2012 Marshall Hope Award For Most Outstanding Department Newsletter

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

Volume 12, Issue 1 Summer 2020 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

INSIDE THIS From the Commander’s Tent ISSUE: First and foremost, it is my hope that you and your family are healthy, financially secure, and 2 – History of Gunboat Moses keeping safe. By now I suppose most of us know one or more families that have been impacted by the COVID-19—I hope your family is not among them. Unlike earlier pandemic diseases such as Scarlet 2 – Pvt. Snow Diary Identified Fever, which largely affected children, and Spanish Flu, which was deadly to young adults (especially WWI soldiers), COVID-19 seems to be particularly harmful to people aged 65 and up as well as 2 – Ceremonies individuals with specific health conditions. While I don’t have specific numbers, judging from

3 – Veterans Hall Updates attendance at Departmental and National Encampments that I have participated in, our membership seems to skew towards the higher risk age groups. 3 – Lincoln Statue Delivered So the question seems inevitable: what can we still be doing to support the mission of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War when so many of us are in the high risk category? Let me say this right 3 – Mansfield S.U.V. Badge away: if state, county, or local authorities implement a Corona-virus policy, then Brothers should act in accordance with the policy. Similarly, if an individual’s personal circumstances dictate actions that are 4 – W.R.C. Headstone more restrictive that those put in place by local authorities, then all of us support these Brothers in 4 – U.S.C.T. Monument their efforts to stay healthy. In some instances, perhaps most cases, current health policies have meant Installed in Springfield that many of our in-person Camp meetings have had to be cancelled or replaced by Zoom calls. Are you tired of Zoom calls yet? I know I am, but at the same time, I am glad for the ability to connect with 5 – In Memorium family, friends and SUVCW Brothers using this technology. Still, there are many other activities that the pandemic did not take away and are still left to us. 5 – Spotlight on Civil War By now, I assume most of us are familiar with the regular articles and video presentations on Civil War Memorials & Monuments topics by the National Battlefield Park rangers on their websites, Facebook, and YouTube channels. 6 – Honoring Calvin Cobean Having two ancestors who fought at Gettysburg, I have personally been partial to the videos from the Gettysburg rangers, but I have also enjoyed articles and videos from Monocacy, Richmond, and other 7 – Legacy Tree Project battlefield parks. Preservation groups such as Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation, Friends of Perryville Historic Site, Save Historic Antietam Foundation, the American Battlefield 8 – July Patriotic Instruction Trust—and many others—have also put articles and videos online. You can even find news, Department

Orders, current and historical Patriotic Instruction, and other resources on our Department webpage at 9 – Buffington Island Memorial https://www.ohiosuv.com/. As for myself, I have also found time to catch up on reading books I’ve bought 9 – Greencastle Cemetery Work over the years but never had the time or energy to read. Personally, I think I’ve learned more about the Civil War since the pandemic shutdown began than I have in many years. 9 – President Garfield Memorial For the Civil War experts among us, instead of reading, this may be a time to start writing on Civil War topics. Our Buckeye Bugle can be a place where your articles could be published, but so too is your 10 – August Patriotic Instruction local newspaper (if you still have one). You could also start a blog or create your own Facebook or

12 – Images from the 2020 YouTube content! I know of at least one Brother who is writing a Regimental History of his ancestor’s Department Encampment Civil War unit. We can do more still. Cemeteries are places where it is easy to “socially distance” and yet do something useful: cleaning away debris or in some cases cutting and trimming grass; placing veterans’ markers and flags; cleaning or replacing dirty or damaged government Civil War grave markers; etc. Or, if you have cemeteries with Union Civil War graves that have not yet been added to Dates to Note: the Graves Registry, this is a great time to collect and submit the information.

Finally, for those whose health and personal situation allow, consider going to a historic site or a  October 15 – Deadline museum. The several museums I’ve been to lately have been largely deserted and it was easy to stay for submissions to the Autumn newsletter away from other patrons. Outdoor sites are even less of a problem.For those whose situation permits it, paying admission fees has the added benefit of helping provide a financial lifeline to historic sites and  November 11 - Veterans museums that mostly operate on a shoestring in the best of times. In particular, I want to recommend Day the site of the only significant Civil War battlefield in Ohio—Buffington Island. I attended the annual Memorial Service there in July and I can attest that it’s a lovely drive and an unspoiled site. Check out  June 2021 – 139th their webpage: https://www.ohiohistory.org/visit/museum-and-site-locator/buffington-island-park. Department of Ohio I’m sure you have your own ideas and suggestions for staying educated, active, and most of all Encampment (TBA) connected during the pandemic. Let’s use The Buckeye Bugle as a resource for sharing ideas. Editor Ron  August 2021 – 140th Marvin will be happy to publish your thoughts if you send them to him. I look forward to seeing what National S.U.V.C.W. our Brothers suggest in the next issue. In the meantime, stay healthy, stay safe, and stay connected to Encampment (TBA) your Camp and the Department. Mike Spaulding, Commander, Department of Ohio

