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Decendants of Henry Vandruff, Jr.
6. HENRY2 VANDRUFF, JR. (HENRY1)
was born
Abt. 1804 in Greene County, Pennsylvania44, and died Unknown
in
Unknown. He married (1) OLIVE RINEHART, "OLIVIA" Bef. 1831 in Unknown.
She was born Abt. 1804 in Greene County, Pennsylvania45, and
died May
07, 1863 in Greene County, Pennsylvania46. He married (2)
REBECCA
JOHNSON February 13, 1878 in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania47. She
was born
Abt. 1832 in Unknown, Pennsylvania48, and died Unknown in
Unknown.
Notes for HENRY VANDRUFF, JR.:
Transcription of information from THE CORNERSTONE CLUES
Vol. VII, No. 3, p. 88
(provided via FCGS)
1830 Census, Cumberland Twp.
Henry Vandruff
1 m under 5
1 m 10-15
1 m 20-30
1 f under 5
1 f 20-30
(same information from extraction by William A. Walter, Independence, MO
from Roll # 162, p. 326 except name spelled "Vanroff")
(12/26/94)
Transcription of 1840 Census Extraction by William A. Walter, Independence, MO
Jefferson Township, Greene County, PA, Roll # 144, p. 127
Henry Vandruff (Except name spelled "Vandroop")
1 male under 5, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 30-40
2 females under 5, 2 females 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 30-40
Transcription of 1850 Census extraction provided by
Cornerstone Genealogical Society
Jefferson Twp, Greene County, PA
VANDRUFF
Henry46 farmer
Olivia46
Elizabeth 19
Matilda17
Joshua 14
Arpha10
Mariah 9
Minerva 7
Henry Clay 6
(9/30/94)
Extraction from the 1860 Federal Census
Jefferson Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M653 Roll: 1114 Page: 530
Dwelling 821, Family 839
July 25, 1860
Vandruff, Henry, age 54, b. PA
Vandruff, Olivia, age 54, b. PA
Vandruff, Orpha, age 20, b. PA
Vandruff, Maria, age 18, b. PA
Vandruff, Minerva, age 16, b. PA
Vandruff, Henry, age 15, b. PA
(6/17/2003)
Extraction from the 1870 Federal Census
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M593 Roll: 1348 Page: 172
Line 39, Dwelling 68, Family 71
June 13, 1870
Vandruff, Henry, age 64, lawyer, b. PA
Mofford, E(illegible), female, age 35, keeps house
(5/17/2004)
Extraction from the 1880 Federal Census
Online at www.familysearch.com
Waynesburg, Greene, Pennsylvania
Family History Library Film 1255133
NA Film Number T9-1133
Page Number 267B
Henry VANDRUFF Self M Male W 74 PA Gentleman NJ NJ
Rebecca VANDRUFF Wife M Female W 48 PA Keeping House PA PA
(3/31/2003)
More About HENRY VANDRUFF, JR.:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Fact 1: August 18, 1997, Submitted Henryvjr.ftw to World Family Tree
More About OLIVE RINEHART, "OLIVIA":
Burial: May 1863, Vandruff Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Greene, PA49
Fact 3: Headstone says "Allive, d. 5-7-1863, age 59, wife of Henry Vandruff Jr.49
Marriage Notes for HENRY VANDRUFF and REBECCA JOHNSON:
Transcription of Information From THE CORNERSTONE CLUES
Vol. 5, 1878
Marriages
Feb. 13 Henry Van Druff and Rebecca Johnston, both of Waynesburg, married by Rev. George Fraser.
(9/3/94)
Children of HENRY VANDRUFF and OLIVE RINEHART are:
i. ELIZABETH3 VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1831, Unknown50; d. Unknown, Unknown; m. UNKNOWN CHAFFIN, Unknown, Unknown; b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
Notes for ELIZABETH VANDRUFF:
Possible listing Extraction from the 1860 Federal Census
Whiteley Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M653 Roll: 1114 Page: 853
Line 39, Dwelling 1853, Family 1889
September 14, 1860
Marion Chalfen, age 27, merchant, b. PA
Elizabeth Chalfen, age 29, b. PA
(and from page 854, line 1 and 2)
M. A. Chalfan, age 4, female, b. PA
Samantha Chalfan, age 2, b. PA
(12/29/2003)
More About ELIZABETH VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
More About UNKNOWN CHAFFIN:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
31. ii. JOSHUA R. VAN DRUFF, b. March 31, 1837, Greene County, Pennsylvania; d. March 30, 1885, Valley Falls, Jefferson, Kansas.
