2012 Marshall Hope Award For Most Outstanding Department Newsletter

Department of - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War

Volume 10, Issue 2 Winter 2018 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

INSIDE THIS 2018 National S.U.V.C.W. Encampment ISSUE: A contingent of eighteen Brothers from the Department of Ohio 2 – Greencastle Cemetery travelled to Framingham, Massachusetts to attend the 137th Work Receives Award National Encampment of the S.U.V.C.W., formally referred to as the Annual Encampment of the Allied Orders of the Grand Army 2 – Parrott Barn Mural of the Republic. During the meeting, several Brothers from Ohio received National Awards which will be described later in this 3 – Various Camp Activities newsletter. 3 – Brothers Recognized at During the meetings, Brother Peter J. Hritsko, Jr., PDC, was Above – The Department of Ohio was well National Encampment elected to the Council of Administration joining Brother represented at the Jonathan Davis, PDC, who continued in his role of National National Encampment in 4 – Casey Camp Attends Secretary, as currently elected National Officers hailing from the Massachusetts. New Holland Bicentennial Below – Group picture of Department of Ohio. the 2018 National 4 – Civil War Research Links The 2019 National Encampment will be held near S.U.V.C.W. Officers. for the first time since 1947, marking the first time the 5 – Wyandot County Department of Ohio has hosted since the 122nd Encampment Infirmary Memorial outside Cincinnati in 2003. We expect a large turnout from the

5 – Spotlight on Civil War Department Brothers, as well as our Sisters, to honor the Boys Memorials & Monuments in Blue who served from Ohio. More information about the Encampment will be made available as the program and 6 – OVI Legacy on Lake Erie associated activities are finalized.

7 – Researching & Building G.A.R. Post Rosters Message From Commander Kerry Langdon

8 – 2019 Civil War Themed Programs Across Ohio Brothers, it has been a very busy few months! I have personally installed the Officers of eleven camps to date. It has been great to have the opportunity to spend time getting to 9 – Camp Installations know the various Brothers and Camps better. I can say without hesitation that the Department of Ohio, S.U.V.C.W. is a dedicated, patriotic, hard working group of men. 10 – Wreaths Across America Camps have taken part in living history events, reenactments, parades, and other historic events. Let’s keep up the good work. In 2019, I would like to see us focus more on getting the word out to the press and media and social networking outlets. Many people still do Dates to Note: not know who we are. It is important that we reach out to other groups and organizations and collaborate and share information. Do the Chamber of Commerce and Historical and  March 1 – Deadline for submissions to the Genealogical societies in your area have contact information for your Camp? How about a Spring newsletter local Civil War Round Table? I have found that group to be excellent for recruiting. Let’s make 2019 a great year and make the S.U.V.C.W. something that comes to everyone’s  May 30 – Decoration mind when they think of the Civil War. Day aka As I have traveled across the state, I have talked with many of you about mid-winter  June 8 – 137th meetings and received mixed responses. While some think they are valuable for getting Department of Ohio together and building fellowship, most of you think too few attend to make them Encampment in worthwhile. There is also no budget this year as the line item was preempted last year for Clintonville much needed advertising and recruiting so we will not have a Mid-winter Meeting this  August 8-11 – 138th year. However, I am asking all Department Officers and Camp Commanders to submit a National S.U.V.C.W. report of activities by January 30th. Encampment in Our Department Encampment will take place on June 8, 2019 at the Clintonville Independence Women’s Club in Columbus, a central location for all. Details will follow. Please put this

date on your calendar.

Preserving the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and our ancestors who fought to save the Union 1861-1865. Page 2 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

General U. S. Grant Visited Montgomery County Sherman Camp 93 Brothers presented the Colors and afterwards shared time and history with Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant (portrayed by Curt Fields) at the Old Montgomery County Court House during his visit as guest speaker to the Lincoln Society of Dayton on September 10. The Brothers lined up four across with guns and flags, accompanying General Grant, followed by a rear guard. The program was held inside due to bad weather. Attendees said it looked great. Above: General U. S. Grant visited the new Boys in Blue in Dayton on September 10. Greencastle Cemetery Work Receives Award Below: Sherman Camp Brothers pose with their award and recognition signs. General William T. Sherman Camp 93 and Sister Anthony O’Connell Auxiliary 10 representatives accepted a City of Dayton Quarterly “City Beautiful Award” at the City Commission meeting on October 17. The award recognizes the Camp’s community service project to restore and maintain the grounds and veterans’ graves at historic Old Greencastle Cemetery. City officials praised numerous accomplishments there including cutting the grass, removing branches and debris, repairing and lighting the flag pole, installing tombstones upon previously unmarked graves of Civil War soldiers and sailors, and placing flag holders and American flags on the graves of veterans from all eras buried at the cemetery. Civil War Veteran Graves Recorded in Ohio

