When the Civil War outbreak in April 1861, Ohio Governor William Dennison dispatched George McClellan and Jacob Cox to the state arsenal in Columbus to investigate the guns and other supplies that Ohio had on hand to help equip the state’s militia units.
The two men discovered a few crates of rusted smoothbore muskets, mildewed harnesses for horses, and some six-pound cannons that could not be fired. Despite the lack of equipment, Dennison encouraged Ohio communities to revive the militia system and form units they would send to Columbus, the state capital.
Dennison entrusted McClellan with command of these units, asking him to create a cohesive and professional force out of the volunteers. Most of these units formed the basis of Ohio Volunteer Infantry units, which the state of Ohio eventually provided to the United States government for the war against the South. – Source: Ohio History Center Website
Following is a list of Civil War Companies organized in Lawrence County under the Ohio State Militia Law taken from Ironton Register, Ironton, Ohio newspaper, and was published on July 18, 1861. Art and Karen Buck for The Lawrence Register website transcribed this article.
Ironton Register – Following is a list of companies organized in Lawrence County under the State Militia Law:
- Olive Furnace Company – Capt. W. N. McNugin; 1st Lt. W. A. Simonton; 2nd Lt. B. H. Moore.
- Mason Guards – Capt. M. Rapp; 1stt. J. N. Thomas; 2nd Lt. T. W. Ross.
- Scott Town Guards – Capt. Andrew Griffith; 1st G. W. Trumbo; 2nd Lt. W. F. Burcham.
- Hecla Guards – Capt. Samuel McCullough; 1st Lt. J. McNally; 2nd Lt. Isaac Crammer.
- Symmes Valley Rangers – Capt. S. C. Johnson, Jr.; 1st Lt. Rensalier Bagley; 2nd Lt. Isaac F. Gillen.
- Rock Camp Guards – Capt. Woodson Powers; 1st Lt. J. J. Matney; 2nd Lt. Joseph Allen.
- Rome Guards – Capt. William Brown; 1st Lt. S. C. Miller; 2nd Lt. Thomas Proctor.
- Mason Guards – Capt. Uriah Payne; 1st Lt. M. S. Byrne; 2nd Lt. L. A. Griffith.
- Millersport Guards – Capt. Monroe McCown; 1st Lt. J. C. Miller; 2nd Lt. J. Benedict.
- Windsor Volunteers – Capt. Clinton Forgey; 1st Lt. D. C. Howard; 2nd Lt. T. O. Wakefield.
- Unionville Guards – Capt. William Willis; 1st Lt. B. F. Holman; 2nd Lt. Geo. Willis.
- Getaway Company – Capt. J. W. Fuson; 1st Lt. J. C. Kite; 2nd Lt. E. Thacker.
- South Point Company – Capt. C. S. Edwards; 1st Lt. A. Soupene; 2nd Lt. E. Edwards.
- Symmes Guards – Capt. J. T. Irwin; 1st Lt. Thos. Griffith; 2nd Lt. Logan Barger.
- Ironton Guards – Capt. W. W. Johnson; 1st Lt. D. W. Voglesong; 2nd Lt. M. S. Bartram.
- Johnston Grays – Capt. J. C. McFadden; 1st Lt. J. J. Vinton; 2nd Lt. Edward Johns.
- Etna Furnace Company – Capt. Thos. Brown; 1st Lt. William Burns; 2nd Lt. Peter Spear.
- Centre Station Company – Capt. W. S. Earhart; 1st Lt. Israel Williams; 2nd Lt. Jared Manering.
- Kelly’s Mills Company – Capt. A. D. Crossland; 1st and 2nd Lt. not reported.
- Union Rifle Company – Capt. Nelson Cox; 1st Lt. W. M. Suiter 2nd Lt. Jos. F. McCorkel.
- Storms Creek Mountaineers – Capt. Isaac Delany; 1st Lt. John Pancake; 2nd Lt. Philip S. Justice.
- Burlington Company – Officers not reported.
There are two Cavalry Companies – one in active service, Capt. George’s with Gen. Cox in Virginia; and Two Artillery Companies – one in active service in Virginia, Capt. Powell’s, with Col. Woodruff. Capt. Frailey at the head of the other.
Commissions have arrived for the officers of the following companies and are with C. G. Hawley, Ironton. Officers will please send for them.
Others will arrive in due time – Mason Guards, Bradshaw’s Mills; also for Capt. Rapp’s Mason Company; Scott Town Guards, Millersport Guards; Unionville Guards; Getaway Company, Rome Guards, Rock Camp Guards, Symmes Creek Rangers, Windsor Volunteers; Olive Furnace Company, and Hecla Guards.
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