Barnes, Milton, 1830-1895

Milton Barnes was a recently married lawyer in Cambridge, Ohio, when the Civil War began. He served first as a captain, commanding G Company of the 62nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment. This unit participated in the first Federal invasion of the Shenandoah Valley in the spring of 1862. When the 62nd Ohio was transferred to the Rappahannock in mid-1862, Captain Barnes was discharged on medical grounds and returned briefly to Cambridge, Ohio. After the war, Barnes resumed law practice in Cambridge. In 1867 he was brevetted Colonel in the Volunteer Force, AUS, to date from March 13, 1865 for "gallant and meritorious service" in the war. He was elected Secretary of State for Ohio for two terms (1877-1881) and later served for a year (1891-1892) as special Treasury Agent for Alaska. A lengthy account of his arrival and duties at St. George Island in the Bering Sea is included in the collection.