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May 12, 1846, a bill passed both
Houses of Congress of the United States, declaring that war with Mexico
already existed, by act of that power, and authorizing 50,000 volunteers,
and an appropriation toward carrying on the war of $10,000,000. On
the following day, May 13, 1846, President James K. Polk formally declared
war against Mexico, owning to the disturbed relations existing between the
two countries, and the measures and policies of peace being exhausted.
On September 21-23 the battle of Monterey was fought, the first in
importance after the proclamation of war. In pursuance of the call
for 50,000 men the Nation responded.
On Tuesday, May 26, 1846, the 4th Brigade, 9th Division
Ohio Militia, was hastily mustered into Wooster, for the purpose of
encouraging volunteering. Over thirty that day signed the rolls.
Captain Peter Burkett, of the Bristol Light Artillery, and David Moore, of
the "Wooster Guards," were present with orders to enlist a company.
The officers at the head of the appended list were chosen to command the
company, which consisted of eighty-five men, and on Tuesday morning, June
9, 1846, they started for Massilon.
On the morning of their departure General Coulter, on
behalf of the Wooster Cadets, presented them a handsom flag, making an
appropriate speech, which was responded to by Captain Moore. Before
leaving they were mustered on the northeast corner of the Public Square,
when the members of the company were presented with Testaments by the
ladies of Wooster. The company left Massilon on Thursday evening,
June 11, on board two canal-boats, en route for Camp Washington,
near Cincinnati. They broke camp at the aforesaid place early in the
morning of the 3d day of July, and that day left Cincinnati on the New Era
and Tuscaloosa for New Orleans. They encamped for some time not far
from that city, on the old Jackson battle ground.
James D. Robison, M. D., of Wooster, was the first
surgeon of the regiment, leaving Cincinnati July 3, for Mexico. They
served in the 3d Ohio Regiment, commanded by Colonel Samuel Curtis, a
graduate of West Point, and for several years a lawyer in Wooster, and
with George W. McCook as Lieutenant-Colonel; The treaty of peace was
ratified at Queretaro, May 30, 1848.
The following is the Wayne county list of volunteers for the Mexican war:
|
|
Age |
|
Age |
|
Age |
|
Armstrong, James |
22 |
Edmonds, A. C. |
19 |
Moore, D., Captain |
28 |
|
Atkins, L. C. |
23 |
Emerson, R. D. |
22 |
Moses, William |
18 |
|
Atkinson William C. |
23 |
Fishburn, Howard |
22 |
Plumer, J. C. |
23 |
|
Bair, Jacob |
23 |
Flanagan, John O. |
22 |
Powers, Almon H. |
22 |
|
Baits, David F. |
21 |
Fleckinger, Jacob |
24 |
Rambaugh, J. B. |
24 |
|
Barrett, Charles |
20 |
Freeman, James A. |
27 |
Reighley, George, Jr. |
30 |
|
Beach, Elijah |
26 |
Fritts, Samuel |
22 |
Rice, Frederick |
20 |
|
Blakely, Albin |
20 |
Fritts, Uriah |
21 |
Richard, George |
24 |
|
Botsford, Eli, S. Major |
|
Fritzinger, George |
21 |
Rouse, Duayane W. |
20 |
|
Bower, Wilson |
20 |
Galvin, Barney |
23 |
Ryan, Jacob |
21 |
|
Bowers, Abraham |
24 |
Geyer, Henry |
19 |
Sample, John |
19 |
|
Boyd, William |
35 |
Goliff, Andrew |
18 |
Sheeters, Oswald |
21 |
|
Brainard, John F. |
29 |
Grow, William |
33 |
Shelden, Jiles |
19 |
|
Burkett, P., 1st Lieut |
38 |
Harris, Terry |
18 |
Snyder, Michael |
29 |
|
Carpenter, Isaac |
18 |
Hawk, Michael H. |
25 |
Stall, Jacob |
22 |
|
Case, Nathaniel |
19 |
Hemperly, M. H. |
32 |
Stanley, Homer |
28 |
|
Chafee, Amos |
30 |
Hess, Jesse |
21 |
Stanley, Wilson M. |
18 |
|
Cooper, F. M. |
22 |
Honn, John |
22 |
Stavig, Abram |
19 |
|
Corretson, Alexander |
24 |
Jenkins, George |
19 |
Stouffer, William H. |
|
|
Coy, Josiah F. |
21 |
Joliff, Abraham |
25 |
Strunk, William |
19 |
|
Craig, John |
30 |
Leach, John |
23 |
Taylor, Thomas |
18 |
|
Craven, Robert |
36 |
Lloyd, John |
23 |
Thompson, Robert |
26 |
|
Crawford, James |
20 |
Lowry, James A. |
20 |
Tweeig, J. E. |
25 |
|
Crouse, Jacob M. |
26 |
Lowry, Robert B. |
33 |
Vonnostren, W. V. |
22 |
|
