Adams County, Ohio Military History
Civil War: Seventieth Regiment O.V.I.
This regiment was organized in 1861 at West Union OH. It had its rendezvous at the old fairgrounds, lying on the Maysville and Zanesville turnpike, named Camp Hamer, in honor of General Thomas L. Hamer, of Georgetown OH, who was in the Mexican War. The regiment remained there during the months of Oct-Dec 1861, and moved to Ripley OH 25 Dec 1861. There it remained in camp until 18 Feb 1862. The regiment was formed of Adams County men, except one company from Brown County and two from Hamilton County.
The original field officers were: Joseph R. Cockerill, colonel; Dewitt C. Loudon, lieutenant colonel; John W. McFerran, major; Henry L. Phillips, first lieutenant and adjutant; Israel H. DeBruin, quartermaster; John M. Sullivan, chaplain; Charles H. Swain, surgeon; Thomas Ferrell, assistant surgeon; Robert H. Von Harlinger and Frederick Jaeger, assistant surgeons.
Colonel Cockerill resigned 13 Apr 1864, and Lieutenant Colonel Dewitt C. Loudon was promoted to colonel. He resigned 09 Aug 1864. Major McFerran died 03 Oct 1862 at Fort Pickering, near Memphis TN. William B. Brown was the second major. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel 26 Apr 1864 and was killed 03 Aug 1864 in battle near Atlanta. Thomas Brown was the third major, promoted from captain of Company H.
Surgeon Charles H. Swain resigned 03 Aug 1863, and Robert R. Von Harlinger was appointed in his place and served during the remaining service of the regiment. Frederick Jaeger was an assistant surgeon, appointed 07 Sep 1862, and resigned 29 Jan 1864. Andrew Urban was the second adjutant, and Lindsey L. Edgington the third adjutant. Reverend H. I. DeBruin, quartermaster, resigned 02 Jun 1863, and John Heaton was appointed in his place, followed by Charles A. Grimes and Francis Rickards. Joseph Blackburn, captain of Company F, was the first chaplain. He resigned 28 Aug 1862, and was followed by John M. Sullivan, who resigned 16 Jan 1864.
The original officers of Company A: W. B. Brown, captain; Lewis Love, first lieutenant; Brice Cooper, second lieutenant. This company was raised about Winchester, Fincastle, and North Liberty.
Company B: James F. Summers, captain; Samuel G. Richards, first lieutenant; William P. Spurgeon, second lieutenant. This company was raised about Locust Grove and in the northeastern part of the county.
Company C: Reason T. Naylor, captain; Valentine Zimmerman, first lieutenant; W. R. Stewart, second lieutenant. This company was raised in Monroe Township and in the vicinity of West Union.
Company D: Charles Johnson, captain; Samuel M. Woodruff, first lieutenant; Joseph W. Denham, second lieutenant. This company was raised in Cincinnati, Hamilton County.
Company E: John T. Wilson, captain; John Campbell, first lieutenant; Joseph. Spurgeon, second lieutenant. This company was raised in the vicinity of Tranquility, Eckmansville, and North Liberty.
Company F: Joseph Blackburn, captain; James Drennen, first lieutenant; Isaac W. Adams, second lieutenant. This company was raised in the western part of Adams County and Brown County.
Company G: N. W. Foster, captain; John H. Truitt, first lieutenant; John Nelson, second lieutenant. This company was raised around Manchester, Stout's Run, and Gift Ridge.
Company H: Benjamin F. Wiles, captain; William H. Herbert, first lieutenant; John Taylor, second lieutenant. This company was raised in the western part of Adams County and the eastern part of Brown County.
Company I: Daniel B. Carter, captain; Joinville Reiff, first lieutenant; George A. Foster, second lieutenant. This company was raised in Hamilton County.
Company K: Felix Slone, captain; William R. Harmon, first lieutenant; Amos F. Ellis, second lieutenant. This company was from Brown County.
The first soldier from Adams County killed in battle was William J. Ellis from Company G, killed at Shiloh on 06 Apr 1862.
