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A Brief history of my Army life as i saw it

 

The late civil war between the north and South commenced in April 1861 the rebels opened fire on fort Sumter April, 12 1861 at that time i was living near the town of Bantam Clermont County Ohio Josiah A Kellum a one armed soldier who had lost his arm at the Battle of Monterey Mexico Kellum and myself recruited a company of state guards we uniformed ourselves at our own expence the state furnished us guns so we were equiped for war

            J. A. Kellum was elected captain B.F. Hitch 1^st Lieutenant Tip Johnson 2^nd Lieutenant Frank Smith Orderly Sarjeant the other officers i have forgotten i was elected 1^st corporal we drilled almost day and night Sundays not excepted we were a well drilled company Kellum and i done all we could to get the company into the US Service but failed so we droped of one at a time and volunteered into the US Service and the company was broken up on the 25^th day of July 1861 i voluntered in Company F 34^th Regiment Ohio Volunteers

            the 34^th OVI Piatt Zouaves were organized at Camp Lucas Clermont Co Ohio during the months of July and August 1861 it was moved to Camp Dennison Sept 1^st and mustered into regular service as its uniform a lisence allowable at that early /

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period of the war it chose a light Blue Zouave dress in complement to their Colonel the name of Piatt Zouaves was adopted the regiment left Camp Dennison Sept 15^th 1861 and were in active service 4 years being mustered out of service at Wheeling Va July 27^th 1865 and disbanded at Columbus Ohio August 1^st 1865

            Camp Dennison was located on the banks of the little Miama river and Cincinnati Miama and Columbus railroad Some 2 miles above Milford Ohio it was one of the most noted camps in the west for western troops to rendevous at it is yet known as Camp Dennison or Grand Valley here regiments were formed drilled and sent to the front

 

The 34^th regt 1^st Ohio Zouaves left Camp Dennison Ohio in Sept 1861 for the front went by railroad to Cincinnati then by steamboat to Charleston Va on the big Kanawha river we marched some 12 or 14 miles above Charleston passed through Malden and went into camp with the 1^st and 2^nd Kentucky regiments commanded by colonels Guthrie and Enyart the name of this camp was Enyart we remained inactive but a few days it being ascertained the rebels were in force at a place called Chapmansville the 34^th regt received marching orders to go and rout them from their entrenchments we took up the line of march tramp tramp tramp /

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how anxious we were for a fight we crossed the Kanawha river our 1^st days march brought us to a place called Peytonia a small hamlet were we camped for the night the second days march brought us to Boone court house here we camped for the night we forded little coal and Big coal rivers early on the afternoon of the 3^rd days march our advanced guard were attacked by the rebels under command by Colonel Davis the fight now commenced we were in a gap with high hills on either side the Johnies were on the hills volley after volley were poured into us as brave men we returned the fire and drove the rebels who retreated into their breastworks the Battle now commenced in earnest the Rebs poured volley after volley into our ranks we gave them the best we had a charged was ordered you ought to have heard the yell of the Zouaves we charged the breast works and routed the rebels the day was ours we were successful in our 1^st Battle many were killed and wounded on both sides the rebs were commanded by Colonel Davis of Greenbriar County Va who was wounded and taken prisoner the battle was fought near Chapmansville Va in a gap not many miles from Logan court house this was our 1^st engagement after careing for the wounded and burying the dead we went into camp at Chapmansville six of us were detailed for picket duty we went on picket one mile from /

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camp on the road leading from Chapmansville to Logan court house our orders were if found asleep the penalty was death no sleeping done that night other pickets were put out i would here say the safety of a camp depends on the pickets after 24 hours picket duty we were relieved by others taking our places we went into camp having eating nothing for 36 hours and no grub in camp that night it commenced raining one of those cold rains and it rained incessantly for 48 hours all the mountain streams were full to overflowing next morning received marching orders for the Kanawha river and tramp tramp tramp the boys went marching through mud and water as hungry as wolves raining all the time we crossed and recrossed one stream 66 times in one day we finally came to Big Coal river whose banks were overflowing here we camped for the night the rain pouring down in torrents no grub to eat and nearly frozen it rained so we could not have any fire rained all night next morning Capt SRS West formed a small raft of logs i with several others got on and made for the other shore we made the landing on the other side half a mile below camp it was a fearful undertaking the troops waited till the waters went down plunged in and waded to the other shore on the 3^rd days march late in the afternoon a supply train met us with Uncle Sams grub you ought to have seen us fellows go for hard tack and sow belly ate it raw we made rousing big fires /

