This regiment was organized at Wheeling under the first call for volunteers and was mustered in May 24, 1861, for three months. It was composed of men from Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and Marshall counties and was probably the only regiment organized during the war where the government deemed it unsafe to send arms and equipment. Some of the Brooke county men, well known for their loyalty, secured through Gov. Andrew of Massachusetts the arms, which were delivered at Wellsburg under a personal bond and afterward turned over to the regiment at Wheeling. The regiment went to the front without cartridge boxes, knapsacks, haversacks or uniforms, opening the Baltimore & Ohio railroad from Wheeling to Grafton, where it joined the forces under Gen. Morris. It fought at Philippi, where Col. Kelley was wounded; was engaged in several minor skirmishes; five companies were with Gen. McClellan on the Rich mountain campaign; another detachment was with Col. Tyler in the operations against Gen. Wise, and the remainder of the three months’ service was occupied in railroad guard duty. It was mustered out Aug. 28, 1861, but was reorganized for three years Col. Thoburn and mustered in Nov. 14, 1861.
Spirit of '61 