Wayne County, Ohio - Chapter 12: Military History of Wayne County, 1910

Chapter 12: Military History of Wayne County

The military history of any given county is of great interest to all patriotic readers of local history. To the county this is what the national war record is to our republic. The great armies of a country must needs come from commands made up from the soldiers enlisting in the various counties of each loyal state in our Union.

But before entering into the details of the soldiery of Wayne county in the several wars carried on since its settlement by white men - the war of 1812-14 with Great Britain, the war with Mexico, the great Civil war from 1861 to 1865, and the Spanish-American war of 1898 - it may not be without profit to the reader to become posted about the forts and block houses erected prior to those wars as a protection against the savage Indian tribes, mention of which has been made elsewhere in this work.

From the date of the first settlement in this country until the establishment of peace after the war of 1812, the inhabitants were compelled to erect block houses and stockades for their immediate protection. This was done as a precaution against invading foes from the unfriendly Indians. This was made all the more a necessity after Hull's defeat and surrender, as that event much emboldened them in their bloody raids upon the handful of white settlers. Hence these block houses were found in various sections of Wayne county.

Where Mrs. B. Pope's residence stood in 1878 there was once one of these places of safety erected, and it is said to have been the largest of any in the county. It was named Fort Stidger, built by Gen. George Stidger, of Canton, in 1812, and it was a double building, covered by one roof, and had a separating hall or jiassage between the two sections. Here the different families of the town and nearby community would assemble when danger seemed imminent, and remain there during the night.

Another was built over the Killbuck, about three miles west of Wooster, on land later owned by Joshua Warner. This building was still standing, in a good state of preservation, in 1878. Mr. Warner, however, had weatherlioarded its timbers and plastered its interior walls. His family had used it for a part of their residence for sixty-five years.

Another one of the "forts" stood six miles east of Wooster, near what was called King's Tavern, and still farther on was another, near the old Andrew Lucky tavern, south of Fredericksburg but a short distance, and also on the farm later owned by Thomas Dowty, in Franklin township, similar defensive structures were provided for the protection of the settlements thereabouts. A company of soldiers was at one time quartered at the old Morgan fort. There were still others, of less magnitude and importance, at different points within AATyne county. These block houses were universally built on an eminence, by which position the surrounding country might the more easily be viewed, thus olwiating a surprise by the too sudden approach of the enemy.

In many respects these forts resembled the ordinary cabin. They were built of logs, laid one over the other and' tightly fitted, with little holes notched between them and called port-holes. Through these openings the inmates could readily point their guns and fire, at the same time being protected against the enemy's shots. With the exception of one door, there were no other modes of egress or ingress. The structure was built of solid timbers, firmly and securely fastened inside, and, like the rest of the building, sufficiently firm to resist any volley of bullets. They were usually two stories high : that portion of the building from the ground to the height of about eight feet was formed of shorter logs than the section above it, which, being constructed of longer logs, formed a projection over the lower story, which gave the occupants the chance of shooting down on their assailants, or otherwise punishing them with axes or pikes, should they attempt to climb and enter it, or apply a torch.

Revolutionary Pensioners In 184O

seventy-eight. Wayne township - John Davidson, aged eighty-four. Chippewa township - Christina Franks, aged seventy-three; Isaac Underwood, aged seventy-four. Milton township - Benjamin Foster, aged eighty-six; Benjamin Cotton, aged eighty-three. Greene township - -Conrad Metsker, aged eighty-two. East Union township - Jesse Richardson, aged eightyfour ; Simon Goodspeed, aged seventy-six. Wooster township - Robert Cain, aged seventy-seven.

The subjoined is a list of the soldiers of the war of 1812 (war with Great Britain), as shown to be residents of Wayne county, Ohio, and in force in 1878, according to the state records at Columbus:

Trouble had been had between the two republics - the United States and Mexico - growing out of certain encroachments upon the part of [Mexicans, for some time, and finally, on May i2, 1846, war was declared against our southern neighbors. The bill levying war called for fifty thousand soldiers and an appropriation of ten million dollars. War was reallv officially declared on the day following, by President James K. Polk. On September 21-23 battle of Monterey was fought, the first in importance of any in the conflict. The country manfully responded to the call for volunteers.

It is with a just pride, today, that the sons and daughters of the men who lived in Warren county can point to the fact that Wayne county did her share nolily and well. Tuesday, May 26. 1846. the Fourth Brigade, Xinth Division. Ohio Militia, was hastily mu-Stered at \\hK)ster. for the ]iuri)ose of encouraging enlistments. Over thirty on that day signed the muster rolls. Caj)t. Peter Burkett, of the Bristol Fight .\rtillery, and David Moore, of the "Wooster Guards," were present with orders to enlist a comiianv. d'he officers at the head of the list below given were chosen to command the company, which consisted of eighty-five men, and on Tuesday morning, June 9, 1846, they started for Massillon.

