History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

by R. C. Rankin.

It being suggested that a History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry be written, the honor was conferred upon me. Not being a historian or even a letter writer, I feel myself entirely incompetent to do justice to the Regiment that has done so much good service. In writing a historical account of the organization of this Regiment, I shall have to rely almost exclusively on memory, owing to the fact that all the Regiment"s notes and papers have been captured, as will be seen before concluding this narrative.

The Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was recruited on an order emanating from the War Department, that Gov. Todd, of Ohio, would raise one Regiment of Cavalry, for "Border Service," the Ohio River then being the boundary.

The organization of this Regiment was commenced and the duty of the organization was conferred on Major Malcolm McDowell, Paymaster U. S. A., and I may add here, that there is no visitor more welcome at the camp of the Seventh O. V. C., than the gallant old grandfather of the Reg"t, as he is styled here. The counties ordered to raise Companies were as follows: Hamilton, three; Clermont, one; Brown, one; Adams, one; Scioto, one; Lawrence, one; Gallia, one; Meigs, one; Washington, one; Monroe, one.

Lawrence and Monroe failing to raise the companies, their places were supplied by raising two in Gallia and one in Athens. As soon as recruiting was fairly under way, Major McDowell was retired and resumed his orignal duties as Paymaster.

Recruiting was very lively, and the Companies were all filled by the first week in September, and the Regiment was then organized as follows:

Colonel, Israel Garrard; Lieut. Colonel, George G. Minor; Majors, Wm. L.

Raney, ---- Norton, and James McIntire; Adjutant, T. F. Allen; Q. M., W.

M. R. Jackson; C. S., John McColgin; Surgeon, Isaac Train; a.s.st. Surgeons, ---- Tullis and ---- Barrett.

Non-Com., Field and Staff.--S. M., B. P. Stacy; Q. M. S., Geo. M. Ross; C.

S., B. F. Powers; H. S., James Saffron; Saddler, Serg"t Albert G. Sells.

Captains--Wm. A. Simpson, A. S. Brownfield, Warren, Campbell, Solomon L.

Green, Lindsey, Ashburn, Higley, Wm. Lewis, R. C. Rankin, Eels, and John Leaper.

First Lieutenants--A. Hall, Santemire, Sayers, Moore, W. D. Ketterman, Copeland, Nichols, Tripp, Long, Shaw, Carr, McNight.

Second Lieutenants--A. N. Rich, Wm. Burton, Martin Shuler, Murphy, John V.

Srofe, O. H. Eyler, Trago, Smith, Chase, Wambledorf and Johnson.

The Companies rendezvoused in the counties in which they were raised and received millitary instruction from their respective Commanders for several weeks.

In the meantime, Co. E, Capt. R. C. Rankin"s Company, quartered at Ripley, Ohio, rendered valuable service to the city of Maysville, Ky., in defending her against John Morgan"s command, and on the night of September 20th, 1862, crossed the Ohio River and marched to Brookville, Ky., a distance of twenty-five miles, and partic.i.p.ated in the attack and the driving from the place, the rebels under Basil Duke, who was engaged in paroling the citizens carried away by him from Augusta, which place he had captured and burned the day previous. Capt. R. C. Rankin, with Co. E and a squad of mounted citizens from Ripley, Ohio, made a charge on the place, capturing one rebel as they went in, and having one man killed by the retreating rebels. The gallant Duke did not stand upon the order of his going, but just "went." This may be recorded as the first blood the Seventh saw in battle.

Ripley being connected with a large portion of Kentucky by turnpike roads, was selected as the place for the Regiment to rendezvous and receive instructions, which duty devolved princ.i.p.ally on Lt. Col. Minor, who proved himself fully competent to the task. Col. Garrard"s time being occupied in equipping the Regiment.

The first Battallion reached Ripley about the 1st of October, and on the 19th of October, this Battallion and twenty-five men of Co. E, under command of Capt. R. C. Rankin, all being under Lt. Col. Minor, crossed the Ohio River and made a scout to Falmouth, Ky., (in obedience to orders from Gen. Wright, Commanding Dept. of Ohio,) reaching there on the third day, and finding it occupied by Federal troops. Pa.s.sing through four counties, they returned to camp at Ripley, bringing with them three prisoners captured by the advance--Capt. R. C. Rankin"s twenty-five men of E Co.

being the advance.

The First Battallion crossed the river about the 1st of November, and took up the line of march for Lexington, Ky., Major Rainey commanding, and joined Gen. Carter in December, accompanying that officer on his raid into East Tennessee, by the way of Pound Gap, and partic.i.p.ated in the burning of Carter"s Station and the bridge across the Watauga River at Zollicoffer, Tenn.; returning to Kentucky, with the loss of one man killed and a few lost as prisoners, after an absence of three weeks.

Four companies broke camp and crossed the river at Maysville, Ky., on the 21st of December, and took up their march for Danville, Ky., reaching there on the 24th, Lt. Colonel commanding.

In obedience to orders of Gen. Baird, commanding at Danville, Company E, Capt. Rankin in command, was ordered to Harrodsburgh for the purpose of sending scouting parties on the different roads leading from that place, and rendered much valuable service to Gen. Baird, by keeping him posted as to the movements of John Morgan, who had invaded the State and was approaching that point.

They also captured many prisoners, with their equipments. The number captured during their stay, would more than equal the entire command under Capt. Rankin.

The duties became so ardorous, that Gen. Baird sent Company L, Capt.

Leaper, to a.s.sist.

