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Civil War Soldiers - Opdycke
| Opdycke, Emerson, brigadier-general,
U.S. Army, was born in Hubbard, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1830. He engaged in
business in Ohio and then California, then returned to Warren, Ohio,
and enlisted for service in the Civil war from that place, becoming
1st lieutenant in the 41st Ohio infantry, Aug. 26, 1861, and captain,
Jan. 9, 1862. He was acting major at Shiloh, where he led an important
charge. He subsequently was mustered out and recruited the 125th Ohio
infantry, of which he became lieutenant-colonel, Oct. 1, 1862, and
colonel Jan. 14, 1863, and he served in the movements against
Chattanooga, making a charge at Chickamauga and later in the day
maintaining his position at a loss of one-third his men ; while at
Chattanooga, where he commanded a demi-brigade, his force was among
the first commands to reach the crest at the storming of Missionary
ridge. He also rendered good service in the Atlanta campaign, notably
at Rocky Face ridge where he was the first to reach the crest, at
Resaca where he was severely wounded, and at Kennesaw mountain, where
with three regiments he made an unsuccessful assault. He commanded a
brigade from Aug., 1864, until the close of the war, and at Franklin,
in Nov., 1864, he led his brigade from reserve into the gap made by
Hood's assault, without waiting for orders, and was credited by Gen.
Thomas, the commander of the army, with the success of the day. He
subsequently distinguished himself at Nashville and took a prominent
part in repelling Hood's invasion of Tennessee, afterwards commanding
a division at New Orleans, La., until Jan., 1866, when he resigned. He
was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers Feb. 7, 1865, and on
March 13, 1865, was brevetted major-general of volunteers to date from
Nov. 30, 1864, for important and valuable services at Franklin. His
commission of brigadier-general dates from July 26, 1865. After the
war Gen. Opdycke engaged in the wholesale drygoods business in New
York city. He died in New York city, April 25, 1884.
Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908
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