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This was recorded in the Carroll Journal, Carrollton, Ohio, Thursday, February 27, 1936.
Carrollton's Last Surviving Veteran Recalls Campaigns During Civil War.
The call of the bugle, the steady tread of feet, the gay drum major, the colorfully uniformed band, the rat-a-tat of the drum and martial music has always been soul stirring; or possibly it is just a heart stirring roundup of all faculties, a quickening of the pulse and the feeling of wanting to join the procession. It has come to all at one time or another. Then, naturally, we are stirred by stories...
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This was recorded in the Carroll Journal, Carrollton, Ohio, Thursday, February 27, 1936.
Carrollton's Last Surviving Veteran Recalls Campaigns During Civil War.
The call of the bugle, the steady tread of feet, the gay drum major, the colorfully uniformed band, the rat-a-tat of the drum and martial music has always been soul stirring; or possibly it is just a heart stirring roundup of all faculties, a quickening of the pulse and the feeling of wanting to join the procession. It has come to all at one time or another. Then, naturally, we are stirred by stories of the battle fields, the hardships on marches, the hair-raising experiences. There is a glamor about it we can't resist. So the hero of wars is more idolized than the hero of discovery, medicine or science. And now the feet of those who engaged in the Civil War are rapidly being stilled. They go forth to conflict even in the mind's eye. Only here and there do we have the privilege of hearing the old boys in blue recite the tales of victory, defeat or disaster. Only one of these honored men is with us in Carrollton.
James M. Thompson was born in Harlem Springs, Lee Township, Carroll County, Ohio, September 29, 1845. He was a son of Morgan and Mary (Dunlap) Thompson. his advent into this world took place in a three roomed long house. At that time the timber predominated over the cleared field and young Jim grew up in a world of adventure in the deep dark woods. Then came the scalping Indiana stage and later on the honest-to-goodness soldier. Mr. Thompson stated to the writer a few days ago that he first attended school in Harlem in a one roomed affair. some of the teachers were Bill Cheatham, who according to Philip Herold, also taught in Carrollton; Sam Baker, a brother of Rev. Sheridan Baker the noted evangelist, who preached in Carrollton, was one of my instructors. He was a big, husky statesman and he kept order and the roughnecks of the school knew better than raise his ire. "My last school teacher." said Mr. Thompson, "was the late Mary (Hays) Richards, the mother of Miss Mabel, Howard and homer Richards. The first school house we attended was a log affair. Before that time we met around at peoples' homes and at times in sheds. Then I went to school later in Frog Hollow.
"It's funny how one remembers certain things about his childhood," said Mr. Thompson. "For instance we had a teacher by the name of James Philpot. When was had the spelling lessons we stood up in a row and took turns, often spelling from the book. I became confused and lost my place. Philpot said he would lick me if I didn't locate my place the next round. Well, I didn't and for three times around, I didn't and I got whaled each time. I never forgot that nor did I want to forgive. It was a great treat for the scholar to be given the honor of carrying in water or coal, fixing the fire and carrying out ashes.
"Father had visions of me getting an education" he continued, "so I was sent off to Harlem Seminary. One of my teachers there was the late James Telfer, whose widow is still a resident of Carrollton. My seminary education didn't last long as recruits were being called to fill up gaps in the Union Army. I left school in 1864. I went to Alliance, enlisted and was sent to Columbus. I was given my choice of regiments and for some reason I thought I would pick one whose membership I knew nothing of, so I selected the 66th O.V.I. which was made up of men who came from around Urbana. This outfit had seen so much service the regiment was badly depleted. Of the 900 men only 150 remained. Along with 200 others we were sent to northern Georgia and became a part of the siege of Atlanta. This regiment had been through the three day fighting at Gettysburg. "The regiment was made of men from Logan and Champlain counties. In after years I attended the yearly reunions held in Urbana. There is not an officer left of the regiment and I'm the only one of the company surviving. There are not more than 15 of the regiment living today.
"After the siege of Atlanta we moved on towards Savannah. I remember one night when on picket duty an experience which is engraved on my mind so vividly that I can still see the man standing with his hands high above his head. I was standing duty on a roadway which had been littered with trees to keep the enemy from making any progress. I had heard a noise and saw a form approaching. I yelled "Who goes there?" Hearing no reply I yelled "Throw up your hands and don't move or I'll drill you through." the fellow threw up his hands and in an agonizing voice said, "For God's sake don't shoot." I didn't and he was taken into camp. He was one of the private scouts in Gen Joe Johnston's Army.
"We were ordered to forage for our food and clothing as we were so far from any decent communication we just couldn't be supplied. I think this foraging and destruction of property, taking of food, supplies, clothing, etc, was doing more to end the war than battles. it was depleting the Confederate supplies, the army already being in desperate straits. Of course we destroyed a number of cotton gins and took all horses and cattle we could find. Yes, was is a terrible thing. "While around Atlanta I would often get off for a few hours and visit the boys of the 80th, 32nd and 98th as I knew so many of them. "you ask me about being afraid. Well sir, for some season, ?I was never the least bit scared when I went into battle. I just seemed to have a hunch that no lead from a johnny's rifle would get into my body. however, many of our boys would often say before a battle, "I don't think I'll get back and if I don't won't you send this home or do that for me and let them know I'm through, and so often it happened just as they predicted or felt. "At the siege around Savannah we couldn't do much along the bombarding line as their guns were of a longer range than ours. "The battle of Bentonville was a nightmare to me. The land was low, marshy, swampy and we were not only hungry but short of clothing and shoes. I was going barefoot right along. For three days we messed around in this Bentonville sector and then marched on for two days to Goldsburgh where we got food and clothing. Gen. Joe Johnston and his army slipped away from us at Bentonville leaving their dead and wounded. We could only dig a few feet deep as it was so wet and swampy no decent burial could be made. This took place March 19, 20 and 21. Our army days ended in April 1865 when Gen. Johnston surrendered at Greenville, North Carolina.