On the morning of their departure General Coulter, on behalf of the Wooster Cadets, presented to them a handsome flag, making an appropriate speech, which was responded to by Captain Moore. Before leaving they were mustered on the northeast corner of the public square, where the members of the company were presented with Testaments by the ladies of Wooster. The company left Massillon the night of June nth, on board two canal boats, en route for Camp Washington, near Cincinnati. They broke camp, at the place just mentioned, early July 3d, and the same day left Cincinnati on the "New Era" and "Tuscaloosa" for New Orleans. For some time they were encamped near the old General Jackson battle ground.

James D. Robison, i\I. D., of Wooster, was the first surgeon of the regiment, leaving Cincinnati July 3d for Mexico. They served in the Third Ohio Regiment (there only being three regiments), commanded by Col. Samuel Curtis, a graduate of West Point and for several years a lawyer of Wooster, and with George W. McCrook as lieutenant-colonel.

Wayne county, in common with all Ohio counties, did her part in putting down the rebellion of the people of the Southern states from 1861 to 1865. Patriotism was instilled into the people of this county by reason of the early settlers having been of the good old Revolutionary stock. It is not the province of this work to go into the causes of the Civil war. but to give some account of the men sent forth to subdue the rebellion. The part Wayne county enacted in this war was prompt and conspicuous, she having furnished from 1861 to 1865 over three thousand two hundred volunteers, not including a considerable conscript force. The volunteers were distributed among the various regiments, as follows ; One company of the Fourth Regiment; one of the Sixteenth Regiment, in the three months', and ti\e in the three years' service: one in the Fortv-first Regiment: five in the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment: three in the One Hundred and Second Regi- ment; one company in the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment; three companies in the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment of National Guards, and a detachment of thirty men in the Eighty-hfth Ohio Regiment. These were all infantry organizations. Wayne county also furnished one company fur the Ninth Ohio Cavalry, small detachments for several artillery companies, besides many iragmentary enlistments in the different infantry organizations.

Fort Sumter was fired upon April 12, i86i, and that demonstration culminated in the great civil strife that had been fomenting for many years, really over the cpiestion of slavery. Wooster shared in the patriotic excitement of the period and recruiting commenced at once.

The first public meeting of the citizens in Wooster was held at the old court house, on the evening of April i6th, when a wildly-patriotic crowd assembled. Hon. William Given was chosen chairman and James McMillen acted as secretary. Patriotic speeches were made by Judge Given, Eugene Pardee, William M. Orr and several others. Recruiting had been going on previously, however, and fifty men had enlisted through the efforts of James McMillen, Jacob Shultz and R. B. Spink,* the company - the first raised in Wayne county - being filled up that evening at the mass meeting just mentioned.

There is always much interest attached to the names of the men who first, in the true and sublime spirit of loyalty, respond to the call of their country, hence the list of this pioneer company is here appended :

Names Of The First Volunteers

On Monday, April 21, 1861, the first company left Wooster for Columbus. Excitement ran high. Flags floated from nearly all buildings, and upwards of ten thousand people lined the streets from the court house to the station, and at the depot speeches were made on behalf of the citizens of the place by Judge Given, Doctor Firestone, William M. Orr, Eugene Pardee, Benjamin Eason and others, and on the part of the volunteers by Capt. James McMillen, A. S. McClure and Levi Graybill. The company started for Columbus amid the tears and acclamations of the multitude.

Arriving at Columbus, the company was, on April 25th, incorporated with the Fourth Ohio Regiment of infantry, becoming Company E. The field officers of the regiment were: Colonel, Lorin Andrews; lieutenantcolonel, James Cantwell; major, James H. Goodman. The ranks were filled by two companies from Marion, two from Delaware, two from Mt. Vernon, two from Kenton, one from Canton and one from Wooster.

April 29th the regiment moved to Camp Dennison, and on May 4th was mustered into the three-months service by Capt. Gordon Granger, U. S. A. A few days later President Lincoln's call for three-years men was made public, whereupon the majority of the members of Company E and the regiment re-enlisted for that period, and were mustered in for three years, dating from June 5, 1861.

