The company was recruited by Frank Buell, at Marietta,
Ohio, who was at the time Captain of the “Union Blues,” an
independent company of the Ohio militia. It was enrolled
from the 15th to the 22nd of April, 1861, though a few men
joined as late as May 27th, the date of our arrival at
Marietta from Columbus, on our way into Virginia. Governor
Dennison accepted Captain Buell’s tender of the company on
April 17th, and our term of service dates from that time.
We left Marietta on Monday morning, April 22nd. The evening
before, Sunday, the 21st, the company attended divine
service at the Congregational church, where Rev. Thomas
Wickes, D. D., the pastor of the church, delivered an
earnest patriotic sermon. To this address, R. L. Nye, Esq.,
a member of the company, feelingly replied. Each member of
the company was presented with a neat pocket edition of the
New Testament by the Washington County Bible Society,
through its president, Mr. Daniel P. Bosworth, Sr. At the
close of this ceremony two of the members of the company,
William Holden and Thomas H. North, were received into the
church.
Just before embarking on the steamer “Lizzie Martin” for
Zanesville, on the morning of the 22d, a beautiful silk
flag, provided by the women of Marietta, was presented to
the company by Melvin Clarke, Esq., in a short patriotic
address, to which Captain Buell briefly but earnestly
responded, giving the company’s pledge that the banner never
would be disgraced in its hands. Fully 3,000 people were
assembled at the time on the[4] “Common” in front of the
Congregational church. I give the following description of
the leave taking from the “Marietta Intelligencer,” of May
1st, 1861.
“... Then followed the leave-taking, a scene that cannot be
described. Here were fathers and mothers hanging upon the
necks of sons in a last long embrace, wives clinging to
their husbands in agonies of distress, brothers bidding
adieu to brothers, friend giving friend his farewell
greeting. Scarcely a dry eye was to be seen in the immense
crowd. But the sorrow of parting, though it caused the tears
to flow abundantly, was mitigated by the thought that
children, kindred and friends—all were responding to the
call of duty, they were going to defend the government to
which we all owe our safety—our very existence.
“The company was ranged on the hurricane deck, and as the
boat moved out from the landing cheer upon cheer arose from
the vast assemblage, hats were swung, handkerchiefs waved,
and many a ‘God speed you,’ uttered, and the crowd slowly
and sadly dispersed.”
On our way to Zanesville we were cheered at every landing,
and at the more important points we were received with the
most enthusiastic demonstrations. At Lowell, the home of
Captain Buell, at Beverly, Windsor, McConnelsville, Malta,
all day long cheers, addresses, salutes, and every
demonstration that the bubbling spirit of patriotism could
suggest were furnished until on our arrival at Zanesville we
were fairly worn out with the overwhelming attentions of the
people.
A letter written after our arrival at Columbus to the
“Marietta Republican,” by Eli P. Boring, a printer who had
volunteered from the force of that paper, gives so good a
description of our journey that I gladly subjoin it in full:
“Columbus, Ohio, April 30, 1861.
“Col. McCormick:—After leaving Marietta we were received
with ‘loud and long applause’ at every village along the
Muskingum valley. At Lowell, (Capt. Buell’s home,) the whole
neighborhood was on the bank of the canal. At Beverly
patriotism was boiling over. The ladies on Sunday morning
went to work and made a flag 54 feet long and well
proportioned in width, and the gentlemen got a pole 60 or 75
feet long and raised[5] it within about 30 feet of the
locks, and by the time we arrived there the flag was
‘proudly floating to the breeze,’ with men, women and
children rallying around. Captain Barclay, with about 40 men
for a ‘Home Guard,’ received us with three salutes, each man
having a gun of some kind. At Windsor, Luke Chute,
McConnelsville, and in fact every place along the river the
people were out on the banks cheering for the Union and for
the volunteers. We arrived at Zanesville about 12 o’clock
midnight, and marched through several of the streets, led by
our ‘Young America Brass Band,’ who received scores of
compliments for their excellent music. We left Zanesville at
2:00 o’clock A. M. arriving here about 6 A. M., and it was 1
P. M. before any of the boys got their breakfast, and when
they got it not one could eat, the meat being bad and the
coffee very poor, but, through the influence of Mr. George
W. Gili, we got good quarters on Thursday evening, where we
have been ever since. After breakfast we march to Camp
Jackson, and drill until 12 o’clock, then march back to our
quarters and take dinner. In the afternoon we go through the
same and return to supper. From 5 o’clock we have until 9
for our own use, and you can just bet high we make use of
it. At 9:00 the roll is called and we retire to the loft of
a very large brick barn with our blankets and each a good
comforter. It is the general opinion that we will be sent
back to Marietta or to Camp Dennison, to be kept as the
reserve militia of Ohio, either of which will be protested
against by every member of our company. We want to go where
we can have something to do. There is not a man of us who
can bear the idea of lying around a camp. If there is to be
any fighting done we want a hand in it. We parted from our
friends with the expectation of being in Washington city, or
on our way to Fort Pickens or Fort Sumpter before this time.
If there is any fighting done it will be a sore
disappointment to all of us if we do not have a mix.
“E. P. B.”
As friend Boring states we arrived at Columbus about 6:00 A.
M. We were marched up to the State House and spent the day
about the grounds. We had a meal about 1 o’clock P. M., at
the “Goodale House,” but so many hungry men had preceded us
that but little to eat was left and that little was of poor
quality and poorly cooked and served.
[6]
Some of our boys had friends in the city and were invited to
dinner with them and thus fared sumptuously. The first night
we were quartered in the basement of the state house, where
we slept on beds of straw upholstered with small lumps of
coal. The next night we quartered in the rotunda of the
capitol building, sleeping on the marble floor with neither
straw nor coal to temper the springs of our beds. The next
day we went to “Camp Jackson,” now “Goodale Park.” Here we
spent some four weeks, drilling and learning the other
duties of soldiers. On Thursday, the 25th, we were given
quarters at the Ohio Penitentiary, taking our meals there
and sleeping on the parlor and office floors and in the loft
of a large barn adjoining the prison. Our meals during the
time we were quartered here were taken at the mess table of
the officers of the prison and were very satisfactory and a
great improvement over our camp fare. We remained here about
two weeks, when we returned to our barracks in camp. During
our stay at the Penitentiary we spent the hours between
meals at the camp drilling, etc.
Our patience was sorely tried during this period for we were
very anxious to be assigned to a regiment and to get into
the field. Some of our members finding opportunity to get
into regiments that were going into active service sought
transfers and left us. Among these I now recall R. L. Nye
and Frank Bosworth, who entered the 17th O., J. Mills
Kendrick, who found a position in the Adjutant General’s
office, at Columbus, and “Dick” (Richard H.) Green, who
recruited a company for the 25th Ohio, three year service,
and became its captain. However, we at length were assigned
to the 18th O. as Co. B. Capt. Buell was a modest man,
without political “pull,” and our representative in the
legislature, Hon. John Haddow, while a patriotic, level
headed, well meaning man, was inexperienced in political
wire pulling, and was no match for the men of large
experience and great cheek, who were constantly wedging
themselves in and wedging us out. Both Mr. Haddow and
Captain Buell were blamed for these delays, but I am
satisfied that they both did the best they could. Buell was
scarcely more than a boy, being but 23 years old, and he
could not be expected to cope with men of greater experience
and less conscience.
But at last the order came for us to “break camp” and
it[7] was received with uproarious delight. We left “Camp
Jackson” on May 23rd for Loveland, where we changed cars for
Athens. We arrived there on the 24th and were mustered into
the service by Major Joshua W. Sill,[1] of the regular army.
After spending a few days here in “Camp Scott,” we departed
for Marietta on the evening of the 27th. Arrived at Marietta
about 11 o’clock in the evening and marched up to “Camp
Putnam,” where we spent the night. Co. K, Captain John
Henderson, of Beverly, accompanied us to Athens, from “Camp
Jackson.”
At Marietta we found a number of other companies of the
regiment assembled.
On the morning of the 28th the company was formed and
marched down town to show our home people the improvement we
had made in our military education. After an exhibition of
our skill in military evolution and an hour or two spent
with our friends, we returned to camp. At this time quite a
number of recruits joined the company and were mustered in.
Immediately after dinner we received marching orders. We
left camp about 3:00 P. M. and marched down town and across
the bridge to Harmar, where in due time we boarded cars and
pulled out for Parkersburg.
We crossed the river at Parkersburg on the railroad ferry
boat “Webster,” and moved out to the farm of a Mr. Hutchins,
adjoining Judge Stephenson’s. We were the first to camp on
this ground, afterwards throughout the war known as “Camp
Union,” the name given it that day by Captain Buell.
Our tents and baggage did not arrive until about 11 o’clock
P. M. During the night a cold rain set in and some of the
boys, John T. Booth and others, got one of the tents
pitched, which was the first tent put up in “Camp Union.”
The other tents were pitched early in the morning and soon
things began to look more cheerful. The 14th Ohio, Col.
Steedman, from Toledo, had encamped in Parkersburg previous
to our arrival, but they occupied the railroad depot, being
without tents.
[8]
Today, the 29th, an election for field officers of the
regiment was held with the following result:
Colonel, Timothy R. Stanley, of Athens; Lieut. Colonel,
Capt. William Bolles, of Company C, Ironton, and for Major,
our Second Lieutenant, William H. Bisbee, of Marietta.
We received our first accoutrements today: knapsacks,
haversacks, canteens, caps, socks, etc.
Thursday, May 30th—Early this morning orders came to “strike
tents” and prepare to move. We marched down to the railroad
track and there waited until about 2:00 o’clock P. M., when
our train arrived and we started off eastward. During our
wait Col. Stanley addressed the regiment. The people of
Parkersburg gave us a good dinner, today. We moved slowly
out, while our friends who had congregated to see us off
gave us hearty cheers and God speed. We were now in high
spirits as we were at last “in the field,” after five weeks
of weary waiting, and disappointments. Our train, however,
soon stopped when a corporal and six men were told off and
left to guard the trestle near by. This was repeated until
well toward evening Capt. Buell and his remaining 20 men
were disembarked at what was afterwards known as the “Burnt
Bridge,” over Walker’s Creek, half a mile west of Petroleum
station. Co. A, Captain John McMahon, was also left here
with us. This bridge, about 60 feet in length, had been
burned by the enemy, two nights before. After a meager
supper we were taken up and stationed for the night on the
top of an abrupt eminence overlooking the bridge, where we
spent the night anxiously waiting for a prowling enemy.
Practically every man of the company was on guard. Two
prowlers came to the neighborhood of the bridge during the
night and one of Co. A fired on them, but without known
effect.
May 31—About dark the Captain with a detail of men made a
trip down the railroad track, about three miles, to a
tunnel, guarded by Corporal Holden and a squad of six men.
He talked with the dwellers along the line and after hearing
the corporal’s report of an attack upon him the night
before, which he and his command gallantly beat off, we
returned to camp, arriving about 11 P. M.
After supper we camped down as best we could for
the[9] night, receiving orders, however, to be ready at
daylight on the morrow to go on the march.
Today, (June 1), contrary to expectations, we remained in
camp all day.
June 2—Were called out about an hour before daylight and
started for a point called California, on the N. Western
Pike, at which place, one Clark, hotel keeper, was reported
to have concealed a large store of arms and ammunition, and
where the young men of the neighborhood were in the habit of
meeting to drill. After diligent search and finding nothing
of a warlike character we passed on to “Goose Creek.” Spent
most of the day in searching houses of the citizens
suspected of disloyalty. In one house an enraged citizen was
poked out of a wheat bin in his loft, by John T. Booth, who
had put his bayonet on his gun for the purpose of “feeling
round” in the bin. He came out of that bin with his fighting
clothes on. Returning we reached camp early in the evening.
During our absence a rumor reached camp that we were in a
tight place and a part of company A was sent out to succor
us. They had a long hard march for nothing, but, we were
learning the trade of soldiering and it all counted.
