William H. Forbis (1839 - 1922)

Born 15 Oct 1839 in Edenburg, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 5 Dec 1922 at age 83 in Warren, Trumbull, Ohio, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1839. He passed away in 1922.

Biography From Auction Lot

Civil War Archive of Lieut. William H. Forbis, OH 19th and 105th Infantry ^[1]

Includes 5 letters from Georgia during Sherman's campaign. The first to Mary from Burnt Hickory, Ga., 3 May 1864; second to Addie from Dalton, Ga., 11 May 1864; third is to Mother from Marietta, Ga., 10 July 1864; fourth also to Mother from "Chattahoochee River," 15 July 1864; and fifth to Mother & Addie from "Camp in Dixey," 27 July 1864. Also handwritten organization chart of the units to which the 105th belonged, starting with the 1st Corps under McCook, Jackson's Division, Terrell's 33rd Brigade and the units serving with them. Most of the war they served with the 101st Indiana, and 123rd Ill., plus some artillery units. When the Army of the Ohio and Army of the Cumberland combined, they picked up the 68th and 75th Indiana, with whom they mustered out.

Plus a large hand-colored tintype, 10 x 12 in. which appears to have spent many years in a frame with an oval opening. One framed photograph 4 x 6 in., three cabinet cards with Rice's Warren, Ohio imprint on recto and one cdv with imprint of C.C. Taylor, Warren, Ohio on verso and Wm Forbis in pencil. Framed image is same view as one of Rice's. Also a pamphlet Report of the Fortieth Annual Reunion, Sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Cavalry Association, Held at Warren, O., Oct. 3, 1905, 8 pp in printed wraps. And Forbis' discharge paper from the 19th Ohio Volunteers, 29th Aug. 1861, 8.5 x 11 in. His discharge paper from 105th Ohio Vols. 3 June 1865, 8.5 x 11 in. And his appointment as 1st. Lieut. In the 105th OVI, 24 Oct. 1864, 11 x 14 in., signed by John Brough, Governor of Ohio.

In the earlier letters, he gives some battle information – much of it in the context of exhorting his mother not to believe everything reported in the media (newspapers). He notes that reporters believe every rumor and report, then sensationalize it. [T]hey are all expectation wating for sensation articles which is soon furnished by some Contraband in marvelous quantity & of first quality to hear his darky talk the impression would be conveyed that he [triple underlined] had stormed the impregnable points of the Enemies works. The truth for it will out it would take him all this time to reach the stand of the Valiant Reporter. I have never seen but one Reporter taking notes & that was ¾ miles from the Reb batteries (timing the shells). I do not say this is the case with all of them but this one [triple underlined] bold champion of the press is the exception. He relates that their lines extended 10 to 20 miles, and the enemy was entrenched all along it, so progress had been slow, but part of the 2nd corps had crossed the Chattahooche.

In the next letter to his mother, he starts out on the same note – telling her not to believe every rumor and report. In this letter he waxes poetic: I, & I may say we, feel that proud, defiant feeling, that we are again confronting the cohorts of this Rebellion? We quail not before their long lines of formidable works or glistening Bayonetts. Those Breast works are to be taken & these emissaries of Davis to be conquered. This leads me to think of the Strenuous efforts which are being made by the Peace party and Opposition Party. To day at the North, oh! How little do they know or care for the feelings or the sentiments of the soldiers, Why every Soldier cannot but feel aye, he knows that in success his owen honor will be forever kept green & unsurlied in the hearts of his countrymen; while in defeat & failure (which our Peace friends are trying to bring about) his name & that of his friends & comrades will be inseparably linked with infamy & disgrace, I pray that time may never come & I would call upon evry friend of the Union to oppose them in their struggles to overthrow this Government. If they succeed in electing the next President it will entail upon the succeeding posterity continuous petty strifes, wars, the loss of honor & Greatest of all our Free Country the Grandest, noblest nation on Earth. Are we doomed to repeat history?

William Forbis enlisted in the 19th Ohio Vol. Infy. as a 20-year-old farmer as soon as Lincoln's call reached Warren, Ohio in April 1861. He was discharged at the end of his 100-days service. The following August, he enlisted for 3 years into the 105th Ohio Vol. Infantry as a Sergeant, having at least some military experience, and was promoted to 2nd and 1st Lieut. He saw Georgia through a farmer's eye. In his first letter, he notes how far ahead of Ohio the vegetation in Georgia was, with apples, peaches, etc. already being well along in May. He died in 1908 in Monticello, IN, and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH.

CONDITION

Letters as expected. Two earliest are in pencil and a bit difficult to read. Discharge and appointment also sliightly toned, folded and beginning to separate along folds. Tin image has scratches in the oval from frame.