The first soldier of Adams County wounded was Henry Kress from Manchester, wounded in the battle of Shiloh on the same morning. The following is a list of the battles in which the regiment participated:
| Shiloh TN | 06-07 Apr 1862 |
| Russell House | 17 May 1862 |
| Battle of Resaca | 07 May 1864 |
| Siege of Corinth begins | 29 Apr 1862 |
| Capture of Corinth | 30 May 1862 |
| Capture of Holly Springs MS | 01 Jul 1862 |
| Captured cannon and ammunition at Fort Randolph MS | 01 Oct 1862 |
| Siege of Vicksburg | 20 Jun-04 Jul 1863 |
| Jackson MS | 09-16 Jul 1863 |
| Black River MS | 05 Jul 1863 |
| Chattanooga TN | 23 Nov 1863 |
| Battle of Missionary Ridge | 25 Nov 1863 |
| Knoxville Raid | Month of Dec 1863 |
| Dallas GA | 25 May-04 Jun 1864 |
| Champion Hills | 16 May 1863 |
| New Hope Church GA | 02 Jun 1864 |
| Big Shanty | 08 Jun 1864 |
| Little Kenesaw Mountain GA | 20 Jun 1864 |
| Kenesaw Mountain GA | 30 Jun 1864 |
| Atlanta GA | 22 Jul 1864 |
| Ezra Church GA | 28 Jul 1864 |
| Jonesboro GA | 28 Jul-02 Sep 1864 |
| Lovejoy Station GA | 02-06 Sep 1864 |
| Statesboro GA | 04 Dec 1864 |
| Fort McAllister GA | 13 Dec 1864 |
| Rome GA | Oct 1864 |
| Aversboro NC | 16-20 Mar 1865 |
| Bentonville NC | 19-21 Mar 1865 |
| Raleigh's March to the Sea | |
| Little Rock AR | Aug 1865 |
Two hundred and forty-four died of disease or were killed in battle. Of this number sixty-one were killed in battle or died of wounds. The following is a list of the members of the regiment, except from Companies D I and K, who were killed in battle or died in the service.
COMPANY A
| Robert B. Baird | 06 Apr 1865 | died of wounds |
| George Baker, sergeant | May 21, 1862 | |
| Charles S. Ball | 17 Apr 1862 | killed in battle |
| George W. Bartholomew | 19 Nov 1861 | |
| Corwin Bell | 04 Jun 1865 | |
| Wm.. H. H. Black | 25 Nov 1864 | |
| James M. Brady | 11 Jul 1864 | |
| Erwin A. Brattin | 30 Jan 1863 | |
| Jesse M. Breckenridge | 17 May 1862 | |
| Austin Brewer | 25 Mar 1864 | |
| John W. Burba | 01 Apr 1862 | |
| Robert W. F. Carl | 05 Jun 1864 | |
| John H. Corbin | 28 Feb 1862 | |
| Washington I. Foster | 01 Dec 1863 | |
| Boon Funk | 22 Jul 1864 | killed in battle |
| John A. Hamilton | 10 Jan 1863 | |
| Jackson Harvey | 12 Jun 1862 | |
| Edward Hasson | 25 Nov 1863 | |
| Christian Holmes | 23 Mar 1865 | |
| Jonathan M. Howland | 12 Jun 1864 | died of wounds |
| Elias H. Kines | 18 Apr 1864 | |
| James B. Lamonda | 25 May 1864 | |
| John P. Liggette | 28 Jul 1864 | killed in battle of Ezra Church GA |
| Daniel Lyons, sergeant | 19 Sep 1864 | died of wounds |
| Thomas McBride | 02 Jun 1864 | killed in the battle of New Hope Church GA |
| Robert J. McKnight | Mar 1864 | killed in railroad accident |
| William H. Marlott | 13 Oct 1862 | |
| George E. Maun | 10 Dec 1864 | |
| William R. Maxwell | 02 Dec 1864 | |
| Andrew Morris | 07 Apr 1962 | killed in battle |
| Henry C. Morris, corporal | 14 Dec 1864 | died of wounds |
| William W. Myers | 24 Nov 1864 | |
| John H. Nevel | 13 Sep 1862 | |
| Francis A. Purdin | 23 May 1864 | |
| John H. Ramsey | 05 Jun 1862 | |
| John Reed | 12 Jan 1862 | |
| Tarry W. Reed | 16 May 1864 | |
| Hiram S. Reeves | 10 Jun 1864 | |
| John T. Rhodes | 11 Feb 1864 | |
| Thomas Robinson | 26 Jul 1862 | |
| Isaac Shankel | 28 Jul 1864 | killed in battle of Ezra Church GA |
| Louis J. Skinner | 13 Sep 1862 | |
| Henry L. Smith, corporal | 11 Sep 1863 | |
| James M. Stultz | 03 Apr 1862 | |
| Byron Swisher | 03 Jun 1862 | |
| John M. Thompson, | 24 Mar 1865 | captured Dec 1864 at Statesboro GA and died in Rebel Prison |
