Ohio History Journal

Emilius Oviatt Randall.              125

WHIP-POOR-WILL.

Whip-poor-will, to which reference is made in preceding

pages of this issue, was the youthful newspaper venture of two

lads, Wilson Lindsley Gill and Emilius Oviatt Randall, aged re-

spectively fourteen and fifteen years. Fortunately a complete file

of this paper is in the possession of Mrs. E. O. Randall, through

whose courtesy we are able to present accurate information con-

cerning it together with extracts and illustrations.

The paper was published monthly and extended through

twelve numbers, January to December, 1866. Each issue con-

tained four pages three columns wide, the printed matter of each

page occupying a space of seven by ten and one-half inches.

Advertisements were few and subscriptions must have been

about the only source of revenue. The matter was almost entirely

original. The scissors and paste pot do not appear to have been

used extensively in the office of publication.

While contributions are indicated and the names of the

authors are sometimes given, the young editors were so modest

that they left no distinguishing mark to enable the reader to

tell from the pen of which came the comparatively large portion

of their joint writings. Some of the longer articles bear an evi-

dent resemblance to the later style of Mr. Randall.

"What I Saw South," running through the issues of June,

July and August, is known to have been written by him. It is

an account of a visit that he made with his father to Washington,

Alexandria, Richmond and Petersburg in 1865, shortly after the

close of the Civil War, and includes a brief reference to the

Grand Review of the Union troops in the national capital.

"What I Saw South" is reproduced in full as a very interesting

portrayal of impressions made by the scenes witnessed on the

mind of a boy at the age of fifteen and faithfully described by

him one year later.

In looking over the file one is tempted to quote at length.

Aside from the personality of the editors, it is interesting as an

early Ohio example of public school journalism, which certainly

ranks well with similar ventures of today. The only illustration

126      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

is the one here reproduced, the bird that gave the paper its name,

which appeared regularly at the top of the first page of each of

the twelve issues. Following are a few extracts from Whip-

peer-will.

(From Whippoorwill for January, 1866.)

WHIP-POOR-WILL.

"What's that?" Not a bird exactly, but a New Paper. "A

new paper!"

"I should think we had papers enough already."

"What do we want of another?" Wait till you learn what it

is, and our reasons for intruding upon you.

1. We are boys, and we want a boy's paper, aye and a girl's

paper too, one through which we can talk, and can be talked to.

Young as we are, we shall be men soon, and we want to do and

learn those things that will make us worthy of our age and

nation.

2. We are a small body, and can push ourselves in where

larger bodies cannot so well go; and in a small way we intend

to make ourselves greatly useful. There are many kinds of birds

and all are useful in their place, and we will sing you songs, and

tell you stories you never heard before, for we intend to fill our

columns with original matter.

We have promise of able and interesting writers to help us;

we own type and press, and have the will and ability to do all we

engage to do. But we will not boast; we will try you, and if

you will try us we feel sure you will be satisfied.

Terms. Monthly at 50 cts. a year but if you feed our bird

well, you shall hear his song twice a month, and then we shall

ask you ONE DOLLAR a year.

WHIP-POOR-WILL.

This is a very singular and celebrated bird, universally known

over the United States, for its favorite songs during the evening.

Yet personally he is little known, so modest and retiring are his

habits.

So with us, we are as yet little known but we hope to make

our songs so interesting as to secure the acquaintance of many.

Emilius Oviatt Randall.              127

To most persons the songs of this bird seem like the voice

of an old friend.

So we hope to come to you with such pleasant notes as not

only to interest and please you, as you gather around your eve-

ning firesides, but also to instruct and cheer you.

(From Whippoorwill for April, 1866.)

COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.--We do not think any city of

the State can boast a better system of public instruction than

Columbus. There are 53 of these schools giving employment to

65 teachers, who have under their tuition at least 4,000 pupils.

The closing exercises of the winter term called together a large

audience. The public hall of the High School building was

crowded to excess, and many went away unable to gain admit-

tance. Being only a boy, the door-keeper at first refused us ad-

mittance; but we were determined that WHIPPOORWILL should

have a representation in the crowd. As we were about to turn

away in disgust at the contempt shown, a gentleman of the press,

one of the teachers to whom we were known happened at the

door, and we were promptly admitted.