32. iii. MATILDA VANDRUFF, b. March 1835, Unknown, Pennsylvania; d. Bef. 1910, Unknown.
iv. MARIAH VANDRUFF, "MARIA", b. May 30, 1841, Greene County, Pennsylvania51; d. May 11, 1892, Greene County, Pennsylvania52.
Notes for MARIAH VANDRUFF, "MARIA":
Extraction from 1880 Census in the files of Esther McAfee
Greene County, PA
Cumberland Township
Vandruff, Mariah, 48 years, housekeeper
Household of Heatin Soure
Born in PA
Mother born PA, father born PA
(1/7/95)
More About MARIAH VANDRUFF, "MARIA":
Burial: May 1892, Cavalry Baptist Church Cemetery, Morgan Twp., Greene County, PA53
33. v. MINERVA VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1843, Greene County, Pennsylvania; d. Abt. January 1905, Unknown.
vi. HENRY CLAY VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1844, Greene County, Pennsylvania54; d. January 09, 1865, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee55.
Notes for HENRY CLAY VANDRUFF:
Transcription of Excerpts From
Portrait and Biographical Record of Guernsey County, Ohio
Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co.
1895
Ninety-Seventh O. V. I.
This regiment was organized at Zanesville, Ohio, September 2, 1862. The official list of battles in which they bore a part is as follows:
Perrysville, Ky., October 8, 1862; Stone River, Tenn., December 31, 1862; Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 25, 1863; Rocky Face Ridge, Ga., May 5, 1864; Dalton, Ga., May 9, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 13, 1864; Adamsville, Ga., May 17, 1864; Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864; New Hope Church, Ga., May 27, 1864; Kenesaw
Mountain, Ga., June 9, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., (special assault), June 22, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., (general assault), June 27, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864; Atlanta, Ga., July 28 to September 2, 1864; Jonesboro, Ga., August 31, 1864; Lovejoy Station, Ga., September 2, 1864; Spring Hill,
Tenn., November 29, 1864; Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864; Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864.
Later text:
Company A
Capts. James McCormick, William E. Rosemond, Andrew Arrick; Lieuts. John H. Carlisle, William L. McKesson; Joseph C. Hughes, John M. Scott, Benjamin F. Brill, George N. Osler, Hezekiah Teterick, James H. McCoy, Henry C. Vandruff (died from wounds at Nashville, Tenn.), ....
(11/5/95)
Transcription of Excerpts from
Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio
in the War Of The Rebellion
1861-1866
Vol. VII
87th-108th Regiments - Infantry
Cincinnati
The Ohio Valley Press
1888
(pages 321-324)
Ninety-Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Three Years Service
This Regiment was organized at Zanesville, O., September 2, 1862, to serve three years. The members whose term of service would have expired previous to October 1, 1865, were mustered out June 10, 1865, and the remaining members were transferred to the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Ohio Infantry, in accordance with orders from the War Department.
The official list of battles in which this Regiment bore an honorable part is not yet published by the War Department, but the following list has been compiled after careful research during the preparation of this work:
(the listing of battles is identical to that shown above in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Guernsey County, O.)
(The following is excerpted from the roster)
Name: Henry C. Vandruff
Rank: Sergeant
Age: 18
Date of Entering Service: Aug. 1, 1862
Period of Service: 3 yrs.
Remarks: Appointed from Corporal Jan. 1, 1865; died Jan. 9, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., of wounds received Dec. 16, 1864, in battle of Nashville, Tenn.
(12/2/95)
Transcription of articles from the
Greene County Messenger, Greene County, PA
Commemorating the Greene County
Bicentennial year of 1996
February 16, 1996, p. 3/16
Henry C. Van Druff, Civil War Soldier
by William C. Van Druff
Mt. Morris, PA
When I was growing up at home, I remember hearing my grandmother tell of an ancestor who was in the Civil War, been taken prisoner and that he had died in prison.
But, I found out this was wrong information that had been passed down from one generation to the next and with nothing written down, it shows how easily things get mixed up and how family history gets confused and lost.
So, years later, my wife and I were invited to go with Mr. and Mrs. John Eckard, who formed one of Greene County's Civil War re-enactment groups, to take part in the centennial re-enactment of Pickett's charge at the Gettysburg battlefield.
Between the battles and ceremonies, John and I were talking about my ancestor, and he told me how to obtain Civil War records. When we returned home, I wrote to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and was surprised at what they sent me. I couldn't believe how many records they had and how complete they were.