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dried our clothing and camped for the night next morning took up the line of march for the Kanawha river crossed over on steam boats the flood had washed away our camp we lost all our blankets and clothing we marched some 2 miles down the river and went into camp on the side of a mountain and named it Camp Piatt one of the most noted camps in western Va this was our 1^st campaign we were not allowed to remain inactive only for a short time we marched to Charleston went into camp there for a short time received marching orders to go to Winfield or better known as the Red house here we camped for a while drilling and scouting over the country finally received orders to go to a place called Haricane bridge a small hamlet and routed the rebels out of the country from there we marched to Mud bridge on Mud river and went into camp drilling and scouting we had no tents staid in old houses barns blacksmiths shops in fence corners and under trees when on picket duty allowed no fires we would nearly freeze when i was off duty my comrade and i had our bunk in a fence corner at night we would cral in our bunk freeze out then go the log fire and thaw out it was freezing out and thawing out all the time

such is a soldiers life in the active service we remaind at Mud bridge for a while and scouted the country all over from Mud river we marched to Barboursville on the Guyandotte river and went into camp in town /

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we occupied the court house jail and other buildings for quarters here we were drilling on picket duty and scouting all over the country The winter of 1861 was a fearful cold one and so much snow Company A camped at Winfield and at Mud Bridge most of the winter Company F Capt West company was there a part of the time the balance of the regt at Barboursville in the spring we received marching orders for Gauley Bridge on the head waters of the Big Kanawha river Gauley river and New river forms the Big Kanawha from Barboursville we marched to the Ohio river and went by steamboat to the falls of Kanawha and marched to Gauley bridge and went into camp the 34^th 37^th and 28^th Ohio were brigaded together Colonel Moore of the 28^th was our Brigade Commander

General J. D. Cox was in command of all the troops in the Kanawha Valley

The old Kanawha division was now formed consisting of the 34^th 37^th 28^th 11^th 12^th 30^th 36^th 23^rd 44^th and probably other Ohio regts i may have forgotten 4^th 5^th 9^th and 13^th Va regts 2^nd Va Cavalry and other cavalry and the 1^st Kentucky under Capt Simmons Battery

we now received marching orders the army crossed the Kanawha below the falls we marched over Cotten Mountain to Fayetteville thence to Raleigh court house over Flat top Mountain crossed Blue Stone river and marched into Princeton took posession of the town /

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a small force was left at Princeton the balance of the Army marched to the French Mills and to the Narrows of New river here we fought the rebels General H. Marshall with a strong force attacked our forces at Princeton and drove them from the town our boys retreated to were our Army was in camp at the Narrows of New river our Army now marched for Princeton as we were nearing the town we could see the rebs leaving Gen Marshall withdrew his forces from the town under cover of the woods Gen Cox now attacked Marshall army the Battle commenced in earnest it was fearful the roar of musketry and thunder of artillery we fought all day the loss on both sides was heavy the battle ceased at night Gen Cox withdrew his forces and fell back to Flat top Mountain and the Army went into camp

            Flat top is a very high mountain in west Virginia about 20 miles south of Hinton Twin Giants Peters and East river mountains through which the rocky gorge which seperates these mountains the New river has found an outlet to the west on top of this mountain it is flat here i saw chesnut trees 3 and 4 feet in diameter and very tall we peeled the bark of the trees and made bark tents to live in here we had the best of water to drink here it was drilling and scouting the country over i enjoyed my mountain home first first rate /

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we remained here probably a month all the Kanawha division except the 34^th and 37^th Ohio regts were ordered to join the Potomac Army at Harpers Ferry The 34^th and 37^th OVI left Flat top and marched to Raleigh court house remained there a few days and marched to Fayetteville and went into camp drilling and scouting here on the morning of Sept 10^th we were attacked by a force of 10,000 men commanded by Gen Loring our pickets were drove in the Battle commenced it was a hard fought battle in an open field Colonel Toland had 2 horses shot under him the fight lasted all day till dark the 34^th lost in killed and wounded one hundred and 30 men the loss of the 37^th was near a hundred that night the troops fell back to Cotten Mountain the pursued rebels after us fought them again at Cotten Mountain we fell back to the Kanawha river and crossed over kept on retreating and fighting we marched through Charleston crossed Elk river and destroyed the bridge here we fought all day night coming on the Army retreated for the nearest point to the Ohio river on the march we passed through the town of Ripley Jackson court house we came to the Ohio river at Ravenswood and forded the river at the foot of Buffingtons Island we tramped it through Ohio to Point Pleasant crossed the Ohio into Va and the Army went into camp The 34^th 37^th 44^th OVI 4^th and 5^th Va probably other regiments i have forgotten with a battery of artillery fought the /

