Ohio In The War-Volume II. Whitelaw Reid. Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin. Cincinnati 1868,

pgs 472-478

collection of James & Lynda Cooper

EIGHTY-SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY

THE EIGHTY-SECOND was composed of men from the counties of Logan, Richland, Ashland, Union, and Marion. Recruiting began on the 5th of November, 1861.

The regiment rendezvoused at Kenton, Ohio, and was mustered into the service on the 31st of December, with an aggregate of nine hundred and sixty-eight men.

On the 25th of January, 1862, the regiment moved for Western Virginia. It crossed the Ohio River at Benwood[OH], and on the 27th arrived at Grafton[WV]. On the 28th it went into camp near the village of Fetterman, where a regular system of instruction was instituted. On the 16th of March the Eighty-Second was assigned to General Schenck's command. It was transported by railroad from Grafton to New Creek, and from there it marched to Moorefield, arriving on the 23d. The regiment was ordered by General Schenck to explore the Lost River region, and to capture, if possible, a noted guerrilla named Harness; but Harness made his escape.

The Eighty-Second moved with Schenck's brigade up the South Branch Valley, and on the 3d of May crossed the Potomac at Petersburg. Franklin was reached on the 5th. Here the troops halted two days, and then moved in the direction of Monterey. On the 6th a courier arrived with the information that Stonewall Jackson was threatening the force under Milroy. Schenck hastened to his relief, and by noon the next day joined the troops under Milroy near McDowell, The Rebels were posted on Bull-Pasture Mountain, and were well sheltered by natural obstacles. At three o'clock P. M. the National troops moved to the assault, and the light continued until after dark. During the night the troops under Schenck and Milroy withdrew, and arrived at Franklin on the 10th. The Rebel army followed, but did not molest the retreat. On the 12^th the enemy moved apparently to attack the lines at Franklin. He threw out his skirmishers, but these were repulsed, and on the night of the 13th the Rebels retired.

Schenck's brigade left Franklin with the army under Fremont on the 25th of May. On the 26th it passed through Petersburg, where knapsacks and all other baggage which could not be carried on the person were left. On the 29th the Potomac was crossed near Moorefield, and the next day the troops entered the defiles of Branch Mountain. On the 1st of June the advance of the army became engaged at Strasburg. Schenck's brigade hastened forward and deployed, but a tremendous storm put an end to the battle. During the night the Rebels, under Jackson, withdrew.

The pursuit commenced at early dawn, and many Rebels who had given out on the march were captured. The column passed through Woodstock and Harrisonburg, and on the 8th fought the battle of Cross Keys. Schenck's brigade, though in season, and participating but little in the actual fighting, was exposed throughout the battle to the enemy's artillery and musketry.

The next day (he Rebels were in retreat and the National army in pursuit; but the destruction of the bridge over the Shenandoah stopped the chase. The troops moved back through New Market, Mount Jackson and Strasburg to Middletown, where General Sigel took command of the army.

In the organization of the Army of Virginia, under General Pope, Sigel's command was denominated the First Corps ; and the Eighty-Second was assigned to an independent brigade, under Milroy. Severe campaigning had fearfully thinned the regiment's ranks, and it now mustered only about three hundred men, and additions to the sick-list were made daily. On the night of the 7th of August Sigel's corps moved toward Culpepper, and on the following morning halted in the woods south of the village. At seven o'clock P. M. the corps moved toward Cedar Mountain, where fighting had been going on nearly all day. It arrived on the field at ten o'clock P. M. ; and Milroy's brigade moved to the front and relieved a portion of the exhausted forces. The troops remained under arms all night. On the 9th there was some skirmishing,but no general engagement, and on the night of the 10th the Rebels retreated. In the pursuit Mlilroy's brigade led the advance of Sigel's corps. On the 11th the brigade crossed Robertson's River, and went into camp on the south bank.

On the 10th of August the Army of Virginia began to withdraw from Robertson's River. Milroy's brigade covered the movement. On the 16th Sigel's corps arrived at Warrenton Sulphur Springs; but on the next day it reversed its course and marched southward along the left bank of the Rappahannock River to Rappahannock Station. Here the two armies met on opposite banks of the river. Sigel's corps was at the front constantly, and on the 18th participated in a sharp skirmish at Freeman's Ford. For ten successive days Milroy's brigade was within hearing, and most of the time under fire of the enemy's guns. On the 21st Sigel's corps moved northward, hugging closely to the river. Milroy's brigade was charged with the defense of Waterloo Bridge. The Rebels made a persistent effort to gain the bridge, but with no avail. The destruction of the bridge was ordered finally, and the work was entrusted to the Eighty-Second. A select party dashed forward under a brisk fire, ignited the timbers, and in a few moments the work of destruction was complete.

On the evening of the 21st McDowell engaged the enemy in a short but severe conflict five miles east of Gainesville. Sigel's corps hastened to his assistance, but darkness prevented a general engagement. At early dawn the next morning the battle opened, and Milroy's brigade was pushed forward to reconnoiter the enemy's line. At nine o'clock A. M. Sigel's corps began a general advance. Milroy's brigade preceded the main body in battle order. The Eighty-Second and Third Virginia were deployed, and supported by the other regiments of the brigade in column. The Rebel skirmishers were driven back through a dense timber to their main force, which was posted behind a railroad embankment. When Milroy's brigade had approached within a few yards of the embankment some of the troops sprang from behind it, and crying, " Don't fire on your friends," threw down their arms, while at the same time the remainder of the force opened a heavy volley. The ruse did not have its expected effect. The firing was returned vigorously. The Eighty-Second pressed forward and commenced scaling the embankment, a portion of the regiment passing it through an opening for a culvert. Just at this moment a large force of Rebels appeared on the regiment's right flank. The Eighty-Second was now unsupported, and it was necessary to change front in order to repel the new attack. The movement was executed successfully, under a galling cross-fire ; but during the evolution Colonel Cantwell fell from his horse dead, with the words of command and encouragement upon his lips. The brigade had already retired, and the regiment, under orders from Milroy, now withdrew.

Under the personal direction of General Milroy the Eighty-Second, consisting of only a handful of, men, was re-formed and assigned to the support of a battery. The advancing Rebels were met resolutely and repulsed, and an opportunity was afforded for the regiment and battery to retire to a safe position. In this engagement the Eighty-Second lost heavily. At dawn on the 30th it was in line, and by two o'clock P. M. it had advanced to the position so fiercely contested on the day before. At four o'clock P. M. the Rebels massed in front of McDowell's corps, and a portion of Sigel's corps, including Milroy's brigade, was sent to his assistance. The brigade was in position in time to receive the enemy's advance. The formation was slightly concave, the Eighty-Second being in the center. The Rebels advanced repeatedly, but were driven back, and Milroy's brigade maintained its position. The fighting ceased when night came on, and, under cover of darkness, the National army withdrew to Centerville.

On the 3d of September Sigel's corps arrived at Fairfax C. H. Here the Eighty-Second was detailed as provost-guard for the corps, and was attached to General Sigel's head-quarters. On the 9th of September Sigel moved his head-quarters to Fort De Kalb. The corps about this time, by orders from the War Department, was denominated the Eleventh, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. On the 25th the corps advanced to Fairfax C. H., and on the 4^th of November it moved to Gainesville; but on the 18th it was again withdrawn to Fairfax. Here the corps remained until General Burnside's advance on Fredericksburg, when it marched to join the Army of Potomac at that point. On the 17lh of December General Sigel established his head-quarters at Stafford C. H., and the corps went into winter-quarters, the campaign having closed with the attempted capture of the heights of Fredericksburg, General Howard succeeded General Sigel in command of the Eleventh Corps; and, at the request of Colonel Robinson, the Eighty-Second was relieved from duly at head-quarters, and was ordered to report to its division commander. General Schurz. By him it was designated as a battalion of sharpshooters for the division, and was not assigned to any brigade, but was held subject to his personal direction.

