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Messenger Editor rote of CivilatB c. II HARRISabsence because of the illness of County contingent was awardedthe Medal of Honor for conspicu-Descendants of soldiers served in the 116th Ohio Infantry Regiment during the Civil War will find much of interest—and not generally known—in t h e record of this unit written by General Thomas F. Wildes, an Irishman who resigned his post as editor of The Athens Messenger in 1862 to become lieutenant colonel of the outfitReed Golden of Athens. Arte-mus Williams of Meigs County,Fred Ballard of Athens, Ezra Walker of Athens, and many Athens and Meigs countians were enrolled in Companies B, G, 1 and K of the 116th, which went into training at Marietta and almost at once after being assembled was sent to Parkersburg, armed with old Belgian rifles, repel an invasion threatened by Col Albert Jenkins of West V irginiaMore than 700 Athens County men were in the regiment and almost as many Meigs Countians.John Frame and Elmer Armstrong of Athens County were asked to become the ‘ sutlers of the outfit. The latter accepteddespite his years (he was born in 1812) hut Mr. Frame declinedbecause he was even older.After the first expedition to Parkersburg, the 116th was sent to Gallipolis and then marched back through Meigs and Athens counties to West V irginia where it went into action at Moorcfield,It spent its first winter at Rom-nev.Action at Winchester, Harpers Ferry, in the Piedmont region, Staunton, Gauley Bridge, and the Shenandoah Valley followed until the surrender of Lee in April 1865.Men of the 116th were in the first line of skrimishes as the war ended at Appamattox. A Meigs County man, James Davis, was struck by a cannon ball, the last shot fired by I^ee s men at Appa mattox. but he was not seriously injured.Men of the 116th. it is recorded rallied before General Sheridancompleted his ride at the debacleof Cedar Creek, and helped crush General Early’s command later that day. ending the action in the Shenendoah Valley.The Wilke* story' continued foralmost 400 pages and specific mention is made of many Athens and Meigs countians. their death and wounding, their bravery in action and their other adventures.Ezra Walker, of Athens, kept ding a detailed day-by-day record of the movements of the regiment which was used by General Wildes. An interesting sidelight was an encounter hv the regiment of a sister of general Stonewall Jackson in the mountains of West Virginia This woman was a loyalUnionist and kept the American flag flying over her home while her brother was becoming one of the most famous of the military leaders of the Confederacy.John Hull of NelsonviUe was a major in this regiment as was Hamilton Karr of Meigs County, Edwin Keyes, principal of theTuppers Plains Academy, was thefirst captain of Company B, made up of Meigs County men. Hiram Sibley of Gallipolis was a lieutenant. Captain Keye died of battle wounds at Staunton Names on the rolls of privates in Company B are still to be found in Meigs County's countryside and towns.John Golden was first captain of the other Meigs County Com-pan, G, and Hamilton Karr was its captain later William Henry Harrison Dye was a sergeant aswas Joseph Christy In the AthensCounty companies I and K. were Captains Edward Fuller (Cool* vtllet, Alexander Cochran (Athens), Adolphus Frame (Coolville), Richmond Knowles (Coolville),John Hull (NelsonviUe). John Welch of Athens was a lieutenant, as was Gotleib Sheifley, The latter. according to General Wildes, tale in 1864 obtained a leave ofwife. He went to Washington and who presented his resignation to President Lincoln. The president looked at him a moment and then sat down and endorsed the resignation writing this note to Sccre-tous bravery in action when an 1 enemy flag was taken by him. ' After the war, General Wildes, who had been brevetted to this lt;title from colonel, attended law j school and returned to Athens to (Itary of War Stanton: ‘‘Accept thisman’s resignation. An officer who practice with Judge Brown, be-;,, will tender his resignation in person to the president does notcame editor of The Athens Journal and then went to Akron whereiknow enough to be in the serv- he made a distinguished record (*»icc. ‘ Officers of the 116th were outraged because of this incident.Joseph Van Meter of the Meigsas a lawyer, dying in 1883 before his regimental history was completed.]1(1(rtifirrt?t€CttY1fxfvformer editor of The Messenger,General Thomas W. Wildes,wrote a historx of the 116th Ohio Infantry Regiment. ManvIw homen from \thens and Meigs counties served in this regimentin the Civil War.IIPoston Social Noteastlt;POSTON— Mr and Mrs. James of NelsonviUe, were recent visit- jBeliar celebrated their 20th wed- ors of Mr and Mrs. Loranzo Man anniversary recently. Thoseat ColumbuwhotionMrM rs Mr.sandwere guests at the celebra-were Mrs Nellie Babylon, and Mrs. Harry Doughty. Georgie Bellar. Mr. and Harold Bellar and children Mr. and Mrs Lewis Bablyonand children, all of ColumbusVisitors of Russell Clark at the veterans hospital at Chilli cot he were Mrs. Cecil Thomas and Mrs. Sylvia Norris. Poston, Mr. and Mrs William Boyd of The Plains and Mr and Mrs Arthur Freeland and son, Dwain, of Fairmont. W. \a. ;%kf: :4 'Recent visitors of Mr and Mrs. Norval South were Mr. and Mrs, William Boyd of The Plains. Mr. and Mrs, Herb Lent of Lancaster and Mrs. Glen Pedicord of Marietta.Mrs Ollie Hillyer, Poston. Mr.and Mrs. Larry Simms and sonHenry and Mrs. Nancy Smith, ailmngMr and Mrs. Arthur Freelandand Dwain. Chuck. Barry and Barbara of Fairmont, W Va., were weekend visitor* of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Thomas and children,Mr and Mrs. Marion Shields andand Mrs. Sylvia Norris all of Millfield and Mr, William Bovd of Thechildren and son a nd M rPlains.Mrs. Willard Daft has returned to her home in Zanesville after a visit with Mr and Mis. Clyde Sedgwick and Gary Carson. Her son, Gary Carson, accompanied her home for a visit.Ladies Club met at the building. Ten members were present; Zeta Parry was welcomed as a new member,TheschoolThe Youth Club is sponsoring a skating party at Dow’s RollerRink Friday night, Aug. 3Ohio RiverviffiVGALLIPOLIS — Montgomery.Pa., ‘was running 12 feet on the rollers Wednesday afternoon, and later in the evening Gallipolis had 11.5 running, after being above 50feet Monday.was down 19 at 12 35 p.m., andBeckjord 20-0 was down 20 at 1 45The upper Gallipolis gauge showed 17.6 feet of water, and the lower had 12.7. Point Pleasant was down with 23.76. and Pome roy-Mason had 20.54 feet. Hinton was stationary at 1.18. and Kanawha Falls had 2,56 feet falling.All movable dams were up,we a « 2 -11onA Of#1,1P.m.;;;, . fCrane 20-0 was up 21 at 10:45 a.m., and Hep i-0 was up 22 at 1 15 p m. Bayou Manchack i-0was up 23 at 1:20 p.m.At 28, Cornell 3-17 was up at 2:35 p.m., and Shearer 0-14 was up 29 at 12:20 p.m. Lucas 2*9 was up 30 at 8:40 a.m., and Java Sea 58 was up 31 at noon. Bayou Teche 1-0 was up the same lock at 12:15 p m.
Newspaper Details
Athens Messenger
Athens, Ohio, US
Thu, Aug 02, 1956
Page 4
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USA 23 Mar 2020
Other Publications Near Athens, Ohio
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