Showing posts with label 78th OH INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 78th OH INF. Show all posts

Saturday, June 14, 2014

78th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Zanesville, Ohio, October, 1861, to January, 1862, and mustered in January 11, 1862. Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, thence to Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 11-16. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, District of West Tennessee, to March, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Unattached, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 16, 1862. Expedition toward Purdy and operations about Crump's Landing, Tenn., March 9-14. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Capture of Jackson June 7. Duty at Bethel and Grand Junction till August. Bolivar August 30. March to Iuka, Miss., September 1-19. Battle of Iuka September 19 (Reserve). Duty at Bolivar till November. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign, operations on the Mississippi Central Railroad. November 2, 1862, to January 20, 1863. Reconnoissances from LaGrange toward Colliersville November 5 and November 8-9. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 20, thence to Lake Providence, La., February 22, and to Milliken's Bend, La., April 17. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Forty Hills and Hankinson's Ferry May 3-4. Battles of Raymond May 12; Jackson May 14; Champion's Hill May 16. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Surrender of Vicksburg July 4, and duty there till February, 1864. Clinton July 16. Expedition to Monroe, La., August 20-September 2, 1863. Expedition to Canton October 14-20. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Regiment reenlisted January 5, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2, 1864. Baker's Creek February 5. Wyatt's February 13. Meridian February 14-15. Canton February 26. Veterans on furlough March and April. Moved to Clifton, Tenn., thence marched to Ackworth, Ga., May 5-June 8. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign June 8-September 8. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Howell's Ferry July 5. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Leggett's or Bald Hill July 20-21. Battle of Atlanta July 22. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Duty near Atlanta till October 15. Moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., and duty guarding railroad near Chattanooga till November 13. Little River, Ala., October 27. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Pocotaligo, S.C., January 14. Barker's Mills, Whippy Swamp, February 3. Orangeburg February 12-13. Columbia February 16-17. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 20-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 20. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and there mustered out July 11, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 71 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 280 Enlisted men by disease. Total 355.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1533

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

A Letter from Adjutant E. H. King

Headquarters 15th Iowa Inft. Vols
Vicksburg Miss. Jan 23d, 1864

Mr. Caverly:–

It seems as but yesterday since visiting you last, and I am quite surprised to find upon examination that the last was written Jan. 4th, 1864. That and the two days immediately succeeding, [s]ufficed to consume the effervescence arising from the almost unanimous, and quite uneffectual enthusiasm of the men in the first stages of “Veteran enlistments.” And now that the men have “cooled off” and things have resumed the even tenure heretofore unbroken and not likely soon to be broken again, one may not unreasonably retrospect the doings of the past few weeks, and grasp, if he can, the reasons for the action taken, the importance of the movement, and the results likely to accrue from it. I would not have you understand, Mr. Editor, that I am about to enter upon a discussion of the merits of Veteran Soldiers, or speak words of pacification to mothers, fathers, brothers or sisters for those who have reenlisted in the Regiment for an additional term “three years or the war.” The mind of each, having the good of the country in view, will suggest this. But I do wish you to understand, that having thus acted, somewhat upon the spur of the moment, –not without good and potent reasons either, –we are still willing to scrutinize the work and prepare the mind more thoroughly for performing the grave and noble task before us. And having given the matter a reinvestigation, and having stamped the mind with every interest involved, to reenter the arena, full of terrible responsibility, with that courage, consistency and [s]eriousness so becoming to christian and patriotic [men]. Reenlistments have been pretty general throughout the Corps. Every Regiment in the third Brigade (ours) has enlisted, and vies with the others as to which shall first obtain the furlough.

The work of preparation for war goes bravely on. For four days the 3d Division (General Legetts) has been drilling for a prize, - a banner prepared by the Divisions commanders, – culminating today in a drill by the best reg’s in each of the three Brigades; viz:– 17th Ill., 124 Ill. And the 78th Ohio, terminating with the presentation of the banner by Maj. Gen. McPherson to the 124th Ill., –the judges having awarded to it the title “Exesitr” [my best guess] written conspicuously on the flag. The drill to day was very exciting, and the Regiments performed the manouvers [sic] in line and the manual of arms in splendid style. Large crowds of soldiers, citizens, fair damsels and scores of sombre hue, were in attendance, and manifested the liveliest interest in the performers.

Rumor, – twin sister to the father of lies, – says an expedition will leave Vicksburg for [illegible] in [illegible] of the State within a few days, with the express purpose of occupying Jackson, organizing a State government for Miss., and thrashing or otherwise punishing the rebel hordes infesting the country.

It is positively known that the Regiment will be paid within a few days, as some of us saw the Pay Master to day and he told us so. Nothing will be received with more thankfulness than the money now due for services rendered.

The Men in the Regiment enjoy excellent health. Isaac Haner arrived this P. M. from a visit somewhere; he has been detained for many weeks by sickness. He is a good boy and we welcome him among us.

The members of Co., “I” have all enlisted and are anxiously waiting an opportunity to pay their friends in Clark and elsewhere a visit.

The weather has been for a week past the finest imaginable. The clear enlivening sunlight never shone more benignantly on any people.

Secession only blighte[d] this fairland and sunny clime, and the return of peace will inaugurate a return to the same brilliance and prosperity enjoyed previous to the rebellion.

Enjoying this pleasant sunshine we read with dismay and horror of the ice and snow and frost and wind in Iowa Our sympathetic natures stand aghast at the thought of frozen existence, icy fettered streams and crystal covered landscapes.

But my letter is growing too lengthy and I will close. The Sentinel of the 9th ins. Is just received. Its columns are always heartily welcome.

Adieu!

E. H. King

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Oscoela, Iowa, February 20, 1864