History
of the 93rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry
-1862-
The
93rd Ohio was organized during the months of July and August, 1862, at Camp
Dayton, near Dayton, Ohio. It left
the rendezvous for Lexington, Kentucky, on the evening of August 23, 1862,
numbering 39 officers and also 929 men.
Under command of General Gilbert, the regiment retreated from Lexington to Louisville, where it was assigned to Ward's brigade, of Jackson's division, and remained in camp until September, 1862. Upon leaving it was assigned to the Fifth Brigade of McCook's division, and upon arriving in Frankfort, Kentucky, it was re-assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division of McCook's command. The 93rd moved with the army to Nashville, and in December, while on duty guarding a forage-train, was attacked by the Rebels, and in this, its first engagement, it lost one man killed and three wounded [Note: reference to Lebanon, TN - Antioch Church]. At the battle of Stone River it was in Baldwin's brigade, of Johnson's division, and suffered severely, on December 31.
-1863-
After this battle it encamped on the banks of Stone River, south
of Murfreesboro, until March, 1863, when it moved to Camp Drake west of Murfreesboro.
On
June 23, 1863, McCook's corps broke camp and marched for Liberty Gap. After a
slight engagement at that place, it moved to Hoover's Gap, and there joining the
remainder of the army under Rosencrans, it moved on to Tuliahoma, arriving July
2, 1863. The regiment remained in camp until August 17, when, with Johnson's
division, it moved to Bellefonte, Alabama, and about the last of August moved
from Bellefonte to Stevenson. It crossed Lookout Mountain and bivouacked in a
valley about forty miles below Chattanooga. It re-crossed the mountain, and
again on September 14 it marched to the top and along the ridge, leaving it on
September 17 at McLemore's Cove. On September 18, the 93rd was placed on picket
on the extreme right of the battle line at Chickamauga,
and was engaged in
severe skirmishing. On the morning of September 19 orders were received to join
General Thomas, and after marching 9 miles, from the extreme right to the
extreme left, the last 2 miles at a double-quick, the regiment went into action
at 12:30 p.m. About 2 p.m., in the afternoon the 93rd, led by Colonel Baldwin,
the brigade commander, charged a Rebel battery, killed all the horses, and
captured the guns and the men. The brigade was engaged until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m.,
when, by superior numbers, it was compelled to retire 200 or 300 yards, where it
bivouacked for the night. During the engagement on Saturday the regiment lost
124 officers and men killed, wounded, and prisoners. Early on Sunday morning the
regiment commenced building breastworks (having only two axes, without picks or
shovels), and by the time the Rebels advanced to attack it was protected by a
very good barricade of logs, rails, and brush. The first Rebel attack lasted one
and a half hours, during which time the amount of ammunition expended by the
93rd averaged 100 rounds to the man. From that time until midnight, there was
continual skirmishing, during which private Kinsey, of Co. H, killed Colonel
Richmond, Inspector General of General Polk's staff, and obtained his sword and
a valuable map of Ringold, and the adjoining country. Again,
about midnight, the Rebels charged
and were repulsed handsomely after an engagement of an hour. The skirmishers
were at once thrown out, and reported 300 killed and wounded lying in
front of the works of the 93rd. At each charge the Rebels came within 125
yards of the breastworks. About 4 p.m. the Rebels charged again, and while still
fighting, the regiment was ordered to fall back. Not expecting to abandon the
field, it fell back about 75 yards and formed in the second line of works, when
orders were received to retreat on
the double-quick. It fell back to Ringold Sunday night, and at midnight of
Monday the 21st, continued the retreat to Chattanooga.
The
regiment with its brigade was deployed as skirmishers along the north bank of
the Chattanooga Creek, extending from the Nashville Railroad around for about 2
miles. It remained there for 4 days, and in continual skirmishing with the
Rebels lost 6 or 8 men. Strong and substantial breastworks were built, which
were afterward used as the advanced picket-line.
During the first part of October, the 93rd was assigned to the Second Brigade (Hazen's), Third Division (Wood's), Fourth Army Corps. on October 25, Hazen's brigade floated down the Tennessee on pontoons, and effected a landing at Brown's Ferry. This movement relieved the want of supplies at Chattanooga, and prevented the evacuation of the place. After remaining a few days at Brown's Ferry, the regiment returned to its camp at Chattanooga.