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

Brief History of the Gunboat Moses

The Florence Miller II was a wooden sternwheel steam gunboat laid down in Cincinnati circa 1862-1863. It was purchased by the U.S. Navy on May 20, 1863, renamed the Moses, and commissioned with Lieutenant Commander LeRoy Fitch in command. Assigned to the Mississippi Squadron, it patrolled the Ohio River region beginning in early July 1863. It was one of several naval vessels that responded to the Confederate threat posed by Morgan’s Raiders in mid-July. Along with the Allegheny Belle, it shelled Confederates near Buffington Island on July 19 resulting in the capture of enemy equipment. The ship was decommissioned on April 12, 1865 and sold at public auction on Above: Rare image of the August 17. It was subsequently renamed the Little Rock on October 9, 1865 and sailed the Gunboat Moses courtesy of Midwestern rivers until being destroyed by fire on December 23, 1867 in Arkansas. Captain Don Sanders and William Reynolds and shared online by the Private William Snow’s Diary Identified Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation In May, The National Civil War Museum shared the story about an interesting artifact that was recently Association. donated to them on their Facebook page. Sometime in April, a package arrived at the museum without any Below: Image of pages information about who sent it. There was a brief message accompanying it, noting that “the diary had been in inside the handwritten Civil War diary written by their family for years but they had no idea who wrote it.” They believed it needed to be in a museum so it an unknown author and was sent to The National Civil War Museum. According to the post, the diary had no title page, no author’s anonymously donated to name, and he never referred to himself in the text. By reading the text, several clues were discovered that The National Civil War helped the researchers discover the company and regiment of the author. He listed the names of several Museum earlier this year. soldiers whom he served with that were killed in battle or were wounded. Most of the names were assigned to Company H, 38th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He mentioned when he received letters from friends and family including his brother Samuel T. Snow. As the post noted “there was only one soldier with the last name of Snow in the 38th Ohio who had a brother named Samuel T. and his name is Private William H. Snow.” The staff was very appreciative of the diary which gives a firsthand account of the daily activities of an Ohio regiment during the Civil War. The diary had been preserved by the family for generations despite no connection to it and now this “wonderful piece of history” will be archivally preserved by The National Civil War Museum and made available to future generations of visitors as well as Civil War researchers. “Tuesday November the 15th 64. This morning it is cloudy. We started to march at day light to Atlanta 6 miles. We got there about 10 clock and got in to camp about 2 clock it rains some. The town is pertineare all on fire it is now gist about dark and it loucks like rain to night.” (Excerpt from the diary of Private William H. Snow, Company H, 38th Regiment, O.V.I. donated to The National Civil War Museum.)

Memorial Day/Decoration Day Ceremonies

This year was not a great one for Memorial Day programs across the state of Ohio or the nation in general. Numerous communities across the country were forced to cancel their parades, public ceremonies, and dedication events due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The S.U.V.C.W. was no exception with most of our Camps forced to abandon their plans to participate in or conduct the annual services in their local cemeteries. However, our Brothers still found ways to “Honor the Boys in Blue” through a variety of “social distancing” events with limited attendance or simply honored the veterans through online posts, livestreamed programs, and private ceremonies. No matter the Camp, a way was Above: Brothers from found to fulfill our directive to “keep green the memory of our departed comrades.” Most of Henry Casey Camp pose these alternative programs were held on May 30, 2020, the official Decoration (Memorial) Day beside MOH recipient set aside by General John Logan. Our Brothers also participated in placing American flags on Isaac H. Carman’s grave the graves of veterans of all eras in cemeteries throughout the state. markers. Below: The Henry Casey Camp # 92 had their annual ceremonies in Bloomingburg and Lees Creek Brothers from Jacob cancelled so on May 30th members visited the graves of two recipients and Parrott Camp pose for a Corporal Elon Thornton, the Last Surviving Civil War Veteran of Fayette County. picture following their The annual parade and Grove Cemetery ceremony in Kenton was cancelled so the Brothers annual Decoration Day ceremony. of Jacob Parrott Camp #33 held a formal Decoration Day ceremony on May 30. Several Civil War era documents were read including General Logan’s Orders and the Gettysburg Address followed by a wreath laying and Taps. The annual Memorial Day Remembrance at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbus was cancelled so Brothers from the Governor Denison Camp #1 held an alternative service at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Clark County. Camp Commander Ruley researched burials of those of appropriate age in the cemetery and verified their participation in the Civil War. Along with Sister Kay Ruley, he conducted a brief Memorial Day service attended by local residents including descendants of Private Erasmus Kitchen, buried in the cemetery.

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 3

Parrott Camp Brothers Update Veterans Hall

Several Brothers from the Jacob Parrott Camp #33 volunteered their time earlier this year (before all the COVID-19 shutdowns) to reorganize the military displays in Veterans Hall at the Hardin County Courthouse in Kenton. The hall was sponsored by and paid for by local veterans in the early 1910s and used as a meeting place as well as a location to display a variety of weapons, war souvenirs, and military relics. Originally, these were primarily Civil War and Spanish American War relics but now the collection has grown to include militaria from both World Wars, Korean War, and Vietnam War. In addition to the original Grand Army of the Republic furniture used by the local S.U.V.C.W. Camp, there are two G.A.R. Post banners, a U.V.U. Post banner, two cases of Civil Above – Hardin County War artifacts, plus numerous Civil War swords and artillery shells on exhibit. There are Commissioner and currently eight cases of artifacts in the meeting room. Other displays include flags of all the Parrott Camp Brother military branches, plaques commemorating every Veterans Organization formed in the county, Tim Striker shows off patches representing the units of service members from the area wounded in combat. the Cantwell Post 97 and According to the Kenton Times, the efforts of the volunteers “developed the collection into an Carman Post 101 G.A.R. banners on display in attractive historical presentation of the county’s military connections.” Veterans Hall. Lincoln Statue Delivered to Dayton VA Campus

The larger-than-life size bronze statue of a seated depicting him shortly after signing legislation establishing the National Soldier’s and Sailor’s Asylum to take care of Civil War veterans has been completed. It was created by sculptor Mike Major at his studio in Urbana and cast in a Zanesville foundry. The 1,700 pound work of art was transported to the Dayton Veterans Affairs Hospital Campus in June where it was placed in storage while awaiting installation in a new park being created near the Putnam Library on the VA campus. The $300,000 project was funded through donations Above – Image of the and organized by the American Veterans Heritage Center and the Lincoln Society of completed sculpture being Dayton. One of the donors and a huge supporter and promoter of the project was the transported on an open trailer by the artist from Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93. Urbana through Dayton.

