Correspondence to the Governor and Adjutant General of Ohio,
December 16, 1861-July 2, 1862.
December 16, 1861
W.A. Collins, Assistant Adjutant, Headquarters, Camp Chase, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To ? General Order No. 45; stating that Lieutenant Joshua Blaize, 58th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was detailed to act as Assistant Adjutant of the camp until further order, and that Blaize was to be obeyed and respected accordingly. By order of Brigadier General Charles W. Hill.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 192]
December 21, 1861
C[harles] N. Gibbs, Captain, et. al., 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter signed by eleven officers of the 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; requesting the appointment of Reverend John B. Smith as Chaplain to said regiment; stating that Smith was well known to the men and they greatly desired his appointment; and recommending Smith as a gentleman eminently qualified for the position.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 74]
December 26, 1861
Joshua H. Bates, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Governor William Dennison. Letter stating that Captain A[lonzo] C. Horton commanded a company of the 5th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that from the time of the President's first call for troops until said regiment was ordered into western Virginia, they were under his immediate supervision, that the excellent condition of Horton's company in drill and soldierly appearance impressed him very favorably, that Horton was a good and attentive officer, and that he took pleasure in recommending Horton to Dennison.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 71]
December 26, 1861
Romain Lujian, Post Adjutant, Headquarters, Camp Chase. To Lieutenant [Joshua] Blaize, Camp Chase. Special Order No. 237; stating that by the direction of the commanding officer, Blaize was to report himself at those headquarters as assisting officer to the Post Adjutant until further orders. By order of the commanding officer.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 192]
December 27, 1861
S.F. Cary, College Hill, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Governor William Dennison. Letter stating that having learned that there would probably be a vacancy in the corps of field officers in the 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he took great pleasure in commending Captain A[lonzo] Horton to Dennison's favorable notice as a thoroughly skilled and accomplished officer, a man of temperate habits, and always a popular officer, and that Horton had for some weeks been engaged in drilling the officers, etc., of the 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 83]
December 31, 1861
William R. Putnam, Chairman, Military Committee of Washington County, Ohio, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. To Major [O.] Bennett. Letter stating that the Military Committee of Washington County, Ohio took pleasure in expressing their entire confidence in Bennett's military capacity and acquirements so far as they had an opportunity of judging by observing his operations as military commandant of Camp Putnam and of the forces on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad, and that they cordially recommended Bennett to the favorable consideration of the military authorities.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 16]
January 2, 1862
J[oseph] H. Brigham, Captain, Company A, et. al., 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Hamilton. To Governor William Dennison. Letter signed by sixteen officers of the 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; recommending the promotion of their Major to the Lieutenant Colonelcy and the appointment of Captain A[lonzo] C. Horton (who had been acting as their drill officer) to the Majorship; and stating that Horton could command or have at his disposal from 200 to 300 men, thereby completing the organization of the regiment. Bears the endorsement of William Beckett.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 73]
January 2, 1862
Lewis D. Campbell, Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. To Governor William Dennison. Letter stating that a few days since, he received from the Adjutant General a communication informing him that Dennison had revoked the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Challen of the 69th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that since this matter had been made known, Captain [Alonzo C.] Horton had expressed to him a desire to procure the position, that Horton had demonstrated to him that he was a good officer, that he regarded Horton as a gentleman, that he had informed Horton that if he was to be consulted in the premises, he would under no circumstances consent that the place should be conferred on anyone (not even his best friend) unless the appointee brought with him enough men (approximately 300) to fill up the regiment immediately, that Horton had intimated to him that he could do so, that if Horton brought the men with little delay, he thought his appointment would be satisfactory to the regiment, that if anyone was to be appointed without complying with the condition precedent of raising the men in some way, it must be done against his will and the will of the regiment, and that as much as he might desire the services of Horton, he was more anxious to have a full regiment ready for the field.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 72]
January 3, 1862
William R. Putnam, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. To Major O. Bennett. Letter stating that learning that Bennett was about to leave Marietta to engage in more active service for their country, he was availing himself of the opportunity to thank Bennett for the good order and discipline which had prevailed in Camp Putnam while under his command, that friends visiting his house frequently remarked that he must be exceedingly annoyed by having the camp so near, that it had afforded him pleasure to assure them that he never had better neighbors, that his fields had been sacred, that crops had matured right by the side of the camp, that the fruit garden, abounding with many temptations to the lovers of grapes, raspberries, and currants, was unmolested, that chanticleer rung out his clear note heralding approaching day in full confidence that he and his numerous family had nothing to fear, that doubtless much credit was due to the honor and integrity of the soldiers and he delighted in awarding it to them, and that among so many, there must have been some who would have yielded to temptation had it not been for Bennett's strict attention to his duty as commandant.
