Draft Exemptions and The Troops Start For Ft. Amanda

Capt. Daniel Hosbrook's Company

                     

Hosbrook, Daniel         Captain   

Davis, Joseph                Lieutenant

Schillinger, William     Ensign      

VanWinkle, David R.   Sergeant (Probably the 1st Sergeant)

Swing, Lawrence   Sergeant .

 Broadwell, Baxter Sergeant 

Bradbury, Jacob    Sergeant      

Johnson, William  Corporal       

Erwin, Robert         Corporal          

Covalt, Isaac           Corporal

Patterson, Wm.     Corporal )       

Ross, Robert           Fifer                     

 Bayley, Lewis Drummer  

PRIVATES                                         PRIVATES                             PRIVATES

Abbott, Joseph                                    Bailey, James                        Burris, John  

Barton, Joseph                                    Bridges, Elisha                        Bennett, Leonard

Bowman, George                                Campbell, James                    Clark, Jonathon

Curry, John                                         Crank, John G                        Carter, John  

Couch, Issah                                        Daniel, Isaac                           Dougherty, James

Dowden, Thomas                                Edinger, Boyd                        Farmer, Fred

Fleek, John                                          Flora, Thomas                      Gaston, William   

Goldalhy, William                               Gilman, Ichabod W                Grey, Runey

Hamilton, John                                   Irwin, Robert                          Jenkins, Henry

Ketchum, Jeremiah                           Job, Archibald R                    Knott, John  

Landor, John                                      Leming, John                          Laird, David

Landon, John  .                                  Lovel, John                             Murry, Charles           

Matthew, G. W.                                  McNeilly, Robert                    McMullin, Loe

Neely, John                                         Neville, William                      Pine, William

Plicard, Henry                                    Patterson, Thomas                  Sedgwick, George c

Shetterly, Henry                               Strickland, Mark                     Skinner, Caleb

South, Peter                                       Shinn, Joab                             Trukle, Henry

Thompson, James                             Tibeighein, Leo                        Tomley, Amos

Wooley, Joseph   .                              Weir, James                            Westerfield, Peter  

Wright, Zephamiah                             White, Forman                      Warbington, James

Winner, John                                      Woodworth, Daniel                  Briggs, William  

Arriving in Dayton

Feb. 18, 1813 - Thursday                Weather cold.                        

Around 7:30 that morning, the men broke camp and started toward Dayton.    They went four miles before stopping for breakfast at a spot where five roads converged.[1]  At 9 o’clock they  continued on toward Dayton,[2] arriving there around 2:30 that afternoon.    Like Cincinnati, Dayton too was becoming a booming frontier town with a thriving economy.  In addition to the new Montgomery County courthouse[3], Dayton at the time had five new taverns, grist and sawmills, a nail factory, a dyeing plant, a weaving mill and a tannery.  And like in Cincinnati, fewer and fewer log cabins were being built as residents were opting more for the modern frame style of home.    

Like today’s military, rank had its privileges so rather than pitching a tent with the rest of the company, Hosbrook, Davis and Schillinger moved into rooms in the courthouse.  The the rest of the company men set up their camp in a clearing on a prairie a quarter of a mile to the east.   Later that afternoon, several men who for one reason or another hadn’t marched with the rest of the company from Cincinnati joined their comrades at the campsite.  It had been a long, cold nineteen mile march that day and they were still seventy three miles from Ft. Amanda.   

Feb. 19,  1813   Friday                     Clear & cold 

With little to do except finding ways to stay warm, the men huddled around campfires all morning waiting for orders to march.  Around at 2 o’clock the order came and the company marched out of town, crossing the Mad River where they set up their new camp a short distance from the river.[5]  

 Feb. 20, 1813  Saturday                Cold & Snowing

            Private William Goldsworthy and another individual Schillinger referred to only as “a stranger,” reported for sick call Saturday morning.  With little work to do that day, the men spent most of their time gathering firewood, digging latrines and doing odd jobs around the campsite. 