1915 Mansfield Sons of Union Veterans Badge

This article was shared by the General William McLaughlin Camp #12 on their Facebook page and was originally written by Nicholas Carico who works with the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia and Petersburg National Battlefield. (It is presented with only minor changes.) To the right is a badge worn by a delegate of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Division of Ohio, to the Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Ohio. This particular encampment was held in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio on June 21- 24, 1915. The top bar depicts the Johnny Appleseed Monument in Mansfield, Ohio. John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, lived in and around Mansfield for about twenty years, 1810- Above: Image of the 1915 1830. He planted the first apple trees in the area. Johnny was also a local hero of sorts during the S.U.V. Delegate Badge War of 1812. As reported in Touring Ohio: worn during the “During the War of 1812, everyone on the frontier was on edge. Rumors ran rampant about Mansfield Encampment. impending Indian attacks. Militia forces told tales of great battles to the north and the number of Below: Early postcard Native Americans that had sided with the British during the fighting. image of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. On August 9, 1813, Levi Jones, a local shopkeeper in Mansfield was killed and the rumors that an Indian attack was imminent spread throughout the small village. Settlers living on the outskirts moved into town where 2 blockhouses had been built. These blockhouses were used to store supplies for military forces, but the fort was mostly unprotected. It was at this particular time, that Johnny Appleseed had come to town as he often did during the warmer months. Knowing that a large military force was in the area of Mount Vernon some 26 miles east of there, Johnny took off on an overnight run to bring back reinforcements to help defend the village of Mansfield. Along the way Chapman warned other settlers of the threat.” The bottom medallion depicts the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall (seen to the right), founded in 1887, in Mansfield.

Page 4 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Woman’s Relief Corps Marker

In July, a Brother from Governor Dennison Camp #1 was walking through the Forest Cemetery in Circleville and came across a rather interesting headstone that he shared with his fellow Brothers on the Camp’s Facebook page. While not the marker for a Civil

War veteran, it actually belonged to one of our departed Sisters. He had come across the headstone for Martha A. Hammel, of Groce Corps No. 68, Sons of Union Veterans Woman's Relief Corps, Sisters to Groce Post 156, G.A.R. in Circleville. What made it so of the Civil War unique was that the emblem of the organization took up the entire bottom half of the Department of Ohio front of her stone. The marker also noted that she was a former Treasurer for the group. While it is not too uncommon to find depictions of the G.A.R. or W.R.C. badge on The Buckeye Bugle is the markers in Ohio’s cemeteries, it is rather unusual to find one of this size. unofficial newsletter published quarterly to inform and educate members of the SUVCW WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION!! Department of Ohio. In order to share the great work our Camps are

Articles for possible doing and to promote their upcoming events we publication should be sent need your assistance. Please send your program by email to the Editor at: [email protected] information with dates to Brother Brian Brown who is serving as the Department Signals Officer. Ronald I. Marvin, Jr. The programs will be listed on a calendar on our Editor Department website and be forwarded to Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. to be included in the next Above – Image of newsletter. Brother Brown can be contacted by Martha Hammel’s headstone. Her email at [email protected]. Thank you in husband Madison advance for your assistance. We can only served with the 114th, Regiment, O.V.I. highlight or promote what we know about. Colored Troops Monument in Springfield

Recently a new monument dedicated to the African American soldiers interred near the Grand Army of the Republic Mound in Springfield’s Ferncliff Cemetery was installed. It pays tribute to the nearly one hundred and fifty known members of the United States Colored Troops buried there. The cemetery dates back to 1863 and is the final resting place of hundreds of Civil War veterans from all backgrounds who settled in the area following the close of the war. The origin of the monument dates back to 2013 when Dale Henry, President of the Above: Close-up view Gammon House, an site and museum in Springfield, came up with of the U.S.C.T. the idea of honoring the memory of the numerous African American soldiers buried in the emblem on top of the cemetery. After several years of discussions, designs, research, documentation, and monument. Below: planning the monument finally came together in 2019 through a collaborative effort The front of the new United States Colored between the Ferncliff Cemetery Association and the Gammon House. Plans to formally Troops monument dedicate the monument have temporarily been placed on hold due to COVID-19. recently installed in The roughly five and a half foot tall monument is made of Blue Ridge Granite and Springfield’s weighs roughly 8,000 pounds. It contains the names of one hundred and thirty-nine Ferncliff Cemetery. veterans inscribed on all four sides along with their company, regiment, and branch. Additional historical information about the soldiers and their service is inscribed on the base of the monument. According to an article by Brett Turner of the Springfield News Sun - “The Ferncliff Cemetery Association voted unanimously to support the project, underwriting the cost for the monument and its installation, costing around $15,000.” This is not the only Civil War era effort the Gammon House has spearheaded in the cemetery. They host an annual Celebration, which unfortunately was cancelled by the Coronavirus pandemic this year. Members are now working on cleaning all of the Civil War headstones on the Grand Army of the Republic Mound and repairing or replacing the flag medallions. As Henry said “These men fought in the war that changed our country. They deserve this.”

