: the shells from the batteries were sweeping the lines, while troopers and horses were falling on every side.

The First Brigade struck the rebel line at and just to the right of the road, and Long's brigade struck farther to the right, and Capt. W. H. Scott. of the l-'irst Ohio, fell mortally wounded in front of one of the guns of a rebel batter\-. ^^''hen our columns struck the barricades, the rebels retreated in great confusion, but a lieutenant, commanding a section of artillery, who gave his name as Young, was mortally wounded just in front of where Captain Scott fell, as he was attempting to iire one of his pieces after all of his men had deserted their posts. Both brigades urged their horses over the barricades, cutting right and left. Many of the prisoners had saber cuts on their hands, arms and heads, and it is estimated that from six to eight hundred prisoners were sabered. Infantry, cavalry, led horses and artillery were fleeing in confusidu, and at one time we had at least one thousand prisoners, Ijut they nearly all escaped in our rapid march that dark night following.

After tliis long charge over broken ground, ditches, fences, and woods, the regiments and brigades were considerably broken up, as many horses had been shot, troopers wounded or killed, and some horses falling in a ditch that ive crossed were with great difficulty extricated, so that many of the men were dismounted.

Ik' tore Long"s brigade could get into position, as Colonel Long had been ordered to co\er the retreat, Minty's brigade and the Third Division having moved out on the ]vIcDonough road. Long's brigade was furiously attacked by Pat Clcbournc's division of infantry, and a battery of artillery, and this fight lasted about an hour, with a part of the brigade dismounted. In this assault Colonel Long was severely wounded, but rode his horse to the rear, supported on either side by two mounted orderlies from his escort.

The First Ohio was forming on some high ground just as Colonel Long rode to the rear, pale and bleeding. As he passed by the regiment he smiled and bowed, and was gi^-en a rousing cheer by the bo}'s. The Third Ohio was still fighting, dismounted, and the brigade was falling back by alternate regiments, and just at this time the Chicago Board of Trade BatterA' came galloping back, dashed through a gate and into the dooryard of a plantation house on the opposite side of the road from where the First Ohio was forming. On the long porch in front of this house there were twelve or fifteen women and children wringing their hands, while some were crying, others were praying.

The batter'.- opened up at once, and the rebel battery in our rear soon got range and sent the shells thick and fast, and at least one of them struck the roof of the house, thus adding to the terror of the women and children. While our battery was firing one of the guns burst, injuring two of the gunners. There was not a grim veteran of our command whose heart was so hardened bv the everv-dav scenes of carnage that it did not go out in sym- pathy for those mothers with their children, and who would not have freelyrisked their own life to have saved them; but no aid could be rendered those helpless ones, as no soldier could be spared from his post of duty.

The enemy was crowding the rear guard, and making a desperate effort, by shot and shell, to create a panic and stampede in the brigade. Never were the words of General Sherman more truthfully demonstrated that "War is cruelty, and you can not refine it," than by this incident. Lieutenant Bennett, who commanded the section of the battery in this fight, informed the writer the next day that all of the women and children escaped injury, which he considered almost a miracle under the circumstances, as the shells tore up the ground on all sides of the house.

Soon after Colonel Long was wounded his brigade fell back in column through the lines of Minty's brigade immediatel)' in the rear, and Minty's men covered the column during the afternoon and had some sharp skirmishes witii Clebourne's division, following up with infantry and artillery.

The whole command moved rapidly toward McDonough. Both men and horses were tired out and exhausted, and after the excitement of two days and nights of almost continuous fighting, there was a complete collapse when the fighting ceased, and then men had lost so much sleep that they seemed perfectly indifferent to all surroundings. The command marched all night in a drenching rain, but it was utterly impossible to march in any kind of order or to keep out an advance guard, as men and officers would go to sleep. In some instances the horses would halt along the road in fence corners, and the riders would either unconsciously dismount, or fall asleep until dragged out by the rear guard and compelled to mount and move on with the column. Many of them lost their hats, and no doubt others were taken prisoners by the enemy, and the column moved on silently, horses exhausted, half of the men and officers asleep, and the night as dark as pitch. About two or three o'clock in the morning of the 2Tst the column halted.

W'e were ordered to unsaddle, as we had not unsaddled since leaving Sandtown on the evening of the i8th, and as soon as the saddles were removed the men tumbled down among the trees on the wet ground at their horses' heads, and were soon sound asleep. We halted there until six o'clock, about three hours, then saddled. Moving on about half a mile, we found ourselves on the bank of a stream called Cotton Indian creek, at high flood, the banks full to overflowing, and no bridge. We had to swim our horses across this stream, and. as the banks were steep, there was a deep ait on either side of the stream, leading to the ford, and it was not possible to get up the bank only at one point, so that the process of crossing the stream was tedious. Picket ropes were stretched across the stream, and General Kilpatrick and his division and brigade commanders were on the bank superintending the crossing. Men, horses and mules were floundering around in the stream, and it was no doubt the tirst attempt of some of the horses to swim, and in some instances the men would get frightened, pull on the reins, and as a result many of the riders were unhorsed, and were saved only by the ropes. A number of soldiers were dr(.iwned. Fort\' or fifty horses and a number of mules were lost, and the tlismounted gun, hauled in an ammunition wagon, was abandoned. But the amjjulances, carrying nearly one hundred wounded, were all safely crossed. Ha\ing crossed this stream, we were not again troubled b\' the enemy; thev did not follow us up, as they were in no better condition for fighting than our own forces. Guns and ammunition were soaked w ith water, as every man in the command was wet above the waist after fording the creek.

The command marched on all da_\-, and ab(jut dark reached Lithonia, on the Augusta Railroad, and went into bivouac for the night, rejoicing to have the opportunit\' for a much-needed rest, as we had now been out three days and nights, Jiad only unsaddled once, and had not more than two hours' sleep, excepting wliat we had snatched in the saddle. The next day the command marched through Lattimer and Decatur, and reached our old camp at Buck Head about sundown of the 22d, having marched completely around Hood's arm\' in five days.

General lolpatrick, in his report to General Sherman after the raid, stated that the defeat of the Confederates in the charge "was the most complete rout that the rebel cavalry had sustained during the war."