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 H.
Was raised in Guernsey county by John T. Rainey and organized January ___, 1862. John T. Rainey was appointed Captain, John F. Grimes First Lieutenant, and John Orr Second Lieutenant.
The company was composed of a noble, robust class of men, ready and able for any duty and difficult work. In no company of the regiment was there a greater spirit of contentment, mirth and cheerfulness. Every evening in Company "H" would be heard the merry songs of happy voices, echoing throughout the camp. The company always took a cheerful part in the numerous battles and campaigns of the regiment, and has lost many fine, noble men in battle and by disease. It has highly honored patriotic Guernsey and made a proud record in the history of the war.
Captain Rainey was a lawyer of Cambridge, and a favorite generally with men. His disposition was such as to make him popular with his company, and the regiment generally; having much energy, some military experience — having served in the Mexican war — and being naturally a jovial, free, social man, made him, as supposed by the regiment, eminently fitted for Major of the regiment, to which position he was chosen at Grand Junction, Tenn., and received his commission afterwards at Memphis, prior to its entrance on the Vicksburg campaign. He commanded the regiment with great ability and acceptance through the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond and Jackson, Miss. On the morning of the commencement of the battle of Champion Hills, Lieutenant-Colonel Wiles took command of the regiment, Major Rainey assisting him. At the investment of Vicksburg by General Grant’s army, Major Rainey was detailed on General Leggett’s staff as Assistant Inspector General, in which position he remained until after the fall of Atlanta, when he resigned his commission and left the service.
Lieutenant Grimes’ health so far failed as to compel him to quite the service. He therefore resigned his commission after the battle of Shiloh, went home, and soon died of disease contracted in the service. He was a young man of fine attainments and moral worth and promised to be a very efficient officer.
Lieutenant Orr was promoted to First Lieutenant and Sergeant Wm. Dodds to Second Lieutenant. The latter resigned at Memphis, in February, 1862. Lieutenant Orr was appointed Captain, and Sergeant Josiah Scott First Lieutenant. Lieutenant Scott was a noble, Christian young man, and beloved not only by his company, but by all the regiment. He was a cheerful, social and pleasant young officer. When the regiment was encamped at Vicksburg he obtained a leave of absence and went home to visit his family, where he was taken ill with the small-pox and died. His death was much regretted and deeply lamented by his company and the regiment.
Sergeant Henry Speer, of "A" company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to "H" company, in November, 1863. He was a young man of good morals, very efficient in all he did. His promotion was one of merit and honor. He served faithfully in his company till at Atlanta, in the battle of the 22d of July, he was severely wounded, making amputation of his arm necessary. He was sent home, where he died shortly after, in consequence of his wounds.
Captain Orr remained in command of the company till January, 1865, when his three years’ service expiring, he was honorably mustered out. He was a very jovial, pleasant and good officer. He was cheerful in camp, and brave almost to a fault in battle. On the 22d of July, in the ever memorable battle before Atlanta, he killed a rebel with his sword, who had hold of the colors of the regiment. He fought with the most desperate bravery in personal combat in preventing the capture of the flag. Captain Joseph Orr lived in single blessedness till advanced in his forties, having obtained a comfortable living, and more than a competency to maintain a family. He finally, after much exhortation from the Chaplain and his Colonel, repented of the sin of living an old bachelor, corrected and reformed his life by marrying a wife.
Lieutenant Springer, of Company "C," was promoted to a Captain, and assigned to Company "II," but still remained on General Leggett’s staff, in charge of the Division Ambulance Train. This position he had filled with great efficiency and acceptance.
John P. Ross, Sergeant-Major of the regiment, was promoted to First Lieutenant, and assigned to Company "H," and had command of the company till the mustering out of the regiment. He was one of those "few and far between" very best of young men; of high Christian integrity, of good attainments, efficiency and close attention to his business, that made him an officer of much success, acceptance and ability.
Sergeant Robert H. Brown was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He was also a good young man, and an efficient officer, and worthy of every trust and honor given him.
The following is the list of the non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the original organization:
Sergeants
1. William A. Doss
2. Josiah Scott
3. David Rainey
4. William Calihan
5. Robert Brown.
Corporals
1. David McMillen
2. John A. Johnson
3. Samuel Nelson
4. Gabriel H. Feister
5. David T. Caldwell
6. Leander Scott
7. Levi Johnson
8. Hezekiah Hyatt
Shadric Turner, Musician, John T. Allen, Wagoner
Privates
Alexander, John
Bichard, P. S.
Barnett, Jacob
Burns, Joshua
Black, James H.
Beam, Daniel
Britton, Robert
Berry, James
Cochran, Thomas
Casey, Samuel
Clipner, David
Clipner, John
Camp, William T.
Camp, John W.
Cook, John B.
