Correspondence to the Governor and Adjutant General of Ohio,
January 1, 1862-July 21, 1862.
January 1, 1862
J.B. Purcell, Archbishop, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Secretary S[almon] P. Chase, Washington. Letter recommending Michael H. Sullivan who desired a situation as Quartermaster or Assistant Quartermaster in the regular army. Bears a note dated February 8, 1862, from W[illiam] S. Rosecrans, Brigadier General, U.S.A., Headquarters, Department of Western Virginia, Wheeling, Virginia; stating that he knew Sullivan, that he could attest to Sullivan's merits and qualifications for the position of Assistant Quartermaster or Acting Commissary of Subsistence, and that Sullivan was also instructed in the infantry drill; and recommending Sullivan for either position in the volunteer service, or for 2nd Lieutenant of infantry in the regular army.
3 pp. [Series 147-40: 23]
February 15, 1862
D.W. Rhodes, Clerk, [Ohio] Senate Chamber, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. True copy of a resolution from the Journal of the Senate stating that the Governor be requested to communicate to the Senate the names of all officers who in any capacity had served on the Governor's staff during the fiscal year ending November 15, 1861, the names of all the assistants who had served in connection with said staff officers, the time each staff officer and assistant had served and in what capacity, the amount claimed by each and every person so reported and under what law the same was claimed, and the amount, if any, paid to each staff officer and assistant so connected with the Governor's staff.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 33]
April 5, 1862
Alex. Reed, County Auditor, Auditor's Office, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C.P. Buckingham. Letter asking if the law required the township and ward assessors to take an enumeration of persons subject to military duty the present year; stating that the law of 1861 said that the list should be taken that year and thereafter at each time of taking the census of white male inhabitants, but said an annual return should be made, and that the white male census was to be taken every four years; and asking what object there was in making an annual return.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 8]
April 14, 1862
P.W. Norris, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that he learned that Tod wished a company of volunteers raised to guard prisoners at Mackinaw, Michigan; tendering his services at the close of the legislative session, or sooner if actually necessary, believing that he could soon raise a company; enclosing papers referring to his brief military record; and stating that an injury to his neck, received by a fall off his horse while in service, had been much more serious and permanent than then suspected and had prevented an earlier return to and more active duty in service, and that he was reared to lead men and was at home anywhere along the Upper Lakes.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 20]
[April 14?, 1862]
C[arr] B. White, Colonel, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters. To Captain R[igdon] Williams and others. Letter stating that he had carefully considered the contents of their paper protesting against the promotions in the 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry recommended by Lieutenant Colonel [Jonathan D.] Hines and himself; and explaining the reasons for said recommendations.
3 pp. [Series 147-40: 84]
April 14, 1862
R[igdon] Williams, Captain, Company F, et. al., 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Warren, Virginia. To Colonel Carr B. White, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Letter signed by fourteen officers of the 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; protesting against various appointments recommended by White; requesting that the recommendations named be withdrawn and others made which were according to the rules of seniority and which would be more congenial to the officers and men of the regiment; and stating that by so doing, White would confer a great favor on the officers of the 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and save them the painful necessity of resigning or demanding a court of inquiry.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 85]
April 16, 1862
C[arr] B. White, Colonel, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Headquarters, Camp Warren, near Charleston, Virginia. To Captain G.M. Bascom, Assistant Adjutant General. Letter forwarding, for transmittal to the General commanding the Department, a list of resignations of officers in the 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry; and stating that said resignations were all approved by him and it was hoped they might all be accepted for the reason that the several officers named had undertaken, by an organized threat of resignation, to force promotions repugnant to the good order and discipline of the regiment, that it was believed that an association of company officers demanding, under threat, concessions at the hands of commanding officers could not fail to establish a precedent for the men under their command if sustained by a rejection of their resignations, that this would be at once detrimental to the service and dangerous to military discipline, and that believing the recommendations made were the best that could be made for the good of the service and in view of the threat specified, he could not entertain for a moment a proposition to withdraw the recommendations complained of.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 83]
April 19, 1862
J.M. Wright, Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, Army of the Ohio, Field of Shiloh. To ? Official copy of Special Orders No. 26; stating that the resignation of 2nd Lieutenant H[enry] Coon, 41st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry was accepted to take effect from date. By command of Major General [Don Carlos] Buell. Official copy made by John Coon, Paymaster, U.S.A.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 151]
