Louis Mullich, conclusion

My apologies for the delay in posting this final part of the Louis Mullich story

Louis' trip home took him through West Virginia, then he “crossed Ohio River” on June 14, the same day he also arrived back at Camp Dennison. His final entry, on June 19, 1865, noted “Camp Dennison. Discharged and paid $255.10.”

On the last page of his diary, Louis listed “Army Clothing from Aug. 1 64 to 65” showing when he purchased them and how much they cost, including a hat for $1.80 on September 8, 1864, a pair of pants for $3.10 on November 6 (compared to the $4.75 this item cost him in April 1865), a shirt for $2.35 on January 14, 1865 and a blanket – the most expensive item he purchased – for $4.80 on January 27.

Overall, he spent $23.75 on clothing items in these nine months, quite an expense on a private’s salary of $13.00 per month.

The 108^th Ohio Volunteer Infantry suffered losses of 3 officers and 64 enlisted men killed in battle or by disease. This, of course, is only for its service after the entire regiment was captured by John Hunt Morgan, late in 1862.

In late 1865, Louis married New York City native Henrietta Duckweiller, with whom he had one son and one daughter. They lived in the town of Dayton, Kentucky, where Louis made a living as a tailor.

He lived long after the war’s end. In 1898, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) held its reunion in Cincinnati, with Louis’ hometown of Dayton serving as co-host. Over 200,000 veterans and their family members made the trip to this reunion. Dayton produced a souvenir book for the occasion (one of many souvenirs such as medals, ribbons and badges produced for the GAR) and it includes a picture of the Joe Hooker Chapter of the GAR, which was based in Dayton. Unfortunately, it does not list the names of those pictured, but it likely includes Louis’ image.

Louis’ involvement with the GAR did not start nor end there. According to the Kentucky Post, he was named to various positions in the Joe Hooker Post in various years through at least 1916. These included Junior Vice-Commander, Senior Vice-Commander, delegate to the department encampment and trustee.

On December 28, 1915, the front page of the Kentucky Post featured a picture of Louis and Henrietta, who were celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary. Their marriage lasted over sixty years, until Henrietta died in 1927.

On April 21, 1928, Louis Henry Mullich passed away in his house on 5^th Street in Dayton, at the age of 93. The next day’s Kentucky Post reported that he “dropped dead Saturday night of a heart attack while seated in a chair at his home” and said he was a “retired merchant tailor.” His death certificate listed “acute indigestion” as the cause of death, with his old age being a contributory factor, but loneliness from missing his bride of over six decades must have played a part as well.

Sixty-two years previously, Private Louis Mullich had been stationed at Battery Shaler in what became the town of Southgate, Kentucky. That piece of land, with part of the battery-works preserved, is now known as Evergreen Cemetery, and on April 24, 1928, private-citizen Mullich returned to this land, buried next to his wife, on a hill near the site of the battery, forever able to stand guard from this “hilly country.” His headstone includes a simple “GAR” on its front.

Louis Mullich lived a long life, through a fascinating century of change for the United States. I had previously borrowed some words from the book Last in their Class by James Robbins and feel it is appropriate to include them here again. Mullich “ “had lived through an age in which the United States and the world had seen dramatic changes...The era of the musket and the cavalry saber had given way to the machine gun, the tank, the aircraft carrier and the strategic bomber.” This does not even mention the automobile, manned flight, radio or countless other innovations that this soldier had experienced.

Louis Mullich, part 3

After capturing Atlanta, Sherman considered his options and decided to send some of his forces to contend with John Bell Hood to the rest, but to keep others around for what became his “March to the Sea.” Louis Mullich and the 108^th Ohio were among the men who marched through the heart of Georgia with Sherman.

During this campaign, Louis continued his diary. November 14 saw his unit “burning Railroad and Houses,” then on November 15, he noted “15 killed of the 108^th.” On November 24th, he wrote “camp near Millettsville Ga, capital of Georgia, foraging,” referring to the town of Milledgeville. On December 1, a skirmish left “several Rebels killed” but the 108^th was marching through “beautiful country” as they passed near Louisville, Georgia during this time.

On the 11^th, they were 3 miles from Savannah. December 14’s entry notes “McAllister captured at 4 o’clock in the morning” referring to the Confederate fort guarding Savannah. The 21^st brought news “Savannah captured” and “286 cannon captured” along with a sketch of the alignment of the U.S. forces, as well as the locations of the Savannah River, railroads and pikes.

A few days later, Louis noted a “review by Gen Sherman in Savannah” on the 27^th.
Sherman had wanted to “make Georgia howl” but his men had a special feeling for South Carolina, and Mullich again participated as the Union troops turned North.

Louis continued his diary. On February 11, he wrote “more than enough to eat” though by the 13^th he reported “rations scarce.”

On February 18^th, “$42,000 in gold and silver found that had been burnt,” while the notes for the 23^rd end with “Bad night and Day march.”
The Federal forces eventually left South Carolina and entered its northern neighbor where Louis continued to record the marches they made and rivers they crossed, including “March through large Swamps” on March 17, before a “big fight at Bentonville” on March 19, with Louis noting a “big loss on both sides Rebels lose the day.” He reported for the 20^th: “Heavy Skirmish and fighting all day” followed on the 21^st by: “3^rd day of Battle fighting day and night. Rebels retreat.” At Bentonville, Confederate troops, now under Joe Johnston, made a tough stand, but the Yankees gained victory here.

The report from Major Frederick Beck of the 108^th Ohio, found in the official records, provides further information on how much marching these men did. “March 1, marched entire day. March 2, marched entire day. March 3, marched entire day. March 4, marched entire day; arrived at Great Pedee River and went into camp.” 

The constant tramp, tramp, tramp continued - “marched entire day” also described the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th, before the unit went into camp on March 12 at Fayetteville. At least this all took place in an appropriately named month.

As for the battle on March 19, he described the action at Bentonville: “We were ordered to throw up breast-works, which we did in a short time, and when we had them finished the enemy came on in full force and charged our works. A terrible battle ensued, which lasted for some two hours, when the enemy retired, leaving many dead and wounded on the field in our front.”

A few days later, the 108^th moved on: “March 23, marched entire day; crossed the Neuse River and went into camp for the night near Goldsborough (sic).”

During this time, Louis’ diary recorded on April 5: “News of the fall of Richmond, 25,00 Prisoners, 500 guns”  and after a few more days of marching, noted on April 12 “News that Gen Lee had surrendered to Gen Grant. Apr 7^th 1861 the first shot was fired at Fort Sumter.” (He was wrong – it was actually fired April 12^th of that year.) Unfortunately, he did not record details of how he and his comrades celebrated upon hearing this most welcome news.

On April 18, the mood would have been quite different: “Report of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln by Booth in Washington on April 14^th 1865.”

His next line, for the same date was “hostilities at a standstill” and his April 20^th entry brought more good news. “Report of the army in the field North Carolina: Peace declared from state. Troops will be sent home as soon as possible.”

In the weeks following the end of hostilities – at least in the Eastern theater - the 108^th Ohio took part in the magnificent Grand Review of the Union Armies in Washington D.C., which Louis records with great understatement - “Review by Gen Sherman in Washington DC” on May 24; he neglected to mention General Grant, President Johnson, the cabinet, and the tens of thousands of cheering citizens who turned out for this spectacular celebration.

On June 9^th, he “mustered out of service as U.S. volunteer at Washington at 5 o’clock” and “left Washington” on the 11^th.