Romney.
It appears that, for three months, Stonewall Jackson had meditated an attack upon Romney, with the reasonable hope of capturing the whole garrison. Gen. Lander had so well anticipated his movement as to evacuate the town during the night before the very morning on which the rebel General had expected to pounce upon his prey. At 10 P. M. of January 10, 1862, the Union force moved from the town with its baggage and stores, and marching via Springfield and Frankfort, arrived at 4 P. M. of the 11th at Patterson's Creek, on the B. & O. R. R., a few miles from Cumberland, Md. The site for the camp was the worst possible in all that country. The snow lay on the ground and was filled with water that had fallen during the day. The ground itself was a swamp. These three circumstances, combined, had prepared a soft bed for the weary, hungry, foot-sore soldier.
The sea of mud, stirred and kneaded by 8000 soldiers,was altogether indescribable, for only a comparatively small portion was on the top in sight.
Patterson's Creek.
It is said that there was a time when the highway in Chicago might be traced by the hats of the teamsters. At Patterson's Creek the ears of the mules might well serve the same purpose.
Every body seemed to curse the mud, and nobody to take its part. But it deserved great praise for the gentle manner in which it received the forms of the commissioned officers, when they were unable to sit upon their nags. Not one of them was known to be severely injured by a fall during the stay at that camp. Here, Prof. Ellis visited the company a few days, sharing the lot of the private soldier. To accommodate him at night, it was no difficult matter to piece out a blanket of ordinary length, and a long place made by the uneven stretching of the largest sized circular tent, was readily found. His own testimony may give to the reader a hint with regard to the degree of demoralization to which these men had passed after nearly a year of military deprivations:
"When their ranks had been thinned by capture and death, and they had passed through all the corrupting tendencies and temptations of their new life for nearly a year, I saw them in their tents in the heart of Virginia, and nightly from the six tents went up the voice of song and prayer as they bowed themselves around their family altars."
His visit was truly a pleasant one for Company C, and having proved his genuine interest in them, he bade them adieu, feeling, undoubtedly, a deep regret that he was not privileged to share their fortunes through the whole service.
Bivouac on the Levels.
Not long, however, were the troops allowed to remain quiet, when a man of so much life as Gen. Lander possessed, was at their head. On the 5th of February they moved down the railroad to French's Store, and from that point marched through the long night in a tedious, plodding manner, over mountains and through streams, towards apoint on the road between Romney and Winchester, to intercept the rebels at the former place. By noon of the next day the men, excessively wearied, found it even a pleasure to throw themselves down upon the snow in the freezing rain, to rest their exhausted forms. It was a fruitless raid. The foe had fled; and at 3 P. M., with joy the men heard the order "About, face!" It was a sweet rest that was enjoyed during that night after they halted on the banks of the Little Cacapon. What added to it, were two stacks of wheat, which were very soon converted into beds. The command moved back early in the following morning to a high table land of the adjacent mountain, where it remained seven days without tents or cooking utensils, and with only one blanket to each man. Strong winds prevailed through these days, which were the coldest of the whole winter. The snow was two thirds of a foot deep where the men made their brush beds, and they had no protection from the weather but loose brush sheds. The log fires in front of these sheds soon consumed ten acres of thick pine forest. One Irish ditching spade was the only cooking utensil which Co. C was able to secure, and even with that it was a tedious process to get a breakfast for fifty men.
Those were comparatively pleasant days, and the men learned to vie with the brute in enduring exposures and hardships.
From this place the division moved, February 13, to a point two miles south of Paw Paw Station, one part going into camp and the other to Bloomery Gap, under the leadership of Gen. Lander, to surprise a small force of rebels under Col. Baldwin. The expedition was a brilliant success. The Colonel with eighteen commissioned officers and fifty privates, was captured.
March to Winchester.
The contagion of "Quiet on the Potomac" prevailed at Paw Paw until the 1st of March. The division, consisting of fifteen regiments of infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and four or five batteries, was put in motion towards Winchester, but the sad death of Gen. Lander caused a return tocamp on the next day. On the 3d, all the troops turned out to pay military honors to the departed hero, the Seventh Ohio being detailed to escort his remains to the cars.
Gen. Shields succeeded him, and led the division up and down the Shenandoah Valley until it became a terror to the enemy and was thought almost invincible.
Passing down the railroad to Martinsburg, and taking the stone pike, it reached a point four miles north of Winchester, on the 12th of March. The rebels had evacuated during the previous day, and there was no work to be done until the reconnoissance to Strasburg was made on the 20th. An artillery skirmish took place without loss, and the troops made a hasty return during the drizzling rain of the 21st.
The hasty retreat over the sharp stones, through the rain, and with only one halt in twenty-two miles, made that another of the severe marches which multiplied on that fated division. One poor fellow of the 110th Pa. was so fatigued that he stepped into the corner of the fence to end his military career forever. The next morning only about 100 of this regiment could report for duty.
Battle of Winchester.
On Saturday afternoon, March 22, Ashby's Cavalry—the advance of Jackson's army—made an attack on the town. The troops were called out to repel it. All soon became quiet, and the next morning they returned to their quarters. After an hour the booming of the cannon beyond Winchester, gave the reason for the order to "fall in," which proved the last summons to military duty for many a man of the Seventh Ohio. Inspired by the roar of Artillery, proudly did the regiment tread through the streets of Winchester, keeping step to the singing of "John Brown's body." Jackson's men were drawn up in line in his chosen position at Kernstown, four miles distant. On double quick the Seventh Ohio and Seventh Indiana hastened to the support of Clark's and Robinson's batteries at the right of the Winchester pike. At 3 P. M. Colonel Tyler drew up his brigade and asked the men to go with him to take the enemy's battery on his left. The menresponded "yes," and set off around to the right in massed column of divisions to execute the order. In fine, cool style, the 7th Ohio, 7th Indiana, 1st Virginia, 29th Ohio, and 11th Pennsylvania, moved through the long, open field, then, wheeling to the left, through the thick woods, to meet the enemy, also in massed column, behind a stone wall, at the southern extremity of the grove. The thundering of musketry and artillery, the hail storm of bullets that continued for an hour and a half, cannot be described.
In the beginning of the musketry, Col. Tyler ordered the Seventh Ohio to deploy to the left, an order which could not then be executed, and which threw the whole column into confusion. That was the end of order until the close of the action. The success was due to the bravery of the men and their dogged determination not to yield. Col. Creighton found himself unable to command, and very wisely seized a musket to do the work of a private soldier. Each had his own base of operations, and used his own skill and strength to suit his convenience. Both officer and private seemed to do their part well. The prospect of success was, for a long time, in a doubtful balance. The numbers of the enemy in front of this brigade were probably triple its number.
Why these men were kept so long fighting in suspense without reinforcement, no private can tell; but, at last, just as the darkness was setting in, another brigade was brought up to the left, which put the enemy to a disorderly rout.
