MILITARY

     1776. The American Revolution was a war of uncertainty, because of untried and unknown forces, against a time-honored and world-renowned power.
     Of the active service of the patriots, in that great struggle, who afterwards located in Burton, there is no account, other than the little items where their names occur, in the sketches of early settlement.
     1812. As if the wind had published it, and every breath was an Indian whoop, the news of Hull's surrender, August 16th, spread through the wilds of this new country.  General Paine dashed from Painesville to Burton, it is said, leaving his hat in the brush, to give orders in person as to the gathering of the
militia, and marching to Cleveland.  A battalion was raised, and, with Colonel Beard, and Major Hickox, were first to report there.  They were ordered to throw up earthworks on Walworth run, and prepared for a vigorous defense against the merciless foe, rumored pushing on down from Sandusky and Huron.  Col. Jedediah Beard was in command of the regiment, and soon had a well organized camp.   The quick response to the call, made a clean sweep of Burton.  Gilbert J. Ferris was sick on his bed, with rheumatism, but he roused up and hobbled off on a mop-stick for a crutch, to a wagon with supplies and baggage, and went through.  They marched to Chardon and Kirtland, crossing the Chagrin at Abbot's (Willoughby), where there was a bridge.  Hickox had gone in advance, and, swimming his horse, in the high water at another point, was near being lost.
     Thomas Davidson, relating his stories to Mr. Cay, used to tell of the soldiers riding the few horses they had, from the camp to the lake for water, and continuously back and forth, all day to make the enemy believe that a great troop had gathered in  the defense.  Mr. Hitchcock has so well written the general account of 1812, and also of 1861, that there is little left that would not be repetition. 
     Drafting men for the service took place, Sept. 26, 1812, and February 3d and 6th, 1813.  By order of Lieut. Col. Jedediah Beard, of the 1st regiment, 4th

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brigade, and 4th division, of Ohio militia, a court martial was held at Cleveland, on the 22d of May, 1813, for trial of men neglecting to report, under the draft.  Among the members of the court was Capt. V. Stone, and Peter Hitchcoc was judge advocate.  Twenty men were arraigned, and with their names appear Daniel Dayton and Seth Hayes.  They were fined from $90 to $114 each.  Peter Hitchcock held commands from captain to major general.  As colonel, he called another board of officers, convened at Chardon, Sept. 14, 1814, to adjudge delinquents, some of whom had been fined at Cleveland.  Fifteen hundred men of the 4th division were ordered to the frontier by the secretary of war - order issued Sept. 5, 1812.
     Of the soldiers of 1812, only Richard Slitor, in Troy, and Anson Fowler and Stephen Ford, in Burton, are now living.
     The first militia organization was effected early - about 1803.  J. S. Cleveland, the first merchant, was elected captain; Jedediah Beard, lieutenant; and Lyman Benton, ensign. Eli, Seth, and Joseph Hayes, trained in the company.  Militia duty was regularly attended for years after the war of 1812, and the general trainings will long be remembered.  The last encampment was in command of General Eleazer Paine, on the old Umberfield lot, west of the Congregational church and Union school building, in 1845.  There young Allen was killed.
     The old " Floodwood Company" mustered a motley crowd of men.  They drilled with hoes, sticks, and brush brooms.  George Boughton was an enrolled member, and speaks of "Joe Eastman" as captain.  By the close of the day he was "pretty full," and marched his company to Umberfield's tavern, halting them in line.  Then, the characteristic order came, "Right about face!  Go home, d—n you, and tell your wives and sweethearts what a good time you have had!"  They were marching towards the tavern at another time, and did not "Right wheel," when ordered, and he shouted, "Right wheel!" the second time, but they marched on, when#he roared, "Right wheel!  d—n you, or I won't treat you!"
     Resting from the defense against British usurpation, the country prospered, and the cultivated land widened out in all her borders.  But the prosperity was a delusion.  Equal rights to all men was a declaration, discussed full three quarters of a century by the nation, and prayed and wept over by a despised race, for more than two hundred and forty years.  Debate was ended, and the oppressor stalked forth at midnight from the national senate chamber, and set the gauge of battle.
     The South called it a revolution, but the first flash upon the fortress by the sea of South Carolian, was followed by a never ending echo from the guns of Sumter that fixed it a rebellion, and the last black man's shout of victory, in the deserted streets of Richmond, finished it a rebellion.  Into the mighty arena of war and death, between 1861 and '65, Burton sent her full quota of soldierly men.  Some sleep where they went down, others rest beside their kin at home.  Many were maimed and scarred, and some were veterans.  Those that came back to the duties of citizenship, the swift years have changed, and the boys of '61 are men with deepened face lines, and hairs of grey.  The reports of the killed, wounded and dead cannot in all casses be obtained. To save a record of all the names of those in the service, is the effort.  It may be incomplete in the roll list, but will be made up from all the means at command.
     The nucleus of the 41st Ohio, Col. W. B. Hazen, was fixed in Burton.  So many of our men served in that regiment, that we quote from the pen of Maj. Henry W. Johnson, relating to its start.  A company of militia of reserve was organized the summer of 1861.  On call for three years men, the company was in line.  E. A. Ford, captain, asked those that were ready to enlist to step out

