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Besides the service in Ohio regiments
and batteries, many Preble county men were in the gunboat
service, and others, owing to the proximity to the Indiana State
line, entered the service with commands from that State - the
Eighteenth, Thirtieth, Thirty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Sixty-ninth
and Eighty-fourth infantry, also the Second and Fourth Indiana
cavalry, and the Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eleventh and Nineteenth
batteries. The names of this, a certainly respectable part
of the Preble county contingent in the great war, it is not now
practicable to obtain.
Besides all these, and those who enlisted from Preble
county in the regular army, whose names, like the others, it is
not now practicable to obtain, there was also the noble army of
THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS.
The dangers threatening
Cincinnati in the latter part of the summer of 1862, led
Governor Tod, (as we shall see more fully hereafter, in the
chapter on "the siege of Cincinnati,") to make a general
announcement to the men of Ohio, that all who reported with arms
in hand would be transported at public expense to that city, and
received for the time being, into the service of the State.
Telegraphic tenders had already been made to the authorities of
that city, of militia, in large numbers, from Preble, Warren,
Greene, Butler, Franklin, and other counties; so that thousands
stood ready to answer the call without delay. Before
daylight of the next morning after the proclamation of the
governor, and tread of the advance of the grand army of Buckeye
yeomen was heard upon the stony pavements of Cincinnati.
As rapidly as possible the thronging hosts arriving were
organized into companies and regiments, and sent to the works
back of Covington, to the guard stations along the river, or to
other posts of duty. The total number known to have
entered this temporary service from the State at large is
fifteen thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, which was
doubtless exceeded by several hundred, at least - of which
Preble county furnished three hundred, at least - of which
Preble county furnished three hundred and seventy-two. To
the peculiarity of dress in many of them, and armament of
numbers with light squirrel guns, suggested the happy title of
"Squirrel Hunters," for the entire unique contingent, but by
whom it was first applied, the historian has failed to learn.
The designation has, however, passed honorably into history.
The squirrel, amid appropriate scenery, and the squirrel hunter,
in fitting costime, and in the act of loading his firearm,
appear in good style upon the discharge certificates granted the
hunters upon the termination of their services; and a spirited
page engraving, in the first volume of Mr. Reid's "Ohio in the
War," further illustrates and commemorates their personnel
and deeds.
The Hunters were not long needed. Their relief
from service began within ten or twelve days after they were
called out, and by the middle of September nearly all were
relieved and had returned to their homes. On Saturday, the
thirteenth of that month, Governor Tod telegraphed to Stanton,
Secretary of War.
"The Minute Men, or
'Squirrel Hunters,' responded gloriously to the call for the
defense of Cincinnati. Thousands reached the city, and
thousands more were en route for it. The
enemy having retired all have been ordered back. This
uprising of the people is the cause of the retreat. You
should publicly acknowledge this gallant conduct."
At the next session of the legislature, an act was
passed, and approved March 11, 1863, ordering the preparation
and issue of formal discharge certificates "for the patriotic
men of the State who responded to the call of the governor, and
went to the southern border to repel the invader, and who will
be known in history as the 'Squirrel Hunters.'" These
papers, handsomely engraved and printed, and issued to large
numbers of those entitled to them, read as follows:
THE SQUIRREL HUNTERS' DISCHARGE.
Our southern border was menaced by the
enemies of our Union. David Tod, Governor of Ohio, called
on the Minute Men of the State, and the "Squirrel Hunters" came
by thousands so the rescue. You, ------, were one of them,
and this is your Honorable Discharge.
September, 1862.
CHAS. W. HILL,
Adj't. Gen. of Ohio
MALCOLM MCDOWELL,
Major and A. D. C.
Approved by
DAVID TOD,
Governor.
This was accompanied, in each case, by this ringing
letter from the governor, neatly printed for the purpose:
THE STATE
OF OHIO, EXECUTIVE
DEPARTMENT,}
COLUMBUS, MARCH 4,
1863, }
Resolved by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the State of Ohio,
That the Governor be, and he is hereby authorized and directed
to appropriate out of his contingent fund, a sufficient sum to
pay for printing and lithographing discharges for the patriotic
men of the State, who responded to the call of the Governor, and
went to our southern border to repel the invaders, and who will
be known in history as the "SQUIRREL HUNTERS."
And in obedience thereto, I do most cheerfully
herewith enclose a certificate of your service. But for
the gallant services of yourself and the other members of the
corps of patriotic "Squirrel Hunters," rendered in September
last, Ohio, our dear State, would have been invaded by a band of
pirates determined to overthrow the best Government on earth,
our wives and children would have been violated and murdered,
and our homes plundered and sacked. Your children, and our
children's children, will be proud to know that you were one of
this glorious band.
Preserve the certificate of service and discharge,
herewith enclosed to you as evidence of this gallantry.
The rebellion is not yet crushed out, and therefore the
discharge may not be final; keep the old gun then in order,; see
that the powder-horn and bullet-pouch are supplied, and caution
your patriotic mothers or wives to be at all times prepared to
furnish you a few days' cooked rations, so that if your services
are called for (which ay God in his infinite goodness forbid)
you may again prove yourselves "Minute Men" and again protect
our loved homes.
Invoking God's choicest blessings upon yourself and all
who are dear to you.
I am, very truly, yours,
DAVID TOD, Governor. |
