||HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY
Kay L. Mason
The Military History of Scioto County From 1812 To 1865. The War of 1812-The March and Surrender-Captain Roop-The Mexican War- Civil War, 1861 to 1865-Portsmouth Rifles-The First Battle-Home Relief- Distribution-The Fifty-Sixth Ohio Infantry-The Organization-The Gallant Thirty- third Ohio Infantry-The Ninety-fourth Regiment-The Fifty-third Ohio Infantry- The Seventy-second Regiment-The Grosbeck Regiment-The Second Kentucky- The One Hundred and Seventeenth Regiment-Battery L-Eighty-first Regiment Ohio Infantry-Thirtieth Regiment O. V. M.-The Scattered. [Text Version: Part 1 and Part 2]
In many respects the old settlers of the Northwest Territory, if not trained to arms when they removed from their Eastern homes, soon found the necessity of knowing how to use the rifle and the knife. Then the youth who were coming up to manhood's estate were at once trained to the use of arms, and a spirit, war-like in its nature, aggressive, was implanted in their bosoms. Thus it was that when Indian raids came upon them they were prepared for the emergency, and many settlers did not hesitate to carry the war into the enemy's country and equal in strategy the Indians themselves. Therefore, when the war with England in 1812 broke out, though not trained to any great extent in the manual of arms, the volunteers were inured to danger and cool in all emergencies, and when they went into battle took the same care to see that their bullets went straight to their mark as when on the trail of an Indian or a buck. The war of 1812 aroused the patriotism, as well as the hatred of the people against the English, which had been implanted in their breast by the cruelties of the Revolutionary War. Thus is was when war was declared, that the people responded with a promptness that surprised the Government. It was not prepared to meet the universal response of patriotism exhibited by the people, and more volunteers were at hand than could be thoroughly equipped. To meet the emergency, the volunteers in many cases took with them their own arms. At that time the United States was truly a nation of soldiers. When war was declared between the United States and Great Britain the people were ready and anxious for the fray, and Scioto County promptly responded to its country's call. From Jas. Keyes's history of the "Pioneers of Scioto County" is taken the following account of Scioto County's response to the call for volunteers.
"In the spring of 1812 Governor Meigs issued a call for volunteers to turn out in defense of the frontiers from the depredations of the Indians. The battle of Tippecanoe had been fought. Tecumseh was organizing the Indian tribes for a general assault upon the northern frontiersmen. War was imminent between this country and Great Britain. In view of all these circumstances Governor Meigs called for two regiments of volunteers. Scioto County sent out two companies, one commanded by Captain David Roop, and the other by Captain John Lucas. They first went to Chillicothe, where they received their arms and equipments. From thence they went to Dayton, where they met the volunteers from Cincinnati and the Miami Valley, and organized the First Ohio Regiment, under the command of Colonel Duncan McArthur. From thence they went to Urbana, which was the frontier town. They here joined a detachment of United States regulars under Colonel Miller. Here was organized that little army which, under command of General Hull, marched through the wilderness to Detroit. While on this march war was declared by Congress against England. Had the dispatches forwarded to Hull containing an account of the declaration of war reached him without falling into the hands of the British, it would have been an easy matter for him to have captured Malden, and possibly all Upper Canada would have fallen into our hands. But as it was, the British intercepted our dispatches, and thereby received news of the declaration of war before our army did. They also intercepted provisions and stores which were being forwarded to our army, leaving our army in a bad predicament."
Of the two companies which left Scioto, as above stated, the muster-roll of but one was found, that of Captain Roop; it is here given: David Roop, Captain; Thomas Arnold, Lieutenant; Richard McDougal, Ensign; George W. Wilcoxsen, First Sergeant; William Coberly, Second Sergeant; Benj. Rankins, Third Sergeant; Daniel Noel, Fourth Sergeant; Reason Zarley, First Corporal; John Carey, Second Corporal; Thomas Bevins, Third Corporal; Daniel Rardon, in U. S. A.; John Noel, Fifer; Enos Mustard, Drummer; Privates, Richard Brewer, Thomas Collins, John Clark, William Carey (drew no pay at Dayton), Elisha Darlington, James Deaver, William Deaver, John Groninger, Abraham Groninger, Airhart Glaze, Joseph Mustard, John Leforgee, Charles Mulholland (in U. S. A.), George McDougal, John Moore, John Noel, Sr., Peter Noel, Nicholas Noel, Philip Noel, Joseph Nichols, Jacob P. Noel, Michael Plowman (died at Detroit), John Rardon (in U. S. A.), James Rardon, Henry Rinely, John Smith, Isaac Smith, Spicer Shelpman, Paul Stewart, Walter Wilcoxen; Thomas Williams, William Wright; Thomas Wilcoxen.
To this list of names was attached the following affidavit:
Captain John Lucas's company's muster-roll was not given in the papers written by Mr. Keyes, Joseph Bonser, Claudius Cadot and Guillaume Duduit were members of his company.
In 1813 a regiment was called out for short service, some sixty days, but did not remain in the field that long. It was commanded by Colonel Peter Noel, and Captain Thomas Morgan commanded a company, and also Captain John Lindsey, who was Captain of the first rifle company organized in town or county.
Among the volunteers of the service in the call of July, 1813, there was William B. Scott, John Funk, Jacob Woodbridge, John Lindsey, Thomas Morgan and Samuel Marshall.
The two companies from Scioto County joined General Hull's forces and they marched to Detroit. General Hull concluded to make an attack upon English ground and crossed over into Canada and could have captured Malden if he had taken two or three siege guns with him. But having no artillery they returned to Detroit without effecting anything. Mr. Cadot was sent out on a foraging expedition to get provisions, and was in the battle of Brownstown where our folks were defeated, and had to make a hasty retreat. On the 16th of August Detroit was surrendered to the British without firing a gun in defense of the fort. It has always been an unsettled question whether General Hull treacherously sold the army to Brock, the British General, or was too imbecile to make any defense. However, the surrender was complete, and Hull was branded a traitor.
After the capitulation at Detroit under Hull, they gave their parol and were put aboard of transports and landed at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. They then made their way home in the best manner they could. Peter Noel and his three brothers started to walk across the State of Ohio to their homes; but their father, hearing of their approach, took horses and met them at Circleville.
It appears that the company had been out five months and lost but one man, who died at Detroit. They were in two or three severe skirmished, where a good many were killed and wounded, but it appears there were no casualties in the Scioto companies.
The surrender of Hull caused unusual excitement throughout the whole country, and a very general belief existed that he had committed deliberate treason.
Hull was tried, found guilty and ordered to be shot. But out of consideration for his services in the Revolutionary war, his sentence was never carried into execution. Colonels Cass and McArthur were both away from the fort at the time, or, it was said, Hull would never have dared to surrender without a fight. Cass, when he heard of it, broke his sword across a stump with vexation. The prisoners were taken over to Malden, where they were paroled and put aboard of transports and sent to the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, where Cleveland has since been built, to find their way home as best they could.
From Keyes's history the following sketch of Captain Roop is taken:
"David Roop was a fair specimen and true type of the ancient backwoodsman and hunter. He was brave and generous to a fault. He was uneducated and uncouth in his manner and conversation. Industrious in his habits, but rather too fond of whiskey. He belonged to a class that is fast dying out, and the time is not far distant when the backwoods hunter will be known only in history."
