A STORM
On Tuesday evening a quiet
little rain set in, which increased in quantity and quality until an irregular
hailing, breezing, raining, blowing, snowing, windy, whistling, blustering
rain, snow and hail storm made femininity keep in doors, and masculinity
hunt their hiding places. Considerable damage was done to some of the less
substantial buildings of our city, and among other damaging results was
that of blowing off of part of the covering of the unfinished cupola of
the new Catholic church, among which was several pieces of heavy timber,
which injured the slate roof and several blocks of dressed stone. One of
the window shutters on the German Reformed Church was torn off by this severe
wind and blown a distance of about seventy yards, over the two story residence
of General Sanderson. Other slight damage was done in various parts of the
town, but as far as heard from no bodily injury was sustained by any one.
For blow and bluster this miniature tornado exceeded anything we remember
to have seen.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
March 28, 1861, p. 3
PITY THE SORROWS
OF A POOR OLD MAN
Picayune Butler has recently
closed a term of service on the streets of Lancaster, with a chain and ball
attached to his leg, as a penalty for disturbing the quiet of the city;
and everybody says it was right. It may be right, but let us view the other
side of the question. The city of Lancaster permits the existence of tippling
shops, where Picayune can get drunk by contributing five cents to the private
coffer of the liquor vender, and the sequel is, imprisonment, sentence to
the chain gang, and ten or twenty dollars added to the tax duplicate, for
honest citizens to pay; and "Picayune" gets off his service and repeats
the same thing. Where is the good sense? Who expects that Picayune will
be reformed by this course? Mr. Butler is a man with blighted worldly happiness;
without a kind friend on earth to encourage him to a better life. this is
a subject for the good people of Lancaster to think upon. How long will
this state of things continue.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
March 28, 1861, p. 3
DISGRACEFUL
ROW
On Monday evening last about
half past 8 o'clock a difficulty occurred on Main Street, between Ervin
Linn and Tom Barry, the latter a colored individual. -The facts from what
we can learn, are about as follows: Linn knocked Berry down with a billy
or sling-shot, when Barry returned the compliment by letting out his bowels
with a knife. The negro was arrested by the proper officers, and while on
his way to the Jail, the "roughs," ever ready to resist, and, never ready
to obey the law, attempted to force him from the custody of the officers
and execute him without "judge or jury" process, by hanging, shooting or
beating his brains out with stones. Several shots war, fired, but fortunately
none of them took effect. We are creditably informed that that one of the
deputies, a verdant youth, with a sparse and, pale mustache on his lip so
far forgot himself as to fire two shots, not at the mob, but at the prisoner.
Such folly as this is .hardly to be tolerated in Lancaster. We think the
young man much in need of a guardian. The whole affair is most disgraceful
to Lancaster. The knifing of Linn was bad and criminal enough, but the action
of the mob was more criminal. Linn's wound is probably fatal. Berry in in
Jail awaiting his trial.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
March 28, 1861, p. 3
MARRIED
On the 14th of March, at the
residence of the bride's father, by Rev. Andrew Swartz, Mr. SAMUEL WELLER
and Miss LYDIA E. SOLIDAY.
By the same on the 19th of
March, Mr. ISAAC W. KELLER, formerly of Seneca county, Ohio, and Miss EMILY
FRIESNER, daughter of John Friesner, Esq. of Pleasant township.
On the 24th of March A. D.
1861, in Dumontsville, by S.D. Radebaugh, Esq., Mr. JESSIE GIGER and SARAH
EAST, both of this county.
On Tuesday the 19th inst.,
at the residence of the bride's father, by Rev. D.M. Martens, Mr. EDMUND
GLICK and Miss SARAH E. DYSINGER, both of Amanda township.
On the 21st inst., by Rev.
P.C. Benadum, Mr. AARON STUTZMAN and Miss MARY ANN NEWMAN, all of Fairfield
county.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
March 28, 1861, p. 3
OBITUARY
DIED
At Lancaster, Ohio, on Saturday
the 23d day of March, 1861, in the 26th year of her age, HELEN C. wife of
HENRY B. REESE, and daughter of Wilham Kirk Esq., of Philadelphia Pa. On
the 12th March, 1861, Mrs. EDITH GORDON, wife of James R. Gordon, of this
city, aged 34 years, 2 months and 12 days.
The deceased was born in Barnesville,
Belmont county, Ohio, in 1827, and from there came to this city some 18
years ago. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the
past 17 years, and throughout her whole married life maintained the character
of a fond mother, a loving and dutiful wife, and a firm Christian.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
March 28, 1861, p. 3
EXCITEMENT
IN LANCASTER
The news that hostilities had
commenced, that Fort Sumter had been attacked and surrendered, that President
Lincoln has issued his proclamation for 75,000 troops, and that Jeff Davis
would march upon Washington with 20,000 armed men, following each other
in rapid succession have set our citizens wild with excitement. The spirit
of patriotism and war is abroad in our midst. The hatchet of partizan warfare
is buried and the sword of the Union drawn forth in the country's defense.
But one sentiment "our country" prevails, and men of all parties are
ready and willing to rally to its support.
On Tuesday our military were
ordered to report themselves at Columbus. Tuesday evening they were in arms
ready to obey the call.
Tuesday night a large and enthusiastic
citizens' meeting was held. Volunteers enlisted and $1,000 were contributed
by the citizens for the benefit of the families of those who obeyed their
countries call.
Yesterday from dawn till 5
P.M., at which time the company left for Columbus via Zanesville, the military
paraded the streets, the stars and stripes floating proudly above them to
the music of the Union. The enthusiasm was unbounded. More than 3,000 persons,
men, women and children were assembled in the streets and public square,
soon after dinner, where they remained, anxiously awaiting the movements
of Capt. Stafford's company to the depot. At about 4 o'clock the company
made its appearance, and to the astonishment of all, the number of privates
had been increased to something over one hundred. The company was formed
into line on Broadway, and was escorted to the depot by an immense throng
of citizens led by the Lancaster Brass Band. The scene at the depot was
affecting. The time for parting had arrived. Husbands, brothers, sons, and
"sweethearts" must leave, perhaps never to return. At about 5
o'clock, after
a great many fond "farewells," the signal "all aboard" was given, and the
train was soon in the distance. Three cheers for Old Fairfield. She has
done nobly.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
PEACE OR
WAR!
The names of all who wish to
volunteer as MINUTE MEN, to hold themselves in readiness to march at a
day's
notice, in case the government makes a further call for Volunteers, can
be left at the Store of F. J. Boving.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
MRS. CROWL
We would inform our readers
that Mrs. Crowl, on the corner of Main and Columbus streets has just received
her spring stock of Millinery and Fancy Goods to which she invites the attention
of the ladies. Call and examine her spring styles.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
BODIES WANTED
Mr. Vallandingham, who puts
himself or the bills as a Westernment fire eater, is one of his performances
in Congress declared that the troops of the North would have to march over
his and various other dead bodies, if they went to defend the Government
against secession. There is just now a demand for those dead bodies. The
people of Dayton were looking for Mr. Vallandingham the other night; but
instead of paving the road with his dead body he seems to have had a nice
regard for his preservation. The Confederates will be disappointed in the
Western fire eater. Mr. Vallandingham's resolution seems to have been better
adapted to paving a way proverbially paved with resolutions, than to paving
the road to the South with his defunct body. -- Cin. Gazette
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
CALL FOR TROOPS
The Administration is calling
troops into Washington by the thousand. There is no doubt but an imperious
necessity demands this action. Steps have been taken a moment too soon for
the safety of the Federal Capital. Take care of Washington and Harper's
Ferry.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday, April 18, 1861, p. 3
TREASON OF THE EAGLE
There are but three papers in
Ohio that are laboring to place obstacles in the way of the Administration
at this crisis, and whose sympathies are obviously with the seceders. We
refer to the Ohio Statesman, Dayton Empire and the Ohio Eagle
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
NEWS OF THE CIVIL WAR SENT
Three steamers, the Kangaroo,
New York, and John Bull, left New York for Europe on Sunday last, taking
the news of the Civil War.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
MORE TREASON
The treasonable publications
of the Ohio Eagle are scorned and despised by the loyal citizens of Old
Fairfield. That paper will have to change its tone or loose its prestige.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday April 18, 1861, p. 3
THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH LOYAL
On Sunday last,
the Rev. Henry Lange of the Catholic Church in this city, deeply moved by
the spirit of patriotism, touchingly and eloquently exhorted his congregation,
and catholics everywhere, to stand by the by old flag - for ever, to serve
the their country in this, the hour of its greatest, in honorable way to
lay upon its altar as a sacrifice their property and their lives if necessary
for its defence.
No church in America
is more is determined, untiring and patriotic in its efforts to maintain
the flag of the Republic than the Catholic. East, West and North, the great
voice of the Catholic Church goes up for the Union, and, Bishops, Priests,
and Laymen alike join in sentiments and works of devotion and loyalty.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April 23, 1861, p. 2
THE TRUE
SPIRIT
T.P. Ashbrook,
well known by the citizens of Fairfield County as a man of broad liberality
and national heart, presented to each of thirteen volunteers his neighborhood,
ten dollars in cash and a splendid new revolver. This is the true spirit,
and and Mr. A's. example is worthy remembrance and emulation For the past
ten days our usually quiet city has been the the scene of of bustle and
excitement. From morn till ten o'clock at night our streets have been thronged
by eager and enthusiastic citizens The drum and fife and the tread of soldiery
are heard continually. The citizens of Lancaster are organizing into military
companies for purposes of drill at present, but action if needed in the
future, we have now partly organized four companies.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April 23, 1861, p. 2
LETTER NO.