Brothers, as the Department of Ohio Graves Registration Officer, I am very proud to announce that Ohio now has over 75,000 veterans’ final resting places registered on the National S.U.V.C.W. Graves Registration Database. To everyone who has spent time working on this important project, you have my thanks and more importantly, the thanks of our ancestors in blue. Let us take pride in what we have accomplished so far and roll up our sleeves and continue to add to the database. 75,000 is a big number, but we have many more that need to be worked on. Carry on! – Brother Kent Dorr via Facebook First Lieutenant Jacob Parrott Barn Mural

Earlier this year the distributed a press release which described the history of the Ohio History Barn mural project and outlined the history of Lieutenant Jacob Parrott, a Civil war veteran from Ohio who would be one of the first persons honored with a mural. The first mural is a partnership between the Ohio History Connection and the Hardin County Historical Museums, Inc. Parrott, born in Ross County but a long-time resident of Kenton, received the commendation on March 25, 1863 for his service when he and eighteen other Raiders commandeered a Confederate train, led by the locomotive General, north of Atlanta, Georgia on April 12, 1862. Known as both the and Andrews’ Raid, Parrott and the Raiders took the train northward to Chattanooga, Tennessee, destroying as much of the vital supply rail line as possible along the way. The Confederate engineer and conductor from the train followed them north in another engine known as the Above – The mural Texas. After eight-seven miles, the chase ended leading to the capture of the Raiders. Parrott, a Private from which was dedicated Company K, 33rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was imprisoned but later escaped. He was recaptured, on October 12. tortured, and eventually exchanged. Later, he was one of six soldiers who met with President on Below – Barn artist March 25, 1863. Reportedly as the youngest there, he was honored by War Secretary with the first Scott Hagan is seen . Eighteen of the twenty-four Raiders subsequently received the award following Parrott. tracing the image of This mural, part of the Ohio History Barn program, is a partnership between the Ohio History Connection and the mural onto the the Hardin County Historical Museums, Inc. The mural is the work of painter Scott Hagan who painted each of barn at night. the eighty-eight Ohio Bicentennial Barns in 2002-2003. Hagen employed the hand painting techniques he has developed over several years and used a design formulated by the Columbus-area graphic designer David Browning. Lieutenant Jacob Parrott, who received the nation’s first Medal of Honor, is highlighted on the first Ohio History Barn mural which was unveiled on October 12. The mural, which also features an image of the medal, is located on the side of a white barn owned by Arthur and Charlene Bingham, 19691 U. S. Route 68, situated about seven miles south of Kenton. Parrott is depicted as a First Lieutenant in the mural although his actions which led to the award occurred while he was a Private. Among the Ohio History Connection staff, local historians, and dignitaries present at the unveiling was Gordon Smith who posed for pictures in front of the mural of his great-grandfather Jacob Parrott during its unveiling. Smith is a member of the Jacob Parrott Camp 33 located in Kenton. Interestingly, Smith is also a great–grandson of Andrew’s Raider and Medal of Honor recipient Wilson W. Brown. Parrott’s son John Marion married Brown’s daughter Edith Gertrude. THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 3

