HISTORY
OF
WAYNE COUNTY, COUNTY, OHIO...
SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR
CHAPTER XXIX.
WAYNE COUNTY SOLDIERS 1N THE CIVIL WAR.

THE 16TH OHIO.

The 16th Ohio, for three years' service, was organized at Camp Tiffin, near Wooster, on the 2d of October, 1861. The regimental camp was located in Quinby Grove, a short distance north-west of the present site of the University. Five companies were recruited in Wayne county, commanded by Eli W. Botsford, Hamilton Richeson, Samuel Smith, George U. Ham and A. S. McClure. The field officers were: Colonel, John F. DeCourcey; Lieutenant-Colonel, George W. Bailey; Major, Philip Keshner.

The regiment moved to Camp Dennison, November 27, 1861. It remained there until December 19, when it was ordered to Lexington, Ky. From Lexington it proceeded to join General Thomas' forces, then operating against Zollicoffer's command in Southern Kentucky. After toilsome marches through mud and rain the regiment arrived at Somerset, just in time to miss the battle of Mill Springs. The regiment remained near Somerset until the 31st of January, 1862, when it was directed to Cumberland Ford, reaching there on the 12th of February. Troops were assembling at the Ford, under the command of General George W. Morgan, to dislodge the Confederate forces occupying Cumberland Gap, a few miles distant. In March and April several reconnaissances were made in the vicinity of the Gap, during which sharp skirmishing took place with the enemy. The 16th lost several men in killed and wounded during the desultory actions. In June, Morgan's forces, composed of Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee troops, succeeded in crossing the Cumberland mountains by Powell's Gap, thus effecting a lodgement in rear of Cumberland Gap, and necessitating its evacuation by the Confederates. The enemy retreated to Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Union forces occupied the abandoned stronghold without further resistance.

On the 6th of August the 16th was ordered to Tazewell, Tenn,, to relieve the 14th Kentucky. After reaching this place and relieving the 14th, the regiment encountered the advance of Kirby Smith's army, in motion to invade Kentucky. A sharp engagement ensued, in which the 16th was overwhelmed by numbers and forced to retreat to the Gap, with a severe loss in killed, wounded and captured. The situation of the Union troops in Cumberland Gap was now extremely perilous. They were surrounded on all sides and their supplies cut off. General Morgan determined to abandon the Gap and retreat to the Ohio river. After a toilsome march of sixteen days through the mountainous region of Kentucky the command reached the Ohio at Greenupsburg, Ky., on the 3d of October, 1862.

After recuperating at Portland, Ohio, the 16th was ordered to Charleston, West Virginia, and from thence to Memphis, Tennessee, to join General Sherman's command, then organizing for the capture of Vicksburg. In December Sherman's forces moved down the Mississippi on transports, arriving at the mouth of the Yazoo on Christmas. The troops proceeded up the Yazoo several miles, where they were disembarked, and prepared to assault Vicksburg on the Chickasaw Bluffs side. On the 28th of December the enemy was driven out of his line of rifle-pits in front of the Bluffs, and on the 29th Morgan's division was ordered to assault them. The position of the Confederates was impregnable, and the assault was very disastrous. The 16th lost very heavily in this engagement. Captain G. U. Harn was killed; Captain Van Dorn wounded and captured ; Captain Ross wounded; Captain McClure wounded and captured; Lieutenant P. M. Smith wounded and captured; Lieutenant Heckert wounded and captured; Lieutenant Colonel Kershner wounded and captured; Lieutenant Voorhees wounded and captured; Captains Mills and Cunningham, and Lieutenant Buchanan captured. The regiment lost in this engagement 311 officers and men killed, wounded and captured.

The next service of the regiment was at Arkansas Post, in which assault it lost several men. It then returned to Young's Point, on the Mississippi river, and from there it moved to Milliken's Bend, where it encamped until April 6, 1863. The regiment then participated in Grant's Campaign against Vicksburg, in the battle of Champion Hills, Thompson's Hill, Black River Bridge, and in the assaults on the entrenchments of Vicksburg, on the 19th and 22d of May, 1863, losing severely in each of these engagements.

After the capture of Vicksburg, on the 4th of July, the regiment joined the forces of General Sherman in his expedition against Jackson, Miss. In the assault on this place Captain Richeson was wounded and several of the Wayne county boys killed. Returning to Vicksburg the regiment went into camp, but was soon sent to New Orleans to join General Banks' expedition, then fitting out for operations in Western Louisiana. After a short campaign up the valley of the Teche to Opelousa the regiment returned to New Orleans to join General Washburn's expedition to Texas. The regiment disembarked at De Crows Point, Matagorda Peninsula, and moved from thence to Indianola, returning to New Orleans April 12, 1864. From New Orleans it was ordered to Alexandria, on the Red river, to reinforce Banks' command, which was retreating before the forces of Dick Taylor. On arriving at Alexandria the 16th was immediately placed at the front, and participated in several light engagements. Returning to Alexandria it was detached to help construct a dam on Red river to facilitate the escape of the iron-clad fleet. From here Banks retreated to Morganza Bend, on the Mississippi, the 16th forming a part of the rear guard in this disorderly retreat.

On reaching Morganza Bend the regiment went into camp, from where it was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for muster out, returning there, and was discharged October 31, 1864.

The 16th was one of the best disciplined regiments in the service. Its Colonel, John F. De Courcy, was a professional soldier, having served many years in the British army. The regiment was noted throughout for its fine military bearing.

HISTORY OF COMPANY C.

[from the 11th Reunion of the 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Akron, Ohio, August 5 and 6, 1886]

About the 1st of September, 1861, E. W. Bottsford, Geo. W. Stine and C. W. Oldroyd, began the formation of what was afterwards known as Co. C. of the 16th Regiment. The enrollment began on the 2d of September and continued up to October 15th. Ground having been selected for a camp and tents having arrived, on Saturday afternoon September 20th, John Marks, Enos Pierson, John Leitner and Charley McCracken, proceeded to camp and pitched the first tent in Camp Tiffin. Later in the evening we were joined by C. W. Oldroyd, I. S. Beal and one or two others. Being so far away from the enemy's lines, it was not deemed necessary to put out pickets. About midnight, we were awakened by a terrible commotion in camp, and our quarters ruthlessly invaded by a "GOOSE." A charge was immediately made by John Marks and Charley McCracken. The enemy was captured and immediately executed. Jack Leitner being the executioner. His gooseship was served up for breakfast. From that time until mustered out, Co. C, always looked upon geese and chickens as an enemy, and dispatched them whenever the opportunity offered.

At the election held at Camp Tiffin, E. W. Bottsford was elected Captain, Geo. W. Stine, 1st Lieutenant, I. S. Beal, 2d Lieutenant. C. W. Oldroyd was appointed 1st Sergeant. The company was regularly mustered in on the 2d of October, with 94 members, and was No. 10 or left flank company of the regiment.

The company left Wooster with the regiment, November 27th, going to Camp Dennison, and December 18th arrived in Lexington, Ky. While at Lexington, a detail of 16 men of Co. C, under command of Lieut. Ross of Co. G, went to Nicholasville and captured a rebel Colonel.

The company participated in all the battles in which the regiment was engaged. Lieut. Beal resigned April 27, 1863. Lieut. Stine was promoted to Captain and assigned to Co. I. Sergt. Oldroyd promoted to 1st Lieutenant and commanding the company, Captain Bottsford being Major. The company was recruited to 111 and depleted as follows:

Leaving 62 to be mustered out October 31, 1864. As far as can be ascertained 60 of the company are still living in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas and Missouri. E.P.