| Samuel Thompson | 10 Mar 1865 | |
| George W. Walker | 03 Dec 1863 | |
| Madison Walker | 18 Sep 1863 | |
| Nathaniel W. Williams | 29 Jan 1863 |
Company B
| James Alexander | 04 Jul 1863 | killed |
| John Baggott | 06 Apr 1862 | |
| William T. Buck | 19 Aug 1863 | |
| George Compton | 13 Jun 1862 | |
| John D. Compton, | 13 Dec 1864 | killed |
| William A. Cook | 07 Apr 1862 | |
| John L. Dillinger | 15 Aug 1864 | killed |
| Sylvester G. Francis | 07 Apr 1862 | |
| Isaac Howsier | 07 Feb 1863 | |
| Henry Jackson | 05 Jul 1862 | |
| Henry J. Jackson | 15 May 1862 | |
| Daniel Lighter | 08 Oct 1863 | |
| John McMillen | 28 Jul 1864 | |
| Samuel M. Matthias | 20 Sep 1863 | |
| John Moder | 19 Feb 1865 | died of wounds |
| John Moomaw | 02 May 1862 | |
| Samuel Newman | 20 Apr 1862 | |
| Alexander Parker | 27 May 1862 | died of wounds |
| Louis F. Shafer | 29 Jun 1864 | died of wounds |
| James F. Summers, captain | 28 Jul 1864 | killed |
| John. F. Tarleton, corporal | 21 May 1862 | |
| Philip B. Taylor | 28 Aug 1862 | |
| James Tener, corporal | 13 Mar 1862 | |
| John M. Thompson, corporal | 04 Apr 1862 | |
| Jacob Wright | 08 Dec 1864 | |
| Milton Yanky | 25 Dec 1861 | |
| Thomas W. Young | 14 Apr 1863 | |
| John E. Zinkhorn | 28 May 1863 |
Company C
| Benjamin Ayers | 02 Sep 1862 | |
| Hiram Carter | 22 May 1862 | |
| John H. Duffey | died in Rebel prison | |
| Robert B. Fitch | died of disease | |
| Andrew J. Griffith | 17 Apr 1863 | |
| Henry Grooms | 23 Mar 1864 | |
| Uriah W. Irvin, corporal | 10 Sep 1862 | |
| Nathan Mahaffey | 13 Dec 1864 | killed |
| Samuel S. Mahaffey | 06 Apr 1862 | killed |
| Elias Matheny | 29 Jun 1864 | |
| Daniel Nicholas | 25 Mar 1864 | |
| William Potts | died at Big Black River MS | |
| George Purtee | 05 Jul 1862 | |
| John Purtee | 25 Aug 1863 | |
| William Roder | 20 Oct 1863 | |
| Davis Roderick, sergeant | 13 Dec 1864 | killed |
| John Rathwell | 17 May 1862 | died in Rebel prison |
| Frederick Siberal | 10 Jun 1865 | |
| Abner Smalley | 14 Aug 1864 | |
| Charles Taylor | died at home | |
| John Thornburg, corporal | died of wounds | |
| Jefferson Waldren | 24 Jul 1862 | |
| David Wales | 29 May 1862 | |
| David Wilmoth | 03 Jul 1864 |
Company E
| Cyrus Allison, first sergeant | 25 Jun 1862 | |
| Jacob T. Baldridge, corporal | 17 Aug 1864 | killed |
| James F. Batson | 17 Aug 1864 | killed |
| Alexander Brown, corporal | 06 Sep 1863 | |
| Michael F. Duffey, corporal | 20 Jul 1862 | killed |
| Joseph L. Glasgow | 28 Oct 1862 | |
| James S. Hamilton | 02 Jul 1864 | killed |
| Samuel M. Hamilton | 08 Apr 1862 | killed |
| William M. Hamilton | 24 May 1862 | |
| Nathan P. Harsha | 09 Oct 1863 | |
| John M. Humes | 05 May 1862 | |
| John C. McClure | 06 Sep 1862 | |
| William W. McFadden | 28 Mar 1864 | |
| George C. McGinness | 07 Jun 1862 | |
| Abraham Maxwell | 06 Apr 1862 | killed |
| William Mercer | 03 Jul 1862 | |
| Samuel H. Moore | 13 Jan 1863 | |
| Thomas Moore | 17 Jul 1863 | |
| Joseph A. Rodgers | 16 Apr 1862 | died of wounds |
| William Seaton | 14 Apr 1862 | |
| Joseph L. Shinn | 19 May 1862 | |
| Thomas Sheffler | 28 Jul 1864 | |
| Louis V. Srebenthall | 13 Feb 1865 | |
| David W. Vance | 02 May 1862 | |
| Sharezer Walt | 13 Aug 1864 | |
| Sampson Walker | 02 Jun 1864 | |
| David C. Young, sergeant | 15 Mar 1862 |
Company F
| Marion Brinker | 15 Dec 1864 | died of wounds |
| William B. Brown | 03 Aug 1864 | killed |
| John S. Burbage | 18 Jun 1862 | |
| James Cochran | 27 Sep 1864 | |