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 5

In Memorium During the 2020 Department of Ohio Encampment on June 13 we paused to remember and give one final honor and thanks to our Departed Brothers:

Charles Quentin Creager (07 Jul 1932 - 07 Aug 2018) - Phillip Triem Camp #43 & Life Member #59

Thomas F. Stander (28 May 1947 - 22 Feb 2019) - Department of Ohio Member at Large

Rod Hineman (09 Aug 1946 - 25 Aug 2019) - General Benjamin D. Fearing Camp #2

Kenneth Engler McCartney (27 Mar 1932 - 07 Dec 2019) - Department of Ohio Member at Large

Norman D. Pape (27 Jul 1940 - 21 Dec 2019) - General Benjamin D. Fearing Camp #2

Joseph Carl Rich (26 Jul 1930 - 08 Jan 2020) - General William H. Lytle Camp #10

Charles Steven Flickinger (07 Jul 1953 - 10 Feb 2020) - Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93

Harry Arthur Berry (30 Jan 1942 - 08 June 2020) - Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93

Spotlight on Civil War Memorials & Monuments

Brothers from the Governor Dennison Camp #1 posted a report on their Facebook page from the Chillicothe Gazette of June 24 noting that the Civil War monument in Chillicothe’s Grandview Cemetery had been vandalized. It was unclear when the damage occurred but it was believed to be recent. According to Grandview Cemetery Soldiers Monument Trustee David Medert, one of the three original bronze relief tablets had been hit by an unknown person or object damaging a rifle, a sword, and a soldier's body (removing part of the arms and hands) on the panel. The main statue was too high to be Above – Image of the Soldier touched by the vandals and thus was not damaged. at Parade Rest Statue and The monument was originally dedicated by patriotic Ross County Monument in Chillicothe’s Grandview Cemetery. residents on May 30, 1875. The fifteen foot tall limestone and marble Below – Close-up view of the memorial was inscribed with the words: “IN HONOR OF THE PATRIOTIC bronze relief panel damaged MEN OF ROSS COUNTY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WAR FOR THE by recent vandalism. Bottom – View of the text PRESERVATION OF THE UNION. THEIR GRATEFUL FELLOW CITIZENS carved into the original HAVE ERECTED THIS MONUMENT. MAY 30TH, 1875.” This monument 1875 limestone and marble stood for a few years until it was decided to add a statue on top of it. monument. A six foot tall bronze Soldier at Parade Rest statue was designed and cast by the M. J. Power Foundry of in 1881 and dedicated by the citizens on May 30, 1884. The monument cost a total of $7,000 and was paid for through a combination of tax levy and donations. Members of the local Grand Army of the Republic Post were instrumental in getting the monument erected. Currently the monument sits along the edge of the cemetery overlooking the city of Chillicothe surrounded by a metal fence. A concrete walkway and flagpole complete the attractive scene. After efforts to restore the monument in the late 1990s were successful a small bronze plaque was placed near the enclosure which reads: “THIS MONUMENT WAS RESTORED IN 1998 AND REDEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL ROSS COUNTY VETERANS AND THOSE WHO DIED IN THE MILITARY SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY.” Page 6 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Discovering and Honoring Calvin Cobean

Ohio 2nd Cavalry Regiment Experienced the Civil War — All of It By Bob Seggerson (limaohio.com)

