OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY of 17th OVI Regiment (published 1908)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Bob
graynag@apk.net
April 8, 1999
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For: Lisa Lmb916@aol.com

                        Regiment History      

OHIO SEVENTEENTH-Cols., Marshall F. Moore, Benjamin Showers;
Majs., Benjamin F. Butterfield, James W. Stinchcomb, Willis G.
Clark. This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, in Sept.,
1861, to serve three years. It first participated in the Wild
Cat fight in Kentucky and lost 7 men wounded. It participated
in the siege of Corinth and was engaged in several severe
skirmishes, in one of which Co. B with 70 men, penetrated the
Confederate lines, drove the pickets back on their reserves,
and held the position for 2 hours, losing 2 men severely and 4
slightly wounded. The regiment went into the battle line on
the Stone's river field and with its brigade charged the
Confederate Gen. Hanson's brigade, driving it in confusion,
killing its general and some 150 of the rank and file. The
loss of the 17th was 20 wounded. It moved with its brigade in
the Tullahoma campaign, and at Hoover's gap charged the 17th
Tenn. Confederate regiment, strongly posted in a belt of
woods, driving it back and occupying the position.At the
battle of Chickamauga the regiment was on the extreme right of
the center and when Gen. Wood's division was double-quicked
out of the line, the gap left exposed the right flank of the
regiment, the Confederates opened fire both on the right flank
and in front, causing it to lose heavily and scattering the
men in confusion. Co.B, the only one of the regiment that
retreated in a body, gave three cheers, sounded the rally for
the regiment, gathered some 200 men together and charged on
the enemy, but to little purpose, as the Confederates greatly
outnumbered them. Falling back again,they held a given point
and fought throughout that memorable day, leaving the field
with but 52 men. The loss of the 17th in this battle in killed
and wounded was over 200, not counting those with slight flesh
wounds. Lieut.Col. Ward fell about the middle of the
afternoon, on the front line, badly wounded. At Missionary
ridge, though in the rear line at the start, the regiment was
in the front when the top of the hill was gained. It took only
a subordinate part in the heavy skirmishing at Rocky Face
ridge, but bore its full share in the battle of Resaca. At
Kennesaw mountain the regiment suffered less than it had in
previous actions of less importance, but the heat was so
intense that many men were carried off prostrated by
sunstroke. At the battle of Peachtree creek the regiment was
actively engaged, and it advanced under a galling fire of
musketry and artillery to the assault on Jonesboro. The
regiment followed Sherman through the Carolinas, took part in
the battle of Bentonville, passed in review before the
president at Wash- ington, and was mustered out at Louisville,
Ky., July 16, 1865. Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65
-- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- 
Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. 
Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

Bob


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