and Brigadier-General Volunteers. Formerly
Adjutant-General of Ohio.
The movements of this regiment show a service which was distinctly national in character. On May 29, 1861, a part of the command moved into Virginia.
On the 30th of May, 1861, the remaining portion of the command went by boat to Benwood and thence to Grafton, Va., from which time until the date of their muster out they actively participated in the campaign in western Virginia.
The command of the troops, after they left Marietta, Ohio, and embarked for Virginia, passed completely from the officers of the State of Ohio to the Federal officers. In May, 1861, General McClellan sent an officer of the United States Army Engineers to inspect the regiment “with a view to its being ready for service at a moment’s notice” for service with the United States. And the evidence shows that the Federal officer found the regiment in excellent condition as respects drill, discipline, and soldierly bearing. Clothing and camp equipage were also furnished to the regiment by the United States.
On May 26, 1861, Colonel Barnett, commander of the regiment, received from General McClellan the following telegram from Cincinnati: “Expedite the mounting of your batteries and report to me when ready for service.” On May 27 General McClellan wired Colonel Barnett: “Upon requisition of Colonel Steadman you will supply him with a detachment of two guns, with proper officers and men.”
On May 29, 1861, Batteries D and F of the regiment left Marietta, Ohio, for Parkersburg, Va., with orders to report to Colonel Steadman, Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which were serving under Federal authority. They performed important service under such orders, and were engaged in the battle of Philippi. On May 30, 1861, four companies of the regiment, with Colonel Barnett, proceeded by boat to Benwood, and received orders to proceed to Grafton. They proceeded thence to Grafton, but too late to take part in the engagement. July 6, 1861, the regiment was ordered to Belington, where it was engaged with the enemy. On July 12 the First Ohio Artillery opened fire upon the enemy at Carrick’s Ford with excellent effect.
The record clearly shows that the Ohio Light Artillery regiment was taken into Virginia under authority of and for service with the United States Government. Such was the understanding of the soldiers and of the Federal officers under whom they served, and the character of their service was distinctly national.
The regiment was not called into the service of the State of Ohio alone, but of other States. Every State is an integral part of the Union which the Federal Government is, under the Constitution, bound to protect against invasion. The evidence shows that the regiment was employed in general service with and as a part of the Federal forces, under orders from the Federal Government, and in the execution of a duty which was distinctly national in character. The regiment not only protected Ohio but also Virginia from the attacks of the enemy, and stayed the advance of the enemy. “It rendered United States service under United States officers in brigade with regularly mustered United States troops.”
And when the term of three months’ enlistment expired, the regiment, which had been “serving in Virginia,” was, by order of the War Department dated July 27, 1861, sent back to Ohio, to be there mustered out of the service of the United States. And the same order directed that any of such troops or soldiers as should be tendered should be mustered into the service of the United States for three years’ service. Owing, no doubt to an oversight, or to ignorance of the fact that the regiment had been actually in the service of the United States, the regiment was mustered out as an organization of the State of Ohio.