The Eleventh Corps broke camp at Stafford on the 27th of April, 1863, and moved on the Chancellorsville campaign. It crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford and the Rapidan at Ely's Mills; and on the evening of the 30th it halted within three miles of Chancellorsville. At nine o'clock A. M. on the following day the corps took up a defensive position and began to intrench. When the battle opened, on the afternoon of the 2d, the regiment stood to arms and awaited the orders of General Schurz. By his direction it was deployed with fixed bayonets to repel the attack. It was ordered very soon to fall back to the rifle-pits. The movement was executed in good order. The men moved steadily into the entrenchments, and opened a rapid fire upon the advancing foe. Disorganized bodies of troops were falling back through the Eighty-Second, and the regiment was left unsupported. The enemy swept around the flanks of the Eighty-Second, but the regiment stood to its post until retreat or capture became inevitable.

The order was reluctantly given, and the regiment fell back in good order ; and when the new position was reached one hundred and thirty-four men were with the colors. It remained in this position until ordered by General Howard to retire to Chancellorsville. On the morning of the 3d the Eleventh Corps was transferred to the extreme left of the army, and was charged with the defense of the approaches to the river and the pontoons. The regiment was on duty in the trenches or on the picket-line until the morning of the 7th, when the army commenced to retire; and at seven o'clock P. M. the Eighty-Second reached its old camp near Stafford.

The regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade of the Third Division, and was engaged in ordinary camp duties until the 10th of June, when it moved on the Gettysburg campaign. The Eleventh Corps marched by way of Catlett's, Manassas Junction, Centerville, Goose Creek, Edwards's Ferry, Middletown, and Frederick to Emmettsburg, where it arrived on the 29th. On the 1st of July the march was resumed, and at twelve o'clock M. the corps came in sight of Gettysburg. Without any halt the troops were formed in order of battle, and the Eighty-Second was placed in support of a battery. In about an hour the battery was withdrawn, and the regiment prepared to join in a general advance. It moved over an open plain swept by the Rebel artillery, and before the regiment fired a shot it lost twenty men killed and wounded. The gaps were filled promptly, and the Eighty-Second advanced to within seventy-five yards of the Rebel lines. The Rebels were in force in overwhelming numbers, and the Eighty-Second was compelled to retire. It was assigned a position near the entrance of the now famous Gettysburg cemetery. It went into this action with twenty-two commissioned officers and two hundred and thirty -six men ; and of these, nineteen officers and one hundred and forty-seven men were killed, wounded, and captured, leaving only three officers and eighty-nine men. This little band brought off the colors safely. It was not engaged seriously during the remainder of the battle.

On the evening of the 5th the Eleventh Corps moved in pursuit of the Rebels, passing through Emmettsburg, Middletown, Boonsboro', and Sharpsburg to within a few miles of Hagerstown, where it arrived on the 11th. At this point the Eighty-Second was assigned to a new brigade, which was denominated the First Brigade of the Third Division. The brigade was commanded by General Tyndal. The Eleventh Corps continued the pursuit as far as Warrenton Junction; and soon after arriving there the Third Division was assigned to the duty of guarding the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The Eighty-Second was ordered to Catlett's Station, and there it performed very arduous guard and patrol duty until the 25th of September, when the Eleventh Corps left Catlett's Station to join the Army of the Cumberland.