1 FROM COMPANY A
We are indebted
to Harry to Comer , Esq., one of the volunteers in Capt. Stafford's Company,
for the following favor , for which he has our thanks:
HARRISBURG ENCAMPMENT
Penn'a, April 21,. '61
Up to the time
we left Columbus for the eastern part of our trip, everybody must be acquainted
with every move of our Company. Starting out with a band of 109 men able
bodied, young and vigorous, we presented at least a large appearance for
an inland city; but one by one we saw them drop off at Columbus, bid us
farewell and depart. Since then we have had the misfortune to lose two of
our number from our ranks, one probably having been left by the transportation
train, starting away while he was walking around Pittsburgh. We are now
reduced to 90 men, well conditioned and in good order, Our encampment at
at present, for last night, to-day and to-night is in the Senate Chamber
of' the State House, a fine building inside and out, but, nothing to compare
to the State House at Columbus, although the the. latter does look like
a huge cabbage head upon which an owl had built its nest. Among company
A, are some as fine young men. as can be found in the world all taken from
Old Fairfield, and mostly from Lancaster.
Our Captain, Joe
Stafford, thus far, has exhibited no arrogance at all; clothed with authority
he has done his best to advance the. drill of the company, and and considering
the fact that we are green hands with fire arms, having been taken from
the peaceable avocations of life, from shoemaker shops, and saddler shops,
tailor shops, brick yards, stores, cigar shops, billiard rooms, law offices,
farms carpenter shops, railroads, butcher shops and printing offices we
have progressed as as rapidly as as could be expected. Captain Joe, as he
is familiarly called by the boys , puts on no superfluous airs, and physically
and socially surpasses any of the band box soldiery who usually monopolize
the the offices of the exclusion of better men. Tommy Hunter, 1st Lieutenant,
is quick to comprehend the orders of his Captain, and attends to the rear
line and side columns with an assiduity worthy of his his linage. Ezra Ricketts
2d , Lieutenant, has proved himself to be to be a gentleman and competent
officer he has refused the entireties treaties of of relatives and, urgent
appeal of friends, and went forth manfully to fight the battles of the country.
The boys are all in excellence spirits, well satisfied with themselves and
officers, but what the brave boys are yet to undergo, what trials they will
pass through, what sufferings they will see. Rest assured that the boys
will acquit themselves with honor to themselves and relatives, and to the
glory of the State of Ohio.
All is bustle
and confusion to day, among the masses who throng the State House yard.
to catch, glimpse of the various companies and regiments as they pass to
and fro, in their drilling exercises.
Capt. Millor of
Cincinnati became insane to-day, from the effects of excitement and was
confined in the upper rooms of the Capitol; but maintains his belligerence
to us seceders from him by by pelting us with stone coal and and loaves
of bread.
Kitty Binn has
appointed himself Commissary for the company and when meals are somewhat
delayed, Kitty generally finds a way of getting eatables to the hungary.
Ben Butterfield
makes a good Orderly Sargent and is well liked liked by the company while
our esteemed Aid-de-Camp to to Capt Stafford and gentleman barber Joseph
Hawkins, keeps his eye skinned for breakers and watches things generally.
The boys generally,
are in for one fight at least; some of them "spilin for a muss."
"Night Owl" carries his head upright and philosophically while all are in good
health, and have an abundance of nerve. Next week, after arriving at the
at the field of battle, if living, I will again write you.
HARRY
COMER
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April, 25, 1861, p. 2
MISCELLANEOUS
ADS & NEWS
The Hon. S.A. Douglas was at
Columbus on Tuesday the 23d and at Indianapolis the evening of the same
day. At each place he made a strong Union speech, urging the Northern
people to defend the Government to the last.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April, 25, 1861, p. 2
MARYLAND
REPORTED COMING TO HER SENSES
BOSTON, April 13
- A private dispatch to Messrs. Sprague and Co. from Philadelphia, states
that the Government had released the steamer P. Sprague from her charter
to convey troops from Philadelphia in consequence of Maryland having guaranteed
the safe transmit of 5,000 troops through Baltimore daily.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April, 25, 1861, p. 2
A CONTRABAND
ARTICLE SEIZED
PHILADELPHIA,
April 23 - A splendid uniform for a Major General, in a case, bound South
was seized yesterday. Fort Mifflin has been garrisoned by an artillery company
and the Kensington Rifles.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April, 25, 1861, p. 2
I. O. O. F.
CHARITY LODGE,
No. 7, meets every Monday Evening
HOCKHOCKING ENCAMPMENT,
No. 28, meets 2nd and 4th Thursday Evenings in each month.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
April, 25, 1861, p. 2
LETTER NO.
4, FROM COMPANY A
Washington City,
District of Columbia, May 27, 1861
Nothing of unusual note occurred
at Philadelphia since my last communication on the state of affairs with
the solitary exception of my surprise in the Philadelphia mint. Robt. Shannon,
Jesse Weeks, Asa Nichols and myself; (the four literary boys in Company
A, 1st Regiment O.V.M.) made a visit, a short time before our departure,
to that golcondian institution, and were shown through it by a by humane
old man, with whitened locks who did his utmost to give us information us
in the art of making money in the literal sense of the 1 of the word. First
we came to the penny department where nickel and copper mingle together,
next ailye, where silver was was properly adulterated with ink; lastly,
where brown nickel blends together with the precious metal, gold - all of
it of it legitimatized counterfeiting. The various processes though which
these metals in the rough pass before they come out in good order and ready
for disbursement I have not time in this letter to tell, because, I know
nothing about it; suffice it to say it to say that I had in my hands eight
eight pieces of gold in bars valued at $1,400 apiece! Saw pieces of standard
money of all the States and Principalities of the world, from the eight
square or octagon American $50 piece down to the Indian wampum saw bullion
enough to sink the Leviathan or Great Eastern, and dreamed of golden eagles,
cords of silver of, mountains of bullion, etc., for a week imagined my self
a Montezuma, eating golden bread, sleeping on a golden bedsteads, &c., but
just as I would reach out my hand to scatter alms to the poor, I would awaken
and find my hand my in my fat pork and sea biscuit, navy bread, and bomb-proof
crackers I am now poor once more.
I was sadly disappointed in
Washington City's appearance. Expecting to see in this city of
"magnificently
magnificent distances," a place the like of which had never been seen before
before, a place to dazzle the eye and enthuse the heart; one that would
create surprise and admiration in a youthful person, I found it in every
way inferior to Dayton and far from rivaling Columbus. The Capitol building
is truly a grand mass of excellent marble, well put together and all in
all a magnificent structure. The innumerable historical paintings which
line the walls of the rotunda, the portraits of eminent men who have served
the Union by sword and speech, and pen, bring beautiful reminiscences to
our minds; the statues in the niches remind us of that proud defiance which,
"Greece and
Rome in better ages knew,"
the marble forms of Washington,
Boone and Christopher Columbus enjoin us keep in dear remembrance those
who won by sword, by pen, by firm determination to ask for nothing for but
what was right and to submit to nothing wrong, liberty we now enjoy. The
Patent office is a sight worth seeing. There can be found all the curiosities
in the way of patents ever invented from a darning needle by Haddock to one
of Hoe's six cylinder presses.- The Post Office Department is situated in
a splendid building as indeed are the other Federal department.
At least 40,000 troops are here
on qui vive, and that many more in close march from the city. We are quartered
one and a half miles from town, several "side steps to the left" from us
is the 2d Ohio V.M. Regiment; 1000 paces, "rear rank open order" is the
New York 79th; "left obliquely is the Rhode Island on the brow of the hill,
440 yards distant, "right center" are the Jersey Blues,
"flanked in line" when these and us, with the innumerable hordes in close proximity will
"close
in mass," I do not know, but we were all in arms on Friday last to march
to the demonstration of Alexandria and Sewell's Point, after the murder
of Col. Ellsworth. The order was rescinded before we crossed the river.
Some of Company A may never
live to get home, perhaps none, but rest assured, whilst here we will do
our best, trusting to a kind providence whodoeth all things well, that our
lives may be spared to return to fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives,
sweethearts, relatives and friends in the good old county of Fairfield.
B.F. Connell is here and has
done his best to make our stay pleasant. He is in the Treasury Department,
Comptroller's office.
I saw here, yesterday, a roll
of butter and a clean shirt-they didn't belong to our company.
HARRY COMER Company
A, 1st Regiment, O.V.M
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 2, 1861, p.. 3
LETTER FROM
COMPANY
A Safe Arrival
of the Boxes How the Contents were Disposed of &c, &c.
Washington,
D.C., Camp Sherman, June 1st, '61.
