The war of 1812, and its
relationship with the population of Urbana may here claim a
passing notice. Urbana was a frontier town upon the
southern border of an almost unbroken wilderness, without any
public highways north of it, except a very short distance in
that direction. Its location naturally made it an
objective point as a base for army operations, and as such, it
infused a good degree of business, bustle and animation
among its citizens.
His Excellency Return Jonathan MEIGS,
Governor of Ohio, made it a strategic point, in concocting
measures bearing upon the then exposed condition of the frontier
settlements. He here held councils with Indian tribes as
already intimated, and from his room in what would now be called
the Doolittle House, issued and sent forth his
proclamations as Commander-in-Chief. And immediately after
the declaration of war, on the 18th of June, he designated this
place as the rendezvous for the troops of the first campaign of
the war. Here it was that General HULL was ordered
to bring his forces, being three regiments, under the respective
command of Colonel Duncan McARTHUR, Colonel Lewis CASS,
and Colonel James FINDLAY, for the purpose of being here
organized with other forces, and they were encamped on the high
grounds east of the town, resting their left on what is now
named East Water Street, on the lands of KAUFFMAN, NELSON,
and BERRY, extending north through their lands, and
the lands lately called the BALDWIN property, to about
East Court Street. They remained here some two weeks for
the arrival of Col. ____ MILLER'S regiment, which had
gloriously triumphed under General Harrison at the battle
of Tippecanoe, the previous November. And as a testimonial
of the high appreciation of their valor on that occasion, the
citizens of the town united with the troops in making the
necessary preparations to receive the gallant Col. MILLER
and his veteran regiment, with both civic and military
demonstrations, in honor
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of their chivalrous deeds. Two
posts, one each side of the road, about twenty feet high, were
planted at what would now be known as the foot of the BALDWIN
hill, a little southwest of the present residence of Mr.
MARSHALL, on Scioto Street, and an arch made of boards was
secured at the top ends of the posts, with this inscription in
large capital letters, "TIPPECANOE GLORY," on its western
facade; with the national flag floating from a staff fastened to
each post that supported it.
These preliminaries being all completed, and the time
of arrival being at hand, General HULL with his staff,
accompanied by a body-guard, headed by martial music, moved from
the camp to the Public Square and halted, to await the approach
of the veterans, who were advancing under flags and banners with
appropriate music, at quickstep on South Main Street, and at the
juncture Col. Miller called a halt, with the additional
orders to deploy into line and present arms, as a salute to
General HULL, under the star spangled banner which had been
by the citizens unfurled upon a fifty feet pole in the center of
the Public Square. Where upon the General and his staff
with suwarrows doffed, rode slowly in review along the whole
line. Then, after the necessary movement to reform into a
line of march, the General, staff and guards formed themselves
at the head of the regiment as an escort, and at the
command, "To the right wheel! Forward, march!" they moved
slowly with martial music and colors flying, between lines of
citizens and soldiers, the latter resting right and left
respectively at the posts of the triumphal arch, and the former
resting on the Public Square and extending eastward to the
military lines, all being under complete civic and military
regulations, agreeably to an arranged programme.
As these veteran United States troops began to move
with precise measured tread upon Scioto street, the civic
ovation began to unfold itself, in the strewing of wild June
flowers by young Misses and Maidens, with which they had been
provided, the waving of handkerchiefs of matrons, and the
swinging of hats and caps of the sterner sex, with continued
shouts and huzzas. These exciting demonstrations continued
without abatement until they reached the lines of the troops as
already indicated, when the scene changed into a sublime
military display, such as the din of muskets, the rattle of
drums, and the shrill notes of the bugle, clarionet and fife,
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until they reached the Arch, and while passing through under it,
a park of artillery belched forth its thunders in the cap, as
the signal of welcome to the brave boys who had distinguished
themselves upon the fields of Tippecanoe. After arriving
in the camp they, at the word "Left wheel," displayed to the
north-west and halted upon the high grounds now occupied by
Griffith ELLIS, Mr. BOAL and others, in front of the right
wing of the troops already encamped, and there pitched tents.
Taken as a whole this civic and military demonstration presented
a pageant never before or since, equaled in the new City of
Urbana.
This re-enforcement completed the organization of
General HULL's army, which was soon ordered to open an army
road, which was afterwards known as HULL's Trace, through
the wilderness, and move its headquarters from Urbana to Detroit
reaching the latter place somewhere about the 12th July, 1872.
The unfortunate sequel in the following month is open the
historic page, and does not for the object of this sketch
require further notice. It might however, be noticed that
this army erected while on its march, the McARTHUR and
FINDLAY Block Houses, and detailed a small fore for
their protection as posts of security for army supplies in
transit to the seat of war, and as a covert in case of Indian
raids in their vicinity.
As these sketches are not intended as a history of the
war, but only as connecting links to the early pioneer scenes of
other days, I need not continue these extended outlines, but
mearly remark, that from the force of circumstances growing out
of the fall of Detroit in Agust 1812, the defeat of
WINCHESER at the River Rasin in the early part of the year
1813, and other reverses to the North; Urbana, being as already
said a frontier town was made of necessity, a busy objective
point.
Soon after the events already recited, troops were here
concentrated. Governor SHELBY of Kentucky for the
defense of our exposed frontier settlements, called out and took
command in person of some 5,000 mounted men, and encamped them
on the south pond of the factory now is extending its left
westward through the lands now owned and occupied by Henry
Weaver and the heirs of the late John A. WARD to
REDMAN'S mill, and they remained several days before moving
to the front.
