2012 Marshall Hope Award For Most Outstanding Department Newsletter. Department of Ohio - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War THE BUCKEYE BUGLE

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1 2012 Marshall Hope Award For Most Outstanding Department Newsletter Department of Ohio - Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Volume 9, Issue 1 Autumn 2017 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Annual Buffington Island Memorial 2 Hardin County s Last Soldier Ceremony 2 Civil War Living History Program 3 Ohio Leads Nation in Recruiting Again 3 Meaning of the G.A.R. Membership Badge 4 In Memoriam 4 73rd O.V.I. Regiment Band Schedule 5 Spotlight on Civil War Memorials 5 Wyandot County Group Restores Veteran Grave Markers 6 Meet Your New Newsletter Editor 6 Ohio House of Representatives Resolution 7 Ohio State Senate Resolution 8 Dates to Note: October 7 Central Regions Association Conference in Westlake, Ohio November 11 Veterans Day November 15 Deadline for submissions to the Winter newsletter January TBA Annual Midwinter Meeting June TBA 136th Annual Department Encampment 2017 Department Encampment During the most recent Department of Ohio Encampment held at the Clintonville Women s Club in Columbus on June 10, the Brothers elected James T. Crane as the most recent Department Commander to succeed Commander Peter J. Hritsko, Jr. Other officers elected include Kerry Langdon as Senior Vice-Commander and Shane Milburn as Junior Vice- Commander. Several Brothers were appointed to non-elected posts by the new Commander. For a full list of the Department Officers and their contact information please visit the Department website at Much was covered at the 135th Encampment including discussion of a bill currently in the Ohio Legislature whose intent is to preserve and protect military and other historic monuments across the state. This is especially relevant in light of recent events. In addition each Camp was reminded that they need to acquire individual 501(c)3 status in order to comply with recent I.R.S. requirements as there is no longer a blanket exemption for the SUVCW. Also a reminder - new members are the lifeblood to any organization so try to recruit as many new Brothers as possible this year so we can once again receive the Augustus P. Davis/Conrad Linder Award for most new recruits in the nation. Above National CinC Don Martin (from Ohio) gives the Oath of Office to the new Department Officers at the recent Encampment. Below New Department Commander Crane receives his Commander s Badge from PDC Jim Houston and CinC Martin. Introducing New Commander James Crane Brother James T. Crane is a current member of the William H. Lytle Camp and served in numerous Camp offices as well as nearly all of the major Department offices. He has also served on the SUVCW National Encampment Site Selection Committee for several years. Shortly after being installed as the new Department Commander, Crane outlined some of his goals and desires for the order during the coming year. One of his wishes was to restart The Buckeye Bugle which had previously been edited by Brother Fred Lynch. During the Encampment a Brother stepped forward and volunteered to accept the responsibility of writing, editing and issuing the newsletter. Commander Crane said: Brothers, it is my pleasure to present the rebirth of the Department newsletter. My thanks to Ronald Marvin, Jr., for stepping up to complete this work. We look forward to receiving input from the Brothers and Camps to make this the best newsletter it can be. Preserving the memory of the Grand Army of the Republic and our ancestors who fought to save the Union

2 Page 2 Annual Buffington Island Memorial Ceremony Senior Vice-Commander Kerry Landon represented the Department of Ohio SUVCW at the annual memorial service. On June 15, the Cadot-Blessing Camp No. 126 and General Benjamin Fearing Camp No. 2 partnered with the Ohio History Connection, the Portland Community Center, and the Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation to present the annual Buffington Island Commemoration. Senior Vice-Commander Kerry Langdon was in attendance with his wife Wanda, marking her first official action as President of the Department of Ohio Auxiliary of the SUVCW. The featured speaker was Stephen Sam Hood author of The Rise, Fall and the Resurrection of a Confederate General and The Lost Papers of Confederate General John Bell Hood. The annual Buffington Island Memorial Service in Portland, Ohio, honors the men who fought and died during July 1863 in a series of battles between John Hunt Morgan's Confederate troops and Union forces. Buffington Island was considered the most important battle during Morgan s Raid. Roughly 3,000 Union and 1,800 Confederate forces fought here during the final battle of the Civil War to take place in Ohio. Hardin County s Last Civil War Soldier Ceremony On July 22nd, the Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 hosted a ceremony at Kenton s Grove Cemetery honoring Private John H. Smick, the last surviving Civil War veteran of Hardin County. Nearly fifty persons attended the event despite the clouds and rain. Brothers from the Parrott Camp were joined by Department of Ohio officers JVC Shane Milburn, SVC Kerry Landgon, Department and National Secretary/Treasurer Jonathan Davis, President Wanda Langdon of the Auxiliary SUVCW, Sisters from Elizabeth A. Turner Tent 23 of the DUVCW as well as members of the local community. The 73rd O.V.I. Regiment Band provided entertainment prior to the event, the Kenton High School JROTC performed Honor Guard duties, plus Brother Brad Bailey was the featured speaker who talked about the life and military service of Private Smick, who later served as Hardin County Prosecuting Attorney from 1879 to John Hare Smick was born in Canton, Ohio on January 29, He served with Company C, 2nd Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry from February 16, 1865 to September 11, He later moved to Ada, Ohio where he operated his father s sawmill and studied law in his free time. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar Association in 1875 and practiced law until his death on January 27, At the time of his death he was one of the last members of the G.A.R. s Colonel Cantwell Post 91, parent Post of the Parrott Camp. Above Junior Vice- Commander Shane Milburn placing a wreath on Private Smick s grave. Below The 73rd O.V.I. Regiment Band playing prior to the ceremony.

