Ephraim C. Dawes

Ephraim Cutler Dawes (May 27, 1840 – April 23, 1895) was a major in the 53rd Ohio Infantry and brevet lieutenant-colonel, United States Volunteers, during the American Civil War. Dawes was present at the Battle of Shiloh and Battle of Vicksburg, among others, serving under Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. One of his notable acts occurred during battle, where Dawes disobeyed and cursed an officer who had become scared and disoriented. While serving with Sherman during his march to Atlanta Dawes was seriously wounded in his lower jaw in what would be his last battle, subsequently being honorably discharged in 1864.

After the war, Dawes began a business career working for various Cincinnati railroad companies and later was engaged in railroad operations in several other states. He also became involved with historical works and writings of the Civil War. Despite the wound to his jaw Dawes became a noted public speaker and was a member of numerous historical societies. During his lifetime Dawes amassed one of the largest collections of books and manuscripts on the Civil War.

Family and early life

Ephraim Dawes was born on May 27, 1840, near Malta, Ohio, and was the youngest child among six siblings. His parents were Henry and Sarah Cutler Dawes. His father died in 1860. His grandfather was Judge Ephraim Cutler, for whom he was named after, was prominent in Ohio's early history. thumb Ephraim's uncle, William P. Cutler, exerted much influence on the young Dawes, whose example in public and private life, inspired Dawes in his pursuits in public and military life. His elder brother, Rufus,efn Rufus's son, Charles G. Dawes became Vice President under Calving Coolidge in 1925, That same year the Civil War broke out and Dawes immediately enlisted in the 53rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he was a First Lieutenant. While an infantryman Dawes participated in a number of the costliest battles of the Civil War. The Fifty-third Ohio Regiment began to recruit at Camp Diamond, Jackson, Ohio, in early September, 1861, and was not completely organized until February, 1862. Dawes's regimental commander was Colonel Jesse J. Appler. Dawes found his commander to be of little education, yet intelligent, but lacking in military experience and knowledge of army regulations. On February 16, Dawes, with the 53rd, departed Portsmouth, Ohio on a steamboat for Paducah, Kentucky, arriving there on February 23, and was assigned to the 3rd brigade in General Sherman's division.

Battle of Shiloh

Dawes was present at the Battle of Shiloh, April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee which was the most costly battle of the Civil War up to that point. Dawes and the 53rd Ohio Infantry served with distinction, managing to keep well ordered during the otherwise chaotic battle.

Dawes accompanied by Captain Jones, Lieutenant Starkey were positioned on the ground in front of Company A. General Sherman, with his spyglass, was looking along the extent of the line the Confederate regiment as they marched across Rea field. Dawes observed a group of mounted Confederate officers, bearing a dark blue flag with a white center, that of General Patrick R. Cleburne, who was considered the "Stonewall of the West". He later wrote an eye witness account of the battle as he saw it in an 1896 historical publication called Sketches of War History, 1861–1865, vol 4, entitled My First Day Under Fire at Shiloh, which he presented to the Cincinnati Chapter of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.

During the battle Dawes witnessed Appler lose his nerve when the fighting became intense when Appler cried out, "retreat, and save yourselves!" even though his men were winning the engagement, where several companies turned in earnest retreat. Appalled and shaken and finding Appler at the front of a great battle, Dawes, risking repercussions, cursed him and flatly exclaimed to Appler, "Colonel, I will not do it!", whereupon Appler spang to his feet and ran away. Many of the troops subsequently retreated, but upon the arrival of General John McClernand, he ordered them back and had them form a line with his division near the Shiloh Chapel. Dawes in his account said the fighting at that point became "hot and heavy" receiving fire from a nearby Confederate battery, which was inflicting heavy losses on the 57th Ohio infantry. Senior Captain Wells Jones was now in command of the reassembled company, at which time Dawes informed him that Appler had run away and that he (Dawes) had ordered his regiment to close up the right to help the 57th infantry. Jones agreed and Dawes set out and informed the other company commanders what had transpired. In April, 1862, Colonel Jesse J. Appler was relieved from the command of the 53rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

After the Battle of Shiloh, Confederate General P. G. T. Beauregard and his defeated army managed to escape back to Corinth. Major General Henry Halleck, who received much criticism for allowing Beauregard to escape, finally pursued the Confederates three weeks after the battle, on May 3, and conducted a month-long siege of the city that lasted until May 30, 1862. The siege resulted in the capture of the town by Federal forces.

