History of Fayette County
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH O.V.I.
This regiment was organized at Lancaster, Ohio, on the 15th of July, 1862, by the military committees of the counties of Fayette, Pickaway, Fairfield, Hocking, Vinton, and Perry. August 28, 1862, the organization of the regiment was completed, and it was mustered into service. Its aggregate strength was thirty-eight commissioned officers, and nine hundred and forty-three, men. At 8 o'clock p. M., August 29th, it was on its way to Covington, Kentucky, where it reported to Major General Wright, on the 30th. At 10 A. M. it was on the cars, with orders to report to General Nelson, at Lexington, Kentucky. General Nelson being disabled by a wound, Colonel Ross reported to General Wright, who had assumed command. This officer ordered Major Yeoman to take four companies and picket all the approaches to the city. This duty was faithfully performed until 3 o'clock of September 1st, when rumors of the advance of the rebel army from Richmond became so strong that orders were issued to burn the army stores and prepare to move at once. By 7 o'clock p, m. the regiment was in line on the Versailles turnpike, detailed as guard for the wagon train, four companies in the rear, under Major Yeoman, and six in the advance, under Colonels Ross and Rippey.
At 4 p. m. the national forces had reached Versailles, a distance of twelve miles, and was in full retreat. The forced march was continued to Louisville, the men suffering terribly from thirst and the stifling dust. The fatigue was truly agonizing, This suffering was intensely aggravated by guarding the wells and cisterns along the road, which compelled the officers and soldiers to drink from the stagnant pools beside the road. The command consisted mostly of new levies, consequently the men were unused to such hardships, and many sank under the terrible strain. At Shelbyville (a beautiful village) the thirst of the men was alleviated by the clear, cold, spring water, kindly issued to each man by the citizens, as the column passed along.
At 1 o'clock p. m., September 5th, the regiment reached its camping-ground, near Louisville, having marched one hunclred miles in eighty-six hours—taking, in the meantime, less than sixteen hours sleep.
The regiment remained in camp until the 5th of September, engaged in picket duty and drill. On the 16th it was assigned to Brigadier General Craft's brigade, of Brigadier General Woodruff's division. After maneuvering in the vicinity of Louisville for several days, the regiment was assigned to the twenty-second brigade, Brigadier General Charles Crafts; fourth division. General W. S. Smith; twenty-first army corps, General T. L. Critenden, and marched with General Buell's army in pursuit of the rebel forces under General Bragg. On the 8th of October it approached to within two miles of Perryville. The musketry of the battle was distinctly heard, but from some unaccountable cause the regiment was not allowed to engage in the conflict.
October 10th it moved on the Danville road, and on the 11th reached that place. On the 12th it moved to the left of Danville, and in front of Camp Dick Robison. On the 13th it countermarched to Danville, and on the 14th resumed the pursuit of Bragg, and bivouacked near Stanford. On the 15th, at noon, it reached Crab Orchard.
Passing through Mt. Vernon, it crossed Little Rockcastle River, and, meeting the enemy posted on the road leading to Wildcat Mountain, drove them from that position. On the 20th the regiment surprised twelve hundred of the enemy, and with a yell swooped down upon them, capturing two hundred prisoners, and over two hundred head of cattle. While on this march it effectually destroyed the Goose Creek salt works, a valuable depot, from which the rebels had long been drawing their supplies of that indispensable article.
The march through this region was one of great hardship. Many of the men were shoeless, and in marching over the snowclad roads, they left their foot-prints marked with blood.
October 27th the regiment bivouacked near Somerset. Continuing the march, it passed over the battle-ground of Mill Springs, and on the 4th of Noveml)er reached Glasgow, Kentucky. It remained here until the 8th, when it broke camp, and on the 19th marched through Nashville, and went into camp nine miles beyond that city.