Feb. 21, 1813  Sunday                      Cold with some snow and rain

The next day, the regimental paymaster came to camp and paid the men who had joined the company on Thursday their advance.  The standard practice was to give new recruits an advance in pay to help offset loss of their civilian income and reduce hardships on the families. 

Feb. 22, 1813  Monday                     Cold and cloudy

The cold wet weather and exhausting marches were taking their toll on the men.  Three men in   reported sick at morning muster.  Early in the afternoon, Brigadier. General John Wingate and a group of his staff officers came to the campsite and lectured the men on the Articles of War and the Regulations of the United States Army.  This was similar to today’s Military Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement.   When the lecture was over, Gen. Wingate informed the men that they would be moving north at 8 o’clock the following morning.     

Here We Go Again

Feb. 23, 1813  Tuesday                   Cold and clear in the morning

            Eight o’clock came and went and the men still hadn’t received orders to start their march.  They had already taken their tents down and were now just standing around in small groups around fires trying to stay warm.  As it turns out, the commissary didn’t have enough provisions on hand to supply the men on the march.  Finally after a six hour delay the provisions arrived and the men marched nine miles to an area littered with fallen trees and broken branches.  There was only two hours of daylight remaining so, the decision was made to camp there for the night.  The fallen trees provided perfect protection and the abundance of wood created a ready source of firewood.   Schillinger referred to the encampment as “Camp Mills” in honor of the commander of the First Regiment of Ohio Militia; Col. James Mills.  It had been a relatively short march that day and now with only sixty three miles to go, their journey was half over.

Meanwhile at Ft. Amanda

 Pogue still at Ft. Amanda ordered Paymaster Botts to go to Ft. Winchester  (Defiance) and pay off his company stationed there then return to Ft. Amanda and pay Capt. Wards company.  He was then to go to Cincinnati and get enough money to pay the rest of the regiment.  They would receive their mustering out pay once they were back at their rendezvous points in Kentucky.  

Feb. 24, 1813  Wednesday                          Moderate weather

The weather remained cold and despite a layer of snow on the ground, with less wind the weather was actually quite mild.  After breakfast, the men started their march toward Piqua  advancing seven miles where they crossed a small stream called Honey Creek. After a brief rest, they continued on another three miles to the tiny settlement of Staunton.  Halting there for a short rest, they continued on another five miles crossing the Great Miami River into Washington (later Piqua) then marching a half mile out of town where they set up camp for the night.

Piqua, considered the northernmost settlement in Ohio at the time,  was a small village with less than a dozen houses, very few of those with shingled roofs.  A general store operated by Armstrong Brandon, a post office and Landon’s tavern served the needs of the public. It had been another long march that day, covering twenty one miles and they were now just forty two miles from Ft. Amanda. 

Excitement, Exhilaration, Apprehension and Reflection

Feb. 25, 1813  Thursday                                Moderate weather

At morning muster each man was given six ammunition cartridges and told to draw rations for three days.  One wonders what ran through the minds of the men as they received their ammunition that day.  Human nature suggests there were probably a number of emotions ranging from excitement and exhilaration to apprehension and to some a moment of reflection when perhaps for the first time they realized that the item they were putting in their bullet pouch was intended to kill someone.

After breakfast, the men formed up into columns and marched out of town three miles to Perry’s Blockhouse[11] where they set up their camp in the hollow square formation. 

Note:

A hollow square was an encampment formed in, as the name implies, the shape of a square.  Depending on the number of soldiers, each side contained rows of men up to 4 or 5 ranks deep.  The flags, officers, horses, artillery and provisions were located in the center of the square and provided optimum protection of men and supplies, especially the horses.  If an attack occurred, the side engaged with the enemy could open ranks and allow the mounted troops from within the center to deploy quickly through the opening in quick pursuit of the enemy.

