Brigade Stories

WYANDOT PIONEER---MAY 8, 1863

CAMP CORRESPONDENCE

Camp Drake, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) April 18, '63

Editor Pioneer--Will you please find room in your truly loyal paper for the following resolutions adopted by the officer of the 15th Ohio Regiment, and unanimously endorsed by the enlisted men after hearing them read on dress-parade yesterday evening. Together with the 49th Ohio Regiment who were present at the reading. They breathe the "milde" sentiments of a loyal soldiery--towards all such men as "Moses" They were adopted on the receipt of a synopis of a speech made by "Moses" at Mansfield, in which he is represented as misrepresenting and abusing the Presidents Proclamation, Conscription Act, etc. But to the resolutions.

HeadQuarters, 15th Regt. O.V.I.  April 18, 1863

     At a meeting of the officers of the 15th O.V.I., Col. Wm. Wallace, Lieut. Col. Frank Askew, Major John McClenahan, Capt. J.C. Cummings, Lieut. T.N. Hanson, Lieut. A. E. Smiley, Co. A., Capt. Amos Glover, Lt. N. Fowler, Co. F., Lt. S.S. Pettit, Co. D, D.A. Geiger, D, Capt. G.W. Cummins, Co. I, Lt. J.S. Bard, Co. C, Lt. J.R. Updegrove, Co. H, Capt L. Danford, Co. K, Capt. A.Z.R. Dawson, Lt. C.H. Askew, Lt. L. O. Doolittle, Co. G, Lt. A. L. Smith Co. B, Assistant Surgeon W. J. Kelly and Ajt. J. N. DuBois, were present.

     The meeting was called to order by appointing Capt. J. C. Cummings, Co. A, President. On motion it was unanimously agreed to appoint a committee of (5) five to draft resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the regiment, relating to an article from the Mansfield Shield and Banner and submit the same to the regiment, both officers and men for approval.

     Thereupon the President appointed the following committee: Col. Wm. Wallace, Capt L. Danford, Co. E, Capt A.R.Z. Dawson, Co. G Capt. G.W. Cummins, Co. I, and Lt. S.S. Pettit, Co. D.

     After a short deliberation the committee reported the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted.

     Wheras,--Moses R. Dickey, above refered to once commanded the 15th Regt. O.V.I., we feel called to give our late commander a passing notice.

     Resolved,--That from the tenor of the foregoing article we recognize in "Moses" a "Copperhead," and that we would rather have heard of "Moses" boldly deserting across our lines to his Southern Brothers.

     Resolved,--That we have more respect for an open enemy, than a cowardly northern foe. That we have no sympathy for such men, and hope to God he has no friendly feeling for us.

     Resolved,--That while we have no doubt he has found more congenial spirits among his kindred "Copperheads" of Mansfield, we feel that a club of small politicians is a fitter place for him, than at the head of a regiment of loyal soldiers.

     Resolved,--That we have no doubt his voice was firmer and more effective while showing the unconstitutionality of the emancipation proclamation, than while commanding his regiment under fire before Corinth or at Lawrenceburg.

     Resolved,--That it is proper, that the man who, in the darkest hours of this war, shadowed his regiment upon a plea of sickness, should upon sneaking out of the great army of the republic, should crawl into a vile, miserable den of copperheads, and there hiss his impotent venom toward those whom he so shamelfully abandoned.

     Resolved,--That the certificate of good conduct, obtained by him from the officers of the 15th Regiment, O.V.I., was obtained by him as the indispensable condition of his resignation. That so far as we know, the only question asked by any officer was, "is he soon to go." And futher for the benefit of all copperheads, be resolved by the officers and men of the 15th Regiment, O.V.I., that we repudiate and denounce all such infernal teachings as are contained in Moses speech.

     Resolved,--That we regard the emancipation proclaimation as right, the conscription act as one greatly needed and in good time, and that we will see that such laws are enforced, and that if northern copperheads are drafted, and sent into the old regiment (    ) (    ) we have no sympathy with them, yet we consider ourselves eminently calculated (                              ) them if sent to us.

     Resolved,--That we stand by the President in all his efforts to crush out this rebellion and that we know no institution that is dearer to us than the life of this glorious republic.

                                                                                 Yours respectfully, P. (Samuel Pettit)

Identified as Hugh Thompson of the Fifteenth O.V.I.