| Wilson M. Ellis | 28 Jun 1862 | |
| William Gettis | 14 Jul 1863 | |
| Oliver Gray | 22 Jun 1862 | |
| Thomas E. Grier, first sergeant | 28 Nov 1864 | died of wounds |
| Marquis D. L. Hare, captain | 21 Mar 1865 | killed |
| Wilson Haysleet | 06 Oct 1854 | |
| Benjamin F. Jacobs | 10 Jun 1862 | |
| Presley J. Lane, corporal | 19 Apr 1862 | died of wounds |
| Richard E. Lytle | 10 May 1862 | |
| John W. McFerren, major | 02 Oct 1862 | |
| Alexander C. Neal | 13 Sep 1862 | |
| John L. Swisher | 30 Jan 1863 | |
| Nelson B. Thompson, sergeant | 12 Jun 1863 | |
| Andrew Urban, adjutant | 03 Sep 1864 | killed |
| William H. Vaugh | 18 Jul 1862 |
Company G
| Bryon Best | 29 May 1865 | |
| Samuel Bradford | 01 Oct 1862 | |
| Casper Dougal | 02 Jun 1862 | |
| William J. Ellis | 06 Apr 1862 | killed |
| George Elrod | 13 Nov 1962 | |
| Thomas C. Elrod, corporal | 30 Oct 1862 | |
| James H. Fields, corporal | 09 Aug 1864 | killed |
| HenryHayslip | 24 Aug 1864 | died of wounds |
| James W. Hayslip | 03 Aug 1864 | |
| Nelson Hempleman | 18 Aug 1864 | died of wounds |
| Noah T. Jones, musician | 04 Dec 1862 | |
| Alexander Little, corporal | 22 Apr 1862 | died of wounds |
| Joseph Little | 25 Oct 1863 | |
| James W. McDaniel | 01 Jun 1862 | |
| Edwin C. Marsh | 22 Sep 1864 | |
| Alexander Ralsin | 30 Jul 1863 | |
| William Rape | 18 May 1862 | |
| Aaron Robuck | 23 Jan 1863 | |
| Rerlemon Ryan | 31 May 1864 | |
| James Shelton | 22 May 1862 | |
| Joseph R. Shively | 06 Apr 1862 | killed |
| Matthew Tucker | 27 May 1862 | |
| Abraham Watson | 17 Oct 1864 | |
| James Watson | 19 Mar 1862 | |
| John Robuck | Aug 1865 | drowned in the Ohio River 80 miles below Louisville KY while on the way home |
Company H
| Jacob Beam | 09 Sep 1862 | |
| Harrison Bowman | 13 May 1862 | |
| Samuel Brady | 30 Sep 1864 | died of wounds |
| James Fryar | 18 Jul 1862 | |
| Augustus Gill | 27 Apr 1862 | captured 06 Apr 1862 and died in captivity |
| Henry H. Gray | 11 Apr 1864 | |
| William H. Greenlee | 31 Mar 1862 | |
| Jesse L. Howland | 24 Mar 1862 | |
| Alexander Hudson | 28 Dec 1862 | |
| Michael Joyce | 28 Dec 1863 | |
| Charles Junnper, sergeant | 01 Mar 1864 | |
| James Kilgore | 28 May 1864 | died of wounds |
| David King | ||
| Thomas Laughlin | 16 Oct 1862 | |
| Valentine Miller | 17 Oct 1863 | |
| William A. Ramsey | 13 Oct 1863 | died of wounds |
| George R. Shafer | 11 Jan 1864 | |
| James Smith | 31 Oct 1862 | |
| Martin Smith | 09 May 1863 | |
| William Sullivan | 15 Jan 1862 | |
| David Thatcher | 18 Jul 1865 | |
| James O. Thoroman | Sep 1863 | |
| Stephen Tucker | 20 May 1862 |
The Seventieth Ohio Infantry was organized by J. R. Cockerill of West Union. This regiment was formed 01 Oct 1861. Its place of rendezvous was situated on the old fairgrounds at West Union, and was named in honor of Gen. Thomas L. Hamer. The camp guard lines followed the old fairground fence and the tents stood about half-way between where the late residence of Jacob Woods stands and the entrance to the grounds on the east. The regiment drilled in the field to the south of the present site of Shuster Brothers Mills. During dress parade, Colonel Cockeril stood and gave command from a position about midway between two large locust trees that stand along the street or lane leading from near the present residence of Mrs. John Leonard to the old fairground gate. While the regiment was located at West Union, the patriotic citizens and relatives of the soldier boys visited them daily and brought the soldiers clothing, food and furniture and other camp comforts. The regiment did not have any guns until about its departure from Paducah for the battle field at Shiloh. It had done military duty of all kinds, except fighting, without arms. Each soldier had a stick on the end of which was fastened an old bayonet.