Last night and today, (June 3), a down pour of rain visited
us and our bridge, almost completed, is in danger of being
carried away. Wm. Scott went home on sick leave today.
June 4.—The rain kept up all night and our bridge was
partially swept away. A large number of soldiers detailed to
assist in getting out timber for repairing the structure. On
June 5, trains were again crossing the bridge.
On June 6, a “Liberty Pole” was erected at Petroleum
station, and when the flag was run up Companies A and B
under command of Captain McMahon saluted it with three
rounds.
June 7.—Captain Buell returned from Parkersburg, where he
had been on orders, on an early train. Following this came
another on which was our scattered squads, who had been
relieved. We joined them and were soon under way eastward.
Stopping a few moments at Ellenboro to permit the “Express”
to pass, we moved on to “Toll Gate” station, where Co. B was
disembarked, and went into camp. Our duty here[10] was to
guard another “burnt bridge,” near the station. Co. K,
Captain Henderson, went into camp just east of us. This
evening, our stock of soft bread having run low, and the
boys not having as yet quite fallen in love with our
“cylinder heads” as they termed our big round hard
biscuit—the Captain detailed a squad of us to take a barrel
of flour on a hand car to Ellenboro, nine miles back, and
have it turned into bread. Arriving at Ellenboro about dark
we distributed the flour among a number of the families of
the village and by 9 o’clock in the evening we had a fine
supply of good bread and biscuits. We reached camp about
midnight. This was a foolhardy performance, especially at
night. The trains were not only off time but extras were
moving constantly. Between our camp and Ellenboro there was
at least one very long tunnel and it is a marvel that we
were not run down by one of these trains. The people of
Ellenboro were so kind and hospitable to us that it is safe
to say none of that squad will ever forget our novel but
delightful experience there.
Under this date the Marietta Republican says: “The ladies of
Marietta have furnished many articles for the comfort of the
Washington County Volunteers, now in Virginia. The Havelock
or linen shades to be worn on their caps will be appreciated
this hot weather and so will the canteens.” This “Havelock”
was well meant but on a hot day the “shade” as the editor
called it seemed to keep the air from circulating about the
neck and rather increased than allayed our discomforts, and
they were soon discarded. The writer still preserves his in
his collection of war relics.
“June 8.—Today we held an election for Second Lieutenant to
fill the vacancy created by the election of Lieut. Bisbee as
Major of the regiment. A number of candidates were voted
for. After the first ballot the contest narrowed down to
three, Jewett Palmer, Jr., who received a plurality on the
first ballot, Wallace W. Hill and Oscar Underwood. After the
second ballot Underwood was dropped, and on the third
ballot, after a spirited contest, Hill was elected, by a
majority of five.” The writer felt very proud of his support
when he reflected that six weeks before he had not known
half a dozen men in the company. Hill was a fine soldier,
and distinguished himself later[11] in the war as commander
of his battery, “C,” 1st W. Va., Light Artillery.
Sunday, June 9.—Quietly in camp.
On June 10, about 11 o’clock P. M., Capt. Buell with about
50 men of his company and a like number from Co. K, under
Capt. Henderson, set out for a point some ten miles distant,
where it was reported a native had a quantity of arms and
equipments stored. The force reached and surrounded the
place about daylight—stirred out the garrison—one man, a not
overly bright woman, an idiotic child and a rifle, with an
old broken flint lock. By careful maneuvering the command
succeeded in reaching camp about 11 o’clock A. M., without
the loss of a man.
On June 11th, Col. H. B. Canington, Adjutant General of
Ohio, and Col. T. R. Stanley, accompanied by the “McArthur
Cornet Band,” our regimental band, paid us a brief visit and
passed on to Parkersburg.
On June 12.—Col. Stanley called at the camp of Company K, on
his way east and made the boys a brief address. During the
day we had a visit from Hon. Geo. P. Buell, of the
“Cincinnati Times,” a brother of Captain Frank’s, Dr. Hall,
of Harrisville, Va., and Ed. C. Skinnard, clerk in the
Marietta P. O. The latter brought a quantity of mail for us
from the folks at home.
On June 13 our first blouses were received and while they
were being distributed a train “whistled in” and the order
was given to strike tents and load up. We were soon under
way and arrived at Clarksburg about noon. After an hour’s
wait we moved on to Bridgeport, about 6 miles beyond. Here
we left the cars and marched out about a mile north of the
village to the Sandusky farm, where we went into what proved
to be the pleasantest camp of our three months’ experience.
Situated on a gentle elevation covered with a solid turf,
with plenty of shade and good water near at hand, we here
enjoyed our soldier life to the utmost. Company A rejoined
us here and the camp was under the command of Captain
McMahon. We remained here four weeks, until July 13th,
drilling, guarding railroad bridges and tunnels, taking in
an occasional “secesh” prowler and making ourselves
generally useful. The next day after our arrival some
generous hearted neighbor came into camp with a wagon load
of bread, butter, milk and other edibles, a free
offering[12] which we greatly enjoyed. During our stay here
the people of Bridgeport and the surrounding country placed
us under constant obligations for like generous treatment.
The remembrance of this kindness is fresh in the minds of
all the survivors of the two companies.
On the 18th, our Major, W. H. Bisbee, visited the camp and
the boys, especially of Co. B, gave him a warm greeting.
On the 2nd of July, Sergt. T. G. Field, Corporals Holden and
Haskins, and privates Palmer, Pixley, Stanley, Vickers and
drummer Fougeres, went home on furlough for a few days.
On this day also our Drum Major, Ebenezer Corey, returned to
camp from Marietta with ten recruits for the band: George
Jenvey, William Jenvey, Charles Holden, H. M. Langley, John
Tenney, James Judd, Henry Corey, Frank Brenan, Fred Regnier
and Wm. H. Smith.
While in camp here privates William Holden and Charles P.
Wilson were detailed at the request of Lieut. John C.
Paxton, our Regimental Quartermaster, for clerks in his
office at Clarksburg, where the headquarters of the regiment
were located.
JULY 4.