In the course of the action, Day, Dickson, and Worcester, to secure good shots, made their way around nearly to the rear of the enemy, who were thus between two fires. Here Worcester received his mortal wound. Lieutenant Junkins, of Jackson's Staff, losing his way, Sergeant Day and an Indiana Corporal beckoned to him to come hitherward. Obeying the advice, he was captured by them, and delivered up as their trophy of the battle. Orderly Danforth was killed in the first volley, and was immediately carried back to the rear. His was a beautiful corpse as itlay the next day in full uniform on the leaves of the grove, his own heart's blood staining those delicate, lady-like features. E. G. Sackett received a ball through the arm, but, nothing daunted, he eagerly rushed forward, and another passed through his lungs. He died on the following morning. F. M. Palmer was shot through the neck, while getting over the fence on the left. He lived two weeks. Coburn also received a mortal wound, and lived six days. Walworth, Winsor, and Warner, were each wounded in the arm, so as to unfit them for further military duty. Gardner, D. Kingsbury and Stephen Kellogg, received flesh wounds.
The wounded were removed to Winchester during the night. The next morning the enemy gave a few artillery salutes, as an invitation to pursue, which was accepted by the Union troops. The pursuit was continued to Strasburg, where the division encamped several days.
The next business was to drive the enemy up the valley. The division reached Harrisonburg and vicinity on the 3d of May, having arrived at Edenburg, April 1, and at New Market, April 17.
After two days the troops fell back to Sparta, and formed in line of battle. As the enemy nowhere appeared, the privates supposed it was done for a General drill.
March to Fredericksburg.
An order from the War Department indicated that Shields' division must leave the Valley, to join McDowell's forces at Fredericksburg. A general inspection was held on the 10th of May, to ascertain who were not able to march a week. These were sent to Strasburg, among whom were Corporal Cochran and J. S. Kellogg. The sequel did not prove them to be beyond danger and hardship even there.
The division was set in motion at 8 P. M., May 12, and advancing by the Sperryville pike, through the gap in the Massanutten Range, it passed through Front Royal, Thoroughfare Gap, Gaines' Cross Roads, Warrenton, Catlett Station, and reached Fredericksburg, May 22, having made a march of 132 miles in nine days. Many stirring streetscenes occurred between the "band box soldiers" of the Army of the Potomac and the weather-beaten, mud-stained, ragged cadets of Shield's Western troops. The next day was spent in washing, bathing, and purchasing soft bread, gingerbread, and cheese.
It was soon found that the division had arrived in the vicinity of reviews and inspections, the most detestable of all military performances to the utilitarian soldier.
Raid and Retreat of Jackson.
President Lincoln arrived on the morning train of the 24th, and ordered a review of the 43,000 troops then under the command of McDowell. The performance lasted until 9 P. M., and the men returned to their quarters with disgust, ripened into indignation. The expectation was general that the whole force would at once move against Richmond. Jackson very shrewdly checkmated that movement by raiding down to Winchester with 28,000 troops.
Shields' division was immediately set in motion to meet him, and save Washington and the North. By hard marching, night and day through Catlett Station, Manassas, White Plains, Rectorville, and Manassas Gap, it reached Front Royal at 3 P. M. of the 30th of May. Shields' division of 10,000 men was now on one of the direct roads between the enemy and Richmond. Gen. Fremont was making great efforts to reach the other. Hence a battle was thought imminent. But "many a slip" has hitherto changed prospective results in human affairs. The heavy cannonading on the Strasburg pike, indicated that Jackson was passing and Gen. Fremont was probably giving him a farewell salutation. So it proved; and the next business was to drive him once more up the Valley. Gen. Shields was ordered up on the eastern side of the Massanutten Range, while Fremont pushed the enemy on the western side. The roar of artillery daily marked his advance.
On the 8th of June the Rebel General halted his column and gave battle at Cross Keys. The third and fourth brigades of Shields' troops, numbering 3000 men, reached Port Republic on the same day. This town is on the Shenandoah, sixty-eight miles above Front Royal, and was occupied by the rear of Jackson's army.
During all the afternoon, these brigades lay quietly listening to the roar of the artillery, within sight of Jackson's train and rear. Farther and farther away the sounds receded at night, and it was evident that Fremont was falling back.
Battle of Port Republic.
In breathless suspense did Gen. Shield's men listen to these receding sounds, for, almost by instinct, they knew their turn was soon to come. The attempt to burn the bridge at Port Republic, and thus to prevent the retreat of the enemy to Richmond, for some inexplicable reason, was not executed. During the night, Jackson crossed over 10,000 men and thirty pieces of artillery.
The field, destined to be for battle, was a beautiful, level farm one and a half miles long, and one half a mile wide, enclosed by the Shenandoah closely hugging the north-west side, and a ridge of high hills on the south-east side. The bridge was at the west end, and the Federal troops at the east end of the open field. At 6½ A. M. of the 9th of June, 1862, the Union soldiers were startled by heavy volleys of musketry upon Robinson's battery, stationed on a knoll at the south-east corner of the farm. Sections of Clark's and Huntington's batteries were moved down to the middle of the field. The 7th and 5th Ohio were sent on double-quick to support them. They arrived just in time to save them from a brigade of the enemy who were charging up with fixed bayonets. The heavy volleys of musketry and double charges of grape checked the rebels, and they fell back behind a rail fence. A severe fire was continued half an hour. It was here that a shell passed through the body of R. J. Kingsbury, and severely mangled the thigh of Atwater.
It was at this point that C. P. Hamilton and D. S. Judson were mortally wounded. The hissing of bullets and shrieking of shells were frightful. Not less than twenty pieces of artillery, standing in the form of a semicircle, were ranged on these two fated regiments. This was oneof those fine opportunities for coolly meeting an enemy in an open field, which school boys fancy they would like to enjoy.
Soon the rebels fell back in confusion, and with deafening shouts these two regiments pushed after them. As they passed the fence where the enemy had lain, there could be seen a long line of dead, dying and wounded men. One was getting a bullet out of his foot, another was rubbing his shin, a third was rolling and groaning, and thus scores were passing their time. Eighty rods farther and another rebel brigade rose up in line. These were soon put to flight. It was far out in front at this point that the noble Gates fell. A quiver of the muscles, a setting of the eye in the socket, and all was over with him. None that knew him doubted that from the thick smoke of battle he had gone up to be crowned with everlasting peace.
Retreat from Port Republic.
A few moments later, Corporal Magary received his final discharge. The eager enthusiasm of the men had thrown them into utter confusion. The loud ring of Colonel Creighton's voice to "fall in," soon restored order, and the 7th and 5th Ohio were marched back to the rear to cover the retreat. A closing scene over Robinson's battery, at 10:30 A. M., ended the battle. The Seventh retreated in line. It entered with 325 men. Twelve were killed, and sixty-three wounded. One half of the Fifth were killed, wounded, and captured.
Company C entered with thirty-six men. Three were killed, and seven wounded, two of whom died in a few days.
The enemy closely pressed the Union troops with cavalry and artillery. No halt could be made forfourteenmiles. Wounded and barefooted men formed no small portion of the retreating column. After an hour's rest, the men pushed on eight miles farther, to a secure camp, for the night. The next work of the division was to make its way to Alexandria. At that City, it arrived at daylight of the 28th of June. Its route wasviaLuray, Front Royal, Markham, White Plains, Bristoe Station, and Manassas.It immediately took steamers to join McClellan, on the Peninsula. The 1st and 2d brigades proceeded, but the 3d and 4th were allowed to debark on the following morning, by order of the war department, in consideration of their arduous services. The 3d brigade encamped at Alexandria, one half a mile south of Fort Ellsworth, where it remained four weeks. Every opportunity was improved to visit Washington and Mount Vernon, by the men of Company C, who ever had inquiring minds, inspired with a good degree of curiosity. The 4th of July was duly celebrated by a review, the reading of the Declaration of Independence by Sergeant Bowler, and short speeches from Chaplain Wright and Gen. Tyler.