The compositions were excellent; the rhetorical exercises

were first rate; and the gymnastic exercises were beyond all

praise. The performances were interspersed with choice music.

The papas and mamas left highly gratified with the performances

of their little ones.

Ancient philosophers, as well as modern ones, had some

hard nuts to crack. The Stoics, it is said, spent much time dis-

cussing the following problem: "When a man says 'I lie'. does

he lie, or does he not lie?" If he lies, he speaks the truth; if he

speaks the truth, he lies. Can any of our readers throw any

light upon the subject?

(From Whippoorwill for July, 1866.)

THE GRAND PICNIC.

A picnic, Noah Webster, LL. D., says, FORMERLY meant

an entertainment at which each person contributed some dish, or

128      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

article, for the general entertainment. We are glad he put in that

word "formerly," or we should have put in an objection to the

definition. The world changes, and so do picnics.

A picnic NOW is an entertainment given by the children

and young folks to give the old people a holiday, and afford them

an opportunity of taking a ride and spending the day in some

delightful country grove. Such an entertainment was given by

the pupils of the High and Grammar schools of this city, on

Friday, June 8th.

A long train of cars left the depot about 9 A. M. One was

filled with baskets, bread and butter, cakes, pies, candies, tin

cups, and old bits of newspapers. The others were crowded with

as merry a group of young folks as you ever did see, taking with

them their labor-worn teachers and care-worn fathers and

mothers.

Having proceeded about thirty miles in an easterly direction,

the smoking locomotive suddenly snorted and stopped. Here they

all thought it best to get out and take to the woods. A walk of

about a quarter of a mile through the grove, and the whole party

found themselves aproaching the formidable embankments of

an old fort, built as some suppose about two thousand years ago

by some of the descendants of Shem, who were driven in their

canoes by a storm across Behring's Straits. The party, however,

did not stop to discuss questions of antiquity, or technical points

of the right of possession. A reconnoitering party, sent out in

advance, discovered no occupants but a company of cows quietly

feeding. The baskets were placed in a central position within

the walls- the invading force well arranged - an assault made;

and the fortress carried by storm without the loss of a single one.

Upon calling the roll a few double ones were missing, but they

were afterward discovered walking arm in arm about the out-

side of fortification.

The place to which the young folks brought their guests was

found to be one of the most delightful kind. The old fort

stretched its venerable arms in a great circle of a mile in length

around a broad terrace, smooth as a house-floor, covered with

one of Nature's softest and most beautiful carpets of green.

Emilius Oviatt Randall.              129

Venerable oaks and other forest trees spread their broad branches

above, welcoming all to their refreshing shade.

Stragglers continued to come in until about one o'clock,

when the band struck up the dinner call, and there was a general

rush to the provision stands. The baskets and lemonade tubs

stood the drafts like a solvent bank, until the last hungry urchin

was satisfied.

The amusements consisted of walking on the embankment

or running down its steep sides, pitching quoits, fox and geese,

going it blind, and kissing the girls. This last we would say,

however, by way of explanation, so far as we could see (what

took place in the more private walks, and for which nobody was

responsible, we cannot say), was confined to the more juvenile

classes, not yet instructed in the higher proprieties of life.

But everything comes to an end but circles, and picnics, alas,

continue only for a day. The shadows of the old oaks had

lengthened before the descending sun, when the bugle of the

musician-an old hand-bell brought along for the purpose-

sounded the home-call. Weary of limb but light of heart, the

little folks escorted their teachers and parents back to the cars,

and returned them safely to their homes; and if there is any

meaning in rosy cheeks, and laughing eyes, and bounding steps,

all said, "Hurrah for picnics forever !"

(From Whippoorwill for September, 1866.)

THE ATLANTIC CABLE.

Since our last issue, the Atlantic Cable has been successfully

laid, and it may be considered the most wonderful piece of

workmanship ever accomplished by man.

The arrival of the "Great Eastern" at Heart's Content, New-

foundland, was hailed with joy. The following dispatch was re-

ceived by the President:

HEART'S CONTENT, July 27.