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battle of Charleston the loss was heavy on both sides General Lightburn was in command reinforcements came pouring in we now had a large army Gen J D Cox assumed command we went up the valley a second time had a fight at Buffalo and whiped the rebels marched on had another fight at Poketalico Creek and routed the rebels we crossed Elk river on pontoon bridges and entered the city of Charleston driving the rebels before us we marched through Malden and to the falls of Kanawha crossed over and went into camp we scouted the country all over and the valley was once more in the hands of the union forces

 

in May 1863 the 34^th was furnished with horses and transformed into mounted rifles on the 13 of July 1863 the 34^th and 2^nd Va Cavalry under command of Colonel John T. Toland made a raid on the troops guarding Wytheville Va and after a desperate fight captured the place with all the enemys artillery and burned the town Colonel Toland was killed the Colonel of the 2^nd Va Col Powell was was wounded Capt Delano was killed the loss of the 34^th in this engagement was 4 killed 13 wounded 33 missing on the day previous to the fight at Wytheville Company C of the 34^th which was acting as a rear guard was attacked by guirrillas losing a number of men including Capt Cutter and 15 men who were taken prisoners Lieut Colonel Franklin now assumed command of the brigade and began a /

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retrograde movement for several days the command marched through 3 paths in the mountains as our retreat by the roads was cut off by a superior force under the command of Gen McClausland we at length reached our base of supplies in the Kanawha Valley

The 34^th participated the balance of the year in expiditions under Gen Duffie who in the mean time had assumed command of the cavalry division

 

in Jan 1864 two thirds of the regt enlisted as veterans the mounted portion were placed in the division of General Averill the dismounted with General George Crook

 

Extract from a letter written while in the army

            Silas and myself are well for the past 2 months we have been on the tramp marching and fighting

 

the Army under command of Gen Crook left Charleston Va May 1^st 1864 marched up the Kanawha as far as the falls crossed over and marched over Cotten Mountain through Fayetteville to Raleigh court house over Flat top Mountain crossed Blue Stone river and entered Princeton drove the rebels out and destroyed their quarters marched over East river mountain through rocky gap in Bland County through Giles Valley and Bit Walkers Gap to Cloyds Mountain here a large force of rebs under command of Gen Sam Jones /

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were strongly fortified behid breastworks Gen Crook attacked Jones army the fighting was terrific the ground was covered with the dead and wounded the loss on both sides was heavy the rebs gave way and retreated we marched to Newburn Depot on the Va and Tennessee railroad destroyed their commissary stores we tore up the railroad burned bridges twisted the rails around trees and marched to New river Bridge and attacked the rebels and cleaned them out we burned the bridge across New river and marched to Blacksburg in Montgomery County marched over Salt pond Mountain had a fight with the rebels cleaned them out it is 15 miles over this mountain on top of this mountain is a lake of pure cold water it is fed by springs the lake is one mile and a 4 long and one 4^th wide we marched over Peters Mountain East river Mountain through Buffalo Gap to the Salt Sulphur Springs to Union villiage in Monroe County here for the 1^st time in 16 days i saw Silas he was with the Cavalry and i with the infantry the dismounted men of the 34^th were with the 36^th Ohio Silas was with the Cavalry under Gen Averill who fought the Battle of Cove Mountain Gap within 4 miles of Wytheville Va Silas was about played out sick and nearly starved he remained with me till the Army got to Bunkers Mills 4 miles from Lewisburgh in Greenbriar County /