LIMA — I’ve been taking long, daily walks for the past couple decades, through Gethsemani and Woodlawn cemeteries, located side by side just southwest of Faurot Park here in Lima. In the past month I’ve been joined by a parade of walkers and joggers eager to escape their COVID-19 captivity. The beautifully landscaped, rolling hills of the cemeteries provide an intriguing retreat for those seeking a quiet, safe space to stroll. Much of Lima’s history can be discovered in these two cemeteries. I often passed a broken military tombstone while crossing between the two cemeteries on the Woodlawn side. The stone honored a Civil War veteran and was made of sandstone, a material that can be damaged by weather or vandalism. When I turned the broken stone over, I could only make out the name of the soldier in large letters at top: SADDLER. My curiosity piqued, I set out to rescue the tombstone and find out more about this long-forgotten veteran. After cleaning the stone, I was able to decipher only one other line of information about Saddler. He was a Union soldier serving in the 2nd Regiment, Ohio Calvary. That clue was enough to begin a search of Civil War records online and at the library. It didn’t take me long to find the roster for Saddler’s regiment but I was disappointed to discover there was no Saddler listed on the 2nd Regiment roster. I did manage to discover that three soldiers from Ohio with the last name of Saddler served the Union in the Civil War, but none in the Ohio Cavalry. I realized the answer to the puzzle must lay with the second line of information on the stone that I could not decipher. I bought the material to make a rubbing of the tombstone in hopes of bringing the information to life but was frustrated because I still couldn’t make out the inscription. I carried the rubbing with me for over a month, sharing it with everyone I encountered in hopes that someone could make out the printing on the second line. I approached people in the library, museum and Veterans Affairs office to see if they could solve the inscription, but no luck. In the end it was my daughter in law, Aimee, who unraveled the mystery. She taped the rubbing on a kitchen cabinet and, as we sat around her dinner table that evening, the glare from the setting sun, shining through the patio doors, cast the rubbing in a different light and shadow. Like a scene from a movie, the letters became clearer and Aimee began to slowly read them aloud: “WM. C. Cobean”. I was hoping for a rank, but instead discovered another name. My next stop was to the Woodlawn Cemetery offices to inquire who exactly was buried under the tombstone. They were kind enough to inform me that, according to their records, William “Calvin” Cobean was the occupant of the gravesite. Their records indicated that he was born in 1837 in Allen County and died in 1905 of heart disease. Now I began a pursuit of Mr. Cobean’s military record and decided to employ the wisdom of Anna Selfridge, the Allen County Museum’s curator of archives and manuscripts. It took her about five minutes to find Calvin Cobean’s military record while serving in the Civil War and print out the documents. When I ran my finger along the line of information and came to his rank, another riddle was solved. Cobean’s rank was listed as a saddler. The 2nd Regiment of the Ohio Cavalry traveled by horse and it was the saddler who made and repaired their saddles and harnesses. He was just as indispensable to his regiment as the modern-day military mechanic who keeps jet engines running and tanks rolling. Cobean was proud of his craft and made it the most prominent feature of his tombstone. I Googled hundreds of Civil War tombstones and his was the only one I found to feature his rank in bold letters at the top of the headstone. Cobean enlisted in Company C, Ohio 2nd Cavalry Regiment on Aug. 29, 1861, and mustered out of the army on Sept. 11, 1865. During his four years of service, William “Calvin” Cobean experienced the Civil War. All of it. While Cobean traveled with his Ohio 2nd Calvary to their first assignment in Fort Scott, Kansas, they were ambushed by Quantrill’s Raiders, an infamous vigilante group loyal to the Confederacy. The Raiders counted Frank and Jesse James as members. The 2nd Cavalry routed them. While in Kansas, Cobean’s regiment took part in Union advances into Missouri and Arkansas and also expeditions into Indian Territory to quell uprisings. In 1863, the company was called back east and joined the Union’s pursuit of a Confederate force, under the command of Gen. , that was terrorizing communities along the Ohio River in Ohio and Indiana. They succeeded in capturing Morgan and forcing his troops to retreat to Kentucky. In 1864, Cobean’s regiment was attached to General ’s Army of the Potomac. They spent a year fighting battles in Virginia, often against Confederate forces under the command of General . All told, Cobean and his fellow soldiers fought in 20 Civil War battles, none more famous than their last engagement. On April 9, 1865, the Ohio 2nd Cavalry took part in the Battle of Appomattox Court House, one of the last clashes of the Civil War and the last engagement of Gen. Robert E. Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia. Two days later, Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant and, for all practical purposes, the Civil War was over. In my imagination I wonder where Cobean was encamped that day and if he was one of the many Union soldiers who watched as Lee slowly rode his horse through their lines to offer his surrender. Of the 427 soldiers in the Ohio 2nd Cavalry, 83 died of wounds received in battle and 184 died of disease or accident during the war. William “Calvin” Cobean mustered out of the Army in St. Louis just a few months later. He spent some time in Kansas before returning to this area and taking up residence in the village of West Leipsic in Putnam County. He married Hannah Smith, his second wife, and she is buried beside him. The 1890 census identifies Cobean’s occupation as the rural postman for Putnam County. Cobean’s tombstone has been cleaned and reset, thanks to Rick Wagar, Woodlawn Cemetery’s superintendent. It’s a fitting tribute to a veteran whose remarkable Civil War experience deserves to be remembered and honored. If you’re in the area, stop by and pay him a visit. {https://www.limaohio.com/news/409961/bob-seggerson-column-discovering-and-honoring-calvin- cobean?fbclid=IwAR1BdA2U05KfH99nUvHjvgkUAT2uKwaBYzYmo_4FVlpoVP7gKnaLgAdcWbo} THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 7

Ideas that Work: Legacy Memorial Trees By Fredric C. Lynch, PDC, Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93

“Preserving the history and legacy of veteran heroes who fought and worked to save the Union in the ” is the cornerstone of our SUVCW mission. An innovative project to help do so is to plant and dedicate a “Legacy Memorial Tree” in a prominent public location. City parks, well-travelled walking trails, cemeteries with veterans memorial sections, and community veterans memorials are good locations. You can buy a new tree, or if camp finances are tight, find an existing tree adjacent to which an appropriate commemorative plaque may be placed. Why? Contemporary news articles chronicle that knowledge concerning true American history and our nation’s military heroes are no longer familiar to a significant number of people living in the United States - especially recent high school and college educated youth. Whether you agree with that statement or not, doing anything and everything to mitigate that sad reality remains very much a part of the Grand Army of the Republic mission bequeathed us by the Boys in Blue 1861-1865. Is such a project possible? Dayton’s Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93 Brothers donated a Legacy Memorial Tree honoring Civil War Chaplain and past GAR Commander in Chief William Earnshaw. In doing so, they helped ensure he remains known to people through a Swamp White Oak tree planted as a part of the Veterans Memorial Grotto Garden at the Dayton Veterans Administration Center on the grounds of what was formerly the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The “Swamp White Oak” is a beautiful and strong growing tree which arborists document can live for 1,000 years. William Earnshaw (1827-1885) was an American minister who served in the as a chaplain and as the eighth Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (1879-1880). Shortly after the American Civil War began, April 16, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He mustered in as regimental chaplain with the rank of captain. Earnshaw resigned his commission October 12, 1862 when the unit consolidated with another regiment, but he continued in service as an Army hospital chaplain from April 22, 1863 until August 27, 1867. After the War of the Rebellion ended, Earnshaw served as superintendent for the construction of the Stones River and Nashville National Cemeteries. On September 5, 1867 he was selected to be chaplain for the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers-Central Branch then under construction in Dayton. There he facilitated the veterans themselves building the Home Chapel. He also established religious, educational, vocational training, social, and temperance programs for residents there. During his tenure, Chaplain Earnshaw was Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic Ohio Department in 1876, and elected as the G.A.R.’s commander in chief in 1879. He served residents at the Soldiers Home until a tragic accident ended his life July 7, 1885. His final words were: “Tell the veterans I love them all.” As decades passed, Earnshaw’s many achievements faded from memory. The Soldiers Home morphed into its current incarnation as the Dayton Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. However, today, once again, in part thanks to SUVCW Sherman Camp efforts, Chaplain William Earnshaw’s memory benefits from permanent, living recognition every day among the thousands of veterans, families, employees, and visitors to the VA Center’s Grotto Garden. When pondering potential future projects for your camp to initiate, consider planting a Legacy Memorial Tree in honor of one of your community’s own, but perhaps forgotten, heroes of the American Civil War.

