In September 1862, it looked like Cincinnati was in danger of being attacked by John Morgan's confederate raiders. The Governor called for volunteers and there being no arms, each volunteer was required to bring his own arms and ammunition. Thus the rifles of the early settlers with their powder and bullets were brought into requisition. In answer to this call, a company was formed and bullets were molded. The company hastened to Cincinnati and was there placed upon a steamboat with steam up, ready to go to any point needed.

That the troops thus recruited and armed, called forth many amusing remarks is not to be wondered at. Various headgear, from coonskin cap to the homemade straw hat was in evidence; as to the clothes, from the homemade jeans, to the cast-off dress suit; and as for footwear, from the homemade moccasin and the gum boot to the congress shoe. The bedding was equally picturesque — heavy comforters, quilts and white and colored blankets.

Thorough preparations with the troops placed in position behind breastworks and in trenches, caused General Heath, commander of the rebel forces, when he drew up before this array of determined citizen soldiers, to give the matter serious consideration before making the attack. After viewing the situation from all points, he decided it best to withdraw while he could, under the cover of darkness and a violent thunderstorm.

Of the company from Van Wert County, only two made any display of cowardice and they had been the loudest in their talk of what they would do, saying they had come to defend Cincinnati and not go to Kentucky to fight. But when placed in the ranks with comrades they knew had been selected for the occasion, their opposition was confined to grumbling.

Van Wert's roster consisted of 17 officers and 76 privates.

(The following article bears repeating.)

An atmosphere of apprehension pervaded the country. Delphos readied itself for the coming trial. On April 15, 1861, three days after the bombardment of Fort Sumter, President Lincoln issued a call for volunteers. This area responded, and in August, 1861, the Third Company, organized by Captain Samual Mott, was mustered into the Army of the United States at St. Marys, Ohio.

In this company were a number of men from Delphos, including one Avery Brown. Brown was born Sept. 28, 1852 and was the youngest enlisted soldier in the Civil War. Capt. Mott was a neighbor of Brown's and was reported to have told Capt. Stansbury, "I have come here with 101 men who are ready to enlist on one condition - that our drummer-boy be mustered in with us and permitted to go to the front. Otherwise we disband right here and return home."

Reluctant consent was given and on Aug. 18, 1861, at the age of eight years and eleven months, Avery Brown was mustered into the 31st. O.V.I. He was presented with a captured confederate drum at Burton's Station, Virginia. He carried it for one and one half years during which he was called, "the Drummer Boy of Cumberland."

By the time of his discharge, he had suffered from mumps, measles and rheumatism. The latter made it necessary for him to quit the army. After his discharge he lived in Delphos for three years. In 1866 he moved to Elkhart, Indiana where he remained, except for a few years in Texas, until his death in November, 1904.

The 15th Ohio Infantry was one of the first regiments to respond to President Lincoln's first call for 75,000 men. Company E was raised in Van Wert on April 17, 1861 and proceeded to Columbus and went into camp at Camp Jackson. At the expiration of their three-month term of enlistment they were discharged.

At the next call for troops, the 15th regiment re-enlisted almost to a man. It was then reorganized at Camp Mordecai Bartley, near Mansfield, after which it moved to Camp Dennison, Sept. 26, 1861.

At the outbreak of the war an Ohio National Guard was formed. Many volunteered in Allen County and Col. John M.C. Marble was assigned to command the county regiment. It later consolidated with the Hocking Co. Regiment and was numbered as the 151st. Regiment O.W.G. The Regiment was mustered into Federal Service in the summer of 1864 and was stationed at Washington D.C. The brigade assisted in repelling the advance of General Early's attack on the Capitol. They retarded his advance until the arrival of the Sixth Army Corps. The regiment was mustered out in August of 1865.

During the Atlanta campaign between Big Shanty and Kenesaw Mountain, the 15th Ohio Infantry was on picket duty. In the evening orders were given to take off all the new recruits and put on only the old tried men.

The night of June 18th and morning of the 19th, Peter B. Cupp and Milton B. Evers of Company H., were on one post. They would fire in the direction of rebel's picket line and the rebels would reply. About three o'clock in the morning the rebels ceased to reply to picket firing. Cupp believed that the rebels were withdrawing and knowing that early information would be of immense benefit to the Union Army, started out to reconnoiter. After going about a half mile, he came to the deserted rifle pits and then to the rebel fort that had engaged in the artillery duel the day before. But all was quiet here. He pushed on for some distance until he came to the hastily deserted camp of the enemy, the fires still smoldering. Here he met and captured two Irishmen belonging to the 26th Georgia, who were deserting. He then started back with his prisoners for the picket line. But as he passed to the left of the fort he came face to face with Capt. Yates Levy and Lieutenant Cummins and 16 men of the Second Georgia Heavy Artillery. The lieutenant halted Cupp and demanded that he surrender. This Cupp refused to do, and told them they were within the Union lines and that two regiments had gone around to the right of the fort.

The lieutenant then said, "Captain, we are gobbled up now." Cupp then demanded their surrender and told them to have their men lay down their arms, which was done. He then took the officers' swords and revolvers and ordered them to march toward the Union lines. As soon as it became light, the artillery commenced firing over their heads and the captain remarked, "Young man, your men certainly are not aware of the conditions out here," referring to the two regiments out by the fort. To this Cupp replied, "Those guns were loaded in the rain yesterday and it is easier to fire them than to remove their loads." This quieted their suspicions and they soon came to the picket line, and to their great surprise and humiliation learned that instead of being within the Union lines, they were a half mile in front of our picket lines when captured. For nerve and presence of mind this certainly equals anything in the annals of warfare. It was a close squeeze out of a tight place.

General Gibson, upon hearing of it, sent for Cupp and said, "Cupp, how did you do it?" To which Cupp replied, "General, I was drilled under General Willich's tactics and I threw myself into a hollow square and surrounded them."

Cupp was a favorite of General Gibson from that day and he never failed to inquire for him when meeting Van Wert people.

Capt. Mart Armstrong was the first soldier from Allen County to die in the Civil War.

Rev. I. G. Hall of the Presbyterian Church of Delphos, exchanged pulpits with Rev. Scott of Delphos, last Sabbath. Rev. Scott, during the Civil War, was a member of a Cincinnati regiment, and after seeing much fighting, and service, took boarding (was a prisoner) at Libby Prison, Richmond, Va. Becoming tired of city life, he, in company with some 60 other officers, cut on their board bill, and escaped through a tunnel they had dug under the street, and ran the rebel lines to our army. Mr. Scott was several days in getting to the Union Lines, hiding in daytime in ditches and traveling at night, half starved and pursued, he was at last piloted by an old Negro to our army, when, after a short leave at home to regain his health, he rejoined his regiment, and lost an arm in the next battle.

On Aug. 22, 1862 Co. F of the 118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized, under Capt. Rudolph Ruel, at Delphos. The company went into camp at Lima at that time. They remained there until Sept. 11 when they left for Cincinnati by railroad. On Sept. 12 the members of the company were mustered into the service by Capt. C.O. Howard, U.S. Army.

In June and July of 1865 the majority of the survivors were mustered out. Of the 1,000 men enlisted in the 118th Regiment (that is Companies A-F) only about 400 returned.

Company F of the 118th was composed mostly of Delphos men. The Company roster reads: