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Groveport and The Civil War
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - June 03, 2009)
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| Messenger photo by Rick Palsgrove |
| This bugle is one of several Civil War artifacts on display in Groveport Town Hall. |
He built and repaired canal boats in Groveport and his dry dock/boatyard was considered one of the most successful such operations south of the Licking Summit in the mid-19th century.
But, in 1861 when the drums of war sounded, Jonathan Watson stepped away from his Groveport boatyard and marched off with the Union army to fight in the Civil War.
He didn't make it back home.
Lt. Jonathan Watson was first wounded when shot in the nose at Chickamauga in September 1863 and later was killed when shot in the eye at Kennesaw Mountain in 1864. He was described as a "good soldier."
Watson was one of more than 100 Groveport residents, and nearby Madison Township farmers, who fought in the Civil War. A significant number when it is noted the population of Groveport in 1860 was 541.
Many of the surnames of those from the Groveport area who served in the Civil War are familiar to us today - Hamler, Dildine, Stevenson, Miller, Sharp, Barnhart...as well as my great-great grandfather Tillman Palsgrove.
Around a dozen Groveport men serving in the Civil War died in action in places like Chattanooga, Tennessee; Rasacco, Georgia; Snake Creek, Georgia; Shiloh in Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; Chickamauga in Georgia; Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia; Lookout Mountain and other battlefields. Most of these men were not returned home for burial in Groveport, but were buried in battlefield cemeteries.
This roughly 10 percent casualty rate of local men mirrored that of the entire state of Ohio, which provided 350,000 soldiers to the war effort with 35,000 of them perishing during the conflict. This is an extremely high casualty percentage compared to deaths in the nation's other wars.
Groveport remembers The Civil War
In recognition of this history, Groveport will host several Civil War activities and events in June including a month long exhibit of Civil War artifacts and memorabilia in the art gallery of Groveport Town Hall, 648 Main St. Other Civil War activities include:
•June 9 - Just for Kids: board games and toys from the Civil War era at 7 p.m. at Groveport Town Hall. Free.
•June 10 - Lecture by a Civil War doctor; a re-enactor will describe surgeries and medical care at 7 p.m. at Groveport Town Hall. Free.
•June 18 - Learn about military graves in the Groveport Cemetery at 7 p.m. There are nearly three dozen graves of Civil War veterans in the Groveport Cemetery, including J.A. Bigelow and George Bigelow, whose family operated the hardware store in town; and Edward Cunningham, who is believed to have died during the war and whose body was returned for burial in Groveport. Most of the Civil War veterans' graves in the cemetery are marked with simple, white soldier's tombstones.
•June 19-21 - Civil War encampment: See how Civil War soldiers set up their camps at Heritage Park, 551 Wirt Road.
•June 20 - Just for Kids: Kids can get a Father's Day photo with a Civil War re-enactor and then create a refrigerator magnet at Groveport Town Hall at 10 a.m. Cost is $2 for residents and $3 for non-residents.
•June 30 - Meet Governor Dennison: Hear a free lecture by a Civil War re-enactor portraying Ohio's Governor Dennison, who was governor during the Civil War at 7 p.m. at Groveport Town Hall. Sponsored by the Groveport Heritage Society.
For information call (614) 836-3333.
Ohio and The Civil War
•Ohio provided the third largest number of soldiers for the northern Union Army, behind only the more populous states of New York and Pennsylvania. In proportion to overall state population, Ohio's contribution of around 350,000 soldiers ranked first. (The Midwestern states of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois provided more than a fourth of all the Union soldiers.) It's estimated 630,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, America's costliest war in terms of human life lost.
•Ohioans provided significant military leaders: Gen. Ulysses Grant, Gen. William Sherman, Gen. Philip Sheridan.
•Ohioans served primarily in the western theaters of the Civil War, which was virtually won in the west by Union Army victories there with Midwestern troops while the eastern Union Army struggled.
•According to historian James Bissland, Ohioans and Midwestern soldiers who fought in the west differed significantly from the eastern Union Army soldiers. The Midwesterners were mostly from pioneer, small town, and farm backgrounds. They were tough and lean men used to a hard daily existence, self-reliant, independent, and used to deprivation, hardships and setbacks. They could absorb punishment as well as inflict it.
•Ohioans and Midwest soldiers and their leaders like Grant, did not go in for much military discipline and pomp. They wore western style broad brimmed hats as opposed to the eastern soldier's kepi cap.
•Most soldiers earned about $13 a month.
Sources: "Blood, Tears, & Glory: How Ohioans Won the Civil War," by James Bissland; "History of Madison Township," by George Bareis; and the Groveport Heritage and Preservation Society.
| Comments (1) |
On June 4, 2009 Linda said:
The article and photo are both superb! Thanks. |
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