So began my search for all I could find out about Henry C. Van Druff of Company A 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Van Druff was born in Greene County just outside of Waynesburg on a family farm settled in the late 1700s by his grandfather, Henry Van Druff Sr. Henry C. was born in April, 1844, son of Henry Jr. and Allive Van Druff.
In August of 1862, he went to Fairview, Ohio, and Volunteered for the Union Army. I have never found out why he went to Ohio to join since there were recruiting stations in Greene County.
He was mustered in at Zanesville on Sept. 1, 1862, being placed in the Fourth Army Corps for three years for a wage of $200 and a bounty or bonus of $25. Van Druff was in what they called the Army of the Cumberland under the command of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans on Dec. 20, 1862.
My wife and I made a couple of trips to Zanesville and to Columbus to the state library for information.
There is not much to see at Zanesville, but we got plenty lot of information at the state library on the unit.
After they organized and received their training, the company moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, by railroad. They then crossed into Covington, Ky., by steamboat, where they had their first meeting of the enemy, a very small skirmish, they called it back then.
From there, they moved on the the Battle of Perrysville, Ky., a battle that started over a waterhole. Before it was over, it was one of the worst fought on Kentucky soil, with the Union forcing the Confederates to leave Kentucky. Though they still say no one really won the battle, the North, under the direction of Buell, lost 845
soldiers, had 2851 wounded and 515 were listed as captured or missing. The South, under Bragg, had 510 killed and 2635 wounded. Buell began with about 58,000 and Bragg began the battle with 20,000 Confederates.
From that battle, the 97th headed to Nashville where they reorganized and did some training and drilling before meeting the Confederates at Murfreesboro and Stone River, another hard-fought battle that lasted several days.
The 97th continued to the Battle of Chattanooga and on Sept. 9, 1863 they crossed the Tennessee River before the main army and drove the Confederate sharpshooters from the town. For this gallant move, Gen. Rosecrans assigned the regiment and brigade to garrison duty as a tribute for their action.
While doing this special duty, they were able to miss the Battle of Chickamauga.
The regiment, with its special divisions, was sent with General Granger's troops to return to Knoxville to relieve Gen. Burnside, who was under heavy attack by Gen. Longstreet's Rebel corps. After this long march, several of the men arrived without shoes and no winter clothing, but they somehow endured. Living off what they could find in the countryside and surrounding area, the company succeeded in driving the enemy out of the area.
Around May, the troops returned to Cleveland, Tenn., where they joined Gen. Sheridan's division which would then join Gen. Sherman's forces, making ready for the Atlanta Campaign.
Most of May was spent moving south toward Atlanta, fighting at such places as Red Clay, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, and at Dallas, they were under fire from May 25 until June 5.
On June 17, the enemy had been driven back to Kenesaw Mountain where they fought for several days, then on the fourth of July, the Rebels abandoned the mountain and were driven back to the Chattahoochie River.
On July 9, they marched up to Rosewell, Ga., and destroyed the factories, a major loss for the South at that time.
After the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, the 97th fought a hard battle at Peach Tree Creek and successfully routed the enemy south toward Atlanta. So pleased was Gen. Howard of how well the 97th Ohio had fought, that once again they were called in for garrison duty.
Their next battle was at Jonesboro, where they assisted in driving the enemy back to Lovejoy Station just outside Atlanta. On Sept. 2, the Union entered Atlanta and secured that city. Gen. Sherman gave them about 20 days rest.
They were sent by rail to Chattanooga, Tenn., to relieve the Pioneer Brigade on Lookout Mountain.
The 97th traveled by rail to Pulaski then on to Columbia, Tenn., to cut off Gen. Hood's Rebel Army who were trying to get to Nashville to rebuild forces. The Northern forces routed the Rebels out of Columbia and moved toward Franklin, where a devastating battle was fought.
There is still plenty of evidence of how fierce this battle was; houses with bullet holes in the porches, doors and walls of the buildings still standing.
On the 15th and 16th, the Battle of Nashville was fought. The 97th was with the Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps. They fought two hard charges on both days.
On the 16th, Henry was wounded in the leg between his ankle and Knee. By the time they got him to the hospital tent, gangrene had set in, and they had to amputate part of his leg. He died on Jan. 9, 1865 in hospital tent # 15.
If Van Druff could have made it through this battle, he probably would have made it back home as the 97th saw very little fighting after Nashville. They were mustered out on June 12, 1865.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
Greene County Messenger
February 29, 1996
p. 6
Henry C. Van Druff, Civil War Soldier, Part II
by William C. Van Druff
Mt. Morris, PA
(Ed. Note: Last week, Van Druff began his tale of searching for the truth about his ancestor, Henry C. Van Druff, and the chronology of events and battles that Henry lived through as a soldier.)