Images (left to right) of Captain William Earnshaw in uniform, the Swamp White Oak planted near the lake in his honor, the identification plaque placed beside the tree by the Sherman Camp Brothers, and an early stereoscopic view of veterans enjoying the serenity of the Grotto. Page 8 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Patriotic Instruction for July 2020 Department Patriotic Instruction Officer Ronald Marvin, Jr.

During the past few weeks, the state of Ohio has experienced some extreme heat which has been uncomfortable for most of us. Our modern life allows us the luxury of retreating to our homes and vehicles to turn on the air conditioning to cool off and retreat. Over the last several months, I have been out walking through local cemeteries in northwest Ohio taking photographs of headstones, including numerous Civil War veterans. While I have worn comfortable clothing, this recent heat spell has made me begin to think about the soldiers who served during the war and the heavy wool uniforms they wore. One can only imagine how hot, tiring, and exhausting it was to march in full uniform and battle gear during the heat of late June as they made their way toward Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Those of us who served in the military have an idea of what that is like, especially if you were in the jungles of Vietnam or the deserts of the Middle East. The reports of walking several miles a day toward an unknown destination must have been exhausting in the middle of summer. But it may have seemed like a grand adventure to some while a nerve wracking experience to others unsure of (or knew exactly) what they would face upon confronting the enemy. Earlier this month we observed the 157th anniversary of this three-day battle in early July 1863 during some high temperatures. For anyone who has participated in a reenactment there or just walked the battlefield in July it is somewhat easier to understand what they were enduring but we will never be fully able to comprehend what they were thinking and experiencing. But it was not just the soldiers, the horses rode by the cavalrymen or who pulled the wagons also had to summon the strength to survive the heat and humidity as the Army moved. One of the things I wondered was - “Just how hot was it at Gettysburg in 1863?” After a little sleuthing online I came across an excerpt from the Hanover Evening Star written in 2005.1 According to the article: “The Rev. Dr. Michael Jacobs, a math and science professor at Pennsylvania College, now Gettysburg College, recorded the temperatures three times a day during the battle: 7 a.m., 2 p.m., and 9 p.m. On July 1 the temperature at 2 p.m. was 76 degrees and the sky was cloudy. At 2 p.m. July 2, it was 81 and partly cloudy. It was 87 degrees at 2 p.m. July 3, the time of Pickett's Charge. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg on July 4 was hampered by rain, mud and swollen creeks.” I recently met with a couple at my museum in Upper Sandusky who both work in the tourist field at Gettysburg. They told me about the excitement of the locals who initially came to watch the skirmishes, not realizing the horrors they might witness. One of the items we have on display is a small tin spoon about two inches long. I have long been fascinated by the label “SPOON PAPA ATE ICE CREAM WITH AT GETTYSBURG ON THE BATTLEFIELD WHERE GEN. PICKETT MADE HIS FAMOUS CHARGE.”2 It struck me as odd because I never thought of Gettysburg as a place the soldiers were relaxed enough to make and eat ice cream. They informed me that there was ice cream sold in town or even at stands set up on the battlefield itself in the years following the battle and that this was most likely a civilian souvenir from an early battlefield tour. Perhaps even a few residents had even ventured out to observe the fighting first-hand but soon retreated into their homes once they saw how devastating the fighting was. It has been written that numerous residents of Gettysburg and the surrounding homesteads hid in their cellars as they listened to the constant gun fire and the roar of artillery shells whizzing overhead from both sides. Following the battle it was primarily left to local residents to remove and bury the dead left by both sides. It seems odd to us today that local residents may have gone out to witness a battle fought on American soil but this was definitely the case during the at Manassas, Virginia on June 2, 1861. Known derisively as the “Picnic Battle,” many residents brought food to eat or to sell to soldiers looking for something better than standard military meals. Union Captain John Tidball even noted that he witnessed “a crowd of men (and a few enterprising saleswomen) who brought “pies and other edibles” to sell.”3 When you consider that the battlefield was several hours by carriage from many of the onlookers, it actually made sense for them to bring food. By the time that the occurred, American civilians should have known the horrors of war, at least from the often graphic newspaper accounts of the day and had very little interest in watching it firsthand. Professor Emeritus Robert L. Bloom of Gettysburg College wrote an article entitled “WE NEVER EXPECTED A BATTLE”: THE CIVILIANS AT GETTYSBURG, 1863 for the Journal of Pennsylvania History in 1988.4 While researching this article, he examined several firsthand accounts through diaries and other writings to get a sense of the excitement of the arrival of the soldiers from both Armies and later apprehension of the (Article continued on page 11)

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 9

On July 18, the annual Buffington Island Battle Memorial Service was held at the battlefield site in southern Ohio. Several Brothers and Department Officers attended the ceremony which was presented in part by Brothers from Cadot-Blessing Camp #126, Brooks-Grant Camp #7, General Benjamin Fearing Camp #2, and McClellan Camp #9 along with the Ohio History Connection and the Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation. The public service was also attended by Sisters from the Department of Ohio Auxiliary S.U.V.C.W., Sister Anthony O’Connell Auxiliary, the John S. Townsend Camp #108 Auxiliary, and McClellan Camp Auxiliary. The Battle of Buffington Island on July 19, 1863, was the major engagement during General John Hunt Morgan’s Great Raid into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio and was the only significant Civil War battle fought in Ohio. It was a decisive 2-hour encounter involving approximately 1,800 of John Hunt Morgan’s Confederate cavalrymen and 3,000 Union artillery, cavalry, and infantry supported by navy gunboats on the Ohio River. According to the Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation: “In Ohio alone, approximately 2,500 horses were stolen and nearly 4,375 homes and businesses were raided. Morgan's Raid cost Ohio taxpayers nearly $600,000 in damages and over $200,000 in wages paid to the 49,357 Ohioans called up to man 587 companies of local militia.” The memorial service began at 11:00 AM, followed by live music on the battlefield by Steve Free, laying of memorial wreaths, and the history of the battle presented by Sam Wilson of the Cadot-Blessing Camp. A luncheon followed at the Portland Community Center. (Images on the left by Ben Daily.)

