Saturday, August 21, 1999
Photos depict Ohio's infantry
Civil War display adds re-enactors
BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CAMP DENNISON — Civil War Col. Azzariah Doan led the 100 soldiers of Ohio's 79th Volunteer Infantry — but never carried a gun because of his Quaker beliefs.
Gib Van Zandt was the regiment's 10-year-old drummer and messenger. At the end of the war, President Andrew Johnson honored Gib with a choice — an appointment to West Point or an Army horse, Fanny. He took the horse he had named after a girl he met in the war.
The men of Ohio's 79th Infantry — including Col. Doan and Gib — are depicted in a 100-photo display opening this weekend at the Camp Dennison Ohio Civil War Museum on Ohio 126 between Milford and Miamiville. The regiment is composed largely of soldiers from Southwest Ohio counties — many from Clermont County, said Gary Knepp, a museum spokesman and Clermont County attorney.
“The regiment mustered at Camp Dennison in August of 1862. The (Confederate) siege of Cincinnati in September, 1862 interrupted their train ing and they saw some action in it. They went through Tennessee, stayed at Carthage, Tenn., and saw action in the Battle of Reseaca in Georgia and in Bentonville in North Carolina,” Mr. Knepp said.
Memorabilia from the regiment is displayed. “We have an original piece of hardtack from the 79th on loan to us from the Clinton County Museum, some binoculars and sunglasses from the 79th, some medals — one that was struck in honor of Col. Doan by a veterans' organization,” Mr. Knepp said.
Many of the photographs have been made available by Mildred Thomas of Springfield, Ohio, a descendant of the colonel. He was from Wilmington. Others are from the United States Military History In stitute in Carlisle, Pa.
The new display opens today in conjunction with weekend re-enactments portraying Ohio soldiers at the camp 130 years ago. “The re-enactors will even give spectators an opportunity to learn marching and Civil War-era military drill,” said Mike Stretch, who is helping coordinate the event.
The “training sessions” will be 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 4 p.m. today and Sunday. Spectators can tour the camp and talk with the soldiers to learn about Ohio's contribution in the war, Mr. Stretch said.
Mr. Knepp said the photo display offers many pictures of individuals in Ohio's 79th, but, concentrates on three men in particular — Col. Doan, Gib and Henry Clark Corbin.
As a Quaker, Col. Doan faced a religious dilemma because the sect practiced pacifism. Quakers also were aboli tionists. “They had great debates over what to do in the war and eventually left it up to each person's conscience whether to join the cause. Col. Doan joined and directed his troops, but did not himself fight or carry a gun,” Mr. Knepp said.
Mr. Corbin was from Clermont County's Monroe Township. After his days with the 79th, he went on to become adjutant general of the Army in the Spanish American War. The rank is equivalent today to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Corbin was born a few miles from Ulysses S. Grant's birthplace in Point Pleasant along U.S. 52 in Clermont County. It was President Grant who commissioned him, Mr. Knepp said.
President McKinley said of Gen. Corbin: “He was the man most responsible for the American victory in the Spanish American War.”
IF YOU GO
• What: Camp Dennison Ohio Civil War Museum.
• Where: Ohio 126, between Milford and Miamiville.
• Museum hours: Sundays through October, 1-5 p.m.
• Civil War camp re-enactments: Today and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Admission: Free; donations accepted.
• Information: 576-6327.
ABOUT THE CAMP
Camp Dennison was one of the largest training and recruiting camps of the Union Army. In the Civil War's four years, more than 75,000 volunteers from Ohio mustered at the site along the Little Miami River.
The camp also was the site of one of the largest Civil War military hospitals, with 2,300 beds. For a time, Confederate prisoners of war were held at the camp. The Camp Dennison Ohio Civil War Museum is in a building built in 1804 by Revolutionary War veteran Christian Waldschmidt. It was used by the Army during the camp's existence. The buildings and grounds are owned by the Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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