2012 Marshall Hope Award For Most Outstanding Department Newsletter

Department of Ohio - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Volume 9, Issue 1 Autumn 2017 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

INSIDE THIS 2017 Department Encampment ISSUE: Annual Buffington Island During the most recent Department of Ohio Encampment Memorial 2 held at the Clintonville Women’s Club in Columbus on June Hardin County’s Last 10, the Brothers elected James T. Crane as the most recent Soldier Ceremony 2 Civil War Living History Department Commander to succeed Commander Peter J. Program 3 Hritsko, Jr. Other officers elected include Kerry Langdon as Ohio Leads Nation in Senior Vice-Commander and Shane Milburn as Junior Vice- Recruiting Again 3 Commander. Several Brothers were appointed to non-elected Meaning of the G.A.R. posts by the new Commander. For a full list of the Above – National CinC Membership Badge 4 Don Martin (from Ohio) Department Officers and their contact information please gives the Oath of Office In Memoriam 4 visit the Department website at www.ohiosuv.com. to the new Department 73rd O.V.I. Regiment Much was covered at the 135th Encampment including Officers at the recent Band Schedule 5 discussion of a bill currently in the Ohio Legislature whose Encampment. Spotlight on Civil War Below – New Department Memorials 5 intent is to preserve and protect military and other historic Commander Crane Wyandot County Group monuments across the state. This is especially relevant in receives his Restores Veteran light of recent events. In addition each Camp was reminded Commander’s Badge from PDC Jim Houston Grave Markers 6 that they need to acquire individual 501(c)3 status in order and CinC Martin. Meet Your New to comply with recent I.R.S. requirements as there is no Newsletter Editor 6 longer a blanket exemption for the SUVCW. Ohio House of Also a reminder - new members are the lifeblood to any Representatives organization so try to recruit as many new Brothers as Resolution 7 possible this year so we can once again receive the Augustus Ohio State Senate Resolution 8 P. Davis/Conrad Linder Award for most new recruits in the nation.

Dates to Note: Introducing New Commander James Crane

 October 7 – Central Brother James T. Crane is a current member of the William H. Lytle Regions Association Camp and served in numerous Camp offices as well as nearly all of the Conference in Westlake, Ohio major Department offices. He has also served on the SUVCW National Encampment Site Selection Committee for several years. Shortly after  November 11 – Veterans Day being installed as the new Department Commander, Crane outlined some of his goals and desires for the order during the coming year.  November 15 – One of his wishes was to restart The Buckeye Bugle which had previously Deadline for submissions to the been edited by Brother Fred Lynch. During the Encampment a Brother Winter newsletter stepped forward and volunteered to accept the responsibility of writing,  January TBA – Annual editing and issuing the newsletter. Commander Crane said: “Brothers, it is Midwinter Meeting my pleasure to present the rebirth of the Department newsletter. My thanks to Ronald Marvin, Jr., for stepping up to complete this work.” We  June TBA – 136th Annual Department look forward to receiving input from the Brothers and Camps to make this Encampment the best newsletter it can be.

Preserving the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and our ancestors who fought to save the Union 1861-65. Page 2 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Annual Buffington Island Memorial Ceremony

On June 15, the Cadot-Blessing Camp No. 126 and General Benjamin Fearing Camp No. 2 partnered with the Ohio History Connection, the Portland Community Center, and the Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation to present the annual Buffington Island Commemoration. Senior Vice-Commander Kerry Langdon was in attendance with his wife Wanda, marking her first official action as President of the Department of Ohio Auxiliary of the SUVCW. The featured speaker was Stephen Sam Hood author of The Rise, Fall and the Resurrection of a Confederate General and The Lost Papers of Confederate General John Bell Hood. The annual Buffington Island Memorial Service in Portland, Ohio, honors the men who fought and died during July 1863 in Senior Vice-Commander Kerry Landon a series of battles between John Hunt Morgan's Confederate represented the troops and Union forces. Buffington Island was considered the Department of Ohio SUVCW at the annual most important battle during Morgan’s Raid. Roughly 3,000 memorial service. Union and 1,800 Confederate forces fought here during the final battle of the Civil War to take place in Ohio.

Hardin County’s Last Civil War Soldier Ceremony

On July 22nd, the Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 hosted a ceremony at Kenton’s Grove Cemetery honoring Private John H. Smick, the last surviving Civil War veteran of Hardin County. Nearly fifty persons attended the event despite the clouds and rain. Brothers from the Parrott Camp were joined by Department of Ohio officers JVC Shane Milburn, SVC Kerry Landgon, Department and National Secretary/Treasurer Jonathan Davis, President Wanda Langdon of the Auxiliary SUVCW, Sisters from Elizabeth A. Turner Tent 23 of the DUVCW as well as members of the local community. Above – Junior Vice- The 73rd O.V.I. Regiment Band provided entertainment prior to the Commander Shane event, the Kenton High School JROTC performed Honor Guard duties, Milburn placing a wreath on Private plus Brother Brad Bailey was the featured speaker who talked about Smick’s grave. the life and military service of Private Smick, who later served as Below – The 73rd O.V.I. Hardin County Prosecuting Attorney from 1879 to 1884. Regiment Band playing prior to the ceremony. John Hare Smick was born in Canton, Ohio on January 29, 1848. He served with Company C, 2nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry from February 16, 1865 to September 11, 1865. He later moved to Ada, Ohio where he operated his father’s sawmill and studied law in his free time. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1875 and practiced law until his death on January 27, 1942. At the time of his death he was one of the last members of the G.A.R.’s Colonel Cantwell Post 91, parent Post of the Parrott Camp. THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 3

