Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-03

The Death of Colonel Wm. R. CreiGhtsn

OF war bringing daily 20 our ears and Vislol
tales of blood and scenes of suffering,
would be strange if we did not become re
gaFdless of the WoefuI and heart sieksninl
pictures that are continually presenting
themselves on every side-skeletons of men
worn down by disease and hardship; msr
maimed and crippled, and doomed to draG
out a burdenSOme and weary life youth
but yesterday glad and joyous, standing upOr
the threshold of an untimely grave; widows
and orphans left to struggle with penury in q
merciIsss World-all these are scenes so COM
mon that We hear of and look upon them as
carslessly as we do Of the most ordinary
events that characterize our existence. Il
may be we'll that we are thus ordained, for
to be in full sympathy with all this misery
and distress would be to give ourselves up to
unceasing and bitter grief to draw cloud
of despair about US through whose dark
folds no ray of sunlight might Penst-atO to
lit the shadows from our hearts.
There are times, however, whom the dullsst
are awakened from their Iethargy to sense
Of bereavement. Such time is now upon
this community. Two veteran soldiers, the
commanders of our sons and brothers, have
passed from earth in obedience to the dread
mandate of battle. We had watched them
sdmiriDgIy from the moment they first grid
ed on their swords in the cause of their cOur-
try, and had learned to love them as men,
soldiers and patriots, Most worthy were
they Of our love. Young, enthusiastic and
fully susceptible of the appeals Of patriot
ism. the sound Of the first drum called them
from their respective avOcatiOns Zone prin-
ter, the other a ship-earpenter) to the duty
Of arousing their fellow men to meet the
threatening storm. They threw their whole
energies into this work, and in few short
days had associated with them a band of
young men who upon many fields have since
proved themselves worthy Of their leaders,
aud butfew Of whom have not found graves
in the soil they sought to reclaim from trss-
son.
The soldierly qualities and attainments of
Colonel Creighton obtained for him the
Captaincy Of the company be had thus raised,
upon its organization, and Lieutenant Col
onel Crane was made First Lieutenant.
Within two weeks after the roll was formed
this company was in Camp Taylor, and had
become United States soldiers under the
three months call. Under the careful tu-
ition of their Captain the company made
rapid progress in the art of the soldier, and
soon became the most remarked in the camp.
Upon the formation of regiments it was as
signed to the 7th, and was made Company A
Of that regiment. The election for regimen
tai officers resulted in the choice of Creighton
for Lieutenant Colonel, as the unsolicited
and unexpected voice Of the command. Crane
then became Captain of company A. The 9Th
was ordered to Camp DennisOn, and after
being tbeze some six weeks, the first order
for three years troops was issued. Seven
hundred of the regiment at once enrolled
themselves under that call, and in few
weeks thereafter we're ordered into Western
The history of the gallant regi-
nent from this time on is as familiar as the
alphabet to our readers. In their frst meet
ing with the enemy, at Cross Lanes, where
they were assaiIed by OverpOWeIing numbers,
the GOODNESS and gallantrY of the subjects of
this sketch were conspicuous. Passing over
q number Of skirmisAes, we next find the |
regiment at Winchester, Colonel Creighton
being in command, Colonel Tyler command
ing e brigade. Here these officers again
gave evidence of their gallantry and sol
iierly qualities. Early in the fght Col
oneI Creighton's horse was shot under
his men to the charge upon the stone
wall, amid storm Of iron hail, completely |
routing the enemy. The next battle of any
significance was at Port Republic, Creighton
having command of the regiment, Colonel
Tyler having been promoted to Brigadier-
General. Hero, again, the regiment and its |
oficsrs fully maintained thoir honorable rec
ord. Immediately after this battle the 7th |
was ordered to Alexandria, and upon the or
zanization of the Army Of Virginia under |
Pope, was placed in Geary's Division, in
which it has ever since remained. During |
this time Crane was promoted to the Majority. |
The 9Th moved with the Army of Virginia,
and was in the first battle fought by that
srmy, at Cedar Mountain. This Gght was
opened by Geary's Division, which occupied |
The extreme right of Banks Corps, the 7th |
being upon the right of the Division. Here
Colonel Creighton again had his horse shot |
lnder him and he himself received danger
ous wound, which was long considered fatal,
put walked of the field, keeping his face to the
foe. Two days after the battle he arrived |
in Washington, the regiment in the mean
time sharing the fortunes, or more properly, |
of the Army of Virginia, pOr-
lion of tho time under the command of Ma
Or Crane.
Remaining in Washington few weeks in
order to gain sufficient strength to travel,
Colonel Creighton obtained leave of ab-
lsnee and came to his home in this city.
While here he did net permit his time to lie
idle upon his hands, but worked hard to add |
TO the roll Of his regiment, and did much to
that end. In the meantime Pope had been
relieved by Mcclellan, and the army having
been recognized to repsl the invasion of |
and Pennsylvania by Lee, the 7th |
vas again on the march toward the enemy.
At the battle of South Mountain it was in
The reserve force, under command of Major |
Crane, but took no part in the conflict. At
The terrific battle of Antietam, how
over, it bore an active part, losing |
heavily, but standing firmly and unAinch-
ingly at its post, Major Crane was
hero in command, and had his horse shot |