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It may here be also
noticed, that Governor MEIGS immediately after the
surrender of Detroit, made a requisition and designated Urbana
as the place of rendezvous for a large Ohio force under the
command of Gen. W. TUPPER, and its encampment was on the
high grounds north of the DUGAN ravine, bordering on what
is now known as Laurel Oak Street.
During the seige of Fort Meigs in May 1813, General
McARTHUR, upon request of the Governor, came here and sent
out runners throughout all the surrounding country, urging the
male inhabitants to immediately assemble themselves at this
point, to inaugurate measures of defense to the exposed frontier
settlements, and for the relief of the besieged fort, which
resulted in a large mass meeting from all points south to the
Ohio River, and the greater part of them being armed,
volunteered to immediately march to the relief of Fort Meigs.
The late Governor VANCE and Simon KENTON, and took
a prominent part in the movement. This force being
officered by acclamation and duly organized, immediately moved
north, under command of Col. McARTHUR, with Samuel
McCOLLOCH as Aid-de-Camp. It should be stated that
this fore was made up of horsemen and footmen, and were with all
possible celerity rushed forward some four days' march into the
wilderness, until they were met by Col. William OLIVER,
John McADAMS, and Captain Johnny, a celebrated
Indian of that day who had been sent as spies, with the
intelligence that the enemy had abandoned the seige; whereupon
these forces returned to Urgana, and were honorably discharged.
Other and various concentrations were here made
throughout the war, which need not now be noticed.
Permanent artificer shops were here established, a hospital,
commissary and quarter-master departments were here organized,
and located as already intimated in these sketches; and Urbana
had all the paraphernalia and characteristic appendages of a
seat of war, and was to all intents and purposes The Head
Quarters of the North Western Army, bating a secondary claim
of Franklinton.
From here troops were ordered to the front, and
assigned their posts of duty; here army supplies concentrated,
and by wagons, sleds, pack-horses and other modes of transit,
were sent to all points needing them.
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It has already been
intimated that Urbana had assumed the dignity of headquarters to
the North Western Army; that the several departments of military
camp and depot of munitions of war, where here located under
appropriate agencies.
1. Wm. JORDAN managed the Quartermasters
department.
2. Alex. DOKE had charge of the artificer yard
and shops.
3. Zephaniah LUCE was issuing commissary.
4. Dr. ____ GOULD, physician and surgeon to the
hospital.
5. Jacob Fowler was a general agent and
contractor for Government supplies, by virtue of his functions
as head of the Quarter-masters department for this point.
6. Major David GWYNNE, who exercised the office
of a paymaster, had his headquarters here.
This was also a recruiting station, the late Josiah
G. TABOTT, the father of Decatur and Richard C.,
&c., in his younger days was a Lieutenant in the regular United
States service, belonging to a company commanded by his brother,
Capt. Richard C. TALBOTT, and enlisted at this point
quite a number of recruits. He married a Miss FORSYTHE,
near the close of the war, and some years after located in
business as a hatter, and remained here to the time of his
decease
And in this connection one other individual deserves to
be noticed, for the valuable services he bestowed during all the
war, in aiding the government by advancements of money and means
when her treasury was greatly depleted, and waited the return
for such advancements until she was able to refund; he was
actuated in his course entirely through patriotism as a private
individual, and not as a public functionary; many poor destitute
soldiers would have had to have gone into winter service
destitute of blankets and other indispensable articles promotive
of comfort, had it not been for the kind interposition of his
patriotic soul. John REYNOLDS was man whose acts I
have attempted to describe. Mr. REYNOLDS well
deserves this tribute, and aside from those acts, Urbana owes
him a debt of gratitude for his devotion to her interests during
a long life of usefulness; he indeed contributed greatly in
building up the interests of both town and county, and his name
should be cherished in Urbana as a household souvenir.
Governor VANCE, at a very early day, as one of
those sturdy ath-
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letic young en that could endure hardships and face danger,
organized a volunteer company of riflemen, selected from the
surrounding country for several miles, who were like him, fitted
for the times. They were mostly old hunters, well skilled
in the use of the rifle; many of them could make a center shot
at a target seventy-five yards off. The company being of
the material described, elected him Captain, Col. Wm. WARD,
Jr., Lieutenant, and Isaac MYERS, Ensign. They
were denominated minute men and rangers, and whenever any
imminent danger from Indians was apprehended, Captain Vance
would call his company together and move it to the point of
danger, and if necessary erect a block house for the settlement.
This was done upon several occasions before and during the war.
And it may be here noted, that during the war Capt.
John McCORD and his whole company of Militia were by the
Governor ordered to Fort McArthur for one month, to protect it
and the government property from depredation. This latter
company furnished all its quotas upon regular draft; these facts
are given to show that Urbana did her part in the defence of the
country during the war of 1812-15. And the same may be
said in reference to the country organizations of the militia.
I will name Captain BARRET's Company, Captain KIZER's
Company, and all others within my knowledge, promptly responded
to calls made upon them.
I will dismiss these rambling generalities, and say a
word in relation to Governor VANCE, as a neighbor and
friend; he came here at a very early day with hi father,
Joseph C. VANCE; his opportunities for instructions were
limited, yet by dint of close application, attained to such
general knowledge of men and thing, as to afterward qualify him
for the most important trusts, and became indeed distinguished
in public life, of which I, however, will not attempt further to
speak, as his official life has become matter of history.
He had all the nobler qualities that adorn the man; he had a
heart to sympathize with the distressed, and relieve the wants
of the needy, and all relationships, the fast friend to those
who sought his friendship. Although decided in his
political opinions, he would always concede merit even to his
opponents, if the occasion required it. This trait made
him many friends, even among those who differed with him.
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