His Excellency, President Johnson, Washington, D. C.:

Sir:-The laying of the Atlantic Cable was successfully completed

this morning. I hope that it will prove a blessing to England and the

United States; and increase the intercourse between our own country

and the Eastern Hemisphere.  Yours faithfully,

(Signed) CYRUS W. FIELD.

Vol. XXIX -9.

180       Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

The distance run by the "Great Eastern," while paying out

the cable, was over a hundred miles a day, and she was fourteen

days out. The total length of the cable is one thousand eight

hundred and sixty-six miles.

A message of seventy-seven words was sent by the President

to Queen Victoria, and was read by her FIFTEEN MINUTES

after leaving this country. Think of the President of the United

States, conversing with the Queen of England, across the Atlantic

Ocean. Now instead of the European news being ten or twelve

days in coming from Liverpool, it is flashed across the ocean

with the speed of lightning.

Surely this is a fast age.

CLEANLINESS.- The Board of Health and the City Council

have both been at work, and the result is, that, aided by frequent

deluging showers, our streets and alleys are well cleansed and

nuisances generally abated. No case of cholera has yet been re-

ported to have occurred in our city, and the sanitary measures

employed in the past being continued, we hope to record the fact

that our citizens escaped this fearful pestilence.

(From Whippoorwill for October, 1866.)

THE GREAT FLOOD.-September will long be remembered as

the month of one of the greatest freshets ever known at this

season of the year. The Scioto broke over the levees, and the

bottom land west of the city was like a great lake. Fences were

swept away, hogs and sheep drowned, and crops destroyed. The

damage along the river is immense. Large crowds were attracted

to the bridge on the National Road, watching with wondering

eyes the moving mass of waters, freighted with the strange

products they had snatched from the farm lands over which they

flowed.

ELECTION.-Tuesday, the 9th of this month, is the annual

election of this State. Candidates are anxious, stump speakers

are busy, and editors are putting in their best licks. All are ex-

tremely anxious to save the country. We sincerely hope they

will succeed.

132      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

(From Whippoorwill for November, 1866.)

OUR PAPER.

Y. M. C. A. - The young men of Columbus have now com-

pleted their organization-"The Young Men's Christian As-

sociation." Their rooms, on the corner of High and Broad

streets, are nicely fitted up. Regular meetings are held the sec-

ond and fourth Monday evening in each month. It is designed,

as soon as funds can be raised, to have a library for the use of

the members.

A Debating Society is now organized in connection with the

Association. These debates are held every Thursday evening,

and the meetings are all open to the public. As the design of the

society is to benefit the young, we hope the institution will be a

prosperous and useful one. All the young men of the city should

avail themselves of its privileges.

(From Whippoorwill for December, 1866.)

FAREWELL.

This is the last number of the WHIPPOORWILL for the pres-

ent, and hereafter his monthly visits will be suspended. Our

reasons for suspending the publication were given in our last,

and we hope they were satisfactory.

We have endeavored to make his monthly songs interest-

ing to our readers, and hope we have succeeded. In his small

way, we trust he has done some good.

We have met with much better patronage than we anticipated.

We began as an experiment, to see if such a paper could be sus-

tained. We were agreeably disappointed, and feel grateful to our

friends for the kindness and generosity they have shown us.

The past year has been an exceedingly pleasant one to us,

and we regret that we must part with our bird, even temporarily.

We hope all faults will be overlooked, remembering that we are

but boys and have not had the experience of older persons.

And now as our WHIPPOORWILL bids you farewell and re-

tires from public life, we hope he has the good wishes of all, and

will always have a pleasant place in your memory. Should he

ever appear before the public again, as we hope he will, may he

Emilius Oviatt Randall.             133

receive the same welcome that thus far has been given to him.

We hope by attention to our studies to prepare ourselves to make

our bird still more worthy of patronage when he shall again

appear.

(From Whippoorwill for June, July and August, 1866.)

WHAT I SAW SOUTH.

[By E. O. Randall.]

In May, a year ago, I accompanied my father, who was go-

ing to labor for the Christian Commission, on a trip to the camps

of the Union Armies about Washington and Alexandria.

