The National tribune., 1900-09-27

y
der the call of July 30. 1861. by Presi
dent Lincoln, for 100000 volunteers t.
serve for three years or during the war
The Counties of Henry, Fulton, Wood
Defiance. Paulding, Williams, Lucas ant
Sandusky furnished the men of this com
mand In an effort made, however. t.
recruit men for the 6Sth near the village
of Pioneer, Williams Co, our recruiting
officers got over the State line and cap
tured one Robert Masters. and through
him a number of men were enrolled from
HilIsdaIe CO., Mich.
About Oct. /, 1861, Ohio's War Gov
ernor, VIM. Dennison, appointed ). Ill
Steedman, of Napoleon, o., Colonel, ant
Il. Il. Scott. of the same place, Major
and authorized them to recruit regi
ment of infantry to be designated as the
6Sth Ohio, and to rendezvous at camI
to be established at Napoleon, Henry Co.
o. Meantime Gov. DenniSOn also author
lied the recruiting of the 5Ith Ohio, tC
rendezvous at Lima, the 9th at Toledo
and the I'D at Fremont Thus the north
western Counties of the State, IN the Fal
of 1861, became a field of the most en-
ergetic rivalry and competition between
the aforementioned regiments.
Enlisting went rapidly forward through
out the then sparsely settled Counties of
northwestern Ohio, large number hay
ing in view a Captain or Lieutenant S
commission as reward for their services
in enrolling men for their respective COM
panies.
Lieut-Col Steedman and Maj. Scott
returned home from Columbus, o., where
they had gone to tender their services
to Gov. Dennison, and threw themselves
into the work of organizing companies
for the 6Sth Ohio with enthusiasm and
energy. And so effective and successful
were they that on Nov. 81, 1861, the sew
eral companies of the GSth commenced
to rendezvous at Camp Latta, which
meantime had been established on the
Brubaker farm, about half mile from
the then little town of Napoleon.
CAMP LATTA.
Camp Latta was named in honor of
the Hon. A. Latta, of Paulding Co, O.,
who for a term of years had graced the
bench of the Common Pleas Court of that
District. He was stanch Union man
and a true friend to the soldier and his
family.
Camp Latta was model camp, pleas
antly located Oh high and dry ground on
the north bank of the beautiful Maumee
River. We were provided with COM
plete outfit of large Sibley tents for the
men, and roomy wall tents for the Off
GERS, each of which was furnished with
an abundant supply of clean straw by the
HelSnDOT1DR ldEttfS, anu together Will
the warm wooden blankets provided us by
our Uncle Samuel we were as warm and
comfortable as heart could wish.
During our sojourn i'll Camp Latta our
rations were provided us by local firm
of Napoleon, who served a contract from
the State to furnish the prescribed army
ration, which was issued to US by our
Quartermaster, James G. Haly.
Our rations were of the best and were
FIJI Sbad in abundance which
mented by numerous packages, boxes, etc.
that were almost daily brought to US.
made our soldier life in Camp Latta a
Teritable picnic most of the time.
Col Steedman and Lieut.-Col. Scott
were much of the time occupied in clos
ing up their business affairs, during which
time Maj. Shook assumed command, as
sisted by our young and enthusiastic AID
jutaft, WeIles.
The Major and Adjutant were noble
men and good disciplinarians, and at
once entered into a regular system OF
camp rules, frequent roll calls and daily
drill. Both officers and men entered upon
their respective duties with great enthu-
siasm, as they realized the Importance of
being well versed in military tactics and
thoroughly understanding their duties as
soldiers of the Republic.
A number of the company officers and
men were members of the 2lst and 18th
Ohio during the three months service, and
were of great assistance in teaching their
new, inexperienced comrades many points
in regard TO military tactics and camp
life.
The 6Sth was organized and the several
companies were assigned to their respect
i've positions, after the manner of the Reg
MAR Army, viz, Co. a was assigned to
the right of the lire and Go. L TO the
left. Co. was on the center, or, in mil
itary parlance, ''the color company" the
other companies taking their respective
positions each side of the cOlors.
All OF the companies were M TO the
required standard: and with no disparage
ment TO any other regiment raised in
northwestern Ohio, yet ] am sure none
of them surpassed the men of the 6Sth,
either physically, mentally or morally.
RANK AND FILE OF THE COMMAND.
The bulk of the men were sons Of the
hardy farmers of northwestern Ohio-men
incident to clearing off and making fertile
fields from the forest of that part of the
State; men who from their early boyhood
were accustomed TO the use OF the rifle
In pursuit of deer and turkeys that were
so plentiful in the large tracts of timber
surrounding their country homes. This
fact, no doubt, contributed largely to the
ing the years following 1861, and made
them the skillful sharpshooters on the
Vicksburg and Atlanta campaigns. While
but few of our regiment enjoyed the adj
yantaSes of a college education, yet they
were fairly well educated. They were
great readers, great letter writer's, and
men of intelligence and general informa-
ton, and were always ready to answer
the call for duty; strong, brave and pa
tient soldiers, equalled by few and ex-
celled by no organization with whom we
were ever associated.
ROUTINE OF CAMP LIFE
On the Dist day of November, 1861. we
commenced to rendezvous at Camp Latta.
How our memory fingers around and is
averse to leave the many pleasant scenes
OF JOY and recreation which cluster around
the cold Winter months of December and
January, lS61-'G2; how we reached Camp
Latta, after trip Of many miles, on a
cold December day of 1861, where we de-
voted portion Of our time in studying
the many strange faces surrounding us
the faces of the patriotic sons of north
western Ohio, who had cast their lot in
defense Of the old flag.
Our first night in camp, with pallet
OF straw for 81 bed and our boots for n
pillow, reminded as that the accommoda-
tons at Uncle Sans hotel We're some
what wanting, and did not compare at
all favorably with our former comforta-
bic bed under the homestead roof. How
ever, these facts made us feel quite sure