Civil War Dynasty: The Ewing Family of Ohio

2. “Reaching up into the Blue Ether . . . Sinking Down into the Abyss”: The Next Generation Comes of Age

56 > 57 Ellen Ewing Sherman (1824–88). The devoted daughter of Thomas and Maria Ewing, Ellen Ewing Sherman was a stalwart Catholic and Unionist, as well as the wife of William T. Sherman . (Courtesy of the University of Notre Dame Archives.) 58 > 59 James Gillespie Blaine (1830–93). Ally and cousin of the Ewing family, Jimmy Blaine served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and became the 1884 Republican presidential nominee. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress.) Hugh Boyle Ewing (1826–1905). Expelled from West Point, Hugh Ewing became a California gold prospector, an attorney, a regimental and brigade colonel in the Kanawha Division, a Union general, a diplomat , and, finally, a novelist. Battles: Kanawha Valley, South Mountain, Antietam, Vicksburg, and Missionary Ridge. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress.) 60 > 61 restless energy reminded children of a woodpecker pounding his head against a tree. Cump embraced the nickname and later drew finely detailed pictures of woodpeckers.6 Tom Ewing, who was born three years after Hugh, organized a squad of “Highland archers” to beat back the forces of the vile King James II. Like Hugh, Tom had an instinct for mounting a successful ambush and was not fearful of the copperhead nests the boys often disturbed when racing through the woods. On the surface, he appeared more serious than Hugh— which helped him get away with playing pranks on siblings and adults. When travelers dismounted outside Lancaster hotels and taverns, Tom generously offered to take their horses to the stable—at no charge. Once the owners were out of sight, Tom and his friends “borrowed” the horses, eventually arriving at the stable after numerous detours.7 Whenever Cousin James Gillespie Blaine visited Lancaster, or the Ewings went to Pennsylvania, Tom had the perfect playmate. A year younger than Tom, Jimmy Blaine possessed an outward sobriety that belied his age and personality. Cousin Jimmy was further blessed with a “silver tongue” that he used to talk his way out of trouble. At their reenactments of Fallen Timbers, Jimmy took the Shawnee side, his theatrical sensibilities no doubt attracted to gaudy paint and feathers.8 Once, during the 1840 presidential election, Hugh was driving a buggy to Columbus. When he went by the home of a prominent Democrat, Tom and Jimmy issued loud catcalls and held their noses. Not wishing to have word of this brought back to Thomas Ewing, Hugh warned them that if they did that again he would make them walk back to Lancaster. Later, on the way home, while Tom reluctantly made a tactical retreat, Jimmy repeated his earlier performance . True to his word, Hugh stopped the buggy, but before he could toss him out Jimmy fled on his own accord.9 As Hugh watched Jimmy run across the farm fields, it dawned on him that his cousin was going to their aunt’s house. Hugh knew that if Jimmy got there first with his version of events, Mary Miers Gillespie would thrash Hugh for picking on the defenseless, yet so eloquent, boy. He raced the buggy with little regard for Tom’s comfort, arriving before Jimmy. Catching his wits, Hugh realized that if he told his tale, then all three would likely get whipped, so Hugh and Tom decided not to say anything. When Jimmy came upon the scene, he correctly surmised the situation and then invited himself to lunch.10 Even though he was the second-youngest Ewing child, Charley refused to be a tagalong—a mere follower of his older siblings’ lead. Like his father, Charley had a spirited, gregarious nature. Charley, Cousin Phil Stanbery, and friend John Hunter banded together to play pranks on the older boys and 62 > 63 mount their own ambushes. Unfortunately for Charley, while his enthusiasm was great, his ability to avoid exposure was not quite as good. It almost seemed as if all Ellen had to do was to give Charley a quick appraisal, after which she would send him to stand in the corner of their home’s library.11 His grandfather, Hugh “Pap” Boyle, shared Ellen’s instincts regarding Charley. On one occasion Pap Boyle had ordered Charley not to climb the black cherry trees around the Main Hill mansion lest he break an arm or leg. Though Charley assured his grandfather that he would behave better in the future, it was not long until Pap found the...