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!

Published in Holmes County Republican
August 11, 1881

XXV.

In our March from West Liberty we ascend and cross a divide. Moving by jerks, as the boys called it, we did not reach Grayson until the night of the 30th. Our advance drove a detachment of the enemy from the town. They retreated eastward toward Mt. Sterling. Other troops being in the extreme advance, we suffered the usual inconveniences and vexations of marching rapidly awhile and then getting jammed up against the troops ahead, and then waiting a long time for the road to be cleared. Gen. G.W. Morgan and staff passed through our regiment when most of the men were asleep on the ground. Not wishing to disturb the sleepers, he dismounted and led his horse, carefully picking his way.

The next morning, Oct. 1st, we stacked arms in a meadow outside of the village. A member of Co. H, in working around a stack of guns, accidentally discharged one, the ball cutting through into the barrel of another and passing out at its muzzle.

Across the fields, about half a mile distant, was the Little Sandy river. Hundreds of men were soon splashing around in its waters, and those that could get soap washed their ragged clothing.

The people here in Carter county were principally loyal and had furnished a large quota of volunteers for the Union army. Many men of the 14th and 22d Kentucky infantry were citizens of this part of the State. It was a trying ordeal to many of them to pass by their homes and only have the bare privilege of shaking hands with or exchanging a word with the loved ones that rushed to the roadside to greet them with such glad hearts, but, oh, such tearful eyes. It often occurred that families were divided in their sympathies. There was a case of this kind here at Gray-