On 25 Dec 1861, the regiment marched from Camp Hamer to Ripley, one division going via Bentonville and Aberdeen and thence by boat to Ripley; and the other division marching over the old State road via Decatur. Companies D and I of Cincinnati joined the regiment at Ripley, where it remained until 17 Feb 1862, when it boarded the old steamer Magnolia for Cincinnati. From Cincinnati it was ordered to Paducah, where it went into camp, and remained until the movement was begun up the Tennessee toward Shiloh. The regiment participated in the battle of Shiloh and was complimented by General Sherman for valiant service rendered on that bloody field. It is related that before the battle, the Confederates had planned an assault on the Federal forces to be made on Saturday. The regiment had taken position near the landing of Shiloh, had stacked arms and begun preparations for dinner. Major McFerren with seven men advanced, but he had not gone far, when suddenly came the challenge "Halt! who comes there?" Quick as a flash, the doughty little major answered, "The advanced guard of the army of the United States." "The hell you say." The Rebel picket discharged his musket aimlessly, and precipitately retreated toward the Confederate lines. This incident delayed the Confederate advancement until Sunday morning, and as seen in the light of history, saved the Federal forces from certain defeat.
From the advance sheets of A History of the Seventieth Regiment, by T. W. Connolly, we glean the following, deemed worthy of a place here:
The first man of the regiment killed in battle was William J. Ellis of Company H, at Shiloh, Sunday morning, 06 Apr 1862. The second capture from the regiment was made near Shiloh on 04 Apr 1862, when Lieutenant W. H. Herbert, Co. H, Jesse McKinley, George Lowery, J. M. Sutton, Thomas Everton, Samuel Cox, William Mc. and Paul Gaddis were made prisoners on picket line. On 09 May 1862, between Shiloh and Corinth, the regiment received its first pay in silver and gold.
At the storming of Fort McAllister on 13 Dec 1864, the 70 OVI flag was first placed on the fort and this was done seven minutes after commencing. As a recognition of bravery, this regiment had the honor of manning the fort for one month afterward.
On 05 Feb 1864, it was mustered out at Little Rock AR. On 14 Aug 1865, about three hundred were still left to march from Bufort to take part in the grand review at Washington at the close of the war. It took part in thirty-five battles and skirmishes. The regiment came to Camp Dennison after being mustered out and every man received his discharge and last pay.
After the regiment was mustered out at Little Rock, while coming up on the Ohio River from Cairo on the steamer Argosa, and eighty miles below Louisville, near Cave Rock, the mud drum of the boat burst while a severe storm was raging, at which time twenty-three members of the regiment were scalded severely and nine were drowned in the river.
From A HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO
from its earliest settlement to the present time including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the county's growth and containing numerous engravings and illustrations
Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers [1900, West Union OH]