Thursday, June 20, 2013

From Three Months To Three Years

The 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry originally a three month regiment, was on duty June 20th 1861 at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio.

The 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized April 20th 1861, for three months service at Camp Harrison.  They were mustered into service May 8th 1861 and moved to Camp Dennison where the men were on duty until June 20th 1861.  When their three months were up, most of the men reenlisted and the regiment was reorganized for three years under the command of Colonel Samuel H Dunning.

The men of the 5th were sent in 1862 to the Shenandoah Valley, where they received heavy casualties at the First Battle of Winchester in March.  Following that the Battle of Port Republic on June 9th 1862 saw the 5th faced with 244 casualties.  At the Battle of Antietam on September 17th 1862 they took part in the fighting in the Cornfield, and pushed the Confederates they faced south of the Dunker Church, before running out of ammunition and having to fall back.  The next year the 5th had replaced its lost men and was in action at the Battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.  Later that year the 5th was transferred to the western theater and became a part of the XX Corps, serving under General Joseph Hooker, where they would fight at the Battle of Lookout Mountain.  In 1864 - 1865 the 5th was with Union General William T Sherman and took part in the March to the Sea and the Carolina Campaign.

Serving throughout the Civil War the men of the 5th Ohio fought in 28 battles.  They mustered out of service July 26th 1865.  There were 146 men killed or mortally wounded, and another 57 who died from disease while serving.

If you would like to read more about the FIFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY  is a good web site.

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