Lytle Camp’s Annual Namesake Commemoration

The annual graveside service recognizing the legacy of General William H. Lytle was held at Cincinnati’s Spring Grove Cemetery on September 16, 2018. The service included remarks and introductions by Lytle Camp Commander Todd Mayer. Department of Ohio Commander Kerry Langdon spoke about the “Heroism and Heritage” of General Lytle and Sister Wanda Langdon, National Chaplain of the Auxiliary of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, spoke of his “Family and Legacy” during the ceremony. The Lytle Camp 10 commemorated the 155th anniversary of the death of Brigadier General William H Lytle at the Battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. Completely Above – (left to right) Brothers Jim Houston, Richard Davis, surrounded by General Longstreet’s troops, he knew the situation was dire. So he mounted Michael Mershon, Larry Collins, his horse with sword in hand and announced to his troops “All right, men, we can die but Sister Jenna Osborn, Camp once. This is the time and place. Let us charge.” Leading the charge, Lytle quickly took a Commander Todd Mayer, Sister bullet in the spine, but he managed to stay on his horse trying to rally his troops until Wanda Langdon, Department three more bullets knocked him to the ground. A brave American and Cincinnati hero. Commander Kerry Langdon, Brothers Woody Cook, Rob Kidd and William West, III. Below – (Left to right) Lytle Civil War & Gettysburg Educational Program Camp Brothers Don Vogel, Department Commander On October 22, Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. had the opportunity in his dual capacities as Kerry Langdon, Woody Cook, Larry Collins and William the Director/Curator of the Wyandot County Museum and Patriotic Instruction Officer for West at the Glendower Mansion the Jacob Parrott Camp 33 to present a program about Wyandot County during the Civil Civil War Encampment on War and soldiers from northwestern Ohio who participated in the . September 29. The day-long program was presented to one hundred and thirty-nine eighth grade students and their teacher at Upper Sandusky Middle School to get them prepared for their annual trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The students had not yet studied the Civil War so this program served as a primer for them and gave them some basic background about the conflict before their trip. Brother Marvin also provided information about the G.A.R. as well as local posts and monuments located in Wyandot County. In the spring the students will conduct family genealogy research so at the end of each period’s presentation, Marvin gave them some local Civil War genealogy leads and put in a plug for Junior membership in the S.U.V.C.W. and the Allied Orders.

Several Brothers Recognized at National Encampment

During the 137th Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War National Encampment, Commander-in-Chief Mark Day presented National Awards to several Brothers from the Department of Ohio on August 10, 2018. In addition, Past Department of Ohio Commander Peter J. Hritsko, Jr. from James A. Garfield Camp 142 was elected to the Council of Administration, continuing the long tradition of national office holders hailing from the Department of Ohio. Past National Commander-in-Chief Robert Grim, a charter member of Henry Casey Camp 92, received the Elmer (Bud) Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award. This award Above: PCinC Robert Grim recognizes Brothers of the Order who have a minimum of thirty years with the Order and (left) poses with his have provided significant and continuous support over that entire timeframe as either a award and Brother full member or an associate. Joshua Cassio stands at attention during a Past Department of Ohio Commander Fred Lynch from General William Sherman Memorial Day ceremony. Camp 93 was awarded the Meritorious Service Award. Brother Lynch was commended Below: Brother David Rish among his numerous accomplishments for his service as a member of the National receives his annual National Aide Award from Strategic Development Committee currently helping to shape the future of the Department Commander S.U.V.C.W. The citation on his award reads in part: “In recognition of exceptional service Kerry Langdon on in upholding the mission and objectives of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.” December 17th. Junior Member Joshua Cassio from Henry Casey Camp 92 was presented with the John Clem Award as the Most Outstanding Junior Member in recognition of his numerous activities on behalf of his Camp and the S.U.V.C.W. promoting and honoring the “Boys in Blue.” Ending his multi-year reign as the B. F. Stephenson Award and David R. Medert Award recipient for recruiting the Nation’s most new members, Brother David Rish from Jacob Parrott Camp 33 received his seventh straight National Aide Award for recruiting. Page 4 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Casey Camp Attends New Holland Bicentennial

On September 1, several Brothers from Henry Casey Camp 92 participated in the New Holland Bicentennial Celebration. Members of Company C, 20th Ohio

Volunteer Infantry, the Sons of Veterans Reserve Unit for the Casey Camp, encamped along Main Street beside numerous other vendors and exhibitors as they partook in the daylong celebration. The community was originally founded Sons of Union Veterans in 1818 as Flemingsburgh. The Brothers shared information about the Boys in of the Civil War Department of Ohio Blue and the Grand Army of the Republic, displayed clothing and equipment like that used by soldiers during the Civil War, and promoted the S.U.V.C.W. The Buckeye Bugle is the unofficial newsletter published quarterly to inform and educate WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION!! members of the SUVCW In order to share the great work our Camps are Department of Ohio. doing and to promote their upcoming events we Articles for possible Below: Left to right: need your assistance. Please send your program publication should be sent Brothers Ray Fanin, information with dates to Brother Brian Brown by email to the Editor at: Chris Grim, Shane [email protected] Milburn, State who is serving as the Department Signals Officer. Senator Bob Peterson, The programs will be listed on a calendar on our Ronald I. Marvin, Jr. Bob Grim, James Department website and be forwarded to Brother Editor Grim, and Shawn Cox. Ronald Marvin, Jr. to be included in the next newsletter. Brother Brown can be contacted by email at [email protected]. Thank you in advance for your assistance. We can only highlight or promote what we know about.