Captain Lucas returned from the war after he was released, as he and his company had been part of the forces surrendered by General Hull. There was little of his life to attract attention after his return home, having, like the rest of his command, retired to private life. In 1819 he laid out the town of Lucasville on a portion of his farm, and opened and kept the first tavern in that village or hamlet. He continued in the business until 1825, when death put an end to his earthly pilgrimage.
From this short but rather imperfect sketch of the "War of 1812" the writer turns after nearly a third of a century of peace, to the war with Mexico. It also showed a race of heroes that shed undying luster upon American arms.
Peace and quiet, with the exception of now and then some Indian troubles, had been the lot of this free country for years, and its prosperity had been great and its material progress rapid. But this quiet was at last broken, and a bugle blast was sounded which called men to arms. Mexico, not satisfied with the action of the United States Government in regard to the "Lone Star" State, concluded to measure arms with the young giant of the North. It proved a sad day for Mexico's pride, and, coupled with the loss of a good portion of her territory, it seemed that both her pride and her purse met with a severe collapse.
In the spring of 1846 the muttering of the storm heard for some time on our Southern border culminated by a declaration of war by Mexico, and while not causing much excitement at the North, aroused the hot blood of the South.
It was not until the battles of the 8th and 9th of May, 1846, those of Palo Alto and Reseca de la Palma, were fought and won, and General Taylor had crossed the Rio Grande and was upon Mexican soil, that the war fever began to spread, and the whole country became aroused. When the couriers arrived at New Orleans, and the full details of those battles were given to the people, the excitement was very great and the response unanimous.
The Mexican war was a bright page in the military history of our country. The triumphant march of General Doniphan and the famous battles fought and won made it a glowing page in our history.
Some of Scioto County's men returned to tell of their hardships, their trials and their great and final success. A few were left to fill soldiers' graves beneath the chaparral of Mexico, but their memory will ever be green in the hearts of the American people. They gave their lives, their all, to their country's glory as brave men, who, knowing their duty, performed it, and filled heroes' graves. Those who returned with the halo of victory encircling their brows were welcomed with joy and gladness. The brave Ringgold, the gallant Clay, the intrepid Yell, the noble Hardin and others left their bones to bleach upon the soil of Mexico, but the laurel wreath of memory entwines their brows, and with the names of Taylor, Scott, Doniphan and many other gallant heroes whose names there is not space to enter here, will go down in history, their fame growing broader and deeper as time rolls round. It was a glorious conquest, but noble heroes paid the penalty. Scioto County came to the front with a full company of 100 men, recruited and organized under Captain Edward Hamilton, for many years connected with the newspapers of Portsmouth, and was, at the breaking out of the war, editor and proprietor of the Portsmouth Tribune, a good writer keen and aggressive. He had received authority upon application to Governor Bebb to raise a company for the war. The company was raised as above and went into camp at Portsmouth, June 11, 1846. Companies from Jackson and Pike counties were expected to arrive to join the Scioto company, and all to start for the seat of war. The Scioto company, under the command of Captain Hamilton, left Portsmouth for the seat of war June 18, 1846, and on arriving at General Taylor's headquarters was promptly assigned to duty, and marched with the army to Monterey. In that desperate fight Captain Hamilton and his company gave the Mexicans a specimen of their work, and was recognized by Colonel Mitchell, their commander, as a fighting company. It met with severe loss at Monterey, being as follows: John W. Hewitt, private, killed; Griffin Soward, severely wounded; Alfred Donahue, private, severely wounded; Silas Burrell, private, severely wounded; Jas. Lamback, slightly wounded; Colonel Mitchell, severely wounded; Adjutant A. W. Armstrong, supposed mortally, leg amputated.
From notes on the press by James Keyes the following interesting account is taken of
Captain Hamilton and his company, and the Captain's final destination:
The people of Scioto County had been listening to the mutterings of the storm which had come in fitful flashes from the South until the eventful 12th of April, 1861, when the signal gun was fired at Fort Sumter which aroused a nation to arms and inaugurated that terrible conflict which again cemented the Union in blood, and left its footprints of devastation and death on many fruitful fields and brought sorrow and distress to almost every household in the land. The passions of the people became aroused, liberty sat endangered on her throne, the white-winged angel of peace soared aloft, and the demon of hate held high carnival over a stricken land. The guns of Fort Sumter re-echoed to the uttermost parts of the country, and it aroused a patriotic people to action, and the words of Jackson, "By the Eternal, the Union must and shall be preserved," blazed forth in letters of living light, and ere the sound of the "signal gun of Sumter" had died away, 300,000 men were in arms ready and willing that the words of the immortal Jackson should come true if they had to sacrifice their lives to accomplish it. "The Union forever" became a rallying cry, and nobly did the freeman of the North respond to the call of their country. From first to last 2,753,723 officers and men were enrolled in the ranks of the Union army, and the record of their deeds is a country saved.
Scioto County was not behind her sisters in the expression of her patriotism by both words and deeds. The first to move was Captain G. B. Bailey, of the Kinney Light Guards, who had recruited a company of seventy-five men within forty-eight hours, and was ready April 16, 1861, to report at headquarters. Before they left for Columbus, on the morning of the 18th, they had a force of 111 men, rank and file. They were known as "Kinney's Light Guards," Company G, Ohio Volunteer Militia. The officers of the company were: George B. Bailey, Captain; William H. Rannor, First Lieutenant; Alfred Kinney, Second Lieutenant; George O. Newman, First Sergeant; Abe B. Earle, Second Lieutenant; C. A. Barton, Third Sergeant; H. E. Jones, Forth Sergeant; H. S. Cox, Fifth Sargeant; Thomas Sykes, First Corporal; Patrick Prendergrast, Second Corporal; W. S. Witherow, Third Corporal; J. J. Glidden, Fourth Corporal; ninety-nine privates, total, 111. The company left Columbus, Ohio, at three o'clock on the morning of the 19th, for Washington.
In the meantime the gallant men of Scioto County were not idle. A public meeting was called and met at the Biggs House, to work together, and to sustain the President in his work for the perpetuity of the Union. The meeting was a turnout, en masse, of the citizens. Speeches were made and the following resolutions passed with cheers:
Whereas, A peaceable attempt on the part of the Federal Government to provision one of its forts has been resisted by armed insurrectionists, who have lawlessly commenced a war against the Federal Government, by attacking the troops garrisoned at Fort Sumter, and ruthlessly firing upon the flag of our county, therefore,
Resolved, That we, citizens of Portsmouth regardless of all past differences of opinion, in view of the present threatening and disturbed condition of our country, solemnly unite in the declaration that it is our duty and our intention to give a prompt and earnest support to the National Government in its efforts to suppress rebellion and treason against its authority, and to vindicate its honor and integrity.
Resolved, That to prevent the enemies of the National Government from destroying it, and thereby breaking down all guarantees of our liberty, or safety of persons or property, and blasting the dearest hopes of the friends of religious and political liberty throughout the world, we hold no sacrifice of life or money too great; but that all we have to hope for ourselves or our children demands that the insurgents now in arms against the Government be put down at all cost.
Resolved, That we hold ourselves in readiness to respond to whatever our country may demand of us, and it need be to seal our pledges with our lives.
Resolved, That we regard with pride and gratification the cheerful and prompt response manifested throughout the loyal States to the call of the Government for volunteers; and especially do we point with pleasure to Captain Bailey and his gallant band of our citizens, who were among the first to rally beneath our flag and hasten to the post of duty.