The men of the 3d brigade supposed the government had decided to let the remnant of them live to enjoy the blessings of the coming peace, which so many of their comrades had sacrificed their lives to secure. But the sad sequel proved the fact to be decidedly otherwise. The advance of Lee northward, made it necessary to mass all the troops that were in the vicinity Washington, to meet him.
Warrenton.
On the morning of the 26th of July, the Seventh with other Ohio regiments, reached Warrenton. The next day was the Sabbath. A squad of Company C attended the Episcopal service. Women and children in mourning apparel constituted nearly the entire congregation. At this aristocratic town the celebrated Black Horse Cavalry were raised, and nearly all of them had sacrificed their lives in the Confederate service.
The brigade was here supplied with mules that had never worn a harness. Wallace and Woodmansee were detailed to drive each a team of four of these obstinate, unbroken beasts, and no little credit do they deserve for bringing their loads of camp baggage safely through to Little Washington. Truly surprising was the skill with which these animals would rear, plunge, perform evolutions not distinctly traceable, and finally light with their heads where their heels ought to be.
At Little Washington a grand review was made by Gen. Pope of all the troops in Gen. Banks command. In the midst of thisparade militaire, the troops were massed to attend divine service, which was very impressive after so fine a preparation of the mind for devotional exercises. This review proved the last to many a soldier present, and it was hoped that it might be so to all.
By an order from the War Department, Gen. Tyler was relieved of the command of the brigade, and was succeeded by Gen. Geary, who held the position during the remainder of the service. It was with many tears of his own and of the men of the Seventh, that he bade adieu to that band of heroes who had been the secret of his success.
Battle of Cedar Mountain.
There was no time for delay. Gen. Jackson was already on the banks of the Rapidan. The corps of Gen. Banks was urged forward to meet him. It reached Culpepper on the morning of the 8th of August. The artillery firing in the direction of Cedar Mountain, indicated that work was near at hand. After an hour's rest the men were sent down to the scene of action in light marching order. Cedar Mountain is a conical peak, situated eight milessouth-eastfrom the village of Culpepper, upon the sides and at the base of which the rebel army was arranged in line of battle. The whole corps arrived at 1 P. M. Small skirmishing parties were sent out in various directions, and very frequently would the sound of their rifles return to the main body, to signify that there was a large force in the woods, very near at hand.
During the preparations for a battle, very little is usually seen, but much is generally heard. Men on each side are concealed in every ravine and thicket of bushes. General Geary's brigade was brought out into the west end of a large cultivated farm, one mile long, three fourths of a mile wide, and hemmed in by woods on every side.
At 4 P. M. this brigade was ordered forward. Promptly it obeyed, and pushed down directly towards the middle of the field in two lines of battle. Twice it halted behind eminences to avoid the raking artillery fire. Creightonrecklessly sat upon his nag, as though inviting the aim of the multitudes of concealed marksmen on every hand.
The bullets of the rebel sharp-shooters were annoying, but produced no disorder in the ranks, save a man now and then fell to rise no more.
What solemnity was on every countenance! What resolution in every heart! What stillness reigned in the ranks as the men heard the spitting of the bullets over their heads, between them, at their feet, and saw fifty rods in front of them, a long column of rebels, coolly standing at parade rest, waiting to receive them!
A few rods farther, and the order to fire was given on both sides, to be followed by a roar of musketry and a scene of carnage that beggars all description.
At this point, the writer of this sketch had the honor to establish his claim for a discharge. He bade adieu to the company, wishing them a happy time, and was escorted to the rear by the faithful Trembley. This little band of Ohio soldiers soon found themselves hemmed in by hosts of rebels, who rose up on every side.
To stand, was impossible. To run, was not thought of. Therefore they were obliged to take the only alternative, to fall.
The darkness of the night closed the musketry engagement; and when that glad time came, only seventy of the Seventh Ohio could be found to go on picket duty. As this small remnant passed the ambulance which had the honor to bear the wounded, bleeding body of that brave man, Col. Creighton, his soul was stirred within him, but he could only say, "Go on, boys. You have got to be killed, and it may as well be now as any other time." In the thick darkness, they were soon challenged, and a volley of musketry again tithed the ranks. Lieut. Ross, commanding Company C, fell, mortally wounded, and with him five or six of the rank and file of the regiment. The Union troops were obliged to fall back a mile, and the enemy occupied the field until the close of the next day.The dead and wounded were in the hands of the enemy, and could be found only by flag of truce.
It proved that only four of Company C had passed through unhurt. Sergeant Bowler, Corporal Evers, privates Shepard, Rappleye, and W. F. Richmond, were killed. The most seriously wounded were Cooper, Dickson, Andrews, Badger, Carrothers, Buxton, and Theodore Wilder.
The wounded were removed to Culpepper during the night, and after two or three days, to Alexandria.
The battle of Cedar Mountain proved the most destructive of all, to the Seventh. Seventy-five per cent. were killed and wounded.
Pope's Retreat.
Gen. Pope learned from this defeat, that "lines of retreat and bases of operations" were phrases that properly had places in the military vocabulary.
Gen. Lee's opportunity had come to compel all the Union forces to fall back to Washington and Maryland.
After the grand review on the 18th of August, made in compliance with the President's order to all the U. S. troops, the general retreat was commenced. A delay was made on the banks of the Rappahannock. The Seventh took part in the skirmishes along the stream for fifteen miles.
August 27th the retreat was renewed. The route of the regiment was by way of Catlett Station, Bristoe Station, Brentsville, Manassas, Centerville, Alexandria, Arlington Heights, Aqueduct Bridge, Georgetown, Frederick, and South Mountain, to the field of Antietam, where it arrived, September 17, 1862, in time to engage once more in the bloody work of battle. The greater part of this march had been made without the comfort of blankets at night, and the exposures had much diminished the strength of the men.
The Seventh Ohio did not take a very active part in this battle. Sergeant Jones and Corporal Goodsell were severely wounded and left at Sharpsburg. The Corporal died on the 19th.
This defeat of Gen. Lee turned the faces of both armies toward Richmond.
September 29, Gen. Geary's brigade went into camp on the rocky side of Loudon Heights, and, a few days afterwards, moved to Bolivar Heights.
Capt. Shurtleff here returned to the company for the first time after his capture, but, being detailed as Inspector General on Gen. Wilcox's Staff, he did not take command.
Harper's Ferry is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. The towering bluff on the north side of the Potomac is called Maryland Heights; that on the south side, Loudon Heights; and the one between the rivers is called Bolivar Heights. The physical development of the soldiers was secured by the necessity of carrying their water half a mile up the steep hill of Loudon Heights. On the 11th of October, thirty-one recruits swelled the company to a respectable size. Their names and record appear in the latter part of this work.
Occasional reconnoissances were made from Harper's Ferry up the Valley towards Winchester. On one of these scouts a brisk skirmish took place with the rebel cavalry at Berryville. Company C, under the command of Orderly Andrews, was deployed in advance. The cavalry made a sudden, furious dash upon them. They rallied, formed line, and repulsed the enemy without loss to themselves.
