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Nelson E. Adams, Wm. S. Channel, Isaac Carey, Philip Hawn and Daniel Heath.  Channel and Heath both died in the service.
     While the organization was yet incomplete six companies were called to Johnson's Island to guard prisoners and meet, if need be, the threatened invasion of rebels from Canada, intent on releasing the 3,000 imprisoned rebel officers there.  The companies thus employed were A, C, D, F, I, and L.  The other companies were quartered at Camp Chase until February, 1864, when the whole regiment was brought together at
Camp Dennison.  Here it was mounted, armed and vigorously drilled until the 2Tth day of March, when it started to the front and entered upon its memorable career.
     Its first duty was to assist General Burbridge in breaking up the armed bands of guerillas and bushwhackers in Kentucky.  Scattering itself over that State, it soon became a terror to marauders and rebel sympathizers, dispersed the guerrillas and restored order.
     This task accomplished with commendable promptness, the Twelfth joined in an expedition against Saltville, Va.  But after a toilsome journey of several days it was halted and turned about to make one of the most rapid marches known to warfare, traveling over 180 miles in fifty hours.  It struck the rebel forces at Mt. Sterling, Ky., on the 9th of June, 1864, and gallantly led the charge.  In this battle the regiment fought many times its number, but never for a moment wavered. At one time sixty men of the Third Battalion, mostly from Company C, fought a rebel regiment for thirty minutes, losing many precious lives, but holding its ground until help came.  Of this devoted little band Union County furnished Joseph Smith, Hylas S. Moore and J. L. Cameron.
     For its gallantry the Twelfth was complimented at the close of the fight by General Burbridge, who remarked that it had saved the day for him.  These laurels were dearly bought, for the loss of the regiment, all told, was 197 men.
     The battle lasted all day, and at night the regiment remained on the battlefield. Company C, chosen for special

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guard duty, got no rest.  Three days' and nights' marching and fighting was now to be followed by a gallop of thirty-three miles to Lexington on the 10th; fresh horses drawn, and on to Paris, Ky., on the 11th.  Waiting here for supplies and ammunition until evening, the regiment again mounted and moved forward for a night's march to Cynthiana.  Early on the morning of the 12th of June, while darkness was yet so dense that the lurid jets of powder flame blazed from the carbines, the regiment was leading the charge again in battle, sustaining itself heroically, and gaining a complete victory in this engagement.  On the 14th of June the regiment received the thanks and congratulations of President Lincoln and the Secretary of War, and was again complimented for its gallantry by the Commanding General.
     Again breaking into detachments, the Twelfth scattered over Kentucky, dispersing marauders and keeping order, until the month of September, when it concentrated at Mount Sterling and again started with General Burbridge's expedition to Saltville, Va.  The expedition led over 300 miles without provision trains, tents or ambulances, was cause of much privation, and on the 2nd of October was again at its accustomed place leading the advance into one of the most hotly contested battles of the war.
     The rebel fortifications were in the deep mountain gorges and rendered operations by mounted men impossible, yet, dismounted, the Twelfth made again and again its famous carbine charges and reaching well up to the enemy's works.  All day long the battle raged in the mountain fastness, but toward the close of the day ammunition was exhausted and the rebel forces reinforced by 5,000 of General Early's fresh troops, and General Burbridge was compelled to abandon the expedition.  A rapid retreat began, and as it still had ammunition.  Company C was detailed a special guard for the rear, and many times during that disastrous, night and the following day did this devoted little band halt in the mountain passes and hold the pursuing foe in check while the retreating column hurried on.