I ran into two mysteries while doing research on Henry C. Van Druff, veteran of the Civil War. The first mystery was why he went to Ohio to volunteer, and the second was where Van Druff is actually buried.
Over the period of time We were doing the research, I found out about the set of books Mr. and Mrs. James Hennen had written on the old cemeteries in Greene County.
I went to talk to them and Jim told me about the Van Druff cemetery on the family farm, which at the time, I knew nothing about. But, after several attempts, I found it in weeds and briars higher than my head.
I began to clean the area up. The stones were all upset due to poor footing, and cattle had pastured in the area over the years. In the clean-up process, I found, along with his mother's grandfather's and grandmother's stones, that there is a headstone for Henry C. also.
Now, the records from Washington, D.C. show him buried in the National Cemetery at Nashville as an unknown soldier. All of the battlefield graves were moved to the National Cemetery after the war. The person in the cemetery records office told us they could have lost the records in the move from the battlefield cemetery. Supposedly, he is buried under # 11088 marker, which we found.
I told the clerk that there was a headstone back home at the family farm, so he checked to see if there were any records of him being moved back home. We couldn't find anything, so the stone at the farm may be just a memorial to him. I don't supposed we will ever know the truth.
Several years have gone by since we started this research, and the condition of the cemetery has always bothered me. The stones were in such good condition from being protected by the brush and weeds growing over them, I just couldn't see leaving the place the way it was.
In 1995, I decided to restore the cemetery. I began in June to clean everything down to the bare soil. I removed all the stones, poured concrete footers, re-set all of the stones, sowed grass seed and put a fence around the plot.
I've learned a lot about my ancestors through this research, and I've met new relatives I didn't know about.
Most of all, though, I just wish better family records had been kept.
Since I started, some disappointing things have happened; the original family farm house has burned down, and the original log barn has been torn down to be rebuilt at another location. I was lucky to get pictures of all of them before they were gone.
Henry C. Van Druff had quite a tour of duty when you stop and realize that he had been all the way to Atlanta, Ga., and back to Nashville, Tenn., and that most of the trip was made by marching on foot. Van Druff had gone from a volunteer Private and had advanced to being a Sargent at the time of his death. I'm sorry we don't have any letters, pictures or something, but I guess it's just too late to ever expect to find anything now.
(3/13/96)
Excerpted From
Ohio Casualties in the Civil War
Vol. III, page 53
97th OVI (cont.)
NASHVILLE, TN (December 16, 1864)...The 97th Ohio is active during the battle at Nashville, especially on the second day, when Federal forces turn the left flank of the rebel line. Following this move, the center of the Southern line also falls apart, and the entire rebel army is thrown into retreat.
WOUNDED
(Excerpted from list)
Sgt. Henry C. Vandruff, Co. A (died January 9, 1865)
(12/21/96)
More About HENRY CLAY VANDRUFF:
Burial: January 1865, Vandruff Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Greene, PA56
Fact 1: Buried at National Cemetery, Nashville, TN, marker # 1108857
Fact 2: Headstone at Vandruff Cemetery says 20 yrs, 8 mo, 11 das.58
Fact 3: Headstone at Vandruff Cemetery says Member CO A, 97th Regt. OH Vol.58
Military service: August 01, 1862, Civil War, Co. A, 97th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sgt.59
34. vii. ORPHA JANE VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1845, Greene County, Pennsylvania; d. Unknown, Unknown.
viii. JOHN VANDRUFF, b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
Notes for JOHN VANDRUFF:
Possible listing
Extraction from the 1880 Federal Census
Online at www.familysearch.com
Stockton, San Joaquin, California
Family History Library Film 1254080
NA Film Number T9-0080
Page Number 71C
Enumerated with Margaret AUSTIN Other M Female W 43 AUSTRALIA --- ---
(and at least 100 others): (no explanation of why such a huge household)
John VANDRUFF Other S Male W 53 PA Laborer --- ---
(3/31/2003)
More About JOHN VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Fact 1: Poss. John Vandruff, hus. of Mary Morrison, bur. 1870 Delaware Co. OH w/5 childr60
Fact 2: Poss. John Vandruff in OH: 1850, Guernsey Co., Wills Twp61
Fact 3: Poss. John Vandruff, Stockton, San Juaquin, CA, b. 1827 in PA62
ix. MARGARET VANDRUFF, b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown; m. UNKNOWN ZIMMERMAN, Unknown, Unknown; b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
More About MARGARET VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
More About UNKNOWN ZIMMERMAN:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Notes for HENRY VANDRUFF, JR.:
Transcription of information from THE CORNERSTONE CLUES
Vol. VII, No. 3, p. 88
(provided via FCGS)