An Ingenious Solution to a Royal Pain

This had been an especially miserable day for Private Isaac Daniel and Capt. Hosbrook as both were ill.  We don’t know what Daniels problem was, but poor Capt. Hosbrook had a severe case of diarrhea.  Had Hosbrook been a student of history he could have minimized his discomforts by doing what another military leader in a similar situation had done 700 years before.  While on a crusade to the Holy Land in the 13th century, King Richard the Lion Heart had a very severe case of diarrhea.  Not wanting to slow his march and because it took time to remove his armor and undergarments, sword, etc, he had the back of his uniform cut out so he could “accommodate expediency.”  Luckily for Capt. Hosbrook they only had to march three miles that day so he didn’t need to resort to such an extreme measure.  Either way both men King Richard and Captain Hosbrook should be commended for their intestinal fortitude and putting duty before dooty.  Puns intended.

The men were just 39 miles from Ft. Amanda

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 Faces of Fort Amanda

Captain Daniel Hosbrook
Commander at Ft. Amanda
Feb. 28 - Aug. 2,  1813

Despite the patriotic fervor of the times, not everyone called to duty was fit for service.   In addition to physical health or mental conditions that exempted men from serving, individuals could also be exempted for personal objections to the war, certain occupations, finding a substitute and even poor dental hygiene.

Conscientious Objectors and Stagecoach Drivers

Automatically exempted for duty were jail keepers, judges of the Supreme and Common Pleas Courts of the State of Ohio, custom house officials and their clerks, post officers, stagecoach drivers engaged in United States postal service and ferry-men employed at a ferry or post road.  In addition, clergy of all denominations were automatically exempted upon proof of occupation.  If an individual was a member of the “Society of Friends” (Quakers), Mennonites  and Dunkers he was exempted as a conscientious objector however exemption wasn’t automatic.   In Maryland for example, it became effective only after the individual paid a three dollar fee with the money used to cover the cost of a certificate that was issued explaining the reason for the exemption and for compensation for the services of the militia captain who had to complete the paperwork, etc.  In addition, a man could even be exempted if he was considered morally unfit for duty. 

Find a Sub

Another way a man could be exempted from service was if he could find someone to serve in his place, a substitute.  Those individuals could pay or otherwise compensate someone to serve in his place or as was often the case, a family member served for them. Re-enlisting or serving as a substitute was an excellent way to earn extra money, particularly single men without families to support.

No Front Teeth? Can’t Use You

If you had few, or better yet, no front teeth, you might be exempted from service.  During the War of 1812, a rifle cartridge consisted of a paper tube filled with black powder and a lead ball.  To fire his musket, the man needed to be able to tear or bite off the end of the paper tube to pour the powder and ball down the barrel.  With few or no teeth, the man might have a problem opening the paper tube which, in a battle situation could have put not only him but his comrades in compromising situation.

The winter of 1813 had been a particularly brutal one in terms of snowfall and bitter cold temperatures, however on this day there was a welcome change as the clouds lifted and the sun was shining.   Being a Sunday and normally a day of rest, the officers had their men practice for a parade, not a parade as we typically think of it, but simply marching in different formations.  Once their practicing was over, the men were released to go back to their quarters. Schillinger, his paperwork done for the day, was given an overnight furlough with orders to return to camp the following day.  He packed some belongings and left Cincinnati after the parade

Meanwhile at Fort Amanda 127 Miles to the North

Lt. Col. Pogue was busy preparing for his regiments discharge papers, their term of enlistment about to expire.  He sent his regimental paymaster, George Botts to Ft. Meigs to see what General Harrisons plans were for paying off his regiment.  The order reads: 

 ‘Sir, you are ordered to leave the company you belong to and proceed on to Head Quarters at the rapids of the Miami of the Lake to receive from Gen. Harrison such instructions as he may please to give relative  to the pay due the officers and men of my regiment up to the end of their service.”

Schillinger said goodbye to his family and returned to Cincinnati early that morning.   He noted in his journal that day that several men had been exempted from service for various types of disabilities.  He doesn’t elaborate on the types of disabilities however some of the more common were individuals who were lame, blind, deaf, etc.  And while medical exemptions could exclude a man from service, obtaining one was not all that easy.  The man had to first be examined by a military doctor then by a civilian doctor and only then could he be granted what today would be a 4F classification.

