40th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, September to November, and mustered in December 7, 1861. Ordered to Eastern Kentucky December 11, 1861. Attached to 18th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to March, 1862. Unattached, Army of the Ohio to August, 1862. District of Eastern Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to October, 1862. District of the Kanawha, West Virginia, Dept. of the Ohio, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, Baird's Division, Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Renerve Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps, to December, 1864.

SERVICE. – Garfield's Campaign against Humphrey Marshall December 23, 1861, to January 30, 1862. Advance on Paintsville, Ky., December 31, 1861, to January 7, 1862. Occupation of Paintsville January 8 to February 1. Middle Creek, near Prestonburg January 10. Expedition to Pound Gap, Cumberland Mountains, March 14-17. Pound Gap March 16. Moved to Piketon, Ky., and duty there till June 13. Moved to Prestonburg June 13, thence to Louisa July 16, and duty there till September 13. Moved to Gallipolis, Ohio, September 13, thence to Guyandotte, Va., October 4. Moved to Eastern Kentucky November 14, and duty there till February 20, 1863. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., February 20, thence to Franklin, Tenn. Repulse of Van Dorn's attack on Franklin April 10. Harpeth River, near Franklin, April 10. Duty at Franklin till June 2. Moved to Triune June 2. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. At Wartrace and Tullahoma till September 7. Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign September 7-22. Reconnoissance from Rossville September 17. Ringgold, Ga., September 17. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge, November 27. Duty at Whiteside, Ala., till February, 1864. Demonstration on Dalton, Ga., February 22-27. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Tunnel Hill May 6-7. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8-13. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Adairsville May 17. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Allatoona Pass June 1-2. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenasaw June 27. Ruff's Station, Smyrna Camp Ground, July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Red Oak Station August 29. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Companies "A," "B," "C" and "D" mustered out at Pilot Knob, Ga., October 7, 1864. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. Moved to Pulaski, Tenn., and duty there till November 22. Battle of Franklin November 30. Veterans and Recruits consolidated with 51st Ohio Infantry December 10, 1864.

Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 96 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 134 Enlisted men by disease. Total 237.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1515

Southern News

Special to the Chicago Tribune.

CAIRO, May 14.

Memphis papers of the 9th, 10th and 11th, are just received, by special express.  They state, on the authority of a dispatch from Natchez, that the Federal fleet had returned down the river to New Orleans.

The Appeal, commenting upon the growing disposition of the part of citizens of Memphis to refuse Confederate notes, characterizes the parties as traitors, and threatens to publish their names in its columns.

The same journal says that the only condition upon which the South will accept peace is the recognition of the independence, not only of the cotton States, but of every border State whose people desire an alliance with the Confederacy.

The Appeal contains an account of the surprise and capture of the Federal cavalry by Col. Claiborne, with 15, 000 cavalry, near Dresden – substantially as I have before telegraphed.  The prisoners were taken to Jackson, Tenn.

The following telegraphic dispatch is published:

CORINTH, May 8.

The anniversary of Palo Alto opened with skirmishing between Gen. Pope’s forces and Gen. Price’s troops on the Farmington & Rienza roads.  At 2 o’clock the firing of the artillery was brisk.  Cox’s Alabama cavalry had several wounded.  There was heavy infantry firing late in the evening in which the enemy were driven back with great loss.  Surgeon W. R. Florall, of the 27th Ohio, and Maj. Applington, of the 42d Illinois were killed.  A flag of truce was sent by the enemy yesterday, asking for an exchange of Lt. Col. Adams, of Mo., and was refused.  The telegraph office at Farmington communicating directly with Washington City, was captured.

The Avalanche, of the 10th says that it has learned from reliable sources that the actual Federal loss at Shiloh exceeded forty thousand.

The Provost Marshal of Memphis has ordered the arrest of all persons refusing to accept Confederate money in payment of debts, or for goods purchased.  “Noting in the least degree calculated to discredit the operation of the Government will be tolerated.”

The Appeal of the 11th, says, “We have certain intelligence that Gen. Halleck has lost over 5,000 of his army by desertion.  The country between the Tennessee river and Kentucky is full of them.  The whole of the 40th Ohio deserted and disbanded after the battle of the 7th, and number of Kentuckians and Missourians have followed their example.  In consequence of disaffection produced by the late anti-slavery movements in Congress; one entire Kentucky regiment had unceremoniously quit Halleck’s army and gone home.

Five hundred Federal cavalry and 1,000 infantry have occupied Paris in consequence of the attack made by our cavalry on the Federal Camp at Dresden, a few days ago.

A report is brought from Little rock that Gen. Curtis’ division of the Federal army have commenced to march upon the capital of Arkansas.  Gen. Steel is marching upon the same point from Pocahontas.

The Appeal of the 11th, has the following special dispatches:

DES ARC, Ark., May 10.

The enemy are reported to be at Augusta, Jackson Co.  They took possession of all the cotton in the neighborhood.  They are reported to be in considerable force at Jacksonport and Batesville.  Their destination is unknown.

Some of the Federals, in disguise, entered this place to-day, and after reconnoitering, returned, pursued by the citizens.

Seventeen hundred bales of cotton were offered upon the shrine of liberty to-day by the citizens of this place.

The enemy are supposed to be under the command of Curtis.  His forces are reported to be between 8,000 and 10,000.

CORINTH, May 10.

Since the terrible thrashing administered to Pope’s command on yesterday, by Price and Van Dorn, we have had no further demonstrations.  Matters are accordingly quiet this morning.

