Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-09-22
RETURN OF THE sEyENTY-sECOND.

A brief review of the history of the 72d may
not at this time be uninteresting.
Early in October, 1861, Ralph P. Buckland of
this place was appointed Lieutenant Colonel by
Governor Dennison, and authorized to recruit
regiment of volunteers for three years service
Heforthwth entered upon the work, and recruit
ing Lieutenants were appointed in various pOr-
tions of Sandusky county, and few in adjoin-
ing counties. The work proceeded quite salts
factorily. Lieut.. Col. Buckland was soon ap-
pointed Colonel. Herman Garfield, of Medina
county, was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, and
Leroy Crockett of Green Springs, then Lieu
tenant in the 1st U. s. Ohasseurs at Washington,
Major. In January, 1862, the regiment, then
numbering about 900 men, was ordered to Camp
Chase. Then one company which had been re-
cruited for the SD Ohio was added to the I'D
and the regiment organized for immediate field
service.
The regiment then numbered about l 900 men.
Its staff organization was r. Q. NJ. Dan. M.
Harkness, of Bellevue, Adjutant E. A. Rawson,
of Fremont, Surgeon John B. Rice, of Fremont,
and Surgeon VIM. Kaull, of Tifin, Chaplain A.
B. Poe, of Fostoria. The companies Were COM
manded as follows: "a" Capt. G. G. Eaton,
Clyde. 3d." Capt. Geo. Raymond, Fremont
&C." Capt. Sam. Snyder, do. 3D." Capt An
drew Nuhfer, Woodville. "E," Capt. John Il.
Blinn, Woodville. "F," Capt. Leroy Moore,
Ballville "G," Capt. James Fernald, Erie Co.
@H," Capt. M. Wegstein, Fremont. 81" Capt.
Jacob Fickes, Scott, and Co. "K, - Capt. T. M.
Thompson, Cincinnati. About the 20th of Feb
ruary, 1862, the 72d left Camp Chase for Padu-
cab, when Col. Buckland reported to General
Sherman and the regiment became part of Gen.
Sherman's Division. Col. B. was placed in
command of Brigade and in few days we
went up the Tennessee river, on transports, as
far as Eastport, Miss, when the high water pre-
vented landing. The Division therefore drop
ped down to Pttsburg Landing where it debark-
ed and went into Camp at Shiloh Church, about
% miles from Corinth.
The first blood of the battle of Shiloh was
shed by the 72d. On Friday, April 4th, two
companies B, and H, sent forward to reconnotre,
met the advance of the enemy and engaged in a
very severe skirmisb, losing nine men wounded.
Major Crockett and two or three men were made
prisoners.
Sherman's Division csmped in the advance and
were, therefore, first engaged in the battle of
April 9th. The good conduct of the 72d Ohio
in that conflict is attested by the loss about 100
officers and men killed and wounded General
Sherman, and Col Buckland, and every officer
who saw the regiment in the battle of Shiloh
spoke of its conduct in the highest TERMS
Among the killed in this action were Lieut.. Col.
Garfield and Capt Wegstein. In the siege of
Corinth the I'D took appointment part, and after
the evacuation moved with Gen. Sherman to
At Memphis, Fort Pickering attests its labors.
Nov. 25, 1862, the regiment left Memphis with
Gen. Sherman, being then in the Ist Brigade,
Sd Division of his command, and participated
in Gen. Grants advance into North Mississippi
against Gen. Pemberton. When Grant turned
back the I'D marched to Corinth via. Bolivar,
Miss, where it arrived Jan. 9th, 1863 and was
paid off, for the first time within six months
The boys had been completely strapped" for
fully four months This and the succeeding
spring, formed the gloomy period of our soldier
life. We seemed to be gaining nothing. The
ranks of our regiment had been reduced to about
$50 men present.
In January, we moved back to near Memphis
and were part of the 10Th A. c.. under General
Hurlburt, John E. Smith, of Illinois, command
ed the Division. In March the Division was Or
dered to report to Major General MCPHERSON at
Lake Providence, La, and soon after reaching
Vicksburg, and reported to Gen. Sherman again,
as part of the 18th A. c., Col. Buckland was
made Brigadier General during the winter, and
still continued to command our Brigade.
In all the movements about and against Vicks-
burg, and in the siege and reduction of that
place, the I'D had its full show, and maintained
the good reputation it had won. Until near the
close of this campaign the regiment was COM
manded by Lieut.. Col. Crockett, G. G. Eaton
being Major. On its way to the siege of Vicks-
burg Colonel Crockett was stricken with sick
ness from which he never recovered. When
Joe. Johnston was expected to attempt to raise
the siege, and Sherman was sent to Big Black
to "look out" for him, he chose the I'D as his
"best regiment" to picket his front. After par.
ticipating in the siege of jackson and battle o
Brandon, we returned to Big Black, for season
of rest. During the autumn the regiment en-.
gagged in several raids and skirmishes, and il
November, 1863, moved to Memphis and wal
stationed on the Memphis d Charleston r. R.
at Germantown, when, in December 235 of it
Misunderstanding more than ee-fourths, re-en.
listed as veterans. Jan. 2 1864, the regiment wa.
mustered as veteran organization. After &
march of 200 miles in raid to the Tallahatchie
river, it was ordered home on veteran furlough
and reached Fremont Feb. %, 1864. In Jan
Gen. Buckland, much to the regret of his entire
command. was taken from his Brigade and as
signed to the command of the District of Mem
phis. G. G.. Eaton had become Lieut.. Colonel
and E. A. Rawson Major.
Returning from veteran furlough, where the
regiment added about 100 new recruits, it aidec
| to defend Paducah against Gen. Forrest Ate
returning to Memphis the regiment was con
tinually engaged in scouting and raiding Ii
June came the disastrous Sturgis, Guntown sffai
in which II officers and 235 enlisted men of tn,
I'D were left captives in the hands of Forrest
guerrillas, all by the mismanagement incompe
tency and cowardice of Gen. S. D. Sturgis. Ii
July, 1864, the regiment was in fighting Joe
Mowers division, and under A. J. Smith, par
ticipated on the 18th, 18th and 18th, in whip
ping Forrest, killing and wounding 1900 of hi
men. On the 18th Major Rawson was MORTAL,
wounded, and died few days after. In thi
engagement the 72d with only about lbs los
one-tenth Gifts number. After going with A
J. Smith to Oxford in August the regimen
started Sept. I'd with Gen. Mower, to cut Pric
out of Missouri moving by steamboats, to Du
wallis Bluff, Ark, and thence marching to Cap