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we marched to the Blue Sulphur Springs over Meadow Mountain and Brushey Ridge to the White Sulphur Springs marched over the Allegheny Mountains to the Healing Springs Hot Springs Warm Springs Bath Alum Springs marched over Spring Mountain through Panther Gap had some fighting at Goshen Depot routed them and marched to the Va Centrall railroad and destroyed it went through Pond Gap to the town of Middlebrook and on to Lexington here we fought the rebels and routed them at Lexington i visited the cemetery and was at the grave of Gen Stonewall Jackson Governor Fletcher house and the military institute was burned to the ground we marched by Purgatory Mountain to Pattonsburgh in Botetourt County and to Buckhanon on the James River what a beautiful valley this is here we had a Battle and routed the rebels The Rebs burned the bridge across the James River our Army forded the river from here we marched over the Blue Ridge Mountains to the town of Bedford and Liberty i saw the peaks of Big Otter and little otter crossed Big Otter and little otter rivers we marched on to Lynchburg a feint was made that evening during the night the enemy were reinforced by 20,000 men from Richmond under Gen Early and after fighting all day on the 19^th

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we were forced to retreat it was retreating and fighting all the time at Salem we made a stand and fought them as we were overpowered by numbers we kept on retreating and fighting we recrossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and kept on marching till we arrived in the Kanawha Valley our Army was under command of Gen David Hunter

 

on the Lunchburg raid the men suffered terribly nothing to eat men broke down from hard marching horses and mules gave out had to be shot wagons we burned up between the 2 armies they devasted a country Gen Sherman was right when he said war was hell no one knows what it is to be a soldier untill he goes into the active service

i always liked the Life of the Soldier although it is attended with hardships to be a soldier in the active service a man must have an iron constitution to endure the privations and hardships incident to a soldiers life /

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after the Lynchburg raid we left the Kanawha Valley never to return again the troops went by steamers to Parkersburg Va thence by railroad to Martinsburg next day the regt was ordered to go on pickett at Cherry Run on the Potomac River After 24 hours picket we returned to Martinsburg next day our brigade under Gen Devol received marching orders we left Martinsburg for Winchester Va marched by Bunkers hill and when within 4 miles of Winchester near Stevensons Depot on the Widow Carter farm we were attacked by the enemy fought them for some time and drove them from the fight our regiment lost 10 killed and 20 wounded we entered Winchester

 

and fought the enemy for 2 days the rebels received heavy reinforcements and were commanded by Gen Jubal Early on the 24^th of July we were attacked by Early whole force the fighting was fearful if ever i heard the rebel yell i heard it that day our regiment lost heavy Col Shaw was killed owing to superior numbers we were forced to give way

 

the 34^th was the last regt to leave the field which it did under a galling fire we fell back to Bunkers hill and fought again we remained on the field all night the Battle was renewed next morning fell back to Martinsburg retreating and fighting /

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fought the enemy at Martinsburg fell back kept on retreating and fighting we crossed the Potomac river at Williamsport had a fight with the rebs at Sharpsburg on the old Antetiam battle ground fell back to my Maryland heights the rebs pursued us no further he we went into camp for a few days

 

received marching orders marched over the Antetiam battle field and South Mountain to Middletown and through the Middletown valley this valley is a paridise to live in a more beautiful country i never saw marched to Bellville on the 2^nd of August we encamped at Wolfville and Myersville near the Pennsylvania state line from here we marched to Frediric City in Maryland and camped on the banks of the Monocacy river 4 miles from Frediric City we are in the 8 Corps under Gen Crook Gen R. B. Hays is our division commander in the month of August we left Monocacy Junction and marched to Sandy Hoock 2 miles from Harpers Ferry thence to Maryland heights and went into camp on the Potomac river /

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After the rebels drove us out of Va through Maryland to Maryland heights on the Potomac river we joined Gen Philip Sheridan Army Sheridan Army consisted of the 6 Corps 19 Corps 8 Corps a corps or 2 of cavalry under Generals George A Custer Torbet Merritt and others the Shenandoah Valley Campaign now bagan in earnest it was marching and fighting nearly all the time we fought the rebels at Halltown Charlestown Sumitt Point Berryville Brownsburg Opequon Fishers hill Strausburg and Cedar Creek it was marching countermarching up and down the valley Sheridan was successful in every engagement at Cedar Creek i saw Sheridans Ride these were all hard fought battles the loss on both sides were heavy it was a battle field from Harpers Ferry to Staunton we broke up Gen Jubal Early Army Sheridan is the hero of the Shenandoah this is a beautiful valley i have been from one end of it to the other the country about Staunton and Harrisonburg is fine i cant begin to describe this valley i was through all the Shenandoah Valley Campaign and in every battle i shall never forget Winchester town situated about 30 miles up the Shenandoah Valley from Harpers Ferry i wish i could describe the valley but it cannot be done with words Sheridan campaign in the valley of Va has no rival /