The regiment left Camp Dennison June 20, 1861, for West Virginia, where it participated in the campaign against Rich Mountain, under Gen. George B. McClellan. It was then ordered to New Creek, Maryland. August 9th it marched to Camp Pendleton, on the summit of the Alleghany mountains, where they encamped and fortified.

In the middle of September Lieutenant-Colonel Cantwell, with six companies of the regiment, among 'which was Company E, made an attack on the

The Fourth Ohio Regiment

Confederates at Romney, Virginia, driving them from the town in great disorder and with severe loss. They were, however, reinforced in a few hours, and on the 4th the Union forces were compelled, in considerable hurry, to evacuate the place and retreat to Fort Pendleton. John F. Barrett, of Wooster, was severely wounded in this engagement, being the first Wayne county soldier shot in the Civil war; William Cline, of Wooster, was also wounded in the same engagement.

October 26th, the same year, the Fourth Regiment, with other troops under command of General Kelley, again advanced on Romney, took the town after a short engagement, with a loss of fourteen killed and wounded, the Confederates suffering a number of killed and all their baggage, two pieces of artillery and a number of prisoners captured.

Romney was evacuated on the loth of January, and the regiment transferred to Patterson's creek, on the north branch of the Potomac, and thence in February to Paw-Paw tunnel on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, there, under General Lander, participating in the capture of Bloomery Gap, with a large number of Confederates and stores. Lander shortly after dying at Paw-Paw, Gen. James Shields took command of the division and marched on Martinsburg, which the Confederates evacuated, after destroying a large amount of railroad and other property. March nth Shields' command moved on Winchester, and on the 23d and 24th engaged Stonewall Jackson in his retreat up the Shenandoah valley. May 24th the regiment marched, via Luray, Front Royal, Chester Gap, Warrenton, Catlett's Station, to join Mc- Dowell's troops at Fredericksburg. On the 23d the regiment, with others of Shields' division, was ordered back to the valley, via Manassas Junction. It reached Front Royal on the 30th, drove the enemy from the place, released a regiment of Union soldiers they had taken, captured a large quantity of ammunition and supplies and a number of prisoners. On June 3d it moved toward Luray, and on the 7th a forced march was made by the brigade to Port Republic, reaching there in time to check the enemy and cover the retreat of a portion of Shields' division, under General Carroll.

After marching and counter-marching in the valley, the regiment was, on the 4th, ordered to Alexandria, where it embarked to join McClellan's army, then supposed to be operating against Richmond. It arrived on the last day of the Seven Days' fight, and was immediately under fire, losing several men. On the evacuation of the Peninsula by the national forces, August 16, 1862, the regiment returned to Alexandria. Capt. James McMillen was accidentally, drowned at Alexandria during the embarkation of the regiment for the Peninsula. Its next important service was at the battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862, where the regiment, as well as Company E, suffered heavily. Lieut. William Brighton of this company was killed in this engagement. May 3d the regiment participated in the fearful battle of Chancellorsville, again suffering heavy loss. Its next great battle was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the ist, 2d and 3d of July, 1863, where its losses were also very heavy. On the 4th it was one of the three regiments that drove the enemy from Cemetery Hill, after they had driven a part of the Eleventh Corps from the field and gained possession of our two batteries. Generals Hancock, Howard, Gibbon and other prominent generals witnessed this charge and gave it the highest praise.

Shortly after this terrible battle the Fourth Regiment was ordered to New York city to assist in quelling a spirit of insubordination which had manifested itself there. The Fourth was soon ordered to Alexandria and went into winter quarters at Stevensburg on the ist of December, 1863. It then participated in General Grant's campaigns and battles. Towards the close of the war, the ranks thinned by the bullets of the enemy and by disease, the company was mustered out of service, having traveled in its campaigns an aggregate of four thousand two hundred and fifty miles, and at all times maintained the highest reputation for discipline, soldierly behavior and good conduct on the battlefield. Hence it will be observed that the pioneer company of men who went forth as green, undrilled volunteers from Wayne county, proved in every instance worthy the name and fame of American soldiery.

Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Infantry

As there are still living in Wayne county many descendants of the men who wore the loyal blue as members of the gallant Sixteenth Regiment, a short description of the various campaigns of this command will be given. The second company from Wooster was organized the latter part of x^pril, 1861. Recruiting for it commenced on the 20th, and by the 25th the company was full, when the following officers were elected : Captain, George W. Bailey ; first lieutenant, Aquila Wiley ; second lieutenant, Cushman Cunningham. It joined the Sixteenth Regiment at Columbus, Ohio, April 28th. There it drilled and remained in camp at Camp Jackson several "weeks, then went to West Virginia, and took part in the battle of Phillippi, one of the first engagements of the war. The Wooster company, under command of Captain Wiley (Captain Bailey having been promoted to major), was sta- tioned at Grafton, West Virginia, and at Oakdand, Maryland, during the residue of three months' service. On the expiration of its term of enlistment the company was mustered out and returned home.

