Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1876-06-29
sketch. OF GoneraI Hayes.
Columbus Journal .


! in Delaware, Ohio, October 4, 1922 His
parents, Rutherford Hayes and Sophia
| Birchard, were natives of Nindham
county, Vermont, and emigrated to Ohio
| in 1877. His first American ancestor OF
the name of HAYES was George Hayes, a
| Seotchman, who settled in Windsor, Con-
necticut, about 1880, His mother was de-
gcended from John Birchard, who came
over with his fathers family from Eng
land in 1886, and became one OF the prln-
cipal proprietors and settlers of Norwich;
Connecticut. Three of his great grand
fathers, Daniel Austin, Israel Smith and
Elias Birchard, were members OF the
revolutionary army, the latter dying dur
ing his term of service.
/ In 1912 r. B. Hayes graduated at Ken
yon college with the first hOnOrs OF his
class, of which he was the youngest mem
Der, and during the same year he began
the study of law with Thomas Sparrow,
Esq, at Columbus. In 1845 he gradua-
ted at the Law School of Harvard Uni
versity, was admitted to the bar at Mari
eta, and began the practice of his pro-
fession at Fremont, Ohio, in partnership
with General Ralph P. Buckland. In
IS49 he removed to Cincinnati, and in
1852 was married to Lucy Ware Webb,
daughter of DIR. James Webb and Maria
Cook, of ChilIieothe. In 1856 he was
nominated for Judge of Common Pleas,
but declined the nomination. In 1858,
the Office of City Solicitor becoming va
cant by the death of Judge Hart, he was
unexpectedly elected by the City Council
to I'LL the vacancy, and in 1859 was re-
elected by the people for full term, run
ming over five hundred votes ahead of his
ticket. He held the office until the spring
Of 1851 diseharging its duties, as local
journal stated, SO as even to extort the
highest praise from his political antago-
nists.'' ~ 20
Atthis period Mr.. Hayes wasconsidered
one of the most brilliant young lawyers
at the Cincinnati bar. He distinguished
himself as counsel in several OF the most
notable fugitive slave cases of that day,
as well as in other cases, and was partlc-
ularly distinguished in the widely known
James Summers murder case, which was
taken to the Supreme Court. Thomas
Ewing, sr. pronounced Hayes's opening
the best first speech he had ever heard.
As early as 1856 Mr.. Hayes was named
in connection with Congressional honors,
but declined to allow the use of his name
in that connection successively in 1858,
1850 and 1862, although he could have re-
ceived the nomination each year.
When the rebellion broke out, Hayes,
an original Republican, attached himself
to the Union cause at once. At the first
war meeting in Cincinnati he wrote and
reported the resolutions which were
adopted, and which expressed the highest
determination to uphold the Government
He and Judge Mathews then raised two
regiments. The 23d Ohio went into ser
vice with w. S. Rosecrans as Colonel
Stanley Mathews as Lieutenant Colonel
and r. B. Hayes as Major. Rosecrans
was afterWard succeeded in the command
of the regiment by Colonel Scammon
The regiment arrived at Clarksburg, West
Virginia, ON the 9th of July, 1851, and
spent the remainder of the year in ardu-
! GUS campaigning under General Rose
Grams, upon whose staff Major Haye!
served faf q time as Judge Advocate. Al
the battle of Carpifax Ferry he was SEN
to threaten the rebel flank and rear
: which he did SO successfully as to mate
rally hasten the enemy's retreat. Major
Hayes, being promoted to Lteutenan
Colonel and assigned to the command o.
the 23d, secuted over a large circle O.
mountainous country during the ensuing
|. spring, at one time meeting with mar
row escape from death by an ambush o
: bushwhackers. In May, 1862, he made
brill --z5iszead successful dash on Prince
tons e-iS1a-,fles q. n. he was attaeked bA
a greatly superior force, but by With
: drawing his cayalary and artillery alter
q nately kept the enemy at bay. His skill
and GOODNESS ELECTED the cheers of hi
i. men, and engendered belief among tht
J enemy that reinfOrcements were coming
He received a severe confusion from
shell but remained on duty. 5fs
In August his regiment was ordered
to join the army of the Potomac, and OIL
the 18th of September, at the battle 0
rs South Mountain Immediately pPeeedini
& Antietafh1 the 2ad Under lieutenant Col
Hayes, was the first infantry engaged
The fight was hot, and in few minute
one hundred men and officers of the 80
were wounded and forty-eight killed.
Colonel Hayes had an arm broken an
lay upon the field disabled by the severit
of his wound; but mistaking fan
movement for retreat, he hurried agal
to the line of battle, and in spite of hi
wound eXerted himself in rallying an
f. encoura ging his men until carried to tn
oI rear overcome with pain and exhaustion
=" General Coz, in his report, made sneel
Hayes,
d, being promoted to Colonel of the 23
Of Col. Hayes was assigned to the commaT
of the division, and bore an lmportal
part in the campaigns of Rosecrans, M
. Clellan and Sheridan. Colonel Hayes e.
tered as Major of the 23d Ohio, and COZ
manded the first brigade over two year
leading it in numerous arduous expeo
tiOns in West Virginia.
In 1854, General Crooks forces, inclu
~ ing the brigade Of Col. Hayes, went {
x rectly to the Virginia and Tennesseera
N road. The march was one of extren
difficulties and hardships, On the 9th
May, Colonel Hayes made q vigorous
sault on O strong position on LIoy's mou
tain, and carried it. The enemy was /
inforced, and made a second and thi
attempt to beat back the assailants, losil
81 largely, and the struggle at this point w
desperate.
1t was the intention when this sket
was begun, to speak of General Haye
military career At length, but under pr
ent exigenOies' of time and space it is i
possible to do Justice to the mass of II
terial before us. His military serv
was active and effective, and charact
lied by a GOODNESS and gallantry that f
quent1y proved of great moment to
sss- cause. We pass over particulars and co
23tf to generalization.
Colonel Hayes was promoted to Bri
dier General 'ffor gallant and meritorit
services in the battles of Winchest
Fishers Hill and Cedar Creek" to tt
rank from October 10, 1864, and was /
veted Major General sSfor gallant and
tinguished services during the campa
of 1864 in West Virginia, and particul
ly in the battles of Fishers Hill and
dar Creek.'' Prior to these promOti
" he had commanded a Brigade as Cole
419 for over two years, and he was now c.
manding division. In the course of
,fe arduous service four horses had been
under him, and he had been Woun
four times. His advancement was nC
sought, and did not come until long a
it had been fully earned, OF his milf
M character one who served with hin
y nearly all is campaigns has write
follows: General Hayes was one OF
Union most gallant soldiers that ever
q and sword. More than four years servic
~ ~ .sel n the same command gave the writer
pie opportunity to know that no br
which or more dashing and enterprising
rocer mander gave his service to the Repl
rFE. than General Hayes. He was the id
O+tf. his command. No soldier ever dou
where he led.''
& Another, WHO was associated with
in the army, speaking of his mill
traits, says: "He proved himself