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written while in the Army

 

Camp Flat top Mountain Va

                                    August 3^rd 1862

Dear Achsah

                        another beautiful sabbath morning has dawned upon old flat top mountain the boys are buisily engaged in rubing and brightning up their guns for inspection there is to be a review of all the troops here to day this is a lively morning and the high mountains in the distance look grand guard mount is over and the boys who have been on picket for the past 24 hours are coming into camp the sick call is over the health of the troops in this department is very good the boys are lively and in fine spirits anxiously w for the army to be on the march Corporal Perry Behymer of Company A 34^th ovi was buried to day in the honors of war he was a brave and intelligent young man from Amelia Clermont Co Ohio tomorrow we get new guns Springfield rifles recently several men came from Ohio and joined the regiment who wouldent be a Zouave i hope others will be induced to come and help put down this rebellion we are expecting the paymaster here soon to pay of the troops some greenbacks at present would be very acceptable i am always anxious to hear from the loved ones at home write often for nothing does a soldier more good than to get a letter from home /

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when will this cruel war be over who knows Love to all the family

yours

            Jno Williams Co F 34^th ovi

 

            Camp union Va

                                    April 20^th 1862

Dear Wife

            As this is Easter Sunday and the rain is pouring down in torrents have concluded to write you a few lines i am enjoying excellent health at the present time i would write home oftener but our friends at home must take into consideration the fact that Soldiers are not so comfortably situated for writing as they may suppose when we get into the notion of writing to a friend a constant reminder of the duties to be performed stares us in the face amongst which are the company drill Battalion drill guard mounting tattoo and divers other duties pertaining to the Soldiers life wether or not our friends know were we are what little time we do have to ourselves we are compelled to use to the very best advantage sometimes by writing in sleeping or mending our clothes or fixing up some little conveniences about our quarters but there is another excuse more plausible than all the rest the scarceity of writing material it frequently happens that we cannot borrow from our comrads for they to are in the same doleful condition /

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and we are left to the unpleasant predicament of sitting down to speculate upon the welfare of our friends or upon the probable result of the war Soldiering is a pretty hard life but not more so than i had expected still it is rather more exacting than home life were a man can roast his shins by a good stove or go out into the rain and mud at pleasure the road from Gauley bridge to this place is the worst road i ever saw a description of which cannot be given a man must see and endure to believe during all our time of marching and camping we were almost incestently drenched with rain or sprinkled with snow so you may judge we had a nice time of it At the present time we have comfortable quarters but it still rains

            i am well write often

            love to all

                                    yours

                                                John Williams

Company F 34^th ovi

                                    Piatt Zouaves /

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The country around Staunton and Harrisonburgh in the Shenandoah valley is beautiful to behold in one of our raids we destroyed the Va Central railroad had some skirmish fighting near Lewisburg and Meadow Bluffs we have crossed Big Sewall and little Sewall Mountains

            I have frequently visited the Hawks Nest and Lovers Leap on New river this is a place worth seeing it is some miles above Gauley bridge on New river near a place called the Tompkins farm on the road from Gauley bridge to Lewisburg Va

 

on Flat top Mountain Va is one of the purest springs of water i ever saw it flows from a bed of pure white sand and in abundance

 

Killpatrick Post No 189 Grand Army of the Republic was organized in Goshen Ohio in the month of January 1882 i was one of its charter members

 

during the 4 years i was in the service i saw a great deal of beautiful country also much mountaneous wild and broken country i was at the Natural Bridge in Va and all those noted springs or watering places /

[patched out]

 

The 34^th and 36^th Ohio Regts were consolidated Jan 30^th 1865 at Cumberland City Maryland and mustered out of Service at Wheeling Va July 27^th 1865 and disbanded at Columbus Ohio August 1^st 1865 /

 