The Sixteenth Ohio Regiment, for three years' service, was organized at Camp Tiffin, near Wooster, October 2, 1861. The regimental camp was located in Quimby Grove, a short distance northwest of the present site of Wooster GMiversity. Five companies for this regiment were recruited in Wayne county, commanded respectively by Eli W. Botsford, Haniilton Richeson, Samuel Smith, George U. Harn and A. S. McClure. The field officers were: Colonel, John F. DeCourcey; lieutenant-colonel, George W. Bailey;

The regiment moved to Camp Dennison November 27, 1861, and remained there until December 19th, when it was ordered to Lexington, Kentucky. From that point it proceeded to join General Thomas' forces, then operating against Zollicoffer's command in southern Kentucky. After toilsome marches through mud and rain the regiment arrived at Somerset just in time to miss the battle of Mill Springs. The regiment remained near Somerset throughout January, 1862, when it was directed to Cumberland Ford, reaching there February 12th. Troops were assembling at the ford, under the command of Gen. George W. Morgan, to dislodge the Confederate forces occupying Cumberland Gap, a few miles distant. In March and April several reconnoisances were made in the vicinity of the gap, during which sharp skirmishings took place with the enemy. The Sixteenth lost several men, killed and wounded, during these engagements. In June Morgan's forces, composed of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee troops, succeeded in crossing the Cumberland mountains by Powell's Gap, thus effecting a lodgement in rear of Cumberland Gap and necessitating its evacuation bv the Confederates, who retreated to Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Union forces occupied the abandoned stronghold without further resistance.

At Tazewell. Tennessee, the regiment encountered Kirlw Smith's army, in motion to invade Kentucky. A sharp engagement ensued in which the Sixteenth Regiment was overwhelmed by numbers and forced to retreat to the Gap. with a severe loss in killed, wounded and captured. At Cumberland Gap the situation was now indeed serious. They were surrounded on all sides and their sup])lies cut off. General Morgan determined to abandon the Gap and retreat to the Ohio river. After a toilsome march of sixteen days through a rough mountain region, the command reached the Ohio at Greensburg, Kentucky, October 3, 1862.

The regiment was next ordered to Charleston, West Virginia, and from thence to Memphis, Tennessee, to join General Sherman's command, then being organized for the capture of Vicksburg. In December Sherman's forces moved down the Mississippi in transports, arriving at the mouth of the Yazoo on Christmas day. The troops proceeded up the Yazoo several miles, when they were disembarked and prepared to assault Vicksburg on the Chickasaw Bluff side. On December 28th the enemy was driven out of his line of riflepits in front of the bluffs, and on the 29th of December Morgan's division was ordered to assault them. The position of the Confederates was impregnable and the assault was very disastrous. The Sixteenth lost very heavily. Capt. G. U. Harn was killed; Captain Van Dorn wounded and captured; Captain Ross wounded; Captain McClure wounded and captured; Lieut. P. M. Smith wounded and captured ; Lieutenant Heckert wounded and captured ; Lieutenant-Colonel Kershner wounded and captured: Lieutenant Voorhes wounded and captured ; Captain Mills and Cunningham and Lieutenant Buchanan captured. The regiment lost in this engagement three hundred and eleven offlcers and men killed, wounded and captured.

The next service of this regiment was at Arkansas Post, in which assault it lost several men. It then returned to Young's Point, on the Mississippi river, and from there it moved to Milliken's Bend, where it encamped until the 6th of April, 1863. The regiment then participated in Grant's campaign against Vicksburg, in the battle of Champion Hills, Thompson's Hill, Black River Bridge, and the assault on the encroachments of Vicksburg in Alay, 1863, losing seventy men in each of these engagements.

After the capture of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, the regiment joined the forces of General Sherman in his expedition against Jackson, Mississippi. In the assault at this place Captain Richeson was wounded and several of the Wayne county men killed. Returning to Vicksburg, the regiment was sent into camp, but was soon ordered to New Orleans to join General Washburn's expedition to Texas. The regiment disembarked at DeCrows Point, and moved from thence to Indianola, and on to New Orleans April 12, 1864. From New Orleans it was ordered to Alexandria, on the Red river, to reinforce Banks' command, which was then retreating from before the forces of Dick Tayloi. On arriving at Alexandria the Sixteenth was immediately placed at the front and participated in several engagements. Returning to Alexandria, it was detached to help construct a dam in Red river to facilitate the escape of the iron-clad fleet. From here Banks retreated to Morganza Bend, on the Mississippi, the Sixteenth forming a part of the rear guard in this disorderly retreat. On reaching Morganza Bend the regiment went into camp, from where it was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for muster out, returning there, and was discharged October 31, 1864.