Resolved, That while we deprecate all disorderly and mob influence, and advocate the right of every loyal citizen to the enjoyment and expression of his principals, yet we unhesitatingly declare that this is no time nor place for the utterance of sympathy for those now in arms against the Government, or of opposition to every means in the power of the Government being used to protect its citizens and maintain its integrity.
Resolved, That a committee of vigilance and public safety, to consist of three men in each ward, be appointed and charged with the duty of devising and recommending such measures and provisions as may be required to meet the present exigencies in the protection of life, property and the public peace.
Resolved, That the corporate authorities of our city are respectfully requested to appropriate form the common treasury, money sufficient to provide adequate means of defense and to regulate the judicious expenditures of the same.
On Monday Judge J. J. Appler succeeded in raising another full company, and he was ordered to await orders. The Ohio Furnace turned out twenty-five men who volunteered, and it was compelled to stop. Home companies were formed for local defense. The
Were organized April 29, 1861, by the election of the following officers: Captain, Ed. N. Hope; First Lieutenant, H. L. Chapman; Second Lieutenant, Joseph G. Reed; First Sergeant, James L. Brown; Second Sergeant, J. M. Wall; Third Sergeant, A. M. Damarin; Fourth Sergeant, Charles M. Burr; Fifth Sergeant, D. R. Spry; First Corporal, Gaylord B. Norton; Second Corporal, A.C. Tompkins; Third Corporal, William B. Stevenson; Fourth Corporal, William A. Connolley. The company then passed the following resolution:
Resolved, That we do hereby tender our services to the civil authorities of the city of Portsmouth and of Scioto County, for the purpose of repelling any invasion, quieting disturbance, and protecting the persons and property of our citizens.
Being on the border, defense was a necessity, if the war progressed.
The city council appropriated $2,500, and the county commissioners $5,000 for local defenses.
At the little town of Haverhill, a company of Home Guards was formed, and united with the citizens of Greenupsburg on the Kentucky side for mutual protection. The first week in May the third company of volunteers from Scioto County was formed under Captain John A. Turley, Dr. A. J. Shope, T. J. Cochrane, S. P. Simpson and Thos. P. Terry, started for Lancaster, Pa., to join Company G, of Captain Bailey's command, about this time.
At Camp Dennison, Lancaster, Pa., the officers of the First Regiment of O. V. M. were elected. G. W. McCook, a graduate of West Point, who made a name in the war, was elected Colonel; Mr. Parrott, of Dayton, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Hughes, also of Dayton, Major.
Captain Turley's company, before being assigned, elected the following officers:
Captain, John A. Turley; First Lieutenant, Geo. Wilhelm; Second Lieutenant, B. L. Fryer; Orderly Sergeant, Francis M. Miles; Second Sergeant, Joseph S. Patterson; Third Sergeant, David M. McCall; Fourth Sergeant, Henry Lantz; First Corporal, Wm. Fritz; Second Corporal, James J. Johnson; Third Corporal, Ephraim DeWolf; Fourth Corporal, Wm. H. Foster.
They were assigned to the Twenty-second Regiment, O. V. M., and numbered Company G. Captain Appler's Company D, and that of Captain Turley formed a camp on the Scioto County Fair Grounds, and were kept under military rules and perfected in the manual of arms. Monday, May 22, 1861, these two companies were ordered to report at Columbus for the purpose of organizing the Twenty-second Regiment, O. V. M., to which both companies Scioto County had contributed for the country's 300 men.
At this time Governor Dennison delivered his address to the soldiers and the people, which rang with patriotic utterances. The object was the enlistment of the soldiers for three years, or during the war. The following companies composed the Twenty-second Regiment: Company A, Ross County, Captain Gilmore; Company B, Athens, Captain Guthrie; Company C, Ross, Captain Robinson; Company D, Scioto, Captain Appler; Company E, Clermont, Captain Penn; Company F, Fayette, Captain Bell; Company G, Scioto, Captain Turley; Company H, Athens, Captain Pickett; Company I, Clermont, Captain Olmstead; Company K, Highland, Captain Payne. Captain Turley was elected Lieutenant-Colonel and Geo. Wilhelm, First Lieutenant, became Captain of Company G. Wm. E. Gilmore was elected Colonel. A few men from Scioto County were in the Second Ohio Regiment. The county of Scioto was aroused, and all sections responded to the call of duty and of patriotism. May 25, 1861, the Sciotoville Guards were presented with a flag.
General Robert C. Schenck, with the First Ohio Regiment, left, by orders, on a reconnoitering expedition to feel the rebels' position and, if possible, to find out their strength. He was ordered to Falls Church, Va., and on arriving there too four companies, one of which was Captain Bailey's, and proceeded by cars to Vienna, a few miles distant. He was there ambuscated by a battery of three pieces, which resulted in a loss of sixteen; six killed and eight more missing, who were supposed killed, and two wounded that were able to retreat with their command. Captain Bailey lost six, killed. Their names are given, as they were the first who gave their life's blood for the cause of the Union from Scioto County: John R. T. Barnes, Eugene Burks, D. Sullivan, Phillip Stroad, John Volmar and Jos. C. Smith, killed; and John Cummings, Gates and Lowman, wounded. They were brave young men and were sincerely mourned by their comrades. This report cast a gloom over Scioto County. This loss was harder to bear when it became known that it was the result of recklessness and want of military judgment, after a warning had been given. One of the participants gives the following account of this first battle: The First Regiment was detailed on the morning of the 17th to proceed up the line of the Alexandria, Loudon & Hampshire R.R., distributing companies along the road at bridges and crossings, for a distance of ten or twelve miles, and our company, together with Company C, of Dayton, Company E, of Cleveland, and Company H, of Zanesville, were advancing to Vienna, there to be stationed for the night. When within four or five miles of our destination, we were informed that there was an ambuscade somewhere in the vicinity of Vienna, and were cautioned to be on our guard, but for reasons unknown to us we were shoved ahead through narrow cuts and around curves without the least chance of warning of our near approach to the cannon's mouth and almost certain death. There was certainly a dereliction of duty on the part of some one in authority; who to blame we cannot tell, but it was strikingly apparent that untrained civilians are not proper persons to conduct our troops in the field, and here I will say that if it had not been for the coolness and bravery of our gallant Colonel McCook we would have all been killed or taken prisoners. As we approached Vienna, they gradually slackened speed, and we were turning a short curve and had commenced descending a steep grade when the battery opened upon us, the first three discharges striking our cars, completely clearing them of our "boys," killing five and wounding four, many others receiving slight bruises and scratches, but none of our boys received any injuries after the third fire. The scene on and around the car on which we were presented a shocking sight, as the men were horribly mutilated, all having been struck by a bomb or round shot at the commencement. The firing was very rapid, but as we deployed to the right and left they changed the direction of their fire, and consequently with but little success, their fire going over our heads. They fired twenty rounds of grape, canister, round shot and shell. The first shell exploded on our car, on us at a distance of 300 yards, which made their fire more destructive than it would have been at longer range. The first two cars escaped without injury, from the fact of their being on the descent and turning a curve. All but two of the killed and wounded were of Company G. Our officers were cool and were doing many acts of daring, and rallying our men and deploying them as skirmished on either side of the road. Our force consisted of four companies of sixty each, under the command of General Schenck and Colonel McCook. The most of our boys took the thing very coolly, dodging the cannon balls and shells with astonishing agility, a feat that I had formerly supposed rather difficult to perform, but from experience I am led to think they can be dodged successfully. The enemies force consisted of 800 South Carolina rebels, a body of Infantry and 500 Cavalry, making together 3,000 troops, with four field pieces, only two of which were used against us, the others being in the rear. There was a company of 150 negroes, armed with carbines, but did not fire upon us. Our troops did not get an opportunity to fire many shots, and were out of musket range, consequently did but little execution. The citizens living in the vicinity of the engagement informed Corporal Predergast and Conroy, who went up yesterday to bring away one of our wounded, that there were at least six killed of the enemy, which is very probable.