Battle of Dumfries.
On the 10th of December, Geary's brigade struck tents for Fredericksburg. Hearing of Burnside's defeat, the four Ohio regiments under Col. Candy, encamped at Dumfries.
At 2 P. M., December 27, the signal to fall in was sounded, and the cannon on the side of the town, opposite the camp, signified that there was work to be done.
The brigade hastily marched through the village and concealed themselves on each side of the road. The enemy, consisting of a brigade of Stewart's cavalry, with two pieces of artillery, finding his shells were ineffectual, divided his force, sending one detachment to the right, to flank the Federal soldiers. It was gallantly repulsed by the 66th Ohio.
The other detachment moved around to the left and rear to attack the camp. Col. Creighton had drawn in the pickets which he that day commanded, and had concealed them behind a thicket. Putting himself out in full view and range of the rebels, with his loud voice, he dared them on. As they advanced, a severe, unexpected fire from these men put them in confusion. A repetition of these charges proved ineffectual, and night, the soldier's ally, closed the contest. The rebels kept up the appearances of a large force present, by building large fires, but the feint brightness was intended only to conceal their withdrawal. In this action, Corporal Condit and Philip Grigsby were severely wounded.
At this town the brigade spent the winter. Lieutenant I. C. Jones took command of Co. C, March 1, 1863, and held it until his death at Ringgold.
Battle of Chancellorsville.
In obedience to orders to march with eight days' rations, these troops set out on the Chancellorsville campaign, April 20.
Marching by Aquia Landing, Stafford Court House, and Kelley's Ford, they reached Chancellorsville on the 30th. The battle opened at 12 o'clock 15 minutes of the next day, but the Seventh took no active part, except to move to the support of a battery in the south-east corner of the large, open field in and around which the fighting took place.
At 5:20 A. M. of the 2d of May, the firing was renewed. At 10 A. M. the enemy undertook to silence the battery supported by the Seventh, but their own guns were soon silenced by the blowing up of two of their caissons. A fine opportunity was given to the regiment, in the afternoon, to show its valor. It was ordered down the plank road through the middle of the battle field, to support a regiment of skirmishers. These became frightened and rushed back to the rear, while the Seventh pushed firmly on in column, one half the regiment being on each side of the road, under the command of Col. Creighton and Major Crane. A green, Pennsylvania regiment, at the rear, gave them asevere volley and thus put them between two fires; but in good order, the men retained their places until they were ordered to retreat.
The enemy massed his forces upon the right wing in the latter part of the day. The 11th Corps gave way, and the Union troops were forced back to the west end of the field. The rapid firing of the massed artillery during the night, made the whole line in front a sheet of living flame. It was one of the grandest sights that the eye has opportunity to witness. Early the following morning, the battle was vigorously renewed. At 8:30 A. M. the Seventh was ordered into the rifle pits at the east end of the field. The enemy took possession of the west end, and planted batteries, so as to give the Union forces a terrible cross fire from three directions. After an hour it was ordered to its old position at the south-east corner of the field. At 11 A. M. the Seventh was ordered to charge the enemy, who were driving several regiments before them. After a short fight in the brush, the enemy fell back. It was then discovered that the rest of the Union forces had been withdrawn, leaving this Ohio brigade to fight alone with the rebels, and to cover the retreat. The Seventh was the last engaged, and was obliged to retire across the open field that was swept by the enemy's artillery. The brigade took up a fortified position near the river, and held it until the 6th of May. In the battle, John Gardner was wounded and left uncared for, ten days, on the field, in the hands of the enemy. Cole, Wise, and J. S. Kellogg, were also wounded, but were able to retreat.
Battle of Gettysburg.
The sequel proved that Lee's object from this time was, to push into Pennsylvania. The Union forces were compelled to follow. They reached Gettysburg on the 1st of July, 1863. The route of the Seventh wasvia. Aquia Landing, Edward's Ferry, Frederick, and Littletown. Tedious in the extreme was the march a portion of the way. The weather was excessively warm; so that on the route from Dumfries to Fairfax, in one day, nineteen men in one division, died by the road side from heat and exhaustion.Who can tell the amount of suffering among the survivors? Battles have produced only a fractional portion of the horrors and sufferings of this war.
On the 1st of July, the Seventh took position on the left of the Federal lines, without fighting. In the morning of the 2d, it was moved to the right wing, where there was a little musketry in the afternoon. At 6 P. M., it reinforced the left wing, which, by a furious assault, had been forced back. There being danger on the right wing, the regiment was again moved to its support, at 1 A. M. of the 3d. Musketry was kept up during the whole day. At 6 A. M., the Seventh took the rifle pits. The severest portion of the battle occurred in the afternoon of the 3d. The enemy threw his whole force against the center and was thoroughly punished. The cannonading was terrific, perhaps equal to any of the whole war. The slight loss in the Seventh was due to their fortifications. In Co. C, the wounded were Henry Fairchild, John Burns, John Finneran and Joseph McCurren; the latter, mortally.
Once more were the faces of the two grand armies turned towards Richmond. The battles of Geary's brigade in the northern portion of the Confederacy were ended. Its journey before meeting the enemy again, face to face, in deadly conflict, was long enough to reach around a small-sized world. The windings and turnings of it are almost untraceable. In this short sketch, there is only space to mark out the route without giving the multitude of interesting particulars connected with it.
The brigade passed through Smoketown, Fairplay, (there forming line of battle,) Sharpsburg, Harper's Ferry, proceeded up the Loudon Valley to Ashby's Gap, marched through Manassas Gap, Rectorsville, Markham, White Plains, Thoroughfare Gap, Greenwich, Manassas, Catlett Station, and, crossing the Rappahannock below Culpepper, it encamped on the banks of the Rapidan, in view of the enemy, on the opposite side.
But not long were they to tarry there. The four Ohio regiments were soon sent to New York, as was supposed,to enforce the draft. Moving by rail to Alexandria, and, after being paid for two months, taking the ocean steamer, Baltic, they reached New York Harbor about the middle of August, and encamped on Governor's Island, at the southern extremity of the city.
The draft having passed among the lower classes without a pat-riot, they again weighed anchor on the same steamer, about the 1st of September, and, by the same route, reached their former camp on the Rapidan, very near the middle of the month.
Hooker's Corps was immediately ordered to Tennessee. This corps consisted of the 11th and 12th consolidated, and was numbered the 20th.
Its route was through Washington, Baltimore, Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, to Wauhatchie Valley.
Battle of Lookout Mountain.
Co. C was left at Wartrace, Tenn., to scout for annoying rebel cavalry. It proved an excellent hunting ground, but a poor one for finding. The four Ohio regiments that had so long shared each other's fortunes, were sent toBridgeport, Alabama. Early in November, they joined the army of Gen. Grant, to assist in the capture of the strong hold upon Lookout Mountain. The sides of the peak are very steep and full of gorges. The order was given Nov. 24, 1863, to ascend its rocky sides. It seemed impossible. But those veterans did not hesitate to make the necessary effort. Gen. Hooker sent troops to entertain the enemy in front, while others passed up the north and east sides, to capture his camp.