For some days the people of the vicinity and the men in camp
had been preparing for a celebration of the day and by 8:00
o’clock in the morning the people began to arrive with
wagons loaded with bread and butter, cakes, pies, roast
chicken, roast pigs and dainties innumerable. Our camp had
been thoroughly policed and put in prime order, and the camp
guard had strict orders for the night before not to permit
any one to pass out and no passes were given. This was to
prevent any of the boys from visiting an “Apple Jack”
distillery located not far from camp. The Captains were to
put their best foot forward in their part of the day’s
displays and did not want the “spirits” mixed, when the time
for parade came. A number of long tables had been erected in
the shade of the trees near camp and these were early
covered with the superabundant supplies. Scores of young
ladies came with the crowds and they were the waiters at the
dinner. By 9:00 o’clock the crowd on the ground numbered
fully one thousand. At 10 A. M. came the drill, followed by
a dress parade. The exhibition embraced[13] manual of arms,
company evolutions, volley firing, etc., to the great
enjoyment of the people.
The boys felt proud of their part of the day’s doings and
were complimented highly for their efficiency. After the
military show was over violins were brought out and soon
soldiers and citizens, the young ladies especially, were
joined in the dance on the green sward under the branches of
the great oaks. Games of many kinds were indulged in—swings
were put up and liberally patronized by the youngsters, and
all hands enjoyed themselves in various ways until the
dinner hour. At 12:30 dinner was announced, when the
companies fired “three rounds” as the closing act of the
forenoon’s programme. Just at this time a train load of
enthusiastic soldiers and citizens arrived from Grafton and
other points east of us and Co. B formed and marched over to
Bridgeport and escorted them to camp. The dinner was a great
success. Five times the tables were filled and cleared of
food and guests. No one was neglected or turned away hungry.
After dinner a member of Co. A delivered a well prepared
address in an impressive manner. He was followed by Capt.
Buell in a brief and spirited address, and he by an elderly
minister of the locality, whose name has escaped me. Songs,
sentimental, military and comic, fife and drum and violin
music were interspersed and a most enjoyable day all too
rapidly drew to a close.
From July 5th to the 13th, the routine of camp duties went
on as before, but on that day marching orders were received.
By 5:00 o’clock P. M., tents were struck and taken to the
station, except a few left to shelter the men detailed to
guard camp in our absence. We soon were under way eastward.
Our train now held the full regiment, the first time we had
come together as such since leaving Parkersburg, May 29th.
We arrived at Oakland on the morning of the 14th, and lay in
camp until the afternoon of the 15th, when, Whitelaw Reid
says, “About 5:00 o’clock P. M., Gen. Hill moved with the
5th and 18th Ohio regiments from Oakland in a diagonal line
to the bridge on the Northwestern Pike, over the west branch
of the Potomac, at which point he was to be joined by Col.
Irvine’s command from Red House, intending to turn the
enemy’s right and cut them off before they could reach
Petersburg. Here, at[14] the bridge a dispatch was received
from McClellan informing Hill of the action at Carrick’s
Ford and the death of Garnett.”
We “marched over the Allegheny mountains, a distance
of 35 1/2 miles in 24 hours, after leaving Oakland. At 4:00
o’clock the next morning (17th) Gen. Hill, with about 800
picked men in light marching order started for an additional
forced march but after moving five miles was overtaken by a
courier with a dispatch from McClellan ordering him to
return.”
We returned leisurely to Oakland and there went into camp,
remaining until the morning of the 23rd of July, when the
regiment took cars for the west. We reached Bridgeport about
the middle of the afternoon and after getting our camp
guards and equipage aboard moved slowly on to Clarksburg.
Here we went into camp until the 30th when we again took
cars for Parkersburg and home! While in camp at Clarksburg a
call was made for volunteers to go to Rosecrans, on Gauley,
where he was about to engage in battle with Gen. Floyd’s
forces.
The regiment was drawn up in line and a call made upon those
who were willing to go to step out five paces to the front.
Not a score of men left their places in the ranks. Our time
had expired on the 17th, and many of the men had already
made arrangements to enter the three years’ service in other
organizations and were anxious to get home and take up the
new work.
We jogged along nearly all night, 30th-31st, side-tracking
for eastbound trains, nearly all of which carried troops. As
we were nearing Parkersburg early in the day of the 31st a
man belonging to Co. I, fell from the top of a car and was
mortally hurt, dying a day or two later. At Parkersburg we
took the railroad ferry steamer, “Daniel Webster,” for
Marietta, the same boat that brought us to Parkersburg in
May. We arrived off Harmar about 2:00 o’clock P. M. The
banks on both sides of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers were
lined with our friends, who had assembled to bid us welcome.
The “Putnam Light Artillery,” of Marietta, boomed forth a
loud-mouthed welcome. The boat rounded to near the “Point.”
Here we disembarked and after a warm greeting by our
friends, fell in and marched through the city to “Camp
Putnam.” The whole population seemed to be out and our march
was a continuous ovation. Before “Camp Putnam” was
reached[15] Co. B was reduced to a platoon. Many of the town
boys quietly slipped out of ranks and accompanied their
friends home. About the middle of the following forenoon the
regiment was drawn up in line in Camp Putnam, when Col.
Stanley gave us a few final words of farewell, and we were
dismissed until such time as we should be called together
for final muster-out and pay. On August 30th, the following
call appeared in the Marietta papers:
“ATTENTION COMPANIES B AND K!
“Companies B and K, 18th Regiment, O. V. M., will be paid
off at Marietta, on Thursday, Sept. 5th prox. All members
are ordered to rendezvous at the time and place appointed,
to receive their money and discharges.
FRANK BUELL, Capt. Co. B.
JOHN HENDERSON, Capt. Co. K.
Marietta. O., Aug. 30, 1861.”
The following is a
DESCRIPTIVE ROLL OF THE COMPANY
with the after service in the army of each member so far as
the same has been ascertained. The names of those who have
died are marked with a *.
* CAPTAIN, FRANK BUELL—Commissioned captain of Battery C,
1st West Virginia Light Artillery, January 25th, 1862, and
commanded the same until his death. He was mortally wounded
at Freeman’s Ford, Virginia, August 22nd, 1862, and died
next day at Bealton Station, Va., and his remains buried
there.
