As we approach Memorial Day, I want to offer the story of a fallen hero from our community.

Alexandria's Veterans #5

M E M O R I A L   D A Y, Part V

CAPTAIN IRA PAIGE FRENCH

Over the past couple of years, from time to time, Ira has been on my mind.  Perhaps it's because we share a few things...   We were both Captains with about 100 or so troops under our respective leadership.  We both entered the service of our Nation for idealistic causes.  We both were on the winning sides.  Tragically, Ira died in battle.  I would like to tell his story.

Ira was born on March 5, 1839.  Ira was the sixth child of ten, the third son of Truman and Rosetta (Paige) French.  Truman French was born in Vermont and married Rosetta in Licking Township, Licking, County, on December 28, 1828.  At some point, the Frenches moved to Johnstown where, in 1850, Truman is listed as a stock dealer living next to a tailor, a shoemaker, a blacksmith, a druggist, and a merchant on Johnstown's downtown Main Street.  Of interest is Dr. Paige who lived nearby and might be an uncle or grandfather to Ira.

On April 23, 1855, Ira was christened in Johnstown.  Nothing more is known of his childhood.  

At this point, I need to introduce the Rose family.  Helon and Emily (Wolcott) Rose had a son named Lyman Rose.  Lyman Rose married Jane Dawes, daughter of William Mears and Abigail (Holden) Dawes.  This is the union of two prominent Licking County families.  Here is the 1850 Federal Census information for Lyman Rose and his family,

Household Sex Age Birthplace Author's Notes

L W Rose M 33 Ohio Husband

Jane Rose F 35 North Carolina Wife

Emily Rose F 9 Ohio Oldest Daughter

Henry D Rose M 7 Ohio Oldest Son

Henry Bassett M 20 Ohio Unknown

I am not sure who Henry Bassett is, but Ira can help us figure it out.  Here is the 1860 Federal Census for Lyman Rose,

Household Sex Age Birthplace Author's Notes

L W Rose M 43 Ohio Husband

Charlotte Rose F 44 Vermont Second Wife

Emily Rose F 19 Ohio Oldest Daughter

Henry Rose M 18 Ohio Oldest Son

Sarah Tyler F 33 Vermont Stepdaughter?  In-Law? Maid?

Ira French M 21 Ohio Also in Johnstown Census

Berthia Hill F 70 New York Unknown

Here we see several changes.  Jane Dawes Rose passed away in 1852.  Lyman remarried Charlotte Emily Tyler.  This also explains Sarah Tyler.  Berthia Hill is an unknown, but I suspect she was a related widow or a boarder.  That leaves Ira French.

It is believed that Lyman Rose ran a general store, although he does not appear in the 1866 Alexandria Business Directory.  Henry Bassett was probably an apprentice who boarded with his mentor.  Ira French was.  It is also important to notice the relative ages of Ira and Lyman's daughter, Emily Rose.  It is my belief Ira and Emily were possibly betrothed, if not married.  The census is a snapshot of 1860.  In 1860, Senator John Sherman was preaching Abolition.  In the Summer of 1861, Camp Sherman was opened in what today is the Great Circle Mound at Moundbuilders Park.  The Camp was designed to recruit volunteers primarily for the 76th Ohio Infantry.  The 76th Ohio Regiment began drills in October, 1861.  Ira Paige French was the First Lieutenant for Company B.  John R. Miller of Hartford was the Second Lieutenant.  After the resignation of Captain J. M. Scott several months later, Ira was promoted to Captain and became the commander of Company B.  Personally, I like this.  I was the Assistant Commander of a Crew at SESOCC for a couple of years before becoming Chief of Combat Operations.  I knew I liked this Ira guy.  Ira's brother-in-law, Corporal Henry Rose, was in Company B under Ira's command, but I get ahead of myself.

Company B was mustered in and left Camp Sherman on February 9, 1862, and went to Fort Donelson where they engaged in battle, February 14-16.  The Company fought in the Battle of Shiloh on April 6-7 and the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, from April 29 to May 30.  On August 16, they captured 40 men from the 31st Louisiana at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, and captured a steamship two days later.  The Company was rested through the Fall, then on December 26-29, the Company fought in the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou.

The year 1863 brought more fighting. The 76th fell under command of General William T. Sherman, younger brother of the Abolitionist, Senator John Sherman.  During the Winter, Spring, and Summer, the 76th was involved in several battles and performed skirmish activities when not otherwise tasked.  One of these was the Battle of Ringgold on November 22, 1863.  During the battle, Ira's buddy, John R. Miller was killed.  Lieutenant Miller was laid to rest in Hartford Cemetery.  Things come to a point on November 23-25 with the Third Battle of Chattanooga.  General Braxton Bragg's Confederate forces had been routed and forced into retreat.  Mired by mud, Bragg was concerned that the Union forces chasing him would overtake and capture his artillery and supply wagons.  Bragg ordered General Cleburne to cover the Confederate evacuation by holding the Union forces at Ringgold Gap, Alabama.  The battle began at 8:00 AM on November 27, 1863.  Cleburne had let the Union advance to within 50 yards before opening fire.  By noon, Bragg let Cleburne withdraw.  By 2:00 PM, Cleburne had withdrawn leaving skirmishers to harass any Union advance.  Ira died that morning.  In the words of an anonymous observer,

It was the dog-gondest fight of the war, [... t] he ground was piled with dead Yankees; they were piled in heaps . . . From the foot to the top of the hill was covered with the slain, all lying on their faces. It had the appearance of the roof of a house shingled with dead Yankees.

Ira's body was returned to Alexandria and buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.  Ira's father had died a few weeks earlier and was buried in Granville's Old Colony Burying Ground.  On October 11, 1864, Emily French filed to collect Ira's pension as Emily R. Rose French.  This could only be Emily Rose, although I have no record of their marriage.  Further, Emily claims widow status on the application.  Apparently, Emily was able to move on with her life.  She married, moved to Chicago and had a large family.  Ira's brother Frank also served in the Civil War, survived, and lived to be 95 years old before dying in Johnstown.  Certainly, they attended the first Decoration Day at Maple Grove led by the Reverend (Captain) Simeon Siegfried, Jr., former Commander of Company E, 160th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and former pastor of the Alexandria Baptist Church.

Thank you for your sacrifice, Captain French.  Rest in peace my friend.