WARREN COUNTY IN THE WAR.
IV
UP WITH THE FLAG – JUDGE GEORGE J. SMITH ORDERS THE NATIONAL COLORS FLUNG TO THE BREEZE AT THE COURTHOUSE.
There is one patriotic page in the journal of the Warren County Common Pleas Court for the January term, 1861. On the morning of the 16th of April of that year, Judge George J. Smith, who was then upon the bench, had the following entered upon the minutes of the court for that day:
“It is ordered by the Court that the Sheriff of Warren County procure, at the expense of the county, a National Flag, and cause to be erected on the top of the court-house a suitable flag staff, and that he cause said flag to be displayed therefrom at each and every term of this court and during the time the court may remain in session.”
It was found to be inconvenient to erect the flag staff on the top of
the Court-house, and it was therefore placed in the ground a little to
the left of the front entrance to the building; and here for a long time
the stars and stripes testified to the loyal sentiment which found expression
in those days in sedate courts of justice as well as in the popular assemblages
of the people.
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A ROLL OF HONOR – COMPANY F, 12th O.V.I. – LONG MAY
THEIR NAMES BE HELD IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE – MORE INTERESTING FACTS
CONCERNING THE DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST COMPANY – ITS MEMBERS WENT
FORTH ARMED WITH TESTAMENTS AS WELL AS WITH GUNS.
In reading the series of your reminiscences of the war, and the part that Warren County took in that struggle, I will say: I remember the great meeting at Washington Hall which you mention, and well do I recall the noble boys that formed the first company from Warren County, and the great crowd that witnessed the presentation to each one of them of a pocket testament as they were drawn up in line on the west side of Broadway, before their departure to the camp for instruction preparatory to going to the front. If I remember right the testaments were presented by the Rev. Dr. Stone, at that time pastor of our Baptist Church and Capt. J. P. Gilchrist. On April 13th, 1861, the news reached Lebanon that Ft. Sumpter had been fired upon, and by April 22 a company was formed and the next morning, Tuesday, April 23, 1861, left for Camp Jackson, at Columbus.
I have a complete list of the officers and members of that company in
my possession and they are as follows:
Captain, Rigdon Williams.
First Lieutenant, James W. Roosa.
Second Lieutenant, James W. Ross.
First Sergeant, Daniel W. Pauley.
Second Sergeant, John Drake.
Third Sergeant, Frank M. Baker.
Fourth Sergeant, R. Bruce
Wilson.
First Corporal, W. Frank Yeo.
Second Corporal, Lewis McMichael.
Third Corporal, Silas W. Egbert.
Fourth Corporal, J. Durbin Ward.
Fifer, Jacob Linder.
Drummer, O. N. Tichenor.
Privates
Thinking the foregoing might be of interest and bring up the recollections of over twenty-five years ago it affords me pleasure to add this much towards the history of Warren County in the beginning of the rebellion.
Thus it will be observed that Warren county was prompt in tendering her services to the government, and among the first to send in one of the largest companies organized during the rebellion, which was assigned to the 12th O. V. I., Col. Low commanding.
I also remember that the Sabbath before the National Guards left they were drawn up in line and marched to the M. E. Church, where the Rev. Charles Ferguson preached a sermon to them.
Their first service was in Western Virginia, at Carnifax, Laurel Hill, Gauley Bridge, Rich Mountain, Scarey Creek and Greenbriar, where they acquitted themselves nobly.
About this time a company was organized at Franklin by Capt. Kell and the late General O. C. Maxwell, and which was assigned to the second Ohio, which, if I remember right, was under command of General Robert Schenck, another Warren County boy. And this was one of the first regiments to go to Washington, or Harper’s Ferry. A list of the names of the boys forming this company I do not recollect of ever seeing, but perhaps this notice will be the means of learning their names.
I thought as these facts were never published I would furnish them for the interest of the readers of your valuable paper.
Geo. W. Carey
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TAKING THE BOYS TO SOUTH LEBANON.
Mr. W. D. Mulford informs the Gazette that he took a load of boys of Co. F, 12th O. V. I., to south Lebanon, in April, 1861. On William Gallaher’s high gate post, on the road to that place, was an old musket cocked and pointed towards the South. About one hundred farmers in the vicinity of Lebanon unhitched from their plows at that time to assist in taking the boys of this company to the railroad station. The scene was in every way remarkable and memorable.
Arne H Trelvik
25 June 2011