Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/144

 112 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS literary club formed a military company, of which he was elected captain, and this club subsequently furnished to the National army more than forty officers, of whom several became generals. On June 7 9 1861, the governor of Ohio appointed Mr. Hayes a major of the 23d regiment of Ohio volun teer infantry, and in July the regiment was ordered into West Virginia. On September 19, 1861, Maj. Hayes was appointed by Gen. Rosecrans judge advocate of the Department of Ohio, the duties of which office he performed for about two months. On October 24, 1861, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. On September 14, 1862, in the battle of South Mountain, he distinguished him self by gallant conduct in leading a charge, and in holding his position at the head of his men, after being severely wounded in his left arm, until he was carried from the field. His regiment lost nearly half its effective force in the action. On October 24, 1862, he was appointed colonel of the same regiment. He spent some time at his home while under medical treatment, and returned to the field as soon as his wound was healed. In July, 1863, while taking part in the opera tions of the National army in southwestern Vir ginia, Col. Hayes caused an expedition of two regi ments and a section of artillery, under his own com mand, to be despatched to Ohio for the purpose of checking the raid of the Confederate Gen. John