Civil War Living History Program

The William McKinley Camp No. 21 and the Ann Mariah Sterling Butterfield Auxiliary No. 77 participated in a Civil War Living History program at Lancaster, Ohio on July 22, 2017. The event featured an artillery reenactment group live firing a Civil War era cannon, several tents exhibiting period artifacts as well as selling reproduction wares. Brothers and Civil War reenactors were on hand to answer questions from the public about the war and the time period.

Above – Recruiting table set up by the Camp and WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION!! Ladies’ Auxiliary. In order to share the great work our Camps are doing and Below – Several to promote their upcoming events we need your assistance. reenactors and Brothers observe a live fire Please send your program information with dates to exercise with a civil war Brother Ken Freshley, PCinC who is serving once again as era cannon. the Department Signals Officer. The programs will be listed on a calendar on our Department website and be forwarded to Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. to be included in the revived newsletter. Brother Freshley can be contacted by email at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your assistance. We can only promote what we know about.

Ohio Leads Nation in Recruiting Again

During the recent 136th National Encampment in Lansing, Michigan on August 10-13, Commander-in-Chief Donald L. Martin had the honor of bestowing the Augustus P. Davis/Conrad Linder Award to Ohio for the most new recruits during the previous year. Ohio recruited 54 new members under the leadership of our fellow Brother. At the same meeting it was announced that Brother David Rish from Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 was the first recipient of Above – Brother David Rish, first recipient of the new the newly renamed David R. Medert Award for the most new David R. Medert Award. recruits during the previous year with 13 Brothers brought in. Below – Former National Brother Rish had received the last five B. F. Stephenson Commander-in-Chief and Department of Ohio Awards for the most new recruits in the Nation. Commander David R. Medert The award was originally named for Benjamin Franklin wearing a Civil War Stephenson, the founder of the Grand Army of the Republic. It uniform. was renamed for Brother Medert from the Department of Ohio who was renowned for his recruiting. Reportedly he recruited 75 Brothers in a single year during one of his terms as Department Commander in 1991 and 1992. Along with Brother Rish, Brother Steve Flickinger from Sherman Camp No. 93 received the National Aide Award for recruiting at least five new members during the previous year. Just as Ohio was one of the leading states in recruiting volunteers for the Civil War, it is once again leading the way in recruits to honor our ancestors who served during the war. Page 4 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Meaning of the G.A.R. Membership Badge

To the left is an image of the Series IV membership badge worn by comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic. The basic design of the badge was introduced in 1869 and was slightly modified over the years. It resembled the early version of the causing the Nation’s highest military honor to be redesigned to avoid confusion. Original versions of the badge were reportedly made of bronze melted down from enemy cannons captured during the Civil War.

The pendant is a five pointed star and imagery on the badge represents the Sons of Union Veterans basic tenants of the group. The obverse features the Goddess of Liberty in the of the Civil War center, representing Loyalty, and beside her a soldier and a sailor stand clasping Department of Ohio hands representing Fraternity. Two children are kneeling in front to receive the benediction and assurance of protection from comrades representing Charity. The Buckeye Bugle is the On one side of this group is a flag and eagle representing Freedom and the other unofficial newsletter Below: A published quarterly to solid gold side has an ax and bundle of rods representing the Union. The five points of the inform and educate G.A.R. pendant feature the emblems of the different arms of service - bugle for Infantry, members of the SUVCW badge cannon for Artillery, muskets for Marines, swords for Cavalry, and an anchor for Department of Ohio. presented Sailors. In the center are the words Grand Army of the Republic 1861-Veterans- Photos in this issue to Ulysses 1866 which commemorates the beginning of the Civil War and the founding of the courtesy of Harry Haggard, S. Grant on order the year following the end of the war. Ken Freshley, Kerry Langdon, Ronald Marvin, December On the reverse is a laurel branch representing Victory, and the National Shield Jr., ohiosuv.com, and Dan 18, 1879. surrounded by Corps badges, each on an interlocking keystone representing how Robinson. they are united to protect the Union. Early clasps featured ribbons with laurel

