Daniel Wallick - 20th Ohio Infantry, Co. G

Age when drafted: 39 

Height: 5'6"  black hair, blue eyes

Civilian occupation: Farmer

Family Lineage

Daniel, son of Jacob, son of "Bedford County" Michael, son of Hans Michael and Esther Wallick

One of the many seismic changes brought about by the American Civil War was that the United States government, in order to prosecute that war, began  to exert more power and  influence into the lives of its citizenry than ever before.  At some point during the conflict both sides suspended the writ of habeas corpus (persons were jailed without being charged with a crime), the first ever United States income tax was levied (3% to 10% of all income over $800) and both Union and Confederate governments use forced conscription, or the draft, to fill their military ranks. 

Daniel Wallick was a thirty-nine year old farmer living in Van Wert County, Ohio, when he was drafted by the State of Ohio and required to serve nine months of military service.  He was born and raised in Tuscarawas County and in 1852, shortly after he married his wife, Sarah, moved with his father, Jacob, and three of his brothers to Van Wert County in western Ohio.  There, as a middle-aged man, he was drafted and reported for duty at the Van Wert Enlistment Office on October 8, 1862.  He was then assigned to the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and joined that regiment on January 11, 1863, in LaFayette, Tennessee.

Ohio was one of the first states during the war to institute a draft in order to fill its quota of soldiers for Union Army.  The state drafted over 12,200 men in the fall of 1862 and this pre-dates by six months the first ever draft held by the Federal Government (Congress passed its first conscription act in March, 1863).  The draft was used as leverage and a threat to entice men to volunteer their services.  Those who joined voluntarily received a cash bounty from the state, federal and in some instances local governments.  In total it could be quite a sum of money for a young man.  But for a middle-aged man like Daniel, it probably was less of an inducement.  Those who did not volunteer and waited to be drafted received nothing - no signing bonus.  Unfortunately for Daniel, he was part of this later group of recruits who were impressed into service for nine months in late 1862.  Daniel is the only Wallick to be drafted into the armed forces during the American Civil War.

                                  Draft poster from Camden, New Jersey, 1862.
                             New Jersey held their draft one month before Ohio.
                          

In an effort to avoid drafting men and still fill their quotas, some states used creative marketing techniques to induce their citizens to volunteer for the armed forces.  Below is a poster from Michigan that highlights the positive aspects to joining the Union Army.     
                 

The draft, as one can imagine, was not popular and produced some of the worst anti-government riots in American history.  The anti-war riots of the Vietnam era cannot begin to compare with the anti-draft riots in the north during the Civil War and in particular, New York City.  Martial law was eventually declared and the United States Army had to send several regiments of soldiers (some having just fought at Gettysburg) in order to quell the disturbances.   Michael Wallick of the 27th Indiana  and Elias Wallick of the 126th Ohio were both posted in New York City during that summer in response to the rioting.  It is estimated that 120 civilians were killed and over 2,000 injured as the city spiralled into chaos.  It is still considered the largest single civil insurrection in our nation's history. 


The streets of New York turned to anarchy when the city draft was conducted in July of 1863.  Political and racial passions boiled over and martial law had to be declared. 


                     Federal troops used artillery and bayonets to quell the rioting.


When Daniel joined the 20th Ohio Infantry in January, 1863, he became part of a regiment of soldiers who had been together since the early fall of 1861.   These were well-seasoned veterans and one can imagine the challenge it must have been to "fit-in" with his new comrades.  The 20th Ohio was in some of the biggest battles and victories in the western theatre of the war.  They were at the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson, the Battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and other minor engagements. 

Daniel was attached to the 20th Ohio just as it became part of General Grant's Vicksburg Campaign.  This movement against the Confederate bulwark on the Mississippi River  produced a spectacular victory for the Union Army in the summer of 1863. (For more background information concerning Grant's Vicksburg Campaign see Charley Wallick, who was deployed with the 16th Ohio during this campaign).  The 20th Ohio Regiment was very active in Grant's movements towards Vicksburg and took heavy casualties at the Battles of Raymond and Champion's Hill.  Daniel saw the final capitulation of Vicksburg and two weeks later was discharged from service, having fulfilled his nine month military obligation.  


                  Daniel Wallick with the 20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry      
                                              
                                                                     1862
 
Oct 5   Ohio holds its first state-wide draft lottery.

Oct 8   Daniel Wallick reports for duty in Van Wert, OH..

Nov 13   Daniel is mustered into Federal service at Camp Mansfield, OH, and is then assigned to the 20th Ohio Infantry.  This regiment has already been deployed in southern Tennessee and they are  part of General Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign at this time.      

                                                       1863

Jan 11   Daniel joins the 20th Ohio Infantry Regiment at Lafayette, TN. 

Jan 26  The 20th Regiment  moves to Memphis, TN to become part of the Vicksburg Campaign.

FEB 22   Daniel and the 20th Ohio moves down the the Mississippi River by steamboat to Lake Providence, LA, and spends the next two months aiding Admiral Porter's river fleet which is pursuing the Rebels in the Louisiana bayou.  When Daniel joined the 20th Ohio in January he became part of an outfit that was attached to General Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee.  Charley Wallick, of the 16th Ohio, will be involved in some of the same engagements as Daniel, although, it is unlikely they ever met and if they had, probably would not have known they were related. 

April 19   Daniel's activities in the bayous of Louisiana does not agree with his constitution for he becomes sick and confined to an army hospital at Millikin's Bend (on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi  River).  Meanwhile, the rest of his regiment is marched down to Hard Times, LA, and then ferried across the river to Bruinsburg, MS.  This movement is part of General Grant's  masterful  Vicksburg strategy to circle back around the city and attack it from the rear.  Exactly when Daniel becomes ill and when he returns to duty is unclear.  According to his compiled service record from the National Archives he is reported present for duty as of April 10th, but is "left in hospital at Millikin's Bend April, 19, 1863."  Daniel is then listed "present" for the months of May & June. 

Daniel's major contribution to the war effort is during the Vicksburg Campaign of 1863.  He misses the initial phase of the march because he is sick in a hospital at Millikin's Bend.  He rejoins his regiment for the Battle of Port Gibson on May 1st. 


                                                   National Park Service Map

 May 1  Battle of Port Gibson   The 20th Ohio is held in reserve during this battle.  Daniel has recovered from his illness and is counted present for duty.  It is at this battle (also called The Battle of Thompson's Hill) that distant cousin Charley Wallick is wounded in the ankle. 

 May 12   Battle of Raymond   The 20th Ohio bore the brunt of the fighting at Fourteen Mile Creek, 2 miles southwest of Raymond, MS.  Here is a description of the battle from Ohio in the War, by Whitelaw Reid: