OHIO SIXTY-THIRD INFANTRY (Three Years)

Sixty-third Infantry. Col., John W. Sprague; Lieut.Cols, William E. Gilmore, Alexander L Haskins, Charles E. Brown; Majs., James H. Odlin, John W. Fouts, Oscar L. Jackson. This regiment was organized by the consolidation of two battalions, known as the 22nd and 63d regiments, Ohio volunteer infantry, at Columbus, Marietta and Chillicothe, from Aug., 1861, to Feb., 1862, and was mustered in for three years. The regiment moved from Marietta in February, under orders to report at Paducah, Ky., and from there it joined the army of the Mississippi, at Commerce, Mo. The army took up the march for New Madrid, the regiment took part in the reconnaissance on the day of arrival there, and was under fire for the first time. It shared in a reconnaissance on March 7, and its services on the 13th were officially recognized in an order from Gen. Pope's headquarters. It was present in all the movements which resulted in the surrender of Island No. 10; embarked on April 12 on the transport Silver Wave and moved with the army to the vicinity of Fort Pillow. During the siege of Corinth it took part in all the operations on the left of Halleck's forces; was in the reconnaissance beyond Farmington and in the engagement at that place, sustaining severe loss. When Price's army advanced toward Iuka the troops fell back to Clear creek, but when Rosecrans advanced to Jacinto the regiment again marched for Iuka and was in reserve at the battle there. In the engagement at Corinth the regiment was much exposed, losing in killed and wounded 48 percent of the officers and men in action. It spent the following winter at Corinth and the ensuing summer in Tennessee. Having re-enlisted and been furloughed home, it returned to the front and shared in the battle of Resaca, Cos. C, H and A being on the skirmish line and among the first troops to reach the river near the village. The regiment crossed the Oostanaula, moved to Adairsville and afterward to Dallas participating in all the actions before that place, and losing heavily in killed and wounded. It was next under fire at Kennesaw mountain and sustained its part in all the operations at that point, being well up to the front the whole time. It was engaged in the battle of Decatur, losing 3 officers killed and wounded. It assisted in taking possession of the Macon railroad south of Atlanta and engaged in the battle of Jonesboro. From the time the regiment left Chattanooga in May until September it lost in action 158 men. It moved with Sherman on his march from Atlanta to Savannah, participating in all the dangers and pleasures of that great campaign, thence up through the Carolinas meeting the enemy at Rivers' bridge and in the engagement lost 12 men killed and wounded. It fought at Bentonville, N. C., then moved on to Goldsboro, and after the surrender of Johnston took the northern route for Washington and home. It was mustered out on July 8, 1865. During its term of service it had enrolled an aggregate of 90 commissioned officers and over 1,500 men, and at its discharge from the service numbered 22 commissioned officers and 537 men.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 63rd Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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