The following is from History of the 78th Regiment O.V.V.I, from its “Muster-In” to its “Muster-Out;” comprising Its Organization, Marches, Campaigns, Battles and Skirmishes, by Rev. Thomas M. Stevenson, Chaplain of the Regiment:
[Company K] was raised in Muskingum, Monroe, Belmont and Noble Counties, by John W. Cornyn, of Zanesville, and organized January 11th, 1862. John W. Cornyn was appointed Captain, John T. Hamilton First Lieutenant, and James Carothers Second Lieutenant. The company was made up of strong, robust men. This company had more foreigners in it than any other company in the regiment; owing to the fact, perhaps, that the Captain was a Catholic, many of his persuasion enlisted with him to assist in crushing rebellion and punish treason in the country of their adopted homes.
The company did good and faithful service and suffered severely during the war, taking a part in all the campaigns and battles of the regiment.
The Captain was a hard worker, a man full of energy and life, and has had much experience in the management of men, especially foreigners, as he was a long time a rail road contractor.
He was a very agreeable, social, pleasant companion, somewhat impulsive in character, he was quick to act, and readily discerned the minds of men.
He served with his company till February, 1863, when he was appointed Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, and assigned to General Ewing’s staff.
Lieutenant John W. Hamilton, on account of ill health resigned his commission, August 20th, 1862.
He was a quiet unassuming man and against his moral character we know nothing.
Lieutenant James Carothers was taken prisoner a few days after the battle of Raymond, Mississippi. He and Captain Wallar were taken suddenly sick during the progress of the Raymond battle. Wallar did not return to the regiment until Vicksburg was invested, which was some ten days, and his company having been in three fights during that time. Carothers being at a citizen’s house, was carried off by the guerrillas and taken to Libby Prison, where he remained for about fifteen months.
Lieutenant Hugh Dunne was promoted to Captain and assigned to Company “K,” March 12th, 1864.
He brought the company home, with the regiment, on veteran furlough and after returning to the field it did much efficient service in the Atlanta campaign. Captain Dunne resigned shortly after the fall of Atlanta, owing to the fact that his time had almost expired, and the press of business at home.
James Brennan of “C” Company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant June 9th, 1863, and assigned to “K” Company. In April 1864, he was dishonorably mustered out of service on account of intemperance.
Lieutenant George W. Porter was promoted to Captain and assigned to “K” Company, December 15th, 1864, but being an officer of marked ability, he still remained on General Leggett’s staff as Aid-de-Camp.
H. W. McCarty, Sergeant of “E” Company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to “K” Company.
John Kennedy, Sergeant-Major of the regiment, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to this company also. No other changes were made in the officers till the muster out of the regiment.
Under these young officers the company was orderly and efficient in drill.
H. W. McCarty had been a very efficient Sergeant and promised being a good and useful officer.
The following were the names of the non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the original organization:
Sergeants
1. J. B. Thompson
2. E. Delong
3. D. W. McDaniel
4. H. Hacket
5. Charles Billman
Corporals
1. Jams Gallagher
2. William E. Bostwick
3. Joseph Jeffers
4. James M. Dillon
5. Thomas McCusker
6. Patrick Harvey
7. William Delong
8. William Poulton
Henry C. Roush, 1st Musician; John Morrison, 2nd Musician; John Hodgell, Wagoner.
Privates
Antill, William
Burkhart, John
Barnes, William E.
Brown, Thomas F.
Brown, Michael
Bowman, Samuel
Coon, Peter
Clark, Isaac
Carothers, Thomas
Delong, Thomas
Dillen, William
Dillen, Thomas
Denbow, William
Denbow, James [— died of disease contracted in camp, Lewisville, Ohio, April 18, 1863]
Denbow, John [— died of disease, Paducah, Ky., April 14, 1862]
Denbow, Martin
Denbow, Bazzel
English, Edward
Fracker, Frank
Fordyce, Samuel
Floyd, Aaron
Gallagher, Edmund
Gray, Henry
Gray, George
Giesey, Samuel
Greenbank, John
Godfrey, Francis
Higinbotom, Ezra
Horn, Adam
Hacket, William
Hays, Robert
Hays, Henry
Hunt, Burr
Hoffman, Conrid
Henthorn, Ellis
Jeffers, Joseph
Jeffers, John
Jeffers, Pias
Jeffers, Joseph J.
Jackson, Foster
Jordin, William
Jordin, Thomas
Kadatz, Ludwig
Keiger, Jacob
Lumbattus, George
McConaughy, Daniel
McConaughy, Jesse
Meintel, Leo
Mott, Menander
Morris, John
Myrick, Myrick
McCammon, Frederick
Newart, Federick
Norris, John
Norville, Paton
Poulston, Levi
Paith, David
Potts, James II
Rapp, John
Reed, Hiram
Robbins, Swazy
Slack, James
Slack, Elisha
Snyder, Uylston
Scott, John W.
Sotton, James
Tidd, William
Tompkins, James
Wagoner, Isaac
Winland, Charles
Waters, Roderick
Yockey, Henry
Drafted and Substitutes
Armstrong, Samuel, drafted
Adams, Charles, drafted
Amnos, Charter, R., drafted
Aler, James, drafted
Bruce, Washington, drafted
Carter, William, drafted
Coon, Eli, drafted
Clantz, Jacob II, drafted
Clarkson, Samuel, drafted
Cade, Thomas J., drafted — discharged for disability
Canny, Elmer II., drafted
Calhoun, Henry N., drafted
Denbow, Levi, drafted
Daugherty, Thomas, drafted
Dyer, Joshua, substitute
Deckard, Enoch R., drafted
Ditzler, Daniel E. drafted — died of disease in hospital
Davis, Pleasant W., drafted
Faulkner, Paul, drafted — died of disease in hospital
Gleason, Joseph, drafted — died of disease in camp
Goff, Solomon, drafted
Gill, Daniel, drafted
Hooper, John II, drafted
Holley, James L., drafted
Hamley, Levi, drafted — drowned in Tar river, North Carolina, May 1, 1865
Jay, Harrison W., drafted, died of disease in hospital
Jones, Leander, M., drafted
Linard, John, drafted
Lindon, William, drafted
Meek, David, substitute
McCue James, drafted
Massie, Robert, drafted
McWhorter, William, drafted
Mosier, Joseph, substitute
Newman, Samuel, drafted
Pendell, David, drafted
Peart, John, drafted
Powell, William H., drafted
Phillips, Solomon, drafted
Purdy, Lemuel, substitute
Swaim, Nathan S., drafted
Smith, Anthony, drafted
Spangler, John, drafted
Thompson, Thomas, drafted — killed by lightning, March 15th, 1865
Welftey, Geore F., drafted — discharged for disability
Ward, Joel, drafted — died of disease
Weir, George, drafted
Wilson, James, drafted
Yats, Jacob, drafted
Young, McKensie, drafted.
Those after whom no remarks are placed were mustered out of service June 30th, 1865, in accordance with instructions from War Department.