"We were at Raleigh, North Carolina when we received word of the assassination of President Lincoln, and it cast a pall over us all. This happened a few days after Lee surrendered and the war ended. With the balance of the boys of the 66th I went to Washington May 1, 1865 and after the Grand Review in the city we were discharged. "I came back to Harlem and in November, 1868 was married to Mary Tinlin, who was a sister of George S. Tinlin. She died June 30, 1920. Our children: Dr. W. S. Thompson, who died in Girard in 1917; Mrs. Laura White, Mrs. Jeanette Noble and John. My daughter, Mrs. Noble is taking wonderful care of me. No daughter could be more considerate of a parent than she. "Up until 1920 I remained on the farm and worked at the job of tilling the soil. Then I moved to Carrollton and am passing my remaining days in my home on Third Street NE, next door to the high school building. I enjoy seeing the youngsters racing back and forth and love to listen to their laughter. I was once the same as they but that day has long since gone.
"You ask me how I stack up on the republican presidential candidates. I don't mind telling you that his man Landon looks pretty good to me. I could also support the newspaper man from Chicago, Col. Frank Knox. I enjoy reading the papers and I want to keep up with current events as long as possible. "Great changes have taken place in the 90 years I have been a resident of earth. The changes have been so many they are bewildering. not many youngsters nowadays get up in the morning to find snow on the floor of their bedroom, as I once did. "This is rather strange. Thirty years after the close of the war I received a letter from Washington stating I had been underpaid to the amount of $6 and had been short-rationed that amount and they sent me a voucher for $12. Well in some things the government certainly does make a careful checkup." Mr. Thompson is rather a remarkable man. He is in full charge of all his faculties at the age of 90. He reads a great deal, his eyes are excellent and he hears as well as any young person. He sleeps well and enjoys the best of health. As he puts it, "I'm just like an old piece of machinery, worn out. Can't expect anything else. I'm living on borrowed time." And this is the story of one of the three last surviving Civil War soldiers in Carroll County. May God's richest blessing attend him.
His obituary in the Carroll Journal, Carrollton, Ohio, Thursday, June 23, 1938.
TOWN'S LAST SURVIVING G. A. R. VETERAN PASSES, Comrade James Thompson Dies At Third Street Home From Infirmities Of Age.
James M. Thompson, last surviving veteran of the Civil War residing in Carrollton, died yesterday morning, June 22, at 9 o'clock in his home on Third Street NE, following an illness which confined him to his home for the past 18 months. Death was due to the infirmities of age. He was 93. Mr. Thompson was born in Harlem Springs, Lee Twp., September 19, 1845, a son of Morgan and Mary (Dunlap) Thompson. He attend school in Harlem Springs. Among the teachers at that time were William Cheatham, who also taught in Carrollton; Samuel Baker, noted evangelist and preacher, and Mary (Hayes) Richards, mother of Miss Mabel, Howard and Homer Richards of Carrollton. Later he attended Harlem Springs Seminary. While a student there, recruits were being called to fill gaps in the Union Army engaged in the Civil War, and Mr. Thompson left school in 1864, went to Alliance and enlisted, was sent to Columbus, where he became a member of the 66th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The 66th was badly depleted, owing to long and active service, only 150 remaining of their 900 men. With other recruits he was sent to northern Georgia and became a part of the siege of Atlanta. The regiment moved on to Savannah, to Bentonville, then to Goldsburgh. His regiment's service ended in April, 1865, and after the grand review at Washington, D. C., May 1, 1865, was discharged. Mr. Thompson returned to Harlem Springs and in November, 1868, was married to Mary Tinlin, sister of George S. Tinlin of Carrollton. She died June 30, 1920. In that year Mr. Thompson left the farm and removed to the Carrollton home where he died.
Surviving children are Mrs. Laura White, John M. Thompson and Mrs. Jeanette Noble, all of Carrollton. Mr. Thompson, is survived by eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. A son, Dr. W. S. Thompson, died October 10, 1917. Four brothers and one sister preceded him in death. Mr. Thompson was a member of the Harlem Springs Presbyterian Church and was the last to serve as commander of Harlem Springs Post No. 624, G. A. R. Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 1:30 in the home, to be followed by services at 2 o'clock in the Presbyterian Church at Harlem Springs. His pastor, Rev. B. J. Yorke, will officiate. The Odd Fellows, of which he was a member, will hold a service at the home this evening, and Carroll Post American Legion will hold a service at the grave. A trio composed of Joe Kerr, Carl Guess and Doyle Ferrell will sing at the service here Friday afternoon. Interment will be made in Harlem Springs Cemetery with Blazer & Graham in charge.
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