* FIRST LIEUTENANT, DENNIS O’LEARY.—Commissioned Senior
First Lieut. Battery C, 1st West Va. Light Artillery,
January 25th, 1862. Mustered out with battery April 22nd,
1865.
* SECOND LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM H. BISBEE.—Elected Major of the
regiment at its organization, May 29, 1861. Did not re-enter
the service.
* SECOND LIEUTENANT, WALLACE W. HILL.—Elected 2nd Lieut. of
the company June 22, 1861, to fill the vacancy occasioned by
the promotion of Lieut. Bisbee to Major. Commissioned Junior
1st Lieut. of Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery, January
25th, 1862, and promoted to Captain, October 16,
1862,[16] and commanded the battery from that time until its
muster out of the service, April 22, 1865.
* FIRST SERGEANT, JOHN G. THEIS.—Commissioned Senior 2nd
Lieut. of Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery, January 25,
1862, and Junior 1st Lieut., October 16, 1862, to date from
August 1, 1862. Mustered out with battery, April 22, 1865.
* SECOND SERGEANT, DANIEL Y. HILL.—Mustered out with the
regiment, August 28, 1861. Did not again enter the regular
service.
* THIRD SERGEANT, OWEN O’NEILL.—Sergeant Battery C, 1st W.
Va. Light Artillery. Mustered out with battery, April 22,
1865. Afterwards served 25 years in the Regular Army and was
on the retired list of the army at the time of his death,
May 7, 1907.
* FOURTH SERGEANT, THEODORE G. FIELD.—First Sergeant Battery
C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery. Promoted to 2nd Lieut.,
December 1, 1863. Mustered out with the battery. Brevetted
Major U. S. Volunteers after the war.
FIRST CORPORAL, WALLACE W. WITHROW.—Commissioned 2nd Lieut.,
Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery, January 25, 1862.
Resigned, December 28, 1862, on account of disability from
wounds received in action.
* SECOND CORPORAL, JOHN D. HOLDEN.—Commissioned 2nd Lieut.,
Battery K, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, October 10, 1861.
Promoted to 1st Lieut., February 19, 1862. Resigned, March
27, 1862.
* THIRD CORPORAL, SAMUEL C. SKINNER. Did not re-enter the
service.
* FOURTH CORPORAL, GEORGE B. HASKINS.—Commissioned 1st
Lieut., Battery K, 1st Ohio Light Artillery, October 10,
1861. Resigned November 2, 1862.
* MUSICIAN, EBENEZER COREY.—Promoted to Drum Major, June 6,
1861. Was afterwards Drum Major and Principal Musician of
the 36th Ohio Infantry. Served three years.
* MUSICIAN, MANLY WARREN.—Mustered out with the regiment.
Did not re-enter the service.
* MUSICIAN, LOUIS FOUGERE.—Joined Battery C, 1st W. Va.
Light Artillery as a private. Mustered out with battery.
PRIVATES.
* AMOS, MORDECAI—Enlisted as a private in Co. B, 77th Ohio
Infantry, October 14, 1861. Mustered out with regiment March
8, 1866.
[17]
BAUER, JACOB—Enlisted in Co. L, 1st Ohio Cavalry, Jany. 5,
1864. Mustered out with regiment October 6, 1865. Waverly,
West Va.
BLAIN, ROBINSON—
BOOTH, JOHN T.—Sergeant Co. G, 36th Ohio Infantry, August
12, 1861. Mustered out on expiration of term of service.
Assistant Surgeon U. S. Army, Cuban and Philippine war and
surgeon 40th U. S. Volunteer Infantry by appointment of
President McKinley. Mustered out at expiration of service.
Cincinnati, O.
* BORING, ABSALOM—Enlisted in Co. L, 1st Ohio Cavalry, Jan
5, 1864. Mustered out with regiment, September 26, 1865.
BORING, ELI P.—Did not re-enter service.
BRAGG, BENJAMIN—Mustered out July 29, 1861. Sergeant Co. A,
36th Ohio Infantry. Promoted to 2nd Lieut., March 8, 1865.
Mustered out with regiment July 27, 1865. Veteran.
Lieut. Bragg has the best record for continuous unbroken
service of any member of the company. His enlistment in the
18th Ohio bears date April 17, 1861, and his entry into
service with the 36th Ohio was of date July 29th, 1861, two
days before the 18th Ohio was disbanded, and 29 days before
the formal muster out of that regiment. Lieut. Bragg and the
writer were in the field in West Virginia in the three years
service when the 18th was mustered out and paid and neither
of us received the balance of pay due for our 3 months
service until after the war closed.
BUKEY, ALEXANDER H.—Private in Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery, appointed corporal on its organization and
promoted to Sergeant, August 1, 1862. Mustered out with
battery. Veteran. Washington, D. C.
BURGESS, GEORGE ROYAL.
* CALVERT, JOHN D.—Private Co. K, 60th Ohio Infantry,
October 17, 1861. Promoted to Sergeant, February 25, 1862.
Mustered out November 10, 1862. Private 176th O. Infantry,
February 17, 1865. Transferred to Co. A, 18th O. Infantry,
June 28, 1865. Mustered out Oct. 9, 1865.
* CLAUS, HENRY—Did not re-enter the service.
* CLOGSTON, CHARLES W.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Appointed corporal on its organization, promoted
to Sergeant December 19, 1862. Veteran.
CLOSE, DANIEL—Private Battery A, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery.
CONIFFE, PETER L.—Did not re-enter the service.
[18]
* COREY, JOSEPH.—Private Co. G, 63rd Ohio Infantry. Promoted
to Sergeant. Died at Camp Clear Creek, Miss., July 19, 1862.
* DAILEY, THOMAS C.—Private Battery H, 1st O. Light
Artillery, August 6, 1862. Appointed Corporal January 7,
1863. Promoted to Sergeant —— —— ——, mustered out with
battery.
* DAVIS, JETHRO.—Private Co. B, 39th O. Infantry, Nov. 26,
1863. Corporal March 16, 1865. Mustered out July 9, 1865.
DEMING, T. Y.