1830 Census, Cumberland Twp.
Henry Vandruff
1 m under 5
1 m 10-15
1 m 20-30
1 f under 5
1 f 20-30
(same information from extraction by William A. Walter, Independence, MO
from Roll # 162, p. 326 except name spelled "Vanroff")
(12/26/94)
Transcription of 1840 Census Extraction by William A. Walter, Independence, MO
Jefferson Township, Greene County, PA, Roll # 144, p. 127
Henry Vandruff (Except name spelled "Vandroop")
1 male under 5, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 15-20, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 30-40
2 females under 5, 2 females 5-10, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 30-40
Transcription of 1850 Census extraction provided by
Cornerstone Genealogical Society
Jefferson Twp, Greene County, PA
VANDRUFF
Henry46 farmer
Olivia46
Elizabeth 19
Matilda17
Joshua 14
Arpha10
Mariah 9
Minerva 7
Henry Clay 6
(9/30/94)
Extraction from the 1860 Federal Census
Jefferson Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M653 Roll: 1114 Page: 530
Dwelling 821, Family 839
July 25, 1860
Vandruff, Henry, age 54, b. PA
Vandruff, Olivia, age 54, b. PA
Vandruff, Orpha, age 20, b. PA
Vandruff, Maria, age 18, b. PA
Vandruff, Minerva, age 16, b. PA
Vandruff, Henry, age 15, b. PA
(6/17/2003)
Extraction from the 1870 Federal Census
Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M593 Roll: 1348 Page: 172
Line 39, Dwelling 68, Family 71
June 13, 1870
Vandruff, Henry, age 64, lawyer, b. PA
Mofford, E(illegible), female, age 35, keeps house
(5/17/2004)
Extraction from the 1880 Federal Census
Online at www.familysearch.com
Waynesburg, Greene, Pennsylvania
Family History Library Film 1255133
NA Film Number T9-1133
Page Number 267B
Henry VANDRUFF Self M Male W 74 PA Gentleman NJ NJ
Rebecca VANDRUFF Wife M Female W 48 PA Keeping House PA PA
(3/31/2003)
More About HENRY VANDRUFF, JR.:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Fact 1: August 18, 1997, Submitted Henryvjr.ftw to World Family Tree
More About OLIVE RINEHART, "OLIVIA":
Burial: May 1863, Vandruff Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Greene, PA49
Fact 3: Headstone says "Allive, d. 5-7-1863, age 59, wife of Henry Vandruff Jr.49
Marriage Notes for HENRY VANDRUFF and REBECCA JOHNSON:
Transcription of Information From THE CORNERSTONE CLUES
Vol. 5, 1878
Marriages
Feb. 13 Henry Van Druff and Rebecca Johnston, both of Waynesburg, married by Rev. George Fraser.
(9/3/94)
Children of HENRY VANDRUFF and OLIVE RINEHART are:
i. ELIZABETH3 VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1831, Unknown50; d. Unknown, Unknown; m. UNKNOWN CHAFFIN, Unknown, Unknown; b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
Notes for ELIZABETH VANDRUFF:
Possible listing Extraction from the 1860 Federal Census
Whiteley Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania
Series: M653 Roll: 1114 Page: 853
Line 39, Dwelling 1853, Family 1889
September 14, 1860
Marion Chalfen, age 27, merchant, b. PA
Elizabeth Chalfen, age 29, b. PA
(and from page 854, line 1 and 2)
M. A. Chalfan, age 4, female, b. PA
Samantha Chalfan, age 2, b. PA
(12/29/2003)
More About ELIZABETH VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
More About UNKNOWN CHAFFIN:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
31. ii. JOSHUA R. VAN DRUFF, b. March 31, 1837, Greene County, Pennsylvania; d. March 30, 1885, Valley Falls, Jefferson, Kansas.
32. iii. MATILDA VANDRUFF, b. March 1835, Unknown, Pennsylvania; d. Bef. 1910, Unknown.
iv. MARIAH VANDRUFF, "MARIA", b. May 30, 1841, Greene County, Pennsylvania51; d. May 11, 1892, Greene County, Pennsylvania52.
