July 12th the rebels retreated from Belington and Laurel Hill, being pursued by the Union forces to Carrick’s Ford, where the 1st Artillery opened fire on the enemy (who were holding a position on a high bank on the opposite side of the river) with excellent effect. The enemy fled once more in dismay. The rebel general Robert S. Garnett was killed in this battle. A fine rifled piece was captured and presented to the artillery, and this trophy is now in the public square in the city of Cleveland.
Its term of service having expired, the regiment moved back to Belington, and remained there until ordered to Columbus to be mustered out. Up to this time, like the nine regiments of infantry, it was serving as a State organization, and while all other Ohio three-months troops were mustered out by United States officers and recognized as United States troops, this regiment, for some reason, was mustered out by a member of the governor’s staff and is recognized by the War Department as only a State organization. The following letter, however, will show that it was the intention of the General Government to place this regiment of artillery on the same footing as other Ohio organizations that did service at the same time in West Virginia.
War Department, Adjutant-General’s Office,
Washington, July 27, 1861.
Sir: The nine regiments of Ohio State troops and Colonel Barnett’s artillery of six guns and one hundred and twenty men, which have been serving in West Virginia, will be sent back to Ohio, to be there mustered out of the service. They, or such of them as may be presented by you, will there be accepted and mustered into the United States service for three years as regiments, companies of cavalry, and batteries of artillery. The two sections of artillery from Ohio (other than Barnett’s Battery) and the two companies of cavalry from the State, all of which have been serving in Virginia, will also be sent home at the expiration of their three months’ service, to be there mustered out. They, or such of them as may be presented by you, will then be accepted as specified for three years, and will be mustered into the service of the United States for that period. The same will be done in regard to the battery of artillery and the two companies of cavalry at Camp Chase.
In short, all three-months men are to be sent home to be mustered out of the service. They, or such of them as may be presented by you, will there be accepted for three years and sworn into the service for that period as regiments, companies of cavalry, and batteries of artillery.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. Thomas, Adjutant-General.
His Excellency Governor Dennison, Columbus, Ohio.
This regiment was mustered out at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, July 27, 1861, by George S. Mygatt, aid-de-camp to governor of Ohio, mustering officer.