Research Links for Civil War Veterans If you are researching your Civil War ancestors from Ohio or notice government grave markers in local cemeteries with Union Regiments from outside of Ohio, these links may provide you with some assistance in tracking down the veteran’s military service during the war.

California: http://www.militarymuseum.org/HistoryCW.html Connecticut: https://cdm15019.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p128501coll2/id/177208 Delaware: https://web.archive.org/web/20130424214031/http://www.bitsofblueandgray.com/roster.htm Indiana: https://www.in.gov/iara/2521.htm Illinois: https://civilwar.illinoisgenweb.org/reg_html/index.html Iowa: https://www.accessgenealogy.com/military/iowa-civil-war-regiments-rosters-and-muster-rolls.htm Kansas: https://www.kshs.org/p/civil-war-veterans-in-kansas/11179 Massachusetts: http://www.massachusettscivilwar.com/soldiers.asp Michigan: http://www.migenweb.org/michiganinthewar/rosters.htm Minnesota: https://ia902308.us.archive.org/9/items/minnesotacivil01minnrich/minnesotacivil01minnrich.pdf Nebraska: https://history.nebraska.gov/collections/nebraska-civil-war-veterans-database New York: https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/civil/ New Jersey: https://www.njstatelib.org/wp-content/uploads/slic_files/searchable_publications/civilwar/NJCWidx1.html Ohio: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000454243 Pennsylvania: http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/index.html Wisconsin: http://genealogytrails.com/wis/CivilWarIndex.html

National Park Service Civil War Soldiers Database: https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm Ohio Genealogical Society Soldiers in Ohio Units Database: https://www.ogs.org/cwc/search_ohcwsscwc.php THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 5

Wyandot County Infirmary Cemetery Memorial

On Saturday, October 20, approximately two hundred persons attended the dedication ceremony for the new Wyandot County Infirmary Cemetery Memorial on the grounds of the Wyandot County Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center north of Upper Sandusky. The Infirmary was established in 1871 and the first known burial in the small nearby cemetery was the following year. Residents and locals continued to be buried until at least 1918. However, no permanent markers were placed at the head of the graves. Seven years after the final known burial, the Hocking Valley Railroad paid two itinerant workers to remove two rows of graves so they Above – Dedication could double track the existing railroad. The cemetery’s location was known at least through the 1930s when ceremony for the the Works Progress Administration recorded the cemetery location. Eventually its exact location was lost to completed memorial. current memory. A list of the eighty-two known burials was compiled in the early 1980s for a Wyandot County Below – Brother cemetery publication. Ronald Marvin placed About three years ago, a group of local residents with relatives buried in the cemetery or a general curiosity a wreath from the about the location of the cemetery began separate independent research projects with the goal of relocating it. local historical society at the Civil These individuals were eventually connected with each other and formed a Memorial Committee under the War veteran markers. leadership of Mary Reinhart. The group brought in experts to search for the cemetery. Without much success, they later developed a plan to place a permanent memorial near the location of the missing cemetery. Following over a year of research, planning, design, and fundraising, the brick memorial was constructed just outside the nursing facility. A large bronze plaque on the monument honors the one hundred and nineteen known persons buried in the cemetery with two smaller plaques on the reverse honoring two Civil War veterans buried there (Army Private John Burk and Navy Gunner Robert Bovard). A dedication ceremony with full military honors was held on the 20th. This memorial will serve as a permanent monument to these forgotten individuals. Spotlight on Civil War Memorials & Monuments

