OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY of 2nd OVI Regiment (published 1908) *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bob graynag@apk.net April 4, 1999 *********************************************************************** OHIO SECOND INFANTRY (Three Months) Second Infantry - (Three Months' Service.)Col. Lewis Wilson; Lieut.-Col., Rodney Mason; Maj., Augustus C. Parry. This regiment was organized at Columbus, April 18, 1861,in response to the call of the president for volunteers to serve for three months.It was composed of companies enrolled from different parts of the state as follows: Co. A, Rover Guards; D, Zouave Guards; and E, Lafayette Guards, of Cincinnati; B, Columbus Videttes; C, Columbus Fencibles; F, Springfield Zouaves; G and K, from Pickaway county; H, from Steubenville; I, Covington Blues, of Miami county. Most of these were former militia organizations of the state. The regiment was ordered to Washington at once and left Columbus on the morning of April 19, 1861, but was delayed on its way several days.It was mustered into service April 29, 1861, at Lancaster, Pa., and on its arrival in Washington early in May was assigned to Gen. Schenck's brigade of Gen. Tyler's division, then a part of the force in defense of the capital.It was engaged in the first battle of Bull Run, Va., losing 2 men killed, 4 wounded, 8 captured and 1 missing.regiment was mustered out on expiration of term of service, July 31, 1861. 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. ========== OHIO SECOND MILITIA (Thirty Days) Second Militia. - Col., John F. Wiltsee; Lieut.-Col., George C. King; Maj., A. C. Horton. On or about Sept. 2, 1862, Maj.-Gen. Lew Wallace, by order of Maj.-Gen. H. G. Wright, then in command of the Department of Ohio, assumed command of the cities of Cincinnati, Newport and Covington and the defenses thereof,then threatened by the Confederate forces under Gen. Kirby Smith. Martial law was at once declared and the citizens called upon to turn out en-masse to erect fortifications and defenses on all the approaches leading to the cities of Newport and Covington. Gen. Wallace finding himself without any available military at his command for immediate defense,caused the 2nd regiment reserve militia which had been organized under the militia law of the state in July, 1861, to be immediately mustered into the service of the United States and sent to the front to protect the workmen in the entrenchments and on the fortifications. It served the government faithfully during its 30-days' service, being on duty day and night nearly the entire term of enlistment, rendering most valuable service in protecting the working parties and doing picket duty in sight of the enemy. The regiment was mustered out at Cincinnati, April 30, 1865, to date Oct. 4, 1862. 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. ========== OHIO SECOND INFANTRY (Three Years) Second Infantry. - (Three Years' Service.) Cols., Leonard A. Harris, Anson G. McCook; , Lieut.-Cols., John Kell, Obediah C. Maxwell; Maj. William T. Beatty. This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, from July 17 to Sept. 20, 1861, to serve for three years. It immediately crossed the Ohio river and moved by the way of Paris and Mount Ster- ling,to Olympian Springs in eastern Kentucky. On Oct. 22,it made a forced night march of nearly 30 miles,surprised and totally defeated a band of Confederates under Jack May at West Liberty,inflicting some loss to the enemy in killed and wounded and coming off scathless. The enemy was pursued to Piketon and with the balance of the force the regiment marched down the Big Sandy to Louisa,thence to Louisville by water. When in March the main body of Gen.Buell's army marched to the assistance of Gen. Grant at Shiloh, the regiment was engaged in several small affairs with the enemy on the line of the Memphis Charleston railroad,the most considerable of which, at Widow's creek, near Bridgeport, resulted in the dispersion of a force placed to dispute the passage of the creek, and the capture of their camp equipage. The regiment was also with the column that first occupied Bridgeport and destroyed the railroad bridge at that point across the Tennessee river. In the reorganization of the army at Louisville, the regiment was assigned to Rousseau's division in Gen. McCook's left wing, and with two divisions of that command participated in the well contested battle of Perryville, losing in the action nearly forty percent of all engaged. In the battle of Stone's river it was closely engaged and suffered serious loss. In this action the regiment, with the assistance of Guenther's Battery H, 4th artillery, captured the colors of the 32nd Arkansas. Chickamauga was the next battle-ground and in this hotly contested engagement the regiment lost 183 offi- cers and men, killed, wounded and missing. After falling back into the entrenchments at Chattanooga, it remained there until Nov. 24, when the brigade to which it was attached was sent to the assistance of Gen. Hooker on Lookout mountain, in his celebrated battle above the clouds. In the battle of Missionary ridge, which occurred on the succeeding day, the regiment made its way to the crest with slight loss, and captured the colors of the 38th Alabama. It then pursued the enemy to Ringgold, Ga., at which place a halt was made. In the reconnaissance to Buzzard Roost, in Feb., 1864, the 2nd was in the advance and developed the strength of the enemy's position before Dalton. In the following May it formed a portion of Sherman's force for the Atlanta campaign, and at Resaca suffered heavily in an at- tempt to carry by assault the enemy's entrenched position. It then moved with the division through Georgia to the Chattahoochee river ,and took part in the battle of Peachtree creek,its last engagement. The original members (except veterans) were mustered out on Oct. 10, 1864, by reason of expiration of term of service, and the veterans and recruits were transferred to the 18th Ohio veteran infantry on Oct. 31 1864. 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 ==== Maggie_Ohio Mailing List ====