Messers. Clark,
Kooken & Sutphen: The boxes of goods, chattels, pies, cakes, money,
stockings,
cigars, tobacco, radishes, onions, canned fruit, handkerchiefs, towels and
liquids of various kinds arrived accompanied with dear letters, from fathers,
mothers, sisters, brothers, wives, relatives, friends, and sweethearts,
on Thursday evening last, and to say that the boys fore goed the doubtful
the felicity of supping on fat pork and navy bread, spiced with dishwater
coffee, superfluous; be it sufficient to state that the boys "pitched
in'
devouring all, even to the paper in which various edibles and valuables
were wrapped not, however, at one meal, but if any one, however sharp-sighted,
or to whatever tension his optics might be stretched, could find a stray
crumb of anything eatable in the morning, his vision is considerably more
acute than that of any member of Company A. You just ought to have seen,
Messrs. Editors the tables on which we ate our delicacies: Some were on
the fence crosswise, dried beef in one hand, pound cake in the other; others
got up into the trees, the singing,
Oh! who in the
dickens Would not love to roam,
When wottles
like these Are Are sent us from home!
Some of our high
officers, such as File Closers, Cooks, Camp Cleaners, Corporals and 9th
or 10th Sergeants, absolutely got cheese and fruitcake, and you should have
seen the poor privates who got nothing but ginger-snaps, jumbles, mince-pies
pies raisons, figs, fruit and pound-cake, envying them! Ben Butterfield
and Ezra Rickets went out in a foot and a half mud hole and stood on their
on their heads, with a jar of pickles and a crock of butter as file leaders
to their mouths, and the last seen of Captain Stafford, he and Joe Hawkins
were about a mile from camp (having crawled through the hole in the fence
made by Jesse Weeks,) diving right into the large cake sent by the Odd Fellows;
they were in a fence-corner, using pieces of fence stake for knives, and
looking lovingly at each other as pound by pound of "Friendship Love and
Truth" took its melancholy passage down the great gateway of pork beans
and lager beer! Lieutenant Hunter must have gorged himself to death as he
has not been seen since; several bottles ----- ---also came to hand, but
as the members of Company A, like the members of Capt. Stinchcomb's company
are temperance men, the bottles were immediately smashed and the contents
thrown down.
In this connection
I must tender my thanks, together with those of the whole company, for the
many little kind tokens of remembrance received, all the more valuable because
coming from home, the home of our childhood, where all who are near and
dear to us reside, and where, when we die, we wish our remains to be buried.
Many tokens and
symbols remind us of what we received and distributed around our tents in
the shape of autobiographical sentiments such as "To William, from he knows
who," "to James from his sister Caroline and Mary," "to John from his affectionate
mother," &c. here and there can be seen empty fruit cans, empty cigar boxes,
ruffled tin foil, etc.
My reminder
is in the shape of three One Dollar "Williams, State Bank of
Ohio," received
from some of the best fellows the world ever saw. I have opened a show with
them in my tent, admission, 10 cents, soldiers half price, Charles Fields
and kit Linn, agents. It is called the "Cabinet of Astounding
Curiosities!"
Hugh Daugherty
returned to camp today, having got over a severe attack of pneumonia.
Everybody is well,
good-looking, fat, ragged, sassy, full of fun, frolic, devilment and in
for one battle, if it is only to whip the Second Regiment, as they say,
but I am opposed to any such foolishness, as I have acted more philosophically
since getting whipped at Logan by a fellow I thought I could whip, but who
whipped me!
A heavy guard
of sentinels are placed around every camp, and picket guards are placed
at the distance of three miles around us; but notwithstanding those precautions,
every nigger seen at night, every white man seen in day-time, and every
cow and horse is supposed to be a secessionist in disguise and the cry,
crisply spoken, of 'Halt! Advance and give the countersign!' turns
many a negro white, many a white man blue, and drives away innumerable cows.
Rumor has it that
we start for Virginia this afternoon, but as old rumor has lied upon several
occasions, I think we would not lose a great deal by disbelieving her until
we are further advised. One thing is certain , however, large bodies of
men are going into Virginia for something or other, which time will demonstrate.
I have no news
to give you, and will therefore close, as my letter was merely to be a surety
to your mind that the boxes from home had been received and duly disposed
of. May I be able to record another acknowledgment before long!
Since writing the
above, Lieut. Hunter has made his appearance in tolerable good health having
taken an emetic and got well of his gorged condition, consequent on eating
too many of the delicacies sent us. He requests me to send his compliments
to you and yours.
When anything more
transpires worthy of note, I shall write you.
HARRY COMER
Company A, 1st Reg. O.V.M. Washington City
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 2, 1861, p. 3
CAMP McCLELLAND,
NEAR PHILADELPHIA
May 8th,1861
MESSERS. EDITORS
- We arrived in this city of cities on last Wednesday afternoon at 2
o'clock,
and were marched from there to Camp McClelland, distant 7 miles from the
city, which was formerly Suffolk Park, where G.M. Patchen, Lady Suffolk,
Ethan Allen, Lexington, Flora Temple, and Fire Fly, and a multitude o other
famous trotting and running horses have astonished the sporting world and
rivaled the "time" of Long Island.
We were carr'd
at Lancaster for this place without lengthy notice, left there without any
rations, missed our dinners, arrived in West Philadelphia at half-past two,
were marched out here on an empty stomach, no message of our coming was
telegraphed to this place and of course we had no supper, and so, half famished
for food we vamoosed though holes in the fence, crawled over the enclosure,
broke through the gate guards, tired and hungry as we were, and made our
way to town, where the news of our bad treatment or the gross negligence
of our commissary, (call it what you may) had reached them, and we were
plenteously supplied by the Quaker City's hospitable citizens with an abundance
of provisions. Philadelphia is indeed a city of Brotherly Love.
We had been hungry,
tired and sleepy and some probably sick at heart, but not one of us now
regret the necessity which impelled us to revolt against military rule and
run the gauntlet of a discharge from the army; for of all the cities in
the world, American or foreign, a mind like mine cannot conceive how any
place can have better or more hospitable citizens, prettier pavamentia,
cleaner streets, more loyalty to the Union more patriotic members of the
former dark days of the Republic, or any other that can lay claim with more
propriety to the affectionate title of the city of Brotherly Love. All hail
the arch of the Keystone!
Here are to be
seen gorgeous palatial private residences, hotels that rival in beauty and
splendor the famous bizarres of olden time; mercantile houses with mammoth
marble fronts stretching backwards and forwards over mountains of silks,
satins, linens, woolen goods and notions; Carpenters hall were as early
as 1724 a declaration of independence was attempted to be draughted, where
the Reverend Duchey of France prayed with the inspiration of heaven in him,
where the 35th Psalm was read and were old John Adams was supposed to have
said that live or die, sink or swim, survive or perish, I give my heart
and hand to this vote;" where Benjamin Franklin wrote and published his
philosophical essays; the Masonic Hall with its incomparable and unexcellable
interior apartments and fixtures, where Washington was High Priest, Adams
King, and Hancock Scribe; where at the Navy Yard can be seen those missiles
of death in the shape of cannon from 10 pounders up to 68, carbines, minnie
rifles, breech loading mongrels, grape, canister and bomb shells and side
arms without number etc. About three hundred yards out in the Delaware river
is that staunch old Union Ship Princeton, once commanded by Commodores Stockton,
the Union flag still floating at her mast head and her top sails reefed
with Union emblems. Across the bay is the city of monopolies, Camden, in
New Jersey, where our boys were taken prisoners the moment they landed and
wild duck, fresh fish, and sallad were shot into them by a vicious
landlord. But it would take months to enumerate all the sights seen by one una customed
to the beauties of a mammoth city whose population numbers at present over
six hundred thousand white people, Suffice it to say that the Continental
Hotel covers up almost a Philadelphia block. But the grandest sight, one
that inspires enthusiasm and brings with it the most pleasurable recollections,
is old Independence Hall. The flag of our common country is flying at its
top and as you enter in the center, and turn to the left, you open a door
and then stand in a room where the Declaration of American Independence
was adopted, where the patriot sages of the Revolution convened and made
this the birth place (as Faneuil Hall is the Cradle) of American Liberty.
Around the walls of the room are the portraits of the signers of that immortal
instrument which will carry their names down to the remotest posterity,
to "the latest syllable of recorded time," associated with them are several
Indian Chiefs who have been friendly to the whites in days gone by, Lafayette
Kosciusco, Red Jacket and all the prominent men who pledged their lives,
in '76, in 1812 and in '48, for their country's welfare.
Around the statue
of Washington, in the rear are some Revolutionary curiosities, a bottle
of flattened shape dug rom the earth at a distance of 80 feet, a 15 shilling
note on brown paper of the old continental money resembling a castor oil
label, in a state of decomposition, and a piece of the live oak in which
the charter was hidden from the tories. To the right of the statue in a
pedestal is the old Independence bell which first rang out our national
chimes and "proclaimed liberty to all the world, to all the inhabitants
there of." The old bell has now a mammoth crack in it and some marks in
it by people picking at it with knives in order to get a particle as a memento,
but it is none the less reverenced on that account.
We leave here shortly,
but direct papers and letters to us at Philadelphia, as arrangements are
made with Postmasters to send everything after us.