As they have the past several years, Brothers from the Major General William T. Sherman Camp #93 have partnered with other local organizations, scout groups, and local residents to clean up and maintain Old Greencastle Cemetery near Dayton, especially the older sections containing Civil War graves. While COVID-19 may have prevented them from organizing large clean-up groups each month as in years past, it did not stop the weeds and grass from growing or fallen branches and debris from accumulating among the headstones. Camp members managed to work in smaller “socially distanced” groups during the months of May through August to make the cemetery visually pleasing and maintained for when local residents and family members visited. While their Memorial Day ceremony may have been different than in years past, the veteran graves were lovingly cared for, medallions reset, and small American flags placed beside each headstone. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the Brothers’ pride in restoring and maintaining this once forgotten resting place of Civil War veterans will not be diminished.

Earlier this year a resident in Hardin County found what he thought might be an early stock certificate in some old family papers while cleaning out an estate. He shared the image online hoping to find out some information about it. According to the document, Thomas Kearse had paid One Dollar toward the erection of a monument for the late President James Garfield, namesake of James A. Garfield Camp #142, in ’s . This was actually a framable acknowledgement receipt (seen to the upper left) from the Garfield Monument Committee recognizing his contribution to the fund. The committee raised $135,000 through private donations to pay for the memorial which was later operated by the Garfield National Monument Association until being turned over to the cemetery. It was designed by architect George Keller with reliefs by Caspar Buberl and a statue of the President by Alexander Doyle. Work was begun in 1885 and the 180 foot tall Berea Sandstone monument was dedicated on Memorial Day 1890. The caskets of the President and his wife lie on display in a lower crypt within the monument. Page 10 THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

Patriotic Instruction for August 2020 Department Patriotic Instruction Officer Ronald Marvin, Jr.

One of the great things about working in a small county historical society museum is the wide variety of artifacts and the ability to find and learn something new each day. One such item (which I will describe a little bit later in this article) popped up quite by accident and referenced Libby Prison. It led me on a path to discover just what all we had in our collection about this particular topic and try to combine the items into our Civil War displays. The museum I work in has a relatively nice collection of Civil War artifacts and references mostly on display in the Early Military Room. There are original photographs of the Goodman brothers killed at the Battle of Stone River (Tennessee); a letter from the battle field referencing Private Lowery Leith’s death from wounds suffered during the Battle of Dallas (Georgia); field equipment such as canteens, cartridge boxes, and powder flasks; boots worn by Corporal Joseph Chadwick who participated in the Battle of Gettysburg (Pennsylvania); numerous items made in Andersonville and Libby Prison; plus swords, bullets and rifles from the conflict to list a few. Our collection includes several period books and first-hand accounts of life in Libby Prison partially due to the fact that nearly all members of the 123rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry were captured during the Battle of Winchester (Virginia) on June 15, 1863. Some of the first-hand accounts we have about Libby Prison are Incidents of War and Southern Prison Life (1864) by Captain David S. Caldwell who served with Company H, 123rd Regiment; A Soldier’s Experience in Southern Prisons (1901) by First Lieutenant C. M. Drutsman who served with Company I, 7th Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry; and a series of newspaper articles titled A History of Prison Life in Libby Prison!1 (written to the Upper Sandusky Wyandot Pioneer between April and July 1864) by Captain John W. Chamberlain who served with Company A, 123rd Regiment. The officers were sent to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia and the enlisted men were sent to nearby Belle Isle. One of these Privates was a young man by the name of Robert Nelson McConnell who was later exchanged. After finding out he had received some prior medical training, he was discharged and later mustered back in as an Assistant Surgeon with the 133rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Following the war he received his medical degree and became a physician and surgeon working in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. In 1891 he married Leefe Beery and moved into her family home in downtown Upper Sandusky. Their youngest son Fowler would later donate the old family home to the Wyandot County Historical Society for use as a museum. Several of Dr. McConnell’s medical items, personal papers, and books were later donated along with many other smaller items from the family. I transcribed and edited the articles by Captain Chamberlain which were part of a public presentation I presented about the 123rd Regiment and Libby Prison a couple of years ago. This presentation was attended by descendants of Dr. McConnell who brought some of his Civil War items to donate including his original copy of The Military History of the 123d Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry (1874) edited by First Lieutenant Charles M. Keyes who served with Company H and Company K, 123rd Regiment. During the program, I mentioned several interesting stories and a lot of the mundane daily activities which were recorded in these various accounts. Amazingly Captain Caldwell was one of the officers who escaped (and evaded recapture) through the tunnel on February 9, 1864. Keyes was actually a Sergeant at the time of his capture and only promoted to Lieutenant later in the war. Captain Chamberlain noted in an entry dated February 11, 1864 (just two days after the great escape), “Several publications are being gotten up in Libby. Life in Libby by Lt. Col Northcott, 12th Va., Scenes of Libby Life by Col. Cavada, Pictorial Lithograph by Capt. Fisher, and Funny Sayings, by Capt. Mass.” Interestingly, you can actually find Cavada’s book today online at Hathitrust and it is available for free download.2 Frederico F. Cavada served as a Lieutenant Colonel with the United States Volunteers and was persuaded by over 200 of his fellow officers to publish the book. Fisher’s lithograph is available for view online at the Wisconsin Historical Society.3 Robert Joseph Fisher served as a First Lieutenant with Company H and I, 17th Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry and was later promoted to Captain. A trained lithographer, Fisher would publish several images of Confederate Prisoner of War camps following the war. I have yet been unable to track down the other referenced publications. Earlier this summer, our Society started a project to inventory all of the items on display in the Wyandot County Museum. This included the bookcases in the recreation of Doctor McConnell’s home office on the first floor. As my coworker and I pulled down and recorded the information from each book, we were not surprised to find several with the McConnell name in them or even that of Jeptha Powell, a brother-in-law who served as an officer with Company C and Company I, 13th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, eventually being promoted to Captain of Company G, who also lived in the family home for a short time. What caught my eye was a small, thin red book maybe about three inches square. It was simply listed on the original 1930s inventory as “Book - The Journey.” This is more properly titled The Journey and a Visit at Rosedale4 (1860) by Mrs. S. (Pamela Chandler) Colman. When I opened it up to see if there was a donor name or owner listed, I was stunned by the inscription: “From Uncle Will Hale while in Libby Prison To Alice Hale.” Apparently this book had actually been purchased by a prisoner and mailed home or kept to be given to his niece following his release. I needed to find out who Alice and her uncle were. As we inspected the book further, I found a lock of hair tucked into the book at page 19. While we are not sure whom the hair belonged to, it is shocking to think we might have been holding a physical remnant of a Libby Prison inmate over 155 years later. (Article continued on page 11)