On the 1st of October Tyndal's brigade arrived at Bridgeport, Alabama. On the 3d it crossed the Tennessee River, and was engaged in patrolling the adjacent country. On the 27^th the Eleventh Corps, under Hooker, moved up the left bank of the Tennessee, and on the afternoon of the next day, as the column emerged from the defiles of Raccoon Mountain, it drew the lire from a Rebel battery on Lookout Mountain. After a lively skirmish the Rebel outposts were driven in, and by live o'clock the troops were encamped quietly in Lookout Valley. About ten o'clock F, M. firing was heard in the rear, and it was found that Longstreet had occupied "Wauhatchie Heights, and had descended into the valley. Detachments were at once sent out from the Eleventh Corps, and Tyndal's brigade was directed to recapture Wauhatchie Heights, The brigade moved out on the double-quick ; and, upon reaching the point where the assault was to be made, the Eighty-Second deployed two companies as skirmishers, and the remainder of the regiment supporting them, led the advance up the steep and rugged sIojjc, and drove the Rebels from the summit without difficulty. The position thus gained was held by the Eleventh Corps until the 22d of November, when the corps moved down the valley, crossed the Tennessee twice, passed through Chattanooga, and bivouacked under the guns of Battery "Wood. The corps was held in reserve during the engagement at Orchard Knob, but it moved up under a heavy fire from the batteries on Mission Ridge, to the left of the Fourteenth Corps, and assisted in the skirmishing which followed the engagement, and in building the intrenchments. On the 25th the Eleventh Corps marched to join Sherman's forces. The movement was completed by ten o'clock P. M. Sherman was still engaged on Mission Ridge, and the Eleventh Corps was ordered to support the assaulting column. The Third Division took position on the southern face of the ridge, and there proceeded to intrench. A party from the different regiments of the First Brigade reconnoitered the front and drove in the enemy's flankers. By night the entrenchments were complete and the position secure. The Eleventh Corps moved in pursuit of Bragg's army as it fell back from Chattanooga, to within seven miles of Ringgold. From this point an expedition was sent from the corps to destroy the railroad connecting Cleveland and Dalton. The enterprise was entirely successful.

On the 28th of November the corps moved to the relief of Knoxville. When it arrived near the town of Louisville, only eighteen miles from Knoxville, a courier arrived from General Burnside with the information that Longstreet had raised the siege. Then commenced the return march ; and, after many hardships, the troops half naked and half starved, arrived at their old encampments in Lookout Valley on the 17th of December. The Eighty-Second had scarcely recovered from the effects of the Knoxville campaign, when it declared anew its devotion to the country by veteranizing. Out of three hundred and forty-nine enlisted men present, three hundred and twenty-one were mustered into the service as veteran volunteers on the 1st of January, 1864. On the 10th of the same month the regiment started to Ohio on veteran furlough. It arrived at Columbus on the 21st, and was furloughed for thirty days from the 2-lth. It rendezvoused on the 23d of February with two hundred recruits. It started for the front on the 26th, and on the 3d of March joined its brigade at Bridgeport, Alabama.

The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated, forming the Twentieth, and the Eighty-Second was assigned to the Third Brigade of the First Division of this corps. On the 10th of April marching orders were received, and the regiment entered upon the Atlanta campaign. It marched by way of Whitesides, Lookout Valley, Gordon's Mills, Grove Church, Nicojack Gap, and Snake Creek Gap, to Resaca. Toward evening, on the 14th of May, the Twentieth Corps, under Hooker, was shifted to the left, in order to envelop the enemy's right. Robinson's brigade (the third), of Williams's division (the first), reached the Dalton Road just as a division of the Fourth Corps was being forced back in great confusion. Robinson's brigade at once charged and drove back the Rebels in gallant style. The Eighty-Second participated in the charge, but sustained little loss, as the enemy was too much surprised and embarrassed to fire effectively. On the next day Butterfield's and Geary's divisions advanced and captured the enemy's first line. Williams's division was then thrown forward, and took position on the left, with Robinson's brigade on the left of the division, constituting the extreme left of the army. The flank "hung in air," and being without breastworks was much exposed. The enemy seeing this, moved two divisions into position for an attack. Robinson's brigade was posted behind a low rise of ground, with an open field in front. The enemy charged gallantly across the open space, and advanced to within fifty yards of Robinson's position, but a terrible fire forced him to retire. In twenty minutes the enemy renewed the attack, but with the same result ; again he advanced, and again was forced back with fearful slaughter. Throughout the engagement the Eighty-Second held an important position, but had a slight advantage in being protected by a breastwork. It Iost one officer killed. Darkness ended the conflict; and during the night parties were employed caring for the Rebel wounded.