HARRY COMER Company
A, 1st Reg. O.V.M. Philadelphia
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 16, 1861, p. 3
CAMP
ANDERSON THE GRUB SWEARING IN OF THE COMPANIES THE ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS, &C., &C.
Since the rain
has ceased and the skies cleared up, Camp Anderson is as pleasant a place
as one could wish to see. The ground has dried out and become firm and now
furnishes a fine field for drilling purposes. Persons who have seen Camps
Dennison, Harrison and Jackson all join in the pinion that Camp Anderson
surpasses them in every particular.
The boys are well
satisfied with their rations, and well they may be. They are furnished all
the supplies specified in the contract, and many extras besides. The nice
well cooked ham, clean yellow butter, fresh bread &c., served upon clean
ware is good enough for a Prince and the boys take to it with a relish that
fully demonstrates their appreciation.
On Sabbath afternoon
and Monday morning last, the companies were inspected by the Regimental
Surgeon, Mr. Kyle. Out of 1,000 Volunteers, but ten of twelve were unable
to pass inspection. The brave fellows who were dismissed, left the service
with great reluctance, many of them in tears. They had volunteered to meet
the enemies of constitutional liberty and panting for the blood of traitors,
were mortified that bodily defect or physical debility should strip them
of the glorious privilege.
After the companies
were inspected they were marched up to take the oath. Our good-looking
and portly fellow townsman, Alf. McVeigh Esq. administered it. At the conclusion
of the oath, cheer after cheer went up for the "Union" hats flew and the
wildest excitement and great enthusiasm prevailed.
But two men in
the whole regiment refused to be sworn. The sneaking cowards were immediately
dismissed from their company and drummed out of Camp amid the jeer and groans
of the entire regiment.
After the oath
was taken the companies were marched up in their regular order to vote,
prior to which time they had been well electioneered and supplied with tickets.
A history of this proceedings, them number of candidates, their capacity
or incapacity, and especially the means resorted to for the purpose of securing
place would be interesting, but time and place prompt us to forbear. We
have only space for the result, with a brief sketch of the successful candidates.
COLONEL: John M.
Connell, a lawyer of rare talent and fine practice, a gentleman of true
worth and big heart, a patriot by nature, loyal, devoted and brave, a soldier
by instinct and inclination and a true man in every particular, was elected
Colonel by a sweeping majority. Mr. C. is eminently the man for the place.
His talent, energy, self possession and courage united with his deep devotion
to the Union and broad and generous liberality must make him the pet of
the army as he is the pet of his people.
LIEUT. COLONEL:
F.B. Pond of Morgan county, was elected Lieut. Colonel. Mr.Pond is said
to be a lawyer of fine talent, as he is certainly a gentleman of prepossessing
manner and bearing. He is extremely popular in the regiment and was elected
without opposition. From our limited acquaintance with Mr. Pond he will
make an excellent and popular officer.
MAJOR: Lieut. Steel
of Belmont county was elected Major. Mr. Steel is a gentlemen of considerable
Military experience having served as a volunteer in the Mexican war and
having as we learn, participated in every battle from Vera Cruz to Mexico.
He will doubtless make a good and efficient officer.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 16, 1861, p. 3
THE 17TH REGIMENT
TO BE REMOVED FROM CAMP ANDERSON
The 17th Regiment O. V. M. now
stationed at Camp Anderson have been notified to hold themselves in readiness
to "march at an hours notice." They are subject to the orders of Maj. Gen.
McClelland and may and most probably will be ordered cast to the seat of
war this week. Cars are being prepared at the depot for their transportation.
They will be armed and uniformed at some point on their routs east.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
A. E. COOK, ESQ.
Well known to
our citizens and the travelling public as well as the former gentlemanly
and accommodating proprietor of the Tallmadge House, has established himself
at Bellaire; as the proprietor of the Belmont House. We congratulate the
citizens of Bellaire and vicinity , upon their acquisition in Mr. Cook of
a splendid gentleman and accomplished landlord. See card of Belmont House
in another column.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
BOXES SENT
TO COMPANY A
The friends of
Company A, Capt. Stafford, forwarded to Washington by express on Monday
last, two large store boxes and one small one, well filled with as such
comfort, such as eat, drink and wear. The hearts of our our brave boys
will be glad upon its reception. Not one of them but will have something
to add to their comfort; beside, they will be glad to know that they are
kindly remembered by the "dear ones at home," whom they have so nobly gone
forth to defend.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
OHIO TROOPS AT WASHINGTON
Two Regiments of Ohio Volunteers are now in Washington, among
them Company A, CAPT. STAFFORD of this city. They passed through Baltimore
on Thursday last, and are described by the Baltimore Patriot as being in
good condition, fine health, and excellent spirits, well armed and uniformed.
The Ohio boys were in the Federal Capitol when the movement was made on
Arlington Heights and Alexandria but did not participate. They are now at
the seat of war and may meet the enemies of the Union at any hour.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
CONDITIONS AT CAMP ANDERSON
We visited yesterday for the first time the Quartermaster's
Commissary's and Surgeon's department at Camp Anderson. The two former departments
are now in charge of our worthy former fellow townsman and now Assistant
Quartermaster, Theodore Tallmadge. Mr. Tallmadge showed us through the departments
and exhibited the "rations" for to-day already weighed out. Bread, bacon,
beans, beef, potatoes, &c., &c., of the very best quality and in regular
army quantities. Upon inquiry we learn that the boys are well satisfied
with their rations and are rather pleased with the idea of making
"cooks"
of themselves as well as soldiers. As we passed out we poked our nose into
the Surgeon's office, but did not stop. Assistant Surgeon, Cleveland was
busily engaged in dishing out "physic" for the
"ailing" whom we are glad
to say are few in number.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
LOCAL & MISCELLANEOUS
T.L. DONNELLY'S Theatrical Engagement will come off to-night.
A big turn out is expected.
We are indebted to C.L. Olds Esq., for late Southern papers.
A special dispatch to the N.Y. Commercial Advertiser says
the 71st New York regiment left the Navy Yard yesterday morning in armed
steamer, to take possession of Aquia Creek.
We understand the "Camp Kettles for Volunteers were contracted
to be made of good Russia Iron." They are made of "Common Stove pipe sheet
iron and of course the State is swindled." Whose fault is it? Will the Quartermaster
explain?
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
TEMPERANCE PROCLAMATION
By proclamation of Mayor Fritter drinking shops and saloons
are now closed on Sundays. This is just right, and should be strictly enforced.
The Sabbath has been too long desecrated in this way, and drunkenness has
become too frequent in our midst to be longer tolerated. On Monday last
two of our citizens having disregarded the proclamation, were taken before
his honor the Mayor. We hope our efficient Marshal will see to it that no
man escapes.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
PIC-NIC DINNER FOR THE 17TH REGIMENT
On Saturday last the loyal citizens of Pleasant township
furnished the entire Regiment with a bountiful and sumptuous dinner -- such
a dinner as is rarely seen and one that would have done credit, to a credit
to a Prince.
The prime mover is unknown to us; but one thing we do know,
that the idea of feeding the brave boys at Camp Anderson when once broached,
spread itself so rapidly and was so promptly acted upon by the good by the
people of Pleasant, that in two days it was suggested her citizens turned
out en masse and rolled up cakes up cakes by the wagon-load. pies by the
thousand, meats and butter by the ton, pickles by the barrel, roasted chickens
by the hundred, with an endless quantity and variety, of pic-nacs and niceties.
From the quantities one would think Pleasant had been of every of every
eatable thing.
At 10 o'clock A.M. the procession, consisting of 132 wagons
and buggies, and buggies, Marshalled by Wm. Ewing and Thos. Duncan Esqs.,
bearing its load of good things was met on Mulberry by Companies A and F.
Captains Giesy and Stinchcomb, arid escorted up High to Main, down Main
to Columbus, thence to the Camp, to the stirring music of the drum and fife
and to the good old tune of 'Yankee Doodle."
The good people of Lancaster people were taken completely
by surprise; few of them had even had even heard of the move and none of
them anticipated such such an out-pouring of the people. A full half hour
before the last wagon rounded the hill, the end was looked for, and when
the whole truth was known, our people were overwhelmed and and the patriotism
and liberality of Pleasant was a was a subject of universal remark.
At 11 o'clock the procession reached the Camp, when the
"fair ones" at once busied themselves about the arrangement of the dimmer. Cloths
were spread upon the ground forming a hollow square 150 feet in length and
the good things piled on. until the very earth groaned. All things in readiness,
the regiment a formed around the table in two sides and at the
"command,"
took hold with a vim that did great credit to their appreciation. After
the wants of the entire regiment were satisfied two-thirds of the provisions
were left untouched, which carried by the soldiers to their various quarters,
made them remember their friends at supper and breakfast next day and depreciated
their heretofore high estimate of Mr. Martin's pork and beans most materially.
After dinner the soldie's were addressed on behalf of the citizens in an
eloquent, patriotic and appropriate speech by Wm. P. Creed Esq., which was
responded to by M. A. Daugherty Esq., on behalf of the Regiment. The soldiers
were then briefly and neatly addressed by Col. Connell, after which the
procession again formed and was escorted through the city on their return
by the entire regiment. The procession as it passed though the city on its
return was an imposing one, and the whole city turned out to witness it.