From home we went directly to Washington. We spent

the first day in the hospitals, and then the director of the Com-

mission sent us to Alexandria, Va. From here we went about

four miles southwest to Camp Convalescent, the largest one in

that vicinity. Here were long rows of barracks, and thousands

of sick soldiers; while in the country around the victorious

armies were encamping as they came up from the south. The

country was very hilly and the soldiers were scattered about on

the hills, each division or corps by themselves.

Here were congregated regiments and divisions from Grant's

and Sherman's armies, and legions of Sheridan's Cavalry fresh

from the battle fields of the Shenandoah Valley. It was esti-

mated that at least 250,000 soldiers were encamped upon these

hills. It was a grand sight and one I never shall forget, to look

off from one of these elevations and see the sides of the green

hills covered with white tents, stretching away for miles in every

direction, and view the men in blue uniform with bright guns

and bayonets, going through their drill.

The summits of the highest hills were crowned with forts,

which added much to the warlike scene.

The soldiers who had just returned from the campaigns of

the south were very destitute, many of them were without coats

or hats, many without shoes, stockings or blankets, and a great

many without shirts or change of raiment of any kind. Many

of Sherman's men who came into camp while we were there, were

like the man that married the maid in "The House that Jack

Built", all tattered and torn, and some of Grant's men said they

134      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

had marched from Richmond and even fought battles barefoot

and coatless. But some told harder stories than this, saying that

what few clothes they had, if left on the ground, without being

tied to the tent poles, would CRAWL off.

The soldiers had lived in camp so long that their habits of

neatness had turned up minus. Instead of their beef coming

from a clean cellar, it was hauled in a dirty wagon and thrown

into tents on the dirty ground, and there left till ready to cook.

Then they would wipe it off with their dirty blankets, which did

not improve it much; then broiling it over their camp-fires, they

would eat it as heartily as though cooked in one of Stewart's

latest improved stoves by a master cook.

Here the Christian Commission had erected a chapel, in

which the soldiers held meetings. They also had a reading and

writing room.

I have said the soldiers were very destitute, and the Govern-

ment was not prepared to supply so large a number immediately.

The Sanitary and Christian Commission, as far as possible, sup-

plied them, but, of course, among so many men, they had to make

a little go a good ways, but still they did a great deal for the

comfort of our brave defenders.

Our business was, in part, to distribute these goods. We

would take a haversack, fill it with tracts, sewing-bags, needles,

thread, stockings, combs, pencils, pens, writing-paper, envelopes,

handkerchiefs, and such little trinkets as would be useful. This

we strapped across our shoulders, and then took our arms full of

newspapers and pamphlets. After loading ourselves in this style,

we started out and visited some particular division or brigade,

distributing the things to the soldiers-giving one needles and

thread, another paper and pens, to another a comb, etc., as they

most needed, and throwing the papers into the tents which were

greedily received by the inmates. In this manner we would go

through the camps until our supply was exhausted. We would

then return, and after resting, take another load and go out

again - making two or three trips a day. If any wanted cloth-

ing they came to the rooms after it, as it would be too heavy for

us to carry.

We would frequently give them food, and sometimes I would

Emilius Oviatt Randall.             135

take a large pan full of pickles out to them, and it would not be

long before I would have a large crowd around me, and I am

sorry to say they were not very polite on such occasions, but

went in more after the grab and scramble style,--sometimes

completely upsetting the pan on the ground; but that didn't hurt

the pickles any, for then there would be a general rush and

snatch, and down their throats the pickles would go, dirt and all.

But you cannot imagine how grateful they were for these things,

frequently offering me their hard-tack in return, which I gener-

ally declined, as I hadn't any teeth to spare.

While we were here, we visited Gen. Meade's headquarters,

and made him an evening call. He kindly received us and intro-

duced us to Generals Barlow and Webb. We also visited the

home of the late rebel Gen. R. E. Lee. It is a beautiful place,

situated on Arlington Heights, on the high bank of the Potomac

river, and from the portico of the house is a fine view of Wash-

ington City. The garden was encompassed by a row of graves

of Union officers; and near the house was a cemetery where near

THREE THOUSAND of our soldiers are buried. The prop-

erty had been confiscated by our Government and was used by

the officers of the army.