Culbertson, eli B. |
23 |
Marsh, Joseph 22 |
|
Wachtel, George |
20 |
|
Deviney, William |
24 |
McCollum, Cyrus J. |
20 |
Wickey, Daniel |
26 |
|
Duck, Daniel |
19 |
McMillen, J., 2nd Lieut. |
23 |
Wood, Charles B. |
22 |
|
Dye, James R. |
18 |
Merrit, John |
19 |
Yergen, John |
36 |
SOLDIERS OF
1812 The
following is the list of the pensioners of the war of 1812 living in Wayne
county, Ohio, as appears on the record at Columbus:
|
Achenbach, John |
Moreland |
|
Bulger, Rachel (widow) |
Fredericksburg |
|
Crummel, John |
Apple Creek |
|
Espy, Jacob B. |
Wooster |
|
Fike, Henry |
Smithville |
|
First, Catharine (widow) |
Apple Creek |
|
Johnson, William |
Wooster |
|
Jones, Sylvanus |
Wooster |
|
Kenney, Simon |
Canaan |
|
Ludwig, John |
Reedsburg |
|
McFadden, James |
Cedar Valley |
|
Messmore, George |
Apple Creek |
|
Pittinger, Thomas |
Lattasburg |
|
Potter, Benjamin |
Millbrook |
|
Rieder, Daniel |
Koch's |
|
Starner, Henry |
Wooster |
DESCRIPTION OF A BLOCK HOUSE.
From the time of the first settlement of
the county until the establishment of peace after the war of 1812, the
inhabitants were compelled to erect block-houses and stockades for their
protection. They became especially apprehensive of attacks from
the Indians after Hull's Surrender, as it very much emboldened
them in their bloody raids. These forts, or block-houses, were
built in various places throughout the county
Upon the site of the residence of Mrs. B. Pope,
of Wooster, was erected one, and probably the largest one in the county.
It was called Fort Stidger, built by General George
Stidger, of Canton, in 1812, and was a double building, covered by
one roof, and with a separating hall or passage. Here the
different families of the town and vicinity would assemble when the
danger seemed most imminent, and remain during the night.
Another one was built across Killbuck, about three
miles west of Wooster, on the farm of the late Joshua Warner.
This block-house stands to-day as it was originally built, Mr.
Warner having only weather-boarded and plastered it, and for over
sixty-five years he occupied it (his family now living in it) as a part
of his family residence.
Another stood six miles east of Wooster, near what was
called King's Tavern, and farther on was still another, near the old
Andrew Lucky Tavern. South of Fredericksburg but a short distance,
and also on the farm now owned by Thomas Dowty, in
Franklin township, similar defensive structures were erected. A
company of soldiers at one time was quartered at the old Morgan Fort.
And still others, less important than these, perhaps, were to be found
at different places. These block-houses were usually located with
reference to the convenience of the settlers, where they could most
readily flee in case of alarm and peril. Elevations and eminences
were chosen, from which the surrounding country could be inspected and
all precautions against surprises be observed.
In many respects they resembled the simple primitive
cabin. They were built of logs laid one over the other, and
tightly fitted, with little holes notched between them, and these they
called port-holes. Through these the inmates could point their
rifles and fire, at the same time being protected against the discharges
of an enemy. With the exception of a door, there were no other
modes of egress or ingress. It was made of solid timber, firmly
and securely fastened inside, and like the rest of the building,
sufficiently firm to resist any volley of bullets. They were
generally two stories high; that portion of the building from the ground
to a hight of eight feet, was formed of shorter logs than the one
above it, which, being constructed of longer logs, formed a projection
over the lower story, which gave the occupants the chance of shooting
down on their assailants, or otherwise punishing them with axes or
pikes, should they attempt to climb and enter it, or apply the torch.
The note of many a false alarm was sounded, and many a
panic-smitten family rushed for protection to those old wooden walls.
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