History of Madison County

One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Regiment Ohio National Guards

On the 4th of May, 1864, three companies from Madison County, under the command of Capts. William A. Neil, David Watson and Alexander Swanston, reported at Camp Dennison and were mustered into this regiment on the 9th of the same month. An election for field officers was held, and Capt. Neil was elected Major of the regiment. These companies were then consolidated into two, viz., C and I, by which they are designated on the muster rolls.

Company C

OFFICERS
Captain, Alexander Swanston.
First Lieutenant, J. M. Jones.
Second Lieutenant, Isaac Hamilton.
Sergeant, James T. Arnett.
Sergeant, Charles H. Putnam.
Sergeant, Edwin R. Hill.
Sergeant, John A. Watson.
Sergeant, John M. Lewis.
Corporal, George Hann.
Corporal, David R. Lucas.
Corporal, Samuel Sidener.
Corporal, James Farrington.
Corporal, Augustus Schrowger.
Corporal, William H. Brown.
Corporal, John Crego.
Corporal, George Price.

PRIVATES
Ayle, John.
Bricker, Richmon.
Burnham, George.
Bell, Elijah.
Bradfield, George M.
Boyd, William.
Boswell, George.
Boswell, John.
Blair, Oscar.
Ballinger, Joshua.
Cromwell, George.
Clark, B. E.
Carter, Jasper N.
Carter, Joseph H.
Clifton, Peter.
Chapman, James.
Corder, Noble A.
Downing, Albert.
Furry, James.
Goodwin, John.
Graybill, Isaac.
Green, David.
Hume, Roswell.
Haines, Martin.
Haines, Emery.
Hunter, S. S.
Hale, Andrew.
Hann, William.
Hanson, Elias.
Irwin, Goodwin.
Johnson, Lewis.
Jones, Samuel R.
Jones, Wilson.
Kepler, Andrew J.
Loder, James.
Lucas, Alexander.
Lambert, William H.
Mattes, Alfred.
Miller, Andrew.
McCoy, William.
Mason, James.
Mowell, Emanuel.
McCluskey, Patrick.
Oakley, David.
Plinell, Christopher.
Potee, Claudius.
Powell, Richard.
Randall. Jerry.
Riley, John.
Robertson, Hiram.
Snider, Charles.
Sphon, William.
Stutson, Charles.
Stickley, Samuel M.
Stickley, John.
Stoner, L.
Sidener, Philip.
Sidener, David M.
Swager, Sylvester.
Silver, John.
Swager, Oscar.
Sevens, Jacob.
Tyler, William H.
Tillman, John H.
Timmons, Isaac.
Timmons, Thomas F.
Weber, Christian.
Whorton, John.
Whorton, Fletcher.
Walker, A. B.

Company I

OFFICERS
Captain, David Watson.
First Lieutenant, Harford Toland.
Second Lieutenant, Levin Willoughby.
Sergeant, T. H. Kennelly.
Sergeant, G. W. Bodkin.
Sergeant, Auburn Smith.
Sergeant, Samuel W. Suver.
Sergeant, James Dungan.
Corporal, J. W. Curd.
Corporal, J. C. Hull.
Corporal, James McCann.
Corporal, W. Withrow.
Corporal, Mathew Hickson.
Corporal, Samuel Coberly.
Corporal, A. Stutson.
Corporal, B. Blake.

PRIVATES
Armstrong, John F.
Armstrong, William H.
Atcheson, Charles.
Baskerville, Madison.
Bales, Thomas M.
Berry, John W.
Betts, Thomas B.
Bird, Dennis S.
Brown, John F.
Burnham, James S.
Bogenrife, John H.
Blake, William.
Carter, Joseph J.
Chrisman, Addison.
Coberly, William H.
Coberly, Andrew J.
Coberly, Thomas.
Cox, William.
Corey, Marshall.
Chenoweth, John F.
Carnes, M.
Crawford, James.
Creath, George.
Devolt, Henry.
Douglass, Charles A.
Epley, William H.
Ellars, William.
Evans, James F.
Evans, Charles.
Forbus, Angus.
Guiton, John.
Hardin, W. S.
Horn, Elijah.
Helphenstine, J. O. K.
Helphenstine, Jasper P.
Helphenstine, Hannibal.
Hussey, Frank.
Hussey, Uriah H.
Jones, Benjamin.
Jones, Lucien.
Jones, William.
Johnson, William.
Kilgore, Henry.
King, Isaac.
Minshall, Isaac.
Minter, Reuben.
Newbolt, Thomas.
O'Brien, William.
O'Brien, Richard.
Pemberton, William M.
Paine, Bushrod.
Paine, George.
Phifer, George.
Preston, Thomas.
Rafferty, Ferguson.
Rayburn, C. M.
Rouse, William A.
Rush, John A.
Smith, Joseph C.
Strange, John C.
Stephenson, R. B.
Slogle, Oliver.
Stine, John D.
Suver, James.
Seinon, William.
Stone, John.
Stewart, Joseph.
Sprung, Rankin.
Soles, David.
Truitt, S. D.
Tracy, P. M.
Tracy, William H
. Tyler, William H.
Tickner, Lyman.
Trumper, William.
Thornburg, Uriah.
Vent, John.
Van Harlinger, E. M.
Webb, G. H.
Wright, Thomas B.
Whitten, James A.
Watson, Alfred.
Willoughby, James.
Watson, William C.
Welsh, James.
Wilson, Thomas B.
Walker, A. B.
Whitaker, Newman.
Yocum, L.

On the announcement of the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, the people of Madison County became almost frantic with joy. All the bells in London, as well as the other towns in the county, were brought into requisition, flags displayed, and the streets thronged with people, congratulating each other at the prospect, of the return of peace once more. About 9 o'clock in the morning, on the 10th of April, 1865, the day the news was received, the business men closed up their establishments for the day. The evening of April 12 was set apart by the citizens as a season of rejoicing over the recent Union successes. Shortly after dark, nearly all of the houses on Main street in London were brilliantly illuminated, and a six-pound cannon belched forth its thunder tones from a vacant lot on Main street. Then followed a long procession of torch-lights, parading the principal streets, after which a grand display of fire-works from the public square, which lasted for more than an hour. The town was full of people from the adjacent country, and every one seemed jubilant and good-humored. The demonstration was kept up until a late hour, and nothing occurred to mar the proceedings of the evening.

Friday, April 14, the day set apart by Gov. Brough as a day of thanksgiving and rejoicing in honor of the victories above mentioned, was appropriately observed in London. Business houses were closed, and divine services were held in the Methodist Episcopal Church in the morning. The exercises consisted of the singing of patriotic songs, and addresses by Revs. Levi Cunningham and C. W. Finley. The happiness and rejoicing, however, were short-lived, for that very night the news flashed over the wires that President Lincoln had been assassinated at Ford's Theater, Washington, D. C. The joy was turned into grief, for he was the beloved of the nation, and deep was the sorrow at his martyrdom in the great cause of human liberty. April 19, 1865, was observed by the citizens of Madison County as a day of mourning. The business houses were closed, flags displayed at half-mast, dwellings and other houses were draped in the insignia of grief, while appropriate services were held in the churches and a universal feeling of gloom pervaded the people of all classes. Thus ended the greatest war in modern history. Mighty hosts had met in the fierce struggle for supremacy, thousands of lives were sacrificed, millions of treasure freely spent in the contest; but the God of battles was on the side of the great nation whose Government stands upon the basis that all men are created free and equal, and endowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

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