This, for a short time, ended the battle, but active preparations were going on to meet the enemy, and the First Ohio was kept well to the front. In the meantime another company was raised in Portsmouth and the county, under Captain Henry T. McDowell, making the fifth company from Scioto County, of fully 500 men, besides a few volunteers in other regiments and companies. This was up to the signal gun at Sumter proclaimed the triumphant of hate and fanaticism over reason and judgment.
Captain Appler's company joined the Twenty-sixth Regiment of the three-year men and marched to the front, leaving July 12, 1861.
Captain McDowell's company numbered ninety-four men, all, with the exception of fourteen, being from Scioto County; the following were the officers: H. T. McDowell, Captain; John Musser, First Lieutenant; Lewis Sontag, Second Lieutenant; W. H. Newman, First Sergeant; S. C. Glover, Second Sergeant; S. O. Losee, Third Sergeant; W. H. Williams, Fourth Sergeant. The company joined the Grosbeck Regiment, so called, at Cincinnati. With this company, to be more exact, Scioto County had given to the cause of the Union three companies of three months' men: Captain Bailey's, in the First Ohio Regiment, in Eastern Virginia, 100; the companies of Captains George, Wilhelm and Jesse J. Appler, Twenty-second Ohio, in Western Virginia, about 180-total 280 three months' men. For three years or during the war, the McDowell, 190; in Kentucky Second, 20-of three years' men 210; in all 490. To this must be added the sixteen men who went to join Captain J. J. Appler's company, and six for McDowell's company, being new recruits, making 512 men, rank and file. This was the number enlisted up to date above given. Recruiting in Scioto County, however, went right on. The demand upon Ohio for volunteers for three years or during the war was for thirty-six regiments. The three months' men were again enlisting almost unanimously, and the quota was rapidly filling up. In the great battle of Bull Run, the First Ohio and Captain Bailey's Company were the only men engaged from Scioto; all were safe except Lieutenant Raynor, who had been promoted to an aid. He was captured by a portion of the Black Horse Virginia Rebel Cavalry. The terrible loss in that battle made the people of Scioto fearful of impending evil to the gallant boys of Company G, but their escape was truly a source of rejoicing. Lieutenant Raynor was taken to Richmond and there held as a prisoner of war. He escaped and arrived at Washington Sept. 14, 1861.
Captain W. W. Riley and Captain S. A. Currie each raised a company for active service, during the early part of August, 1861; and a regiment to be known as the Thirty-third Ohio was to be raised under the following officers: Colonel, Joshua W. Sill; Lieutenant- Colonel, Oscar F. Moore, and Major, J. V. Robinson, Jr., the former of Chillicothe, the two latter of Portsmouth. So the work went bravely on, and the demand upon the sons of Scioto was grandly and promptly met. Monday, Aug. 12, eight recruits left by steamer to join Captain McDowell's company, at Cincinnati. Colonel Gilmore, who commanded the Twenty-second Ohio Regiment of three months' men, with J. A. Turley, of Scioto County, as Lieutenant-Colonel, were both elected to the same position of the new Twenty-second Regiment, for three years' service.
The three year's volunteers from Scioto County were assigned to the following regiments: Captain McDowell's company, the banner company of the Thirty-first; Captain L. W. Appler's in the Twenty sixth; Captain Riley's and Captain Webb's in the Thirtieth; Captain Culbertson's in the Twenty-seventh, and Captain Currie's in the Thirty-third.
For awhile recruiting for the three years' service was slow because of the treatment received by the three months' men from the State authorities and the Government of Washington. The men were willing and ready, but they asked justice, and did not propose to submit to injustice. The press took hold of the matter and it did not take long to force a change of tactics. The Ohio State Journal has this to say of the treatment of the noble band of volunteers who so readily sacrificed their lives at Vienna and Bull's Run:
"We are extremely sorry to hear the universal and indigent complaints of the discharged soldiers about the amount paid them on discharge. From what we learn of the brave boys who have done so well for their country; and all of them protest against being charged for their uniforms at the price being paid by the Government. We hope for a fair explanation of these things, else fear that the Ohio regiments will be few and far between in the new enlistment."
To this voice of the Portsmouth Tribune was added as follows:
"Such charges we have never heard of in connection with any other State. Not only were our brave volunteers requested to pay for their uniforms, but one half of the mileage paid them by the Government on their arrival at Washington is also deducted from their pay. As the small pittances were doled out to them, the returned soldiers at Camp Chase say they were received with curses deep and loud. Our boys of Company G, First Regiment, after laying in camp almost a week without a prospect of discharge, procured a dismissal and came home without their pay. This treatment will never be forgotten by the boys."
The State press took it up, and then no more was heard of injustice, but reform was inaugurated and Ohio responded promptly to the call of the country. The return of Company G, of the First Ohio Regiment, three months' men, was the signal of rejoicing and festivities in their honor.
But envy or jealously did not last long, and humor died out when the returns came of battle and carnage and of heroic death. The return of the three months' volunteers and their prompt enlistment, almost to a man, in the three years' service, started afresh the patriotism of the people, and the fall and winter of 1861-'62 was lively with martial music and the recruiting of companies and regiments.
Captain Bailey was afterward killed at Guyandotte, Va., standing his ground manfully after others had fled, and it is believed sacrificed himself rather then be taken a prisoner of war. His body was recovered in the waters of the creek. May 3 came a call for more men, and when the service of the two months' volunteers expired came the call, July 22 and 25, for 500,000 men in all. This call "meant business," and the response on the part of Ohio and Scioto County was prompt and full.
In May, 1862, Scioto County had the following number of volunteers in the service by city and townships, the total being 1,062, as follows: Portsmouth, 1st Ward, 95; 2d Ward 40; 3d Ward, 58; 4th Ward, 66-total, 259; Wayne Township, 6; Nile Township, 60; Washington Township, 72; Union Township, 39; Morgan Township, 46; Brush Creek Township, 48; Clay Township, 19; Valley Township, 35; Jefferson Township, 11; Porter Township, 73; Vernon Township, 74; Bloom Township, 86; Harrison Township, 80.
The work went bravely on and Camp Morrow was established at Portsmouth, and recruits came pouring in. The first camp being on too low grounds was changed Jan. 20, 1862, to the Renshaw Place, a short distance north of Portsmouth, just outside city limits.