The border now being on the Kentucky and Salt River hills, the remainder of the Regiment, under Col. Garrard, were brought up to join the others at Danville, Ky., reaching there about the 4th of January, 1863. The whole Regiment, (Co. E excepted, which was still on duty at Harrodsburg,) after a few weeks getting together at Danville, moved to Harrodsburg, where it remained until about the latter part of February.

About this time, the rebel Col. Cluke invaded Eastern Kentucky, and the Seventh was ordered out to a.s.sist in driving him from the State.

On reaching Crab Orchard, the Regiment was divided: part under Lt. Col.

Minor moved by the way of Richmond and Ervin to Hazel Green, and had a skirmish with the enemy at that place, capturing twenty-five prisoners.

The remainder of the Regiment, under Col. Garrard, went to Mt. Sterling, by the way of Richmond and Winchester, charging the town and driving the rebels from it, but not in time, however, to save a portion of it from flames.

The place had been surrendered a short time previous, by Col. Ratcleffe of the 10th Kentucky Cavalry.

The enemy being hotly pursued on the Owensville road, made a stand on State Creek, four miles out, but after a sharp engagement were driven from their position, with a loss of eight killed.

About three weeks were occupied in traversing this mountainous country.

The rain and snow falling almost continuously, made the roads in places impa.s.sable. The Regiment all got together at Lexington, about the first of April.

Immediately on the arrival of the regiment at Lexington, an order was issued by Gen. Gilmore, for Capt. Rankin to report with Company E to the Provost Marshal of the District. Upon doing so, the duty a.s.signed him was to make a scout through Jessamine, Mercer, Woodford and Anderson counties, and if possible, to arrest and bring to Lexington a rebel, Col. Alexander, who had up to this time baffled all efforts made for his capture.

The scouting party returned, being successful in the capture of Col.

Alexander, together with a rebel recruiting officer, met on the highway, who on being searched was found to have on his person a recruiting officer"s papers authorizing him to proceed from Beech Grove, Tenn., to the counties above mentioned, to recruit for John Morgan"s command, stationed at Beech Grove; also, taking from the cliffs, bordering on the Kentucky river, near Shakertown, a member of John Morgan"s command concealed there.

The day after their return, this Company was sent to Cynthiana and did duty for some weeks with the 118th Ohio, in breaking up recruiting station, Col. Mott commanding.

After having completed this service, Co. E, Capt. Rankin commanding, was ordered first to Paris, thence to Carlisle, which place was reached about midnight. Being aided by a small party of citizens, he continued his march about six miles to a mill on the north-fork of Licking river where he captured a picket-post of sixteen rebel soldiers, and then returned to Paris on the following day.

In the meantime, the regiment bore a conspicuous part in the fight with Pegram"s force at Dutton Hill, and just as our line was beginning to waver, a daring charge was made by the Seventh which turned the tide of battle in our favor.

In this fight we captured four hundred prisoners and four pieces of artillery.

The enemy fell back in great disorder. Among the trophies captured, the Seventh claims three battle flags; one being captured by Lieut. Copeland, who greatly distinguished himself on that occasion for coolness and bravery.

Major Norton also deserves mention for the gallant style in which he led his battalion in the charge. Major McIntire deserves especial mention. On one occasion he penetrated the confused ma.s.s of rebels, and found himself fired on from the rear. Turning upon his horse he found he was attacked by three. The Major drew his revolver and shot one and the other two surrendered.

Col. Garrard could be found at any point along the line where his presence was most needed. This was the first fight the regiment was in as a body.

On returning to Lexington, the regiment was paid off and their faces were again turned southward. Reaching Stanford, they went into camp for a few days and then continued their march to Somerset, near the c.u.mberland river which had now become the border.

On the evening of the 29th of April, three companies, under Captain Green, joined two companies of the 2nd Ohio Cav., and one company of the 1st Kentucky, all under command of Capt. Carter, of the 1st Ky., crossed the c.u.mberland river at Smith"s Ford, and after crossing a mountain, they crossed the south fork of the c.u.mberland, two miles from its junction with the main stream, now known as Burnside"s Point, coming around in the rear of the rebel pickets at Stigall"s Ferry, thereby capturing the post, one hundred and thirty in number.

After delivering the prisoners to our forces on the opposite bank at Stigall"s, we took the main road to Monticello, and after marching about four miles, were attacked by a portion of the enemy"s cavalry whom we soon drove back, and then continued the march until we reached the farm known as Capt. West"s. Beyond this farm is a gap in the mountain, called Scott"s Gap. Here the enemy made a stand and quite a sharp little fight ensued which lasted near one hour.

It now being dusk and the enemy being driven from their position, the command went into camp for the night, Company E of the 7th, under Capt.

Rankin, being left to hold the Gap. The next morning, skirmishing between the pickets commenced. The column was soon in motion moving on toward Monticello, with occasional skirmishing on the advance, the enemy gradually falling back toward the town; but a charge was made upon them which quickly hurled them through the town and over the creek to the top of a hill beyond, where they again made a stand.

In this charge, the first credit of entering the place, all chances being equal, is due the Seventh, Company E, under Capt. Rankin, leaping the fences, gaining the streets and crossing the creek, and mingled in a hand to hand fight with the flying rebels half way up the hill on the other side. The Adjutant of the 1st Kentucky, gained the head of the column and ordered them back to the Monticello side, where the command was formed in line of battle.

This gave the enemy time to reform, also. In this charge, the Seventh lost one man killed and three wounded, besides several horses.

That part of the command which stopped to throw down fences, now coming to our a.s.sistance, the enemy were soon driven to a point four miles beyond, where they got large reinforcements, as well as ourselves and a fight was made in which the enemy used considerable artillery.

In an hour our artillery came up and was put in position and a flank movement being made on the enemy"s right, they were soon to be found on the retreat again.