3 Page 3 Civil War Living History Program The William McKinley Camp No. 21 and the Ann Mariah Sterling Butterfield Auxiliary No. 77 participated in a Civil War Living History program at Lancaster, Ohio on July 22, The event featured an artillery reenactment group live firing a Civil War era cannon, several tents exhibiting period artifacts as well as selling reproduction wares. Brothers and Civil War reenactors were on hand to answer questions from the public about the war and the time period. WE NEED YOUR INFORMATION!! In order to share the great work our Camps are doing and to promote their upcoming events we need your assistance. Please send your program information with dates to Brother Ken Freshley, PCinC who is serving once again as the Department Signals Officer. The programs will be listed on a calendar on our Department website and be forwarded to Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. to be included in the revived newsletter. Brother Freshley can be contacted by at KLFSUVCW@freshleys.net. Thank you in advance for your assistance. We can only promote what we know about. Above Recruiting table set up by the Camp and Ladies Auxiliary. Below Several reenactors and Brothers observe a live fire exercise with a civil war era cannon. Ohio Leads Nation in Recruiting Again Above Brother David Rish, first recipient of the new David R. Medert Award. Below Former National Commander-in-Chief and Department of Ohio Commander David R. Medert wearing a Civil War uniform. During the recent 136th National Encampment in Lansing, Michigan on August 10-13, Commander-in-Chief Donald L. Martin had the honor of bestowing the Augustus P. Davis/Conrad Linder Award to Ohio for the most new recruits during the previous year. Ohio recruited 54 new members under the leadership of our fellow Brother. At the same meeting it was announced that Brother David Rish from Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 was the first recipient of the newly renamed David R. Medert Award for the most new recruits during the previous year with 13 Brothers brought in. Brother Rish had received the last five B. F. Stephenson Awards for the most new recruits in the Nation. The award was originally named for Benjamin Franklin Stephenson, the founder of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was renamed for Brother Medert from the Department of Ohio who was renowned for his recruiting. Reportedly he recruited 75 Brothers in a single year during one of his terms as Department Commander in 1991 and Along with Brother Rish, Brother Steve Flickinger from Sherman Camp No. 93 received the National Aide Award for recruiting at least five new members during the previous year. Just as Ohio was one of the leading states in recruiting volunteers for the Civil War, it is once again leading the way in recruits to honor our ancestors who served during the war.

4 Page 4 Meaning of the G.A.R. Membership Badge Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Department of Ohio The Buckeye Bugle is the unofficial newsletter published quarterly to inform and educate members of the SUVCW Department of Ohio. Photos in this issue courtesy of Harry Haggard, Ken Freshley, Kerry Langdon, Ronald Marvin, Jr., ohiosuv.com, and Dan Robinson. Items for possible publication should be sent by to: curator@wyandothistory.org Ronald Marvin, Jr. Editor Below: A solid gold G.A.R. badge presented to Ulysses S. Grant on December 18, To the left is an image of the Series IV membership badge worn by comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic. The basic design of the badge was introduced in 1869 and was slightly modified over the years. It resembled the early version of the Medal of Honor causing the Nation s highest military honor to be redesigned to avoid confusion. Original versions of the badge were reportedly made of bronze melted down from enemy cannons captured during the Civil War. The pendant is a five pointed star and imagery on the badge represents the basic tenants of the group. The obverse features the Goddess of Liberty in the center, representing Loyalty, and beside her a soldier and a sailor stand clasping hands representing Fraternity. Two children are kneeling in front to receive the benediction and assurance of protection from comrades representing Charity. On one side of this group is a flag and eagle representing Freedom and the other side has an ax and bundle of rods representing the Union. The five points of the pendant feature the emblems of the different arms of service - bugle for Infantry, cannon for Artillery, muskets for Marines, swords for Cavalry, and an anchor for Sailors. In the center are the words Grand Army of the Republic 1861-Veterans which commemorates the beginning of the Civil War and the founding of the order the year following the end of the war. On the reverse is a laurel branch representing Victory, and the National Shield surrounded by Corps badges, each on an interlocking keystone representing how they are united to protect the Union. Early clasps featured ribbons with laurel wreaths designating various offices in the order. The clasp on the Series IV badge is an eagle with crossed cannons and ammunition, representing Defense. The clasp and medal are united by the national flag, which is the ribbon of the order. The medals were only to be presented to members in good standing and were not to be sold or replicated. They were to be worn only at post meetings, G.A.R. encampments, or any patriotic ceremony where the members desired to be recognized as veterans of the Civil War. Today these medals are highly prized souvenirs of the organization fetching high prices on the open market in direct contrast to their original intent. In Memoriam The following is a list of Brothers who have passed in 2016 and 2017: Richard H. Calendine (17 June 2016) - Governor William Dennison Camp No. 1 William Fugitt (7 September 2016) Pvt. Valentine Keller Camp No. 8 Bradford Miter (8 November 2016) William T. Sherman Camp No. 93 George H. Knell (2 March 2017) General William McLaughlin Camp No. 12 J. Kenneth Wilson (15 April 2017) General William H. Lytle Camp No. 10 Boyd B. Weber (18 April 2017) James A. Garfield Camp No. 142 Ronnie D. Cox (9 June 2017) Henry Casey Camp No. 92 Ronald I. Marvin, Sr. (5 August 2017) Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33

