Company H

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.