As Major he served in the Vicksburg campaign under General Grant and engaged the Confederates at Black river, which resulted in the capture of this strategic city on the Mississippi River. The Siege of Vicksburg, on May 18 – July 4, 1863, was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. After Dawes and the 53rd advanced on Jackson, Mississippi and participated in the capture of that city. Dawes and the 53rd then returned to the Black river and went into camp. Dawes and his regiment was transferred to eastern Tennessee and participated in the battle of Missionary ridge. From June 9 to July 2 Dawes's regiment fought at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain and at the Battle of Peachtree Creek and took part in the siege of Atlanta, moving in November on Sherman's march to the sea; Loses were 26 killed and 141 wounded at New Hope Church.

On May 28, 1864, at the Battle of Dallas, there was at the center of Dawes's regiment a road leading to Lost Mountain which was left open. It was the evident to Dawes that the Confederates were going to force their way through this road and capture the Union supply trains. Dawes ascertained the Union line could break at this point, so he rushed to the road just as the Confederate advance was within about 50 feet of the Union line which began to waver. During the melee of battle Dawes was struck by a Minié ball on the left side of his lower jaw. It tore off his lower lip and chin so that it hung down, removing almost all his lower teeth and cut his tongue. As he was carried off Dawes managed to scribe in the dust on the carriage floor, "Good for a 60 day furlough?" Dawes subsequently was honorably discharged on October 31, 1864. After months of suffering from this wound, Dawes had his jaw reconstructed by Dr. George Blackman, and finally was restored to health. Despite the serious wound to his jaw, Dawes later went on to become a gifted public speaker.

Historical research and writings As a veteran who had witnessed many battles during the Civil War, Dawes was inherently interested in its history and became involved in the research and writing about the many episodes that occurred during that war, publishing and often speaking at various organizations about the many Civil War subjects.

Though Dawes had received a serious wound to his jaw during the Civil War, he was a gifted speaker and was in constant demand for speaking at local and political campaigns. His speeches and addresses, most notably at a banquet of the Army of the Tennessee in 1879, and at Memorial Day Exercises at Cincinnati in 1880, brought him great notoriety as a public speaker. He was keenly interested in almost everything associated with that War, and was also interested in some of the other wars in America that came before it. Subsequently, he devoted the remainder of his life in obtaining all the publications, letters and manuscripts of historical value that he could acquire on the subject. In his effort he amassed a sizeable and significant collection of these things, always making sure that his writing and reference work reflected both the Union and Confederate points of view. He became an avid collector of Civil War manuscripts, books, and pamphlets.

Dawes collection of books and papers covering the history of Civil War was equaled by only one other in the United States. Dawes's works include: " The Beginnings of the Ohio Company," and "Sketch of William P. Cutler." He was a contributing author to " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," and also to other magazines. In 1885 he published in book form, the 'Biographical Sketch of Gen. Rufus Putnam." Among his most noted works is his account of his experiences at the Battle of Shiloh, entitled Sketches of War History, My First Day Under Fire at Shiloh, published in 1896.

Dawes was a trustee of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society. He was also a member of the University Club of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Literary Society and the Cincinnati Historical Society He was a corresponding member of Massachusetts Military Historical Society and an honorary member of Wisconsin State Historical Society. In Buffalo, New York he belonged to the New York Historical Society. He was also active in the Rhode Island Society, Virginia Society, Ohio Society of New York, Civil Service Society of Governor's Island, and Sons of the Revolution. Dawes was also an honorary member of Folk Lore Society of London, England. He was Vice President of the Army of Tennessee, and Commander of Loyal Legion as well as a trustee of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Xenia. Ephraim Dawes died at his home in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 23, 1895.