The calls of July 3 and Aug. 4, 1862, for 300,000 men each, were still met by Scioto County promptly. The last call above mentioned was expected to be met partly by a draft, but Sept. 1, Scioto's quota on examination had been more than filled; her sons needed no compulsion to the call of honor and duty. Sept. 16, 1862, Scioto County having been enrolled, showed the following as her status in the department of war and patriotism:
Here was an average of forty-two per cent of the number of her enrolled militia. A later enrollment showed she exceeded all other counties around her:
This was a record to be proud of, and which called forth high praise from State and
General Government. In addition to that two Home Guard companies were raised, one in
the Third and the other in the Fourth wards, of Portsmouth. Of the first W. C. Appler was
Captain; First and Second Lieutenants, Patrick Conroy and William Standon. Of the other
Isaac Newton was selected Captain, with Valentine Burkel, First, and Azil Glover,
Second Lieutenants. The first regiment of Scioto militia was organized Sept. 13, 1862,
and Charles A. Barton was elected Colonel; W. W. Reilly, Lieutenant-Colonel; and
James Connolly, Major. Portsmouth was enrolled July 1, 1863, and at that time had 955
men fit for military duty, 589 first class an 366 second class. The call in June, 1863, for
100,000 men, and the call for 300,000 men, Oct. 17, 1863, called for 301 men from
Scioto County over the number that had volunteered in the service up to that date. This
was distributed through the county as follows; Nile Township, 18; Washington
Township, 14; Brush Creek Township, 16; Union Township, 16; Morgan Township, 8;
Portsmouth, First Ward, 23; Second Ward, 12; Third Ward, 25; Fourth Ward, 22; Wayne
Township, 1; Clay Township, 10; Valley Township, 12; Jefferson Township, 5; Porter
Township, 18; Green Township, 26; Harrison Township, 14; Madison Township, 18;
Vernon Township, 22; Bloom Township, 21-total, 301.The Third Ward of Portsmouth
promptly met the call and helped out the First and Second wards in their quota by going
over into those wards and enlisting. Most all of the Third War joined Colonel Oliver
Wood's regiment, the Twenty-second. The number of volunteers as above called for all
enlisted, and no draft had to be demanded. Again in April, 1864, 85,000 one hundred day
men were called for, and this was promptly met by Scioto County. It will be seen that
Scioto had, Jan. 1, 1864, 2,520 volunteers in the army for three years, besides the one
hundred day's men.
The last call for 500,000 men, July 18, 1864, was the first time Scioto County had failed
to meet her quota by volunteer service. The draft came in September, and the following
named persons by townships were enrolled, Sept. 27, 1864, this also included what was
called the 100 per cent additional:
Brush Creek Township, Edward Stanton, John Cable, Wm. R. Hazlebaker, Lemuel
Mitchell, Jacob Cook, John C. Kinney, Patrick McManaway, Thomas H. Thompson,
Thomas Anderson, Fergus Geagan, Evan D. Jones, Robert Jones, J. G. Payton, Jr., Allen
Edwards, Marion Brown, John L. Tracy, Alexander Ralston, George W. Tumbleson,
Wm. Wright, Patrick Conelly, Isaac Manly, John C. Lawwill, Samuel Wallace, Amaziah
E. English, Joseph H. Snook, William Liston, John Williams, B. W. Moore, Patrick
Gavin, Martin Joice, Enos Jones, James Jenkins, William H. Powell, Mitchell White.
Union Township, John W. Powell, Phillip Kayton, John Fink, R. M. Owens, Augustus
Krauser, George Taylor, Alexander Roberts, Job Crabtree, John McDaniel, Joseph Carter,
Joseph Fife, Joseph Jauguenot, John Bottuce, Z. M. P. Noel, Zachariah Cooper, Stephen
Mershon, Anthony Messner, George Ayers, Alfred Keller, George Pollock, August
Lordier, Alfred McDAniel, Andrew Stewart, Theodore Krausly, G. W. Thomas, Charles
Levinoy, John Cook, Francis H. Ponsot, William R. Shults, Thomas Collins. Washington
Township, John Coleman, Nicholas Shacket, Lewis Beeler, Thomas H. Johnson, Luther
Jones, Abraham Jobes, Francis Seymour, David C. McCann, Edward O. Mattocks, John
Blanton, William McHoward, John Howard, Samuel Brous, Jacob Smith, Silas Clark,
George L. Morrison. Morgan Township, Foster Throckmorton, William Shelpman, Jacob
Brest, Charles H. Pratt, William Snivly, Victory Gillian. Madison Township, George
Stout, Simeon S. Powell, Charles B. Curtis, Joseph Krank, Joseph Stockman, Philip
Flaker. Jefferson Township, Josiah Kirk, Joseph Huston, William Rappsnyder, Stephen
Keller, James S. Varner, John Bonner, Archibald Wallace, David McManana. Harrison
Township, Ezra Squires, Joseph Dewey, William Selling, William Peper, William Martin,
The last call for 500,000 men, July 18, 1864, was the first time Scioto County had failed to meet her quota by volunteer service. The draft came in September, and the following named persons by townships were enrolled, Sept. 27, 1864, this also included what was called the 100 per cent additional:
Brush Creek Township, Edward Stanton, John Cable, Wm. R. Hazlebaker, Lemuel Mitchell, Jacob Cook, John C. Kinney, Patrick McManaway, Thomas H. Thompson, Thomas Anderson, Fergus Geagan, Evan D. Jones, Robert Jones, J. G. Payton, Jr., Allen Edwards, Marion Brown, John L. Tracy, Alexander Ralston, George W. Tumbleson, Wm. Wright, Patrick Conelly, Isaac Manly, John C. Lawwill, Samuel Wallace, Amaziah E. English, Joseph H. Snook, William Liston, John Williams, B. W. Moore, Patrick Gavin, Martin Joice, Enos Jones, James Jenkins, William H. Powell, Mitchell White. Union Township, John W. Powell, Phillip Kayton, John Fink, R. M. Owens, Augustus Krauser, George Taylor, Alexander Roberts, Job Crabtree, John McDaniel, Joseph Carter, Joseph Fife, Joseph Jauguenot, John Bottuce, Z. M. P. Noel, Zachariah Cooper, Stephen Mershon, Anthony Messner, George Ayers, Alfred Keller, George Pollock, August Lordier, Alfred McDAniel, Andrew Stewart, Theodore Krausly, G. W. Thomas, Charles Levinoy, John Cook, Francis H. Ponsot, William R. Shults, Thomas Collins. Washington Township, John Coleman, Nicholas Shacket, Lewis Beeler, Thomas H. Johnson, Luther Jones, Abraham Jobes, Francis Seymour, David C. McCann, Edward O. Mattocks, John Blanton, William McHoward, John Howard, Samuel Brous, Jacob Smith, Silas Clark, George L. Morrison. Morgan Township, Foster Throckmorton, William Shelpman, Jacob Brest, Charles H. Pratt, William Snivly, Victory Gillian. Madison Township, George Stout, Simeon S. Powell, Charles B. Curtis, Joseph Krank, Joseph Stockman, Philip Flaker. Jefferson Township, Josiah Kirk, Joseph Huston, William Rappsnyder, Stephen Keller, James S. Varner, John Bonner, Archibald Wallace, David McManana. Harrison Township, Ezra Squires, Joseph Dewey, William Selling, William Peper, William Martin, David Maple.
From this record of the band of heroes who left their homes and firesides at the call of their country, let us turn to the work of those at home. Let us see what was done by Scioto County for the noble men who stood as a breastwork against the encroachment of those who imperiled both the freedom and national prosperity. The country appropriated money and necessities for the families of volunteers who had left them in need.
The first distribution was made Sept. 4, 1861, when the sum of $221 per week was paid to the families of volunteers who were in need, for a period of six weeks.