December 26, 1862, the regiment moved with the army on Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and on the 27th bivouacked on Stewart's Creek. December 29th, at 8 o'clock a. m., the forward movement was resumed, the regiments marching in divisions, and columns at half distance. At 7 p. m., on the 30th, the division was massed in a cotton field, badly mixed, and in no condition for offensive movements. This was within one mile of Stone River. The morning of the 31st found the regiment in line. After standing thus for some hours, hearing the din of battle in the rear, its turn came to be placed face to face with the enemy, where it fought as cooly as if it had been on a hundred battle-fields. The enemy was, however, in too great numbers, and the 90th being without support was compelled to fall back on the main force. The regiment lost in this fight one hundred and thirty men killed, wounded and missing. Six officers were wounded : Captain M. B. Rowe, Lieutenant L. W. Reahard, of Company K; Lieutenant Welsh, of Company D; First Lieutenant T. E. Baker, of Company C; and Second Lieutenant J. N. Selby, of Company H; and Captain Thomas Raines, of Company F; Captain Alvah Perry and Lientenant J. F. Cook, were captured. At 12 o'clock m., the regiment was again formed on the left of the Kashville turnpike, and supported a battery the rest of the day. The men having lost their blankets and knapsacks suffered terribly that night from the cold.
January 1, 1863, the third day of the battle, the regiment was in line all day, but the most of the fighting was done by the artillery. On the morning of the 2d it occupied the position on which was massed those forty pieces of artillery which sent Breckenridge's rebel corps howling back over Stone River. At 5 p. m. General Palmer ordered the 90th Ohio and the 31st Indiana to move over an open field. They obeyed, and charged a rebel position still on the national side of Stone River, and with but little loss became masters of it.
On the 4th the enemy was nowhere to he seen, and the day was spent in burying the dead of the regiment, who were found stripped of all their clothing except their drawers. Those seriously wounded were found with their wounds undressed, and in a most terrible condition. Colonel Ross, who led the regiment in this battle, and who proved himself a brave and efficient officer, was immediately after sent to the rear in serious ill-health. Lieutenant Colonel Rippey succeeded to the command. On the 14th of April, Colonel Ross resigned, and Lieutenant Colonel Rippey was promoted colonel, and Major Yeoman was appointed lieutenant colonel.
The regiment lay in camp near Murfreesboro, with the rest of the army, until the 23d of June, when General Rosecrans commenced his movements on Tullahoma. After a hard march through the mud and rain, and over almost impassable mountains, skirmishing with the enemy at several points along the route, the 90th Ohio found itself, on the 12th of September, on West Chickamauga Creek, near Lee and Gordon's mills. On the 19th it was ordered to move, witli its brigade, by the left flank to the support of General Thomas' corps. The line of battle passed at quick time over a cornfield and through a strip of timber, and on emerging from the timber discovered the enemy at close range, in the act of completing their movement of turning and inclosing General Thomas' right flank. This line was established at 1 p. m., and notwithstanding the repeated eftbrts of the enemy was held until 2:30 p. m., when, the supply of ammunition being exhausted, Colonel Rippey received orders to retire his regiment to a strip, of timber one hundred and fifty yards in the rear.
In his new position, Rippey made application for, and obtained a section of battery B, 1st Ohio Artillery, and with it held the enemy in check until a fresh supply of ammunation was obtained. It now became evident, from the advancing war of the musketry, upon the front and right, that the position was again being flanked. To meet this new movement, the regiment made a right half-wheel, about faced, and was in position to meet the impending charge of the enemy. To save a rout of the right, it was plain that a counter charge must be made. General Turchin gave the order, and the 90th Ohio led the charge in gallant style, causing the enemy to retreat in confusion. The rebels were followed some four hundred yards, when General Turchin called out, " Poys, we go far enough, we know not what is on our right, or what is on our left ! " The 90th Ohio was next ordered to the support of General Johnson's division, now being hard pressed.
September 20th, the brigade constructed works without the aid of axes, shovels, or picks; upon which the enemy made two ineffectual assaults. The 90th Ohio was then ordered to relieve the 2d Kentucky, which it executed under a heavy fire from the enemy, losing five men in advancing to the line of works. The enemy finding the position too strong, massed his forces on the left of the brigade line, and succeeded in partially turning it, exposing the regiment to a rear and flank fire. It was by this fire that the gallant adjutant of the regiment, D. K. Kingery, was killed. The national forces rallied, the enemy was in turn driven, and part of the lost ground recovered.