The Sixteenth Regiment was one of the best disciplined regiments in the Union army. Its colonel, John F. DeCourcy, was a professional soldier, having served many years in the British army. The command was noted for its fine, manly, military bearing.

Forty-First Regiment Ohio Infantry

Company C, of the Forty-First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was recruited in Wayne county in August and September, 1861. Its officers were : Acjuila Wiley, captain; F. E. Pancoast, first lieutenant, and Rufus B. Hardy, second lieutenant. In the early part of September the company was ordered to Cleveland, where it was mustered into the Forty-first Regiment on the 19th of September. The field officers of this regiment were: Colonel, William B. Hazen : lieutenant-colonel, John J. Wizeman; major, George S. Mygatt. On November 6th the regiment was ordered to Camp Dennison, and from thence to Gallipolis, and from that point to Louisville, where it became a part of the Army of the Ohio, under command of General Buell. During the winter the regiment was encamped at Camp Wickliffe. In April, 1862, it took part in the great battle of Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing). It lost in the first day's fight, one hundred and forty-one officers and men killed and wounded. Captain Wiley was severely wounded in this famous battle : also Lieutenant Pancoast, who subse(|uently died from the effects of his wounds.

After much hard campaigning in Alabama and Tennessee during the summer of 1862. the Forty-first Regiment joined the retreat of Buell to Louisville, and shortly after reaching there engaged in the battle of Murfreesboro, where it lost one hundred and twelve men killed and wounded.

In Januarc', 1863, the regiment moved to Readyville. about twelve miles from Murfreesboro, where it remained until the 24th of June. During the months of July and Augu.st the Forty-First Regiment was kept in motion and in Septembei, 1863, participated in the battle of Chickamauga, in which engagement it greatly distinguished itself. The next important battle in which it participated was Mission Ridge, fought November 23d and 25th. Here one hundred and fifteen men of the Forty-first fell. Colonel Wilev lost a leg while gallantly leading the charge. General Thomas, on the field, complimented this regiment highly for its s])lendi(l conduct. .After this battle they marched to Knoxville, and tliere re-enlisted as veterans; and when the men had enjoyed the \eteran furlough, the rc'giment, with one hundred recruits.

Wayne Coe'Nty, Ohio

rejoined its division in eastern Tennessee, being placed in a battalion with the First Ohio Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Kimberly commanding.

The regiment then participated in nearly all of the battles of Sherman in his campaign against Atlanta - Rocky Face Ridge, Dallas, Piney Top Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, etc. In this campaign the regiment lost one hundred and fifty-eight men, the regiment dwindling down to a mere skeleton of only ninety-nine men.

On the occupation of Atlanta by the Union forces the Forty-first Regiment was sent in pursuit of Hood, and participated in Thomas' victory over that Confederate general in front of Nashville. In June, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Texas, where it was stationed near San Antonio until November, and then ordered mustered out. It reached Columbus, Ohio, about the middle of the month, and was finally discharged on the 26th of November, 1865, after four years and one month's service.

Company C, of this regiment, was a splendid company of men. of high reputation in all respects, and perhaps saw more hard service than any other company raised in Wayne county. ,

One Hundred And Twentieth Regiment

There were four full companies and a part of the fifth company of this splendid regiment raised in Wooster and Wayne county. Joseph H. Downing, George P. Emrich, Benjamin Eason and William G. Myers were elected captains of their respective companies. The field officers were : Colonel, Daniel Erench; lieutenant-colonel, Marcus M. Spiegel; major, John W. Beekman. The five Wayne county companies were recruited in August, 1862, and rendezvoused at Camp Mansfield August 29th. October 17th it was mustered into service, and on the 25th of the month moved to Covington, Kentucky, from which point it departed, November 24th, for Memphis, Tennessee, reaching there December 7th. Here the regiment was assigned to Colonel Sheldon's brigade, of Morgan's division, being a part of the Army of the Tennessee, under command of Gen. W. T. Sherman, and destined to operate against Vicksburg.

