March 16, 1933
His [Edward S. Godfrey's] first military experience, however, was in the so called three months service in the Civil War, in Company D, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, that lasted from April 26 to August 12, 1861. That Company was mustered in at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, May 21, 1861 and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, August 12 following. It was recruited in and near Ottawa by Lawyer Thomas G. Allen, who became Captain, and the volunteers mainly were enrolled by him at the railway station and on the street. The drilling was done on the village common, just eats of the Blanchard River and just north of the Ottawa-Kalida road, and the drill instructor was Jacob Wolf, a then recently discharged regular army sergeant from Delphos, Ohio, who was visiting in Ottawa, was persuaded to enroll for the Company, and was made a Corporal. During the last few days before entraining for Cleveland, camp was made at the large barn of Dr. Calvin T. Pomeroy just south of the village and just north of Williamstown Road. Before being mustered in our young volunteer experienced two rejections before acceptance could he had. He stood in the physical examination line three times, going immediatley from head to foot twice. Finally and although his age was below the minimum, persistence and resourcefulnesss won over the examining surgeon - Dr. Miller. And in vindication it may be noted that during that Company's sole engagement, at Scary Creek, WV, July 17, 1861 Pvt. Godfrey while under fire carried water to the wounded. And he assisted in carrying from the field 2nd Lt. Guy Pomeroy. For a time that wounded officer was carried in a blanket, so that eventually the carriers' fingers were much pained. Arriving at a tobacco shed and finding therein a ladder, immediately there was discussion as to the right and wrong of taking and utilizing it for litter purpose to ease the injured one and his commrades. As a result the ladder was not left.
In that Company was a family connection of twelve cousins and one uncle. Seven of them were officers. And they sustained the only casualties in the only engagement the Company had, 2nd Lt. Guy Pomeroy being fatally wounded and Captian Thomas G. Allen being killed. The former expired on an Ohio River steamboat while being taken to Gallipolis, Ohio, by Sergeant J.L.H. Long. Captain Allen had said- "If I am killed I want to be shot right here," placing a finger at the center of his forehead. And that was where the bullet struck. 1st Lt. Charles W. Allen, a student of medicine under Dr. Charles M. Godfrey and brother of the Captain, re-enlisted and died at home of wounds received at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, 1863. Those brothers lie under a double monument erected in Pomeroy Cemetery, Ottawa, Ohio, and 2nd Lt. Guy Pomeroy also lies therein and nearby. Captain Allen had bequeathed his sword to Ottawa Lodge No. 325 F.A.M. Ottawa, Ohio. Many, many years afterward the writer of this delivered to the widow of Lawyer Guy Pomeroy letters that had been written to him by Thomas G. Allen. She instantly recognized the hand writing and expressed sweet gratitude. He was one of the committee that acted for resident voters to petition the County commissioners for incorporation of Ottawa Village, the other members being Lucius Hubbard and Dr. Charles M. Godfrey. And their petition was allowed February 13, 1861.