During the battle, the breastwork of the regiment, (which consisted of logs) caught fire on the outside ; but the fire was extinguished by officers and men voluntarily, leaping the works and beating the fire out with their hands and clubs. The enemy concentrated their fire on these brave men, but not a single oflicer or man was hit while so exposed. The enemy again pressed the right flank of the position, and succeeded in turning it, which compelled the abanondment of the works. Retreating under fire on the Dry Valley road, which connects with the Rossville road, near that place, the command was again placed in position on a high ridge running nearly parallel with the Dry Valley road. From this position the regiment was ordered to Rossville, which it reached at 10 p. m., and bivoucked in line of battle.
The loss of the regiment, on the 19th and 20th, was three ofiicers killed: Adjutant Kingery, Captain R. D. Caddy, Lieutenant N. A. Patterson mortally wounded; and eighty-three non-commissioned ofiicers and privates killed, wounded and missing.
The national army fell back on the 21st and 22d of October, behind intrenchments at Chattanooga. On the 25th, the division and regiment crossed the Tennessee River, and moving down it at daylight, ran the gauntlet of rebel sharp-shooters posted at the narrows, without loss. This march extended to Bridgeport, Alabama, where the regiment arrived on the 2nd of November, at 10 o'clock, P. M. It was engaged in building fortifications until the 29th, and was then given charge of three thousand five hundred rebel prisoners taken at Mission Ridge. The regiment then returned to Bridgeport.
On the 24th of Januaiy, 1864, the regiment received marching orders. It moved through Chattanooga and out on the Knoxville Railroad to Ooltowah, Tennessee, and there went into camp. It was engaged at this point in various important scouts. Colonel Yeoman was now in command of the regiment, Colonel Rippey having resigned and returned to Ohio.
The camp at Oottowah was abandoned on the 30th of May, at 1 o'clock p. m., and then commenced the movement of the great Atlanta campaign. For one hundred and twenty days the 90th Ohio, in company with the national forces, marched, fought, and suffered, until the 8th of September, 1864, it had the satisfaction of entering the city of Allanta, "fairly won."
The regiment camped here, from the 8th of September, until the 3d of October, when it received orders to move. Passing through Atlanta, and out the Marietta road, it reached a point four miles south of Marietta, and eighteen from Atlanta. From this point, the regiment made its way over pretty much the same ground it had marched in its advance on Atlanta.
Every nerve was strained to intercept and check-mate the rebel general, Hood, who was making his way toward Nashville. All the familiar blood-bought scenes on the march were again viewed by the brave men; and while in camp, lying behind breastworks which had been constructed by rebel hands, the story of their deeds were recounted, and new resolves made.
The regiment, with the fourth corps, participated in all the brilliant fights on the way, including that of Franklin, a battle that has been pronounced one of the most bloody and desperate of the whole war. It was also, in the battle before Nashville, and after victory had crowned the national arms, joined in the pursuit of the demorilized rebels to the banks of the Tennessee River. Returning, the regiment marched to the left in the direction of Athens, and on the 4th of January, 1865, reached Huntsville, Alabama, where it went into camp, two miles east of the city, at the foot of Mount Sinai. It remained here until the 1st of March, 1865, when it moved to Nashville and remained there until the surrender of the rebel armies. It was then sent home to Ohio and mustered out of the service.
On the evening of the 12th of June, 1865, as the 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was about returning home, the 31st Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry paid them a visit, to express their appreciation of their services as patriot soldiers, and love for them as comrades. The following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted, not as a favor, but as an expression of their hearts' sentiment:
Whereas, The 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry are about returning to their homes, to again assume their citizenship, after three years' faithful service in their country's defense; and,
Whereas, We of the 31st Indiana Veteran Infantry have been intimately associated with them while in the army ; shared in their dangers, their hardships, their privations, and in their victories—forming affections and ties, as lasting as life itself; therefore.
Resolved, That we hail with joy the order that allows our comrades of the 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry to again assume the duties of civil life, amid the magic influences of home associations, and home endearments.
Resolved, That mutual dangers, and common interests, during the long struggle for national life, has begotten a feeling of love and friendship between us that can never be forgotten, and can only be appreciated by soldiers, and that along with comrades brave, who have fallen by our sides in battle, will be cherished our associations with the 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Resolved, That in the future, all the happiness and honor, the peace and prosperity ever vouchsafed to man, we most cordially wish to attend the members of the 90th Ohio; and that ever hereafter, the talismanic watchword, that shall leap over all the conventionalities of society, and appeal directly to our heart's best sympathies and love, shall be, "I belonged to the 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry."
Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be not furnished to the Cincinnati Commercial, or any other paper for publication, but be treasured in our memories as the utterance of our heart's deepest sentiments.
George M. Noble,
Captain 31st Indiana Veteran Volunteers.
Headquarters 1st Division, 4th Army Corps,
Camp Harker, Tennessee, June 11, 1865.
Colonel S. N. Yeoman:
You, with officers and men of the 90th Ohio, after three years of gallant devotion to tlie cause of our common country, in this war against rebellion, are now about to return to your homes, with honor unstained, and with reputations bright with glory. Your deeds will live forever. In nearly every battle, from the southwest, you have been engaged; from Corinth, through Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Resaca, Rocky Trace, Dallas, Franklin, and Nashville. you have borne the, flag of the union, and banner of your noble state to victory over the foe, who would have destroyed the government and union made by our fathers.
God has given you the victory. Remember him; and, now that the war is over, the rebellion at an end, remember those whom you have conquered. Use victory as becoming true men and brave soldiers; return to your homes with enmity towards none and charity for all.
I know that you will be the, best of citizens, because I know you have been the best of soldiers. While we live, enjoying the honor and privileges which our victory has won and saved, let us ever cherish, as the idol of our hearts, the memory of our comrades who have given up their lives for the salvation of their country; who fell by our sides battling for right. Remember the widows and orphans of our dead comrades; be true to them, as our comrades were true to their country.
My comrades, accept my gratitude for your devotion to me personally. You have been true and noble soldiers, and brave men. May God ever bless you, and crown your lives with happiness, and each of you with peace and plenty. Be as you ever have been—true to God, to your country's friends, and to yourselves.
Good-by, comrades; again, God bless you.
Nathan Kimball,
Brev't. Major-General Commanding.
COMPANY K.
The following original members enlisted in 1862 :
Morris B; Rowe. captain, enlisted July 23.
James F. Cook, 1st lieutenant, enlisted July 22.
Lewis W. Reahard, 2d lieutenant, enlisted July 24.
Robert M. Christy, 1st sergeant, enlisted July 23.
Edmond Elliott, sergeant, enlisted July 29.
John F. Burk, sergeant, enlisted July 23,
John C. Grim, sergeant, enlisted July 23.
David Cameron, sergeant, enlisted July 27.
George W. Rowe, corporal, enlisted August 21.
George W. Downey, corporal, enlisted July 27.
John Kinney, corporal, enlisted July 27.
Henry C. Larimer, corporal, enlisted August 6.
Henry Harper, corporal, enlisted July 27.
Jonathan Ellis, corporal, enlisted July 24.
James Fichthorn, corporal, enlisted August 2.
John R. Cove, corporal, enlisted August 1.
John Craig, musician, enlisted August 4.
John Foster, wagoner, enlisted August 1.
Philip 0. Adams, private, enlisted July 26.
William Adams, private, enlisted August 1.
Albert Henry, private, enlisted July 24.
George Anderson, private, enlisted July 27.
Thomas Armstrong, private, enlisted August 14.
Charles E. Barnes, private, enlisted July 17.
William Bennet, private, enlisted August 5.
William Boganwright, private, enlisted August 1.
Jesse Bunker, private, enlisted July 24.
Carl George, private, enlisted July 24.
William Claybaugh, private, enlisted July 29.
Lewis O. Chin, private, enlisted August 2.
James Culbertson, private, enlisted August 1.
Harvey Culbertson, private, enlisted July 27.
David Defbaugh, private, enlisted July 22.
Benjamin F. Elliott, private, enlisted July 29.
John M. Gibson, private, enlisted July 20.
James Gibson, private, enlisted July 24.
William GiflFord, private, enlisted July 27.
James Gifford, private, enlisted August 2.
William Goanigs, private, enlisted July 27.
John W. Goddard, private, enlisted July 29.
M. D. L. Green, private, enlisted July 24.
Randolph Green, private, enlisted July 24.
