Wolbach's Camp & Field

Web Author's Notes:

The following image is taken from a book titled "Mortality and Statistics of the Census of 1850" in which it is believed retired Captain Rezin H. Vorhes, Company H, pasted over the pages a series of articles written by Cpl. Theodore D. Wolbach, Company E, titled "Camp and Field" and published, by chapter, in the Holmes County (Ohio) Republican newspaper from February 24, 1881 to August 17, 1882. The articles tell the story, in great detail and color, of the 16th OVI, from the inception of the 3-year regiment in October, 1861, through all its camps, battles and marches until it was disbanded on October 31, 1864. The articles pasted in the Vorhes book cover the first 35 chapters, published through October 20, 1881. All the remaining chapters were recently found in a Holmes County library by researcher Rob Garber who obtained copies, performed the transcriptions and provided to this website and which are also presented here, thus providing the complete work by Theodore Wolbach.

Throughout these articles click on the underlined white text for additional details.

The webauthor thanks 16th Ohio descendant Rob Garber for his excellent research on the Camp And Field articles and for performing the tedious digital transcription of those articles found on each page. The transcriptions were made to reflect the original articles verbatim, misspellings and all. Rob is the 3rd great nephew of Capt. William Buchanan, Company F, 16th Ohio, who served in the 90-day regiment as a private, re-enlisting in the three year regiment, and eventually making the rank of Captain of Company F. Thanks Rob!

Ohio Battery came down the steep and narrow road, one of their ten-pound Parrott guns, carriage and horses, took a frightful tumble down a dangerous incline. Horses and equipments were badly tangled up for a few minutes, but none of the poor animals were seriously hurt. Early in the evening the veterinary surgeon of this Battery was captured by some rebel cavalry about five hundred yards away from his command. Near our bivouac an extraordinarily large spring gushed from the mountain side and run through a long sluice-box to an overshot wheel that furnished power for a woolen and flouring mill. The leaky sluice-box furnished an excellent shower bath for the boys, who were soon stripped by hundreds and availing themselves of the splendid facilities. These noisy naked fellows became distasteful to Col. DeCourcey, whose headquarters was hard by, and he ordered a guard placed there and stopped the healthful business.

Before entering on this flank movement to the rear of the Confederate position at Cumberland Gap, a special verbal order had been issued by Gen. Morgan, that no woman under any circumstances would be allowed to accompany the troops. The order had the intended effect, with one exception. A number of ladies, wives of officers, were sent back to a place of security; but there was one, plucky and determined, would not abandon what she considered her post of duty. Like a true heroine, for such she surely was, she kept by the side of her husband in their proper place in the column. Over frightful mountain roads, sometimes riding in an ambulance, sometimes on horseback, and often on foot; sharing the dangers and privations of an active campaign; ministering to the sick and cheering the well with encouraging words. This noble woman was the accomplished wife of our surgeon, B.B. Brashear. While a man of the 16th is alive, her memory shall be cherished. Her presence and kind words was like a soothing balm to the sick and the wounded. Many a poor soldier boy, dying far from home, felt as the twilight of the grave gathered around and obscured

his vision, that Mrs. Brashear was a true and devoted friend.