April 23, 1862
C[arr] B. White, Colonel, 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp Warren, near Charleston, Virginia. To Governor David Tod. Letter regarding the resignations of certain officers of the 12th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry tendered in consequence of the recommendations for promotions; and stating that through motives of patriotism, young men of talent and education had enlisted in the ranks of every regiment from Ohio, that in the organization of companies in the volunteer service, the officers were generally chosen in consequence of their social position at home and not for any adaptation they might have for military life, that for this reason, all volunteer regiments had some very poor officers who were good citizens at home, that there were some who, from habits of dissipation, were unfit for the positions they held, that to get clear of this class of officers was the duty and desire of every regimental commander in the service, that the efficiency of a regiment depended on its officers, that if the officers were well qualified for their positions and prompt in the discharge of their duties, the men would have to do theirs, that no one was more aware than the Colonel as to who were the better officers of his regiment and the non-commissioned officers best suited to fill the vacancies that might occur in his regiment, that none had a greater interest or desire than the Colonel to have his regiment well officered, that the Governor might highly appreciate the Ohio troops and be very sensitive to the honor of the State that shared the glory or disgrace attached to their conduct in the field, but he could not feel in the matter like the Colonel whose life and personal honor, as well as the fair name of his State, were dependent on the conduct of his men and their conduct dependent on the competency or incompetency of company officers, that where all were competent and well qualified, as in the regular army, seniority should take precedence, but in the volunteer corps, it could not be followed as a rule without injury to the service, that entertaining such views, he would not hesitate to recommend for promotions or commissions those thought to be best qualified for positions without regard to seniority, hoping at the same time that Tod might commission them, and that by so doing, he would have the satisfaction of discharging what he regarded as his duty to his regiment and country.
4 pp. [Series 147-40: 82]
May 2, 1862
J[ohn] C. Fremont, Major General Commanding, Headquarters, Mountain Department, Wheeling, Virginia. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that in addition to the names already submitted, he desired to present Biddle Boggs for a Lieutenancy, that Boggs was a resident of Springfield, Ohio, had passed an examination before a board appointed by General Sumner, and was a very worthy and reliable man, and that Boggs was well known to the Honorable Sampson Mason and the Honorable R.D. Harrison of Clark County, Ohio.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 10]
May 5, [1862]
J.H. Hammond, Assistant Adjutant General, Camp No. 2. Circular issued by order of Brigadier General William T. Sherman; stating that their situation from the rain and roads had become difficult and it became the duty of every efficient man to anticipate their danger and to labor, that every ounce of food and forage must be regarded as precious as diamonds, that roads would be impassable and their bridges swept away, that General [Henry] Halleck and their superior officers would do all they could, but their power was limited by nature, that they must do their part in full, that men must at once be limited in bread and meat, that all livestock in their lines must be driven in and used, that all grass, wheat, and everything fit for forage must be gathered, that horses would be allowed to eat on bushes such as elm, cottonwood, and sassafras gathered for their use at once, that particular attention must be given at once to their roads and defenses, that every ax and spade should be busy, that at daybreak, a party from each brigade would open a road by clearing the underbrush back to the ridge road following the highest ground back to the north and east, that in front of the whole line, underbrush must be cut to a distance of 300 yards and heavy logs felled as a breastwork along the front of the artillery, that camps, picket guards, and sentinels must be visited often and the utmost vigilance maintained, that Monterey, [Tennessee] was the key point, that they could not be assailed by artillery because the enemy could not haul it up, but they might be assailed by hordes of infantry night and day, that vigilance must therefore be kept, that neglect at any and all times must be promptly punished, that if any sentinel would not be wakeful and intelligent, let him be forced to work, that their right was the point of danger and would receive the personal attention of the General, that the General could do nothing unless his orders were strictly observed and those were that all articles of provision and forage be put under guard and dealt out at half rations, and that the guard to their front be provided with log breastworks and defenses and underbrush cleared to their rear to admit of prompt and easy communication, not to retreat on but to afford means of drawing assistance if necessary and to move regiments from one point to another of their lines if need be, that orders issued covered the whole ground and this was meant to remind all of their importance, and that maps would at once be prepared and sent to Brigadiers who should furnish Colonels and subordinates with copies. Bears the comments of T[homas] Worthington, Colonel, 46th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 37]
May 8, 1862
