CHAPTER IX. -
 MILITARY HISTORY.
pg. 318-378

Introduction - Local War Measures - Early Organization of Soldiers - Military Committee and Aid Society - Establishment of Camp Lima - Statistics - Roster and Record of Officers - Roster and Record of Non-Commissioned Officers and Men - Statistical Review - Ohio National Guard - Cavalry Regiments - Light Artillery - Heavy Artillery - Independent Batteries - Ladies' Aid Societies, etc.

          AMONG the pioneers of Allen County were many who served in the war of 1812; a few took part in that bloodless contest known as the Toledo war; while a small number represented the county in the Mexican war, and a few in the Reservoir war in Mercer County.  It remained for our own times, however, to exhibit the military strength of this county - to realize what a people can sacrifice - what a people can accomplish when their country is threatened or her flag subjected to insult.
     In April, 1861, when the electric wire flashed the tidings of civil war into every city, town and hamlet of the United States, the President's call for volunteers was made  known.   Hurrying thousands from all parts of

 J. L. BOWDLE

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of the State rushed forward to respond, and amid those thousands none more earnest or more patriotic than the men of this county were to be found.  Organization was pressed forward, ranks were filled up, and thus it was made apparent that few, if any, counties of the same number of inhabitants. surpassed Allen in Celerity of military movement, or in the number and quality of private soldiers and officers sent forward by her to the field.
     From the moment the first news of rebellion reached this county seat the work of military organization was carried on.  Charles N. Moyer, a printer in the Gazette office, was the first to enlist from Lima, having left for Columbus on April 16.  During the following few days many others went to the front from various parts of the county.
     On April 19, 1861, the first company of Lima volunteers was organized under Capt. M. H. Nichols, Lewis, Lieut. C. M. Hughes, Second Lieut. T. J. Hustler; Sergeant, J. A. Anderson; Second Sergeant, J. N. Cunningham; Third Sergeant, William Headley; Fourth Sergeant, W. H. Ward; Corporals, C. C. Oldfield, Milton Titus, J. B. Davison and Samuel McCluer.  The company, comprising ninety-two rank and file, left en route to Columbus Apr. 22, 1861, and attached to the Twentieth Ohio Infantry May 7, 1861.  Samuel Saxton, a member of this company, shot himself accidentally July 4, 1861.
     This was the actual inauguration of the military enterprise of Allen county.  There was more stern resolve manifested than mere enthusiasm.  Men felt that the Union was in danger, and rushed forward to defend her.
     The poetic address by J. McKibben appeared in the Daily Gazette Apr. 21, 1861.  It expressed very appropriately the popular idea of the duty which citizens owed to their imperilled country, and found an echo in the hearts of the people.  The last four lines of this address are as in the hearts of the people.  The last four lines of this address are as follows:

     The second company of Lima volunteers was organized Apr. 22, 1861, with the following officers:  C. N. Lamison, Captain; Mart. Arm-

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storm, Lieutenant; George A. Taylor, Second Lieutenant; John Nuce, Third Lieutenant; S. B. Stevens, First Sergeant; Christian Neise, W. J. Bashore and Fraley Fink, Sergeant; Daniel Willower, William Howell, A. B. Bowers and P. S. Hubbard, Corporals; Samuel Miller, Ensign.  The private soldiers of this command numbered seventy; attached to Twentieth Ohio Infantry May 7, 1861.  On June 26, 1861, a sword and sash were presented to Capt. Lamison by the citizens of Lima.
     The Home Guards, organized on Apr. 22, 1861, comprised A. N. Smith, G. Wykoff, J. Roush, J. E. Junkin, E. G. Hamilton, J. Carpenter, N. Pangle, J. W. Titus, A. C. Shell, J. C. Musser, D. Chapin, S. D. Truesdale, G. Saint, I. Delzell, R. Metheany, S. Lisle, W. E. Lee, Wm. Dransfield, W. B. Barroll, J. K. Bell, Geo. W. Overmyer, A. Thomas, J. Keller, Theo. E. Cunningham, J. Corns, E. Fitch, J. Hough, and J. Davis.
     The Lima Rifle Guards organized, under the Reserve Militia law, Apr. 23, 1861, with a. N. Smith, Captain; W. A. Hover, First Lieutenant; and George Wilson Second Lieutenant.
     In April, 1861, the following named physicians agreed to furnish medical attendance, free of charge, to the families of volunteers during the period of their absence: W. McHenry, D. B. Stickney, E. Ashton, F. S. Kendall, R. Kincaid, C. I. Neff, and D. H. Anderson
     The Delphos Guards was organized in April, 1861, with Jack Herbert, Captain, and Captain Mellen, First Lieutenant.
     An Auxiliary Aid Society was organized at Lima, Apr. 23, 1862, with L. C. Hurd, President; George W. Overmyer, Secretary; R. C. Woodward, Receiver; T. E. Cunningham, C. I. Neff, I. S. Pillers, R. Metheany, G. Day, J. R. Hughes, J. R. Churchill, and A. N. Smith, Executive Committee.
     Thomas K. Jacobs introduced a bill in the Ohio Legislature, in April, 1861, to provide a fund for the support of soldiers' families, by ahtorizing the County Commissioners to levy a tax of half a mill.  On April 23, Representative Baldwin introduced a more elaborate bill, which was accepted.  It embraced the principals of the Jacobs Resolution.
     The Armstrong Guards organized Apr. 27, 1861, with Gen. William Armstrong, Captain; Theo. E. Cunningham, First Lieutenant and Barton A. Holland, Second Lieutenant.

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     On May 4, 1861, the Shawnee Home Guards

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ROSTER AND RECORD OF COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. - pg. 324

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National Guards, consolidated, was formed May 11, 1864, at Camp Chase.  Among the great number of Wood and Wyandot Counties soldiers were a few men from Allen County, who served with the command until August, 1864.

CAVALRY REGIMENTS.

LIGHT ARTILLERY.

     The First Regiment of Light Artillery was organized by Col. James Barnett in the fall of 1861, and Battery B of this command served until July 22, 1866.  the organization of Batteries A to M was carried on during the winter of 1861-62.

HEAVY ARTILLERY

     The First and Second Regiments of Heavy Artillery were organized in the fall of 1863, and served until July and August, 1865, respectively.

INDEPENDENT BATTERIES.

     There were twenty-six independent batteries organized between July, 1861, and September, 1864.
     In the foregoing pages a measure of justice is given to the soldiers of Allen.  Of those who labored at home something must also be said.  Immediately succeeding the commencement of hostilities, the ladies of the county became thoroughly conscious of the duty which they owed to their country.  They formed societies of aid to the wounded soldiers of the armies, and so organized themselves as to be able to render most effective service.
     The citizens whose days for service in the field ended with the close of the first half of the century, acted well their several parts at home.  Their co-operation with the State Military Board resulted in most important aid to the Republic.

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     The history of the times is one which speaks of duty nobly done.  Let the people follow the sympathies and hopes of the soldiers of 1861-65; always prepared to make sacrifices like they made, and thus transmit from generation to generation a patriotism incorruptible, a government strong and just, and a set of public principles honorable to the age, so that happiness may reign in every home within the Union, and without a true knowledge of liberty, civil and religious.
 

- END OF CHAPTER IX - MILITARY HISTORY -