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CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO
History & Genealogy

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History of
CHAMPAIGN and LOGAN COUNTIES
by Joshua Antrim
Published at Bellefontaine, Ohio
by Press Printing Co.
1872

HISTORY OF
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

CHAPTER VIII -

MILITARY OPERATIONS IN THE WAR OF 1812
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     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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