John S. Mathews, Painesville, Lake County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter calling Tod's attention to the date of the enclosed notice and the date of mustering him out of service which deprived him of one month's services; stating that the order directing him to be mustered out of service originated from the Department at Columbus, and that he was advised his only recourse was through said department; and calling Tod's attention to the matter. Bears a copy of a note dated February 4, 1862, from Albert B. Dod, Captain, 15th U.S. Infantry, and Mustering Officer, Adjutant General's Office, Columbus, to John S. Mathews, 2nd Lieutenant, 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry; stating that in accordance with instructions from the War Department, Mathews was mustered out of the U.S. service from January 4, 1862.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 11]
May 10, 1862
A[ugustus] Labrot, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. To D.T. Woodrow. Letter stating that Mr. Lefever, a brother-in-law of an intimate friend of his in New Orleans, was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Shiloh, that Lefever was brought to Cincinnati and placed in the Fourth Street Hospital where he remained up to last Monday, that he had Lefever removed, by the permission of Dr. Moore, to St. John's Hospital for treatment until his wound should be cured, that to his great surprise and regret, Lefever was, without regard to his condition, taken away and sent to Camp Chase two days afterward and he supposed Lefever was there now, that he would consider it a great favor if Woodrow could use his influence to obtain for Lefever the privilege of staying in Columbus on parole, that Lefever would thereby be able to receive the care that his present condition of health required, and that should any security be required, he would be willing to give it. Together with a letter dated May 12, 1862, from D.T. Woodrow, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, to My Dear Friend; stating that Labrot was the Frenchman who married Lizzie Cromwell (his wife's sister), that Labrot was a Cincinnati merchant of very high standing who had made considerable money and was very highly respected by all classes, and that Labrot did not make this appeal except through sympathy for his friend; asking if anything could be done in compliance with Labrot's wishes; and stating that Labrot was perfectly able and willing to give every security that might be required, and that he was one who opposed any sympathetic feeling or leniency to rebels, but he hoped the authorities would suffer Lefever to be placed where he could receive attention by those who were willing to give it.
3 pp. [Series 147-40: 9]
May 13, 1862
J.C. Hart, Lockport, Williams County, Ohio. To the Adjutant General of Ohio. Letter stating that he was a sick soldier who had been discharged; asking if the Adjutant General could draw his pay for him if he sent a power of attorney with the other papers; and stating that he wished his pay sent by express.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 2]
May 18, 1862
James Cantwell, Colonel, 82nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Mountain Department, Headquarters, Schenck's Brigade, Camp Franklin, Virginia. To Adjutant General Charles W. Hill. Letter regarding resignations in his regiment; and recommending appointments to fill the vacancies in the regiment occasioned by promotions and resignations.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 5]
May 18, 1862
B[enjamin] Morgan, Captain, Company F, 75th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Camp near Franklin, Virginia. To N[athaniel] C. McLean, Colonel, 75th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Letter recommending Samuel C. Ruckman, Orderly Sergeant, Company F, 75th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry for promotion to 1st Lieutenant of said company to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Harvey Crampton; and stating that he considered Ruckman well deserving and better qualified than any other for the position.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 76]
May 20, 1862
George D. Ruggles, Assistant Adjutant General, Adjutant General's Office, Washington. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter reporting that three officers of the volunteer forces from the State of Ohio had resigned to take effect on the dates set opposite their respective names.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 7]
May 21, 1862
L.C. Brown, Post Surgeon, Post Hospital, Camp Chase, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To ? Letter certifying that he had discharged J. Rumple and R.B. Perry of the 57th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and S.S. Older of the 68th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry from the Post Hospital at Camp Chase to rejoin their regiments. Approved by S.J. McGroarty, Lieutenant Colonel, 61st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Acting Commander, Camp Chase.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 6]
May 21, 1862
Samuel H. Cole, Franklin Mills, Portage County, Ohio. To H.S. Miller. Letter stating that he received Miller's letter and was truly thankful that he had been reinstated in the service of the United States, and that he was not satisfied to stay at home and wanted to be at work; asking that Miller do all he could for him and get him appointed in the 42nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry or somewhere else; and stating that he desired to join the 42nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Cumberland Gap before the fight came off there, and that he carried a musket in the three months' service and would do it again if he could do no better. Bears a note from Cole stating that he would ever be indebted to Adjutant General [Charles W.] Hill for his kindness in obtaining reinstatement for him.
