We spent the better part of a month at Camp Taylor near Cleveland learning to be soldiers. Finally, on the 22 May 1861, we left Camp Taylor and marched to the Cleveland Railroad Depot. We were cheered the entire way by large crowds of citizens. We boarded a train to and traveled to Columbus, Ohio where we received arms, uniforms, and other equipment. That same day, we got on a second train, heading east, and soon arrived in Zanesville, Ohio on May 23 at about 4:00 AM.
Without any time for sleep, the 1000 men of the 14th Ohio set to work loading onto two river steamers in a dense fog. As soon as the morning sun burnt off the fog, the steamers chugged their way down the Muskingum river for Marietta, Ohio where we arrived late in the afternoon of the same day. We set up camp at Camp Putnam, just north of Marietta, until the 27th of May, learning more about drill and discipline.
27 May 1861, Historical Data Systems: when it left for Parkersburg, VA, at which place, for the first time, the regimental flag was unfurled in the enemy’s country. It was double-quicked along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, the bridges of which were being destroyed by retreating Confederates. The railroad was diligently guarded to prevent further destruction.
27 May, 1861, Chase, when we again embarked on a large steamer and steamed down the Ohio river to Parkersburg, VA, where we arrived the same day, disembarked, and at once stationed a guard over the telegraph office. The regiment that night camped on one of those many large hills just a little east of the town; this being the terminus of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, it was regarded as important to obtain possession of this road in this section of the State.
27 May 1861, Chase, On May 27, we left Camp Putnam and boarded a large river steamer and steamed down the Ohio River to Parkersburg, VA, where we arrived the same day. There we unfurled our Regimental Flag in enemy territory (West Virginia was still part of Virginia in 1861) where we camped on a hill a little east of town., guarding bridges & telegraph office, and the railroad, which the retreating Rebels were trying to destroy. Parkersburg, Virginia, where we arrived the same day, disembarked, and at once stationed a guard over the telegraph office. The regiment that night camped on one of those many large hills just a little east of the town.