The Rebels withdrew by night, and in the morning the National army started in pursuit; and on the evening of the 19th the enemy was found in position near Cassville. The enemy evacuated without a battle, and the National army was allowed a few days to rest. On the 23d the march was resumed. Hooker's corps crossed the Etowah, and marched by way of Stilesboro' to Burnt Hickory. On the 25th, while the three divisions of the Twentieth Corps were advancing by different roads. General Geary encountered the enemy on a high wooded ridge, four miles north-east of Dallis. Williams's division, which had arrived within three miles of Dallas by another road, at once about-faced and marched to the support of Geary. Upon arriving it was determined to attack the Rebels, and Williams's division was formed in column of brigade, with Robinson's in front. At the sound of the bugle the column advanced, and fire was opened immediately. The troops moved with great steadiness and in almost perfect order, sometimes, even in the midst of the firing, halting for a moment and dressing the line. General Hooker accompanied the column, and, turning to Colonel Robinson, said : " Your movement is Splendid, Colonelsplendid." The Eighty-Second held the center of the line, and behaved with conspicuous gallantry. After advancing about half a mile Robinson's brigade was relieved and Ruger's brigade took the lead. General Roger advanced within two hundred yards of the Rebel parapet, and maintained his position until the ammunition failed, and then Robinson's brigade again moved to the front. The brigade was exposed to a severe canister fire, and by sunset almost every cartridge was gone. The cartridge-boxes of the dead and wounded were searched, and a straggling fire was kept up until night, when Robinson's brigade was relieved.

During the 26th and 27th Williams's division was in reserve. About midnight on the 27^th Robinson's brigade was detailed to escort a supply-train for ammunition to Kingston and back. This duty was performed successfully. On the 1st of June the army began to move toward the left. On the 6th Robinson's brigade arrived at a position near Pine Knob, where it remained until the 15th, when the line was advanced about two miles and to within a stone-throw of the Rebel parapet. The enemy was forced back upon Kenesaw, and in the operations around that place Robinson's brigade was held in reserve, and only engaged the enemy in skirmishes. After the evacuation of Kenesaw the Twentieth Corps went into position near Nicojack Creek. The corps crossed the Chattahoochie at Pace's Ferry on the 17th of July, and pressed forward toward Atlanta. On the 20th it crossed Peachtree Creek and found the Rebels in their works four miles from Atlanta. About ten o'clock P. M. the Rebels made a determined attack. Williams hurried his brigades into position. While Robinson's brigade was forming it received a volley which would have disconcerted any but veteran troops. The Eighty-Second was the second regiment in position, and it was hardly formed before the Rebels were upon it. The combatants became mingled with each other, and for some time the issue seemed doubtful ; but at last the Rebels were forced to yield. In this engagement the Eighty-.Second lost not less than seventy-five in killed and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson was struck by a bullet, but it was tamed aside by a pen-knife in his pocket, and only inflicted a slight wound.

During the siege of Atlanta the Eighty-Second held an important and an exposed position on a hill adjoining Marietta street. It was within range both of artillery and musketry, and on one occasion a cannon shot carried away the regimental colors and tore them to shreds. On the night of the 25th of August the Twentieth Corps withdrew from the intrenchments, and before daylight it was fortifying a new position along the Chattahoochie. At this point General Slocum assumed command of the corps. The rest of the army in the meantime moved southward. During the night of September Is: loud explosions and a bright light were seen in the direction of Atlanta. Early on the next morning a reconnoitering party was sent toward Atlanta. About noon the Eighty-Second joined another party moving in the same direction. The city was found , evacuated. The entire corps moved up, and the raiment went into camp in the suburbs, near Peachtree street.

The regiment remained in camp at Atlanta, engaged in work on the fortifications and occasionally moving on a foraging expedition, until the 15th of November, when it started with Sherman's army for Savannah. The Eighty-Second met with nothing worthy of particular note until the 25th, when "Wheeler's cavalry was encountered at Buffalo Creek. One company from the Eighty-Second Ohio, with one company from the Thirty-First Wisconsin, was sent forward to dislodge the enemy. The work was well done. Wheeler was forced from his position and driven back about a mile. Robinson's brigade was on the front line about Savannah, for a time, but it was moved to the rear, and was formed, facing outward, in order to cover the trains. Here it remained until the city was occupied by the National army.