Craig, John
Cockrel, George
Dunifer, John
Dawson, James
Dillahey, John
Donalson, Joshua
Gill, Joseph
Gill, Elijah
George, Price C.
Johnson, Nathaniel
Hudson, James
Hunter, John
Hutchison, Nicholas
Haynes, John
Hartshorn Thomas
Henrick, Rufus
Kimble, William
Kimble, Robert
Kind, Benjamin
Kennedy, Benjamin
Keown, Robert
Kimble, George
Kimble, George W.
Linton, Samuel
Lake, William
McBurney, Charles
McDonald, Finley
Mitchell, George P.
McBurney, William
Miller, Lewis
Mitchel, David
Murphy, Lafayette F.
Miller, James M.
Miligan, Alexander F.
McBurney, James
Paden, Dallas
Powell, John W.
Shriver, Adam G.
Stevenson, George W.
Scott, Robert
Sigman, Isaac
Stevenson, Alexander
Schuyheart, Isaac
Thompson, Abram
Thompson, Archibald L.
Turner, James
Turner, James A.
Tucker, Joseph
Voorhers, Joshua
Voorhers, Lewis
Williams, William P.
Wilson, Robert
White, Reese
White, Elisha.
The following named recruits were added to the company in the autumn of 1862:
Francis Scott
Henry Aloves
William M. Barber
Alexander L. Blair
Edward Hall
James Bulberson.
In the winter of 1863-4 the following named recruits for three years were added:
George M. Bramlett
James V. P. Briton
William Ball
Thomas M. Clark
Alexander Clark
Edward R. Dunifer
Robert Hoover
William M. Stage
Laban Sigman
Rolla Sigman.
The following named substitutes and drafted men were added to the list:
James B. Allen
James E. Arnold
Joseph R. Black
George R. Baughman
Samuel H. Bartholomew
Joseph M. Brown
Jonathan N. Brown
James Collins
Washington Darling
Ezeriah Dermy
Ruman Gorman
William S. Green
William Hastings
Casabine Hawk
Joseph Heft
Joseph Herles
John Jarvas
James C. Kltner
Christopher Lindsey
James Mathers
John Mooney
Jeremiah McBride
Nathan McElfresh
John W. Nebert
Lewis Ours
John P. Pastors
John P. Reddick
Miller Tilton
Samuel C. Turner
Samuel Vinsel
Reese White
Albert P. Wilbert
John Waters
David Warner
James K. Walston
James Wellington
John M. Haugh
Joseph Young
James M. Lucas.
In January , 1864, the following named men re-enlisted as veterans to serve three years more:
Robert H. Brown
Jacob Barnett
James H. Black
Joshua Burris
James Berry
William H. Callahan
Thomas Chochran
John Cl;ipner
James Dossan
Elijah Gill
Price C. George
Charles McBurney
James McBurney
Lafayette Murphy
John W. Powell
David B. Rainey
Isaac Sigman
Robert B. Scott
Adam G. Shriver
George W. Stevenson
James Turner
James A. Turner
Abram Thompson
Elihu White.
The following have been discharged for disability:
John T. Allen
William M. Barker
John Craig
John Dunifer
John Dillahey
Elijah Gill
Hezekiah Hyatt
Nicholas Hutchinson
Thomas Hartson
John A. Johnson
William T. Jones
Benjamin Kennedy
Benjamin King
Samuel Linton
David Mitchel
Lewis Miller
James Miller
Samuel Nelson
William J. Sopher
Archibald L. Thompson
Peter Williams.
The following named soldiers of Company "H" have died of wounds and disease contracted in the service:
Lieutenant Josiah Scott
Lieutenant John F. Grimes
Lieutenant Henry Speer
John Alexander, killed at Atlanta
James Aloves, killed on railroad
James B. Allen
Daniel Caldwell, died at Savannah, Tenn.
John W. Camp
William T. Camp
James Culbertson
James Hudson, died of wounds received at Champion Hills
John Hunter
Daniel Beam
George Cochran
Joshua Donelson
Gabriel Fields
John Haynes
Nathan Johnson
William Kimble, killed at Atlanta, July 22d, 1864
Robert Keown
William Lake, died of wounds, Marietta, Ga.
David McMillen, died of wounds, Champion Hills
William McBride, killed at Champion Hills
Dallas Paden
Alex. F. Miliken
Leander Scott, died at Bolivar, Tenn.
Adam G. Shriver, killed at Atlanta, July 22d, 1864
Alexander Stevenson, died at Shiloh, Tenn.
James Sleeth
James Turner, killed at Atlanta, Ga.
Shedrack Turner
John Milliken
George P. Mitchell, deserted
Jeremiah McBridge
James Schuyhart
Joshua Voorhes
Lewis Voorhes.