Who was borne off the field at Pickett's Mill for Dead

During the recent encampment of the Department of Ohio, G.A.R., in this city, an instance came to notice in which an old soldier, who was wounded in one of the numerous battles of the late war, had lost his memory in such a manner as to render him a pitiable object among  his old army comrades. He went by the name of Henry Thompson, "Old Reliable", and "Shorty" interchangeable, though he was by no means certain what his true name was. He now resides on a farm near Pearlette, Kansas. He served through the war in one of the Ohio regiments. but in which one he could not remember. Last winter, while reading an account of a reunion he came upon the name of E.K. Beach, of Bradner, and addressed him several letters asking him to seek out some of his companions and learn the number of his regiment, and especially, if possible, establish his name. Mr. Beach became interested in his new found correspondent, especially as he was an unfortunate old soldier, and several letters were exchanged between the two. At a camp fire held recently at Bradner Post, Commander Conger was present and became interested in the nameless old man, and through his influence the correspondent came to this city to attend the encampment to seek some information concerning the unfortunate veteran. He also brought along a photograph which he had received and placed it on exhibition. None of the visitors, however, recognized as the portrait of a former comrade in arms, and the friend of the name seeking veteran left Springfield with his mission unaccomplished. Those letters he had received, however, he submitted to the TImes, hoping that by the publication of the facts connected with the old man's eventful history prior to his being wounded in one  of the fights around Atlanta, his right name might be established. The unforunate soldier remembers also that he was in one of the battles where he received a wound which has since deprived him of the full use of his memory, and has at times unfitted him for either mental or manual labor.

     He was so wounded on his head either by the explosion of a shell or by a saber thrust, and he so far lost the use of his memory, that he forgot the number of his regiment, the names of his officers and comrades and even his own name. After receiving the wound he was borne off the field for dead, but he was picked up and sent to the hospital somewhere where wounded colored soldiers were also cared for. Here or elsewhere he was confined seven years.

     In 1871, he drifted to Illinois, and subsequently he removed to Kansas and settled on a settler's claim, near Pearlette, in Meade county. Starting with these data, the Times sought to establish his identity so that he could receive a pension he so richly deserves. The letters of the unfortunate old soldier as well as those of army comrades were published in order to obtain, if possible, some clue by which he could be identfied. William G. Marsh, of Marysville, thought from the description of the man that his name was James Flack of the 125th. Hon. Alexander Dickson, of Canfield was written to and the cirmumstances of Flack's supposed death related. Letters and suggestions were exchanged freely. Upon the suggestion of Captain J.H.Updegrove, of this city, a letter with the account of the old soldier's wandering and misfortune, were sent to his brother, Captain J.R. Updegrove, of Van Wert, who commanded Company H, of the 15th O.V.I. It was then conjectured that "Old Reliable" had been wounded or killed at Resaca.

     The letter, which was published May 3rd, was passed from hand to hand, especially among the survivors of the Fifteenth, Seventy-ninth and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, and freely commented upon, as it was supposed he belonged to one of those regiments. No photograph or other information concerning the old soldier was then at hand. A correspondence between the old soldier and R.M. Thompson sprang up. Several letters from the veteran were subsequently published. The old soldier, who by reason of his wound has partially lost his reasoning powers, has at length found out his name. He has always thought his name was Thompson. When signing his name, he usually omitted the "P". He will be at Van Wert at the time of the regimental reunion, and his identity will be fully established. His loss of memory has been not the only source of grievance to him in business, but not knowing his name of regiment, he could not secure a pension. He is now entitled to a pension and a liberal one for the injuries he received while following the vicissitudes of the "stars and stripes".

THIS LISTING OF 15TH OHIO SOLDIERS WHO DIED AT ANDERSONVILLE PRISON IS TAKEN FROM THE FAMOUS "ATWATER LIST" WHICH WAS COMPILED BY PRIVTE DORANCE ATWATER OF THE 2ND NEW YORK CAVALRY IN 1865. THE GRAVE NUMBER IS LISTED FIRST, FOLLOWED BY NAME, COMPANY, DATE OF DEATH AND CAUSE OF DEATH.

2696-Brandon, John-Co. F--June 30, 1864-Pneumonia

2101-Caldwell, J.-Co. D-June 17, 1864-Diarrhea

3578-Collins, T. -Co. I-July 19, 1864-Diarrhea

11224-Craven, A.J.-Co. C-October 20, 1864-Dysentery

12485-Chambers, J.C.-Co. C-January 11, 1865-Scorbutus

6708-Dougherty, W.H.-Co. H-August 24, 1864-Gangrene

2268-Hanley, C.-Co. F-June 20, 1864--Diarrhea

12126-Jarvitt, W.-Co. A-November 22, 1864-Scorbutus

7424-Kelly, G.-Co. E-October 31, 1864-Anascara

10139-Killar, J.-Co. D-October 1, 1864-Scorbutus

11200-Marlin, W-Co. A-October 20, 1864-Scorbutus

8931-Stall, G.-Co. G-September 16, 1864-Scorbutus

1604-Wood, Joesph-Co. B-June 4, 1864-Dysentery

2041-Windgrove, S.R.-Co.   -June 19, 1864-Diarrhea

3810-White, H. -Co. A-July, 15, 1864-Fever Remittent

12073-White, R. M.-Co. D-November 18, 1864-Scorbutus

12659-Young, W. -Co. A-Feb. 16, 1865-Pleuritis

Kentucky researcher Chris Clark ran across this "signature" while researching caves in the Lost River/Bowling Green area where the 15th Ohio camped in 1862. Pvt. McDowell was a member of Company B and was mortally wounded at Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. There are numerous other "signatures" in the caves which Chris is researching. Our thanks go out to him for sending us this picture and adding another story to the history of the 15th Ohio.