Union Cemetery located in Uhrichsville, Ohio (Tuscarawas County) features one of the most unique Civil War memorials in the state. The Soldiers’ Monument was sculpted by Cross & Rowe of Bedford, Indiana. It was erected by the Welsh Post, Grand Army of the Republic on May 30, 1891 at a cost of $3,400. The monument was carved out of limestone in a rustic style which was popular during the Victorian Era of the late 1800s. The unique sculpture features a 21 foot tall tree in the center surrounded by various elements including two life size soldiers, one standing and another one lying down who appears to have been wounded, a wagon wheel, cannon barrel, and a squirrel holding an acorn. The broken tree is considered the symbol of a life cut short or the end of a life’s journey. The wagon wheel is broken, the circle being incomplete at the bottom Top – C. 1910 Postcard image with its spokes dangling unattached. The wheel is considered a metaphor for the of the Soldiers’ Monument in circle of life which was broken by death. Uhrichsville’s Union Cemetery A circular cast iron fence surrounds the monument which is known as the Middle – Postcard showing the “Civil War Ring” or the “Civil War Circle” and is located in the west central monument surrounded by portion of the cemetery. The middle image to the left shows some rather large nearly three dozen Civil War veterans’ grave markers. oversized flag holders/medallions beside the government grave markers. Bottom – Current image Eventually forty-three Civil War veterans were buried in the Circle surrounding showing the restored Soldiers’ the monument with Private Obediah DeLong being buried inside the Circle near Monument in the cemetery. the rear of the monument. BabRhetta Maxwell, a former Uhrichsville resident and professional genealogist from Suffolk, Virginia, researched the lives of the forty-four veterans and wrote a book about them for the Tuscarawas County Genealogy Society. In the early-1980s, there was some vandalism at the monument which spurred local action to repair the veterans’ monument. The Claymont Jaycees led an effort to restore the monument in the mid-1980s. They hired conservator Steven J. Wisenbaugh to oversee the restoration project. The restored statue was unveiled on November 11, 1986 and the monument was rededicated on May 25, 1987. A bronze plaque located on the fence nearby notes that it was “Dedicated to the men and women who have served and defended their country.” The Buckeye Chapter of a group known as SkillsUSA worked with the Tuscarawas County Veterans’ Service Office to replace eighteen illegible veteran grave markers in the Civil War Ring with new ones from the government and acquire a marker for one veteran (Private Joseph Johnson of Company C, 4th Regiment, Colored Infantry) who had never received one. These markers were installed and dedicated in time for the Memorial Day ceremonies on May 29, 2017.

Page 6 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Ohio Civil War Infantry Leaves Legacy on Lake Erie