[paper cut off]

campaign ended the 34^th ovi received marching orders to go to Beverly Va on the Tygart Valley river where the 8^th Ohio Cavalry were in camp At this time i was on detached duty in the 2^nd division field hospital in the capacity of Assistant Steward under Surgeon J. Weeb All of the 34^th Ohio boys who were on detached duty received orders to report to their regt for duty there was a small squad of us we drew rations of coffee hard tack and sow belly took the cars for Harpers Ferry then on the Ohio and Baltimore railroad for Grafton Va here i took command of the squad drew rations we tramped it 4 miles to Webster a small hamlet on the Parkersburgh branch of the Ohio and Baltimore railroad from Webster to Beverly it was 42 miles across the country it was bitter cold weather and the snow knee deep the road in a bad condition

            The 1^st day we tramped it to Philippi a small town on Valley river we camped for the night in an old building

            The 2^nd day we tramped it to Bealington a small hamlet and camped for the night in an old log house

            on the 3^rd days march we crossed over Laurel Mountain 7 miles over cold was no name for it we came near freezing this is soldiering /

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we arrived at Beverly late in the afternoon badly used up Beverly is situated on the Tygart Valley river quite a business place the next day i was ordered to report at the hospital for duty there were many sick and wounded soldiers at this place i took charge of an upper room in the large frame building it was filled with sick soldiers i was on duty all night my comrade in the day time the 3^rd night while on duty about 2 oclock we were surprised by a large rebel force under General Rosser we were completely surrounded the fight commenced it was fearful our boys had to retreat quite a number killed and wounded on both sides the rebels fired a volley into the hospital killed one and wounded another in the room i was in the rebels rushed into the hospital a confederate captain took my pocket book containing 15 dollars in greenbacks a silver ring and some stamps a rebel Lieutenant took my watch only a week before i paid 20 dollars for it the rank and file then came in and cleaned us out a guard was placed at the door to prevent us from escaping allowed no fire one of the sick men froze to death the rebels captured 300 prisoners i saw the boys march by the house i expected every moment to join them they marched /

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2 miles from town to a place called the burnt bridge and went into camp the next morning a lot of rebels came into town seeing a chance to make my escape i left town and made for Cheat River Mountain i tramped it fast it was fearful cold and the snow deep it was dark when i reached Laurell Mountain and 7 miles over over the mountain i tramped it nearly give out hungry and nearly froze at the foot of the mountain i saw a light in a house i ventured to it knocked and gained admittance the occupants were an old man and lady seeing the condition i was in they bade me welcome the old man made up a rousing fire to thaw me out gave me a chunk of corn bread to eat all they had i shall never forget their kindness to me i laid by the fire all night early next morning i left for Philipi were our troops were in camp i arrived at Philippi late in the afternoon no rations at that place we remained there about a week freezing and starving finally got marching orders tramped it to Webster and camped for the night no grub next morning marched 4 miles to Grafton here for the 1^st time after the battle we drew rations of coffee hard tack and sow belly you ought to have seen us fellows eat Uncle Sams grub /

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we received orders to go to Cumberland City in Maryland we were loaded in open cars it was bitter cold we suffered terribly on reaching Cumberland City we were marched one mile from town to the camp of the 36^th ovi and consolidated with that regiment the 36^th regt had already built their winter quarters us 34^th boys made raids on the lumber yards and soon had us comfortable quarters as we would call it i have packed wood for a mile to keep from freezing to death at night our sufferings were terrible

i finally broke down cold settled in my limbs i took bronchitis partially lost my voice Surgeon J. H. Ayers of the 34^th sent me to a hospital some 9 miles from Cumberland City on the national pike 2 miles from Frostburg here i remained under treatment till the spring campaign opened while i was here Silas was sent here sick with typhoid fever after he got better i had him mustered out of the service and he went home he was 2 years in the Army with me he was a gallant soldier and fought on many a hard fought battle field he was a member of Company A 34^th ovvi his was record is a good one he was struck in the breast at the Battle of Cedar Creek by a spent ball /

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when the spring campaign opened General R. B. Hays was our division commander while Grant was fighting before Richmond and Sherman on his march to the sea our Corps was between the 2 armies what was called the middle department we marched towards Richmond had some little fighting tore up the South Side railroad where all we marched i cant now tell After Lee surrendered Grant ordered us back to Stanton Va here staid a while finally got back to Cumberland City in Maryland remained for some time when all the Army was ordered to go to Wheeling Va we went into camp on the island between Va and Ohio here we were mustered out our regiment went to Columbus Ohio went into Tods Barricks for a week the paymaster came and paid us off we turned our guns over to the government received our discharges and were once more free men i took the cars for Cincinnati ate a square meal took the onmibuss for Bantam Clermont Co Ohio reached home after being a soldier in the US Service 4 years and 2 days the war is ended let their be peace with malice toward none and charity for all

