History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry   By: R. C. Rankin

Written by CAPT. R. C. RANKIN.

RIPLEY, OHIO: J. C. Newcomb, Printer. 1881.

History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry.

It being suggested that a History of the Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry be written, the honor was conferred upon me. Not being a historian or even a letter writer, I feel myself entirely incompetent to do justice to the Regiment that has done so much good service. In writing a historical account of the organization of this Regiment, I shall have to rely almost exclusively on memory, owing to the fact that all the Regiment's notes and papers have been captured, as will be seen before concluding this narrative.

The Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry was recruited on an order emanating from the War Department, that Gov. Todd, of Ohio, would raise one Regiment of Cavalry, for "Border Service," the Ohio River then being the boundary.

The organization of this Regiment was commenced and the duty of the organization was conferred on Major Malcolm McDowell, Paymaster U. S. A., and I may add here, that there is no visitor more welcome at the camp of the Seventh O. V. C., than the gallant old grandfather of the Reg't, as he is styled here. The counties ordered to raise Companies were as follows: Hamilton, three; Clermont, one; Brown, one; Adams, one; Scioto, one; Lawrence, one; Gallia, one; Meigs, one; Washington, one; Monroe, one. Lawrence and Monroe failing to raise the companies, their places were supplied by raising two in Gallia and one in Athens. As soon as recruiting was fairly under way, Major McDowell was retired and resumed his orignal duties as Paymaster.

Recruiting was very lively, and the Companies were all filled by the first week in September, and the Regiment was then organized as follows:

Colonel, Israel Garrard; Lieut. Colonel, George G. Minor; Majors, Wm. L. Raney, Norton, and James McIntire; Adjutant, T. F. Allen; Q. M., W. M. R. Jackson; C. S., John McColgin; Surgeon, Isaac Train; Asst. Surgeons, Tullis and Barrett.

Non Com., Field and Staff. S. M., B. P. Stacy; Q. M. S., Geo. M. Ross; C. S., B. F. Powers; H. S., James Saffron; Saddler, Serg't Albert G. Sells.

Captains Wm. A. Simpson, A. S. Brownfield, Warren, Campbell, Solomon L. Green, Lindsey, Ashburn, Higley, Wm. Lewis, R. C. Rankin, Eels, and John Leaper.

First Lieutenants A. Hall, Santemire, Sayers, Moore, W. D. Ketterman, Copeland, Nichols, Tripp, Long, Shaw, Carr, McNight.

Second Lieutenants A. N. Rich, Wm. Burton, Martin Shuler, Murphy, John V. Srofe, O. H. Eyler, Trago, Smith, Chase, Wambledorf and Johnson.

The Companies rendezvoused in the counties in which they were raised and received millitary instruction from their respective Commanders for several weeks.

In the meantime, Co. E, Capt. R. C. Rankin's Company, quartered at Ripley, Ohio, rendered valuable service to the city of Maysville, Ky., in defending her against John Morgan's command, and on the night of September 20th, 1862, crossed the Ohio River and marched to Brookville, Ky., a distance of twenty five miles, and participated in the attack and the driving from the place, the rebels under Basil Duke, who was engaged in paroling the citizens carried away by him from Augusta, which place he had captured and burned the day previous. Capt. R. C. Rankin, with Co. E and a squad of mounted citizens from Ripley, Ohio, made a charge on the place, capturing one rebel as they went in, and having one man killed by the retreating rebels. The gallant Duke did not stand upon the order of his going, but just "went." This may be recorded as the first blood the Seventh saw in battle.