* DEVIN, GEORGE W.—Did not re-enter the service.
* DIBBLE, HANNIBAL.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Mustered out with battery. Veteran.
DOW, DAVID.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery.
Appointed Corporal on its organization, promoted to
Sergeant, December 19, 1862. Mustered out with battery.
Veteran. Marietta, Ohio.
DRISCOL, THOMAS.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Mustered out with battery. Veteran.
* DYAR, THOMAS.—Mustered out July 21, 1861. Private Co. F,
39th O. Infantry, July 21, 1861. Mustered out Aug. 12, 1864
on expiration of his term of service.
FAIRHURST, JEREMIAH.—Private Battery K, 1st O. Light
Artillery, Sept. 15, 1861. Appointed Sergeant on its
organization. Wounded May 9, 1864. Discharged for disability
May 9, 1865. Veteran.
* FISHER, THOMAS.—Mustered out Aug. 12, 1861 to enter
service in Co. G, 36th O. Infantry. Private Co. G, 36th O.
Infantry. August 12, 1861. Severely wounded at Antietam,
Sept. 17, 1862. Discharged for disability. Entered Co. K,
2nd O. Heavy Artillery as Sergt., July 7, 1863. Appointed
1st Sergt., July 1st, 1864. Promoted to 2nd Lieut., March
18, 1865. Not mustered. Mustered out with regiment Aug. 23,
1865.
FOULKE, WM. H.
GAY, WILLIAM.
GILLINGHAM, MILTON.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry. Appointed
Corporal, Sept. 19, 1864. Mustered out with regiment.
* GOODMAN, DANIEL.
* GREEN, ALLEN.—Discharged.
[19]
HATFIELD, THOMAS.
* HENNING, HENRY.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Died in hospital at Washington, D. C., Oct. 13,
1863.
* HENNING, JOHN.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery —— —— ——. Mustered out with battery. Veteran.
HOLDEN, WILLIAM.—Commissioned 1st Lieut. and Quarter Master
2nd W. Va. Cavalry, Oct. 23, 1861. Resigned March 13, 1862.
Appointed Captain and A. Q. M., U. S. Volunteers and served
as such to the close of the war. Cincinnati, O.
* KROPP, AUGUST.—Mustered out July 20, 1864. 39th O.
Infantry, July 20, 1861. Promoted to 1st Sergeant, and to
1st Lieut., July 3, 1862. Resigned April 1, 1864.
LA GRANGE, LA FAYETTE D.—Private Co. B, 9th O. Cavalry, Nov.
8, 1862. Promoted to Corporal —— —— ——. Mustered out with
Co., July 20, 1865. Hoskinsville, Ohio.
LAUGHLIN, MILTON H.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Appointed Corporal. Mustered out with Battery.
Veteran.
LIVING, FREDERICK.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Mustered out with battery. Veteran. Letart, W.
Va.
* LOUFMAN, PHILIP L.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Mustered out with battery. Veteran.
* McCULLOUGH, JOHN.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, Sept. 16,
1861. Discharged Feby. 19, 1862 on surgeon’s certificate of
disability.
McNAMARA, THOMAS.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry. Discharged
Dec. 16, 1861 on Surgeon’s certificate of disability.
* MINER, JOHN N.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Promoted to Corporal. Mustered out with battery.
Veteran.
* MINER, WESLEY.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery, March 30, 1862. Promoted to Sergeant and to 2nd
Lieut. January 12, 1863. Resigned April 4, 1863.
* MIRABEN, LEONIDAS R.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Promoted to Sergeant. Mustered out with Battery.
Veteran.
* MORRIS, AUGUSTUS.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Mustered out with battery. Veteran.
MORSE, WILBUR F.—Private Co. G, 36th O. Infantry.
Appointed[20] Sergeant on its organization. Mustered out
Sept. 4, 1864, on expiration of term of service. Bevier, Mo.
MEIGHAM, JOHN.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Promoted to Corporal. Mustered out with battery.
Veteran.
NORTH, THOMAS H.—Private Co. G, 36th O. Infantry, August 12,
1861. Appointed Sergeant on its organization. Mustered out
on expiration of term of service. Kist, Oregon.
PADDEN, ANTHONY.—Lancaster, O.
PALMER, JEWETT, JR.—Mustered out August 12, 1861 to accept
promotion as Captain Co. G, 36th O. Infantry. Promoted to
Major May 9, 1864. Resigned Nov. 30, 1864. Veteran.
Marietta, O.
* PARKER, JAMES S.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, Sept. 16,
1861. Discharged June 14, 1863 on Surgeon’s certificate of
disability.
PHELPS, JAMES.
* PHELPS, THOMAS.—Appointed Q. M. Sergeant Battery C, 1st W.
Va. Light Artillery on its organization. Mustered out with
Battery. Veteran.
PIXLEY, GEORGE.—Did not re-enter the service. Mansfield, O.
PIXLEY, WALLACE W.—Private Battery H, 1st O. Light
Artillery, Nov. 10, 1861. Promoted to Sergeant, to 1st
Sergeant and to 2nd Lieut. Served a time as acting Quarter
Master of the Artillery Brigade of the 6th Army Corps.
Mustered out July 3, 1865. Veteran. Marietta, O.
QUINBY, DANIEL W.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, January 4,
1864. Mustered out September 26, 1865. Was also private in
Co. A, 87th Ohio, for three months. Belle Plaine, Kas.
* RANGER, JOHN.—Private Battery H, 1st O. Light Artillery,
Oct. 21, 1861. Mustered out October 21, 1864 on expiration
of term of service.
* RANGER, WM. H.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Promoted to Corporal. Mustered out with Battery.
Veteran.
* REIGNEY, MILTON.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, Sept. 16,
1861. Discharged May 1, 1862 on Surgeon’s certificate of
disability.
* REPPERT, WALTER.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry,
Feby.[21] 1st, 1863. Promoted to Corporal Sept. 19, 1864.
Mustered out with regiment Sept. 26, 1865.
* RIPLEY, P. S.—Private Co. C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery.
Mustered out with Battery. Veteran.