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     Forty-nine men of the Twelfth lay dead or wounded on the field of battle on this eventful day.  Returning to Lexington, the regiment reorganized, drew fresh horses and supplies, and on the 10th of November was again in the saddle marching toward Cumberland Gap.
     Reaching that point on the 26th, scattering again, it was engaged for a short time destroying bands of marauders around Bean Station and Rodgersville.  General Stoneman now took command, and being joined with General Gillem, the whole force, including the Twelfth, was, in the earlier part of December, marching in a third expedition against Saltville.  On the morning of December 15th Kingsford was reached and a strong rebel force appeared on the opposite banks of the river.  Halting his column, Stoneman sent Gillem to cross above and prepare for battle.  The impatience of the Twelfth knew no bounds when in sight of the gray uniforms and eagerly they awaited the bugle sound to charge.  That coming, with a wild yell they galloped through the water, which was up to the horses' joints, to the opposite bank.  Opening a fire from carbines, and revolvers at short range, the enemy was for a moment confused, and General Gillem then coming up aided to complete the rout.
     Pursuit was given, and many of the enemy lay dead along the road as the Twelfth poured into their fleeing ranks volley after volley from their carbines.  Hurrying forward, Bristol was reached just before day.  The Yankees dashed in, and less than half an hour afterward Bristol, with all its immense stores, was ours.  Halting to complete the destruction of the rebel supplies and tearing up the railroad, the column again pushed forward to Abington.  At Abington Company F of the Twelfth, a special escort of General Burbridge, led the charge, the regiment following, and that place was taken, with a large number of prisoners and immense military supplies.
     Pushing on, the column struck the army of the rebels under General Vaughn, which soon broke in confusion, and the boys of the regiment joined in a headlong chase of five miles, with drawn sabers.  Many pieces of artillery were taken here.

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     Without halting the troops pushed on, and on the 12th the regiment had the grim satisfaction of leading the charge into Saltville, capturing the place where so many prisoners were lost a few months previous.  Every vestige of the place was destroyed.  At the close of the day, on the 17th, a desperate battle was fought with the troops of Breckenridge and Vaughn, near Marion.
     Returning from this raid, the regiment collected at Lexington to draw fresh horses and close up the broken ranks.  Scattering again, it was a short time doing general patrol duty and looking after rebel sympathizers and bushrangers in Kentucky.  Coming together again the last of February at Louisville, Ky., the whole joined Stoneman's command and embarked for Nashville by river.  On through to Murfreesboro and thence to Knoxville. where a veteran brigade was formed by uniting the Twelfth Ohio, Fifteenth Pennsylvania, and Tenth Michigan Cavalries.  On the 20th of March this brigade was in motion marching out to Strawberry Plains, then on through Bulls Gap, Jonesboro to Yakin River.  The stream was badly swollen, and several comrades drowned.  Uriah Jolly was rescued here by Comrade Cameron.
     Pausing a short time to close up the ranks, the forces swept on, galloping through Jacksonville, on the line of the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad at Christiansbury.  This road was torn up and destroyed for many miles.  Sweeping down into North Carolina, the Danville & Richmond Railroad was struck and destroyed for a great distance.
     Hastening on, the troops brought up before Salisbury.  A rebel force under Pemberton, with several pieces of artillery, came out to defend the town.  Scarcely halting, the Twelfth led the charge, and in spite of all opposition Salisbury was soon in flames, many Union prisoners released, and immense quantities of military stores consigned to the flames.  On the 17th of April the regiment marched on to Lincolnton. which place was captured by a charge led by Company C of the Twelfth, under Lieutenant Stewart . Two hundred picked men. under Major Moderwell, were now chosen to march

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eighty miles to the Catawba River crossing and destroy the bridge of the Charlotte & South CaroHna Railroad.  On the morning of the 30th they came across the forces of Vaughn and Duke.  Sweeping down upon them, they cut their way through, captured thirty-five prisoners, a large quantity of small arms and two pieces of cannon and some seven officers and 223 men.  Paroling the prisoners on the spot, the command returned to Dallas, Company C having some wounded, but not fatally.  On the 23rd the regiment started for Knoxville, but learning that President Lincoln had been assassinated they joined in a headlong chase after Davis.  They finally returned to Sweetwater, Tenn., thence on to McMinnville, thence to Nashville, and on the 24th of November the regiment was discharged.  Of 1,462 men, only 628 remained.  As shown by the official records, the losses in the regiment, killed, died of wounds and disease, were one hundred and sixty-four.

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* Contributed by Jesse L. Cameron, who served in the regiment.