Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/354

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��HISTOHY OF EICHLAN^D COUNTY.

��All these men were favorably noticed in the local papers, which evidenced commendable pride in the brigade abont to be raised. In the semi- weekl}^ Herald of October 12, a call for blank- ets is issued by Gen. M. C. Meigs, Quartermaster (leneral of the United States. Immediately underneath his call, Quartermaster Brinkerhoff publishes a notice that he will receive Ijlankets for the use of the soldiers in Camp Bucking- ham, for which " the usual Government prices will be paid."

The same paper of October 19 states that "Maj. R. S. Granger, of the Eighth United States Infantry, has arrived here to take charge of the force now being raised by Hon. John Sher- man. He is a distinguished officer," continues the same paper, '' of thorough military attain- ments and tried courage." Capt. Granger was a true military officer, an excellent and dignified gentleman, a graduate of West Point, and had seen about twenty-five years of military life. He had been released b}' the rebels on parole, when captured at his post in San Antonio, Tex., and was in consequence disqualified from active service. He immediately put the camp in or- der and began a thorough drill of the men, as fast as they were recruited. He was greatl}^ admired by them and remained here until the brigade left for the field. He was afterward exchanged and again entered the army, emerg- ing at the close of the war as a Major General of volunteers, a rank deservedly earned.

The Herald of October 23 gives considerably in detail the existence of afl^airs at that date in Camp Buckingham. Its local columns state that recruiting is going on rapidly in the bri- gade ; that " up to last Saturday night about nine hundred men have been sworn in," and 'Hhat by the close of the present week, the first regiment of the brigade will be full." The same issue states that " Capt. McUvain's corn- pan}" is now so near full that it will have its complement in two or three days." iVlso that " there are now in the camp parts of three or

��four companies," among which it mentions Capt. McUvain's company, and adds " that an artillery company from Akron is here, com- posed of thirty-five fine-looking men." " There are also fragments from Mount Vernon and Canton," says the paper.

" Capt. Andrews' compan}', from Lexington, was expected to go into camp yesterday ; Capt. Finfrock's, of Van AVert, and Capt. Cunning- ham's, of Knox, will be here to-day or to- morrow. Capt. Brown, of Marion, and Capt. Gass, of this city, will also go into camp this week.

• " Capt. Austin is succeeding well in the north- ern part of the county and in Huron, as is also Lieut. Sarr, of Crestline. These com- panies will be complete at an early day."

Speaking of the cavalry, the paper continues :

" Maj. McLaughlin's squadron of cavalry is now read}' for camping. It is comprised of one company from Mansfield, Capt. McFall, and one from Lima, Capt Buekmaster."

Referring to Maj. Granger and the progress of recruiting, the Herald continues :

" Maj. Granger, . who superintends Camp Buckingham, informs us that he never saw recruiting progress more rapidly than it does for the Sherman Brigade. The ^lajor has seen considerable recruiting, both in the volunteer and regular service, and his testimon}' is worth much."

The same paper gives the order of " daily exercises at the camp," and refers to the excel- lent discipline maintained b}' Maj. Granger, and the prompt efflcienc}' of Quartermaster Brinkerhofl". Advertisements for straw and wood appear in the paper, while JNIr. Blair Lord, as Adjutant of the Sixty-fourth, notifies the soldiers and citizens how they may obtain egress and ingress to the camp. Though no sick are reported, the paper says : " Surgeon Henr}- 0. Mack has commenced his duties," though it does not state what those duties were.

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