The Seventh was not brought under fire until it arrived at the front of the mountain, and even then, nature turned in to be its ally. The guns of the enemy could not be depressed sufficiently to do much harm, and their greatest efficiency was secured by shooting off the tops of the trees to fall upon the heads of the men. Moving farther on, they were exposed to a severe musketry fire. Here M. C. Stone was severely wounded and taken from the field. A heavy fog soon ended the firing. Night came on, and the fog disappeared. The full moon gave to the Seventh,while doing picket duty, a scene that was truly grand. The summit of the mountain is 2700 feet above the river. The regiment was up two thirds this distance. The camps of both armies were visible, and an enrapturing view for many miles around could be taken. The eclipse of the moon, almost total, seemed to indicate the displeasure of the Almighty at such scenes as the evening shades had just closed in upon.
Mission Ridge and Ringgold.
At early dawn the enemy nowhere appeared, and the Stars and Stripes were planted proudly upon the highest pinnacle. The Union Army pursued down the mountain, across the plain of Chattanooga, and up the sides of Mission Ridge, to meet only a slight resistance. The enemy fled, hotly pursued through the day, which was crowned with the capture of 2000 prisoners. The troops were never more jubilant. Cheers and songs echoed from hill to hill. Onward, still onward, was the pursuit, until November 27, when the enemy strongly posted himself on Taylor's Ridge, just beyond Ringgold, to prevent the Union forces from passing through Thompson's Gap. Geary's brigade was ordered to storm the heights. It formed in two columns on the rail road one half a mile north of the Gap. The Seventh occupied the right of the rear column. Steadily up they went. The advance halted at the steep declivity to return the enemy's fire. The rear column passed over it, and entered a gorge that was directly in front. The unshrinking Creighton shouted, "Boys, we are ordered to take that hill. I want to see you walk right up it." And up they went in the face of a merciless fire in front, on right, and left.
Soon Lieut. Col. Crane fell, a sacrifice on the altar, and in less than an hour, Col. Creighton followed him to the spirit world. Only one commissioned officer of the Seventh was left uninjured. There was nothing for the small remnant to do, but to fall back to the foot of the hill. It was a sad affair for the regiment. Its glory seemed to have departed. Of the twenty men in Co. C, who entered the action, six were killed and eight, wounded. The killedwere Lieut. I. C. Jones, J. L. Fish, C. E. Wall, D. P. Wood, C. F. King, and Thomas Sweet. The wounded were John Gardner, (mortally,) J. W. Raymond, H. D. Claghorn, John Phillips, J. Cleverton, Wm. H. Pelton, W. O. Barns, and M. H. Sheldon.
The army remained at Ringgold until December 1. It then fell back twenty miles to go into winter quarters, at Chattanooga.
Immediately after the battle at Ringgold, Orderly Andrews took command of Co. C, and held it until its final discharge at Cleveland.
Efforts were made at this camp to induce the men to re-enlist. A fine speech of Gen. Geary's was insufficient to cause the boys to forget their abuse and hard usage, which had so prejudiced their minds that they could not see it to be their duty to do further service. Besides, the General had not, by any means, made himself their favorite; and therefore, his protestations that, "to lose the Seventh would be to lose the seventh star of the Pleiades," and that "they were dear to him as the apple of his eye," only served to disgust them.
Bridgeport.
On the 4th of January, 1864, his brigade was sent to Bridgeport to spend the rest of the winter.
It took the steamer Chickamauga, April 12, and sailed 110 miles down the Tennessee, to a point fifteen miles beyond Huntsville, having two or three skirmishes on the way, and capturing a few prisoners. After three days it returned to its camp.
Another effort was made by Gen. Slocum and all the Corps authorities, to persuade the men to enter the veteran service; but they said, "We know the promises of men in authority, and how much care is exercised for the comfort of those under them. We love the society of our friends at home as well as the multitudes of young men who have never spent a day in the service. We will take our turn with them." These thoughts biased the men so that, again, they could not feel it their duty to re-enlist, andwhen the glad hour of their release came, they returned to their homes with clear consciences.
Rocky-Faced Ridge and Resaca.
The proper time for their discharge drew near, and the men claimed their right to the promise made them in Camp Dennison, but that promise was utterly disregarded by the government. When Gen. Sherman was ready to enter upon the Atlanta Campaign, the Seventh was ordered to join his forces. Leaving Bridgeport on the 3d of May, it passed by Lookout Mountain, around seven miles to the right of Ringgold, over Taylor's Ridge at Gordon Springs, and came up to Rocky-Faced Ridge on the 8th of May, 1864. A line of battle was immediately formed by Hooker's Corps, to drive the enemy from the Ridge. Geary's brigade moved up. When it had nearly reached the summit, the General halted the Seventh and detailed it for his body guard, in consideration of its hard service and severe losses. The rest of the force skirmished from 3 P. M. until night, losing 200 men in killed and wounded.
The enemy retreated, and next made a stand at Resaca, Ga., May 14. The Seventh was posted in the rear of the center of the grand line of battle. The next day it was moved with its division to the left wing, in time to save the 4th A. C., which was not able to stand. In the afternoon the Union troops advanced in a dozen lines of battle. In the heat of action, as the front line gave way, it fell back to the rear. The Seventh was thus brought in front at 5 P. M., but neither side thought it best to advance across the open field that lay between the two hostile forces. Thus night ended the engagement, without loss to the Seventh.
Battle of Dallas.
The enemy withdrew in the night, and was pursued ten days, to New Hope Church, in the vicinity of Dallas, Ga.
The battle opened in front of Hooker's Corps, May 25.
The Seventh was put forward to skirmish. In the latter part of the day it was relieved and set at building breastworks. After sunset, the brigade was ordered to "fix bayonets and give the enemy the cold steel." Both Hooker and Geary urged the men forward, on the ground that theenemy had no ammunition. While Gen. Geary was making this pretext, the rebels demonstrated the truth of it by sending a shell among the men, and another under the General's horse. The former burst in the crowded ranks, killing two, and wounding twelve men. The General vanished, and no more was seen of him during the night.
The men did nothesitatefrom fear, but several good reasons were the cause of the hesitation. Their time had expired. They had already done more than their share of charging. They would have been cut to pieces by the rear regiments, and if they had failed, they would have received no more thanks than they did at Ringgold.
During eight days of the battle, the Seventh fought behind breastworks, and learned the worth of protection.
Final Discharge.
The 11th of June was the glad day of their relief, to turn their faces towards those homes which had occupied so much of their thoughts for more than three years. Co. C was marched out into a little grove which was to witness the sad parting of the veterans from those whose term of service had not yet expired. Many tears were shed, as they shook each other's hands, one party turning to battle, then imminent, the other, to hasten to the embrace of friends.
The former portion of the company was transferred to Co. B of the 5th O. V. I., and had the honor of sharing in General Sherman's brilliant campaign of successes, through Georgia and South Carolina. They were discharged, June 20, 1865, after having the satisfaction of seeing the war ended.
The veterans of the company proceeded by rail to Nashville, thence by steamer down the Cumberland, up the Ohio to Cincinnati, and arrived at Cleveland, June 26, 1864.
The journey homeward was prosperous with one sad exception. Before the company left Georgia, Sergeant O. C. Trembley had written to his mother that she need have no fears for him—his fighting was through, and he would soon be home. He was one of the most joyous at the prospect before him of soon being with his friends.Faithfully and well had he served in every battle of the regiment but one, and had, fortunately, never been wounded. When the steamer was forty miles below Cincinnati, going to the rear of the boat on the lower deck, he slipped into the river and was drowned. His body was found on the third day by a fisherman; was brought to Cleveland by his friend Hiram Parsons; and, by eight of Company C, was thence escorted to his home in North Fairfield, Ohio.
