OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - HISTORY of 5th OVI Regiment (published 1908)
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Bob
graynag@apk.net
April 5, 1999
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For blondee@ldd.net

Sharon,
   Here are the regiments involved with the list of possible
George Metcalfs':

OHIO FIFTH INFANTRY 
(Three Years) 

Fifth Infantry. - (Three Years' Service.) Cols., Samuel H.
Dunning, John H. Patrick; Lieut.-Cols., Harry G. Armstrong,
Robert L. Kilpatrick, Robert Kirkup; Majs.,William Gaskill,
John Collins, Henry E. Symmes, Krewson Yerkes. This regiment
was organized at Camp Dennison, June 21, 1861, to serve for
three years. After an active campaign in West Virginia the 5th
was at Winchester in March, and on the 23d marched out to
Kernstown, took position in support of Daum's W. Va. battery
and the battle of Winchester opened. Late in the afternoon
companies A, B, C, D and E moved up, and passing through a
clump of underbrush emerged into an open field where they
received the fire of the enemy. When the 84th Pa. fell back in
confusion Gen. Sullivan, commanding the brigade, exclaimed
that the army was whipped; but observing the 5th Ohio still
fighting, he exclaimed: "No, thank God, the brave 5th Ohio is
still standing its ground, and holding the rebels." The
regimental colors were perforated with 48 bullet holes and the
state flag with 10. During the following May the regiment was
presented with a beautiful stand of colors, sent to it by the
city council of Cincinnati as a token of appreciation for its
bravery and efficiency in the battle of Winchester. At the
battle of Port Re- public the regiment conducted itself with
its usual courage and dash, and after firing a couple of
volleys it charged on a fence behind which two Confederate
regiments had taken position. The charge was a success, the
Confederates fleeing into the woods, where they rallied, but
again the 5th charged and captured a piece of artillery.
Immediately thereafter it marched to the left and repulsed a
charge made by the enemy on a battery. When the order to
retreat was finally given,the 5th was designated to cover the
movement, in doing which it lost 185 men taken prisoners. On
Aug. 9 it made a forced march of 8 miles to reach the
battle-field of Cedar mountain. At Antietam the regiment
marched on the field at daylight, advanced to the edge of a
belt of woods and opened fire, driving the Confederates into a
corn- field, where it followed and engaged them in a fierce
hand-to-hand conflict many of them using the butts of their
guns. The conflict was terrible but the enemy was at last
compelled to give way, contesting every foot of the ground as
he did so. During the time the 5th Ohio was engaged in this
battle its cartridge boxes were emptied three times, making
about 100 shots per man. On the outer edge of the corn- field
lay a row of dead Confederates on their faces, as though they
had been dragged there and laid in order. After various
marches and counter marches,the 5th went into camp at
Dumfries, Va., where it was attacked by Gen.Stuart's cavalry
but the attack was repulsed.On May 1 ,the regiment entered the
battle of Chancellorsville and performed a distinguished part,
and following that came the great battle of Get- tysburg.In
the grand advance of Rosecrans army toward Chattanooga,the 5th
formed a part and had the honor of opening the battle above
the clouds, on Lookout mountain. It was with Sherman in his
march to Atlanta, and when its time of enlistment had
expired,not withstanding its hard and almost continual
service, and the fact that it was lit- erally shattered to
pieces, this brave band of heroes resolved to "go in for the
war." After a short furlough home they were back "to the
front," marching to the sea with Sherman and participating in
all the hardships of the campaign. Then came the great flood
of sunlight, Lee's surrender, the triumphant march to
Washington, joining in the grand review; thence to the Queen
City of the West,their home, and at last the muster-out at
Louisville, July 26, 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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