Warren County
Local History by Dallas Bogan |
Contributor: |
Dallas Bogan on 12 August 2004 |
Source: |
Dallas Bogan, Warren County's Involvement in the Civil War (Middletown, Ohio: U.N. Printing Co, 1991). 18-19 |
Return to Index to see a list of other articles by Dallas Bogan |
MAJOR COLLIN FORD--As a contribution
to the history, which is to commemorate the toils, sacrifices and achievements
of the heroes of Warren County in the war for the Union, we present the following
narrative:
At the outbreak of the great rebellion, Mr. Collin
Ford-now Major Collin Ford-was
superintendent of the Union School in Lebanon, in which position he remained
until August, 1862, when he enrolled himself as a private with a squad of Normal
students which was afterwards attached to Captain Stillwell's
company, 79th O.V.I. He was here
elected first lieutenant, in which capacity he served until May 24th, 1864,
participating in the grand Atlanta Campaign of General Sherman and the battles
of Resaca and Cassville.
In June, 1864, he was appointed Major of the 100th Regiment, United States Colored
Infantry. This regiment he organized and commanded for than seven months without
the aid of a single field officer. He commanded his regiment in the battle of
Nashville on December 15th and 16th, 1864, and in the memorable campaign which
followed. During the battle his regiment made two desperate charges, the first
on the morning when the contest opened, driving the rebels from their outer
line of works on Rains' Bluff-the second, the famous "charge of Overton's
Hill," the most critical spot on all the battlefield of Nashville. Here
our troops were repulsed. The battle flag of Major
Ford's regiment had fallen for the fourth time when he saved it with his
own hands. Giving it to a mounted officer, with directions where to place it,
he rallied his regiment under a fearfully destructive fire and reformed it in
advance of the original position. This regiment did its full share of duty in
this campaign, including the capture of Decatur, Alabama, and the dispersion
of the rebel Gen. Rhody's command. After this, being exhausted
by so much exposure and fatigue, Major
Ford was unable to perform active service in the field. He was, therefore
placed on the Military Commission at Nashville, where his legal requirements
attracted the attention of the authorities. He finally became a fixture of the
military under Major General Thomas. He presided in the trial
of the notorious guerrilla, Champ Ferguson, and acted as Judge
Advocate in the trial of Emerson Ethridge. Major
Ford has been mustered out of the service, but he still wears whatever of
honor there is in a title which was won in the red glare of battle-"once
a Major, always a Major." .He took up the sword to fight for the cause
of his country, and he stood by the flag of the nation till it waved in triumph
over the states. (Taken from the Western Star)
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This page created 12 August 2004 and last updated
18 November, 2008
© 2004 Arne H Trelvik
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