                                                                                                            John Williams /

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Co A 34^th ovi was recruited at Amelia Clermont Co Ohio

Co B at Ripley Brown Co Ohio

Co C at Cincinnati Ohio

Co D at Kenton Ohio

Co E at Bucyrus Ohio

Co F at Waynesville Cedarville Bellbrook and Zenia a few Clermont boys were in the Co

Co G at Cincinnati Ohio

Co H at Cincinnati Ohio

Co I at Saint Marys and Wapokanati Ohio

Co K at Greenville and Arcanum Ohio

the Regt was organized in 1861 and served 4 years during the great rebellion its war record is a good one

 

This is only a brief history of my army life it would be impossible for me to tell where all the regt was every place it camped and all of its marches it seemed to me we marched all over West and East Va Maryland to the Pennsylvania line next to Kentucky Tennessee and North Carolina /

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This Book my 2 Army discharges and veteran medal presented to me by the State of Ohio i leave to my son A. J. Williams and by him to be handed down and kept in the Williams family

 

The following is an official list of the Battles in which the 34^th regt ovvi Piatt Zouaves were engaged together with the date of the engagements

 

1861    Chapmansville Va      Sept 25^th

1862    Princeton Va               May 15 16 and 17

            Fayetteville Va           Sept 10

            Cotten hill Va             Sept 11

            Charleston Va             Sept 12

            Buffalo Va                  Sept 27

            Manassas Gap Va       Nov 5

 

1863    Wytheville Va             July 17

            Averills raid                Aug 25 to 30

 

1864    Princeton Va               May 6

            Cloyd Mountain Va    May 9

            New River Va             May 10

            Cove Mountain Va     May 9 and 10

            Panther Gap                June 3

            Piedmont                     June 5

            Buffalo Gap                June 6

            Lexington Va              June 10 and 11

            Buckhanon                  June 14

            Otter Creek                 June 16

            Lynchburg Va             June 17 and 18^th

            Liberty                        June 20^th

            Salem                          June 21

            Monocacy Md             July 9^th /

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            Snickers Gap               July 17^th

            Snickers Ferry             July 18

            Winchester Va            July 20

            Summit Point Va        Aug 21

            Halltown Va                Aug 24 26 and 27^th

            Berryville Va              Sept 3^rd

            Brownsburg                Sept 18^th

            Opequon Va                Sept 19^th

            Fishers hill Va             Sept 22

            Strausburg                   October 13^th

            Cedar Creek Va          October 19^th

 

1865    Beverly Va                  Jan 11^th

                                                total 41 Battles

besides any amount of skirmishing no mention is made of

 

The Piatt Zouaves went into the war three thousand strong but only three hundred returned

 

my war record i am proud off i always done my duty and done it well /

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A Brief Sketch of my Early life

John Williams was Born April 22^nd 1825 in the city of Philadelphia Penn of my Father i know nothing about when i was 2 weeks old as my Mother couldent nurse me i was placed in the family of Theofilus B Husted his Mrs Ruth Husted cared for me the same as one of her own children Mr Husted was captain of a vessel and boated produce all through the Jerseys from one post to another many a trip have i sailed with him down the Delaware through the Delaware and Chesapeake bays to Cape May and all through the Jerseys to New York City while i lived in the Husted family my Mother came to see me once a week i always loved my Mother

in the winter of 1836 i was about 11 years old my Uncle Silas Williams who lived in Clermont Co Ohio came to Philadelphia to get his share of the Williams estate 12 hundred dollars my Mother prevailed on my uncle to take me home with him at that time there were no railroads we went by stages drawn by 4 to 6 horses we went the national pike through Baltimore to Harpers Ferry to Cumberland City from there on to Wheeling Va crossed the Ohio river went through Ohio to Columbus thence to Cincinnati Ohio we were 8 days and nights coming through /

 

[page missing]

 

