Col. James Barnett:
Can you bring your command here to-night instead of waiting till tomorrow? If so, come armed.
William Dennison, Governor.
It was found impracticable to assemble the regiment on Sunday in time to get away on that day. The governor was informed by telegraph that it would leave early Monday morning. The two outside companies responded promptly, and at noon of Monday the regiment left Cleveland for Columbus, at which place it was ordered to Marietta via Loveland. Marietta was reached next morning, when it went into camp on the fair ground placing the guns in position to guard the city against any invasion of the enemy.
About the middle of May General McClellan sent Captain O. M. Poe, of the U. S. A. Engineers, to inspect the regiment, with a view to its being ready for service at a moment’s notice. He was greatly pleased with the command and the drill, discipline and soldierly bearing of its members. A few days later clothing and camp equipage were received, all of which were heartily welcomed. Colonel Barnett also received a telegram from Columbus to purchase seventy-six horses for his battery upon the best terms possible; ten thousand dollars having been placed by the State authorities in a Marietta bank to the credit of Colonel Barnett, out of which the horses were to be paid for.
On May 26, 1861, Colonel Barnett received the following telegram from General McClellan at Cincinnati: “Expedite the mounting of your batteries and report to me when ready for service.” Within two days the required number of horses were purchased and all hands were busy breaking them into their new sphere of usefulness and arranging to move on a moment’s notice. The artillery was re-enforced by the arrival of the 14th O. V. I. on the 24th day of May and the 18th O. V. I. on the next day; the 14th being armed and equipped.
On May 27 General McClellan sent the following dispatch to Colonel Barnett: “Upon the requisition of Colonel Steadman, you will supply him with a detachment of two guns, with the proper officers and men.”
On May 29, 1861, Batteries D and F, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Sturges, left Camp Putnam, Marietta, by boat, for Parkersburg, W. Va., with orders to report to Colonel Steadman, 14th O. V. I. They moved rapidly along the line of the B. & O. Railroad, repairing bridges destroyed by the enemy, so that on May 31st they had arrived at Clarksburg, eighty miles east of Parkersburg. The rebels retreated from Clarksburg to Philippi. From Clarksburg they moved to Webster, and after a tedious night march arrived before Philippi at 4 a. m., making short work of the rebel force. The roar of the artillery frightened them so that they fled in dismay, heedless of their officers, leaving large quantities of supplies and war materials behind them. (This was the first Light artillery fired by the national forces in the war of the rebellion. In this engagement only a few men were wounded.)
On May 30, 1861, the four companies at Camp Putnam with Colonel Barnett moved by boat to Benwood, reporting to General Morris, who ordered Colonel Barnett to proceed to Grafton, and from there marched to Philippi, arriving too late to take part in that engagement. During June the headquarters of the 1st Regiment Light Artillery was at Philippi. The companies, however, were scattered; some with their guns did duty as bridge guards.
July 6th orders were received by General Morris to advance early the following day, occupy Belington, and menace the enemy, who were holding a strong position at Laurel Hill. At daylight the skirmishers struck the rebel pickets near Belington. The artillery was ordered to the front and shelled the enemy’s outposts with demoralizing effect. It was in this skirmish that the artillery suffered its first casualty—George W. Tillotson, of Company D, was wounded in the groin by a musket ball, from the effect of which he died a few years later.