3 pp. [Series 147-40: 1]
May 22, 1862
J. Charles Dicken, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. To Dear Sir. Letter stating that James M. Leith enlisted as a Private in Company F, 32nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 15, 1861, that Leith was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant on September 4, 1861, and his resignation tendered and accepted on October 15, 1861, that during his service, Leith drew no rations from the state or Government, that Leith was paid the sum of $48.60 by a paymaster at Wheeling, that the paymaster said he was not authorized to pay Leith any additional amount, that Leith was entitled to two months' pay, but was told he would have to go to Columbus for the balance, that what he desired to know was what additional amount of money was due Leith if any, and that if money was due Leith, he desired to know how much and how and where it could be obtained.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 20]
May 22, 1862
Enos Eldridge, Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio. To the Governor of Ohio. Letter stating that his son, Alfred, had a recommendation for a commission, that he learned that the recruiting service was to be continued, that if the Governor could give Alfred a Lieutenancy, it would be very encouraging and satisfactory, that he served in the War of 1812 to save his country from the grasp of despotic England and now sent two boys to save it from being despoiled by the hand of anarchy, humiliation, and ruin, and that Alfred could obtain the good word of every influential citizen of Salem.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 2]
May 23, 1862
William Lawrence, Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio. To Adjutant General C[harles] W. Hill. Letter stating that he presumed Hill would call for more troops (volunteers), that he hoped they might have a camp there as he deemed it a good location for recruiting, that he would be glad to consult Hill in person as to the appointment of field officers for a regiment whether the camp was there or elsewhere, that Lewis Taylor of DeGraff, Logan County, Ohio desired to raise a company, and that he recommended Taylor as a suitable person.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 1]
May 24, 1862
R.W. Caldwell, Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that he feared, owing to the present condition of his mother's health, it would be impossible for him to appear before Tod on Monday next, that if his mother was better by Monday, he would be pleased to see Tod on that day, and that he would be pleased to serve Tod in any way desired.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 13]
May 24, 1862
W.T. Martin, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To ? Letter certifying that he was well acquainted with the family connection of John Byers residing at Zanesville and slightly acquainted with him personally; and stating that he was satisfied, from all the information he had ever obtained, that Byers was a steady, sober man, faithful to his engagements, and a loyal citizen.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 21]
May 24, 1862
Gamaliel Scott, et. al., Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio. To all whom it may concern. Letter signed by four individuals; stating that they were well acquainted with John Fell who was a native of Columbus, that Fell had served three months in the 20th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, that Fell was a sober, steady young man, worthy of every confidence, and that Fell was a loyal citizen faithful to the Constitution of the U.S.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 16]
May 26, 1862
Martin Crain, [Ohio] House of Representatives, Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter enclosing a written certificate of Captain Culbertson and Lieutenants Winters and Gilrath recommending the promotion of 1st Sergeant McGrew of their company to the office of 2nd Lieutenant; and stating that he was personally acquainted with the parties that signed the recommendation and knew them to be all right, that he was also acquainted with McGrew and took pleasure in saying that he fully endorsed all that was said of him in the certificate from his superior officers, that McGrew's father was in Columbus to see Tod not long ago in relation to this matter and said that promotion was promised his son provided he could procure the recommendation of his superior officers, and that he hoped Tod would promote McGrew who was worthy of the honor and next in rank to the vacant position.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 42]
May 26, 1862
John C. Lane, Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that he believed additional troops would be called for, and that he felt anxious to again take the field; asking if an application would be considered for raising a regiment in Cincinnati; and stating that he had considerable experience in the military both before and since the commencement of hostilities, and that he had not taken this step without advice from many of the best citizens of Cincinnati who would gladly provide satisfactory references as to his capabilities.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 15]
May 28, 1862
George W. Geddes, et. al., Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio. To Governor David Tod. Letter signed by seventeen individuals; stating that they understood that their townsman, the Honorable B. Burns, wished to enter the public service, that they were taking the liberty of requesting Burns' appointment to the Colonelcy of one of the regiments now raising, that they hardly deemed it necessary to say anything to Tod, who was so well acquainted with Burns, of his fitness for such a position, and that Burns' undoubted loyalty, determined energy, and great zeal always manifested for the suppression of the monstrous rebellion, warranted them in saying that Tod could not find a man who would better fill such a position; requesting this appointment; and pledging that old Richland would not be backward in raising troops to fill up the regiment.