THE BUCKEYE BUGLE Page 11

(July 2020 Patriotic Instruction continued from page 7) onset of a multi-day battle which would include civilian casualties. The approach of the Confederate Army was such a surprise that according to Bloom: “… the 26th Pennsylvania Emergency Volunteers, mustered into service only on June 19th. Its roll of 743 men included a contingent from Gettysburg, sixty-one college students and seminarians, twenty-one "townies," and a fourteen-year old drummer boy. Since these eighty-three recruits were the first to be officially enrolled in the regiment, they had the honor of being designated "Co. A."” These new soldiers, many living right in the community, would be among the first to see the approaching Confederate Army. In fact, the 26th Regiment would be the first to engage the enemy losing 176 Officers and Enlisted out of the 743.5 Over one hundred soldiers were captured and later released by Confederate General Jubal Early after receiving a stern lecture on the dangers of war from him.6 The regiment was short lived, being mustered out on July 30, 1863. During a normal year (which this was definitely not) several thousand Civil War reenactors descend on the battlefield to recreate the now famous battle in front of several thousand more onlookers, who are not as fearful for their lives as the first spectators. Several of the Brothers have participated in these over the years and have used this event as an educational tool for our younger generations. By working, exercising, or walking outside in the recent heat, we can get a better appreciation of how hot, miserable, and exhausted the soldiers were at Gettysburg. We can never fully understand what they went through (thankfully most of us do not have to experience days of being shot at) but we can never forget their sacrifices and what they did on that battlefield to help preserve the Union. ------1 https://www.baltimoresun.com/weather/bs-md-weatherpage-0629-20130628-story.html 2 Spoon currently on display in the Military Foods Exhibit at the Wyandot County Museum in Upper Sandusky, Ohio. 3 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/was-first-battle-bull-run-really-picnic-battle-180964084/ 4 https://journals.psu.edu/phj/article/download/24708/24477 5 https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-infantry/26th-emergency-militia/ 6 https://gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/union-monuments/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-infantry/26th-emergency-militia/

(August 2020 Patriotic Instruction continued from page 10)

Following some initial research it appears that “Alice” is Alice Evangeline Hale, the daughter of David E. Hale (Sergeant with Company F, 101st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry) and Susan L. Eby. Her uncle most likely was George William Hale, who served alongside his brother with Company F, 101st Regiment and was later promoted to Captain of the company. George was a First Lieutenant at the time he was wounded and captured during the Battle of Chickamauga (Georgia) in September 1863. He spent some time in Libby Prison and was later paroled. This small little unassuming book will now take its place in the Civil War display case beside a sewing kit carved out of bone and several wood carved items made by officers at Libby Prison to help tell the story of the day to day life inside the building. It is amazing how one little item can pull together the links to tell an entire story. ------1 https://www.civilwardigital.com/CWDiaries/A%20History%20of%20Prison%20Life%20in%20Libby%20- %20By%20Captain%20John%20W.%20Chamberlin,%20Co.%20A,%20123rd%20Regiment,%20O.V.I.pdf 2 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=loc.ark:/13960/t50g43p0q&view=1up&seq=9 Libby Life: Experiences of a Prisoner of War in Richmond, VA, 1863-64 (1864) by Lieutenant Colonel Frederico F. Cavada , United States Volunteers. 3 https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM70724 Lithograph - Officers of the and Navy, prisoners of war, Libby Prison, Richmond, Va./“Designed & executed with a pen in Libby Prison by Capt. Rob. J. Fisher 17. Reg. Mo. Vol. Inf.” 4 Book currently on display in the Civil War Case in the Early Military Room at the Wyandot County Museum in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

An assortment of publications by and from former inmates recalling their time spent in Libby Prison. THEPagePage 10 12BUCKEYE BUGLE THETHE BUCKEYEBUCKEYE BUGLEBUGLE

IMAGES FROM THE 2020 ENCAMPMENT Courtesy of Brother James Crane (PDC) and Brother Ron Marvin (PCC)