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in front of the ranks. 7 men stepped to the front.  E. A. Ford, H. W. Johnson, James B. Cleveland, C. H. Talcott, L. T. Patchin, Henry Hotchkiss, and Martin Taylor, enlisted.  The 7 visited Newbury, South Newbury, Auburn, Troy, Parkman, Middlefield, and Huntsburgh, marching all the round, bivouacing in halls at night, and fed by the ladies.  They held rousing meetings, making speeches, singing songs and enlisting men at these places, runing up the roll to 100, the men falling in and going on to the next town, until the company was
so large, that all could not be accepted.
     In Camp Wood, at Cleveland, E. A. Ford, first called on the roll, nominated W. R. Tolles for captain; W. W. Munn, 1st lieutenant; and H. W. Johnson, 2d lieutenant, and they were elected, Ford being made 1st sergeant.  In the battle of Stone River he was shot through, but recovered, and was afterwards promoted captain, and is now living in St. Louis.  Johnson became quarter-master, then major, and served through the war.  He was acting adjutant-general in the Mississippi department, and is now living in Michigan City, Indiana.  Cleveland was promoted lieutenant.  Talcott was 2d lieutenant, and fell mortally wounded by a piece of shell, at Shiloh.  His body was encased by W. J. Ford, and the remains brought home.  He sleeps in the cemetery east of the village, and Patchin rests beside him.  Patchin was 2d lieutenant and wounded at Stone River.  He died in the hospital at Nashville.  Hotchkiss came through the service, and is now living at the Oak hill farm.  Taylor died in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, Mar, 2d, 1863.  W. R. Tolles became colonel of the 105th Ohio, and did gallant service.  He is now living in California.  It would be interesting to follow the history of the soldiers in any of these wars, but there is not further space.

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MILITARY ROSTER..
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WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

WAR OF 1812.

     From the limited sources of information, it is difficult to gain much that is very reliable.  Of the company that went to Cleveland, some returned soon, others volunteered for three months, and others for the war, but on the roll hereafter given, the enlistments are not specified.

OFFICERS.
 

MEN.

[pg. 495]

     Adding to this the two or three from Middlefield, and it brings the number up to 61, as it has been often stated that about sixty went out to Cleveland to meet the Indians.

SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY

     Was organized in 1861.  Mrs. Mary DeForrest Witter was chosen president and continued during the entire war, giving her earnest attention to the work, and having the constant support ot high spirited and patriotic ladies.  The gifts, for the benefit of the soldiers, by actual appraisement amounted to $1,460.  Of this $590 was paid in money.  The other officers were:

     At a later period Mrs. Harriet Ford was also chosen as a vice-president, and Mrs. Hotchkiss resigned the secretryship, her place being filled by Mrs. Witter.  The society was composed of almost all of the ladies in town, and all contributed, in greater or less degree to its, efficiency and success.  Many served as managers with great faithfulness, and all worked with heart and hand.  The society was aided by concerts, and by school exhibitions, given by young people.  A well managed system of district collections was instituted, and women gave freely and gladly of their means, while encouraging the good work by their personal labor and presence.  Thus the society was enabled to furnish and for ward monthly, and often semi-monthly, many large and valuable boxes to hospitals, and to Sanitary Commission at Cleveland.  Lists of all things supplied, with valuations, by competent and chosen judges, are now on record on the books of the society and testify to the work wrought.
     Many who helped on the patriotic work, who gave freely from their poverty or from their abundance, have passed away "to that bourne whence no traveler returns."  We who are spared, can rejoice together, over the return of peace and prosperity to our beloved country.

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