Notes for MARIAH VANDRUFF, "MARIA":
Extraction from 1880 Census in the files of Esther McAfee
Greene County, PA
Cumberland Township
Vandruff, Mariah, 48 years, housekeeper
Household of Heatin Soure
Born in PA
Mother born PA, father born PA
(1/7/95)
More About MARIAH VANDRUFF, "MARIA":
Burial: May 1892, Cavalry Baptist Church Cemetery, Morgan Twp., Greene County, PA53
33. v. MINERVA VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1843, Greene County, Pennsylvania; d. Abt. January 1905, Unknown.
vi. HENRY CLAY VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1844, Greene County, Pennsylvania54; d. January 09, 1865, Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee55.
Notes for HENRY CLAY VANDRUFF:
Transcription of Excerpts From
Portrait and Biographical Record of Guernsey County, Ohio
Chicago: C. O. Owen & Co.
1895
Ninety-Seventh O. V. I.
This regiment was organized at Zanesville, Ohio, September 2, 1862. The official list of battles in which they bore a part is as follows:
Perrysville, Ky., October 8, 1862; Stone River, Tenn., December 31, 1862; Mission Ridge, Tenn., November 25, 1863; Rocky Face Ridge, Ga., May 5, 1864; Dalton, Ga., May 9, 1864; Resaca, Ga., May 13, 1864; Adamsville, Ga., May 17, 1864; Dallas, Ga., May 25, 1864; New Hope Church, Ga., May 27, 1864; Kenesaw
Mountain, Ga., June 9, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., (special assault), June 22, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., (general assault), June 27, 1864; Peach Tree Creek, Ga., July 20, 1864; Atlanta, Ga., July 28 to September 2, 1864; Jonesboro, Ga., August 31, 1864; Lovejoy Station, Ga., September 2, 1864; Spring Hill,
Tenn., November 29, 1864; Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 1864; Nashville, Tenn., December 15, 1864.
Later text:
Company A
Capts. James McCormick, William E. Rosemond, Andrew Arrick; Lieuts. John H. Carlisle, William L. McKesson; Joseph C. Hughes, John M. Scott, Benjamin F. Brill, George N. Osler, Hezekiah Teterick, James H. McCoy, Henry C. Vandruff (died from wounds at Nashville, Tenn.), ....
(11/5/95)
Transcription of Excerpts from
Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio
in the War Of The Rebellion
1861-1866
Vol. VII
87th-108th Regiments - Infantry
Cincinnati
The Ohio Valley Press
1888
(pages 321-324)
Ninety-Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Three Years Service
This Regiment was organized at Zanesville, O., September 2, 1862, to serve three years. The members whose term of service would have expired previous to October 1, 1865, were mustered out June 10, 1865, and the remaining members were transferred to the Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Ohio Infantry, in accordance with orders from the War Department.
The official list of battles in which this Regiment bore an honorable part is not yet published by the War Department, but the following list has been compiled after careful research during the preparation of this work:
(the listing of battles is identical to that shown above in the Portrait and Biographical Record of Guernsey County, O.)
(The following is excerpted from the roster)
Name: Henry C. Vandruff
Rank: Sergeant
Age: 18
Date of Entering Service: Aug. 1, 1862
Period of Service: 3 yrs.
Remarks: Appointed from Corporal Jan. 1, 1865; died Jan. 9, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn., of wounds received Dec. 16, 1864, in battle of Nashville, Tenn.
(12/2/95)
Transcription of articles from the
Greene County Messenger, Greene County, PA
Commemorating the Greene County
Bicentennial year of 1996
February 16, 1996, p. 3/16
Henry C. Van Druff, Civil War Soldier
by William C. Van Druff
Mt. Morris, PA
When I was growing up at home, I remember hearing my grandmother tell of an ancestor who was in the Civil War, been taken prisoner and that he had died in prison.
But, I found out this was wrong information that had been passed down from one generation to the next and with nothing written down, it shows how easily things get mixed up and how family history gets confused and lost.
So, years later, my wife and I were invited to go with Mr. and Mrs. John Eckard, who formed one of Greene County's Civil War re-enactment groups, to take part in the centennial re-enactment of Pickett's charge at the Gettysburg battlefield.
Between the battles and ceremonies, John and I were talking about my ancestor, and he told me how to obtain Civil War records. When we returned home, I wrote to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and was surprised at what they sent me. I couldn't believe how many records they had and how complete they were.
So began my search for all I could find out about Henry C. Van Druff of Company A 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Van Druff was born in Greene County just outside of Waynesburg on a family farm settled in the late 1700s by his grandfather, Henry Van Druff Sr. Henry C. was born in April, 1844, son of Henry Jr. and Allive Van Druff.