December 20th the regiment moved on transports down the Mississippi river, thence up the Yazoo, where it disembarked at Joiinson's Landing and participated in the assault against Vicksburg. After the repulse of the national forces from Vicksburg, the regiment embarked on transports and accompanied the expedition against Arkansas Post, which resulted successfully.

From Arkansas Post the regiment returned to Young's Point, and went into camp. Here it was decimated by disease, measles, typhus and malarial fe\'er working havoc in its ranks. At one time over half the regiment was reported on sick list. The officers became discouraged and resigned in large numbers, which contributed to the despondency of the private soldiers.

In April, the regiment took part in General Grant's campaign against Vicksburg, engaging in the battles of Champion Hill, Thompson's Hill, the Black River, and in the charges on Vicksburg, May 22, 1863. It behaved gallantly in all of these actions. After the final fall of Vicksburg the regiment joined Sherman's army in his famous expedition against Jackson, holding the right of the column in its advance. In the operation against Jackson, Lieutenant Totten was mortally wounded, and Colonel Spiegel and Lieutenant Spear were severely wounded.

The regiment returned to Vicksburg July 20, 1863, and on the 8th of August embarked for New Orleans to join Banks' expedition in western Louisiana, It took part in the campaign in the valley of the Teche, and was then sent to Placjuemine, a small town on the Mississippi river, where it remained until March, 1864, being then ordered to Baton Rouge.

May 1st the regiment was ordered to join Banks, then operating in the direction of Shreveport. The regiment embarked on the transport "City Belle," for Alexandria, and when passing up Red river it was ambuscaded at Snaggy Point by five thousand rebel soldiers concealed behind the levee. A murderous artillery and infantry fire was opened on the crowded boat, and the deck was soon slippery with blood. After a short but ineffectual struggle, against overwhelming odds, the regiment was compelled to display the white flag. During the conflict the "City Belle" drifted to the opposite side of the river, where quite a number of the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment escaped. Colonel Spiegel, Surgeon Stanton, Assistant Surgeon Gill, Captains J. R. Rummell, Miller, Fraunfelder and Jones, Lieutenants Applegate, Baer and Roach and two hundred men fell into the hands of the rebels, besides the bodies of the killed. Colonel Spiegel was mortal!}^ wounded and died the next day. Fie was one of the noblest and the "bravest of the brave.'' The prisoners were at once marched off to Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas, where they were confined until the close of the war.

After this disaster the remnant of the regiment retreated with Banks' forces to Morg'anza, Louisiana, where it was consolidated with the One Flundred and Fourteenth Ohio Regiment. This ended the career of the gallant regiment as a regimental organization. It was a good behaved regiment, but was overwhelmed with a series of disasters.

The One Hundred And Second Regiment

This regiment was organized under the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thousand more men for three-year service. Three companies were enlisted in Wayne county, respectively by Captains John W. Stout, Jonas D. Elliott and James E. Robinson. The held officers of the regiment were: Colonel, William Given; lieutenant-colonel, Abraham Baker; major,

George El. Toping; William H. McMonigal was adjutant. Recruiting commenced in July, 1862, and in August the Wayne county companies moved to Camp Mansheld. September 4th the regiment left for Kentucky, crossing the Ohio river at Cincinnati on the morning of the 5th. It was mustered into service the next day at Covington. September 22cl it was transported in boats to Louisville, and was present at the battle of Perryville, but not engaged. Erom there it was sent to Crab Orchard, and from thence to Bowling Green, Kentucky, arriving on the 30th of October. December 19th the regiment moved to Russellville, and from there to Clarksville, Tennessee, reaching that point on Christmas night, where it remained nine months.

October 30, 1863. the regiment went into winter Cjuarters at Nashville. It was transferred to Tullahoma, Tennessee, where it was occupied guarding a railroad from Normandy to Dochera. June 6th the regiment marched across the Cumberland mountains to Alabama, the left wing of the regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, being stationed at Dodsonville. The regiment was now engaged in defending the line of the Tennessee river from Stevenson to the foot of Seven Mile Island, a distance of fifty miles. As security against attack, twelve block houses were erected along the line. In defense of the line the regiment performed invaluable service and had frequent encounters wdth the enemy. Having been relieved from the duty, the regiment was engaged next in 'patrolling the Tennessee and Alabama railroad from Decatur.

Colonel Given, commandant of the post, September 23d was directed to send a detachment of four hundred men to reinforce Eort Athens. The detachment was composed of soldiers from the Eighteenth Michigan and the One Hundred and Second Ohio, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, of the latter regiment. The command encountered the Confederate General Eorest near Athens, where it was surrounded and overwhelmed by superior forces and forced to surrender. Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott received a mortal wound in this action. The officers were taken to Selma and the men to Cahaba, Alabama. The men were finally paroled and placed on board the "Sultana," at Vicksburg. During the passage up the river the boat was blown up, April 28, 1865, and, as nearly as can be ascertained, eighty-one of the regiment lost their lives by the disaster.

The regiment was in Decatur at the time of the siege by Hood, and was highly complimented for its behavior. June 30, 1865, the regiment was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee. It then proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, and was discharged July 8, 1865. This regiment was made up of excellent men, and displayed great bravery and skill whenever if was called upon to engage the enemy;

The One Hundred And Seventh Regiment

Capt. Gustave Buecking's company of the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry was raised chiefly in Wooster, from among the patriotic Germans of the city. Recruiting for it commenced in the latter part of July, 1862, and the company was soon filled to its maximum. In August it was ordered to Cleveland, where it was incorporated with the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment, whose field officers were : Colonel, Seraphim Meyer; lieutenant-colonel, Charles Mueller: major, George Arnold. Soon after its organization, this regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac. Its first important battle was at Chancellorsville. The regiment belonged to Howard's Eleventh Corps, which was so terribly handled by Stonewall Jackson, and lost two hundred and twent}^ men killed and wounded. Its next general engagement was at famous Gettysburg, where the regiment was almost annihilated, losing over four hundred men in killed, wounded and prisoners, out of five hundred and fifty that entered the battle.

August I. 1863, the regiment sailed to Folly Island, South Carolina, and performed picket duty there until January, 1864. After the resignation of Col. Sera])him Meyer the discipline of the regiment steadily improved, h'rom Folly Island the regiment was taken to Jacksonville, Florida, where it had several skirmishes with the Rebels. It returned to South Carolina on the 23d of March, 1865. and met a detachment of the enemy, defeating him, ca]ituring three pieces of artillery, six horses and fifteen prisoners.

The regiment did provost duty in Charleston, South Carolina, during the balance of its serxice until July 10, 1865, when it was mustered out and sent home to Cleveland, Ohio, where it was discharged. This command was made up largely of Germans. It was a fine body of men, its members displaying their earnest patriotism and heroic valor on many occasions.

Ninth Ohio Cavalry Regiment

Wayne county furnished nearly a hundred men for cavalry service under Capt. William Henderson. These were enlisted in December, 1863, and January, 1864. They served with Sherman on his celebrated "March to the Sea." being under General Kilpatrick. The Wayne county company was with that illustrious general when his camp was raided by Humphrey's cavalry. They were at the battle of Averysboro and Bentonville, North Carolina. At the close of the war they were mustered out and returned home.

A detachment of cavalry was recruited in Wayne county in October, 1861, by Lieut. Benjamin Lake, for McLaughlin's squadron, joining the squadron at Mansfield the latter part of the month. In November it left for eastern Kentucky, where it engaged in campaigning for nearly two years, taking part in the battles of Middle Creek, Pikeville and Round Gap. In August, 1863, the squadron left eastern Kentucky and joined the Twentythird Army Corps, under General Hartsuff, marching to Knoxville, where it remained until January, 1864, then re-enlisting as veterans. It filled up its ranks and then joined General Stoneman's command in the raid on Macon. In this raid it suffered heavy losses. It next operated on Sherman's flank in the movement against Atlanta, and afterwards was placed under Kilpatrick's command, going with Sherman on his "March to the Sea" ; thence from Savannah with the national forces through South and North Carolina. It was mustered out of service at Camp Chase, Ohio, November 17, 1865.

Another detachment from this county was made up of about thirty men enlisted under Lieut. Joseph C. Plummer, for the three-months service, in the Eighty-Fifth Ohio Regiment, which guarded the prisoners at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio.

Three companies of the Ohio National Guards, under Captains Henry C. Shirk, William K. Boone and Abraham Gift, were raised in Wayne county, for one hundred days' service, and joined the One Hundred and Sixty-ninth Regiment of National Guards, of which J. H. Carr was lieutenant-colonel. This regiment was organized at Cleveland, May 19, 1864, and was immediately ordered to Washington, where it participated in the defeat of Early's army, and did garrison duty in Fort Ethan Allen. So proficient did the regiment become in tactics, that General DuRussy declared it was equal to any three-year regiment in his command. During its four months' service the regiment suffered severely from sickness, nearly two hundred men dying or becoming permanently disabled by disease. It was mustered out September 4, 1864.

