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5th Ohio Cavalry
Online Books
5th Ohio Cavalry Soldier Roster - Official Roster of the Soldiers of the
State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Volume 11, by Ohio
Roster Commission (Joseph B. Foraker, Governor, James S. Robinson, Sec'y of
State and H. A. Axline, Adjutant-General), 1886
View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fifth Cavalry.— Cols., William H. H. Taylor, Thomas T.
Heath; Lieut. -Cols., John Henry, John Pummill; Majs., Frederick
Scherer, Elbridge G. Ricker, Charles S. Hayes, Charles B. Cooper, Joseph
C. Smith, George H. Rader, John Dalzell. This regiment was organized at
Camp Dick Corwin, from Sept. to Nov., 1861, to serve for three years. On
Feb. 26, 1862, it received orders to move, and on March 1 left Camp
Dennison for Paducah, Ky., reporting to Brig.-Gen. W. T. Sherman. The
regiment aggregated 1,142 strong, composed principally of men from
Hamilton and Clermont counties, although Greene, Clark, Preble and Brown
each furnished a number. On the night of March 15 the regiment dropped
down to Pittsburg landing and the next evening an expedition, consisting
of six squadrons of the regiment and one battalion of the 4th Ill.,
under Lieut. -Col., Heath, was ordered in the direction of Corinth and
when 5 miles from the landing, in front of Shiloh chapel, was suddenly
fired upon by a considerable body of the enemy, several of the Illinois
troops being wounded. A charge was immediately made, in which several
prisoners were taken. On April 4 the second battalion of the regiment
had a sharp skirmish with Confederate cavalry, infantry and artillery at
Crump's landing, in which the battalion had 2 wounded, but brought in 14
prisoners. At the battle of Shiloh the regiment was constantly under
fire. Gen. Grant giving direct orders to it and assigning it various
difficult and dangerous duties and positions in the field. The behavior
of officers and men throughout their virgin battle was highly commended
by both Gens. Grant and Sherman. The regiment advanced with the army in
the slow "siege" of Corinth, and had its share of picket duty and other
exposure. The first and second battalions brought on the battle of
Metamora, Miss. — or as the Confederates call it, "The Hatchie" — where
it fought bravely throughout the day, driving the rear-guard in its
retreat and capturing many prisoners. Squadrons M and B formed one-half
the garrison which, with 250 cavalry and infantry, checked the advance
of Van Dorn's division of 10,000 men, in the battle of Davis' mills, and
the conduct of this heroic handful of men shone so brilliantly that it
caused Gen. Grant to recount their valor in general orders, requesting
the whole army to follow their example and ordering that the 5th Ohio
cavalry inscribe on its colors, in addition to "Pittsburg Landing," the
name of "Davis mills." In December, 200 recruits en route for the
regiment, were captured by Gen. Forrest, about 11 miles from Lexington,
Tenn., and afterward paroled. In an expedition from Memphis in April,
1863, 47 men of squadron F charged Col. Ferguson's Confederate regiment
and drove it in confusion, bringing back 48 prisoners. The same month a
severe battle was fought at Coldwater, Miss., in which the regiment was
engaged. An expedition, composed of 100 men each from the 5th Ohio, 2nd
Ill. and 1st Mo. cavalry, was sent out toward Panola, Miss., under
command of Maj. Henry, and on June 20, while in bivouac on the
plantation of Dr. Adkins, 12 miles south of Hernando, was surrounded in
a dense fog by Gen. Chalmers with a force of 2,000 men, with 6
field-guns. The little band, however, by a gallant charge cut through
the enemy's lines and escaped, although closely pursued for 10 miles,
the killed, wounded and missing of the 5th numbering 80 men. In August
the 3d battalion, which had been detached for more than a year, joined
the regiment and after resting but one day the regiment commenced the
work to which it had been ordered — the protection of Corinth and the
railroad thence to Memphis — by marching southward along the Mobile
railroad to attack a brigade of the enemy's cavalry, which it met and
drove through Baldwin and as far south as Guntown, without loss. In the
engagement at Clear creek, Ala., and in the eight days of almost
constant fighting that preceded it, the regiment did its whole duty and
won weighty compliments from Gen. Osterhaus and staff. During the spring
of 1864 it effected a veteran organization and in the autumn joined
Sherman in his march to the sea and up through the Carolinas. It was
retained in service until Oct. 30, 1865, when it was mustered out.
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Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 2
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