The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-31

By General R b. Hayes and Dedtca-
tory Prayer by Rev. samuel WOleOtt.
IL the winter of 1s62-'63, the officers and
men of the sd o. V. l., in view of the
many deaths in the regiment, resolved to
erect q monument TO the memory Of all
those who had fallen, or should fall, in the
national struggle, on which should be en-
graved all the names of their heroic dead.
Msior McIIrath was authorised by the
regiment 10 contract with competent parties
for the design and execution of an apprO-
pirate monument, which should stand
through countless generations, on the lot
in Woodland Cemetery generously donated
by the Cleveland City Council, and after
he left the regiment the responsibility was
devolved upon Major Harry Thompson.
Messrs. Meyer, Ubl 4 Co of this city,
we're engaged to do the work, and straight
way furnished the officers of the regl-
ment several designs, neither of which,
entire, was selected by them, but the pres
emit monument is an electicism from them
all.
This work of art was set up in the cemetery
five or six weeks since, and has been much
admired. It is made of the best Italian
marble, and stands about twenty feet high.
Its base is laid broad and sure, and the
looks as if il would never fail
off the earth unless its foundation should
be disturbed by volcanic forces. On the
solid sides, four-square, of the die, are en-
graved then names of those who have been
killed in action and died of wounds, acci-
dent or disease. On this immortal tablet
rests the age defying plinth, surmounted
by a plain but elegant shaft. On the
front face of the latter, in simple, unsmbi-
tious lettering, is cut: "23d Ohio.
Over the top of the shaft is flung the nation
al flag. The drspery is the finest part of
the work. It seems as if cut in snow, and
not in marble. No filter cap could have
been designed, than the semblance Of the
national colors falling IN graceful folds as a
pail over the names of the heroes who have
died in the defense of it and all of which it
is the symbol.
About two hundred and twenty-five
names have already been engraved on the
monument, and q number more are to be
dut. When the inscription is complete,
the monument may we'll stand the pride Of
] the survivors of the regiment, who have
honored themselvesin thus commemorating
the lives, virtues and heroic death of then
comrades, the patriotic reminder of all who
enter the beautiful cemetery it ornaments
and the sacred trust of the city which hon
ored itself in making place for THU
monumental tribute in its most halloWed
grounds.
The 23d o. v. V. I. having arrived here
on Friday last, embraced the first oppor-
tunity TO dedicate this work of art reared tC
the memory of their follen comrades. Or
Saturday morning the regiment marched
to Woodland Cemetery, accompanied by
the Mayor, a number of our citizens and
many personal friends of the 23d. The
regimental band surrounded the mOnu
ment, and while performing a dead march
the regiment marched into the grounds
and fled around the spacious lot. An i'm.
pressive prayer was offered by Rev. Ssmue
Wolcott, of Plymouth Church. When thu
band had played a lament for the dead
General II. B. Hayes, formerly Colonel o.
the regiment, delivered the following ad,
dress:
ADDRESS OF GEN. R. B. HAYES.
h TyeRtY-Third Regiment of ohibc
the United States more than four yesrs-iI
the language of their enlistment, "durinG
4 - LA- ----IN- IL
charged. Its members, eagerly preparing
TO go to their homes, have paused q few
brief moments to take part in such simple
cerem mics as circumstance s allow, in mem,
ory of the officers and soldiers of their Reg
iment who nave died that their country
might live.
The Tweuty-Third Regiment of Ohio
Volunteer Infantry was organized at Camp
| Chase, June 18th, 1861, with General Rose.
Grams as Colonel, to serve three years, OF
during the war. 1t was composed of COM
panies which had been previously organ.
lied under the first call of President Lin
coin. The county of Cuyahoga furnished
the larger Part of two companies, and the
counties of Ashtsbuls, Mahoning, Lake,
Lorain, Ashland, Holmes, Crawford and Lo-
gan, one company each. There were also
a few men in each of he companies from
vi COuhhAGbg hA0 ~ 70 PAoDADAO NANNA ooA
ly forty counties of Ohio were represented
in the regiment on its first organization.
Tho regiment contained nine hundred
and sixty-fve officers and men. During
1861 and 1862 about one hundred and fifty
recruits were added to the regiment, and
during the winter of 1864 about three
hundred and fifty more, q considerable
plumber from counties bordering on the
Ohio river, and q few of them from West
Virginia. In the fall of 1853 enough men
re enlisted as veterans to retain the organ
ization of the regiment after the expiration
of its original term of service, and on the
18th OF June, 1864, it was recognized at
Staunton, Virginia, under the name of the
23d Ohio Veteran Volunteers. During the
same month the original term of service of
the 18th Ohio Infantry expired, and the
veterans and recruits of that regiment were
soon after consolidated with those of the
23d.
The 18th Ohio Infantry was first organ
lied under President incoln's call for three
months volunteers, at Camp Dennison, on
the 10Th of April, 1851, and was composed
of companies from Clermont, Warren, High
land, Greene, and other counties in south
western Ohio. It was recognized in June,
1861, to serve for three years, nnder Col.
James W. Lowe, who afterwards fell ct the
battle of Carnifex. Its veterans and re-
cruits when united with the 23d, in July,
1854, formed three full companies. About
four hundred additional men have been
sent to the veteran regiment from different
parts of Ohio. The total number who have
belonged to the regiment since its o~rgsnisa-
ton, is about 1900, representing over fifty
counties of Ohio. There were also a few
men from the British Provinces, and from
West Virginia and other States. OF these,
there now return, as members of the regi-
ment, about 675 officers and men, and of
this number, one-third only belonged TO
the original 18th snd 23d regiments.
In the winter of 1923, after the severe
loss sustained in the campaigns of 1852, it
was resolved by the officers and men of the
regiment TO erect q monument in memory of
the fallen. 1t was felt that our comrades
who had laid down their lives, deserved a
more enduring memorial than the frail
boards of the battle field. As GUYS
hOga county had furnished more men to the
regiment than any other, q lot in Woodland
Cemetery, q gift from the City Council of
Cleveland, was selected as the spoton which
TO build. This monument has since been
and on it are engraved, it is
believed, the names of all of the officers
and men of the 23d regiment who have
while in service, either in battle,
or from accident, wounds or disease.
It seems peculiarly fit that the survivors
this four years of bloody conflict should
hold their last family meeting around the
of their fallen comrades. We
meet here to-day, our bosOms swelling with