The utmost order, enthusiasm and good feeling prevailed throughout the day
and the verdict of the regiment is satisfied and of the whole community,
well done Pleasant.
Thomas Duncan, Wm. Ewing, T.P. Ashbrook, J. Monteath, Esquire
Engle, J. T. Busby, J. Neibling, David Huber and others deserve honorable
mention for their activity and zeal manifested in this affair.
THE
LANCASTER GAZETTE,
May 30, 1861, p. 3
A LETTER FROM THE 17TH OHIO INFANTRY
Camp Dennison Near Cincinnati Sept. 22, 1861
EDS. GAZETTE: --Thinking that a few lines concerning the
whereabouts and doings of Capt. B.F. Butterfield's Company would be acceptable
to you and to the readers of your valuable paper, I have assumed the responsiblity
of writing you a short letter for publication. This you will understand
is no small undertaking when you know that I have not been accustomed to
writing; but however ungrammatically the sentences may be connected and
however bad is the orthography may be, the statements contained in it will
be nothing but the truth. If this does not meet with criticism too severe,
and is fit to appear in the columns of your paper, I will endeavor to keep
you informed while in the enemy's territory.
You will remember we left Lancaster for Camp Goddard, near
Zanesville. During out stay there we were supplied by Commissary Tallmadge
with everything a solider could desire; our rations were abundant -- we
had good tents and one of the best camping grounds in the State. We were
ordered from Camp Goddard, after camping there about seventeen days, to
Camp Dennison about 14 miles north of Cincinnati. Its situation efery body
knows its description, having been published in the columns of nearly all
the papers of the State. We arrived there on the evening of the day we left
Camp Goddard, and found nothing provided for us except rations; to cook
which our cooks had to borrow kettles from other companies; this state of
things, however, lasted but a day or two. During the night a heavy rain
fell, and our cantonments being in bad conditon, many, many of the boys
got wet. But by the indefatigable exertions of Capt. Butterfield, we were
soon provided for. Unless I am much deceived we have an excellent
Captain: he does everything in his power to make his men comfortable; to
him alone we are indebted for our early equipment. He is undoubtedly the
best drill Captain in the regiment, and his company is acknowledged by the
regimental cofficers and evenby the Captains of other companies to be the
best in the regiment.
The following is a list of the names of those who compose
our company;
COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
Capt. Benj. B.F. Butterfield 1st Lieut. B.H. Showers 2nd
Lieut. J.H. Avery
NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
1st Seargeant Levi Cordwall 2nd Seargeant Jas. S. Dennison
3rd Seargeant Lyman Baras 4th Seargeant Henry Krauss 5th Seargeant Jas.
A. Larimer 1st Corporal John Guseman 2nd Corporal Benton Pearce 3rd Corporal
George Wilhite 4th Corporal Harrison Titler 5th Corporal Andrew Deits 6th
Corporal George Rainey 7th Corporal John Ropp
PRIVATES
Joseph Acherman, Charles Baumaster, Thomas Bope, Henry Bender,
Andrew Burnsides, Charles Blair, Silas Brachmer, Martin Brachmer, Edward
Catchaw, Sylvanius Church, Samuel Crain, John Crain, Thomas Clark, Joseph
Crook, Geo. W. Cly, Richard Crutcher, Boorstler Dutton, Frank Demming, Wm.
B. Foster, Samuel Friesner, Michael Headly, Samuel Hurd, Daniel Hodge, John
N. Little, Henry Heinzman, Columbus Hall, George W. Little, Edward Lacy,
Andrew Livingston, Henry Lichner, Wm. Myers, Wm. H. Michels, Christ Nudding,
Newton Pearce, Wm. Robey, Calvin Rudolph, Chas. Strents, John Seiferd, B.F.
Shumaker, W. Stewart, Frank K. Smith, Alexander Frankle, Abraham Turner,
Philip Urich, Jacob Weeks, C. Winegardner, Jacob Fultz, Isaac Petch, Brian
Petch, Wm. O. McCulloch, Amos Baker, Peter Stermer, Frank Rauch, Andrew
Card, Amos Muchler, M.C. Arney, Henry Blair, H.H. Hardwick, J.C. Whitely,
Ely Sherburn, John Bierly, Joseph Booker, O.E. Peters, John Homen, J. McLaughlin,
D.M. Black, Geo. W. Crook, Jas. Gannon, Chas. Younghans, Jas. Lamoit, Jacob
Weaver, Jno. Stover, John Zink, Ed Bodenheimer. P.C. Pine, Wm. H. Flood.
In the above list you will recognize the names of many that
were members of Co. A, in three months service.
SOLDIER Company A, 17th Reg.
O.V.U.S.A.
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday October
3, 1861, p. 1
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
Camp Corwin, Dayton, Sept. 21st, 1861
Editors Gazette: - The Ohio State Fair is over and passed
off in the usual style, not equalling a State af fairseveral that I have
heretofore witnessed and enjoyed. To be sure there was any amount of
here's
your great natural natural living curiosities -- admittance 15 cts;" "the
wild tigers stuffed with straw;" the maltese children, 9 feet 8
inches high and the celebrated Lilliputs from Borneo;" "there's the only
exhibition on the ground showing the only~exhibition on the ground showing
how prize battles are lost and won;" and "what-figures-do-you-bet-on." "Lots
and gobs," (to use an exceedingly homely phrase.) of groceries were were
on the grounds in around and about them-- places where posters were pasted
notifying the passers-by that "No Intoxicating Liquors should be sold on
he ground," but still a person of the prying disposition of your correspondent
imagined he saw divers and sundry individuals sipping a life resemblance
to various fluids known by the name of beer, ale, wine, whiskey, gin, Brandy,
schledam schnapps, etc. Fine Art Hall and Floral Hall, together with Mechanic,
Domestic and Vegetable Halls were well represented, but in other Departments
there was a decided deficiency both in quality and quantity. The ladies
and soldiers (the Lord bless the both,) turned out in goodly numbers to
see the sights and to be seen, and were of course in their favorite
elements -- the ladies liking us, we liking the ladies. But, as femininity
is a subject I never like to write about, I close on the subject without
tellin how one of our Lieutenants 'fell in love with a strange woman,' or
how the Captain of Co. A was surrounded by Union Rebels in crinoline, or
how Bob Shannon got lost in the woods, or how Jack Read lost his breastpin,
nor why Joe Goff goes to town so often.
Our food here is as good as we could wish, beef and good
fresh bread, with coffee, sugar and potatoes for breakfast; beef, bean soup,
potatoes and bread for dinner; ham potatoes; bread and coffee for supper.
Added to this the boys frequently get things from home, which, as a general
thing are divided among our own individual messmates. The citizens of Dayton
have exhibited every feeling of kindness for us and frequent presents of
peaches, pies, cakes, grapes, apples, and beer are sent to us, which of course
are not permitted to spoil on our hands. We have five company drills per
day, making a total of about six hours and a half drill. Sometimes we do
'bully' other times not quite so :bully!' No battalion drills have as yet
been inaugurated, the the Regiment not being full. Ten companies are here,
however some not quite full: Co. A, of Lancaster, Captain Stafford; Co.
B of Dayton, Capt. Kuhlman; Co. C of Dayton, Capt. Thrushton; Co. D, of
Cleveland, Capt. Hauson; Co, E, of Dayton, Capt. O'Connell; Co. F, of Miamisburgh,
Capt. Pomeroy; Co. G of Bellfountaine, Capt. Trapp; Co. H, of Cinncinati,
Capt. Lamison, Co. I, of Columbiana county, Capt. Snodgrass; Co. K, of Piquia,
Capt. Lawton, most of them strong, vigorous young men, fighting for a principle;e
and not profit, although I may say that the best paying positions are eagerly
sought after.
We have 775 men enrolled and sworn into service for three
years or during the war who are now here some 150 others are enrolled on
the different Company lists who are expected but have not yet come. Eight
hundred and thirty is the minimum number for a Regiment, but Col. McCook
wishes this to reach the maximum, (1000) of Infantry with a company of Cavalry
and six pieces of Artillery. Our Regimental officers are: Colonel, Edward
A. Parrott; Major, E Bassett Langdon; Adjutant, J. M. Lenhard; Sergeant
Major; -- Patterson; Quartermaster, Hill; most of them, formerly of the
1st Regiment with three months troops, men of intelligence, who know their
business, and intend to do it. In my first letter to you from Camp Corwin,
there were a few errors, and several names overlooked, besides some recruits
received since who of course did not figure as members of our Company. I
shall endeavor in a few days to give you another list and a correct one,
for the benefit of the friends of those who have come with us. Some typographical
errors were in the list, as for instance, the name of Corporal Willi, which
is printed "D. Gum Willie," when it should be David Montgomery Davidson
Willi, he requested me to have it corrected. I also failed to notice our
very gentlemanly barber and hairdresser John C. Scott, from Lancaster.