In August of 1862, he went to Fairview, Ohio, and Volunteered for the Union Army. I have never found out why he went to Ohio to join since there were recruiting stations in Greene County.
He was mustered in at Zanesville on Sept. 1, 1862, being placed in the Fourth Army Corps for three years for a wage of $200 and a bounty or bonus of $25. Van Druff was in what they called the Army of the Cumberland under the command of Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans on Dec. 20, 1862.
My wife and I made a couple of trips to Zanesville and to Columbus to the state library for information.
There is not much to see at Zanesville, but we got plenty lot of information at the state library on the unit.
After they organized and received their training, the company moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, by railroad. They then crossed into Covington, Ky., by steamboat, where they had their first meeting of the enemy, a very small skirmish, they called it back then.
From there, they moved on the the Battle of Perrysville, Ky., a battle that started over a waterhole. Before it was over, it was one of the worst fought on Kentucky soil, with the Union forcing the Confederates to leave Kentucky. Though they still say no one really won the battle, the North, under the direction of Buell, lost 845
soldiers, had 2851 wounded and 515 were listed as captured or missing. The South, under Bragg, had 510 killed and 2635 wounded. Buell began with about 58,000 and Bragg began the battle with 20,000 Confederates.
From that battle, the 97th headed to Nashville where they reorganized and did some training and drilling before meeting the Confederates at Murfreesboro and Stone River, another hard-fought battle that lasted several days.
The 97th continued to the Battle of Chattanooga and on Sept. 9, 1863 they crossed the Tennessee River before the main army and drove the Confederate sharpshooters from the town. For this gallant move, Gen. Rosecrans assigned the regiment and brigade to garrison duty as a tribute for their action.
While doing this special duty, they were able to miss the Battle of Chickamauga.
The regiment, with its special divisions, was sent with General Granger's troops to return to Knoxville to relieve Gen. Burnside, who was under heavy attack by Gen. Longstreet's Rebel corps. After this long march, several of the men arrived without shoes and no winter clothing, but they somehow endured. Living off what they could find in the countryside and surrounding area, the company succeeded in driving the enemy out of the area.
Around May, the troops returned to Cleveland, Tenn., where they joined Gen. Sheridan's division which would then join Gen. Sherman's forces, making ready for the Atlanta Campaign.
Most of May was spent moving south toward Atlanta, fighting at such places as Red Clay, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, and at Dallas, they were under fire from May 25 until June 5.
On June 17, the enemy had been driven back to Kenesaw Mountain where they fought for several days, then on the fourth of July, the Rebels abandoned the mountain and were driven back to the Chattahoochie River.
On July 9, they marched up to Rosewell, Ga., and destroyed the factories, a major loss for the South at that time.
After the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain, the 97th fought a hard battle at Peach Tree Creek and successfully routed the enemy south toward Atlanta. So pleased was Gen. Howard of how well the 97th Ohio had fought, that once again they were called in for garrison duty.
Their next battle was at Jonesboro, where they assisted in driving the enemy back to Lovejoy Station just outside Atlanta. On Sept. 2, the Union entered Atlanta and secured that city. Gen. Sherman gave them about 20 days rest.
They were sent by rail to Chattanooga, Tenn., to relieve the Pioneer Brigade on Lookout Mountain.
The 97th traveled by rail to Pulaski then on to Columbia, Tenn., to cut off Gen. Hood's Rebel Army who were trying to get to Nashville to rebuild forces. The Northern forces routed the Rebels out of Columbia and moved toward Franklin, where a devastating battle was fought.
There is still plenty of evidence of how fierce this battle was; houses with bullet holes in the porches, doors and walls of the buildings still standing.
On the 15th and 16th, the Battle of Nashville was fought. The 97th was with the Second Division of the Fourth Army Corps. They fought two hard charges on both days.
On the 16th, Henry was wounded in the leg between his ankle and Knee. By the time they got him to the hospital tent, gangrene had set in, and they had to amputate part of his leg. He died on Jan. 9, 1865 in hospital tent # 15.
If Van Druff could have made it through this battle, he probably would have made it back home as the 97th saw very little fighting after Nashville. They were mustered out on June 12, 1865.
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK
Greene County Messenger
February 29, 1996
p. 6
Henry C. Van Druff, Civil War Soldier, Part II
by William C. Van Druff
Mt. Morris, PA
(Ed. Note: Last week, Van Druff began his tale of searching for the truth about his ancestor, Henry C. Van Druff, and the chronology of events and battles that Henry lived through as a soldier.)
