1862–1865
In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units.
In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units. Almost 330,000 Ohio men, including 5,092 African Americans, served in the Union military during the conflict.
Infantry regiments formed in Ohio became known as regiments of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They served for varying lengths of time, averaging one hundred days to three years. In November 1861, the 62nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry organized at Camp Goddard, at Zanesville, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve three years.
Upon organizing, the 62nd remained at Camp Goddard until January 17, 1862, when officials ordered the regiment to Cumberland, Maryland. The 62nd traveled to Cumberland via the Ohio Central Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On February 3, the regiment moved east on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Great Cacapon Creek, Virginia. On March 10, the 62nd marched to Strasburg, Virginia via Martinsburg and Winchester, and returned to Winchester the following day. On March 22, officials placed the regiment on picket duty near Winchester, but on March 23, the Battle of Winchester occurred, and authorities ordered the regiment to the battlefield, where it assumed a position in the center of the Union line in support of a battery. That evening, the 62nd advanced to the very front of the battlefield, where it witnessed the Confederate withdrawal. The day after the battle, the 62nd advanced with the rest of the Union army three miles past Strasburg. On March 25, the regiment marched to Mount Jackson, where it engaged in a skirmish with the Confederates. The 62nd next marched to Edinburg, Virginia, where it encamped until April 17, 1862, when it advanced to New Market, Virginia, reaching this new location on April 18.
On May 2, 1862, the 62nd departed New Market for Harrisonburg, Virginia. The regiment returned to the vicinity of New Market two says later. On May 12, the 62nd advanced to Luray, Virginia, and over the following two days passed through Cheat Gap to Great Cross Roads, Virginia, where a brief skirmish erupted. The regiment next marched in a northeasterly direction, reaching Warrenton, Virginia on May 17, Catlett's Station on May 18, and Falmouth, Virginia the following day. While at Falmouth, President Abraham Lincoln formally reviewed the 62nd. On May 24, officials ordered the regiment to depart eastern Virginia and to return to the Shenandoah Valley. The 62nd marched through Manassas Junction, Catlett's Station, Hay Market, Rectorstown, Front Royal, Luray, and Columbia Bridge, arriving at Port Republic on June 5. On June 5, at Port Republic, the 62nd engaged Confederate forces under the command of Thomas Jackson. The Southerners drove the 62nd from the battlefield, forcing the Union soldiers to retreat to Columbia Bridge and then to Luray. On June 15, the regiment departed Luray, arriving at Front Royal on June 16. The regiment encamped here until June 20, when it marched towards Alexandria, Virginia, arriving at this location on June 28.
On June 30, the 62nd boarded transports and sailed to Fortress Monroe. Upon arriving, the regiment moved to Harrison's Landing and engaged in picket duty. During the remainder of the Peninsula Campaign, the 62nd primarily served as pickets on the Union left. Following the Seven Days' Battles and the end of the Peninsula Campaign in August 1862, the regiment moved to Suffolk, Virginia. On September 21, the 62nd conducted a reconnaissance from Suffolk to Black Water, Virginia. During the autumn, the regiment had several skirmishes with Confederate forces during various reconnaissance missions. On December 31, the regiment left Suffolk for Norfolk, Virginia. On January 4, 1863, the 62nd boarded transports for Beaufort, North Carolina and then traveled by rail to New Bern, North Carolina. On January 25, the regiment sailed to Port Royal, South Carolina. On February 8, the 62nd arrived at St. Helena Island, remaining here several weeks before moving to Cole Island. On April 3, the regiment advanced to Folly Island and, on April 7, participated in an invasion of Morris Island, with the Union force capturing fourteen siege guns.
;On July 18, 1863, the 62nd engaged in the unsuccessful Union assault on Fort Wagner, with the regiment losing approximately 150 men killed, wounded, or captured. The 62nd also participated in the siege of Charleston from July 10 to October 31, 1863. The regiment then returned to Folly Island and moved to Hilton Head, South Carolina on November 5.
In January 1864, the 62nd's members reenlisted and received a thirty-day furlough. Upon the furlough's completion, the regiment rendezvoused at Washington, DC on March 3, 1864. Officials immediately sent the 62nd to Petersburg, Virginia, where the organization joined the Army of the Potomac's Siege of Petersburg. The regiment continued to operate in the vicinity of Petersburg and, once Union forces captured this city, pursued the withdrawing Confederate Army of Northern Virginia until its surrender at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9, 1865. During the Siege of Petersburg, officers of the 62nd issued the following reports:
HDQRS. SIXTY-SECOND Regt. OHIO VETERAN VOLS. Point of Rocks, Va., June 12, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my regiment while under the command of Col. Hawley, commanding brigade:
Being assigned to the left of your brigade, I moved forward about 4 a. m. the 9th instant. The enemy's pickets being driven in about 8.30 a. m., I was ordered forwarded as a reserve to the skirmish line.
I took up a position about 600 yards in their rear, and formed line of battle. Remained in this position until 11 a. m., when I was ordered to move some 500 yards to the rear and form line of battle, for the purpose of drawing in the skirmishers. After the line of skirmishers had passed through, I was ordered to move my regiment to the rear. After marching about 1 mile, I was ordered to file into the field for the purpose of getting dinner. Took up the line of march about 1 p. m., my regiments bringing up the rear of the infantry. Moved steadily forward to the pontoon, where I arrived a few minutes before 6 p. m., and on being ordered by the general commanding, I moved my regiment to its old camp, where I arrived at 6.15 p. m.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. B. TAYLOR,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Regt.
Lieut. E. L. MOORE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
HDQRS. SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., September 2, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken in the expedition to the north side of the James River by this regiment from the 13th to the 21st ultimo.