Elijah H. Griffith, private, enlisted August 6.
William Grim, private, enlisted July 25.
Henry Grub, private, enlisted July 29.
George T. Hampton, private, enlisted August 7.
John Hemphill, private, enlisted August 7.
Andrew Henline, private, enlisted July 31.
Frederick Hannough, private, enlisted August 2.
Elijah Johnson, private, enlisted July 27.
Daniel Johnson, private, enlisted August 2.
John W. Johnson, private, enlisted August 2.
B. A. Jones, private, enlisted July 29.
Levi W. Kittle, private, enlisted July 24.
Henry S. Klebber, private, enlisted August 1.
Michael Klebber, private, enlisted August 14.
Smith R. Lambert, private, enlisted August 25.
David Lively, private, enlisted July 29.
Charles Long, private, enlisted July 27.
Benjamin D. McArthur, private, enlisted August 2.
Thomas S. McDonald, private, enlisted July 28.
Isaac McKeever, private, enlisted July 26.
James D. McMahan, private, enlisted August 8.
James P. Mills, private, enlisted August 2.
William A. Miller, private, enlisted July 26.
Henry Mitchell, private, enlisted July 26.
James Morgan, private, enlisted July 22.
Samuel Moyer, private, enlisted August 5.
Patrick Murphy, private, enlisted July 24.
Edmond E, Ott, private, enlisted August 7.
Joseph H. Ott, private, enlisted July 22.
James H. Parris, private, enlisted July 29.
Richard Parker, private, enlisted August 7.
Nathan Pearson, private, enlisted July 27.
Jonathan Powless, private, enlisted July 30.
George Props, private, enlisted August 2.
John Props, private, enlisted August 2.
John G. Reif, private, enlisted August 2.
Jonathan Richardson, private, enlisted July 24.
Benjamin Rabey, private, enlisted July 30.
Soloman Salmon, private, enlisted July 30.
Harrison Shiplet, private, enlisted August 7.
Simeon Shiplet, private, enlisted August 1.
John W. Silcott, private, enlisted August 6
William Smith, private, enlisted July 24.
Samuel S. Stover, private, enlisted July 27.
Lafayette Strope, private, enlisted July 29.
Thomas Summers, private, enlisted August 4.
George Street, private, enlisted July 26.
Isaac Thompson, private, enlisted August 2.
Hugh Tomblinson, private, enlisted August 6.
Frederick Turner, private, enlisted July 26.
Richard Venner, private, enlisted July 27.
W. H. Warrensburg, private, enlisted July 24.
William H. Weller, private, enlisted July 18.
J. D. Williams, private, enlisted August 9.
Howard Wimer, private, enlisted July 24.
Shaderick C. Wraten, private, enlisted July 23.
Thomas Finnigan, sergeant, enlisted January 18, 1864.
Benjamin E. Orr, corporal, enlisted February 25, 1864.
David Thuckmorton, musician, enlisted February 1, 1864.
Anthony Claridge, private, enlisted February 9, 1864.
Solomon W. Ely, private, enlisted February 9, 1864.
William Kiser, private, enlisted December 29, 1863.
Douglas Owens, private, enlisted February 16, 1864.
John Stumbau, private, enlisted December 29, 1863.
COMPANY C.
The following original members enlisted in 1862
Robert D. Caddy, captain, enlisted July 10.
Alonzo W. Black, 1st lieutenant, enlisted July 28.
Jacob Bush, 2d lieutenant, enlisted August 4.
Archibald M. Rogers, 1st sergeant, enlisted August 2.
James P. Fent, sergeant, enlisted August 8.
George T. Haskins, sergeant, enlisted July 30.
Samuel W. Stuckey, sergeant, enlisted August 4.
Charles Caddy, sergeant, enlisted August 13.
William J. McVey, corporal, enlisted July 31.
Moses C King, corporal, enlisted July 31.
John Harper, corporal^ enlisted August 4.
Jacob Krehs, corporal, enlisted July 28.
Wesley T. Struley, corporal, enlisted August 4.
William Beatty, corporal, enlisted August 8.
Wesley M. Creamer, corporal, enlisted August 4.
John C. Fifer, corporal, enlisted August 14.
