Otterbein Civil War Soldiers Biography

Morrel Patterson was born in 1838 in Orange Township in Delaware County, Ohio, the son of Samuel Patterson and Hannah Nettleton. He was enrolled in the Otterbein University academy, a precursor to attending the school, during the 1858-1859 school year, but there is no record of him beyond then. Prior to entering the war, he was married to Priscilla Carr. In July of 1861, the couple had a child, a daughter named Zelma. Tragically, Zelma died just four days after her father was mustered out to Camp Chase, at age 2.

Morrel Patterson joined the 88^th Ohio Infantry at age 25 on June 27, 1863 and was mustered in to Company G on July 31, 1863 by Frederick Phisterer, 1^stLieutenant of the 18^th Infantry. During his service time, he achieved the rank of corporal, although it is nto listed when he received this promotion. He served a little less than two years at Camp Chase, a Confederate prison camp that was located near what is now Sullivant Avenue in Columbus. While his regiment saw no action in battles, they were involved in guarding rebel prisoners, and engaged in the pursuit of Confederate General John Morgan’s raiders, as well as the suppression of the July 1863 Holmes County Rebellion.¹ Morrel Patterson was mustered out on July 3, 1865 at Camp Chase by Charles Newbold, Captain of the U.S. 5^th Infantry.

Following the war, Morrel Patterson returned to Delaware County, and resided with his wife in the city of Galena. Morrel and Priscilla had two more daughters in the years following the war, Olive and Nellie. Morrel Patterson passed away in 1918 at the age of 80.

¹ Official Roster of the Soldiers in the State of Ohio in the War of Rebellion, 1861-1866, VolumeVII, Cincinnati, Ohio: The Ohio Valley Press, 1888.

Bibliography