He is a very accommodating son of Ethiopia, a half brother of Joe Hawkins,
but not half as lazy. Our celebrated pack horse Lemuel Grayson, another
'dark-browed Abyssinian,' who so distinguished himself on the march
to Bull Run by carrying the baggage of half the company was also neglected.
the amends honorable having been done to all I will now close merely by
remarking that Captain Stafford is the best tactician in camp, the best
fellow in camp, and is liked by everybody in camp, while Lieut. Wyley has
done his best to learn all he could and at the time put on no snobbish airs,
as some do who glory in Red Tape and embroidered shoulder-straps.
HARRY COMER Co. A, 1st Ohio Volunteers
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday October
3, 1861, p. 1
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
We are permitted to make a few extracts from the following
letter, which was received by Samuel Beery Esq., from his son, who is a
volunteer in the 17th Regiment, which will be found very interesting:
CAMP NICHOLAS, KY., OCT. 3d. 1861
Dear Parents: -- Having a few moments spare time before
Batallion drill, I tho't I would devote it to writing home and giving a
brief sketch of our travel through Kentucky. On last Tuesday morning the
Regiments was ordered to pack their knapsacks and be ready to leave Camp
Dennison at 11 o'clock a.m. According to orders all was ready on our part,
but owing to some business of the Colonel, we did not get off until half
past one, when we got aboard the train and in a few minutes were sailing
toward Cincinnati. At half past two we arrived in the city, on Front Street,
near the depot, and were ordered off the train and formed into line. We
then marched out Front Street to the foot of Vine, and the Regiment crossed
the River into Covington, while Lieut. Linn and myself went into the city
to purchase a revolver. I went to the house above Fifth St., on Main where
I bought a splendid Pistol for $17; after getting the Revolver we proceeded
to the river and followed the Regiment to the Covington depot.
We remained there until 8 o'clock and were treated very kindly
by the Covington ladies, who brought us an abundance of grapes, pies &c.,
&c., which were very acceptable just at that time. But to proceed -- at
8 o'clock we left the city of Covington behind us, but we did not run very
fast, as the train had to stop at nearly every bridge and send men ahead
to examine them. When we left Covington we supposed we would go direct to
Camp Dick Robinson, but we were stopped here at a little village called
Nicholasville which is 113 miles from Covington.
We are encamped on the outskirts of the village and are just
13 miles from Camp Dick Robinson, which we will march to tomorrow. We are
about 28 miles from where Gen. Zollicoffer was yesterday, with about 20,000
men; but the news came this morning that he is retreating into Tennessee,
and we have abandoned all hoes of having an engagement this week. The troops
are marching toward Camp Robinson very fast, and there will be a sufficient
force by Friday to resist any attack Gen. Zollicoffer can make. But if the
report that Zollicoffer is retreating be true, it is not likely that we
will have and engagement for ten or twelve days.
But to change the subject, I will tell you something about
Kentucky, As far a s I have seen it, I think it is the prettiest country
I ever saw; the country from Lexington here is beautiful -- Ohio is no comparison
to it. The hospitality of the Union people is unsurpassable. Yesterday morning
James Weakly and myself went up into the village, and stopping at a very
nice looking house, asked for something to eat; the lady of the house took
us in and ordered her slaves to cook us a breakfast, after waiting about
a half an hour she called us into breakfast and to tell the truth, I have
never sat down to a better meal in my life -- but excepting mother's table
at home. One thing that made me think it was good was the flannel cakes,
which were of the nicest kind. After breakfast we sat at the table and talked
about half an hour -- told her all about where we were from; and she gave
us a description of the country which was very interesting. Before leaving
we thanked her very kindly, and she told us that if ever came back we should
call and see her and if we ever do get back, I certainly shall do so.
Since I commenced writing we have received orders to march
in the morning for Camp Robinson. Heavy cannonading has been heard at intervals
to day in that direction, and it is said there was a battle. But as it is
getting late, I must close. * * The health of the Regiment is excellent.
Write soon and may God bless you all, is the prayer of
Your affectionate son, C. B
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday, Oct.10,
1861, p. 3
CAMP DICK ROBINSON,
GARRARD COUNTY, KY.,
OCT. 9TH 1861
The 17th Regiment, as you are are aware, left Camp Dennison
the 1st of October. We left with glad hearts for the interior of Kentucky.
We were conveyed by railroad to Nicholasville, Jessamine county, where we
camped for a couple of days. From thence we took up our march for Camp Dick
Robinson, distance fifteen miles. The day was very warm and we had plenty
of the "sacred soil," in the way of dust on our person before night. The
pike runs through the best part of the State, until within a few miles of
the Kentucky river, where cedar trees cover the surface, and the country
is very broken. For wild magnificent scenery it cannot be surpassed. The
country again, within four or five miles from camp, becomes comparatively
level. --- There are now 11,000 men here all anxious to go into active service.
In the south part of the camp are 1,400 loyal Tennesseeans under the command
of Co. Bird, who served with distinction in the Mexican war. The measles
has broken out, in this regiment and three or four are buried daily. Very
few of our regiment are in the hospital. The boys who were in the three
months service who engaged in scouting are pleased to find that the forests
are not covered with dense chapperell like Western Virginia. Gen. Zellicofer
has retreated to Cumberland Gap, after stealing and destroying all the property
he could find. To-morrow we start for Barboursville, distance forty miles,
where we expect to overtake some of the miscreants. Two miles from camp
is Dick's river, a swift mountain torrent spanned by a substantial bridge.
Here the road could be fortified, and a small force could hold it against
almost any attack of the enemy. The boys are in good health; get plenty
to eat and are rather proud of being in the best frilled regiment in camp.
They would have liked to have been at home on the day of election to vote
the Union ticket; but while we meet the enemy in the field, we hope that
the people will defeat him at the ballot-box, and elect a man who is in
favor of a vigorous prosecution of the war until treason is swept from the
land.
J.P. SAIN
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday, Oct.17,
1861, p. 1
THE K. G. C. IN OHIO
A "Castle" Assaulted by a U.S. Marshall
THE RECORDS SEIZED A "COMMANDER" TAKEN
From the Columbus Journal
It has long been known that a gang of "Confederates," called the
"Knights
of the Golden Circle," has ben infesting the whole country. That they were
working secretly in Ohio against the war and the Government has also been
known. We have been in possession of their grips, their pass-word, and cipher
for correspondence, for more than a month past. But knowing that the officers
of the Government were upon their track, we refrained, by request, from
any publication of the documents that had come into our possession from
a perfectly "Reliable" source. The Marshall of the Northern District has
now made a 'descent upon them -- he assaulted one of the 'castles' in Marion
yesterday and bore off a Commander as a prisoner to the Cleveland jail.
Their records were also seized. The excitement in Marion is intense. Public
indignation is aroused. But remember, fellow citizens, that the same vicious
and treasonable organization is everywhere amongst us. The man Court who
was arrested, stated here are nine hundred of them in Columbus! Arouse,
friends and crush this villainous conspiracy against our country! Below
are found the sworn statements upon which the Marshall made the arrest.
I, Samuel J, Cheney of Marion county, Ohio of lawful age, being duly sworn
depose and say that on the evening of October 3, 1861 I was at Carter's
school house in Green Camp township, in said, county, and with others present
being desirous of ferreting out and exposing a secret association known
and distinguished to the uninitiated as "Knight of the Golden
Circle", called
on Peter Hopkins, who was present out of said school house and after some
preliminary talk it was arranged that I should be initiated in regular form,
said Hopkins informing me that he was a regular member; whereupon we proceeded
in a wagon some little distance from the school house, and in said wagon
I was duly initiated as a member of said association, by said Peter Hopkins,
he administered the oaths and giving the passwords, signs, grips and oaths
to me in good faith. The oath was taken in this wise, said Hopkins first
repeating a part of the same and myself repeating the same after him. After
said initiation said Hopkins informed me of the names of sain association
residing in the neighborhood, which names I for the present withhold. The
oaths, signs, grips and passwords, &c. are to the best of my knowledge embodied
below, and are as nearly correct as I can recall them from memory. I am
particularly positive that the parts in italics relative to standing in
blood up to my knees to serve Jeff Davis as contained in the oath below,
was in my oath, and my memory is particular and distinct on this part of
the subject also as to the signs, grips, pass words, &c. The oath as given
is true in substance, if not in form, as I have to depend entirely on my
memory for the same and further saith not.
FIRST OATH
I do solemnly promise and swear that I will not reveal any word, either
directly or indirectly of what I am about to receive, except it be to some
true and faithful brother of this order and not to him or them until after
strict examination. I shall have found him or them as justly entitled to
the same, as I am about to be under the no less penalty of having my body
severed into four parts; the first part cast out at the North gate, the
second part at the South, the third part at the East and the fourth part
at the West gate. I furthermore promise that I will always hail and answer
all signs and signals that are given to me by a brother of this order if
in my power to do so; and I furthermore promise and swear that I will protect
and defend all Constitutional Democrats, their lives, property, and personal
liberty from mob violence, during this Southern insurrection, so long as
they obey the laws of the U.S.A. let it come from whatever source on me
as long as the war shall last.
SECOND OATH
And I further promise and swear, in the presence of Almighty God and
the members of the Golden Circle, that I will not rest of sleep until
Abraham Lincoln, now President, shall be removed out of the Presidential
chair, and I will wade in blood up to my knees, as soon as Jefferson Davis
see proper to march with his army to take the city of Washington and the
White House to do the same. So help me God and keep me steadfast to
do the same.