After remaining here and working among the soldiers for

about two weeks, we returned to Washington, where we stopped

two or three days to see the sights of the city, and where we

also saw the Grand Review, which is beyond my capacity to

describe. The two armies--Grant's and Sherman's, including

Sheridan's cavalry - were each six hours in passing the Review

stand. It was, indeed, a grand sight to see the great Generals,

followed by their brave soldiers, marching through the streets,

cheered by the thousands of people that had gathered from all

parts of the Union.

In the next number our readers may find an account of our

trip to Richmond and Petersburg.

Leaving Washington, we went by railroad to Baltimore. At

5 o'clock P. M. we left the wharf on board the steamer Adelaide.

The water was still; the moon shone brightly, and we had a

pleasant ride down the Chesapeake Bay.

136      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

At 9 o'clock the next morning we arrived at Fortress Mon-

roe, and a formidable looking place it is. As we were not allowed

to enter the fort, we contented ourselves by looking at the mas-

sive stone wall that surrounds it. The fort was now more impor-

tant than ever, as the ex-president J. C. Davis was making it his

home. Here we changed boats, and at 10 A. M. we embarked

on a smaller steamer for a ride up the James river. Shortly

after leaving Fortress Monroe we passed Hampton Roads, where

the famous naval fight between the Merrimac and the Monitor

took place; and projecting above the water, as though it were a

monument of remembrance for that event, was the top of the

mast of the Cumberland which was sunk during the battle.

About noon we arrived at City Point which was Gen. Grant's

headquarters during the siege of Richmond. As it was only

about six weeks after the capture of Richmond, the appearance

of things had but little changed. From City Point to Richmond

the trip was full of interest. At several different points the rebels

had sunk old boats, and all sorts of things, to prevent the Union

boats from ascending the river. Of these obstructions enough had

been removed to allow a safe passage through. We frequently

saw little red sticks projecting out of the water, and noticed that

our boat always kept a respectable distance from them, and on in-

quiring what they were, we were told that they marked the places

where torpedoes were concealed below the water, and which had

not yet been removed. We passed the famous Dutch Gap Canal

built by Gen. Butler, but it was not deep enough to permit large

boats to go through. We also passed several sunken boats, por-

tions of which were visible above water. These boats had be-

longed to the rebel navy, but were now "played out". One of

them, whose strong iron side lay above the water, attracted more

attention than the rest. This was the Rebel Ram Virginia, said

to be one of their finest gunboats.

At 5 o'clock P. M. we landed at Richmond, and hiring an old

negro to "tote" our baggage, we made our way to the Powhatan

Hotel.

After refreshing ourselves with supper, we took a walk to the

burnt district, which included about one-third of the city. A

desolate looking place it was; nothing remained but old, half-

Emilius Oviatt Randall.            137

fallen, brick walls. We could look the length of a street and see

nothing but black, half demolished, walls, heaps of ruins, some

of which were still smoking.

The next day we visited the Capitol building. It stands in

the center of a small, finely shaded park. It is an old brown,

brick building, with high stone steps, and large doors on each

side. From one side, we had a fine view of the James River and

Belle Island. We went into the Senate Chamber and Legislative

Hall, where the Rebel Congress met, and passed their laws.

The Senate Chamber is quite large, has a gallery on one side,

but was very poorly furnished. The desks were not much bet-

ter than the benches of a country schoolhouse, and were covered

with old faded velvet; the chairs were rickety and worn out; the

curtains of the windows were old and ragged, but partly on ac-

count of being torn to pieces by visitors who wished to take a

piece home with them. Worse than all, the floor was carpeted

with an old rag carpet, and a poor one at that. Here we were

shown the chair in which Alexander Stephens sat while presiding

over the Senate, and which Jeff Davis used when he came in to

hear the debates and speeches. The Legislative Hall was no bet-

ter, showing how awful "hard up" the Southern Confederacy

was. We went up on the top of the building, from which we had

a fine view of the city and surrounding country.

We also visited the residence of the late President Davis. It

is a large fine house, with high stone pillars in front, and mag-

nificently furnished within-but I think his present home is more

appropriate for him. It was now Gen. Halleck's headquarters.

We also visited Libby Prison, Castle Thunder, and Belle Island,

where so many of our brave soldiers, after suffering what no pen

can describe, actually died from exposure and starvation.