Dec. 4, 1861, the following order was issued:
"Ordered, by the commissioners, That the time for paying the families of volunteers be extended for the term of five weeks from their date in addition to the time heretofore allowed; and that the auditor is hereby authorized to draw others in favor of said volunteers' families upon their application for any sum, not exceeding $2 per week, for which he shall take their receipts. And no person shall be certified to any relief except those who are really destitute, and to determine which the auditor is required to inquire into their circumstances, upon their respective oaths, and permitting none to get any relief from the county who were not residents of the county at the time of their enlistment, or who have drawn or have received pay from the United States."
Arrangements were made that this relief could be obtained at different points in the county, to save travel. This was effected on March 5, 1862.
Relief committees and ladies' aid societies were organized in Portsmouth and at different places in the county, and these latter proved efficient in assisting the sufferings and wants of the families of the absent soldiers.
When the battle of Vicksburg had been fought, and the gallant Fifty-sixth Regiment had severely suffered in that terrible struggle, relief was sent to the wounded and sick. Two agents were appointed to go to Vicksburg and see that the wants of the sufferers of Scioto County were properly attended to.
Daniel McIntyre and John S. Ward were sent to attend to the above duty, and their expenses paid.
The county commissioners organized their county relief fund, and from Dec. 9, 1863, till April 25, 1864, they distributed $15,000 for the relief of the families of the soldiers. These distributions were made Dec. 9, 1863; March 2, 1864; and April 25, 1864, and was divided among the townships, as follows:
Bloom, $1,071.51; Brush Creek, $535.69; Clay, $141.43; Greene, $958.62; Harrison, $1,155.97; Jefferson, $366.52; Madison, $1,268.77; Morgan, $789.43; Niles, $986.75; Porter, $1,466.13; Union, $874.02; Valley, $676.18; Vernon, $760.80; Washington, $845.85; Wayne, $3,102.33. Total, $15,000.
The county commissioners met June 7, 1864, and made the following a matter of record:
"In the matter of regulations governing the distribution of the relief fund by the township trustees, the commissioners directed the auditor to furnish each township with a copy of the following rules to govern their action in making payments to volunteers' families:
"First.-Payments shall be made only to necessitous families, as known to be such to the trustees.
"Second.-The weekly allowance shall be as follows: To a dependent wife, mother or sister, $1 per week; for each dependent child, 25 cents per week additional.
"Third.-The payments to any family to be suspended whenever they are in receipt of money or in possession of property from any source sufficient for their comfortable maintenance.
"Fourth.-The trustees of the several townships, in disbursing the relief fund, will be careful to relieve the urgent necessities of the subjects of the law creating said fund, without especial reference to any fixed rule. But the limited amount of the fund requires them to make no payment to those who have money or other means of support, that those who are destitute shall not be entirely deprived of relief. In case of sickness or other unusual state of circumstances, the trustees will make such additional allowance as the nature of the case would seem to require."
"The commissioners in making the foregoing suggestions to township trustees are only desirous that the fund created by law shall be sufficient to continue the relief contemplated by the act during the entire year, and not leave a portion of the families of our volunteers destitute when the wants created by the inclemencies of winter come upon them."
June 10, 1864, the commissioners ordered the $5,000 more to be apportioned to the townships in need, and it was paid out as follows:
Wayne Township, $1,782; Porter Township, $648; Bloom Township, $720; Vernon Township, $756; Clay Township, $234; Valley Township, $180; Union Township, $234; Nile Township, $200; Total, $4,754.
June 25, 1864, the remaining townships received help to the amount set opposite each: Greene Township, $248; Brush Creek Township, $208; Jefferson Township, $128; Madison Township, $200; Morgan Township, $152; Washington Township, $296; Harrison Township, $152. Total, $1,384.
A few weeks later, Sept. 5, 1864, the commissioners ordered another distribution which they stated would probably meet the wants of the families of volunteers up to Dec. 1, 1864. This order resulted in the following distribution:
Wayne Township, $1,782; Porter Township, $648; Bloom Township, $720; Vernon Township, $756; Valley Township, $180; Union Township, $234; Greene Township, $248; Harrison Township, $252; Nile Township, $200; Jefferson Township, $128; Washington Township, $296. Total, $5,444.
The expectations of the commissioners were not realized, for an imperative call for relief came nearly three weeks earlier, which resulted in the distribution of $6,238, as follows:
Bloom Township, $720; Brush Creek Township, $208; Clay Township, $234; Greene Township, $248; Jefferson Township, $128; Madison Township, $200; Morgan Township, $152; Harrison Township, $252; Nile Township, $200; Porter Township, $648; Union Township, $234; Valley Township, $180; Vernon Township, $756; Washington Township, $296; Wayne Township, $1,782. Total, $6,238.
This amount was again supplemented by another distribution Jan. 23, 1865:
Bloom Township, $720; Brush Creek Township, $358; Harrison Township, $252; Greene Township, $473; Jefferson Township, $128; Morgan Township, $152; Nile Township, $425; Porter Township, $742; Union Township, $234; Vernon Township, $856; Washington Township, $296; city of Portsmouth and Wayne Township, $1,782. Total, $6,418.
But two more apportionments were made by the commissioners which closed the labors of the relief agents. The first was made June 5, 1865, as follows:
Nile Township, $425; Porter Township, $742; Bloom Township, $720; Greene Township, $248. Total, $2,135.
The next was on Oct. 24, 1865, and again four townships received the amount apportioned.
Nile Township, $300; Union Township, $225; Valley Township, $75; Washington Township, $100. Total, $700.
This gave a total of $42,073 distributed gratuitously in a little less than two years to the soldiers' families of Scioto County. Private donations were constantly added and the brave boys in the field received many articles of clothing and luxuries not counted that would probably far exceed from first to last the sum above mentioned.
After the war closed the relief fund was still distributed in reduced amounts until June 10, 1869. From Oct. 24, 1865, to the last date mentioned above the following amounts were distributed to the several townships, some thirteen relief orders being issued up to that time:
Bloom Township, $400; Brush Creek Township, $200; Clay Township, ---; Greene Township, $275; Harrison Township, $650; Jefferson Township, ----; Madison Township, ---; Morgan Township, $100; Nile Township, $775; Porter Township, ---; Rush Township, $125; Union Township, $175; Valley Township, $200; Vernon Township, $175; Washington Township, $700; Wayne Township, $4,905. Total, $8,680.
Probably in round numbers the people of Scioto County contributed to their soldiers from their own private resources $100,000 to the war for the Union. It is doubtful if other counties exceeded it while many failed to reach the liberality of the people of Scioto.
The tide of history again changes, and the people at home are confronted with the stern reality of war nearly at their own door. This excitement was caused by the celebrated
Which, however, barely touched Scioto County as they passed through Adams County into Pike. However, Scioto was awake, martial law was proclaimed, and the people stood guard night and day until the rebel raider had passed beyond their county line. The militia was ready to do its duty, but had no occasion. Morgan and his men were captured. Thus has been sketched the opening of the war of 1861-'65 with the records of her volunteers, the aid of the people at home and many incidents connected therewith. It is now to trace, in a measure, the actions of the regiments whose principal volunteers were from Scioto County. To five this in detail would be a history of itself for each regiment, and therefore it is impossible to place it fully in a work of this kind. The great trouble is from the fact, that the sons of Scioto, like many from other counties, did not all enlist in Scioto County regiments. Squads of from five to twenty were scattered through some twenty odd regiments; and it was a tedious and a laborious work to trace them, and could not always be done so as to prove satisfactory.