2 pp. [Series 147-37: 18]
January 3, 1862
Charles H. Titus, Captain, Company F, et. al., 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Putnam. To whom it may concern. Letter signed by fourteen company officers of the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and stating that they had been associated for a length of time with Major O. Bennett in military matters, that they took great pleasure in recommending Bennett as a military tactician of known ability and capacity, and not only as a commander but as a strict disciplinarian and instructor, and that as such, they thought Bennett worthy of a promotion in the army.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 17]
January 4, 1862
A[rthur] B. Monahan, Lieutenant Colonel, 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Putnam, Ohio. To ? Letter certifying that he was personally acquainted with Major O. Bennett and knew him to be an efficient and experienced drill officer; and stating that Bennett had been connected with the state militia ever since the rebellion broke out, with the exception of a few months, and had been employed by Colonel W. Craig as drill Major in the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that in every position in which he had been placed, Bennett had given evidence of military ability, and that he therefore took pleasure in recommending Bennett to the War Department for position.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 15]
January 9, 1862
Thomas O. McGrew, Adjutant, 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Putnam, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. To ? Letter stating that having been with Captain Nesbit Comly during the months of October, November, and December 1861, in Camp Putnam, he could with pleasure recommend him as a thorough disciplinarian and tactician, and as one perfectly competent to command a company of soldiers.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 25]
January 18, 1862
M[atthias] H. Bartilson, Lieutenant Colonel, et. al., 80th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Meigs. To Governor David Tod. Letter signed by six officers of the 80th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; recommending the bearer, Sergeant George F. Robinson of Company F in said regiment, as a young man of irreproachable moral character and well qualified from actual experience to fill a commissioned office either in the regular or volunteer service; and suggesting that the service would be benefited by Robinson receiving an appointment.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 149]
January 18, 1862
O. Bennet, Major, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that he was requested by officers and men of the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and citizens of Marietta generally to make one more effort to procure a position in the regiment, that Buckingham was aware of the interest he had felt and his unceasing labor in the capacity of drill officer, from the commencement of the organization up to the present time, for the efficiency of the regiment's drill and discipline, that he referred Buckingham to Colonel [W.] Craig or citizens of Marietta generally, that having become attached to officers and men, and they to him, urged him to this effort through Buckingham's influence, that the present Major was a dead letter in the regiment, not knowing the first solitary thing pertaining to the military, that if Buckingham could consistently make a change and place him in the position, it would meet the approbation of Craig and all others of the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and that if the within request could not consistently be granted, he wished Buckingham would bear him in mind as an applicant provided any vacancy occurred in the regiment through the resignation of Craig.
2 pp. [Series 147-37: 22]
January 18, 1862
C.H. Kramer, Captain, Company F, 71st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Dave Tod, near Troy, Miami County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that he had received a notice of appointment and it was accepted.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 83]
January 24, 1862
P[eter] Odlin, Jefferson Patterson, and B[enjamin] Stanton, House of Representatives, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that they were personally acquainted with Captain O. Bennett of Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, who had been acting as post Major connected with the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and that Bennett was a gentleman of high moral character, temperate and correct in all his habits, a superior officer, well drilled, prone to control and keep exemplary order among his men, a good drill officer, and one who would never disgrace those who recommended him or his country; and recommending Bennett for promotion. Together with a letter from Lewis B. Gunckel, [Ohio] Senate Chamber; endorsing all that was said by Odlin, etc.; and recommending Bennett for the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry as consolidated. Also bears the signatures of D.J. Crouse and J. Scott, House of Representatives, and John G. Lowe.
