Fountain-Warren County IN Archives Biographies.....Mentzer, Azariah T. Leath 1838 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 11, 2006, 6:27 am

Author: H. W. Beckwith (1881)

   Azariah T. Leath, farmer, Attica, was born at Independence, Warren county,
Indiana, April 28, 1838. His parents, Silas J. and Mary Ann (Barbry) Leath, came
from Virginia in an early day and settled at Independence. At the age of six he
lost his father by death, and a year later his mother died. Himself, two
brothers and two sisters, thus orphaned, became scattered, and were reared by
different people. For eleven years this subject lived with John Emmons. He was
enrolled July 1, 1861, in Co. D, 20th reg. Ind. Vols. He witnessed the
destruction of the Cumberland and Congress by the Merrimac, and the next day the
engagement between this iron-clad and the Monitor. He participated in the
movement of the troops on shore when the Congress was sunk - two companies of
the 20th, including his own, were detailed to go down to the beach and drive off
the rebels who had boarded her. He saw one of the enemy killed on her deck. The
20th Ind. regiment went into the service numbering 1,046 men, and arrived at
Hatteras, North Carolina, September 25, 1861; on the 4th of October the rebels
attacked the command, which made the memorable retreat southward the whole
length of Hatteras Island; November 11 it arrived at Fortress Monroe, and,
remaining there till February 25, 1862, was transferred to Newport News, and lay
there when the Merrimac made her descent on the Union fleet. On the 10th of May
the regiment left Newport News and arrived at Norfolk next day. On the 7th of
June it moved again, and joined the Army of the Potomac in front of Richmond. It
took an active part in the movements on the Chickahominy, and was detailed as
rear guard on the retreat to Harrison's Landing. Following is a list of most of
the battles and skirmishes of this regiment: seven days before Richmond;
skirmish in front of Richmond, June 19, 1862; severe skirmish while acting as
rear guard of the army, 23; battle of the Orchards, 25; battle of Glendale, 30;
battle of Malvern Hill, July 1; battle of Bull Run, August 29; battle of
Chantilly, September 2; skirmish of Waterloo, November 7; battle of
Fredericksburg, December 13, 14, 15; battle of the Cedars, May 2, 1863; battle
of Chancellorsville, 3, 4, 5; battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 2, 3; severe picket
skirmish, Gettysburg, 4; battle of Wapping Heights, 22; suppressing July riots
in New York city; battle of Kelly's Ford, November 7; battle of Orange Grove,
27; battle of Mine Run, 29; battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 6, 1864; battle of
Spottsylvania, 8-12; Cold Harbor, June 1. Mr. Leath was wounded in the left arm
at this last place, on the 30th of May, two days before the regular engagement.
He was a sergeant in his company, and had charge of a detail of men building
breastworks at the time of the casualty. He was absent in hospital in Washington
and New York till November, when he rejoined his command before Petersburg, and
shared in the subsequent operations of the army until the collapse of the
rebellion. He "veteraned" February 21, 1864; and was mustered out of the service
at Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 12, 1865. He was married December 31, 1867, to
Miss Amelia P. Pearson, daughter of Enoch Pearson. Her father removed from Ohio
and settled on the Big Raccoon, in Parke county, in 1824. In 1826 became to
Fountain county and made a home in Van Buren township. In 1837 he removed to
Logan township, where his widow now lives. Mr. Leath owns eighty acres of land,
valued at $5,000. He is a republican, and both he and his wife are members of
the Methodist church.

Additional Comments:
Logan Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF FOUNTAIN COUNTY,

TOGETHER WITH
HISTORIC NOTES ON THE WABASH VALLEY,

GLEANED FROM EARLY AUTHORS, OLD MAPS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE, AND OTHER AUTHENTIC, THOUGH, FOR THE MOST
PART, OUT-OF-THE-WAY SOURCES.

BY H. W. BECKWITH,
OF THE DANVILLE BAR; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF
WISCONSIN AND CHICAGO.

WITH MAP AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

CHICAGO: H. H. HILL AND N. IDDINGS, PUBLISHERS.
1881.


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