There is not space to describe the splendid ovation, given to the Seventh, with the Fifth Ohio, by the citizens of Cincinnati; and the members are ashamed to have mention made of the meager reception at Cleveland, on the Fourth of July.
The following are the names of the little band that returned to be mustered out of the service, July 6, 1864: M. M. Andrews, J. F. Harmon, S. M. Cole, J. E. Avery, N. L. Badger, J. M. Burns, H. B. Fry, A. M. Halbert, E. T. Hayes, I. A. Noble, H. Parsons, Thos. Spriggs, T. J. Wallace, D. A. Ward, Oliver Wise, and Wm. Woodmansee.
GILES WALDO SHURTLEFF,
A member of the Oberlin Theological Seminary, and Tutor in Oberlin College; commanded the Company, as Captain, until the battle of Cross Lanes, August 26, 1861, when he was captured and taken to Richmond, as prisoner of war; spent eleven months and twenty-two days in Southern prisons, at Richmond, Salisbury, and Charleston; paroled August 18, 1862, and exchanged September 30, 1862; by order of General Burnside, at Pleasant Valley, Va., Oct, 11, 1862, detached as Assistant Inspector General of the 9th Army Corps, on the Staff of General Wilcox. While in this service, he was engaged in the severe battle at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862; resigned, and was discharged from the military service, March 18, 1863.
He was commissioned as Lieut. Colonel of the 5th U. S. C. T., July 29, 1864, which regiment he commanded most of the remainder of his service. With them he was engaged in the series of battles from June 15 to June 19, before Petersburg; in the battle at the blowing up of the mines, July 30, 1864; in the trenches under fire, daily, before Petersburg from June 15 to August 10, 1864, and in the charge upon New Market, Va., Sept. 29, 1864, for gallantry in which battle he was promoted to Colonel. In this severe engagement, he lost nearly one half his men.
He also took part in Gen. Butler's attempt to capture Ft. Fisher, at Wilmington, N. C., his regiment being the only colored troops that landed; wounded in the hand and through the thigh in the battle of New Market. Nominated by the Secretary of War as Brevet Brigadier General, and confirmed by the Senate, March 15, 1865; resigned on the ground that the war had closed, and honorably discharged, June 25, 1865; married, and now doing duty as Adjunct Professor of the Greek and Latin languages in Oberlin College.
JUDSON N. CROSS,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; commissioned as First Lieutenant of Company C, April 29, 1861; wounded severely by gun shot in left arm, and taken prisoner of war in the battle of Cross Lanes; rescued by the army of Gen. Rosecrans in the battle of Carnifex Ferry, Sept. 11, 1861, when he was removed to Cincinnati for recovery. He was promoted to Captain of Co. K, 7th O. V. I., Nov. 25, 1861, and was detailed as recruiting officer in Ohio, until Feb. 9, 1863, when he resigned, and was honorably discharged at Dumfries, Va. June 13, 1863, he was appointed 1st Lieutenant in the 5th Invalid Corps, and was promoted to Captain, October 28, 1863. In this service he was stationed at Cleveland; afterwards at St. Louis, Mo.; thence, went to Indianapolis, Ind.
In December, 1863, he was placed in command of the Post at Madison, Ind., remaining until April, 1864, when he was made Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the District of Indiana. In the following June, received the appointment of Assistant Provost Marshal of the District of Washington, on the Staff of the Military Governor. In November, was appointed Provost Marshal of Georgetown, D. C., and soon after, Special Mustering Officer, to muster the Prisoners of War returned from Andersonville, Ga.; resigned, and honorably discharged, March 16, 1865; married, and pursuing the profession of the law.
EPHRAIM H. BAKER,
An Alumnus of Oberlin College, and Theological student; commissioned as Second Lieutenant of Co. C, Apr. 29, 1861;took command after the battle of Cross Lanes; was promoted to First Lieutenant, November 26, 1861; led the Company through the battle of Winchester; resigned, and was discharged on account of disability, July 25, 1862; now married, and engaged in preaching the Gospel, at Marseilles, Ill.
ORLANDO PARK BROCKWAY,
A Junior in Oberlin College; served with the Company as First Sergeant until about the 20th of Aug., 1861, when he was sent to the hospital because of sickness, and afterwards to Ohio. In his absence he was reduced to the ranks by some inexplicable order of Col. Tyler's, October 25, 1861; transferred to Battery I, 1st Ohio Artillery, at Charleston, Va., Dec. 1, 1861. While on a foraging expedition, near Luray, Va., in the Summer of 1862, he was captured; taken to Lynchburg, and thence to Belle Isle, where, after much suffering, he was paroled. In the Autumn, he was exchanged and discharged. He was commissioned as Captain in the 5th U. S. C. T., in August, 1863; engaged in the series of battles before Petersburg, from June 15 to 19; and killed in the trenches, July 19, 1864.
EDMUND R. STILES,
An Alumnus of Oberlin College, and member of the Theological Seminary; Second Sergeant: captured at Cross Lanes, and spent nine months with the rebels at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury; paroled and exchanged; discharged, July 8, 1862; now married, and is preaching the Gospel.
WILLIAM WATTS PARMENTER,
A Senior in Oberlin College; served with the company as Third Sergeant, until the battle of Cross Lanes, when he was captured and taken to Richmond; afterwards, transferred to Parish Prison, New Orleans, where he died with Typhoid Fever, Nov. 4, 1861.
HOBART G. ORTON,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; Fourth Sergeant; engaged in the battle of Cross Lanes, where a severe gun shot broke his thigh bone about an inch below the socket joint. Standing behind a tree, firing as rapidly as possible, under his own command, he was discovered by a rebel Captain, who ordered his whole company to fire upon him. The tree was girdled with the bullets, and one took effect in the thigh of the Sergeant. He was left on the field, in the hands of the enemy, and was recaptured by our troops, Sept. 11, 1861. Thence he was removed to St. John's Hospital, Cincinnati, where he suffered severely for a year, and was discharged, Nov. 20, 1862. He is now married and practicing law.
ELIAS W. MOREY,
A Sophomore in Oberlin College; Fifth Sergeant; wounded slightly in the head, and taken prisoner in the battle of Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the hands of the enemy, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury; paroled and exchanged; returned to duty, March 22, 1863; engaged in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; discharged, Nov. 10, 1863, to accept a First Lieutenancy in the 9th Regiment U. S. C. T.; promoted to Captain, and made Provost Marshal of the 20th A. C.; now in the service.
J. FRANCIS HARMON,
Corporal; served constantly with the regiment, during the whole term of enlistment; promoted to Sergeant, in the Company, Nov. 20, 1861, and to Quarter-Master Sergeant of the regiment, April 1, 1862; engaged in the battle ofCross Lanes; discharged at Cleveland, Ohio, July 6, 1864; married, and is now Postmaster at Oberlin, O.
THERON E. W. ADAMS,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; Corporal; wounded by a guerilla, while on picket duty, near Glenville, Va., July 21, 1861. The ball entered his side and followed a rib around nearly to the spine. He has the honor of shedding the first blood in the Seventh Ohio Regiment, by the hand of an enemy; engaged in the battle of Winchester; honorably discharged on account of disability, June 29, 1862; graduated in Oberlin College in the Class of '64; married, and farming in Michigan.
