Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-06-30
Rutherford Birchard Hayes.

Rutherford Birchard Hayes is of Scotch
ancestry on his fathers side, and of En-
glish ancestry on his mothers side. His
parents were natives of Vermont, whence
they emigrated to Ohio in 1917. Mr..
Hayes was born at Delaware, In that
State, on the 4th of October, 1922. After
careful preparatory course he was grad
uated from Kenyon College, at Gambler,
Ohio, in 1912, at the head of his class, al
though he was its youngest member He
at once began the study of law, and was
graduated from the Harvard Law School
in 1915.
He began practice at Fremont, Ohio,
but removed TO Cincinnati in 1S49. His
reputation as lawyer was soon estab-
lished, and he was employed in some of
the most noted cases ever tried there. His
personal popularity, too, was great, and
in 1856 he was nominated for Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas in Cincinnati,
but he declined the nomination. In 1856
the Common Council of that city elected
him to fill vacancy in the Office of
City Solicitor, and three years later he
was reelected to the office by the people,
running ahead of his ticket. This Office
he held until 1861 TO the satisfaction of
men of both parties.
cess as a lawyer and rs a public man as
sured, and his local influence, especially
among the young men, was very great.
His position on the great question of the
day was not equivocal. "Disunion and
civil war" he wrote in January, 1861,
" are at hand and yet | fear disuniOn
and war less than compromise. We can
recover from them. The free States alone,
1t we must go on alone, will make glo-
rious nation. | do not feel gloomy when
| look forward. The reality is less fright
ful than the apprehension which we have
all had these many years. Let us De tenn
Perate, calm and just, but firm and reso-
Lutte"
lie entered the army as Major of the
Twenty third Ohio Infantry, of which w.
). Rosecrans, afterward Maior.G General,
was Colonel. The regiment was sent to
Clarksburg, W. Va, in July, 1861, and
was at once put in active service. HAYES
served as Judge Advocate on Gen. Rose
Grams staff, and in November, 1861, was
made Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.
He won reputation for dash and bravery
in several minor encounters, and when his
command was attacked at Giles Court
House on the 10th of May, 1869, he was
wounded by shell.
In the following August his regiment
was attached to the Army of the Potomac,
and arrived in Maryland just in time to
participate in the battle of South Noun
tain. His regiment, of which he had
command, led in the attack, and forty
eight OF the men and officers out of the
three hundred and ten engaged we're soon
Killed, while one hundred more were
wounded. Hayes had an arm. broken
DraUinno 10 fhiu haftIo 4
appointed Colonel of the Seventy ninth
Ohio Infantry, but was unwilling to leave
his regiment in front of the enemy. His
wound prevented his joining the new
command after the battle, and in October
he was appointed Colonel of the Twenty
third regiment, and in the following De-
cember was put in command of the Kama
wha division, and ordered back to West
Virginia. This division was a noted one,
and II did valiant service under the COM
mand of Gen. ROsecrans, j. ID. Cox and
Crock. In 1854, Hayes command took
part in the battles of Winchester, Fishers
Hill and Cedar Creek. Hayes was al
ways at the front, brave almost to rash
ness, and his popularity among his men
was unbounded. At Winchester his
horse was shot under him. 1t was while
he lay wounded at Winchester that Sheri.
dan made his famous ride. This Gen.
Comfy, who then commanded the Twen-
ty-third Ohio, of Hayes division, has
thus described:
Gen. Crook lay couple of rods away from tho
line, In place which seemed TO be more partic-
ularly exposed than any other part of the line.
Col. Hayes lay close by, badly bruised from his
fall aud bitterly complaining because his troops
did not charge the enemy's line, instead OF walt
ing To be charged. Suddenly there Is q dust In
the rear on the Winchester pike, and almost be-
Tore they are aware young man, In full Major
Generals uniform and riding furionslya magnid-
Irins up and springs on at Gen. Crooks side
There Is perfect roar as everybody recognizes
sheridan. lie talks with Crook little while
cutting away at the tops OF the weeds with his
ridti g-whip. Gen. Crook speaks o half dozen
sentences that sound great deal like the crack
0l whip, ana by that TIME some Of the staa are
np, They are sent hyiug IN different directions
Sheridan and Crook He down and seem TO be