I ran into two mysteries while doing research on Henry C. Van Druff, veteran of the Civil War. The first mystery was why he went to Ohio to volunteer, and the second was where Van Druff is actually buried.
Over the period of time We were doing the research, I found out about the set of books Mr. and Mrs. James Hennen had written on the old cemeteries in Greene County.
I went to talk to them and Jim told me about the Van Druff cemetery on the family farm, which at the time, I knew nothing about. But, after several attempts, I found it in weeds and briars higher than my head.
I began to clean the area up. The stones were all upset due to poor footing, and cattle had pastured in the area over the years. In the clean-up process, I found, along with his mother's grandfather's and grandmother's stones, that there is a headstone for Henry C. also.
Now, the records from Washington, D.C. show him buried in the National Cemetery at Nashville as an unknown soldier. All of the battlefield graves were moved to the National Cemetery after the war. The person in the cemetery records office told us they could have lost the records in the move from the battlefield cemetery. Supposedly, he is buried under # 11088 marker, which we found.
I told the clerk that there was a headstone back home at the family farm, so he checked to see if there were any records of him being moved back home. We couldn't find anything, so the stone at the farm may be just a memorial to him. I don't supposed we will ever know the truth.
Several years have gone by since we started this research, and the condition of the cemetery has always bothered me. The stones were in such good condition from being protected by the brush and weeds growing over them, I just couldn't see leaving the place the way it was.
In 1995, I decided to restore the cemetery. I began in June to clean everything down to the bare soil. I removed all the stones, poured concrete footers, re-set all of the stones, sowed grass seed and put a fence around the plot.
I've learned a lot about my ancestors through this research, and I've met new relatives I didn't know about.
Most of all, though, I just wish better family records had been kept.
Since I started, some disappointing things have happened; the original family farm house has burned down, and the original log barn has been torn down to be rebuilt at another location. I was lucky to get pictures of all of them before they were gone.
Henry C. Van Druff had quite a tour of duty when you stop and realize that he had been all the way to Atlanta, Ga., and back to Nashville, Tenn., and that most of the trip was made by marching on foot. Van Druff had gone from a volunteer Private and had advanced to being a Sargent at the time of his death. I'm sorry we don't have any letters, pictures or something, but I guess it's just too late to ever expect to find anything now.
(3/13/96)
Excerpted From
Ohio Casualties in the Civil War
Vol. III, page 53
97th OVI (cont.)
NASHVILLE, TN (December 16, 1864)...The 97th Ohio is active during the battle at Nashville, especially on the second day, when Federal forces turn the left flank of the rebel line. Following this move, the center of the Southern line also falls apart, and the entire rebel army is thrown into retreat.
WOUNDED
(Excerpted from list)
Sgt. Henry C. Vandruff, Co. A (died January 9, 1865)
(12/21/96)
More About HENRY CLAY VANDRUFF:
Burial: January 1865, Vandruff Cemetery, Jefferson Township, Greene, PA56
Fact 1: Buried at National Cemetery, Nashville, TN, marker # 1108857
Fact 2: Headstone at Vandruff Cemetery says 20 yrs, 8 mo, 11 das.58
Fact 3: Headstone at Vandruff Cemetery says Member CO A, 97th Regt. OH Vol.58
Military service: August 01, 1862, Civil War, Co. A, 97th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Sgt.59
34. vii. ORPHA JANE VANDRUFF, b. Abt. 1845, Greene County, Pennsylvania; d. Unknown, Unknown.
viii. JOHN VANDRUFF, b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
Notes for JOHN VANDRUFF:
Possible listing
Extraction from the 1880 Federal Census
Online at www.familysearch.com
Stockton, San Joaquin, California
Family History Library Film 1254080
NA Film Number T9-0080
Page Number 71C
Enumerated with Margaret AUSTIN Other M Female W 43 AUSTRALIA --- ---
(and at least 100 others): (no explanation of why such a huge household)
John VANDRUFF Other S Male W 53 PA Laborer --- ---
(3/31/2003)
More About JOHN VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
Fact 1: Poss. John Vandruff, hus. of Mary Morrison, bur. 1870 Delaware Co. OH w/5 childr60
Fact 2: Poss. John Vandruff in OH: 1850, Guernsey Co., Wills Twp61
Fact 3: Poss. John Vandruff, Stockton, San Juaquin, CA, b. 1827 in PA62
ix. MARGARET VANDRUFF, b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown; m. UNKNOWN ZIMMERMAN, Unknown, Unknown; b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
More About MARGARET VANDRUFF:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
More About UNKNOWN ZIMMERMAN:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown