Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Louis Mullich, 108th Ohio Infantry (part 1)

Headstone at Evergreen Cemetery, near Battery Shaler


Picture from microfilmed newspaper records of 1925

Louis Mullich was born in 1834 in Baden, now a part of Germany. His American adventure began in 1852, when he left his homeland and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to begin life anew in the United States where he became a naturalized citizen in 1857.

In August 1862, after the failure of the Union Peninsula Campaign in Virginia, recruiting of German residents in the Cincinnati area was increasing, with the formation of two units, the 106th and 108th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiments. It was during this time that Louis gave in to the temptation to enlist. On August 20th, he arrived at Camp Dennison, north of Cincinnati, and enrolled in the 108th Regiment. He was mustered in the next day, a member of company C, and began keeping a diary of his war experiences.    

After being mustered in at Camp Dennison, the 108th Ohio was among the troops in great demand as Confederate forces threatened Cincinnati. One entry in the Official Records indicates that troops were at Camp Dennison, the 108th among them, “all available when armed,” while a second lists four regiments, including the 108th, that “can be in Cincinnati in twenty-four hours.” These four units averaged about 750 men according to this report of September 2.

The 108th did quickly march out of Camp Dennison to help meet the enemy. By September 3, they were in Kentucky, and on the 8th had arrived at Fort Mitchel. Six days later, they were at “Camp Shaller” as Louis called it, most likely referring to Battery Shaler, in present day Southgate. His diary described it as “hilly country,” a most accurate choice of words for the location of Battery Shaler. This was not the last time Louis would guard this piece of land.

By September 14, the 108th Ohio was in Louisville, part of the Army of the Ohio, in the District of Western Kentucky. On December 7, this unit was surprised at Hartsville, Tennessee by troops under command of Confederate General John Hunt Morgan. This famous Rebel and his men took the entire regiment as prisoners of war.

According to several entries in the Official Records, this action at Hartsville caused great concern among Union leaders. Two different requests were sent to Union leaders in the department stating that President Lincoln wanted an explanation of how the battle and capture had happened.  A December 8 communication from Major-General George Thomas to fellow General William Rosecrans notes “but I learn from some of his officers that they buried upward of 80 of the One hundred and fourth Illinois and only a few of the other two regiments. This fact indicates that the other two regiments behaved badly. They were the One hundred and sixth and One hundred and eighth Ohio Volunteers.

A report from Colonel A.B. Moore of the 104th Illinois, in charge of the troops in the area, pointed out “The One hundred and eighth Ohio, being entirely destitute of field officers, fought well for a short time, but were soon thrown into confusion and retreated” and that further action “brought a tremendous fire upon the One hundred and eighth Ohio, they being the center, and were soon flanked on the right, and gave way in confusion.”

The leaders of the 108th offered their own perspective of their unit’s behavior. Captain Carlo Piepho’s report indicated they only knew of the rebel attack when “a negro servant of one of the officers of the One hundred and eighth ran into camp shouting at the top of his voice ‘The rebels are coming.’” He tried to get his men lined up and ready to fight, and during the next hour and a half of the battle “they all showed a bravery and gallantry unexpected for new troops. The arms which were used by my command were the Austrian rifle, an arm totally worthless…The men also were provided with ammunition a good deal too large for the pieces…Notwithstanding these calamities, the men stood like veterans, and most of them fired 20 to 25 rounds.”

Another captain from this regiment, Joseph Good, offered this opinion in his report, referring to Colonel Moore: “Our men acted bravely, but the commander of the brigade not being competent to command, caused the defeat.”

Louis’ report of this action simply stated:  “Brigade captured by Gen Morgan. Transported to Lebanon, Tenn.”

By December 11, they had been paroled and sent home to await official exchange. According to Louis’ diary, they traveled through Cincinnati before arriving at Camp Chase in Columbus. Their exchange occurred on January15, and they returned to Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, for reorganization.

 (to be continued)

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

William Sprott 23 Ky Infantry

Headstone, Evergreen Cemetery

William Sprott was a private in company E of the 23rd Kentucky Infantry regiment. This unit mustered in in January 1862, after having organized near Lexington, in central Kentucky. It served in the Western Theater and fought at famous battles like Perryville, Stone's River, Chickamauga and Chattanooga. It then took part in William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign, but once the Union forces had successfully captured that city, the 23rd Kentucky left Sherman's control and went back west in the forces of George Thomas. Here it served in two more famous battles, Franklin and Nashville. It ended the war in the west and southwest, mustering out in Texas in late 1865.

Kentucky State Journal 1-2-1890 
Mr. William Sprott, one of Newport’s oldest and best known citizens, died yesterday afternoon at his home, corner of Front and Monmouth streets from kidney troubles. The deceased was seventy years of age. 

He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery in Southgate, Kentucky

Rest in peace, soldier

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Corporal Charles Peck, 54 Ky Inf


Headstone, Evergreen Cemetery

Charles Peck served in Company K of the 54th Kentucky Infantry, joining as a private and apparently leaving as a Corporal. This unit formed in Kentucky in late 1864 and served in Kentucky and Virginia, including a raid on Saltville, Virginia.

According to the Kentucky Post of June 15, 1901, he died of cancer at the age of 55 at his home at 304 Columbia Street in Newport, Ky.

Rest in peace, soldier