About
noon on November 23, orders were received for the regiment to move out of camp
as if going on brigade drill, taking nothing but arms, accouterments, and
canteens. Instead, of going on drill, it moved into line of battle, and was
consolidated with the 41st Ohio. This battalion was then advanced beyond the
rest of the line, and in the charge upon Orchard
Knob suffered severely. The
time occupied in making the charge was not more than 5 or 6 minutes, during
which time the 93rd lost 11 killed and 49 wounded. Six men were shot down while
carrying the regimental colors; among them was Major William Birch who was
commanding the regiment. On November 25, the regiment was in the assault on
Missionary Ridge, and sustained the loss of 8 killed and 20 wounded.
On November 28, 1863, the 93rd started for East Tennessee. The campaign of the winter of 1863-64 was very severe, and one time the regiment was reduced to 4 officers and 90 men.
-1864-
On January 16, 1864, 7 officers and about 80 men, who had
been left in Chattanooga unable to march, joined the regiment at Strawberry
Plains, making the effective force about 170 men. On the night on the 16th, the
93rd and the 1st Ohio were detailed for picket, and were posted about 2.5 miles
north of Dandridge. On the 17th about noon, the Rebels attacked the line, but
they were held in check until dark, when the line was withdrawn. In this
skirmish, the 93rd lost 1 killed, 4 wounded, and 3 captured. The regiment with
the army moved to Strawberry Plains and from there to Knoxville, and after
remaining a short time the regiment, with a portion of the brigade, was
stationed at Lenoir's, and was ordered to build winter-quarters. After remaining
about 3 weeks the regiment again moved to Knoxville, and so it continued during
the whole campaign, marching and counter-marching. For about a month it
bivouacked at Blair's Cross Roads, making occasional trips to Rutledge. On April
3, it arrived in Cleveland and went into camp at McDonald's Station, 6 miles
south of Cleveland, and for a month was busily in preparation for a new
campaign.
On
May 3, the regiment broke camp and started on the Atlanta campaign, with an
aggregate of 300 men. It marched to Rossville and thence to Buzzard's
Roost,
where, on the morning of the 8th, a feint was made upon the Rebel works, in
which the regiment lost 4 men wounded. On the evening of the 9th, it withdrew to
the rear, having lost that day 5 men wounded. The Rebels evacuated their works
on the night of the 12th, and on the 13th the regiment was again on the march.
About 10 a.m. on the 15th, heavy skirmishing was heard on the front. The 93rd
and 124th Ohio were in one battalion, under command of Colonel Payne, and were
formed in double columns closed in mass. After marching in this manner for about
2 miles, the battalion was deployed as skirmishers, and relieved the skirmishers
of the 23rd Corps. The position which was occupied was found to be untenable, as
the Rebels were in force on a hill about 300 yards in front. The order to charge
was given, and the Rebels were driven from the hill. A fine position was gained,
but as the remainder of the line was exposed to heavy fire of shell and grape
from a battery on its right. After fighting for nearly 2 hours, and when almost
all the ammunition was expended, it was relieved by a battalion commanded by
Colonel Berry. The loss of the 93rd in this battle of Resaca was 4 killed and 21
wounded.
On
the morning of May 17 the regiment entered Resaca, and advanced to Adairsville.
During the day of the march to Adairsville, the brigade of which the 93rd was a
part, was in advance of the column upon the railroad, and about every 3 miles
the Rebels would make some resistance, thus compelling the brigade to form in
line of battle. At 5 p.m., the Rebels made a stand at a small creek, about half
a mile north of Adairsville. Skirmishers were thrown out and breastworks were
erected. The skirmishing was severe until about 9 p.m., when both parties
ceased. At midnight, the right wing of the 93rd was detailed to cross the creek,
and to build advanced works. After a night of severe labor on the fortifications
it was discovered when daylight came, the Rebels had again commenced their trap.
The regiment marched through Kingston to Cassville, and after resting a few
days, advanced toward Dallas, through a section of the country known as
"Burnt Hickory." On the morning of May 27 the regiment, with the
remainder of Wood's division, withdrew from their position in the lines in front
of Dallas, and with Johnson's division of the 14th Army Corps, marched against
the right of the Rebel line. The troops started at 9 a.m., in line of battle,
with bayonets fixed, and marched in line and in column, without firing a shot,
until 5 p.m., when a detachment of skirmishers, under Captain Patton of the
93rd, discovered some cavalry and exchanged a few shots. Within 15 minutes the
troops were engaged heavily, the 93rd being the front line. The fight lasted
until nearly dark, when the National lines withdrew about a
quarter of a mile. In this action the regiment lost 48 killed and
wounded. The night was spent in building breastworks and in obtaining
ammunition, and remained in position here until June 5. On the night of June 5
it moved near Acworth, where it remained a few days, and then marched toward Kennesaw. The 93rd was on the skirmish-line at Pine Knob, June 17, during the
entire day, and lost 7 men wounded. On the 19th it was again on the front, and
on the 23rd, the 93rd Ohio and the 5th Kentucky were sent to advance the
picket-line, then not move more than 500 yards from the brigade. The line was
advanced a short distance after an hour's fight, with a loss to the regiment of
3 killed and 37 wounded.
