Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-06-08
THE LATE COZ. DAYTON.
An Old Comradc Talks OF His
Military Career.


Kansas city Journal. of May nth.
Judge III G. McDougal, Of thi,
city. was Tor many years frienc
of the late Colonel III. Dayton
and in speaking yesterday of hi,
life, particularly that portion of il
spent in the army, said:
As life long friend and an old
army comradc of the late Colone
James Hanson Hayton, want to
say few words, particularly, OF III,
military career OF this good man
who, as husband, father, friend, citi.
zen. oomrade and soldier, was held
in highest esteem 10y those who
knew him best.
lie was born in Hampshire coun.
ty, Va, December IS, IS3s; was 3
passenger conductor on the Balti
more n Ohio railroad, and the cap.
tain of the 'Romney guards long
before the war, and was married tc
Miss Mary +. Dunn, of Mounds.
vile, Va, May 4, 1880, by whom
he had two children, Virginia. wife
of L. i. Moores, Of this city. and
Addic, wife Of William MCGUIRE
Of Portland, Ore, all of whom sur.
vive him. When Sumpter was
fired upon, he was a merchant AT
New Creek (now Keyser), in hi.
native county, on the north branch
ofthe Potomac. His life and prop
erty being endangered on account
OF his outspoken and courageou.
Union sentiments, he secretly gath
cred q company of about forty men
and determined with them to reach
the Union forces then coming into
Virginia west Of the Allcghenies
His thorough knowledge Of rail.
roading and of the country through
which they were to pass, enabled
him TO transport his men by rail ia
within few miles of Grafton. al
which point General Potterfield
was in command Of a large body OIL
Confederate recruits. Disembark
ing, he made dctour around the
Confederates, through the mount
aims, and again struck the railroad
west Of Grafton, where he secrcted
his men in a closed box car, rar
them in safety through scvera
towns in possession OF the enemy
and joined General Kelley's Union
forces at Burnt Bridges Thi,
was in May, 1901. One Of his men
and think it was Colonel Mil
Stewart, who has been department
commander Of the g. a. r., oi
Kansas, told the story Of this dan.
gerous enterprise in verses, which
were set TO music and sung by the
loyalists Of Of Virginia west Of the
mountains. The chorus closed with
Three cheers for Captain Dayton
And nine FOR Liberty
As ! now remember il, Colonel
Dayton's was an independent com.
pany until the organization Of the
Fourth Virginia volunteer irfantry
(Union) in the summer Of 1861. al
which time il was attached TO thai
regiment as Company X. Once in
a fighting regiment his splendid
courage and clear head had ampl,
scope, and upon these alone he ran
idly rose 10 the rank Of Colonel
commanding his regiment unit
mustered out, modestly declining
further promotion With his reQi.
ment be participated in the skirmish.
e. and battles Of the Kanawha cam.
paign Of 1862, when they were SEM
South 10 join the Army Of Tennes.
see, arriving az Young's Point. Is.
in January, 1903, and being at once
assigned 70 duty in the Fifteenth
corps, commanded by Gen. Sher.
man. The regiment assisted IN
constructing the canal near Vicks.
burg; IN Apdl participated in a.,
excursions up Sieelcs and Black
Bayous, Miss, and the feint or
Haine's Bluff, under Sherman
thence to Grand Gulf. where tbes
arrived IN time to and did partici.
pate IN the assault on the Confcder.
ate works az Vicksburg, on Nav
70. In this desperate assault Col
Dayton led his men, 100 strong. and
within ten minutes after the orde,
TO charge was given. ~ of the old
Fourth lay wounded, dying and
dead upon the field. They were I'M
through the siege Of Vicksburg
aud entered that city at its surrcn.
der on July 3, 1868. only 70 receive
orders 70 march az once under Sher
man arrDf.ma