CHARLES P. BOWLER,
A Junior in Oberlin College; Corporal; served constantly with the Company until his death; promoted to Sergeant; participated in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain, where he received a gun shot through the heart. He fell upon his back, dying instantly with a convulsive struggle.
STEPHEN M. COLE,
Corporal; slightly wounded in the thigh, and taken prisoner in the retreat two or three days after the battle of Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the hands of the enemy at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury, after which he was paroled and exchanged; returned to duty, March 22, 1863, at Dumfries; participated in the battles of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville, where he was wounded in the shoulder by a shell; detailed as Clerk at Head Quarters of 1st Brigade 2d Division, 12th A. C., Feb. 25, 1864; discharged July 6, 1864; married, and farming in Gibralter, Mich.
ARTHUR CURTIS DANFORTH,
A Sophomore in Oberlin College; served as Corporal until Nov. 20, 1861, when he was promoted to First Sergeant, at Charleston, Va.; escaped unhurt from the battle of Cross Lanes, and was instantly killed in the battle of Winchester, by a bullet passing through his chest, and another through his neck. His body was brought to Oberlin for burial.
EDWARD WAKEMAN GOODSELL,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; Corporal; with the Company until August 15, 1861, when he was sent, sick, to Gauley Bridge, and thence to Cincinnati. Being unfit for duty, because of inflamed eyes, he served in St. John's Hospital until he joined the Company on the 18th of July, 1862, at Alexandria, Va.
In the battle of Cedar Mountain, he received a bruise on the foot. At Antietam, a color guard from Co. C being required, he was detailed by Sergeant Lincoln, remarking as he went, that he "would as soon sign his death warrant." In the engagement, he received a wound in the abdomen. He lived a few days, made his will, settled up his business carefully, and died September 19, 1862.
HENRY W. LINCOLN,
Corporal; promoted to Second Sergeant, Nov. 20, 1861; to First Sergeant, March 24, 1862; to Second Lieutenant, August 9, 1862, and to First Lieutenant, November 6, 1862; a faithful officer, present on all the marches, and in all the battles, till his final leave of absence. He was in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, and Antietam.
Having the Chronic Diarrhœa, he obtained a furlough in December, 1862, to return to his home in Oberlin; discharged, Jan. 7, 1863, for disability, and died July 1, 1863.
ISAAC F. MACK,
A Junior in Oberlin College; Corporal; captured at Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the hands of the rebels, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury; paroled, and exchanged; discharged from the U. S. Service, October 16, 1862. He is married, and is now Editor of the BrodheadRepublican, Wisconsin.
EDGAR M. BOSTWICK,
Musician; transferred to the regimental band, July 10, 1861, and discharged, July 5, 1862.
CHARLES W. ROSSITER,
Musician; transferred to the Regimental Band, July 10 1861, and mustered out of the service, July 5, 1862; married, and engineer on the Chicago and North Western Railroad.
PRIVATES.
MARTIN M. ANDREWS,
Appointed Corporal, Nov. 20, 1861; promoted to Orderly Sergeant, August 9, 1862; engaged in the battles of Cross Lanes, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain, where the first finger of his left hand was broken, and the second finger was fractured; commanded the Company in the cavalry skirmish near Berryville, Va.; engaged in the battle at Dumfries; slightly wounded in the battle of Chancellorsville; took part in the battles of Gettysburg, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; mustered out of the service with the Company, at Cleveland, Ohio, July 6, 1864; received an appointment as Adjutant in the 185th O. V. I.,February 27, 1865, and subsequently promoted to Captain; discharged, September 27, 1865, and is now engaged in mercantile pursuits.
EDWIN B. ATWATER,
Participated in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. In the battle of Port Republic a shell tore from his thigh a piece of flesh as large as a man's hand. With his characteristic coolness and bluntness, he exclaimed: "Gosh—there is enough for my breakfast." He was discharged from Co. C on the 24th day of October, 1862, to enlist in the 3d U. S. Artillery, in which branch of the service he completed his three-years enlistment, and was discharged in May, 1864. He is now married, and pursuing the Agricultural profession in Michigan.
JAMES E. AVERY,
Promoted from Corporal to Sergeant, Nov. 1, 1862; known in the company as expert in the manual of arms; participated in the battles of Cross Lanes, Port Republic, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; discharged at Cleveland, O., July 6, 1864.
NATHANIEL L. BADGER,
Joined Company C at Camp Dennison, from the 13th O. V. I.; present in the battles of Cross Lanes, Cedar Mountain, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; wounded at Cedar Mountain by a gunshot above the knee; served as company cook, nearly a year; detailed as post pioneer at Bridgeport, Alabama; discharged, July 6, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio; married, and ispursuing his trade, as carpenter and joiner, at Bowling Green, O.
JOSEPH E. BATES,
Musician; transferred to the Regimental Band and with it mustered out of the service, July 5, 1862.
JAMES R. BELL,
Joined Co. C at Camp Dennison, to serve as Hospital Steward for the Regiment; transferred to the Post at Charleston, Va., December 1, 1861; afterwards promoted to Assistant Surgeon, and stationed at Gallipolis, Ohio.
WILLIAM BIGGS,
In the three-months service, was a member of a company from the vicinity of Elyria; joined Co. C at Camp Dennison; taken prisoner at Cross Lanes; removed to Richmond, thence to Parish Prison, New Orleans, where he died with typhoid fever, in October, 1861.
FOSTER BODLE,
A member of the Junior Class, Oberlin College; captured in the battle of Cross Lanes; in the enemy's hands nine months; paroled and exchanged; discharged at Columbus, Ohio, October 2, 1862; served six months in the Q. M. Department, at Nashville, in 1864; re-entered the service, Feb. 25, 1865, as Assistant Surgeon of the 185th O. V. I., and was discharged on the 8th of October of the same year; now a Practicing Physician, in Minnesota.
CHARLES C. BOSWORTH,
Of delicate constitution; not able to endure active field-service, but served quite as profitably in the hospital; Hospital Steward; discharged Nov. 11, 1865;detailed as ward-master and druggist in the Post Hospital at Charleston, Va., from December, 1861, to September, 1862; transferred to Gallipolis, O., where he served as druggist and assistant steward; discharged from Co. C, at that place, April 13, 1864, and immediately appointed Hospital Steward, U. S. A.; remained at Gallipolis, until July 10, 1865, when he was transferred to Parkersburg, W. Va., and was discharged, April 22, 1866.
JOHN M. BURNS,
Taken prisoner at the battle of Cross Lanes; spent nine months in the South, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury; released on parole, and exchanged; returned to the company, March 20, 1863, at Dumfries, Va.; engaged in the battles of Cross Lanes, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rocky-Faced Ridge, Resaca, and Dallas; wounded at Cross Lanes, Gettysburg, and Dallas; sometimes "glad he was in this army," and again "glad he wasn't"; discharged, July 6, 1864, at Cleveland, Ohio.
He is now married, and agriculturalizing in Illinois.
