MILITARY HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, OHIO
BY H. C. MILLER.
 

THE PIONEER MOVEMENTS.

     The military history of our people begins prior to the organization of the county.  In the early pioneer days, when salt was made at the wells in this vicinity, the Indians were troublesome, and the white settlers often found it necessary to defend themselves and their homes by a resort to arms.  The savages of that day were regarded as wild animals, and the killing of an Indian was only like the killing of a dangerous beast that threatened life or property.  But this kind of warfare faded out before approaching civilization.

1812

     Jackson County began its military history by sending a company to the war with England, in 1812.  The third auditor of the Treasury Department has kindly furnished a roll of this company, as follows:
     Muster roll of Captain Jared Strong's Company, Ohio Militia, of the First Odd Battalion, Second Brigade, Second Division, late in the service of the United States, commanded by Major Benjamin Daniels, from the 29th of July, 1813, to the 19th of August, 1813, inclusive:
   

Privates -

MEXICAN WAR.

     About the year 1848, near the close of the war with Mexico, a company of militia left Jackson for that war.  It was commanded by Captain William Cissna, who had been at the head of the militia displays here for several years, and whose gay uniform and big white and red plume was the center of attraction on "big muster" days.  This company was small, perhaps not over twenty men, and only went as far as Portsmouth or Cincinnati, and was ordered back, on account of the end of that war.  The men of this company are now all dead, and their appears to be no

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ord of it at Columbus or Washington.  And this sketch is made from the personal recollection of the writer, who was then quite a small boy.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

     When the rebels began war in April, 1861, and fired on Fort Sumter, the echo of the guns resounded even into the hills of Jackson County.  And though the present generation knew little of war, there was now considerable interest manifested in the hunting up of old flags and drums, and those who could play the fife and drum were sought, and bands were formed.  Even before the proclamation of the President came there was a movement in the way of organization of a military company.  The first company was recruited by Captain John J. Hoffman.  And it may be interesting to know who composed this company.
     Reference is therefore had to the history of the Eighteenth Ohio Regiment.
     The following editorial appeared in the Jackson Standard, May 30, 1861, relating to the departure of this first company for the seat of war.

"OUR BOYS ARE GONE.

     "Captain Hoffman received orders last week to move his company at once to Camp Scott, at Athens.  On Saturday morning, at 9'o'clock, we noticed them falling into line to the tune of 'Dixie's Land.'  Messrs. Day & Saylor then took their likeness, when each member was presented with a Testament procured by the ladies of Jackson.  Accompanied by the Jackson brass band and a large crowd of citizens, they marched to the depot, when the hour of trial came.  Mothers parting with sons, sisters with brothers, and friends with friends and neighbors.  The scene was most solemn and impressive, and there were few in that great crowd who could refrain from tears.  The boys were much affected at parting with those who were so very dear to them, but they bore the parting with stout hearts, and many promises to those they left behind that they would endeavor to do their duty.  The whistle sounded, and amid the waving of the last adieu the train rolled on, and this band of noble-hearted young men were on their way for the defense of their country's honor.  The young men composing this company had become much endeared to our citizens by their manly conduct during their stay in our place.  They were the best young men of our county, and will give a good account of themselves.  They were the finest looking men, as to size and personal appearance, which we have seen, and we were informed by a gentleman who has seen service, that they were much above the average as to intelligence, size and personal appearance."

EIGHTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

     This regiment, at the time when Jackson County was represented in it, was a three months' regiment, going out under the first call of President Lincoln for 75,000 men.  The first enlistments in this county were into this organization.  A full company was raised in the town of Jackson in April and May, 1861, and served in West Virginia under Colonel T. R. Stanley, being discharged about August, 1861.  The following is a complete roll of this company:

SECOND OHIO HEAVY ARTILLERY.
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     This regiment was authorized and organized in the summer of 1863.  It contained twelve companies, and when full consisted of 2,400 men, rank and file.  It was recruited for garrison duty, and the men were drilled in infantry and artillery tactics, and armed with "Enfield rifles."  The rendezvous was at Covington (Ky.) barracks.  It did effective service in Kentucky and East Tennessee.  Jackson had a fair representation in this regiment, twenty-five men in Company F having enlisted under Lieutenant John Q. Gibson, who was subsequently Chaplain of the regiment.  The regiment was mustered out of service Aug. 23, 1865.