Wayne county has reason to be proud of her record in the great civil conflict from 1861 to 1866. Her soldiers participated in every great battle, and her dead lie buried in every Southern state - once slave states, but which now, through the blood and sacrifice of the loyal men of the country, have become free.

As time passes along, there is among the generation just succeeding to that great struggle more and more interest in the casualties of the great Civil war. It is with this in view that there is here given the following biography of John F. Barrett, still living in Wooster, and who was the first victim to receive Confederate lead in his body from among the brave men who went forth from this county; he is still a daily sufferer, though more than forty years have passed since the wound was received. He has the unalloyed respect and sympathy of all within Wayne county who carry a drop of loyal blood in their veins. The following was penned concerning this soldier in 1878:

"John F. Barrett was born March 6. 1836, in Wayne county. Ohio He volunteered in the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 16, 1861 - four days after Fort Sumter was fired upon - in Company E, Capt. James Mc- Millen's company, and was among the first men to put his name down in Wayne county (Jacob Shultz being the first). He went with the regiment to Camp Dennison, followed it to West Virginia, and. along with the boys, smelled the breath of battle at Rich Mountain.

Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry had been attacked at New Creek, whereupon they sent to Fort Pendleton for reinforcements. The Fourth Regiment proceeded to their relief, marching thirty-five miles to New Creek, assaulting Romney at I :30 P. M., fighting the enemy that night, and capturing the town the next morning. Company F of the regiment having been sent to the east end of the town to protect a gun about to be charged upon by the enemy, between the hours of one and two o'clock P. M., Mr. Barrett was wounded, receiving a desperate bullet shot from a sharpshooter. For two years he had to walk on crutches. Surgical science has exerted itself in vain to extricate the bullet, and Mr. Barrett is doomed to carry the enemy's lead in his body to his grave.

"Mr. Barrett was married September 18, 1863. to Laura Nimons, of Wooster, by Rev. Jesse Durbin, of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member since 1856. We make mention of the wounding of Mr. Barrett, not because he was braver than his fellow-soldiers, or more patriotic than his comrades in arms, but because he was the first soldier from Wayne county shot in the war of the Rebellion. He was a gallant soldier and it is a record of which he may well be proud. He is an honorable business man and a worthy, upright citizen.''

It may be added that today, September 23, 1909. he still walks with two crutches, has been in the hospital many weeks, and has no hope of recovery- - the ball cannot be removed.

Soldiers Of The Spanish-American War

Wayne county, true to the spirit of her patriotism, furnished her full ciuota of men to put down the war with Spain, growing out of the oppression that country had for centuries exerted over the island of Cuba, but which was brought to an issue with the United States government when, in the spring of 1898, the United States gunboat "Maine" was sunk by the explosion of torpedoes in Havana harbor b};" the Spaniards, as the trial finally proved. War was at once levied by this government. President William McKinley ordering an army raised, which was accomplished within a short time.

About the close of the struggle, which was of short duration, a roster of the Ohio volunteers for this war was published, and while it was full of defects, it is the only information at hand, giving a list of the officers and men who went from this county, and is here extracted from. There may be a few omissions, but in the main it will be found correct, as it was authorized by the adjutant general of Ohio. There were ten regiments sent from Ohio to this war in the infantry service and one of cavalry; also a regiment of light artillery. The regiment represented from Wayne county and Wooster, chiefly, was the Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and the greater portion of the Wooster men participated in the war as members of Company D.

The officers of the Eighth Regiment were : Curtis V. Hard, colonel ; Charles W. F. Dick, lieutenant-colonel; Edward Vollrath, Frederick C. Bryan and Charles C. Weybrecht, majors; Alexander W. Maynes, adjutant; Emmer

C. Farquhar, surgeon; George H. Wuchter and Allen V. Smith, assistant surgeons; Herman L. Kuhns, quartermaster; Charles F. Schaber, George M. Wright and Andrew Weybrecht, battalion adjutants ; Isaac N. Kieffer, who died June 23, 1898, James O. Campbell, vice Chairlain Kieffer, chaplains.

The officers of Company D were: Captain, Frank C. Gerlach; first lieutenant, William E. Barnard; second lieutenant, Gustave W. Unger. The non-commissioned officers were as follows : W. A. Conrad, artificer ; David H. Drushal, musician ; Charles A. Heater, musician ; Lloyd A. Naftzger, wagoner; Harry P. Eaby, sergeant; George S. Limb, sergeant; Louis E. Gasche, sergeant; Franklin B. Horn, sergeant; Horace W. Miller, sergeant; Webster

The privates credited from Wooster in the adjutant's report were as follows, and only represent the original muster roll, and none of the later recruits are named :