History of the Eighty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Front matter

T. B. MARSHALL, First Sergeant To. K.

HISTORY

OF THE

Introduction

On the 50th anniversary of our regiment being mustered into the U. S. service as an organization, the meeting of the Eighty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry Association was held in Cincinnati at which P. R. Fortney was elected President and Wm. H. Davis was continued as Secretary-Treasurer.

It had for a long time been designed to have a history of the regiment, and the new President was directed to select a committee of one from each company as said committee to have the history compiled. In due time he announced the names as follows:

Franklin Hildreth Co. A

Geo. E. Harvey Co. B

Thos. G. Robinson Co. C

Wm. C. Carter Co. D

Frank McGregor Co. E

L. L. Latta Co. F

S. S. Wintersteen Co. H

Chas. W. Snyder Co. I

This committee was called together in October, and although I was not there yet I was selected to write the history of the regiment, and I hope you will not have cause to regret the chioce. I have done the best I could.

I have had the benefit of the diaries of P. R. Fortney, John W. Burdsall, Wm. Voorhees, and C. B. Palmer, besides the published work of Gen. Andrews on the Mobile Campaign. I have also been very greatly assisted, especially so, by the labors of Major McComas, Lieutenant Carey, and Wm. H. Davis, all of whom spent many evenings during several years in collecting material. The only survivor of these three is Wm. H. Davis, our very efficient secretary-treasurer. He had kept these data with great care, and turned them all over to me, and they have been most valuable. Among the voluminous records, I wish especially to commend those of Comrade Thos. J. Chard, as they contained an important incident which was not found in any other paper.

I have also had the pleasure of reading a letter from Maj. John M. Gould of the 1-10-29 Maine, Portland, Me. He was in the skirmish at Moore's plantation, and highly commends the Eighty- Third Ohio.

I have also had the very efficient assistance of Miss Ida Hall, the Commercial teacher, and of the Senior Class of the Sidney High School in the correction and preparation of this manuscript.

No one will make the mistake of expecting in this book anything of the secrets of strategy or grand tactics, or inner history of campaigns, such as Generals would write, but rather the every day life of the soldier, his trials, hardships, amusements, feelings, hopes, joys and triumphs. It will tell of those strenuous times, and bring again to remembrance the scenes and incidents which come only to those who have marched in the ranks.

I now submit my labors to you, and if you will say it could have been done better, I will neither gainsay nor deny it.

Very respectfully,

Your Friend and Comrade,

T. B. MARSHALL, First Sergt. Co. K. Eighty-Third O. V. I. Sidney, O., 1912.

History of the Eighty-Third Ohio Voluntebr Infantry.

Index

Algiers 109, 117

Andrews, Gen 156, 163

Arkansas Post 56

Armament 22

Banks, Gen. N. P 130, 145

Barrancas 156

Baton Rouge 106, 146

Beard, John H 77, 102

Belfast, Str 44

Berwick Bay 109

Black River 70

Blakeley 160, 163

Bowen, Gen 93

Bowen, Jos 95

Bragg, Gen 156

Brigade 35

But bridge, Gen. S. G 39, 50, 79

Burns, Capt 135

Cairo 45

Cameron, Gen 121

Cane River 123, 139

Carey, Lieut 95

Carencro (Carrion Crow) . . . .112, 115

Cassidy, Dr 43

Champion's Hill 78

Chard, Thos. J 92,93

Chickasaw Bluffs 51

Citizen Str 48

Clopper, Lieut 23

Consolidation 152

Cotton speculators 145

Crittenden March 32

Cynthiana 35

Davidson, Gen 152

DeMar, Capt. Jas. T 80, 154

Dennison, Camp 18, 175

Dwight, Gen 117, 119

Election, 'State 110, 149

Emery, Gen 130, 133

Falmouth 35

Fleet 49

Frankfort 41

Franklin. Gen 129, 130

Franklin 122

Galveston 170

Grand Gulf 70

Grand Coteau 115

Grand Ecore 138

Greenville, Miss 62

Greyhounds 42

Hard Times Landing 70

Hauer, J no. B 95

Ireland, D.J 75

Jackson, Miss 77, 100

Jackson, Fort 117, 174

John, R. N 59

Judah, Gen 22

King, Camp 25

Landrum, Col 129

Lexington 40

L'Hommedieu, S. S. Major 30, 60

Louisville 43

McClernand, Gen 79, 82, 141

McComas, Captain 92

McGinnis, Gen 121

McPherson Fort 151

Magnolia Church 75

Mansfield 128

Maytem, James 18

Mexico 169

Milliken's Bend 49

Montgomery, Col 93

Morganza Bend 145, 149, 151

Muster out 173

Natchez 105, 151

Natchitoches 124, 138

New Orleans 106, 174

Nicholasville 40

Ohio Monuments 79, 95

Opelousas Ill

Orchard Camp 26

Ord, Gen., E. O. C Ill

Organization of Companies 19

Organization of Regiment 20

Ovsters 118

History op the Eighty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Palmer, C. B 95

Paris 39

Pascagoula 154

Pemberton, Gen 94

Pensacola 158

Phares, W. D 157

Pickens, Fort 156

Pickering, Fort 46, 48

Pleasant Hill 128, 130, 137

Ponchartrain Lake 120

Port Gibson 75

Poth, Andrew 157

Ransom, Gen 132, 133

Raymond 77, 102

Rifles, Springfield 150

Rocky Springs 77

Ross, Capt 47

Sabine Cross Roads 127

Selma 167

Shaler, Camp 33

Shells, sub-terra 166

Sherman, Gen 51,53, 54

Short, John W 91

Siewers, MS 37, 39, 51

Slimmer, Lieut 156

Smith, Gen. A. J 53, 56

Smith, Gen. Green Clay 33, 39

Smith, Antony 95

Smith, Gen. Kirby 144

Snyder, Chas. W 96, 135

Southgate, "Tup" .46

Spaeth, Andrew 96

Spanish Fort 162

Squirrel Hunters 21

Stanley, Geo 32

Sutton, A. T 95

Sweeny, Geo 113

St. Phillip, Fort 119, 174

Taylor, Gen. Dick 127

Teche, Bayou 110

Tensas River 49

Tilghman, Gen 80

Vallandingham, C. L 110

Vermillionville Ill

Waldo, Capt 135

Willow Springs 76

Wisconsin, 23rd 113

Wisconsin, 8th 141

Young, Lieut. Archie 165

History of the Eighty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

LIST OF BATTLES

in which the Eighty-Third was engaged :

Chickasaw Bayou, Miss Dec. 28-31, 1862

Arkansas Post, Ark Jan 11, 1863

Port Gibson, Miss May 1, 1863

Champion's Hill, Miss May 16, 1863

Big Black River, Miss May 17, 1863

Vicksburg (First Assault) May 19, 1863

Vicksburg (Second Assault) May 22, 1863

Vicksburg (Siege of) May 19 to July 4, 1863

Jackson, (Siege of) July 9-16, 1863

Grand Coteau, (Carencro) La Nov. 3, 1863

Sabine Cross Roads, La April 8, 1864

Fort Blakelcy, La April 2-9, 1865

SKIRMISHES.

Greenville, Miss Feb. 20, 1863

Cane River, La April 23, 1864

Moore's Plantation, La May 2, 1864

Atchafalaya River, La Oct. 4, 1864

Atchafalaya River, La Oct. 17, 1864

DISTANCES TRAVELLED BY RAIL.

Miles.

Sept. 3, 1862, Camp Dennison to Cincinnati 17

Oct. 31, 1863, Algiers to Brashear City, La 75

Feb. 1, 1864, New Orleans to Lake Port, La 5

Feb. 26, 1864, Lake Port to New Orleans, La 5

Mch. 6, 1864, Algiers to Brashear City, La 75

Jan. 30, 1865, New Orleans to Lake Port, La 5

Aug. 4, 1865, Cairo, 111., to Cincinnati, 398

Aug. 6, 1865, Cincinnati to Camp Dennison 17

Aug. 10, 1865, Camp Dennison to Cincinnati 17

Total 614

Nov.

22,

Dec.

21,

Jan.

2,

Jan.

13,

Feb.

15,

Feb.

22,

Mar.

11,

Aug.

25,

Sept

25,

Oct.

3,

Oct.

3,

Dec.

21,

Jan.

23,

Feb.

2,

Feb.

25,

Mar.

10,

May

28,

July

21,

July

26,

Sept.

13,

Nov.

1,

Dec.

6,

Jan.

23,

Jan.

30,

21,

June

14,

July

26,

July

29,

History op the Eighty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

DISTANCES TRAVELLED BY STEAMER.

Miles.