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my ancestors were Pennsylvania Germans my Grand Father lived in Bucks County Pa about 20 miles from Philadelphia

they owned a fine farm each of the heirs received 12 hundred dollars i recollect my Grand Mother Mary Williams and Aunt Hester when i left Philadelphia that was the last time i ever saw my Mother i soon lost all trace of her A few years before the war i went to Philadelphia in search of my Mother i found the Husted family i used to live with and all they knew about her she started for Ohio what ever became of my Mother i never knew it has always been a mystery to me what became of her i have been tossed about over lifes tempestuous sea i have traveled much have always been of a roving disposition i was at the first worlds fair in New York City have traveled considerable by railroad and steam boats up and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans have traveled to some extent in the western states my roving days are now over

 

i hope it will be a pleasure for my children and grand children to read this brief history of my Army life

                                                                                                John Williams /

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The study of Freemasonry is a very fasinating one as all who have prosecuted their researches into its hidden mysteries can testify—

            As our knowledge of it increases and as we explore its history and trace out the origin and meaning of its symbols new lights burst forth from its inmost researches—

            to those masons who are satisfied to rest content with the knowledge they have received at the pedestal of the lodge and look upon it as merely a place for social meeting and friendly recognition masonry in its highest sense must to them ever be a sealed book— /

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What is Freemasonry

it is a covenant of friendship

its foundation is pure morality

its law the holy Bible and its Guide

the compasses and the square—

 

Freemasonry demands a moral life of all its members—

 

The holy Bible is the law of freemasonry—

 

The guides of the fraternity are the compasses and the square. The compasses admonishes us to constantly circumscribe our desires and to keep our passions within due bounds and the square to act with all mankind on the square of justice and equity—

 

Freemasonry is a covenant of friendship whose motto is fraternal love charity and sociability. Freemasonry is a jewel for the young man and an honor to the aged when they have learned to appreciate it at its full value—

 

No order no society no institution and no covenant was ever erected on a better foundation. old as freemasonry is and as many centuries as it has outlived its principles and teachings are as correct and as excellent at the present time as thousands of years ago—for truth and morality—are everlasting /

 

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The spirit of Masonry the essence and soul of masonry is nothing more than the spirit of humanity—our aim and object is none other than to honor foster and promote the intellectual nobility and worth of the human race—

 

The exhausted hour glass of my life admonishes me that my probation is nearly ended—

That the gavel of death will soon call me from my labors on Earth

                                                                                                            but the sprig of acacia assures me that there is an hereafter and intimates eternity of existance beyond the grave

and it is my last request that when I make my exit from this earthly lodge my remains may have a Masonic burial—

                        (This I recall)

 

                        Fraternally

                        John Williams

                        Goshen Ohio /

 

To Whom it May Concern

My Masonic career began March 7^th 1884 when I was initiated an EA—

 

was passed to the degree of FC April 4^th 1884

 

and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason May 9^th 1884 in Goshen lodge No 119 F and A M Goshen Ohio—

 

I have filled the different offices in Goshen lodge untill I became its worshipful Master Nov 25 1887 and served 3 years—

 

I have been a constant reader of Masonic works I have made Masonry a study—I love to read Masonic literature The brightest Masons are those who read and study—

 

I am as zelous a Mason as lives and yet with all my zeal I desire here and now to record my belief that there are two things over above and beyond Freemasonry one the Church the other the family

 

John Williams was made to Royal Arch Masonry July 10^th 1897 in Napoleon Chapter No 51 Napoleon Kentucky Gallatin County. /

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Freemasonry is the most grand noble elevating dignified and sublime institution the human mind ever conceived and its objects are to make men better by developing the good and circumscribing or eliminating so far as possible the bad—

 

The principles on which it is founded are eternal

they have existed from the beginning of the world and will survive untill the end of time—

 

Freemasonry has made men better

it has led them to aim at a higher and purer life

it has made them appreciate a nobler manhood

it has made them understand better the problem of living

it has taught them how to die

it has permeated the whole world with its pure principles—

it has raised the fallen and rescued the depraved—

it has clothed the naked and fed the hungry—

it has built homes for the homeless and asylums for the sick—

it has educated the ignorant and sheltered the fatherless—

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it has helped the church to ameliorate the condition of unhappy humanity—

            its influence has benefitted government in establishing justice and destroying despotism—

its silent work has been felt in the very pulsation of a better morality in the community—

its history is illustrious

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