The undersigned, on oath, state that we have read the above statement,
and say that we were present and heard the oaths administered as stated
in the above affidavit, and that the statements herein are true.
T.H. Dickerson J.W. Hood Daniel Snyder C. Martin Sworn to and subscribed
before me this 7th day of October, A.D. 1861 J.R. Garreson Mayor of the
incorporated village of Marion, Ohio.
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Thursday, Oct.17,
1861, p. 1
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
Camp Corwin, Dayton October 16, 1861
MESSERS. EDITORS: Since my last but little of interest has
transpired here in camp, but what little I shall communicate to you merely
in order to keep up my correspondence till other scenes in a more belligerent
clime shall make my epistles interesting, if not agreeable. Brigadier General
McCook returned one week ago from Washington City, whither he had been,
getting instructions, orders and commission, and gave the boys one of the
old fashioned three months drills, of about four hours duration on the common,
in the sun around the city and at a double quick! He left us next morning
for the seat of the coming war in Kentucky to take charge of the Buckeye
boys in that 'dark and bloody ground. The commission of Colonel of the
First Ohio has been gerrymandered to B.F. Smith of New Jersey, although
our worthy Lieutenant Colonel Edward A. Parrott, would have been the choice
of ninety-nine and thirty two one hundredths of the non-commissioned officers
and privates of our regiment and the unanimous choice of the commissioned
officers. Parrott is not a large man in the physical proportion but mentally
he is a 'scrouger! His pluck has been thoroughly tested heretofore, as
he is the same Lieutenant Colonel who led Stafford's and Dister's companies
on towards Vienna after the inhuman massacre of the advance guard of the
1st Ohio, by a masked battery of 4 guns directed by two South Carolina Regiments,
and made up the covering retreat with the division under his command. General
McCook is still our commander, and we leave shortly for the scene of conflict
to join those noble souls from Ohio who will compose McCook's Brigade, and
it may be that we will soon clasp by the hand those who have been our companions
in childhood, and our intimate friends in maturity. I thank God, although
the vote of Fairfield County at the late election, appears to me to be against
the cause of truth, justice and human rights; against the best government
ever instituted by man, against loyalty and in favor of rebellion, against
the interests of the north, against the interests of the South, against
the interests of the Union and its whole people, very near one regiment
and a half are now in arms from my native county, to do battle for the
Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the Laws. It would indeed
be a pleasure to meet them in such a State under such circumstances. No
Regiment in the United States could be treated better than we have been
here by the citizens of Dayton and vicinity, good warm meals when we got
to town from almost anybody, lodging if we desire it; picnics gotten up
by the ladies almost every day for us; rides, when rooms in the omnibuses
to and from the city; and in one half day they raised up 950 blankets, some
money, overcoats, pieces of carpet, drawers, undershirts, etc., etc., as
free and appreciative donations. We are now supplied with sufficient clothing
for winter, (with the exception of army overcoats,) to withstand all the
blasts of the Arctic regions. Our rifled arms have just arrived, the Enfield
rifles for the flank companies (A and B) and the Minnie rifles for the Color
and Centre, cartridges, caps, belts, etc.. are also here. We have been leaving
on "to-morrow" for a long time, but our departure, in my opinion, will be
speedy. We have batallion drills regularly twice a day, and are very well
drilled in all the facings, marches, turns, wheels, flanks etc., which go
to make up the military evolutions of a one third Scott, one third Hardee
and one third Zouave drill. How we will progress to the "manual of
arms"
remains to be seen, but as we have many farmer boys among us well drilled
with the shot gun, we'll wait for further information. A and B companies
are drilled in the Skirmish maneuvers at off intervals daily, and this important
branch of military tactics is receiving its appropriate attention. Us boys
from the city proper, unaccustomed to the woodland songsters, get up before
the morning reveille to hear the little birds sing praises to God. This
early rising was inaugurated in camp by Corporal Poulton, and readily followed
by those who can appreciate the stillness of the morning and the beauties
of nature. Captain Crowe of the first 1st Ohio, who is now raising a company
for the war, hearing of the correspondent of the Lancaster Gazette, of my
good looks, my intelligence, capacity and honesty, added to my immense personal
bravery, tendered to Captain Stafford my appointment as First Lieutenant
in his company, but as a private, at the tale of the rank,: of Stafford's
company, among our own boys is good enough for me, I declined the flattering
honor. Among those who have visited us I must mention, Mr and Mrs Samuel
Herr, who were on a visit to relatives in Dayton, but called to see us frequently
and I have reason to say that their visits were mutually agreeable. Also,
the visit of John Groff, whom the boys will forever remember with feelings
of gratitude. The delicacies in the way of food, fried chickens, apple butter,
old fashioned pies, fried cakes, dried beef, etc. which were presented us
were very acceptable, but the news he brought us from home, the little things
he told us, which others had forgotten, those small items which letter writers
forget and soldiers love to hear, were more acceptable making his home in
camp among us for a few days he left with regret, to perform his duty at
the ballot box by voting the whole Union ticket, all the time showing a
deep and soul felt interest in the justice and magnanimity of our cause
and a possibility that he had seen for the last time numerous friends and
a loved brother. By the time this is in print, if numerous rumors are true,
or near it, we will be in another locality, till then au revouir.
HARRY COMER Co. A, 1st Ohio Volunteers
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
October 24,
1861, p. 1
GENERAL SHERMAN'S PROCLAMATION
TO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
Editor's Note: This is not the
Gen. Sherman from Lancaster, it is Thomas W. Sherman, who held command in
the Hilton Head, Beaufort area of South Carolina. It is included to show
the thinking of many in the North at this early stage of the war.
After landing and taking possession of the forts, General
Sherman issued the following proclamation:
To the People of South Carolina: In obedience to the orders
of the the of the, United States of America I have landed on your shores
with a small force of National troops. The dictates of a duty which, under
these circumstances , I owe to a sovereign State, and to and to a proud
and hospitable people among whom I have passed some of the most pleasant
days of my life, prompt me to proclaim that we have come among you you with
no feeling of personal animosity no desire to harm your citizens to destroy
your property or interfere or with any of your lawful rights or your social
and local institutions, beyond what the the causes herein briefly alluded
to may render unavoidable.
Citizens or South Carolina , the civilized world stands appalled
at the course you are pursuing; appalled at the at crime you are committing
against your own mother, the best, the most enlightened and heretofore the
most prosperous of nations. You are in a state of active rebellion against
the laws of your country. You have lawlessly seized upon the forts, arsenals,
and other property belonging to our common country and within your borders,
and with this property, you are in arms and waging a ruthless war against
your constitutional Government, and thus threatening the the existence of
a Government which you are bound by the terms of a solemn compact to live
under and faithfully support. In doing this you are not only not undermining
and preparing the way for of totally ignoring your own political and and
social existence, but you you are threatening the civilised world with the
odious sentiment that self-government is impossible with civilised men.
Fellow citizens -- I implore you to pause and reflect upon
the terror and consequences of your act. If the awful sacrifices made by
the devastation of our property, the shedding of fraternal blood in battle,
the mourning and sad wailing of widows and orphans through out our land
are insufficient to deter you from further pursuing this unholy war; then
ponder, I beseech you, upon the ultimate, but not less certain, result which
to its further progress, must necessarily and naturally entail upon your
once happy and and prosperous State. Indeed, can you pursue this fratricidal
war, and can you imbrue your hands in the loyal blood of your countrymen,
your your friends, your kinsmen, for no other object than to unlawfully
to disrupt the Confederacy of of a great people, a Confederacy established
by your own hands in order to set up, were it possible an independent to
government under which you can never live in peace, prosperity and quietness?
Carolinians, we have come among you as loyal men, fully impressed with our
constitutional obligations to the citizens your State. Those obligations
shall be performed so far as in our power, but be not deceived, the obligation
of suppressing armed combination against the constitutional authorities
is paramount to all to all others. If, in the performance of this duty,
other minor but important obligations should be in any way neglected, it
must be be attributed to the necessities of the case; because right, dependent
on the law of the State, must be necessarily subordinate to military exigencies
created by insurrection and and rebellion.
T. W. Sherman Brig. Gen. Com.
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Dec. 5, 1861,
p. 3
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
We are permitted to publish the following letter from Capt.
J. W. Stinchcomb to his wife in this city.
On March from Camp Moore to Lebanon, Ky.