On the 17th of January, 1865, the Third Division, commanded since leaving Atlanta by General N. J. Jackson, crossed the Savannah, and on the 19th arrived at Pureysville, South Carolina. Here the command was detained by high water until the 27th, when the march was resumed, and on the 29th Robertsville was reached. Here again the column was delayed until the 2d of February, when communications were abandoned and the march through the Carolinas commenced. The Eighty-Second performed its full share of marching, foraging, and corduroying. Upon one occasion three "bummers" from the Eighty-Second, with only a carbine, unexpectedly encountered a Rebel patrol of twelve cavalry fully equipped; the bummers put on a bold front, and calling out "forward, boys, here they are I" started for the Rebels, who betook themselves to flight. A swamp impeded their progress, and accordingly they dismounted and fled on foot, leaving their horses and equipments to the bummers.

On the 18th of February the Twentieth Corps crossed the Saluda four miles above Columbia; Broad River was crossed near Alston on the 20th, and on the 21st Winnsboro' was reached. On the 23d Wateree River was crossed near Rocky Mount Post-office, and on the 27th some foragers from the Eighty-Second captured, at Lancaster, a beautiful silk banner, inscribed upon one side, "Our cause is just : We will defend it with our lives;" and upon the other side, "Presented by the ladies to the Lancaster Invincibles." The march was continued by way of Chesterfield and Cheraw, and on the 11th of March the Twentieth Corps reached Fayetteville. On the 14ih the march was resumed up the left bank of the Cape Fear River, and on the 16th the enemy was encountered three miles below Averysboro'. Robinson's brigade arrived on the field about ten o'clock A. M. The Rebels were gradually forced back, and toward evening they occupied a fortified line at the junction of the roads leading to Averysboro' and Bentonville. Here they made an obstinate .Mand and held the pa-^ition until nightfall, when they withdrew. In this affair the Eighty-Second lost two officers and eight men wounded.

On the 18th the column crossed Black River and advanced twelve miles toward Cox's Bridge. At ten o'clock A. M. on the 19ih cannonading was heard in front, and at one o'clock P. M. orders were received for the troops in the rear to hasten to the front. As soon as Robinson's brigade arrived it was thrown forward to fill the vacancy in Carlin's division, of the Fourteenth Corps. The men were without intrenching tools, but with their hatchets they at once commenced building a breastwork. Skirmishers were thrown out, and an effort was made to gain possession of some buildings, but the skirmishers were driven back by a murderous fire, and the enemy moved forward to the attack. The assault was made on Carlin's left, and in five minutes ail the troops lo the left of Robinson's brigade were swept away, and the enemy was coming down upon the flank in irresistible masses. The brigade immediately changed front but it was now enveloped on front and flank, and orders were given to withdraw. The line was re-formed and again Robinson's brigade was enveloped on front and flank, but with the aid of artillery the Rebels were repulsed. No less than six assaults were made on this line during the afternoon, and every time the enemy was repulsed handsomely. The firing ceased shortly after nightfall, and Robinson's brigade was relieved and permitted to drop to the rear. The next day the enemy was content to assume the defensive, and on the 21st he retired. In the battle of Bentonville the Eighty-Second lost two officers and nine men wounded and fourteen men missing.

The whole army now turned toward Goldsboro', where it arrived on the 24th. On the 9^th of April, and while still at Goldsboro', the Eighty-Second and Sixty-First Ohio were consolidated The new regiment was denominated the Eighty-Second, and a few surplus officers were mustered out. On the 10th the troops moved to Raleigh, where they remained until after the surrender of Johnston's army. On the 30th of April the corps marched for Washington City, by way of Richmond, and on the 19th of May arrived at Alexandria. The regiment participated in the grand review in Washington on the 24th of May, and then went into camp near Fort Lincoln. When the Twentieth Corps was dissolved the Eighty-Second was assigned to a provisional division which was attached to the Fourteenth Corps. On the 15th of June the corps moved to Louisville, Kentucky. At Parkersburg the troops embarked on transports. Upon reaching Cincinnati the boats carrying Robinson's brigade, of which the Eighty-Second was still a part, stopped a short time, and General Hooker came down to the wharf. He was greeted enthusiastically by his old soldiers, and in return made a brief speech. On arriving at Louisville the regiment went into camp on Speed's plantation, five miles south of the city. Here it remained until the 25th of July, when it proceeded to Columbus, Ohio, where it was paid and discharged on the 29th.