CHARLES H. BUXTON,
Senior in Oberlin College; appointed Corporal, November 20, 1861; promoted to Second Sergeant, Aug. 10, 1862; present at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, and wounded in the shoulder and forearm at Cedar Mountain; unanimously elected by the company, in October, 1862, to take its command, but the uncertainty of his early recovery and return rendered it inexpedient to forward his name to Columbus for the promotion. After partial recovery, served as Clerk in the Mansion House Hospital at Alexandria; appointed Acting Hospital Steward, in Jan., 1863, and served in that capacity until Jan. 1, 1864, when he was detailed by the War Department as Clerk in the Adjutant General's Office, where he remained until he wasmustered out of the service, June 19, 1864; immediately obtained a clerkship in the U. S. Treasurer's Office; now pursuing the study of the law in Columbian Law College, D. C.
GEORGE CARROTHERS,
A quiet, faithful soldier; present in the battles of Cross Lanes, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain; sick in the hospital at Cumberland, Md., during the month of March, 1862, therefore absent from the battle of Winchester; received a severe wound in the ankle, at Cedar Mountain, for which he was discharged, May 13, 1863; now engaged in mercantile pursuits.
JAMES W. CHENEY,
Present with the company in the battle of Cross Lanes, from which he escaped unhurt; soonafterwardssent, sick with Typhoid Fever, to Charleston, Va., where he lay long apparently at the point of death, and was given over by the Surgeons, but by much good personal care of his friend Chipman and others, he recovered from the Pneumonia sufficiently to be taken home to Illinois, Nov. 1, 1861. There he recruited a company, and was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Co., D, 49th Reg. Illinois Volunteers, October 15, 1861. For this position he was transferred from Co. C.
He was promoted to Captain, Feb. 13, 1862, in place of Captain J. W. Brokaw, killed in the battle of Fort Donelson.
With this regiment he participated in the following engagements and campaigns: Fort Donelson, Tenn., Feb. 13, 14, 15, and 16, 1862; Pittsburg Landing, April 6 and 7, 1862, at the close of the first day's battle, being Officer of the Picket Guard between the two armies; skirmishes at the siege of Corinth, Miss., May 20 and 31, 1862; Sherman's campaign through Mississippi, in February, 1864; capture of Fort DeRussy, La., March 14, 1864; PleasantHill, La., April 9, 1864; Clouterville, La., April 23 and 24, 1864; fifty days' skirmish on Red River, under General Banks, in April and May 1864; Chicot Lake, Arkansas, June 6, 1864; fight with Forest, at Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 21, 1864; the campaign after Price, in Missouri, Nov. and Dec., 1864; and the battles at Nashville, Tenn., between Hood and Thomas, Dec. 15 and 16, 1864. He was mustered out of the service, with rank of Captain, March 22, 1865, and is now in the mercantile Firm of Cheney & Son, at Shelbyville, Ill.
BUEL CHIPMAN,
A Freshman in Oberlin College; detached from the company, by order of Gen. Shields, April 25, 1862, to form a pioneer corps, and served in this capacity at the battles of Port Republic and Cedar Mountain; returned to the company, September 29, 1862; enlisted in Co. A, U. S. Regular Engineers, per General Order 154 of the Adjutant General, Oct. 26, 1862; under fire at the battles of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, and Chancellorsville, May 1, 1863, while laying the pontoon bridges; on duty during the whole three-years' service, except two months of sickness; discharged from the U. S. service, April 28, 1864.
HENRY D. CLAGHORN,
Captured at Cross Lanes; a prisoner of war nine months, at Richmond, New Orleans and Salisbury; paroled, May 21, 1862; exchanged, and returned to duty at Dumfries, Va., March 20, 1863; took part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, and Ringgold, in which battle he was wounded and rendered unfit for further military service; discharged at the hospital in Rochester, N. Y., March 11, 1864; afterwards, on a return visit to this hospital, he took the small-pox, which caused his death, March 27, 1864.
HENRY S. CLARK,
Present until March 1, 1862, when he was sent, sick, to the hospital at Cumberland, Md.; remained there until he was discharged for disability, Sept. 4, 1862.
MARTIN V. CLARK,
Transferred, as Musician, to the regimental band, and mustered out of the service, July 5, 1862.
WALLACE COBURN,
Joined Company C, from Co. K, in the three-months service; served at Cross Lanes and Winchester, where he received a gun shot through the abdomen, and died, March 29, 1862.
JOSEPH W. COLLINS,
Received a gun shot through the abdomen in the battle of Cross Lanes, and died in the hands of the enemy the next day, August 27, 1861.
EDGAR M. CONDIT,
Appointed Corporal, Nov. 1, 1862; promoted to Sergeant, Jan. 1, 1863; took part in the battles of Cross Lanes, Antietam, and Dumfries. In the latter engagement, he received a severe wound in the thigh, for which he was discharged, Feb. 11, 1863; enlisted, October 7, 1864, as private in Battery G, 2d Illinois Light Artillery, and was soon made a Clerk; present at the siege of Mobile; discharged, Sept. 4, 1865; married, and is farming at Anamosa, Iowa.
JOHN SNIDER COOPER,
Appointed Sergeant, Nov. 20, 1861, at Charleston, WestVa.; engaged in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain, while a member of Co. C; in the latter engagement wounded in the left hand; discharged from Co. C to enlist in Co. A, U. S. Engineers, Oct. 26, 1862. In this branch of the service he assisted in laying the pontoon bridges at the battles of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, and Chancellorsville, May 11, 1863, and reports himself as at a safe distance to the rear of the battle of Gettysburg. While an engineer, by diligent study of military discipline and science, he qualified himself to pass an examination for a commission before the Regular Army Examining Committee, at Washington, Maj. Gen. Casey in the chair, and received the appointment of Captain in the 8th U. S. C. T., Nov. 2, 1863. He was promoted, Nov. 17, 1864, to Lieutenant Colonel of the 107th O. V. I., which regiment he commanded till its final discharge, at Cleveland, Ohio, July 25, 1865. After leaving the Engineers he was in the following battles: New Market, Olustee, Petersburg and its Siege, Deep Bottom, Aikens Farm, DeBeaux Neck, S. C, Dingles Mill, S. C., and Statesburg, S. C, April 20, 1865, which was the last engagement of the war, east of the Mississippi.
He was severely wounded through the fore arm in the battle of New Market; now preparing for the profession of the law.
EDWIN T. CURTIS,
Taken prisoner at the battle of Cross Lanes; in the hands of the rebels nine months, at Richmond, New Orleans, and Salisbury; paroled in May, 1862; afterwards exchanged; discharged at Columbus, Ohio, July 7, 1862; re-enlisted in the 6th Independent N. Y. Battery, Sept. 1, 1864; served in the last campaign in the Shenandoah Valley, and was discharged, June 24, 1865; married.
SELDEN ALLEN DAY,
Joined Co. C at Camp Dennison from the 13th O. V. I.;appointed Corporal, Nov. 20, 1861, and Sergeant, March 24, 1862; engaged at Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, and Cedar Mountain; Slightly wounded at Winchester and Port Republic; discharged, Jan. 23, 1863, and enlisted in the non-commissioned Medical Staff of the regular army; appointed Second Lieutenant in Battery C, 5th U. S. Artillery, Jan. 23, 1864; present in the whole campaign of the Army of the James, being at the siege of Petersburg, and entering the rebel Capital the day it fell; at this date, on duty in the regular army.