2 pp. [Series 147-37: 16]
January 25, 1862
C[olumbus] Delano, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that he was informed that Captain T[homas] J. Kenney, now a member of the Ohio Senate, was an applicant for an appointment to a field office in the 42nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that Kenney was in the three months' service in Virginia and had a brother, D. Kenney, now in their army in Kentucky, that he had known Kenney well for many years, that Kenney was a member of the Bar in Ashland County, that he understood Ashland County had furnished some 800 men for their army and had no field officer, that he thought Kenney had the elements within himself for a good and valuable officer, that Kenney was among the first to respond to the President's proclamation in April, and that Kenney had been anxious since his first enlistment expired to return to the service.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 23]
January 25, 1862
George Robinson, Cleveland & Mahoning Rail Road Company, Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter enclosing a recommendation from the officers of the 80th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry for his son, George F. Robinson, for a commission either in the volunteer or regular service; and stating that he would be much pleased if Tod could give his son an appointment as 1st Lieutenant or 2nd Lieutenant, that his son was young and perhaps 2nd Lieutenant would be the best for him, that his son served in the 16th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry (three months' service) in Virginia and had been in camp at Dover for two or three months, that Tod could inquire of Judge Day about his son, that they had gotten through with the field work of the Hubbard Rail Road and found it more expensive than was expected, and that he would prefer an appointment in the regular service for his son if it could be had.
2 pp. [Series 147-37: 150]
January 29, 1862
W. Craig, Captain, U.S. Army, Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that some time since, Buckingham ordered a company of seventy men under a Lieutenant West from the 77th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry to the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that weeks had passed and West had never reported but thirty men, that West had informed him that an individual named Thurlow, who had an appointment to recruit for the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and afterwards turned his men over to the 77th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, had taken it upon himself to give indefinite leave to the men Buckingham ordered to the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that finding it impracticable to organize another company when Buckingham's order was received to consolidate with the 22nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he filled up other companies with the thirty men brought in by West and recommended him to fill a vacancy in one of the companies as 2nd Lieutenant, that he since had been obliged to put West in close arrest, charged with disobedience of orders and lying, and now pronounced him entirely unfit for any honorable position, and that in West's place, he recommended Louis Schmidt who was a good man, had procured many recruits, and would be a credit to the service.
3 pp. [Series 147-37: 10]
January 29, 1862
William R. Putnam, Chairman, [Military Committee of Washington County, Ohio], Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that the bearer, Lewis Smith, received a commission for recruiting a company for the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that Smith succeeded in recruiting more than 30 men but from some cause unknown to him, he did not receive the commission to which he was entitled and his men had been divided up, that Smith was visiting Columbus to ascertain why he had been thus dealt with, that if there were no good reasons why Smith should not receive a commission, it would be gratifying to his friends that he should receive the reward of his labors, that Smith was an energetic man and had seen some service in his native land, and that the committee thought Smith would make a good Lieutenant.
2 pp. [Series 147-37: 20]
January 30, 1862
Henry S. Williams, Sergeant Major, 62nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Kelley, Lander's Division, North Branch Bridge. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that on October 4, 1861, he received an appointment as a 2nd Lieutenant and was mustered in as such the same day, that he recruited twenty-six men for the 62nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that after waiting until the last hour had expired for the recruiting service, he placed himself and his men with Lieutenant [Bazel] Rodgers and Lieutenant [Perley B.] Johnson, that Rodgers and Johnson refused him a straight election, compelling him to run against one of their own party whom they had taken up to beat him with, that Rodgers and Johnson had planned the thing to prevent his succeeding, that he was willing to stand a fair, straight election giving to each candidate a fair chance, that if he did not stand the test, he was willing to go in the capacity he at present occupied, and that he hoped Buckingham would give the matter fair and impartial consideration.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 1]
February 1, 1862
Charles H. Titus, Captain, 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Tupper. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that the best interests of a hundred men prompted him as their Captain to ask of Buckingham the appointment or promotion of some party with known military experience and capacity to the position of 1st Lieutenant in his company, that said position was made vacant by the 1st Lieutenant accepting the Adjutancy of the regiment, that his 2nd Lieutenant was a man of years, but would never make a military man in its simplest detail, and that he had learned that Louis Smith, a German who was entirely ignorant of military matters, had been recommended to Buckingham for the position of 1st Lieutenant; and requesting that 2nd Lieutenant [Lewis L.] Grubb from Company D be promoted or that Buckingham give him any experienced man for the benefit of his men and company.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 21]
February 7, 1862
George W. Roby, Member of the [Ohio] Senate from Ross County and Highland County, N.H. Hixon, Member of the [Ohio] House of Representatives from Highland County, and Samuel Galloway, Senate Chamber, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter recommending Sergeant Edward Boyd, Quartermaster Sergeant and Acting Quartermaster of the late 22nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a suitable person in all respects for the position of Quartermaster of the 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry with which said 22nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry had been consolidated; and requesting Boyd's appointment.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 27]