5 Page 5 73rd O.V.I. Regiment Band Band Schedule October 1, 2017 ROSS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY CWRT CONCERT Chillicothe, Ohio October 14, 2017 OTTAWA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY ENCAMPMENT Marblehead, Ohio November 18, 2017 GETTYSBURG PARADE Gettysburg Pennsylvania June 23-24, 2018 MIAMISBURG BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION Miamisburg, Ohio For additional information please check out their website at: Spotlight on Civil War Memorials View of the restored Civil War Monument with Soldier at Parade Rest statue dedicated to local veterans and located in downtown Lafayette, Ohio. Shortly after the turn of the 20th century residents of Jackson Township in Allen County decided to honor veterans of the Civil War from the area. They raised funds to erect a sixteen foot tall monument including a six foot tall Soldier at Parade Rest statue atop a sandstone base which was placed on North High Street in the center of Lafayette, Ohio. The front of the monument featured a carved G.A.R. badge and verse from William Cullen Bryant s poem The Battlefield: Ah! never shall the land forget. How flowed the life blood of her brave Gushed warm with hope and courage yet. Upon the soil they fought to save. The monument and small park surrounding it was formally dedicated on July 4, 1903 and was Dedicated to the Memory of her soldiers of according to the inscription on the back. It quickly became the focal point of numerous Memorial Day programs in the village. Over the course of one hundred years the old monument suffered damage and about 2003 the community raised approximately $30,000 to restore the monument including cleaning the discolored stone base, replace missing elements of the statue, remove and restore the original cast iron fence, and install a memorial garden surrounding the base.

6 Page 6 Wyandot County Group Restores Veteran Grave Markers Above Side view of Private Reuben Ingman s grave marker in Ingman Cemetery following its restoration. In Wyandot County, a public/private partnership has been formed to restore damaged grave markers of veterans throughout the approximately 100 township cemeteries scattered across the county. Spearheaded by the Veterans Heritage Foundation, the group is initially focusing on 400 large markers representing veterans of all wars. Over the last couple of years, former County Commissioner Mike Wheeler has led crews of students and volunteers to clean and straighten leaning government markers. These included the grave markers of several Civil War veterans. The first marker repaired by the new partnership was that of Private Reuban Ingman (Company C, 180th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry) who died while on active duty at Louisville, Kentucky on February 8, His family placed a large stone monument for him containing three pieces of granite stacked upon each other of which the top spire had toppled off over time. The hillside where the marker sat eroded and needed to be repaired before the stone could be reset. Once this work was completed the monument was restored to its former glory. Meet Your New Department Newsletter Editor During the most recent Department of Ohio Encampment, Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. of Jacob Parrott Camp No. 33 offered his services to help restart the newsletter. He has many years of experience writing articles, editing, and publishing newsletters for various museums he has worked for. A member of the Camp since 2012, Marvin is currently the Patriotic Instructor Officer and has held numerous offices for the Parrott Camp including Camp Commander, Senior Vice-Commander, Junior Vice-Commander, Guard, and Scribe/Reporter. A veteran of the United States Army and Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm, Marvin annually participates in the Kenton Memorial Day Parade and Grove Cemetery Services, places flags on veterans graves in cemeteries throughout Hardin County as well as hosts a Veterans Day program at the Wyandot County Museum. Brother Marvin holds a BA from the University of South Dakota in History and Archaeology and an MA from the University of Nebraska in Museum Studies. He currently resides in Kenton and has served as the Director/Curator for the Wyandot County Historical Society in Upper Sandusky since Marvin has an extensive list of publications and has written several local history articles about Hardin and Wyandot Counties. Currently, he is researching the locations and histories of the Grand Army of the Republic Posts in Ohio as well as their namesakes. Above Brother Ronald Marvin, Jr. standing in front of the Cantwell Post monument and cannon in Kenton s Grove Cemetery. Nearby is the grave of Jacob Parrott, his Camp s namesake.

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