IT is but natural that the inhabitants of the county of Clinton, through all generations, should be possessed of patriotism and military ardor.   Numbers of the pioneers had seen service under the lead of Washington, or had become acquainted with Indian warfare both in the East and the West, and the spirit which stirred the blood of the men of yore at sound of trump and drum was transmitted through the fleeting years to their sons and grandsons.  The mothers of the land stood ready at every emergency to dedicate their husbands, sons and brothers to their country, and nobly have they always responded to the call.  It is impossible, from the means at hand in this county, to give anything like a correct list of Revolutionary and "second war" veterans, whose homes were here, and regarding those who served in the latter war (1812-15) such information as has been gained will be found in their personal mention elsewhere.  The following names have been given of Revolutionary pensioners who became residents of Clinton County:

     Capt. Joseph Parrott, who was living in the county in 1840, and was then a very old man, claimed to have fought under Washington in the Revolution, and under Harrison in the war of 1812.
     That numerous men from this county served in various capacities in the army of the Northwest under Harrison, in the second war with Great Britain, there is no doubt; but no lists have been preserved that are available, consequently the names cannot be given except in a few scattering instances.  Clinton County had not then very many persons to send; therefore, it is presumed the ranks of the army were not perceptibly swelled by her recruits.  In 1847, during the war with Mexico, R. B. Harlan, of Wilmington, raised a company, and prepared to depart with it to the seat of war; but the quota of the State was full without them, and they were therefore not needed.  Gen. James W. Denver, now a resident of Wilmington, achieved distinction in the Mexican war as a volunteer from the State of Missouri.
     Militia companies were organized throughout Ohio, both before and after the struggle with Mexico, and Judge R. B. Harlan, before mentioned, rose to

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the rank of Major General of Ohio militia.  The uniforms of the companies of those days were gorgeous with feathers and gilt trappings, and general musters, “trainings” and Fourth of July parades were witnessed by eager crowds who saw beneath the glitter the mettle which would be sure to show itself if danger should ever menace the country.   The stormy times in the National Legislature during Buchanan’s administration foreboded war; and when the lightning beam of rebellion was hurled forth in April, 1861, it found the people not wholly unprepared for the event.  The crash of hostile shells against the walls of Sumter echoed throughout the North, and the patriotic pulse throbbed fiercely at this angry summons to the fray.  The tremendous uprising which followed will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it, and the history of the four years of strife from 1861 to 1865 must ever be intensely interesting to citizens of the Republic.  The record of Clinton County during that war was magnificent.
     The Clinton Republican of Friday, April 19, 1861, had the following article, headed "Popular Excitement:"
     The news of the surrender of Fort Sumter fell heavily upon our citizens on Sunday evening, as it flashed along the wires, and on Monday, when the daily papers arrived confirming the report, and bringing also the President's proclamation calling for 75,000 volunteers, the excitement became intense.  Preparations were immediately commenced for erecting a national flag on the top of the court house, whilst those of our citizens who happened to be possessed of national banners, immediately unfurled them to the breeze.  About 1 o'clock, a large flag displaying thirty-four stars, was run up on the court house, accompanied by the cheers of the hundreds of people who lined the sidewalks and thronged the streets.  A large meeting of the citizens then spontaneously assembled in the court house, which was organized by the appointment of William Fuller, Esq., Chairman, and Rodney Foos, Secretary.  The meeting was spiritedly addressed by Messrs. William Fuller, J. Q. Smith, R. B. Harlan, A. W. Doan, I. B. Allen, Leroy Pope, A. C. Diboll, J. D. Hines and David Linton.  An agreement was then presented to the meeting of volunteers to be subject to the call of the proper authorities, to march to the defense of the Union, whenever and wherever called, which was signed on the spot by the following-named citizens:

     The following names have been added since:

     Attention, Clinton County Volunteers!     The volunteers of Clinton County will assemble in front of the court house in Wilmington to-day (Friday), at 1 o'clock P. M., for the purpose of arranging to start to Washington on Monday next.  Any suitable persons, desirous of joining the company, by attending at that time, may possibly have an opportunity to do so, but, as the number is limited, it would be safer to apply before.  By order of the Captain. - R. B. HARLAN.
     Agreeably to the call of Capt. Harlan, the volunteers met at the court house at the time appointed, ready to organize and prepare to march.  The paper states that "Judge R. B. Harlan was unanimously and enthusiastically chosen Captain by acclamation.  The Captain was then called upon to address the assembled multitude, but the affectionate ardor of the men who thus placed themselves under his charge had so far overcome his feelings that he was unable at the moment to respond.  He finally told them that he proposed thereafter to teach them how to fight, and not to entertain them with speeches.  A. W. Doan was elected First Lieutenant, and J. D. Hines, Second Lieutenant.  It was agreed that the non-commissioned officers should not be elected until they reached Columbus.  After the election of officers, a subscription was pre- 

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sented to the meeting for the future aid of the volunteers, with $1,000 already subscribed upon it, which was immediately doubled by the gentlemen present, and which has since been largely increased.  By Monday morning the number of applications for admission to the company had become so numerous that there were enough to form two full companies, which will probably be done at Columbus.  On Monday morning at 9 o'clock, a beautiful flag was presented to the company by the ladies of Wilmington, and at 9:30 o'clock the company started on a special train for Columbus.  At Columbus about sixty were dismissed from this company, owing to the great number of men offered in Ohio, and many returned home.  Others joined other companies, leaving Capt. Harlan's company consisting of about one hundred men.  The following NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS were appointed:

