OHIO FORTY-NINTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Forty-ninth Infantry. Col., William H. Gibson; Lieut.Cols., Albert M. Blackman, Levi Drake, Benjamin S. Porter, Samuel F. Gray, Luther M. Strong, Joseph R. Bartlett; Maj., Milton F. Miles. This regiment was organized at Camp Noble, Tiffin, from Aug. 15, to Sept. 22, 1861, to serve for three years. On the expiration of its term of service the original members (except veterans) were mustered out and the organization, composed of veterans and recruits, was retained in service until Nov. 30, 1865, when it was mustered out in accordance with orders from the war department. The following is a list of battles, in which the regiment bore an honorable part, as given in the Official Army Register, Part V, page 128: Shiloh, Tenn.; Corinth, Miss.; Lawrenceburg, Ky.; Stone's river, Liberty gap Tenn.; Chickamauga, Ga; Missionary ridge, Tenn.; Rocky Face ridge, Resaca, Cassville, Pickett's mills, Kennesaw mountain, Siege of Atlanta, Lovejoy Station, Ga.; Franklin, Columbia and Nashville, Tenn. In the battle of Shiloh the regiment twice performed the hazardous movement of changing front under fire. At Stone's river it joined in a magnificent bayonet charge, which resulted in recovering lost ground and a severe defeat to the enemy. At Liberty gap it scaled the heights in the face of a severe fire, drove the enemy from his position and compelled him to fall back to another, but equally strong position, about a mile to his rear. At Missionary ridge, with conspicuous gallantry, it was among the first to plant its colors on the summit. In the battle of Nashville it participated in several brilliant charges and suffered severely in killed and wounded. The whole number of names upon the rolls of the regiment is 1,552. Nineteen were born in Europe, 760 in Ohio, of whom 440 were from Seneca county. Eight officers and 127 privates were killed in battle, 77 were mortally wounded, 165 died from hardships or disease, 7 perished in Confederate prisons, and 616 were discharged on account of wounds or other disability. Source: The Union Army, vol. 2 Shiloh after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Albert M. Blackman, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry. HDQRS. FORTY-NINTH REGT. OHIO VOL. MILITIA, Camped on the Battle-field, April 10, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to report to you the following particulars of the participation of this regiment in the engagement of the 7th instant: We were brought into action about 2 o'clock p. m., occupying the left of the brigade and the extreme left of the division. Our position was taken under a severe fire from infantry and artillery, but my men came up firmly, and fired with the calmness and precision that soon caused a wavering in the ranks of the enemy. Shell and grape shot from one battery was very annoying to my left, without doing much damage, their range being too high. We advanced to our second position, continuing our fire by file. The enemy now attempted to take advantage of the exposed condition of our left. He advanced up a ravine and opened his fire, quartering on my left and rear. I at once changed front to the rear on first company. This change was made in perfect order, the men behaving in the very best manner. Our fire soon drew the flanking force from their position, when, by order of Col. Gibson, I changed front forward on first company, resuming my former place in line, and directing my fire on the main force. We now advanced to our third position, when the enemy again made a demonstration on our left. I again changed front to the rear, but about the time I completed the maneuver a brigade arrived and took up the fight on our left, driving the foe from my new front. By order I again changed front forward, and advanced in brigade line, driving the foe from their position, and closing the engagement in this part of the field. On receiving orders to return to the Landing the regiment moved off in as fine style and order as they ever did from parade. All behaved with steadiness and bravery worthy of veteran troops. Every officer on duty with the regiment was at his post and acquitted himself like a man and a soldier. Maj. Drake was especially brave and active at his post, rendering me great assistance. Adjutant Norton was also very active and efficient. My command to-day is in very good spirits and condition as regards health and discipline. It is in good fighting order. I am, sir, your obedient servant, A. M. BLACKMAN, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Capt. HENRY CLAY, Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Sixth Brigade. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10 Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Maj. Samuel F. Gray, Forty-ninth Ohio Infantry. HDQRS. FORTY-NINTH OHIO VOLUNTEERS, Chattanooga, Tenn., September 26, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following official report of the part taken by this command in the battle of the 19th and 20th instant: The facilities for making a report at this time are such that it must necessarily be imperfect in some respects, but I shall endeavor to make it a history of facts as far as I go. We marched with the brigade from our bivouac at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 19th. After marching about 9 miles toward the left, and parallel with the general line of battle, we arrived at 12 o'clock near the left of the line, where a heavy fight was progressing. The brigade was immediately thrown into