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:
This company was raised in Columbiana County by Andrew Scott, Chaplain Todd, John B. Mills and S. A. DeWolf, and organized January 11th, 1862. Andrew Scott was appointed Captain, John B. Mills First Lieutenant, and S. A. DeWolf Second Lieutenant.
The company was made up of as fine a class of men as ever entered the service — the best ever that left the county. The religious element was strong in the company; the men were of the wealthy families of the county, well educated and representing every branch of trade and business. The company suffered much from disease, and in battle; its very best young men have fallen. Especially has it been true of this company, the fact observed by so many, and noticeable in every company in the regiment, “that the arrow of death is mysteriously select in the choice of its victims;” choosing most generally the best men. Those whom we regret most to spare, and give up most unwillingly; men the most exemplary and upright, and most useful and best loved in the company at home.
Some of the men in Company “I” have filled important positions in the regiment and at Division Corps and Department headquarters. Very little of the rowdy element was found in this company. Their officers were men of Christina integrity. Captain Scott was a member of the Presbyterian Church and by his influence called many such to go with him. The Captain was good, jolly, social man, which made him popular, and his company pleasant. No man except Captain Wilson exercised a more watchful care over his men. When divine services were held in the regiment, the Captain was always present, and the majority of his men were with him. The Captain was a little wrong in his political theory, but all right in his practice. Old prejudices and education gave him a leaning toward Vallandingham and the disloyal party of the North, but diminished nothing of his hatred for secession, and weakened none of his efforts to put it down and destroy the last armed rebel against the Government. He did not like the Administration, but that mattered not as long as he was willing to defend it with the sword, and co-operate with it in the suppression of rebellion; and as form is nothing, but execution everything, we can forgive the Captain’s mistaken theories on politics, since his action and conduct opposed those theories, and prevented him not from going forth and nobly sustaining his country’s flag.
Lieutenant Mills, of whom mention has been made in connection with Company “C,” was a young man of decided influence and most excellent character, and did much by way of influencing many young men to enlist in their country’s service. He was generally popular with his men and throughout the regiment. A man of strong sympathies and tender feelings, and no one did more to alleviate the sufferings of destitute poor women and children through the army’s entire line of march. He would frequently after the regiment would encamp in the evening, mount a horse and search out the poor of the vicinity, and do something for them. He was always active and busy at something, especially in getting possession of fine horses. He was quite successful in maintaining that there was no horse in the army like his, but privately thinking every other horse better than his. In the absence of the Chaplain he would assume part of his duties, and supply the regiment will all the reading matter and stationery the Christian Commission could furnish him. In this way he was an ardent friend and support of the Christian Commission, and the representatives of the Commission believe him to be more than an ordinary-working Christian. He seldom became angry, but when he did, his Christian temper would become somewhat ruffled.
Lieutenant S. A. DeWolf was above middle age, and a resent of Gambier, Licking County, and a man noted for piety and Christian integrity. His health gave way soon after entering the service, and after every effort on his part to arrest disease, he was compelled to resign his commission and leave the service, which took place at Bolivar, Tenn.
Seregeant Humphrey A. McDonald, of “F” company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant and assigned to Company “I.” He was a young man of liberal attainments, and very good education, and consistent upright character. He was afterwards promoted to First Lieutenant and detailed as A. A. A. General of the Second Brigade, Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, but through ill health was compelled to muster out at Goldsboro, N. C., and leave the service. When he was first promoted to Second Lieutenant he was detailed by General John A. Logan, as A. A. Q. M. of the Pioneer Corps, Third Division, and subsequently assisted Lieutenant J. T. Story in the command o Company “C.” At Vicksburg, in December, 1863; he was appointed Regimental Recruiting Officer, to superintend the enlistment of veterans, which position he filled with honor to himself and credit to the regiment. Lieutenant William H. Hessin was promoted to Captain, Sergeant David M. Watson to First Lieutenant, and Sergeant Simon P. Joy, of “D” company to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to Company “I.” All noble young men, good and efficient officers and exemplary in conduct; and returned to their friends with characters better framed and steeled against temptation.
The following list comprises the non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the original organization:
Sergeants
1. David M. Watson
2. Angus Falconer
3. Daniel Watt
4. Geo. W. Chandler
5. Robert Scott
Corporals
1. Harmon W. Brown
2. Daniel S. Noble
3. Thos. McKenzie
4. John Hall
5. John Baker
6. Daniel McIntosh
7. Andrw McPherson
8. Albert Glenn
Jacob H. Arter, 1st Musician; David McLain, 2d Musician; Joseph Wilson, Wagoner.
Privates
Adams, William J.
Axe, Lorenzo
Adams, Matthew W.
Abbot, Robert
Brown, Amos
Baker, Thomas
Butler, Eli
Baker, Gideon H.
Cole, Oscar
Cole, Thomas
Charters, William
Carns, George JW.
Cameron, William T.
Dorwart, Henry
Dobson, Henry
Drennan, Ezekiel G.
Daws, Plimpton
Darison, John
Ehrhart, Reuben
Freed, Milton
Gamble, Thomas
Gable, George
Gamble, Alfred
Giles, Henry
Harkins, Thomas G.
Hilman, David H.
Hampshire, Henry
Hollinger, Jacob
Hanna, George
Hessin, William H.
Jackson, Thomas C.
Kelley, Jdavid
Kerns, Richard
Lounsbury, Franklin A.
McBane, William
McIntosh, Evan
McIntosh, Andrew
McIntosh, John
Morrison, John H.
Marlnec, Andrew
McKenzie, John P.
McIntosh, Laughlin
McLain, Daniel
McIntosh, John F.
Mendell, William
McMullink, Archibald
McCord, George
Poorman, John F.
Powers, Morrison
Roach, Abner M.
Redick, Cummins C.
Spellman, Charles
Steel, George W.
Sprinkle David W.
Starr, Thomas C.
Smith, William M.
Vanfossan, William P.
Weston, John A.
Wilson John W.
Wilson, Hiram
Withers, George
Willis, James B.
Wright, Daniel
Wagoner, Joseph.
The following named men re-enlisted as veteran volunteers at Vicksburg, Miss., January 5th, 1864:
Mathew W. Adams
Isaac Burback
John Baker
John Clunk
Plimpton Daws
Henry B. Dolson
Anguish Falconer
Thomas Gamble
Henry Giles
George Hanna
John H. Morrison
Andrew McPherson
John McIntosh
Williams S. Mendell
John P. McKenzie
Daniel McLain
Andrew McIntosh
Thomas Clinton Starr
Philip Smith
David W. Sprinkle
George W. Steel
William C. Tenley
John A. Weston.
The following named enlisted men, substitutes and drafted men have been added to the company since its original organization:
Goerge Andrews,
John Able
Caleb Caldwell
John Derr
Nathaniel Darst
John Deusil
John Dane
William F. Echerd
Billingsy Teaser
William Francis
Joseph Gardner
Nehemiah Groves
Bowen Gilkey
Hiram Hall
Ethel Henry
Michael J. Hawk
Michael W. Hawk
Theodore Jackson
Peter Jones
Cassius M. Jeffres
Joseph Johnson
Ezekial Johnson
Squire Johnson
John R. Kaufman
John C. Keaney
Joseph Krank
Massenberg Lynch
William Lister
Joseph Lancaster
Henry Luyster
Jacob Lamb
Edward Miller
Philip Mary
John Moser
Thomas B. McCarty
Emmil Marx
John McIntire
Richard McPeek
Christopher Mosier
Henry Mance
William McBane
Abel S. Newton
James M. Newland
John M. Patterson
Edward Rose
Robert Roland
George H. Rabes
George O. Reeder
Samuel Smith
Timothy Sheppard
Henry Smith
Moses Shoemaker
John Smith
Philip Thomas
James Thaxton
Isaac Taylor
Simon Vickers
William H. Williamson
Harmon W. Brown, volunteered
Evan McIntosh, volunteered
John W. Davidson, volunteered
Morrison Powers, volunteered
Zachariah Bucklew, volunteered
William McBain, volunteered
John Davidson, volunteered
Daniel Noble, volunteered
George Snift, volunteered
Albert Glenn, volunteered
George Hall, volunteered
The following have been discharged for disability:
L. C. Axe
Gideon H. Baker
Amos Brown
Thomas Baker
Zachariah Buckler
Thomas Coie
William T. Cameron
Oscar Cole
George W. Carnes
John Davidson
Henry Dorwart
John Davidson
Henry Downard
Reuben Ehrhart
David Kelley
Archibald McMullen
D. B. McLain
D. T. McIntosh
T. P. McKenzie
Daniel S. Noble
John F. Poorman
George Swift
Charles Spellman
Joseph Wagner
John W. Wilson
Joseph Wilson
Samuel W. Wright
George Withers
The following have died of disease:
Eli Butler, Crump’s Landing, Tenn., March 25th, 1862.
Jacob Hollinger, St. Louis, Mo., April 12th, 1862.
Benjamin Butler, camp Shiloh, Tenn., April 30th, 1862.
William Charters, camp Shiloh, Tenn., May 9th, 1862.
Robert Scott, Cincinnati, O., May 31st, 1862..
John H. Davidson, Paducah, Ky., April 18th, 1863.
George Gamble, Jackson, Tenn., June 28th, 1862.
Laughlin McIntosh, Vicksburg, August 24th, 1863.
James D. Willis, Boaufort [sic], S. C., January ___, 1865.
Henry Hampshire[, Pittsburg Landing, near Shiloh, May 22, 1862].
Hiram Wilson
Thomas B. McCarty.
Transferred to Invalid Corps.
George W. Chowder
Ezekial S. Drennan
Albert Glenn
Frank Lonsberry
Cummins C. Reddick
William Smith
John Hall.
Killed in Battle.
Andrew M. Roach, Champion Hills, May 16th, 1983.
John McIntosh, Champion Hills, May 16th, 1863.
Thomas C. Starr, Kenesaw Mountain, June 15th, 1864.
Daniel H. Watt, Atlanta, July 22d, 1864.
Andrew McPherson, promoted to Sergeant-Major.