The evening of the 13th ultimo the regiment received orders to move with three days' cooked rations. Marched to the James River and crossed on the pontoons and marched to within a short distance of Gen. Foster's picket-line at Deep Bottom, where we bivouacked till morning. At 4 a.m. the morning of the 14th Gen. Foster's skirmishers moved forward and engaged the enemy one-fourth of a mile in our front. I received orders to have the movements of my regiment to conform with those of the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers on my right; also the brigade was to move by regiments in echelon. The brigade was formed in this manner and moved forward to the field occupied by the enemy, where the line was halted and aligned preparatory to advancing on the enemy's works. In a short time Col. Pond, commanding brigade, gave the order to "charge with a yell." The enemy were driven to their main line of works. In the charge my ankle was thrown out of place, which rendered me unable for further service. I relinquished the command of the regiment to Maj. F. M. Kahler.
The loss in the charge was two men wounded.
S. B. TAYLOR,
Lieut.-Col. Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers.
Capt. R. O. PHILLIPS,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 1st Div. 10th Army Corps.
After taking command of the regiment, and remaining in view of the enemy's works for two or three hours, I received orders to move the regiment to the right about one mile, where we remained until near sunset, when we were ordered to the left and near our old position. In regaining this ground we lost two men killed on the skirmish line. Two colored regiments advanced and took position on our left, occupying our old position, relieving us. We were then ordered to the rear about one mile, where we remained under arms through a drenching rain until about midnight, when we were ordered to the right of the Second Corps, near the James River, arriving at 3 a.m. 15th instant. Here we rested until 9 o'clock. I then received orders to move, and marched in the direction of Malvern Hill. The column was halted near Deep Run, when I was ordered to support the Fourth New Jersey Battery, which was then engaging the enemy. We remained in this position during the day, and in the evening received orders for a detail of 2 commissioned officers and 100 men for picket. These men were not relieved until the evening of the 17th instant. About 9 a. m. of the 16th I received orders to move to the right and support of Gen. Foster's brigade, which was then briskly skirmishing with the enemy. We moved forward in line of battle through a dense wood to near the slashing in front of the enemy's works. Halted and doubled our columns, and were ordered to charge the works, which we did successfully, carrying their main pits and driving them through a field some distance beyond to a thick woods, where we halted, and fought them about a half hour. Their number being superior, and our right flank being exposed, we were ordered to retire to the pits we had taken. We fought them in this position about an hour, when the enemy regained their former position in the pits on our right and left, thus exposing us to an enfilading fire, which compelled us to fall back into the woods. In retiring into the woods I became prostrated from heat, and relinquished my command to Capt. Henry R. West.
In this engagement we lost 13 enlisted men killed, 42 wounded, including 3 commissioned officers, 1 commissioned officer taken prisoner, 6 enlisted men missing.
I had in the engagement of the 16th instant 118 enlisted men and 10 commissioned officers.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. M. KAHLER,
Major Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-SECOND OHI0 VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., September 2, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the action of the regiment on the north side of the James River whilst under my command:
The 16th ultimo, whilst holding the rifle-pits at Deep Run, Major Kahler was prostrated with the heat and relinquished the command to me. At 4 p.m., in accordance with orders, we fell back from the captured works through the woods, where I reformed the regiment. At 5 p.m. we advanced and formed line of battle on the right of the Second Brigade, Col. Hawley. I was ordered with the regiment on picket. Was relieved the evening of the 17th, and ordered to take position in the rear of the rifle-pits, which were occupied by the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers and Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteers. The evening of the 18th the enemy advanced upon our works in two columns, driving in our pickets. I was ordered to move the regiment into the pits, when we opened on them, causing them to retire behind their works. At 11 o'clock was ordered to fall back with the regiment; moved out and marched three miles, and was ordered by Col. Howell, who had relieved Col. Pond, to occupy a line of rifle-pits, the right of which rested on the Charles City road and connected with the left of the Second Brigade. Remained in this position until the 20th, at 1 o'clock, when the brigade moved to the front half a mile and formed line of battle across the Charles City road, where we remained till 8 o'clock, when orders were received to fall back to Deep Bottom and recross to the south side. Crossed over on the pontoons at 12 m., and occupied our old camp in front of Bermuda the morning of the 21st ultimo, where I relinquished command of the regiment to Col. Pond.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY R. WEST,
Capt., Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers.
Capt. R. O. PHILLIPS,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 1Oth Army Corps.
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEERS, Before Richmond, Va., October 28, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to make the following report in regard to operations of the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers during the time from the morning of the 27th of October to the afternoon of the 28th of October, 1864:
The regiment, pursuant to orders, left their camp at 4.30 p.m. October 27, 1864; moved to near the enemy's line of defenses; there the regiment was deployed as skirmishers. Remained on the skirmish line until about 10 o'clock October 28. Were at this time called in from the skirmish line. During the time on skirmish line the line was advanced until the enemy were driven in from their inner line of picket trenches. The loss while skirmishing was four men severely wounded by musketballs. At about 1 p.m. October 28, 1864, commenced to move to camp. Arrived at camp at about 3 p.m. October 28, 1864.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN O. EDWARDS,
First Lieut., Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers, Comdg. Regiment.
Capt. NEVIN,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Following the Army of Northern Virginia's surrender, the 62nd remained on active duty. On September 1, 1865, officials consolidated the regiment with the 67th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, essentially ending the 62nd's existence as a separate organization.
During the 62nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry's term of service, 113 men, including eleven officers, died on the battlefield. An additional 131 men, including two officers, succumbed to disease or accidents.