Alexander B. Creamer, musician, enlisted August 6.
Louis F. Statcenberg, musician, enlisted August 9.
William Allen, private, enlisted August 4.
IN THE REBELLION.
Ephraim Allen, private, enlisted August 9.
Harvey S. Barney, private, enlisted August 7.
William Bonecutter, private, enlisted August 6.
Albert Bonecutter, private, enlisted August 6.
John W. Bougbn, private, enlisted August 7.
William M. Boughn, private, enlisted August 9.
Joseph H. Boughn, private, enlisted August 9.
Meridith Bowen, private, enlisted August 9.
Biglow W. Brown, private, enlisted August 2.
John Burton, private, enlisted July 16.
John W. Cahill, private, enlisted August 1.
David Calhoun, private, enlisted August 19.
Samuel H. Carr, private, enlisted August 4.
Jacob S. Cockerill, private, enlisted August 31.
David C. Conner, private, enlisted August 4.
George W. Conner, private, enlisted August 4.
George H. Creamer, private, enlisted August 4.
Lewis Creamer, private, enlisted July 28.
John Creamer, private, enlisted July 28.
Isaac J. Dennon, private, enlisted August 8
Jacob F. Daster, private, enlisted July 31.
John N. Doyle, private, enlisted July 31.
Hiram G. Duff, private, enlisted August 8.
John J. Duff, private, enlisted August 9.
Edward C Duff, private, enlisted August 9.
John W. Ellis, private, enlisted August 4.
Otho Engle, private, enlisted August 9.
John W. Engle, private, enlisted August 9.
James Feemy, private, enlisted August 9.
Philip M. Fent, private, enlisted August 8.
Samuel Flax, private, enlisted August 9.
Daniel Garden, private, enlisted August 6.
George M. N- Grover, private, enlisted August 6.
William Hammond, private, enlisted August 9.
Lewis Hatfield, private, enlisted August 13.
William Hidy, private, enlisted July 30.
Jackson Highland, private, enlisted July 30.
John C. Hogue, private, enlisted August 6.
William A. Halson, private, enlisted August 18.
Oliver E. Horney, private, enlisted August 9.
Ferris Horney, private, enlisted August 7.
Marshall Hosier, private, enlisted August 6.
A. Hyer, private, enlisted August 6.
William H. James, private, enlisted August 7.
Lewis James, private, enlisted August 8.
Daniel A, James, private, enlisted August 6.
Thomas Jenkins, private, enlisted August 8. .
John H. Mahoy, private, enlisted August 4.
George Miller, private, enlisted August 8.
Benjamin Miller, private, enlisted August 1.
Newton McGinness, private enlisted August 14.
Harmon Mclntyre, private, enlisted August 19.
David Mock, private, enlisted August 19.
Martin L. Mock, private, enlisted August 19.
Marion Myers, private, enlisted July 28.
James M. Parrett, private, enlisted August 4.
John S. Parrett, private, enlisted August 22.
George W. Pomell, private, enlisted August 6
Paris Robinson, private, enlisted August 8.
George Richardson, private, enlisted August 6.
Daniel Rupert, private, enlisted August 9.
Charles J. Sharrett, private, enlisted August 9.
Jackson Smith, private, enlisted July 29.
S. G. Snowden, private, enlisted August 6.
Milton Sperlock, private, enlisted August 6.
Jesse Sperlock, private, enlisted August 6.
George P. Straley, private, enlisted August 8.
Elan Thornton, private, enlisted August 13.
Joseph Tracy, private, enlisted August 9.
John S. Tracy, private, enlisted August 9.
Andrew Ulmer, private, enlisted July 29.
Gideon Vesy, private, enlisted August 4.
Burgess Watts, private, enlisted August 14.
Thomas Williams, private, enlisted August 8.
Henry Wiley, private, enlisted July 28.
Eli Wood, private, enlisted August 6.
William Wood, private, enlisted August 22.
Benjamin Woolley, private, enlisted August 6.
William Wylight, private, enlisted August 4.
RECRUITS.
Philip Tumblin, private, enlisted January 20, 1864.
Leander Taylor, private, enlisted January 17, 1864.
John C. Murphy, private, enlisted February 6, 1864.