After remaining in Richmond four or five days, seeing the

sights of this now desolate and fallen city, we left for Petersburg.

Along the railroad from Richmond to Petersburg was a continued

line of earthworks made by the rebels to protect their capital,

but these were now useless and unoccupied. After an hour's ride

we arrived at Petersburg, which you will remember was shelled

by the Union army just before the capture of Richmond. A

battered looking place it was - windows and doors knocked in,

138      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

chimneys knocked off; roofs smashed in; holes as big as a wash

tub made through the sides of the solid brick walls. In many

instances, shells had gone entirely through a house, and you can

imagine they played smash inside. A shell had gone through the

gasometer and blown up and destroyed the whole establishment.

We asked a little darkey who was standing by, what they did

for light after their gas factory was blown up;

"⁰ we's had de light ob de shell's fuses as da came flyin' ober

de tops ob de houses," he replied.

Our last number left us in Petersburg, conversing with a little

darkey.

We asked another old negro, who kept a barber shop, if many

folks were hurt during the shelling.

"Not many. Da kept out ob de way right smart."

"Where did the people stay during the shelling?"

"De wimmin an' chilern' stayed out in de woods, de men

folks da kept in de cella's."

"Did you stay in the city ?"

"0, yes, I was here all de time, an' a mighty narrer 'scape I

had, too. I woke up in de night an' heerd de shells whizzin'

pass de winder' an' flyin' ober de houses all round. Thinks I'd

better be gwine out of dis are place; I jumped out of bed, waked

up my ole moder, an' we went down into de cella' quick time.

We hadn't been dar not five minutes, afore a shell comed through

de roof an' struck de bed I'd just been sleepin' in an' blowed

up de whole consarn an' eber thing else in dat part ob de house

sky hi' up to de moon."

Cannon balls, pieces of shells, etc., lay scattered about in the

streets and gutters, like so many stones, and the children used

them for playthings.

The next day we went out to the earthworks, where the bat-

tle was fought. The earthworks were about a mile and a half

from the city. They were made in the following manner: Two

rows of stakes were driven into the ground three or four feet

apart and filled in with sand bags, barrels of sand, logs and all

sorts of things. Behind this they dug a ditch four or five feet

deep and ten or twelve feet wide, throwing up the dirt to cover

Emilius Oviatt Randall.             139

the parapet in front, which made it very strong, not penetrable

even by shot or shell. Sometimes they used nothing but dirt in

making the embankment.

In these ditches they made underground huts or cabins, by

digging down about three feet, and making a hole five or six

feet square, then driving in timbers around the edge of the hole,

slanting so as to meet over the middle of the hole; this was all

covered over with dirt. In these mud huts the soldiers lived for

nearly two years, and curious looking places they were.

These intrenchments extended clear around the city, a dis-

tance of thirty miles. Every four or five miles a fort was made;

in the same manner that the earthworks were, except that they

were built on a much larger and stronger scale, which gave the

intrenchments a more formidable appearance.

In front of the Rebel earthworks, about a mile off, were the

Union intrenchments. They were made like the ones just de-

scribed. All of these were now deserted and useless.

Although the battle was fought nearly six weeks before we

were there, yet the horrible effects of war still remained.

Guns, bayonets, knapsacks, blankets, half-demolished cannon,

shells, cannon balls, dead bodies, legs, arms and heads, lay scat-

tered about, and the ground was perfectly covered with minie

balls.

Dead men all equipped, with their guns lying at their sides,

lay just as they had fallen in the battle. Those that were buried,

thrown into long ditches and covered up. Some were only half

buried, leaving an arm, leg, foot, and sometimes a head sticking

out, which was horrible to look at.

Here we saw the remains of the rebel fort known as the

mine, blown up by Burnside, who dug a tunnel from the Union

intrenchments to the rebel line under this fort, and blew the

fort, men, cannon and all into the air, killing a great many.

In a short time after coming on to the battle field, I had my

pockets full of balls, and my arms full of rusty old guns and

bayonets, but soon found that it would not be so easy to carry

such a load of stuff home, and was obliged to leave all, but two

or three bayonets, which I smuggled through the lines by putting

them in my umbrella.