5th Ohio Infantry Regiment

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The 5th Ohio Infantry Regiment was a three-month regiment and later a three-year infantry regiment[3] from southwestern Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, serving in both the Eastern and Western Theaters in a series of campaigns and battles.[4][5] It was noted for its holding the high ground at the center of the line at Antietam as part of Tyndale's 1st Brigade, Greene's 2nd Division of Mansfield's XII Corps.[6]

Active1861–1865
Country United States
AllegianceUnion
BranchVolunteer Army
Quick facts Active, Country ...
5th Ohio Infantry Regiment
Active1861–1865
Country United States
AllegianceUnion
BranchVolunteer Army
TypeInfantry
Size1,080 soldiers (July 1861)[1]
Engagements
Insignia
2nd Division, XX Corps, Army of the Cumberland
Close
5th Ohio Infantry Monument, Gettysburg Battlefield.

Organization and service

The 5th Ohio Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Harrison near Cincinnati on 20 April 1861, for three months service. The men were mustered into service on 8 May. The regiment moved to Camp Dennison on 23 May, and was on duty there until 20 June.[7]

After its initial term of enlistment expired, the regiment was reorganized on 20 June 1861, for three years, under Colonel Samuel H. Dunning. The remaining three-months men who did not re-enlist in the new regiment were mustered out on 24 July.

The regiment served in western Virginia for most of the balance of the year. In 1862, the regiment was sent into Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, where it suffered significant casualties during First Battle of Kernstown in March. At the subsequent Battle of Port Republic on 9 June, the Buckeyes lost 244 killed, wounded and prisoners. Its ranks much depleted from the Valley Campaign, the regiment served in the defenses of Washington, D.C. under John Pope and participated in the Northern Virginia Campaign.[5]

The 5th Ohio Infantry was heavily involved in the fighting at the Battle of Antietam on 17 September 1862. It was part of Major General Joseph Mansfield's XII Corps and Lt. Col. Hector Tyndale's Brigade, along with the 7th Ohio Infantry, 66th Ohio Infantry, and 28th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiments. Entering the battle in support of Joseph Hooker's I Corps, Tyndale's brigade inflicted heavy casualties on Alfred H. Colquitt's brigade and helped drive the Confederates out of the Cornfield.[8] Pushing the Confederates south to the Dunker Church, Tyndale's men held the area until the afternoon when lack of support, heavy losses and low ammunition compelled them to retreat.[9]

In 1863, the partially replenished 5th Ohio Infantry fought in the Army of the Potomac at Chancellorsville and then served in the Gettysburg campaign.[10] Transferred later in the summer to the Western Theater[note 1] and becoming part of the XX Corps under Joseph Hooker, the regiment participated in the Battle of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The following year, the regiment served in the forces under William T. Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and was part of Sherman's March to the Sea and the subsequent operations against Confederate-held Savannah, Georgia. In the spring of 1865, the regiment served in the Carolinas campaign.

During the Civil War, the 5th Ohio Infantry participated in 28 battles and sustained a loss of more than 500 men killed, wounded and prisoners.[4]

Affiliations, battle honors, detailed service, and casualties

Organizational affiliation

Attached to:[12][7]

List of battles

The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part:[2]

Detailed service

1861[13]

  • Organized at Camp Harrison near Cincinnati on 20 April 1861, for three months service
  • The men were mustered into federal service on 8 May. The regiment moved to Camp Dennison
  • Organized June 20, 1861, at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati on 23 May, and was on duty there until 20 June
  • Reorganized June 20, for three year service, at Camp Dennison, June 20
  • Mustered into federal service June 20
  • Moved by train to Grafton, WV, July 10
  • Duty at Grafton, Clarksburg, Oakland, and Parkersburg, WV., until August 5
  • Three months men who elected not to join the three-years regiment were mustered out on July 24, 1861
  • Duty at Buckhannon, WV, until November 3
  • Action at French Creek November 3 (Cos. "A," "B" and "C")
  • Picket duty near Romney until January, 1862
  • Action near Romney December 8

1862[13]

1863[13]

1864[13]

  • Reconnaissance to Caperton's Ferry March 31-April 2
  • Atlanta Campaign May 1-September 8
  • Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8-11
  • Dug Gap or Mill Creek May 8
  • Battle of Resaca May 14-15
  • Advance on Dallas May 18-25
  • Cassville May 19
  • Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5
  • New Hope Church May 25
  • Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 26-June 5
  • Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2
  • Pine Hill June 11-14
  • Gilgal or Golgotha Church June 15
  • Muddy Creek June 17
  • Noyes Creek June 19
  • Kolb's Farm June 22.
  • Assault on Kennesaw June 27
  • Ruff's Station or Smyrna Camp Ground July 4
  • Chattahoochie River July 5-17
  • Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18
  • Peach Tree Creek July 19-20
  • Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25
  • Operations at Chattahoochie River Bridge August 26-September 2
  • Occupation of Atlanta September 2-November 15
  • Near Atlanta November 9
  • March to the Sea November 15-December 10
  • Siege of Savannah December 10-21

1865[13]

  • Campaign of the Carolinas January to April
  • North Edisto River February 12-13
  • Battle of Bentonville, March 19-21
  • Occupation of Goldsboro March 24
  • Advance on Raleigh April 10-14
  • Occupation of Raleigh April 14
  • Bennett's House April 26, for surrender of Johnston and his army
  • March to Washington, DC, via Richmond, VA, April 29-May 20
  • Grand Review May 23
  • Moved to Louisville, KY, June 6
  • Mustered out July 26, 1865.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 203 men during service; 9 officers and 137 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 55 enlisted men died of disease.[7]

See also

References

External links

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