Was known as the Portsmouth Regiment, being mostly made up in the city and might be call the "pet" regiment out of the many which left the county. If Scioto did not have all the regiments that her citizens commanded, it was because brains had the advantage of numbers. Colonel Kinney was in the command of a brigade most of the time and Colonel Raynor was in the Virginia campaign and was one of the first volunteers of the war, and by his brilliant military record was given the position of aid-de-camp and was captured. His remarkable escape from Richmond, Va., with two companions Hurd and Murray, was the theme of wonder for a long time. A tramp through the enemy's country, 150 miles in eight days, and a safe arrival at Washington created surprise.
The Fifty-sixth was not organized until the fall of 1861, being one of the first regiments volunteering for three years or the war. It was in camp at Portsmouth, under command of Colonel Kinney and Lieutenant-Colonel Raynor, until Feb. 15, 1862, when an order was received to report to General Grant at Fort Donelson. The regiment left Portsmouth at the above date arriving at Paducah, Ky., Feb. 17, and at Fort Donelson Feb. 18, 1862, at 3 a.m. They were too late to receive their baptism of fire; the fort surrendered the day of their arrival. They remained at that point until March 7, 1862, when they were ordered to Fort Henry, and on the 10th of March were at Paris, Tenn. From there they went up the Tennessee River to Savannah, arriving there on the 17th and were attached to General Wallace's division. They were at Crump's Landing, within sixteen miles of the rebel army and twenty-two from Corinth on March 21, 1862. They held the post of honor in the brigade, and were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Raynor, Colonel Kinney being sick. They were ordered to protect the transports at the Landing, and were again deprived of a chance to show of what kind of mettle they were made, and did not take part upon the memorable field of Shiloh. Companies A and F, however, were deployed as skirmished and were complimented for their skill and courage by General Wood. This was their first battle and only a few took part, but they proved victors.
They remained in camp near Corinth until about the last of June, 1862. Colonel Kinney, who was sick at Memphis, getting a furlough to go home concluded to go and see the boys before he left. The rebels captured his train and he became a prisoner. The regiment went to Memphis the first of July, where they remained quite a while, and are next found at Helena, Ark., October and November, 1862. Erastus Gates and Joseph Patterson received the promotion to Lieutenancy while there. Colonel Kinney having been exchanged, he was, in November, 1862, in command of the First Brigade of the Second Division of the Army of the Southwest, and Lieutenant-Colonel Raynor was in command of the regiment.
Thus far while the regiment had marched and counter marched, they had not been exposed to the vicissitude of great battles, but the day was coming when the Fifty-sixth met their Waterloo in losses, but stood the carnage with hearts that never quailed, and with a courage no foe could daunt.
From Helena they went to Port Gibson and was one of the regiments that suffered most in that hotly contested and fearfully fatal battle, which occurred May 1, 1863. Their loss in killed, wounded and missing was:
Killed-Company A, Richard McCarty and George Bowman. Company E, Corporal James Evans. Company H, William Friley.
Wounded.-Company A, Hiram Kizer, mortally; William Louks, severely; William Jones, slightly. Company B, Sergeant J. Dimler, slightly. Company C, Sergeant H. Dare, knee amputated; R. Brown, T. Speakman, severely; Corporal T. L. Evans, slightly. Company D, G. Ellison, Z. Miles, R. Furgeson, slightly. Company E, Lieutenant M. Rife, Sergeant J. Markham, J. Reeves, R. Thomas, T. Jones, slightly. Company F, David Wishon, mortally. Company G, William Titus, E. Reeves, William McJunkins, slightly. Company H, S. Bragdon, mortally; L. Meyers, dangerously. Company I, G. M. Nottingham, dangerously; S. V. Roll, slightly. Company K, P. Byrnes, severely.
They had scarcely recovered from the shock when they were ordered to Vicksburg, and there was indeed a baptism of fire, of carnage, wounds and death. They were one of the five regiments which fought the bloody battle of Champion Hill, May 16, 1863, in which the casualties were, in killed 108, wounded 365, and missing ninety-three, a total of 566, the Fifty-sixth's losses being:
Killed.-Company A, Lieutenant G. W. Manring, William R. Allen and William Bass. Company B, Corporal C. Holbeck and J. Hoffman. Company C, J. H. Williams, H. Richards and R. D. Davis. Company D, Lieutenant A. S. Chute, T. Eaton, L. Clifford and T. B. Dodds. Company E, Sergeant G. Rife and William Radcliffe. Company F, C. D. Hubbard. Company G, Corporal M. Downey, M. Freeland, S. B. Quartz, W. G. Porter and H. H. McCowan. Company H, B. Bass and H. Nail. Company I, Sergeant G. Irwine and W. G. Marshall; total, twenty-four.
Wounded.-Company A, C. Blosser, dangerously; H. L. McCarley, M. G. Allen, J. Copley; A. Martindale and E. Johnson, severely; D. Wood, foot amputated; T. Harkison, fingers amputated; W. B. Jones, J. Fee and William Sexton, slightly. Company B, Sergeant Heldt, arm amputated; M. Rifflemacher, mortally; H. Meyer, severely; Corporal Emling and G. Meixner, slightly. Company C, H. Nolte, arm amputated; S. Dalrymple, dangerously; D. Evans, L. D. Davis, E. E. Edwards, D. Edwards, J. Lewis, T. J. Morris, T. D. Davis, H. Lewis and T. S. Jones, severely; Captain W. B. Williams, J. Williams, W. Edwards, William Crabtree, E. Goudy and D. Thomas, slightly. Company D, J. Veach, mortally; Sergeant H. N. Bridewell (prisoner), Corporal J. Anderson, D. A. Loveland, J. Barr (prisoner), R. Furgeson, J. Odle, J. Wood and S. Murphy, slightly. Company E, H. Martin, mortally; A. George and D. D. Williams, dangerously; William Jones, severely; E. Louge and R. Griffiths, slightly. Company F, Captain G. Wilhelm, Sergeant J. Burnett, G. W. Cox and J. Fout, severely; Sergeant J. D. Markle, dangerously; J. Peace and J. Ogan, slightly. Company G, J. Field, mortally; Sergeant D. McKenzie, dangerously; C. W. Hill, F. M. Seth and G. W. Rockwell, severely. Company H, M. Campbell, leg amputated; J. D. Boren, J. Shaw and W. Murphy, severely; Lieutenant T. W. Kinney, Sergeant Phillips, J. Coppman, W. Lodwick and M. Roush, slightly. Company I, J. Davidson, mortally; Sergeant A. Hibbens, J. Martin, M. Powers, J. W. Polly, J. Vanpleet and J. Stockman, severely; Sergeant W. Buchanan, L. Hahn, J. Sherwood, T. Stetler and A. Simon, slightly. Company K, Captain John Cook, leg amputated, J. Martin, William Bowen and J. McCulloch, severely; Lieutenant M. Owens, S. Goheen and G. Bailey, slightly; total, eighty-nine.