By Laura Johnston at cleveland.com

The Legacy of the 103rd OVI Sheffield Lake, Ohio — The men numbered just over 1,000, leaving Cuyahoga, Lorain and Medina counties to form the 103rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Union Army. Two hundred thirty-seven of them never came home. But the rest never wanted to lose touch. So they gathered for an annual reunion. And then they brought their wives and children. And then they bought 5 acres on Lake Erie as a permanent gathering space, with a mess hall and dance hall and barracks. They all still stand in Sheffield Lake, along with 28 white-sided cottages with black shutters. And they still gather -- hundreds of great grandchildren and great-greats and great-great-greats -- every August in their bucolic headquarters on the shores of Lake Erie. “We are the only place like this,” said Deborah Wagner, 59, whose great-great grandfather fought in the 103rd. “The only organization that was started by veterans and based on descendancy and has been preserved.” Marching Through the Civil War The men of the 103rd had three weeks of training at Camp Cleveland. Then they were sent to southern Ohio to fight off the Confederate Morgan’s Raiders. Then they marched south to Atlanta. They were infantry, which meant no horses and no artillery. They walked. “After three years of living together, camping together, trying to stay alive together, they went home to their farms,” Wagner said. “They were fighting side by side, sleeping side by side, literally foraging for food.” Telling Their Stories The first floor of the museum at the 103rd compound is dedicated to the unit’s three years of fighting. There are artifacts from the battlefield, dress coats from the captains, the fife carried on to the battlefield and more. The unit included prominent Cleveland architect Levi Scofield, who designed the Cuyahoga Soldiers and Sailors monument; railroad magnate John Casement; a 14-year-old drummer named Andy Parsons; and Sgt. Timothy Metzger, Wagner’s great-great grandfather. Celebrating the Reunions The second floor of the museum includes photos and memorabilia from the group’s reunions, which have met every year on the shores of Lake Erie since 1908. The museum, itself on the register of National Historic Places, was once the barracks for reunion guests, with eight rooms downstairs, eight upstairs and big porches on the front and back. The walls are covered with black-and-white photos, first of Civil War veterans, and then of their descendants. Meeting on Lake Erie The veterans wrote a book together about the Civil War, titled “Personal Reminiscences and Experiences.” They began meeting in 1867 in Cleveland. Over time, they began bringing their wives and children. In 1908, they bought five acres on Lake Erie in Sheffield Lake, raising money by buying $5 shares. ”They decided we should buy a piece of land so we always have a place to meet,” Wagner said. Over time, they built the mess hall, the dance hall and the barracks, which bears a sign spelling ELFORDILNO — the first parts of each of four key men’s names. They even formed a corporation to own the land. The corporation, along with the foundation and the Sons and Daughters association, still exist to oversee the organization. Living on Lake Erie Families have always set up camp for the reunion. But cottages starting going up in the early 20th century. Now there are 28, 26 of which are winterized. Wagner grew up here, roaming the grounds and playing hide and seek. Then she bought her own place here. Her youngest sister takes care of their dad in the family home, and their older sister lives kitty corner, and their cousins live across the sidewalk. They own the homes, but not the land. And in order to live here, or come to the reunions, they must be a direct descendant by blood, marriage or adoption. ”I hope they’re proud,” Wagner said. “It’s a very unique place. It’s a gift. It’s a privilege to be a member here.” Kim Leitch, who organized this year's reunion, agreed. “It’s hard to describe the relationship between OVIers,” said organizer Kim Leitch. “When the friendship goes back so far that you can say that your grandparents or even your great grandparents were friends, it’s hard to describe it other than to say ‘you’re family.’” Remembering the Past Hundreds of people came for a few weeks ago for the 2018 reunion, which like always included children’s games, religious services, swimming off the pier, bands, dinners, dances, daily lowering the flag, game nights and a memorial service. It’s eight days of laughing and telling stories and seeing friends and family you only get to see once a year. People play pranks. Kids throw toilet paper in the trees and put on their own show. “When asking off from work, you always get asked, ‘Why would you spend five of your vacation days to go to a Civil War camp in Ohio?’” Leitch said. “But it’s worth it, because what the 103rd means to all of us. It’s a time where we can disconnect from the world and for eight days straight, just hang out with friends and family.” Inviting the Public “Then all of a sudden it becomes like a ghost town around here,” Wagner said. ‘It’s like post-Christmas. When you take your decorations down and everything is bare and empty.” It’s not bare, though. It’s idyllic, the pretty houses laced with flowers, overlooking the lake. And you can visit. The museum is open by appointment, by emailing through the website. It sees about 500 visitors a year, including school and scouts groups. Anyone can visit during the 103rd’s four annual pancake breakfast fundraisers. All-you-can-eat pancakes cost $6.

{https://www.cleveland.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/bf921487c45504/ohio-civil-war-infantry-leaves.html} THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 7

Researching and Building an Ohio G.A.R. Post Roster By Kent Dorr, Department of Ohio Graves Registration Officer

