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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.
��Bellville company, Capt. Miller Moody, had re- turned with all their men. Thus, in the three- months service, the county sent out four companies, in all of which but four men were lost.
Before proceeding to the history of the three-years service, it will be well to go back and notice the organization of the three com- panies referred to, and their exploits in the war.
Capt. McLaughlin's company, though the first to enlist men and to leave for the war, was but little in advance of others. He began enlisting men Tuesday night, April 17. In a day or two, his company was full, and on its way to Columbus. Other towns in the county were awaking. The next day after Capt. McLaughlin began enlisting men (Wednesday), Miller Moody, a resident of Bellville, began raising a volunteer company, and the following Monday started for Columbus with " about sev- enty-five men of the right stamp," say the local papers. The Village Council and the citizens raised over $700, and further pledged their aid to the support of the families of volunteers, should any necessity arise where such help would be needed. Mr. Moody was elected Cap- tain of the company; A. W. Loback, First Lieutenant, and James Riddle, Second Lieuten- ant. At Columbus, the company- was assigned to the Sixteenth Regiment, and passed with it a very creditable campaign in the eastern division of the army, doing guard duty and aiding in repelling invasions toward the north. The regiment came home about the 8th or 9th of August. Capt. Moody's company had lost not a man. All returned in health and spirits, and, not long after, many re-enlisted in the three-years service.
Other towns were also preparing for the fray\ The next Monday evening after these two com- panies had left — the same day that Capt. Moody and his company left — Moses R. Dickey, now Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, began recruiting a company in Mansfield, and that
��evening it was fully organized, and elected its officers. They were: Captain, Mr. Dickey; First Lieutenant, Hiram Miller; Second Lieu- tenant, A. R. Z. Dawson; First Sergeant, H. L. Avery; Second Sergeant, William Ritter; Third Sergeant, S. M. Wilkinson. The company left for Columbus Thursday, April 25, and went into Camp Jackson. There it was assigned to the Fifteenth Regiment, and began drilling and the regular routine of camp life.*
Shelby was also awake. A meeting of the cit- izens was held April 17. The following notice appeared in the Shelby papers concerning this meeting:
In compliance with previous notice, a very large meeting of the citizens of Sharon Township met at Gen. Wilson's Hall, at 7 o'clock, P. M., to consider the state of the country, and consult together in reference to their duty on the proclamations of the President of the United States and the Governor of the State of Ohio.
The meeting was organized by appointing William Cummins, Chairman, and John H. Cox, Secretary.
A committee of five was appointed to draft resolu- tions expressive of the sense of the meeting, to wit: Harrison Mickey, William R. Bricker, D. Anderson, U. Matson and H. B. Gaylord.
In the absence of the committee, Abraham Cummins, being called upon, made an able and patriotic appeal for the flag of our Union as it is, and the importance of sustaining the laws and liberties of our country.
The committee reported the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted amid the most enthu- siastic unanimity:
Resolved, That the citizens of this community will to the utmost of their ability aid the General Government in maintaining its authority, enforcing the laws, and in upholding the flag of the Union.
Resolved, That we have a Country and a Union, and that to the extent of our ability we pledge our lives and our property to sustain it against all traitors, come from what quarter they may.
��*A significant fact connected with the organization of Capt. Dickey's company is worth recording.
At its first organization, five or six men got together and arranged the details, themselves forming the nucleus. It was agreed that no man would be accepted in the company who did not fill the standard regarding weight, size, height, etc. Also that no man would be eligible who would not receive the vote of not less than four-fifths of the members of the company, admitting him to membership. These requirements secured an excellent class of men, of whom it was said at the close of the war, "that not less than forty had held oommissions before the conflict ended."
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