            Around  9 o’clock Tuesday morning the men performed their first “Grand Parade.”    Unlike the typical parade of simply marching, the Grand Parade, was a more formal affair normally presented for visiting dignitaries or high ranking officers.  If all three companies were involved in the Grand Parade that morning it must have been quite an impressive show. The sights and sounds of the men marching down the street to the patriotic music of the fife and drums, the sergeants barking orders to the men to stay in formation, flags waving, crowds cheering and children running alongside hoping for a glance from one of the soldiers, it surely must have been a sight to behold.    

            
Immediately following the parade, several of the men were given a 24 hour pass to go home.  Lt. Davis and Ensign Schillinger remained in camp to tend to the business of selecting the non commissioned officers of the company.  Officers received commissions to serve as such from their respective states.   The “non-com’s” on the other hand were non-commissioned officers; the sergeants and corporals who were either elected by a popular vote of their peers, or they were appointed to the positions by the officers of the company.  Officers generally preferred the latter method because they could select men based on their qualifications rather than on popularity.  After all, men were needed who could be impartial and/or even impersonal when it came to things like issuing orders or dispensing disciplinary actions.

Selecting Officers

Schillinger and Davis had been observing the men for the past few days and by now had a fairly good idea of who would serve best and in what capacity.  The men they selected to serve as sergeants were David Van Winkle, Lawrence Swing, Baxter Broadwell and Jacob Bradbury.  The corporals selected were William Johnson, Robert Erwin, Isaac Covalt and William Patterson.  Because of their musical talents, Lewis Bayley was appointed  drummer and Robert Ross, a fifer.  Company musicians played a very important role during the war.  Their music helped inspire the soldiers with patriotic tunes, helped break the monotony of long marches and provided entertainment around the campfire at the end of the day.  They also served as signalers on the battlefield as well as helping tend to the wounded.  

Can't March Without Music

Because of their musical talents, Lewis Bayley  (see picture below) was appointed  drummer and Robert Ross, a fifer.  Company musicians played a very important role during the war.  Their music helped inspire the soldiers with patriotic tunes, helped break the monotony of long marches and provided entertainment around the campfire at the end of the day.  They also served as signalers on the battlefield as well as helping tend to the wounded.  

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  Hosbrooks Officers and Non-Coms

Captain Daniel Hosbrook
Ft. Amanda

 Daniel Hosbrook was the 28 year old Captain at Ft. Amanda.  He was born in Morris County, New Jersey on Aug. 3, 1785.

Lewis Bayley
Musician at Ft. Amanda

Lewis Bayley was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire on Aug. 24, 1784.   The day after his twenty first birthday, he packed up his belongings and started walking to Ohio; 800 miles away. He was the company fifer.





David VanWinkle - At 43 years old, David Van Winkle, farmer, was the second oldest of the Holbrook’s officers at Fort Amanda.  He was born in Morris County, New Jersey on Sept. 24, 1770.

Lawrence Swing - Twenty three year old Lawrence Swing, farmer, served as a sergeant in Holbrook’s company at Ft. Amanda.  He was born in Pittsgrove Township, Adams County, New Jersey on September 30, 1790.

 Baxter Broadwell - Baxter Broadwell, a teacher by trade, was born Jan. 5, 1788 in Morris County, N.J. and moved to the Clermont County, Oh. before 1810.  He held the rank of sergeant in Captain Hosbrook’s company at Ft. Amanda.

 Jacob Bradbury - Jacob Bradbury was born in Buxton, York County, Maine on Nov. 8, 1783, the son of Benjamin Bradbury sr. and Mary (Elden) Bradbury. 

 Isaac Covalt - Isaac Covalt was a twenty year old corporal in Captain Holbrook’s company at Ft. Amanda. He  was born in 1793 at Covalt's Station near Cincinnati,
 
William Patterson -  Forty five year old corporal William Patterson was the oldest of Hosbrooks officers and 14 years older than his company commander. He was born in Delaware around 1768.

 Robert Ross (Drummer)

William Johnson  (Corporal)

Robert Erwin (Corporal)