February 26, 1862
Delafield DuBois, Major, 62nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Kimball on Great Cacapon, Virginia. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter calling Buckingham's attention to the case of H[enry] S. Williams, at present their Sergeant Major; and stating that the papers in reference to it were and had been for some time on file in Buckingham's office, that Williams was mustered in by Major [John R.] Edie as a 2nd Lieutenant, that Williams raised 28 men, that most of the regiment were sent to Marietta, but Williams was ordered to remain at Camp Goddard, that at their organization and before Williams could get the two men that would ensure his commission as an officer (he could have gotten many more if he had been permitted to leave), he was consolidated with some other squads, that an election was held and the other squads joining, Williams was defeated, another being elected in his place, that Williams was a most excellent officer in every respect and well worthy of a higher position than he now held, and that Williams desired to know if, under the circumstances, he was entitled to a commission.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 2]
March 3, 1862
J[acob] K. Skinner, Lieutenant Commanding, Company H, 62nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Kimbel, Great Cacapon, Virginia. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter requesting transportation tickets for two Privates from his company who remained at Zanesville on account of sickness and were now well and ready to come if they could be passed on the railroad to Great Cacapon.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 5]
March 13, 1862
Ed[win] A. Parrott, Colonel, 1st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Field of Shiloh. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that learning that [James H.] Hart, Adjutant, 71st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was to be considered for promotion to the Majority of said regiment, he took pleasure in testifying as to Hart's fitness for the position, that he had known Hart for a long time in civilian life as a man of marked ability and bravery, that because their regiments fought on different parts of the line, he could not speak from personal observation of Hart's conduct in the late fight at Shiloh, that he learned from several reliable sources that Hart acted very gallantly, that on the second day of the fight, Hart collected what he could find (less than a score) of his regiment with its colors, and that with this little command, Hart reported to General [William T.] Sherman and fought with it through the day until the victory was won.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 94]
March 17, 1862
J[ohn] W. Sprague, Colonel, 63rd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp near New Madrid, Missouri. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter stating that Private Samuel C. Wheeler of Sandusky, Ohio, now a member of Company E, 7th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, joined or volunteered in that company last Spring when under his command, that he had known Wheeler well for a number of years, that Wheeler was a gentleman of good education having just entered upon the practice of law when he volunteered, and that Wheeler's character as a citizen and soldier were "unexceptionable"; and recommending Wheeler as worthy and qualified for an appointment as a Lieutenant in the volunteer service.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 19]
March 27, 1862
Charles Candy, Colonel, 66th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Winchester, Virginia. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that 2nd Lieutenant Charles H. Rhoads of Company G, 66th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry tendered his resignation and that the same had been accepted of in Special Orders 58 dated Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Washington, February 28, 1862; recommending Sergeant Major Robert Murdoch to fill the vacancy; and stating that Murdoch was 19 years of age, born in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, and had resided in Urbana since 1850, that Murdoch had performed the duties of Sergeant Major since the organization of the regiment, that he was desirous of rewarding Murdoch for the energetic and faithful performance of his duties, and that he hoped this would meet with Tod's approval and that Murdoch's commission might be dated from March 1, 1862.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 55]
March 28, 1862
D[aniel] French, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding, 65th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp near Nashville, Tennessee. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that there was a vacancy for a Captaincy in Company D of his command; recommending the appointment of Lieutenant Samuel L. Bowlby to the position; and stating that Bowlby was eminently qualified in every respect, that for some time past, Bowlby had been Acting Adjutant to his entire satisfaction and that of the regiment, that he was confident there was no one in Company D competent or qualified to fill creditably the position he asked for Bowlby, and that it was the desire of a majority of the company that the appointment of Bowlby be made.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 39]
March 31, 1862
Charles Hennessey, 1st Lieutenant and acting Captain, Company D, [67th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry], Strasburg, Virginia. To the Honorable Richard Mott, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. Letter stating that at the time of the consolidation of the 45th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and 67th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, F.J. O'Sullivan failed to obtain a commission, that since then, O'Sullivan had performed the duties of Orderly Sergeant with promptness and ability, that in the battle of Winchester, O'Sullivan was wounded in the arm thus shedding his blood in defense of that flag which they all loved so well, and that he knew that Mott took a deep interest in the regiment; asking Mott to bring O'Sullivan's case again before the Governor or Adjutant General of Ohio; and stating that the 2nd Lieutenancy in Company D was now vacant and no man could fill it with more ability or deserved it so well.
1 p. [Series 147-37: 43]