As Brothers of the S.U.V.C.W., we are heirs and keepers of the history of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.). And as such, we should be the best resource to anyone who asks if their Union ancestor was a member of the G.A.R. and what Post he might have belonged to. Sadly, it’s a fact that our patriotic ancestors did a poor job in preserving their records; so today many Department and Post records are long lost or scattered in various collections and locations. Luckily, some resources exist that give researchers a starting point in building Post rosters. While the G.A.R. was actually formed in 1866, the Order really took hold in the 1880s when many of the local G.A.R. Posts were chartered. Among Ohio’s 88 counties, some 800 plus Posts functioned over a 60 year span with the year 1890 being the peak in terms of overall membership. Posts within a given Ohio county typically had hundreds of members in the larger Posts, which were usually located in the county seat. Smaller Posts populated the lesser communities of the county and usually had 50 or less members. These smaller Posts typically had a shorter life span as the veterans began to die off heading into the next century. Once a Post reached the point where its membership was too small or indifferent to carry on, the Post disbanded and surrendered its’ charter. Remaining brothers of these Posts could transfer their membership to the nearby largest one, helping to keep these Posts going. In the 1880s when the G.A.R. was rapidly growing, a large publishing company named Hardesty put out an oversized work called the Military . The front portion of each volume was the same, but the back of the book was a special county history area filled with lists of soldiers from the given county as well as small regimental histories. For example, the Hardesty volume for Marion County lists men who served from Marion County during the conflict and the units they served in. Of great value to Ohio G.A.R. historians, are rosters of the various local G.A.R. Posts for the early 1880’s years. In addition to Post rosters, the entries usually give a brief history of the Post, whom it was named for, and sometimes lists of the Post officers for those years. Unfortunately, Hardesty volumes are not known to exist for every county in Ohio including some the larger ones such as Cuyahoga. However, the 60 or so Hardestys that are known are a great place to start in building early Post rosters as the information came directly from the Posts at that time. Most of the larger local libraries have at least the county volume and other libraries, such the Ohio History Connection and the Ohio Genealogical Society, have collections of Hardestys. The next step in building a Post roster is to attempt to determine Post membership totals over time and to add new members who joined their Post after the Hardestys were published. The research resource to do this is the annually published Journals of the Ohio Department Encampments. These yearly journals are the record of the reports and proceedings of the annual encampment of the Ohio Dept. of the G.A.R. for the years covering 1880 to the 1940s. Of specific value to Post researchers, each Encampment Journal listed a Roster of all the Ohio Posts including each Posts membership (in good standing) totals as well as identifying the Post Commander and delegates to that year’s meeting. In addition, each yearly Journal published a Memorial or Death Roll of all the members of each Post who had been reported to have died in the previous year. Both the deceased list and the Post membership information help add new members to the Post rosters who would’ve joined after the Hardesty volumes were published. Digital copies of about twenty years of the Journals are available on the internet thru the Hathi Trust Digital Library. The Ohio History Connection and other large libraries have collections of the yearly journals. Not to be overlooked is the possibility that original records may exist for a Post being researched. While relatively small compared to what once existed, Post records can be a good avenue to pursue to help flesh out Post rosters. As these elusive records are scattered in libraries, museum collections, and in private hands, the key is in knowing where to look. Fortunately Past Ohio Dept. Commander Chuck Reeves spent many years as the Dept. G.A.R. Records officer and compiled a very helpful catalog of known Ohio G.A.R. records and where they may be found. The catalog is available to search thru the National S.U.V.C.W. website. The most valuable Post record to find is the Post’s Descriptive Book. These large volumes, when properly filled out (and many weren’t), contain biographical information about each veteran of the Post, including his regiment/unit, term of service, and personal memories of his wartime experiences. I have seen noted in these Post volumes records of where the Post helped bury a Brother at the date of his death. Newspaper articles are another great resource in tracing the history of a Post and its membership. Local libraries have microfilm copies of years’ worth of local newspapers and newer digital collections such as Newspapers.com offer the ability to use search engines to pinpoint articles pertaining the Posts. These are especially useful for the larger Posts which were located in cities supporting daily newspapers. I have also found articles published years after a Post’s demise, giving historical backgrounds on the Post and its members. Obituaries of known Post members can also help in revealing other Post Brothers who may be mentioned. The building of Ohio G.A.R. Post rosters on my part has entailed creating Excel files for each Post within a county. Currently, I have created Post Roster files for 75 Posts over a nine county area which includes Richland, Crawford, Ashland, Huron, Delaware, Wyandot, Knox, Marion, and Morrow counties. I was fortunate that a Hardesty volume existed for each of the nine counties, giving me starting rosters for many of the Posts. Each Post roster file lists a member’s name, unit, dates of service, birth and death dates, date of mustering into G.A.R., and burial location. The latter is helpful in adding the veterans to the National S.U.V.C.W. Graves Registration Database. (G.A.R. Post Roster article is continued on page ten)

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Sample of 2019 Civil War Themed Programs Across Ohio

Union Generals of the Civil War Program at Mentor Public Library – Mentor (January 9)

Civil War Lecture Series by Cleveland at Judson Manor – Cleveland (January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10 & May 8)

Grande Winter Ball at – Columbus (January 26)

Civil War Pensions Program at Cuyahoga Valley Genealogy Society – Independence (February 4)

Ohio Regimental Military Ball at McKinley Grand Hotel – Canton (February 16)

Causes of the Civil War Seminar Hosted by Ashbrook Center at Ashland University – Ashland (February 23)

American Civil War Museum of Ohio Reopens for the Season – Tiffin (March 6)

Ohio at War Series (Civil War Session) at – Columbus (March 20)

United States Colored Troops Program at William Street United Methodist Church – Delaware (March 21)

Civil War Themed Escape Room at Hayes Presidential Center – Fremont (March 22, 23, 29 & 30)