SEVENTY-THIRD OHIO INFANTRY.
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     This regiment was raised at Camp Logan, near Chillicothe, Ohio, and was mustered in December, 1861, with Colonel Orland Smith in command.  Jackson County had a squad of forty men in this regiment, who went into Captain Silas Iron's Company (G), and enlisted at Chillicothe.  These men were from the vicinity of Raysville, in this county.  John Hildenbrand, late Infirmary Superintendent of this county, was a First Lieutenant in this regiment.  This was a brave regiment and was badly used up by the war.  There were very few of the Jackson County men who returned without injury by wounds or impaired health.  The regiment went into active service in West Virginia, and passed through a hard campaign in Virginia in 1862; and in the hottest year of the war (1863) was at Gettysburg, and moved south and joined Hooker's command in the vicinity of Chattanooga.  Participated in all the fights of that terrible campaign and moved on to Atlanta and went with Sherman to the sea and right on through the Carolinas to the great vicories that ended the war.
     The following is a list of the principal battles in which this regiment was engaged:
     Cross Keys, Second Bull Run, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga, New Hope Church, Kennesaw, Peach-tree Creek, Averysboro, Cedar Mountain, Fredericksburg, Chattanooga, Mission Ridge, Resaca, Marietta, Atlanta, Savannah, Benton Ville, and was present at the closing scenes of the war; marched through Richmond and to Washington; passed in grand review, and was honorably discharged July 20, 1865.
     It served three years and eight months, always in active service.  It marched several thousand miles, and participated in twenty battles and many skirmishes.  As proof of its gallantry and services, out of 1,200 men (including recruits), 285 sleep beneath the sod, and 586 were wounded.
     The following is a list of the Jackson County boys who died in service: 

ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE OHIO INFANTRY.
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     This regiment was organized at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1863, and was a six months' organization.  It was placed under Colonel H. D. John, and was brigaded with the Eighty-sixth Ohio, Twenty-second Ohio Battery, and a regiment of Tennessee mounted infantry, and placed under General

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De Courcey, and moved to Cumberland Gap, in which vicinity it served to the close of its term, and was mustered at Cleveland, Ohio, in March, 1864.  There were thirty-two men in this regiment from Jackson County, under Captain Oliver S. Miller.

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-SECOND OHIO INFANTRY, O. N. G.
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     The Ohio National Guard was authorized by the Governor in 18643, and into that organization went two companies from Jackson County, as follows:

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THIRD OHIO INFANTRY.

     This was a one year regiment recruited in the Eleventh Congressional District of Ohio, in September, 1864.  Colonel J. R. Hurd commanded it.  It was assigned to duty at Nashville, and was there when the rebel General Hood invaded Tennessee and invested Nashville.  From thence it moved to Columbiaville.  From thence it moved to Columbia and Johnsonville, Tenn.  Its principal duties were, guarding prisoners and trains on military railroads, and its duties were well performed.  Jackson County was represented in this regiment by a squad of sixteen men under Lieutenant Charles Hunt, and were assigned to Company C, commanded by Captain Coleman Gilliland.  There was also a squad of men in Company D, of this regiment, under Lieutenant Moses Morgan, of Jackson County.  There was also a squad of twenty men in this regiment (Company F) under Lieutenant James N. Hanna, company commanded by Captain Miles Blake, making an aggregate of fifty men in the regiment from Jackson County.  The regiment was discharged and paid off at Camp Dennison, July 5, 1865.
     These are the names of the dead from Jackson County from Company C, to-wit: 

ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-NINTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

     This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, in September, 1864.  It moved to Nashville and reported to General John F. Miller.  It was assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and was present at the battle of Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864.  It served there until June 18, 1865, when it was ordered to Columbus, and discharged.  The regiment was composed of 700 men, and was commanded by Colonel H. H. Sage.  Jackson County had a full company (C) of ninety-five men in this regiment, under Captain D. J. Jenkins and Lieutenant Eben Jones and Lieutenant Evan E. Edwards.  There were also eleven men in Company D, under Lieutenant Vinton Evans, in Captain James Grafton's company, and a number of men were also in Captain Stephen Morgan's company E, making an aggregate number of men from this county in this regiment of 126 men.

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.

     This was a one year regiment, going out from Camp Chase on Mar. 14, 1865.  It went to Charleston, Va., and reported to Major-General Egan.  After a thorough drilling the surrender of Lee  caused a breaking-up of the division, and this regiment was ordered to Washington City, where it remained, doing

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garrison duty, until Oct. 24, 1865, when it was mustered out of service.  Jackson County had a representation in this regiment, a company of fifty men, under Lieutenant W. W. Buckley, and it was the last body of men that went out from this county, recruiting being stopped on account of the close of the war soon after.