     The following is a list of the PRIVATE Soldiers of this company, as shown by the original roll:

     A company known as “Clinton Guards, No. 2,” was organized at Wilmington immediately after Capt. Harlan’s company had gone forward, its officers being:

The Twelfth Regiment took up its quarters at Camp Dennison, near Milford, May 8, 1861.  Lieut. J. D. Hines was subsequently made Adjutant of the regiment, and I. B. Allen was appointed Second Lieutenant in his place.  Col. King, the commanding officer of the guard at Camp Jackson, Columbus, asserted that the “Clinton Btavers’’ were worth any two companies of the regiment to preserve order and keep a good guard line.
     By May 31, 1861, a fine company of Ellsworth Zouaves had been organized at Wilmington, through the efforts of some of the young men of the place, and fifty-two men were enrolled at that date.  The organization was completed by the election of J. A. Farden as Captain, H. P. Jones, First Lieutenant,

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     * This company was offered to the State, but was not accepted, as the number of men from the county was so much greater than that called for.  The company was therefore disbanded

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and Robert Dillon, Second Lieutenant.  On the same date companies were organized and ready for service at the following points in Clinton County, viz.: Port William, Westboro, Sabina, Cuba, Reesville, New Vienna and Wilmington - making seven besides the one already at Camp Dennison.  In June, Charles J. Ent had in training a company which he called the “Wilmington Lancers,” composed of boys from ten to fifteen years of age.  Besides these, a number of the citizens of Wilmington organized a rifle company, intending to uniform and equip themselves.  They Elected A. Koogle, Captain; John Rutherford, First Lieutenant; S. Rulon, Second Lieutenant; and L. B. Welch, Orderly Sergeant.
     By direction of the State military authorities,  Capt. Rodney Foos established a military camp on the fair ground at Wilmington early in May, 1861, for the temporary reception of soldiers.  The first company assigned to it was that of Capt. Johnson, of Fayette County, which arrived previous to the 10th of the month, and began regular drilling.
     In the issue of the Clinton Republican for May 10, 1861, is the following: "*   *   *   We hereby agree to contribute the sums set opposite our names to aid and support the families of those volunteers who may be disabled for fall in defending the Federal Government against the assaults of traitors:  James Fife, $200; W. C. Fife, $100; W. Hibben, $100; C. M. Bosworth, $100; L. B. Welch, $100; T. L. Carothers, $100; Thomas Hibben, $50; R. B. Mory, $50; J. W. Farren, $50; Eli Hadley, $50; J. Perrell, $50; Henry Babb, $25; Mahlon Wall, $25; A. T. Wall, $25; David Sanders, $25; I. R. Moody, $25; Samuel Knowlton, $25; E. Doan, $25; R. E. Doan, $25; J. M. Haworth, $50; W. B. Fisher, $25; W. Greer, $25; C. F. Trusdell, $25; William Reed, $25; E. S. Davis, $25; J. H. West, $25; R. Foos, $25; H. D. Sayers, $25; Levi Sheppard, $25; David Fife, $25; Thomas Custis, $25; James Henry, $25; H. H. Hankins, $25; C. Blazier, $50; J. F. Masters, $30; Levi Bennett, $25; William Knox, $20; John Holly, $20; E. L. Lacy, $25; R. Wickersham, $25."
     During the month of May, 1861, enlistments began for three years, and most of the members in the Clinton County company in the Twelfth Regiment signified their willingness to re-enlist for that period.*  The correspondence of the volunteers during the first weeks of service in camp shows that many of them were dissatisfied with their fare and accommodations, having been used to better things at home, and not yet realizing that war brings with it a multitude of trials from the day the new recruit first finds himself in a military camp, to the close of his term of service.  The citizens of Clinton County sent generous donations of home delicacies to the boys in camp, who welcomed them gratefully, and appreciated them as perhaps they had never done before; and when, during the hard campaigns they afterward experienced, their thoughts reverted to Camps Jackson and Dennison, the memory was doubtless far more pleasing than were the stern facts which stared them in the face at the front.  There is a “green ago” in the life of the soldier, and it is during the first few weeks subsequent to his sudden change from civil to military life; but, when once he becomes accustomed to the new order of things, the amount of endurance he is found to be possessed of is remarkable.
     In June, 1861, five men from the vicinity of Port William enlisted in the First Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, the regiment being quartered for a short time at Camp Dennison. These men wore Ezra Jones, J. Owens, W. Quigley,
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     * It happened, however, that a large proportion of the men returned to their homes, leaving but a small number who actually did enlist for three years.  Lieut. A. W. Doan was elected Captain of the re-organized three years' company, which by the 21st of June had swelled to ninety-three men.  the company retained its original etter, and remained in the Twelfth Regiment.

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share the honors bestowed upon the soldier who has done his duty; those who offered up their lives are remembered as martyrs in a glorious cause.

"One Fame's eternal camping-ground
     Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards, with solemn round,
     The bivouac of the dead."

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C LINTON COUNTY EX-SOLDIERS.

     In the preparation of the following list, great pains has been taken to make it as complete and correct as possible.  The names were first copied from official rolls in the Adjutant General's office, Columbus, Ohio, and then, as a whole, submitted to Col. A. W. Doan, of Wilmington, who kindly volunteered assistance in the revision of the list herewith presented.

EXPLANATION.

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