2 pp. [Series 147-40: 48]
May 28, 1862
T[homas] Worthington, Colonel, 46th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, before Corinth, Mississippi. To Governor David Tod. Letter again requesting that his commission as Colonel of volunteers bear the same date as his appointment, namely July 29, 1861; stating that he asked for no pay before January 30, 1862, but wished to be in a position in which his experience and ability would be available to the service, that even in command of his regiment, he was thwarted by the incompetence and jealousy of those above him and by military rules so often conflicting with justice and the public welfare, that he regretted to say that it could be proven that no man in the division was his equal in military knowledge and capacity, that he was told that General [William T.] Sherman had admitted this, that there was not a man in the Army of the Tennessee so competent to conduct its operations as himself, that if there was, he should like to know and would submit himself morally and militarily to his superior direction, that it would be impossible for him to neglect their communications, commissariat, and hospitals as they had been neglected, that had he been in [Henry] Halleck's place, he would, within a week after leaving Shiloh, have successfully closed the siege of Corinth provided he had the proper artillery at the rein, that they had been thirty days advancing some 14 or 15 miles and the road over which he passed on May 27 was impracticable for siege artillery though often repaired, that the road might have been a double track railroad or at least plank road with a savings of millions to the Government to say nothing of the moral effect and the health and comfort of the troops, that with such a road, one-third their present transportation would suffice and the troops, especially the sick, would have been better provided for in all respects, that the present system of jolting the sick and wounded over corduroy roads was criminal and inhuman and, as their Medical Director would testify, had cost hundreds of lives and must cost many more, that at the battle of Shiloh, he was fortunately left at his own discretion and with his regiment was, under providence, the means of saving to the Army of the Tennessee that two hours which arrested its entire destruction, that he was compelled to perform an evolution, while the regiment was under fire of sharpshooters and artillery, most dangerous and critical in all respects and which would have left the regiment and brigade to capture or dispersion had it failed, that had this maneuver failed, the blame of the consequences would have rested on him and like poor [Jesse] Appler (sacrificed by Sherman) he might have been sent home in disgrace, and that had he been in command, the victims of Shiloh would have slept together as they fought and fell in their common and most glorious cause, and yet, in general, their graves were as inglorious and unrecognized as those of the unknown rebels who fell and slept beside them; assessing the performance of William T. Sherman at Shiloh; stating that Sherman should have been cashiered rather than promoted; and calling for an investigation of the battle of Shiloh.
4 pp. [Series 147-40: 38]
May 29, 1862
Nathan Kimball, Brigadier General Commanding, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Rappahannock. To Governor David Tod. Letter stating that for the past five months, he had been acquainted with Lieutenant Colonel Franklin Sawyer of the 8th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that for the greater portion of that time, the regiment had been under his command, that he had excellent opportunities to observe the capacity of Sawyer in camp and in the field, that in his official report of the battle of Winchester, he had occasion to make honorable mention of Sawyer, that he would take pleasure in recommending Sawyer, and that in the event of the appointment of Colonel S.S. Carroll of the 8th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry to a Brigadier Generalship, he would recommend Sawyer for the appointment of Colonel of said regiment.
1 p. [Series 147-40: 210]