OHIO SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY (Three Months)

Seventeenth Infantry. (Three Months' Service.) Col., John M. Connell; Lieut.-Col., Francis B. Pond; Maj., Clemens F. Steel. The companies composing this regiment were enrolled as follows: A, April 27, F, April 22, at Lancaster; B, April 26, at Granville; C, April 19, at London: D, April 25, at Logan; E, April 27, at New Lexington; G, April 16, at Pleasant Valley; H, April 27, at McConnelsville; I, April 27, at Fort Recovery, and K, April 22, at St. Clairsville. The captains at once reported with their commands at Camp Anderson, Lancaster. where the regimental organization was completed and the drilling and equipment for the field was vigorously pushed. On June 5, the regiment was mustered into the service of the State of Ohio for a period of three months, and under the second call for 300,000 men by the president it was immediately transferred to the U.S. service. On entering Virginia the regiment was divided, and served the government honorably, guarding provision trains, making river expeditions, operating against guerrillas, etc. On Aug. 3, having over served their time some days, the men were ordered home, arriving at Zanesville on Aug. 13, where the regiment was mustered out at Camp Goddard two days later. The regiment suffered the loss of 3 men 1 drowned in Virginia, and 2 who died of disease.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

OHIO SEVENTEENTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Seventeenth Infantry. (Three Years' Service.) Cols., John M. Connell, Durbin Ward; Lieut.-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 sun-stroke. 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 Washington, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 16, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 17th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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