SECOND WEST VIRGINIA CAVALRY.

     This organization was completed at Parkersburg in the fall of 1861, and was composed wholly of Ohio men.  At the time the men were ready for muster Ohio was not receiving any more cavalry regiments and hence the companies went over to West Virginia, Governor Pierpont offering inducements, and having gone to Washington to get an order to enable him to raise a regiment of cavalry.  The regiment was mustered in under Colonel John J. Hoffman.  Many of the men of Captain Hoffman's old company in the three months' service had re-enlisted for three years, and went into this regiment.  Company H was composed wholly of Jackson County men and was officered as follows:  Captain, Davis Dove; First Lieutenant, John Walden; Second Lieutenant, James Umpleby, and had eighty men in it.  Captain Dove was promoted and became Colonel of the regiment.  He was a very brave man, and was severely wounded, and died, after discharge at Jackson, in 1868.  Lieutenants Walden and Umpleby were each promoted to Captains.
     Later in the war, Orderly Sergeant J. A. Smith was commissioned to go home and recruit men for the regiment, and took out a full company of ninety-five men, which was called Company G.  This made an aggregate number of 175 men in this regiment from Jackson County.  It was a brave, dashing regiment and rendered effective service for the Government in West Virginia.  It began its career by a fight at Prestonsburg, Ky., Jan. 10, 1862, and after that entered upon a series of battles in West Virginia, as follows: 

COLORED TROOPS.
p. 534

     In the year 1863 the Government decided to employ colored troops in the suppression of the Rebellion.  Jackson County was ready to do her full share in this department of recruitments, and forthwith a company of fully 100 men was raised and went into the Fifth United States Colored Troops and was sent east to the Army of the Potomac, and fought like tigers to the end of the war.  The rebels were much incensed at the action of the United States in sending their own slaves against them, and "no quarters"  was the rebel order as to colored troops.  These troops were officers by white men.  Robert H. Jones, of Jackson County, now Representative of the county in the Ohio Legislature, was a Captain of Company A, of the Fifth Regiment.  There were also a number of men from this county who went to Massachusetts to enlist before there was an opportunity given here.  And a squad of men from here also went into the Eighty-eighth United States Cavalry Troops, which was changed to the Ninth United States Heavy Artillery.  And a few men went out as results in 1864 to the Fourth Regiment, United States Cavalry Troops.  And a few went into the Twenty-seventh United States Cavalry Troops.  And a few went into the Twenty-seventh United States Cavalry Troops.  It is estimated that an aggregate number of 150 colored soldiers from Jackson County fought for the Union in different organizations during the late war.  They were brave, and since it was death to become a prisoner, they fought for their lives, and for the freedom of their race.  Their valor was rewarded, and slavery abolished forever.  No class of people were benefited more by the war than the negroes of the South; and no class of troops fought harder than did the colored soldiers.  They deserve all that was achieved for them.

MISCELLANEOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
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     In addition to those already named, it is known that Jackson County had men in the following organizations:  Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry, Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, Fifth Ohio Battery and Eighth Ohio Sharp-Shooters, aggregating a number of 140 men.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
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     The men of Jackson County were so generally distributed through the United States army that it has been said that no great battle was fought during the late war in which there was not a representation from this county.  The following are the number of men who went to war from Jackson County, from  1861-'65, by townships: Lick Township sent 266; Hamilton, 1872; Jackson, 98; Scioto, 132; Franklin, 232; Jefferson, 345; Madison, 211; Milton, 246; Washington, 90; Liberty, 130; Bloomfield, 203; total, 2,125.

RECAPITULATION.
p. 515

     Number of men in different organizations from Jackson County during the late war: 

     At a public meeting held in the Masonic Hall in Jackson, April 10, 1862, it was unanimously resolved that it was the imperative

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duty of the citizens of Jackson and vicinity, that three suitable persons, including one physician, be selected to proceed to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., for the purpose of rendering assistance to the wounded soldiers from this place in the battle there on the 6th and 7th inst.  The commissioners on this suggestion, held a special meeting, at which $150 were voted for the purpose of defraying in part the expense of a committee appointed at said meeting.  Order drawn in favor of Dr. O. C. Miller.  The township trustees had been made a committee to look after the needs and relief of the families of volunteers.  This arrangement was revoked Oct. 11, 1861, and the following agents were appointed:  For Jefferson and Madison, William J. Evans; Franklin and Bloomfield, George Poor;  Scioto and Hamilton, Solomon Vooris;  Milton and Washington, John Fowler; Lick and Jackson Corporation, H. H. Fullerton, Liberty and Jackson, John Stinson.  The county made apportionments of large sums during the war for the relief of the families of volunteers in the several townships:  June 8, 1864, $2,000 were apportioned; June 6, 1865, $3,000; Sept. 6, 1865, $1,000.

