Born in 1811 on a farm in Jefferson Co. near Steubenville, Ohio. When 10 years old his family moved to a farm on the Springmill road two miles southwest of Mansfield in Richland Co. Ohio. He married Sarah S. Ferguson about 1835 and farmed for a time 4 miles southwest of Mansfield near Spring Mills. Later he moved to Mansfield. Volunterred for service in the Mexican war in 1835 and was elected and served as the 1st lieutenant in the same company that McLaughlin was captain. two terms as representative in the Ohio legislature and one term as senator in the Ohio legislature. Moved to Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio in 1859.

He raised a company by the second day after Ft. Sumpter was fired upon and went to Columbus April 16, 1861 at which time his company was assigned to the O.V.I. and he was elected Lt. Col. of the regiment, Lewis Andrews being Col. In October 1861 he was made Col. of the 82nd O.V.I. and recruited and organized it in less time than any other 3 years regiment. In January 1862 the regiment was ordered to West Virginia and from the first was one of the most active regiments in the field, it took part with Schenk and Milroy at the Battle of Bull Pasture Mt. in May 1862, then marched with Fremont and Seigel across the Shenandoah Mountains and took part in the campaign of Jackson and Banks in the Shenandoah Valley; was at the Battle of Cross Keys; then marched over the Blue Ridge and joined the Army of the Potomac was at the Battle of Cedar Mountain. His regiment was one of the four connected with Milroy's Brigade in the advance guard of Pope's Army in the march toward the enemy and the rear guard in its retreat and hence for 10 successive days prior to the Battle of Bull Run it was continually under fire. It was engaged actively in the thickest of the fighting in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run on August 29,1862. While leading his regiment on a charge Col. Cantwell was instantly killed, the ball passing in just below the left eye and out at the back of the head.

Most of the foregoing is taken from the history of Richland Co. published in 1880. In closing the account the history says: "Thus fell one of the bravest of men, beloved by all the soldiers and leaving many friends behind him." On the board marking his temporary grave on the battle field an officer inscribed: "How sleep the brave who sink to rest By all their countries wishes blest"

It is reported that Gen McClennan said that Col. Cantwell was the best drill master of the Army of the Potomac.

Taken from "The Generation of the Upright" (Cantwell history published in 1911)


He died at the 2nd battle of Bull Run and was brought home to Mansfield 1 Oct 1862 to be buried in the family plot the next day.


Alonzo William Cantwell, M. D. BIO
From "History of Davenport and Scott County" Vol. II by Harry E. Downer-S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910 Chicago.

His parents were James and Sarah (Ferguson) Cantwell, also natives of the Buckeye state. The father was a well-to-do contractor, farmer and mill operator, closely associated with the business activity and substantial development of the section in which he lived.

He served with credit as a soldier of the Mexican War and when the Civil War broke out he recruited a company and went to the front as lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Ohio Infantry. Six months later he recruited the Eighty-second Ohio Infantry, of which he was commissioned colonel, serving with that rank until killed at the second battle of Bull Run on the 29th of August, 1862.

Had he survived that fatal day he would have been made brigadier general.