The Appeal of the same date, also contains the following characteristic message from Thompson, relative to the great naval fight of Saturday:

FT. PILLOW RIVER DEFENCE FLEET,

GUNBOAT LITTLE REBEL, May 10.

Editors Appeal:  We Missourians concluded to celebrate to-day, the anniversary of the Camp Jackson massacre.  We have shown the enemy that we will still own the Mississippi river, and can run the blockade whenever we choose.  We gave them a few bullets this morning to show them our power, and after a handsome little skirmish of 30 minutes, we backed down the river with 2 men killed, and 8 slightly wounded.  The officers are all safe, with more confidence than ever, and our boats are uninjured.  The Van Dorn, Capt. Folkerson, has covered our fleet with glory; and all, from Com. Montgomery down to the powder boys, behaved like soldiers and gentlemen, and as good men as ever feathered an or round a quarter deck, or butted a Yankee.

Signed,

JEFF. THOMPSON.

The Appeal published this message without editorial comment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 16, 1862, p. 1

Official Reports of the Battle of Shiloh: No. 66 – Col. John A. McDowell, 6th Iowa Infantry, Commanding the 1st Brigade, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee

No. 66.

Report of Col. John A. McDowell, Sixth Iowa Infantry, commanding First Brigade. 

HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, FIFTH DIVISION,

Camp, Shiloh, Tenn., April 9, 1862.

At the first alarm of the enemy's attack, Sunday, the 6th, the line of the First Brigade was formed, as per previous orders, to hold the Purdy road and the right front. Two companies of the Sixth Iowa were detached to defend the bridge crossing Owl Creek and one of the 12-pounder howitzers of the Morton Battery placed to command the crossing on the hill at the right of our encampment. About 8 o'clock the line was thrown forward to the brow of the hill, and the remaining guns of the Morton battery brought up to command the several openings to the front, and from this position several shots were fired on the enemy's masses, not then formed into line, and the Fortieth Illinois Infantry were ordered forward and to the left to support the right of the Fourth Brigade, in which position they became warmly engaged, when the order came to fall back to the Purdy road. This was accomplished with difficulty, from the extended front of our line, at that time three-quarters of a mile in length, on and over a broken and wooded surface, and at the time when the only passable (the main) road was filled by the teams of the brigade. Yet the change of position and front was just accomplished when the order to send the battery to the center was received. The five guns were immediately dispatched. The other, from the position of guarding the bridge, not coming up in time, remained with the brigade, as the passage by the road had in the mean time been cut off.

In this position and front a few rounds were exchanged, and the skirmishers were again thrown forward. When it was known that we were cut off from the center by the enemy in force on the center and across the road and by a large force in the old field on our left and their cavalry to the left and rear, the howitzer was placed on our left front under cover, and the enemy driven from the field by a few discharges of canister. Soon after, at about 10 o’clock, Major Sanger brought the order to move to the center and rear. This was accomplished as soon as possible under the annoyance of the enemy's skirmishers. Here our front was again changed to the former front of the general line of engagement.

By the general’s order the Fortieth Illinois was advanced to support of the batteries in the center, and the opening filled by the Sixth Iowa, being flanked from its position on the right to the center, leaving the Forty-sixth Ohio on the right and a little to the rear. These dispositions remained unchanged for a period of nearly two hours, when, at about 12.30 o’clock, the enemy, finding no opposition on the right, brought a large force to our right and fronting our flank, causing us to suffer a cross-fire from superior numbers both on the front and flank. It was here that the brigade suffered its greatest loss.

In passing to the right through the thicket and crossing the ravine I was thrown from my horse and severely shocked, and was at that time moving to have the Forty-sixth fall back behind the crest, when Colonel Worthington changed front and gave the enemy the first fire. The Fortieth had gone forward against the enemy's battery so far as to become entirely separated from the rest of the command. At a little past 1 o’clock the Forty-sixth were ordered to retreat, and lost in this retreat 14 killed and a large proportion of their wounded. The Sixth fell back with less loss.

Afterwards, during the day and the day following, different portions of each regiment were attached to other commands, and of the Sixth Iowa and Fortieth Illinois these fragments were detained with Colonel Garfield and General Nelson, by the order of the general commanding, until Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

The behavior of my men and of their officers, almost without exception, was creditable, and of this I shall in another manner properly notice.

Respectfully,

 JNO. ADAIR McDOWELL,

 Colonel Sixth Iowa, Commanding First Brigade.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume X (Serial No. 10), Part I, pages 254-5

Another Victory in Eastern Kentucky

The Rebels under Marshall Routed at Pound Gap – Camp Equipage and Arms Captured.

(Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette.)

CAMP BROWNLOW, PIKETON, KY.,

March 18th, 1862.

Gen. Garfield left this camp on the 14th inst., at the head of six hundred men, detailed in about equal numbers from the 42d and 40th Ohio and 22d Kentucky regiments and McLaughlin’s Cavalry, destined for Pound Gap. – That point was reached on Sunday morning last, after a march of thirty-seven miles, performed in something less than two days.  The enemy were taken by surprise, dislodged from their stronghold, and driven routed and discomfited from the field.  The entire camp, with its equipage, consisting of numerous log huts, canvas tents, subsistence stores, wagons, and all the trappings of camp life, together with some three hundred squirrel rifles, fell into our possession.  In the absence of means of transportation, all but what the boys could carry on their backs, was submitted to the flames.  It was a brilliant victory, and the entire detachment returned this morning, without loss or damage to a man.  With many hearty congratulations for recent brilliant victories everywhere and all around the land.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 1