position and marched to the front, the Forty-ninth Ohio on the left in the first line, with the Thirty-second Indiana on my right; my left connecting with the First Ohio, Third Brigade, and supported by the Fifteenth Ohio in column on the center. In this order we advanced across a corn -field and entered an open wood. My flanking companies commanded by Capt. Hartsough, Company A, and Capt. McCormack, Company B, were at once deployed as skirmishers to cover our front, with Company F, Lieut. Wolf, and Company G, Lieut. Pool, as supports, They immediately went bravely forward and advancing abut 300 yards over level ground, found the enemy, when light skirmishing at once commenced, growing hotter until it became necessary to throw froward the support companies. They also moved up in fine style. The fight now became general along the whole lien, and by order of the general commanding brigade the first line advanced to the work under a heavy fire of musketry. Arriving at a place where the ground gradually descended from our front, the enemy opened on us with a battery planted directly in front of my right wing, and at close range, throwing much grape and canister. Here my command was ordered to lie down, while a portion of Capt. Goodspeed's battery moved up on my left and opened on the enemy's guns. After a brief artillery duel the general commanding brigade ordered a charge. We responded, going forward at double-quick, capturing two Parrott field pieces, and driving the enemy before us. Having thus gained nearly a mile, and being much in advance of the troops on the right of our brigade, we halted, and held this position until nearly dark, when the enemy, having pressed back the troops on either flank of our brigade and division, massed in our front, and compelled us to relinquish a portion of the ground gained during the afternoon. It was now dark, and having been relieved by other troops, we returned to bivouac inn the corn-field through which we first advanced. Our entire loss during the first day's engagements was as follows: Killed and wounded, 51; missing, 10, including 2 commissioned officers. At daylight on the morning of the 20th the division went into position on the field of our operations on the preceding day, or brigade in reserve, the Forty-ninth on the right in the second line. About 8 a. m. the enemy made a furious attack on some temporary breastworks thrown up in front during the night, and were handsomely repulsed. The other brigades of the division then advanced, and we were thrown forward to occupy them. In this movement my command was changed to the left flank of the brigade. We had occupied this position but a short time when the enemy drove back the brigade on my left, commanded by Gen. Beatty, and came pouring int the open field directly in our rear. I immediately faced by the rear rank, and, wheeling half to the right, opened on them a galling crossfire. This, in connection with the fire from Capt. Goodspeed's battery, in position directly fronting the advancing rebels, soon caused them to waver. At this moment I ordered a charge. This was executed under the eyes of the generals commanding brigade and division, who can testify to the prompt and enthusiastic manner in which it was done. the Sixth Regt. Ohio Volunteers having rallied, now joined us in the charge, and the enemy was completely routed. In this charge the regiment captured 50 prisoners and sent them to the rear. After driving the enemy about one-half mile and exhausting our ammunition, we were relieved by the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers, under Col. Erdelmeyer, charging through our lines and again driving the enemy, who had partially rallied. I take pleasure in testifying to the gallant charge made by this noble old regiment. Early in our charge I was struck on the head by a glancing ball and compelled to leave the field for half an hour in the hottest part of the engagement. During this time the command evolved upon Capt. L. M. Strong, acting field officer, who distinguished himself for gallantry and capacity to command. During the remainder of the day and until the close of the fight we acted with the brigade and were constantly under fire, but did not again become closely engage. A full report of our operations during Sunday afternoon will no doubt be made by the general commanding brigade. To the officers and men of the Forty-ninth Regt. my thanks are due for their heroism and unflinching bravery exhibited throughout the protracted struggle. My thanks are especially due Capt. Strong for valuable assistance rendered on the field. Sergt. Maj. D. R. Cook, acting adjutant, was conspicuous for gallantry, always at his post of duty and in the thickest of the fight. In closing this grief report allow me to congratulate the general commanding brigade upon the successful operations of his entire command, its perfect organization from the beginning to the end of the fight, and to tender him, on the part of every officer and man in my command, his heartfelt thanks, feeling that we owe to his superior courage and skill our preservation and any honor we may have won. I am, very respectfully, S. F. GRAY. Maj., Comdg. Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. CARL SCHMITT, Asst. Adjt. Gen. First Brigade.

Source: Official Records PAGE 551-50 KY., SW., VA., TENN., MISS., N. ALA., AND N. GA. [CHAP. XLII. [Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]

Ohio 49th Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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