THE MORGAN RAID.

     On the the 16th of July, 1863, the rebel John Morgan, with his force of several thousand cavalry and a battery of artillery, invaded Jackson County, coming in from the west, and crossing the line near Beaver, Pike Co., Ohio.  This was a little speck of war that our people were unused to, and for which they were not prepared.  It was 9'o'clock in the evening when the advance guard of the rebel army entered the town of Jackson.  Our People had heard that Morgan was in Ohio and coming this way; but yet they hardly believed it until the sharp crack of a few revolvers and the cries of "Halt dar, sir!" and "Put down dat window!" compelled us to acknowledge that a real rebel invasion was at hand.  The rebel forces arrested a large number of citizens who were out on the streets, and took them to the Fair Ground, and kept them under guard until noon next day, when they were paroled and set free, just as the rebels were leaving town.  During the night the depot of the M. & C. R. R. (Portsmouth Branch) was burned by the rebels, and several railroad bridges were also fired; and during the forenoon of the 17th the Standard printing office was destroyed, and the stores of the town robbed and pillaged.  A portion of the force went east to the town of Berlin, in this county, and burned the large flouring mill belonging to Rufus Hunsinger & Co.  The rebel army left town and moved out on the Gallipolis road about noon, and by 2 o'clock there was not an armed rebel in the town.  A short distance out of town an inoffensive citizen named Harvey Hamilton Burris, familiarly known as Doc. Burris, was shot down dead by the side of the road by a drunken rebel soldier.  The rebels took a large number of horses from the citizens, and a vast amount of other property, much of which they wasted and destroyed.  The State of Ohio sent out a commission in 1864 to examine and audit the claims for property taken by both the rebel army and the Union army in pursuit of it, but no payment was ever made by the State.  Some of these claims have been collected from the United States Government, where it could be proven that the property taken and used by the United States, or where it was taken by the rebels and subsequently recaptured by the United States army and recognized in the use of the United States army.
     In the evening of the 17th of July, 1863, the advance of the United States army in pursuit of Morgan entered the town of Jackson.  Although the rebels had apparently eaten up about everything, it was remarkable what quantity of provisions the loyal citizens brought out to feed these tired, hungry Federal

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soldiers, as the army passed through the town that night.  One of the first things Colonel Carpenter (who commanded the advance) did was to pitch the Express, a Democratic newspaper office, out at the window, in retaliation for the destruction of the Standard office by the rebels.
     The result of Morgan's retreat through Ohio (for it was a retreat rather than a raid) is generally known.  His whole force was captured in Ohio, and the chief sent to the Ohio Penitentiary, from which place he escaped and reorganized his army, and raided through Kentucky and into East Tennessee, where he was killed in September, 1864, at Greenville.

FRANCIS SMITH.

     There lived in Jackson County, long before the war of the Rebellion broke out, in the days when the slave power was dominant and defiant, a man who believed with his whole heart that slavery was wrong and who had the courage to say so.  He was called an Abolitionist, and he was rather proud of the title, though it was not a popular name then.  This man was "Old Frank Smith."  He lived at Middleton, in this county, and moved into Jackson shortly before the war began.  He talked a great deal about slavery and predicted its downfall, and when the clouds began to gather for war, and politicians said it would all blow over, he insisted that it was but the sure beginning of a terrible war by the South to hold its slave power and extend it farther; but he foresaw, he thought, the end of the struggle, and the doom of tyranny and the victory for freedom; and in such a war he wanted to fight and die, if necessary.  He was then (in 1861) over sixty-two years of age; and when the call came for 75,000 men, and the first drum beat for volunteers, Francis Smith was the first man to enlist in Captain J. J. Hoffman's Company for three months, in the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  When his short term was out, he again enlisted in Company F, of the Fifty-third Ohio Regiment, and went into the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and was the first man killed from Jackson by the rebels.  According to his own request, he was buried on the field where he fell.
     The following appeared in the Jackson Standard of April 24, 1862:

"OBITUARY OF FRANCIS SMITH.

