* * * * *
[Illustration: CAPTAIN FRANK BUELL]
COMPANY B 18th Regiment Ohio Volunteers--Three Months Troops.
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 “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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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.