* ROBINSON, WILLIAM.—Did not re-enter the service.
* SCHERER, PETER.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery.
SCOTT, WILLIAM N.
* SHAW, JOHN L.—Did not re-enter the service.
SHIRES, ROBERT.—Musician Co. D, 63rd O. Infantry. Appointed
Principal Musician, July 21, 1862. Mustered out with the
regiment. Veteran.
* SHOCKLEY, DAVID.—Bugler, Battery H, 1st O. Light
Artillery, October 28, 1861. Mustered out with battery.
Veteran.
* SHOOP, HUGH.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Promoted to Corporal. Discharged Dec. 19, 1862.
SMITH, JOHN W.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, Sept. 16,
1861. Discharged March 2, 1863, on Surgeon’s certificate of
disability.
* SNODGRASS, WILLIAM H.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, Sept.
16, 1861. Promoted to Corporal but was reduced at his own
request. Mustered out with company Sept. 26, 1865. Veteran.
* STANLEY, JAMES.—First Lieutenant, Co. G, 36th O. Infantry,
August 12th, 1861. Promoted to Captain Co. D, June 6, 1862.
Mustered out on expiration of term of service.
STANTON, HENRY B.
* STARK, HORATIO O.
STEWART, TARTUS L.
STEWART, WILLIAM.
* STREMPLE, CHARLES.
* THORNILEY, THOMAS R.—Private Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry, Sept.
16, 1861. Died in hospital at Nashville, Tenn, August 23,
1864.
TUCKER, ABNER.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Discharged on Surgeon’s certificate of
disability, January 13, 1863. Marietta, O.
[22]
TURNER, JAMES.
* UNDERWOOD, OSCAR.—Second Lieutenant Co. L, 1st O. Cavalry,
Sept. 16, 1861. Resigned May 31, 1862.
* VICKERS, GEORGE.—Private Co. F, 39th O. Infantry, Dec. 12,
1861. Mustered out with regiment. Veteran.
VOSHEL, JAMES.
WEST, GORDON B.—Private Co. G, 77th O. Infantry, March 12,
1862. Promoted to Sergt. Major, April 1, 1862. Severely
wounded, April 6, 1862 at Shiloh. Promoted to 2nd Lieut. Co.
G, February 11, 1863, and to 1st Lieut. and Regimental Q.
M., March 29, 1865. Commissioned Captain, March 7, 1866, but
not mustered. Mustered out with regiment, March 8, 1866.
WILSON, CHARLES P.—Private Co. F, 79th O. Infantry. Served
as clerk in the Adjutant General’s department, East Tenn.
Nov. 6, 1863, commissioned 1st Lieut. and Adjutant of 2nd
North Carolina Mounted Infantry. Resigned August ——, 1864.
Pomona, Cal.
“PONY SECTION”
The ten recruits brought to the regiment June 18, by Major
Corey, were nearly all boys, whom some one very aptly dubbed
“The Pony Section.” Our company being entitled to but two
musicians, and having our complement already, these boys
were assigned to the other companies of the regiment and
were borne upon their rolls, but as the Drum Corps remained
with Co. B nearly all the term of our service they were
treated as Co. B boys and I append to that of the regular
roll of the company their after service.
BRENAN, FRANK R.—Bugler, Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery. Mustered out with battery. Marietta, O.
COREY, HENRY.—Musician, (drummer), Co. G, 36th O. Infantry.
Mustered out with regiment, July 27, 1865. Veteran. Moulton,
Iowa.
* HOLDEN, CHARLES.—Private Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery, March 30, 1862. Died at Centerville, Va., Dec. 7,
1862.
JENVEY, GEORGE K.—Bugler, Co. F, 2nd W. Va. Cavalry,
November 19, 1861. Re-enlisted, January 1, 1864. Mustered
out with regiment. Veteran. Washington, D. C.
[23]
JUDD, JAMES G.—Musician, (drummer), Co. I, 36th O. Infantry,
Aug. 12, 1861. Mustered out with regiment July 27, 1865.
Veteran. Marietta, O.
* LANGLEY, HENRY M.—Enlisted in Battery C, 1st W. Va. Light
Artillery at its organization. Appointed 2nd Lieut., Oct.
16, 1862. Resigned April 22, 1863.
* REGNIER, FREDERICK.—Private Battery H, 1st O. Light
Artillery, Oct. 17, 1861. Mustered out Nov. 17, 1864, at
expiration of term of service.
ROBERTS, JAMES D.
* SMITH, WM. H.—In gunboat service on western rivers.
TENNEY, JOHN.—Musician, (fifer) Co. E, 36th O. Infantry,
Aug. 31, 1861. Appointed Principal Musician, Sept. 10, 1864.
Mustered out with regiment. Veteran. Broken Arrow, Okla.
On the expiration of our term of enlistment nearly all the
members of the company re-entered the service. I have found
but nine who are known not to have re-entered the army, and
most of these did more or less militia duty from time to
time during the war. Those reentering the service were
distributed as follows:
“Buell’s Battery”—C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery29Battery A,
1st W. Va. Light Artillery11st Ohio Cavalry1336th Ohio
Infantry81st O. Light Artillery, Battery H51st O. Light
Artillery, Battery K239th Ohio Infantry477th Ohio
Infantry263rd Ohio Infantry260th Ohio Infantry179th O. and
2nd N. C. Mounted Infantry19th O. Cavalry170Of the members
of the “Pony Section,” 3 went into “Buell’s Battery,” 3 into
the 36th O. Infantry, 1 into the 2nd W. Va. Cavalry, 1 into
Battery H, 1st O. Lt. Artillery and 1 into the Gunboat
service.
[24]
Of those who re-entered the service 21 became commissioned
officers and almost all the others became non-commissioned
officers. I have accounted for 75 of the company, leaving 24
unaccounted for. The names of these stand on the roll with
no explanatory remarks appended.
Those known to have died number 56; those known to be
living, 19; unascertained, 24.
The formal muster out of the regiment dates August 28, 1861.
The muster in of Co. B dates April 17, 1861, making the term
served by the company 4 months and 11 days.
In closing this sketch I want to return my hearty thanks to
Dr. John T. Booth, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for the kind loan of
his invaluable diary of “Three months with the 18th Ohio
Infantry 3 months troops.” By its help I have been enabled
to fix dates and locations for which I had no other
resource. I have drawn largely too from his narrative, at
times using his very language, for which I had his generous
warrant. He was a member of the company and afterwards spent
three years in the service with the 36th O. Infantry. He is
the historian of that regiment, his unpublished history of
which is an inexhaustive mine of information.
NOTES
COL. CLARKE—CAPT. BUELL.
A strange coincidence is that of the similar deaths of
Colonel Clarke and Captain Buell. Within 18 months from the
morning upon which Col. Clarke presented to our company the
beautiful flag mentioned as the gift of the women of
Marietta and its acceptance by Captain Buell, both had
fallen in battle, Col. Clarke leading his regiment, the 36th
O. Infantry, at Antietam, Maryland, and Captain Buell
commanding his battery, C, 1st W. Va. Light Artillery, at
Freeman’s Ford, Virginia.
(From the “Marietta Intelligencer” of May 1, 1861.)
“The following is a part of a communication from one who
occasionally contributes to our columns. It is a worthy
tribute to the stranger volunteer.
“... But I cannot close without paying a passing tribute to
the noble heroism of one of the volunteers who left us,
today. I[25] saw in the ranks a young German who evidently
was a stranger here. I was told that he was simply on a
visit to this country, but seeing the hour of peril upon us
he boldly stepped into the ranks of those brave and true
hearts who have just left us. As they moved down to the boat
and friends were taking a final parting, he burst into
tears, saying: ‘I have no friends here to bid me good bye.’
I need not say how a chord was struck by those simple words
which went to every heart; his hands were grasped with a
fervor which told that such noble self-sacrifice claimed the
homage of every true heart.”
John T. Booth, in his diary under date of June 19th, in camp
near Bridgeport, Va., notes: “I received a letter today from
Miss Mary J. Krewson, of Birmingham, opposite Pittsburg, Pa.
(the lady who at the close of the war became my wife.) We
were playmates when about three years of age.” (Note—Dr.
Booth and his good wife are both living and enjoying the
comforts of an ideal home at No. 3646 Central avenue,
Cincinnati, O.)
OUR CAMPS.
Our first, at Columbus, was “Camp Jackson,” now beautiful
Goodale Park. At Athens, where we spent but a few days, our
camp was by some called “Camp Jewett,” but I remember it as
“Camp Scott.” At Marietta, “Camp Putnam.” At Parkersburg,
“Camp Union,” so christened by Captain Buell. At the first
“burnt bridge,” near Petroleum Station, on the B. & O.
railroad, our camp took the name of “Camp Whip po’will” from
the nocturnal and lugubrious serenades furnished us by this
strange bird. Our next camp near Toll Gate Station, being
located in an old pasture field, covered with briars, was
dubbed “Camp Briar Patch,” by Manly Warren, a name that
stuck.
We next went into camp near Bridgeport on the beautiful farm
of a Mr. Sandusky and for him we named our camp “Sandusky.”
We remained at Oakland but a few days and I think no name
was given this uncomfortable camping place.
The following resolution, with others, was adopted by the
boys while we were quartered at the Ohio Penitentiary:
[26]
“Resolved, that this company owes a debt of gratitude to G.
W. Gill, and to John A. Prentice, Warden of the Ohio
Penitentiary, for relieving this company from the
subterranean vaults of the State Capitol and furnishing them
with comfortable quarters due to civilized and intelligent
citizen soldiers....
R. L. NYE, Secy. T. G. FIELD, Chairman.”
The following from the “Marietta Republican” of May 24,
notes the one loss by death that came to us during our whole
term of service.
“George W. Ridgeway, one of the Marietta Volunteers, was
taken sick at Columbus and discharged. A short time after he
got home he died, and was buried at Rainbow, last Sunday
(19th) with the honors of war by the Union Blues and the
Defiance Infantry Company.”
CAPTAIN BUELL.
I have made no effort to prepare a biography of Captain
Buell, the sketch is itself in a way a biography. He is the
central figure of my little history and aside from his work
with the Pierpoint Battery it gives a full history of his
service.
He was born at Lowell, Washington county, Ohio, April 24,
1837, and was the youngest son of Perez B. and Elizabeth
(Rector) Buell. His 23rd birthday he spent in “Camp
Jackson,” at Columbus, two days after leaving Marietta with
his company. He had chosen the profession of the law and was
Prosecuting Attorney of Washington county when the war broke
out. He was killed in battle at Freeman’s Ford, Fauquier
county, Virginia, August 22, 1862.
At the time of his death he had been selected for a higher
command and had he lived a few days longer would have
received substantial promotion in the artillery arm of the
service. His distinguished bearing had attracted the
attention of such soldiers as Generals Siegel and Milroy,
the Chief of Artillery of the 11th Corps and others.
His remains were buried at Bealton Station and in the
following December were removed to the family burying ground
located on the old home farm, at Lowell. His comrades of
Battery[27] C erected a handsome monument at his grave soon
after the close of the war.
In the preparation of the foregoing pages I have been
actuated by a desire to place in convenient and permanent
form the simple facts connected with the company’s modest
service. We were not only the first from Washington county
to respond to the president’s call for volunteers but were
the first from all southeastern Ohio. Only 9 of the 220
companies of three months’ volunteers, accepted by the
government antedated our enrollment (these were dated the
16th) and but 17 others bore even date with us.
I have attempted simply to state facts in as plain a way as
possible that may be of value so far as they go to the
future searcher in this pioneer service of the war. The work
has taken considerable time and labor but it has been one of
pleasure and I shall be more than repaid if it meets with
the approval of my surviving comrades and the friends of
Captain Buell and his pioneer company of patriotic
volunteers.
JEWETT PALMER.
Marietta, O., April 22, 1911.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] Afterwards Colonel of the 33rd Ohio Infantry. Promoted
to Brigadier General after the battle of Perryville. Killed
at the battle of Stone river, Dec. 31st, 1862.