Nov, 27, 1861
Dear Lou: We started this morning on our march again under
the most glowing circumstances, as it begin last night about 9 o'clock to
snow and continued to snow for about one half an hour hour, then it turned
to rain, and I assure you it you it did rain. I had gone to Danville in
the evening to get a Camp stove and had to wait until 9 o'clock, for the
the man to finish it; and by the time the time we got to Camp it, was thundering,
lightening and raining. The creek this morning had, risen, so high we had
to chop a large tree across it for the boys to walk to over on. It continued
to rain a until about 11 o'clock, and it then broke away and this afternoon
was a delightful one over head, and not so very unpleasant underneath as
we are marching on a good pike. It appears as though we have the luck to
march in the worst of weather, as the majority of our marches have been
made in the rain and mud, yet the boys moved off cheerfully with the understanding
that we are going on to join a column; embracing several Brigades under
command of General Thomas. I am inclined to think if General Thomas should
meet the enemy, he will show himself to be a General although many of the
papers, censure him for the for the Cumberland Gap Expedition. I don't think
he ever had men enough to to have made an attack on the on the Gap, and
for that reason I inter he did not press the column as close as many thought
it it ought to have been done, but when it is known known that he only had
about 3,500 efficient men marching against an an army of 8,000; his movements
had necessarily to be very cautious and I had much rather see a General
err on the side of caution than rashness. I have never blamed General Thomas
for the failure to capture the entire army of Zollicoffer; but it is the
Kentuckians that are to blame - for the whole of it. Col. Gerrard's regiment
has been in camp for for weeks, at Wild Cat, and yet when we got there they
knew nothing at all about the country except on the roads, ask them what
kind is over that knob. of that hill or valley, and their invariable reply
would be "I have never been thar' and it appeared as though we could get
no one to give us any information of guides that know scarcely anything
about the country and the Kentucky Cavalry is not as good as common make
shift, using the old woman phrase. Our boys know more about the country
within 300 yards of where the fight took place in two hours after we got
than the Kentuckians know or ever will know about it. They appeared to think
the only thing necessary to know about the ground was immediately in front
of their works and that only so far as they could see without their and
the and that only so far as they could see* would see without leaving their
works. They thought only of repelling an attack and never apparently dreamed
of following the enemy and cutting him to pieces on his retreat. They should
have explored the country all around and known every foot of it, and when
we we ascertained that that Zollicoffer was retreating we could have marched
through the woods and ambushed him and made the victory decisive.
I see some one wrote home that Co. A Capt. Butterfield, has
marched 50 miles further than any other company in the regiment. This is
not the fact, as Capt. Rickets' company, as also my own have been on every
march that Co A has, -and I assure you we never start on a march but we
do as much as any other company; the fact is Co. B marched from London to
Rockcastle River River and and back, 14 miles each way, faster than Capt,
Butterfield 's or any or any other company in, the Regiment, excepting a
part of Capt. Whisson's boys who accompanied us; I only state this so our
friends may have the facts.
Ever since we came within about four miles of of Mount Vernon
we we have been in a most delightful country, the soil is very rich, undulating
and well watered, as there are many small streams with quite a number as
large as the Hocking at Logan. The whole country in this region and back
beyond Mt Vernon rests on a bed of lime stone. But to day for 5 or 6 miles
back we have had a beautiful contrasts in land; the Pike runs along some
two or three valleys each in its turn immediately on our right a most delightful
country is seen running back as far as the eye can reach, whilst immediately
on our left there is a ridge is a of hills or rather a lot or hills ending
abruptly extending with back back from the pike to toward the mountains.
Immediately in front of our camp there are three at about equal distance
from each other, either of which is as high as Mt. Pleasant but they do
not break off so abruptly, yet they are very steep; I counted some 8 in
sight this evening and , at several times I counted 6 to 14 of the same
kind of hills. But they must be seen be seen to to be appreciated , yet
it looks strange to see a little stream that, can be stepped over by a footman
division dividing two counties so vastly different in .appearance. The one
rising not to exceed ten or fifteen feet and then extending back for miles
on a level except that it is rolling enough to make it beautiful farming
land; whilst the other rises other into hills or or ridges from 50 to 300
feet high all a long the road, and all ending within a few rods of the road.
I presume they are the commencement of a of a ridge of mountains extending
eat extending east and west through Southern Kentucky.
Mt Vernon, unlike Mt. Vernon, Ohio, is a very poor looking,
shabby town, and quite a sprinkling of secessh in it but they had all left
several weeks ago before we got to it, and for us it for as it demonstrated
the old saying that it is an it is an "ill wind that blows no one any good,"
as we got there when on our march from London, late, tired, hungry, worn
out, wet and cold, and we immediately camped in their vacated their houses;
so the absence of secessh was our comfort. Crab Orchard is a much is better
town and the Union sentiment much stronger., but Danville is the best town
by odds I have seen in Kentucky. It has a population of about 2,300. Has
some splendid buildings in it, among which is a College and Deaf and Dumb
Asylum. Is It has a little a of the of appearance of a yankee town in this
it has some enterprise and public spirit , a few years since a railroad
was graded to Danville from Nicholasville, but some sharper ran away with
$100,000 of the money and the Marysville Company failed to repay $90,000
worth of iron when the Danville Company "went up," and nothing has been
done to the road since,
We have a fine cooking stove not in our quarters, the stove
[art made of sheet iron. We have a coffee pot, roasting pans, cake baker
&ct., and you ought to have seen Lieut. Ashbrook and I cooking fresh sausage
for supper. I don't believe you and
Mrs. Ashbrook could have beat the cooking.
There are several of my boys sick principally measles.
Your husband J. W. STINCHCOMB
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
Dec. 5, 1861,
p. 3
FROM PORT ROYAL
BAY POINT IN PORT ROYAL HARBOR, S. C.
DEC. 17TH, 1861
DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER: It is now three weeks or more since
I wrote to you last, and I have been waiting very anxious for an answer,
but it has failed to come. Whether you received my last letter I am unable
to say. I wrote to you from Fortress Monroe and I received your welcome
answer after we arrived at this point. I then immediately sat down and answered
it, but not having a postage stamp at that time, I merely marked my letter
as (Ships Letter) for I was told it would go as ell as if it had a stamp
on it, but I don't think it did. Postage stamps are very scarce here, and
I would be very thankful to you if you would send me two or three. We are
all very nicely quartered here now, but it is hard to say how long we will
stay here. We may leave here in a few days, and then again we may stay here
all winter. I can hardly call this winter as it is so warm here. I am sitting
out of doors in my shirt sleeves writing this, and the sun is shining as
warmly down upon me as if it was the middle of August. We have plenty to
eat and drink although we are not exactly in a land of milk and honey; but
we have plenty of sweet potatoes, rice, flour, pork, beans, molasses, cheese
and even butter. Last night I eat a hearty supper of fish and fried sweet
potatoes, together with a good supply of coffee with milk in it. Now, to
make a long story short, and use a very common phrase, we live like fighting
cocks. Who would not be a soldier in Dixie Land? We have also had several
turkeys since we have been on the island. In my last letter I gave you a
full account of our voyage on board the steamer Governor from Fort Monroe.
-- telling you how we were wrecked and how we were rescued. You can see
a poor description of the disaster in Frank Leslie's Newspaper. It does
not appear half so bad on paper as it actually was. But thank God, I was
safely rescued from the maddening waters of a heavy sea. Only eight of our
boys found a watery grave We owe great thanks to the officers and sailors
of the good ship Sabine for kind and generous treatment toward us during
our short and happy stay among them. I only wish you was here a day or two
to see the large forts our fleet captured. I know it would be a great curiosity
to you to see such heavy guns mounted as there is in this fort. -- Some
will weigh over 20,000 lbs. and will throw a ball weighing 120 lbs. a distance
of 3 1/2 miles. Our troops have captured enough cotton to pay half of the
expense of the fleet. We had a large quantity of it stored away on a plantation
several miles from the fort, thinking it would be safe. It was left without
a guard, and by some means or other the Southerns got wind of it, and a
party of them took advantage of a dark night and stole over on the island
and burned a small portion of it. But their fun will be stopped as we have
sent large reinforcements to protect it. Charleston harbor is to be blockaded
by sinking old vessels ladened with stone and a regular port of entry is
to be made of this place. If it takes place Charleston will be of little
use to the Southern people in the way of commerce with any of the foreign
powers. Charleston is not the only place that will have her harbor closed
in this manner. Twenty five old vessels are on their way to the place all
ladened with stone. But no one knows where they are to be sunk. Our fleet
has also captured several vessels trying to run the blockade at this place.
Some of them had arms on board for the Southern Confederacy. No forward
movement is to be made till more troops arrive, and then we will take possession
of the Charleston & Savannah Railroad, which is about five miles distant.
We can plainly hear the whistle of the locomotives here. There is some talk
of the United States taking part in the invasion of Mexico. France has given
us an invitation to join in with them. Some of our boys think we will be
sent there. I only hope we may; but I would sooner see this war first settled.
You think I don't like soldiering, but you are mistaken. I love my country
and for my country I will fight as long as there is any of it to do, although
I don't like fighting any better than any of the rest of the soldiers. But
I am now in the service, I will do all in my power to serve my country faithfully.
This is all I have to say, at this time, and I hope in my next I may be
able to give you more news. I send my best respects to you and the children,
hoping that you are all well and may remain so, is the wish of your son,
Lewis Abel; and my God bless and protect you.
Write as soon as you possibly can, and address your letter
to:
Lewis Abel in Major Reynolds Marine Battalion
Port Royal Harbor, S.C. N. B.
I still pray to God to protect me and lead me safely through
our troubles. I place all my faith in God, and I shall do as you say. Remember
they Creator in the days of thy youth. Good bye.
THE LANCASTER GAZETTE,
December 26,
1861. p. 3