Newspapers

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 16 Dec 1863, page 2

Insure yourself against the Draft

BY ENLISTING IN THE

105th Regiment, O. V. I

$402 FOR VETERANS,

$302 for New Recruits,

making an average monthly salary of $25, rations and clothing extra.

$75 PAID BEFORE LEAVING THE STATE.

This is the last opportunity to enlist in this renowned fighting regiment before the enforcement of the Draft, which is inevitable, from present appearances.

$300 WILL BE NO EXEMPTION.

I can assure all who enlist that they will have competent and efficient officers who will see that all will receive their just rights.

For particulars, consult the undersigned at the Provost Marshal‘s office, Warren, Ohio.

Wm. H. Forbis, Recruiting Officer

Duplicate ad in

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 23 Dec 1863, page 2,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 30 Dec 1863, page 1,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 06 Jan 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 13 Jan 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 27 Jan 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 03 Feb 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 10 Feb 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 24 Feb 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 23 Mar 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 30 Mar 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 06 Apr 1864, page 3,

“Western Reserve Chronicle”,,(Warren, Ohio), 20 Apr 1864, page 2

“Western Reserve Chronicle”, (Warren, Ohio), 16 Dec 1863, page 3

From Chattanooga.

We had the pleasure the other day, of taking by the hand our young friend Wm. H. Forbis. He is just from the front, and looks remarkably well, notwithstanding hard times and short rations. He is home on recruiting service for the 105th O. V. I. in which we wish him abundant success.

“The Summit County Beacon”, (Akron, Ohio), 05 Sep 1877, page 5

The second annual reunion of the 105th O. V. I. will be held in Youngstown, September 19, the anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga. All members are cordially invited to be present, and those who cannot attend will please send letters to the Secretary, W. H. Forbis, instead.

“Northern Ohio Journal”, (Painesville, Ohio), 06 Sep 1879, page 3

At the 4th Reunion of the 105th Ohio, … ”The following officers were chosen lor the ensuing year: President, Col. George T. Perkins; Vice President, Capt. L. D. Stamburgh; Secretary, Lieut. W. H. Forbis; Treasurer, Serg't J. H. Taylor, of Painesville. It was also resolved to hold the next reunion in Painesville - on October 1st. 1880. …”

“Akron Daily Democrat”, (Akron, Ohio), 08 Oct 1900, page 5

Col. Perkin's Guests.

Col. George T. Perkins, accompanied by 10 members of his regiment, the 105th O. V. I., left Sunday evening In a special car for Chattanooga, to attend the annual reunion of the command. The veterans are the guests of Col. Perkins. Those In the party were Capt. William Wallace, Lieut. William H. Forbis, Sergeant Elverton J. Clapp, all of Warren; Capt. Henry H. Cummings of Tidioute, Pa.; Capt A. D. Braden, Canton; Capt. Hartzell, Mahoning county; Capt Daniel E. Stambaugh, Youngstown; Sergeant L. N. Parker, and Private A. G. Hutchinson, Cleveland.

“The Akron Beacon Journal”, (Akron, Ohio), 11 Feb 1901, page 3

Surprised.

Colonel Perkins’ Home Invaded by His Comrades.

A delightful social gathering took place at the residence of Col. George T. Perkins on Prospect street Saturday evening. The occasion was a great surprise to Colonel Perkins when there stepped in upon him the members of the party who made the trip south last summer as his guests to the battlefields where his regiment had fought. There were ten in Colonel Perkins’ party last summer and all but one were present Saturday. the only absent one being E. J. Clapp of Warren, who is in the west Those who were there were: Capt. William Wallace of Warren, Daniel Stambaugh of Youngstown, John C. Hartzell of Sebrlng, A. D. Braden of Canton, A. J. Hutchinson of Cleveland, William H. Forbes, S. N. Parker and Capt A. P. Baldwin of Akron. All of these except Captain Baldwin served in Colonel Perkins’ regiment, the 105th.

After a fine dinner had been served, Mr. Hartzell made a splendid little speech, presenting to Colonel Perkins a souvenir volume of last summer's trip, bound in Russia leather. It is entitled "The Story of the Ten," and contains a history of the trip, pictures of the party making it and photographs of scenes on the battlefields visited, together with some old-time war pictures. It Is a handsome booklet prepared simply for the benefit of those making the trip.

Sources

Death

"Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X8TJ-T3L : 8 March 2018), Wm H Forbis, 05 Dec 1922; citing Warren, Trumbull, Ohio, reference fn 67373; FHL microfilm 1,992,180.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77632692/william-h-forbis: accessed 17 May 2023), memorial page for William H. Forbis (1839–1922), Find a Grave Memorial ID 77632692, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio, USA; Maintained by Gina Jean (contributor 47503570).

1. ↑ https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7478012_73-civil-war-archive-of-lt-wm-h-forbis-oh-19-and-105