The
93rd followed the Rebels retreating from Kennesaw, and on July 4, 1864, it was
the extreme left regiment of Sherman's army, and connected on the flank with the
cavalry. It skirmished with the enemy from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m., through swamps
and woods, losing 3 men wounded. On the 5th, it reached the Chattahoochee River
and overtook the Rebel rear-guard, which, after a short engagement, retreated
across its pontoons and cut them loose on the National side of the river. The
regiment remained here 10 or 12 days, then moved up the river, crossed, and came
down to a point opposite to that it had occupied July 5th. On the 18th it
crossed Peachtree Creek and worked all night on the breastworks. The regiment
pushed on toward Atlanta. On the morning of the 22nd, it came suddenly upon the
Rebels and was compelled to halt and throw up fortifications. In this position
it remained until August 26, performing its full share of all duty and losing
but one man wounded. On the night of the 26th, the regiment marched around
Atlanta, and at West Point, on the 28th, assisted in destroying the Atlanta and
Montgomery Railroad. The 93rd was in reserve at Jonesboro, but it was in the
front line at Lovejoy's Station on the 30th. It remained at Lovejoy's Station
several days, and then returned to Atlanta and went into camp.
In
September the regiment moved to Gailsville, and from there, October 25, to
Chattanooga and thence to Pulaski, Tennessee, where it camped until November
23rd, when it commenced falling back toward Nashville. On the afternoon of the
24th it arrived at Columbia, and at once resumed the old work of building
breastworks. The retrograde movement continued, and on the 30th the 93rd reached
Franklin, and lay in reserve during the fight. On the evening of the 30th, it
was detailed as train-guard for the corps-train from Franklin to Nashville, and
reached Nashville about noon December 1st. It lay at Nashville in the front line
until December 15th, when the brigade was moved to the right to engage in the
attack upon Hood, and the 93rd was left to hold the works in case of a reverse.
On the 16th it joined the brigade on the Granny White Pike, about 4 miles from
the city, and moved across to the Franklin Pike. The 93rd was formed to the left
of the pike, with its right resting on the pike. It went into the fight with 90
men and lost 4 killed and 21 wounded.
-1865-
The
regiment pursued Hood to the Tennessee, and finding that he had escaped,
returned to Huntsville and went into camp. At Huntsville the 93rd was detailed
to go to Paint Rock Bridge, about 20 miles northeast of Huntsville, for the
purpose of ferrying rations across, the railroad bridge at that point having
been burned. It built rafts and in 24 hours ferried across 75,000 rations of
bread, meat, coffee, sugar, candles, and soap, then returned to Huntsville. It
embarked in cars for Nashville, February 1, 1865, and remained there until
February 6th, when it again returned to Huntsville. On March 15, the regiment
left for East Tennessee. It went to Bull's Gap, thence to Greenville, thence
across the mountains near to Ashville, North Carolina, from there back to
Greenville, and from there to Nashville, where it arrived about May 1st. The
regiment mustered out of service at Camp Harker, near Nashville, on June 8,
1865, and proceeded at once to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where it was paid and
discharged on June 14th.
-Summary-
Prior
to the muster out of the regiment, 8 officers and 241 men were discharged for
disability; 4 officers and 204 men are accounted for as "died of disease,
wounds and killed in action." 252 men were wounded once; 30 men were
wounded twice; and 8 men were wounded three times. The surviving members of the
93rd have an association for preserving the memories of olden times, which meet
the second Friday of June, in every year. But no such association is needed to
preserve the memory of their sufferings and their glory at Stone River,
Chickamauga, Brown's Ferry, Orchard Knob, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw, Atlanta,
Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Franklin and Nashville.
-end-
Source:
"The History of Ohio Regiments and Other Military Organizations: Ohio In
The War"
Whitelaw Reid. Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin. Cincinnati 1868.