Items for possible wreaths designating various offices in the order. The clasp on the Series IV badge publication should be sent is an eagle with crossed cannons and ammunition, representing Defense. The by email to: clasp and medal are united by the national flag, which is the ribbon of the order. [email protected] The medals were only to be presented to members in good standing and were Ronald Marvin, Jr. not to be sold or replicated. They were to be worn only at post meetings, G.A.R. Editor encampments, or any patriotic ceremony where the members desired to be recognized as veterans of the Civil War. Today these medals are highly prized souvenirs of the organization fetching high prices on the open market in direct contrast to their original intent. In Memoriam

The following is a list of Brothers who have passed in 2016 and 2017:

Richard H. Calendine (17 June 2016) - Governor William Dennison Camp No. 1

William Fugitt (7 September 2016) – Pvt. Valentine Keller Camp No. 8

Bradford Miter (8 November 2016) – William T. Sherman Camp No. 93

George H. Knell (2 March 2017) – General William McLaughlin Camp No. 12

J. Kenneth Wilson (15 April 2017) – General William H. Lytle Camp No. 10

Boyd B. Weber (18 April 2017) – James A. Garfield Camp No. 142

Ronnie D. Cox (9 June 2017) – Henry Casey Camp No. 92

Ronald I. Marvin, Sr. (5 August 2017) – Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 5

73rd O.V.I. Regiment Band

Band Schedule

October 1, 2017 ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY CWRT CONCERT Chillicothe, Ohio

October 14, 2017 OTTAWA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ENCAMPMENT Marblehead, Ohio

November 18, 2017 GETTYSBURG PARADE Gettysburg Pennsylvania

June 23-24, 2018 MIAMISBURG BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Miamisburg, Ohio

For additional information please check out their website at: http://73rdoviregimentband.weebly.com/

Spotlight on Civil War Memorials

Shortly after the turn of the 20th century residents of Jackson Township in Allen County decided to honor veterans of the Civil War from the area. They raised funds to erect a sixteen foot tall monument including a six foot tall Soldier at Parade Rest statue atop a sandstone base which was placed on North High Street in the center of Lafayette, Ohio. The front of the monument featured a carved G.A.R. badge and verse from William Cullen Bryant’s poem The Battlefield: Ah! never shall the land forget. How flowed the life blood of her brave Gushed warm with hope and courage yet. Upon the soil they fought to save. The monument and small park surrounding it was formally dedicated on July 4, 1903 and was Dedicated to the Memory of her soldiers of 1861-1865 according to the inscription on the back. It quickly became the focal point of numerous Memorial View of the restored Civil War Monument Day programs in the village. with Soldier at Parade Over the course of one hundred years the old monument Rest statue dedicated to local veterans and suffered damage and about 2003 the community raised located in downtown approximately $30,000 to restore the monument including Lafayette, Ohio. cleaning the discolored stone base, replace missing elements of the statue, remove and restore the original cast iron fence, and install a memorial garden surrounding the base. Page 6 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Wyandot County Group Restores Veteran Grave Markers

In Wyandot County, a public/private partnership has been formed to restore damaged grave markers of veterans throughout the approximately 100 township cemeteries scattered across the county. Spearheaded by the Veterans Heritage Foundation, the group is initially focusing on 400 large markers representing veterans of all wars. Over the last couple of years, former County Commissioner Mike Wheeler has led crews of students and volunteers to clean and straighten leaning government markers. These included the grave markers of several Civil War veterans. The first marker repaired by the new partnership was that of Private Reuban Ingman (Company C, 180th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry) who died while on active duty at Louisville, Kentucky on February 8, 1865. His family placed a large stone monument for him containing three pieces of granite stacked upon each other of which Above – Side view of the top spire had toppled off over time. The hillside where the marker Private Reuben Ingman’s grave marker in Ingman sat eroded and needed to be repaired before the stone could be reset. Cemetery following its Once this work was completed the monument was restored to its restoration. former glory.

Meet Your New Department Newsletter Editor

During the most recent Department of Ohio Encampment, Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. of Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 offered his services to help restart the newsletter. He has many years of experience writing articles, editing, and publishing newsletters for various museums he has worked for. A member of the Camp since 2012, Marvin is currently the Patriotic Instructor Officer and has held numerous offices for the Parrott Camp including Camp Commander, Senior Vice-Commander, Junior Vice-Commander, Guard, and Scribe/Reporter. A veteran of the Army and Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm, Marvin annually participates in the Kenton Memorial Day Parade and Grove Cemetery Services, places flags on veterans’ graves in cemeteries throughout Hardin County as well as hosts a Veterans Day program at the Wyandot County Museum. Brother Marvin holds a BA from the University of South Dakota in History and Archaeology and an MA from the University of Nebraska in Museum Studies. He currently resides in Kenton and has served as Above – Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. standing in the Director/Curator for the Wyandot County Historical Society in front of the Cantwell Upper Sandusky since 2011. Marvin has an extensive list of Post monument and cannon in Kenton’s publications and has written several local history articles about Grove Cemetery. Nearby Hardin and Wyandot Counties. Currently, he is researching the is the grave of Jacob Parrott, his Camp’s locations and histories of the Grand Army of the Republic Posts in namesake. Ohio as well as their namesakes. THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 7

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