Researching Civil War Ancestors Program at Southern Ohio Genealogical Society – Hillsboro (April 11)

Civil War Encampment & Repose of Lincoln at Ohio Statehouse – Columbus (April 29)

Ohio Civil War & Artillery Show at Richland County Fairgrounds – Mansfield (May 4 & 5)

123rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry & Libby Prison Program at Wyandot County Museum – Upper Sandusky (May 23)

Civil War History Day at Pioneer Village – Smithville (June 15)

138th Annual Encampment of the Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic – Independence (August 8-11)

Civil War Weekend at Hale Farm & Village – Bath (August 10 & 11)

Civil War Reenactment at Historic Zoar Village – Zoar (September 6-8)

Cleveland’s James A. Garfield Camp 142 recently celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with a gathering of Camp Brothers as well as several invited and special guests at Wagners of Westlake on September 22. The evening’s festivities included a formal dinner followed by a specially designed S.U.V.C.W. cake and an appearance by three charters members of the Camp: Paul Huff, Jon Silvis. and Mark Britton. Numerous Brothers who have served as Camp, Department of Ohio, and National Officers were in attendance. THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 9

Department of Ohio 2019 Camp Officers Installations

Cadot-Blessing Camp #126 McClellan Camp #91 (Alliance) General William H. Lytle Camp (Gallipolis) #10 (Cincinnati)

General William T. Governor William Dennison William McKinley Camp #21 Sherman Camp #93 Camp #1 (Columbus) (Lancaster) (Dayton)

Brooks Grant Camp #7 General Benjamin D. Fearing General A. C. Voris Camp #67 (Middleport) Camp #2 (Marietta) (Akron)

Jacob Parrott Camp #33 General William McLaughlin (Kenton) Camp #12 (Mansfield)

Page 10 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Wreaths Across America By Wanda Langdon, National Chaplain and Department of Ohio President, A.S.U.V.C.W. along with Kerry Langdon, Department of Ohio Commander, S.U.V.C.W.

December 15, 2018 was a day to honor and remember, as Christmas wreaths were placed at the graves of Veterans in historic Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio. Despite buckets of rain and ankle-deep mud, patriotism reigned. A crowd of approximately eighty joined with several organizations to take part in the 2018 Wreaths Across America program, an event that takes places in over 1,600 cemeteries across the United States including those located on military bases and Arlington National Cemetery. 297 wreaths were placed in the Civil War section of the national cemetery where 999 soldiers are buried. The ceremonies are held nationally every December for the purpose of remembering fallen veterans while honoring those who serve and teaching children the value of the future. The ceremony at Spring Grove Cemetery, started out with a moment of silence followed by the presentation of colors and raising of the flag by the Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of American Revolution, the General William H. Lytle Camp 10, S.U.V.C.W., the Sister Anthony O’Connell A.S.U.V.C.W., the 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, along with local cub scouts and girl scouts. Kerry Langdon, Department of Ohio Commander, S.U.V.C.W. led the Pledge of Allegiance and gave a few remarks: “Thank you all for coming today. These live balsam wreaths that we have placed symbolize our honor to those who have served and are serving in the armed forces of our great nation and to their families who endure sacrifices every day on our behalf. To our children, we want you to understand the freedoms you enjoy today have not been free but have come with a cost that someday, you may have to pay yourself. As a nation standing together, we can defeat terrorism, hatred and injustice. Thanks to our veterans, we have the freedom to do just that.” Ceremonial wreaths were placed in honor of the Nation’s Armed Forces: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines. A wreath was also placed to honor POW/KIAs (Prisoners of War and those Killed in Action). Wanda Langdon, National Chaplain and Department of Ohio President, A.S.U.V.C.W. gave the Benediction. Buglers from the Lytle Camp and the 6th Regiment, O.V.I. played several bugle calls during the service and closed the ceremony with Taps.

The images below were taken during the December ceremony at Spring Grove Cemetery.

(G.A.R. Post Roster article continued from on page seven) It is my intention to see if we can utilize the Ohio Dept. website to build an interactive map of Ohio with information about each known G.A.R. Post, county by county. Whether we can incorporate the Post rosters into the county maps is a future consideration but I firmly believe that collecting this information and making it available to the public will bring more people to our web presence and ultimately to our ranks. In any case, we have the ability to restore some of the lost records of our ancestors in a meaningful way that promotes the history of the G.A.R.