     "Last week we briefly announced the death of Francis Smith, of our town, who was killed at the recent battle of Pittsburg Landing.  When the pro-slavery Rebellion broke out, and the President called for 75,000 men for three months, Mr. Smith at once volunteered, although he was then over sixty-two years of age.  He served his time under Captain Hoffman was Western Virginia, and was honorably discharged.  He again volunteered in Captain Percy's Company, Fifty-third Regiment, for the year.  He was sick from the time he arrived in Tennessee up to the time of his death, and was just able to get around in camp.  He was killed early in the battle, but his body was not recovered until after the rebels had been driven out of our camp on Monday evening.  He was shot in the head, and in the breast and right hand.  The rebels stole his boots, watch and spectacles.
     "He hated slavery and intemperance, and never let an opportunity escape to strike a blow at either.  He possessed a considerable fund of native with, and his keen sarcasm and ultra anti-slavery principles often brought upon himself the curses of those who worship slavery as their god.
     "Mr. Smith had been a member of the M. E. church for some eighteen years.  We heard him speak in the watch meeting at the M. E. church, in this place, on last New Year's eve.  He said it might be the last time he would ever be permitted to speak in that building; but he felt that it was his duty to defend his country, and if he fell in battle, he had a bright hope of immortality."

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ROBERT W. CALDWELL
 

     It is but simple justice to a soldier, whom I believe, after a full investigation of the matter, to have been unjustly condemned, to use a page of this history in his vindication.
     When the war began, one of the first men to spring to action was Robert W. Caldwell.  He was a man of strong feelings, very positive and fearless in the expression of his sentiments, and unquestionably brave and loyal.  He assisted in raising the first company for the three months' service in the spring of 1861, and was tendered the Captaincy, which he declined in favor of Captain Hoffman.  In 1862 he raised a company and went into the One Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was, in 1863, changed to the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and Captain Caldwell was made a Major.  He had charge of the recruiting in Jackson County when the regiment was enlarged.  About this time persecution began, and was kept up by those who seemed to have determined upon the destruction of Major Caldwell's military career.  The mustering and disbursing officer at Cincinnati, to whom Major Caldwell, reported his bills for subsistence of recruits, requested the signing of blank accounts by Major Caldwell (a dangerous practice, prevalent in the army), and these accounts appear to have been filled afterward with figures greater in amount than should have been.  Who did it, I do not know, but, after a time, charges were preferred against Major Caldwell, who was charged with "presenting claims against the Government of the United States, knowing the same to the false and fraudulent."  A court-martial convened at Cincinnati in March, 1864, and convicted Major Caldwell, and sentenced him to pay a fine of $2,000 and work two years on fortifications, and be dismissed the service.  The labor portion of the sentence was remitted, and Major Caldwell was set at liberty.
     Recently, the following letter and order were received from from the Secretary of War which explain themselves:

PERSONS AND PENSIONERS

     The nation has been kind to its defenders, and the widows, orphans, and dependent

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parents of the fallen heroes.  Through the kindness of the magistrates who prepare quarterly vouchers of the pensioners of Jackson County.  The following figures are accurate, as far as they go; but a few magistrates fail to report, and hence no doubt some pensioners have been omitted, which would make the aggregate a trifle larger.  The following table gives the number of each class of pensioners, and the amount drawn per month, quarter and year.  [Pensions are now paid quarterly by checks sent from Columbus, by mail, direct to the pensioners.]  As space is limited a full list of names, numbers of certificates, and other details cannot be printed, but the table will contain the essence of the matter.

     Averaging for eighteen years, since close of war, would aggregate the large sum of $279,072.00.
     And it will be remembered that many pensioners have been dropped from the rolls in three eighteen years, from death, re-marriage, children passing sixteen years of age, change of residence, recovery, forfeiture, etc., which, being considered, would swell the amount, according to careful estimates, to near or quite $400,000 paid to Jackson County pensioners from 1865 to 1883.  And three pensions will go on during the lives of the pensioners.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
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     Francis Smith Post, No. 365, Jackson, Ohio -

     Colonel David Dove Post, No. 301, Coalton, Jackson County, Ohio -

     Lieutenant Fellers Post, No. 194, Raysville, Jackson County, Ohio. -

     James Smith Post, No. 337, Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio. -