Missing.- Company B, Lieutenant C. Seiffner, H. Reinhardt (prisoner), W. Baker (prisoner), J. Henzer, H. Schweinberg, H. Hollenbeck. Company D, J. Daniels and J. Stockham. Company E, T. J. Davis (prisoner). Company G, Sergeant C. T. Hudson, Corporal R. H. Slavens, H. J. Potts, E. Reeves, N. E. Brown. Company H, Sergeant W. H. Brady (prisoner), P. Lloyd (prisoner), P. Brown, W. Salladay and A. Phillips. Company I, D. Pollum (prisoner). Company K, J. Davis, J. Thompson, I. Milner, J. Bussy, H. Aleshire (prisoner), total, twenty-five.
Three hundred and sixty-four, all told, went into this action.
The following were captured at the above battle:
Company B-Lieutenant Charles Seiffer; Privates, Henry Sweinsberger, Henry Holenbach, Henry Rheinhardt, Joseph Henson, William Baker. Company D-Sergeant H. N. Bridwell, wounded in the arm; Corporal, John Barr, wounded in the leg. Privates John Daniels, John Stockham. Company E-Privates, W. H. Radcliff, Thomas Davis. Company G-Sergeant Charles Hudson. Privates, H. P. Potts, Ruben Slavens, N. E. Brown, Ephraim Reeves. Company H-Orderly Sergeant W. H. Brady, Corporal Peter Brown. Privates, Amos Phillips, Henry Spitznagle, G. W. Salardy, Peter Lloyd. Company I-Privates, Jesse Stockham, David Polm. Company K-Privates, Jonathan Davis, John Thompson, John Bussey, Isaac Milner, William Bowen.
From the vicinity of Vicksburg they went to Helena, Ark., and again encamped within two miles of the town, south of it, Lieutenant-Colonel Raynor in command.
In October they went to New Orleans, when Captain Wilhelm left the regiment to command a company in Colonel Varner's battalion, and was in New Orleans until the spring of 1864. Captain Wilhelm made the following report of the soldiers who died in Company F, while he was Captain:
Wesley Nail, private, died at Portsmouth, Ohio, Jan. 25, 1862; David Hindman, private, died at Fort Donelson, Tenn., March 5, 1862; William Pound, died at Cincinnati, March 27, 1862; Timothy Correy, private, drowned at Cincinnati, July 28, 1862; John C. Allen, private, died at St. Louis, June 5, 1862; Jas. M. Fuller, private, died at Shiloh, June 10, 1862; John C. Dodge, private, died at Helena, Ark., Oct. 2, 1862; Edward De Voier, private, died at Memphis, July 21, 1862; Robert Jones, private, died at Helena, Ark., Sept. 20, 1862; Thomas J. Spence, private, died at Columbus, Ky., Sept. 20, 1862; Geo. Price, private, died at Helena, Ark., Nov. 20, 1862; Michael G. Welch, Corporal, died at Helena, Ark., Dec. 2, 1862; David Wilson, Corporal, died May 15, from wound received at Port Gibson, May 1, 1863; John D. Morkel, First Sergeant, died July 9, 1863, from wounds received at Champion Hills, May 16, 1863; Irwin Jennings, Corporal, died at Helena, Ark., Aug. 3, 1863; Jesse Jones, private, died Aug. 2, from wounds received at Jackson, Miss., July 6, 1863; Jesse B. Pugh, private, died at New Orleans, Sept. 2, 1863.
In November, 1863, the Fifty-sixth was ordered to Texas, and there they remained and became a part of General Bank's command, an expedition that terminated so disastrously. It was in the hotly contested battle on Red River, April 8, 1864, when the regiment lost forty-one in killed, wounded and missing:
P. M. McFarland, Assistant Surgeon, missing. Company A-Privates, Thos. W. Jones, wounded; Samuel Colley, wounded; Joseph E. Sturgell, missing. Company C-Privates, Moses Roberts, wounded; John K. Bochar, missing; Wm. D. Davis, missing. Company D- James Anderson, Corporal, killed; John Bom, Corporal, wounded and missing; Wm. H. Simpson, private, missing. Company E-Robert M. Fulton, Corporal, wounded and missing; privates Newton J. Roush, wounded and missing; Benjamin Hixon, wounded. E. E. Evans, wounded and missing; David Daniels, missing; John E. Evans, missing; Dennis Jones, missing. Company F-George Neff, Sergeant, missing; Robert Bowls, Corporal, missing; privates, William Lair, missing; Chas. Spence, missing; William Lister, missing. Company G-Privates, H. J. Potts, wounded; Gillman Grabtree, wounded; Jeremiah Roberts, missing; Musicians, James Meyers, wounded; John C. Titus, wounded and missing. Company H-Privates, Jacob Perry, wounded; Peter Lloyd, missing; Dixon Gudgeon, missing. Company I-Privates, William Frasier, killed; Stephen R. Ellis, wounded; Jacob Sherwood, missing; George Tripp, missing; Fountain Thacker, missing; Silverster Wilson, missing. Company K-D. F. Ratcliff, Sergeant, wounded; Peter Scott, wounded; James Walker, missing; Thomas J. McCan, missing.
Before they were out of the desparate strait they got into another battle, and the Fifty- sixth again had her already thinned ranks decimated. The following was the result of the last fight on the Red River:
Colonel Wm. H. Raynor and Dr. Williams, wounded and supposed prisoners; Captain J. C. Stimmell and Lieutenants Roberts and Schump, taken prisoners on steamer Emma. Company A-A. McPhail, Thomas Jones, John McGrew and Hospital Steward John Jones, wounded and prisoners. Company F-Fred. Hedgemire, wounded and prisoner. Company D-Sergeant Samuel Wood (both feet off), Sergeant Bingam (left with wounded), Wm. Bradfield, killed; A. Arthur, James Odle, Sergeant Thos. H. Cox, wounded and prisoners; Wm. Badger (left to take care of Colonel), John Gollager and Corporal Hunsucker, prisoners. Company I-None lost. Company C-Thomas Morris, killed; Sergeant James Vanderwert and James Hall, prisoners. Company H-Ben Trailer, wounded and prisoner; Lafayette Sickles, prisoner. Company E-Wm. Harris, missing; Sergeant Jones, wounded and prisoner; Thos. J. Davis and Thos. J. Jones, prisoners. Company K-Emanuel Russell, B. F. Newcomb, Wm. Bowen and Elias Coriell, prisoners. Company G-John Phuler, prisoner.
What was left of this gallant regiment reached Portsmouth in June, 1864, and on the 4th of July was given a dinner of welcome. Colonel Raynor arrived home on July 8, 1864, a paroled prisoner. After he was captured, Captain Henry S. Jones was made Lieutenant- Colonel and took command, and proved a splendid officer. Thirty-five men of the regiment were still prisoners of war in Texas in November, 1864. The Fifty-sixth will ever wear the laurel wreath of fame while memory lasts.
The Fifty-sixth Regiment arrived home May 7, 1866. It was organized October, 1861, Peter Kinney, Colonel; 896 men, at Portsmouth, Ohio. During the campaign in the West, Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Raynor took command and was recruited by 200 men. After the fall of Vicksburg, the regiment left for New Orleans, and was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Varner. On the re-enlistment for the war, Lieutenant Varner retiring from the service, Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Jones was promoted to the command. They were stationed at New Orleans, and were at that point when the war closed. The regiment then had 180 men and ten commissioned officers. They did not return until May, 1866. They had inscribed upon their regimental banner, by order of General Sheridan, the battles of Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Carrion Crow Bayou, Sabine Cross Roads, Wionette's Ferry and Scraggy Point.