1862, Louisville to Memphis, Tenn 650

1862, Memphis to Vicksburg, Miss 400

1863, Vicksburg to Arkansas Post 250

1863, Arkansas Post to Young's Point, La 245

1863, Young's Point to Greenville, Miss 170

1863, Greenville to Young's Point, La 170

1863, Young's Point to Milliken's Bend, La 25

1863, Carthage, La., to Oakland, Miss 35

1863, Vicksburg to New Orleans, La 400

1863, New Orleans to Donaldsonville, La 75

1863, Donaldsonville to New Orleans, La 75

1863, CarroUton to Algiers, La 7

1863, Algiers to Ft. Jackson, La 60

1864, Ft. Jackson to New Orleans, La 60

1864, Lake Port to Madisonville, La 35

1864, Madisonville to Lake Port, La 35

1864, Berwick City to Franklin, La 28

1864, Morganza to Baton Rouge, La 50

1864, Baton Rouge to Algiers, La 130

1864, Algiers to Morganza, La 180

1864, Morganza to Tunison Bend and return 30

1864, Morganza to White River and return 900

1864, Morganza to Natchez, Miss 90

1865, Natchez to New Orleans, La 280

1865, Lake Port to Barrancas, Fla 200

1865, Mobile to Selma, Ala., and return 600

1865, Mobile to Galveston, Tex 450

1865, Galveston to New Orleans, La 450

1865, New Orleans to Cairo, 111 1050

Total 7,130

History op the Eighty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Sept. 4,

Sept. 6 Sept. 8 Sept. 18 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 21 Sept. 22 Oct. 8 Oct. 9 Oct. 10 Oct. 11 Oct. 17 Oct. 18 Oct. 19 Oct. 20 Oct. 21 Oct. 24 Oct. 31 Nov. 12 Nov. 13 Nov. 14 Nov. 15 Nov. 19 Nov. 21 Nov. 29 Dec. 21 Dec. 25 Dec. 26 Dec. 27 Jan. 1 Jan. 10 Jan. 13 Jan. 15 April 5 April 11 April 14 April 15

DISTANCES MARCHED AND DATES.

Miles. 1862, Covington to Camp Mitchel and return to Camp

King 8

1862, Camp King to Camp Beechwood 8

1862, Camp Beechwood to Camp Orchard 3

1862, Camp Orchard to Latonia Springs 10

1862, Latonia Springs to Camp in Field 13

1862, Camp in Field to Crittenden 10

1862, Crittenden to Latonia Springs 23

1862, Latonia Springs to Camp Orchard 10

1862, Camp Shaler to Latonia 10

1862, Latonia to Camp in Field 12

1862, Camp in Field to Grassy Creek 11

1862, Grassy Creek to Falmouth 17

1862, Falmouth to Cynthiana 22

1862, R. R. Bridge to Kiser's Station 4

1862, Kiser's Station to Camp in Field 7

1862, Camp in Field to Paris, Ky 8

1862, Paris to Lexington, Ky 16

1862, Lexington to Nicholasville 16

1862, Nicholasville to Camp in Field 18

1862, Camp in Field to Frankfort, Ky 18

1862, Frankfort to Camp in Field 19

1862, Camp in Field to Louisville, Ky 15

1862, Changed camp 1

1862, Camp to Landing 2

1862, Landing at Memphis to Camp 2

1862, Camp to Landing 2

1862, Milliken's Bend to Dallas Station, La 26

1862, Dallas to Milliken 26

1862, Yazoo River to Chickasaw Blufifs 6

1863, Chickasaw Bluffs to Landing at Yazoo 5

1863, Landing of Arkansas River to Arkansas Post 5

1863, Near Fort to Arkansas River 1

1863, Landing near Young's Point to Camp 5

1863, Milliken's to Walnut Bayou 10

1863, Walnut Bayou to MilHken's 10

1863, Milliken's to Oak Grove, La 13

1863, Oak Grove to Holmes' Plantation 20

I

History of the Eighty-Third Ohio V^ouunteek Infantry.

April 22, 1863, Holmes' to Smith's Plantation

April 29, 1863, Hard Times Landing to below Gr'and Gulf.

May 1, 1863, Bruinsburg to Magnolia Hills

May 2, 1863, Magnolia to Port Gibson, Miss

May 3, 1863, Port Gibson to Bayou Pierre

May 7, 1863, Bayou Pierre to Junction of V. & J. road. .

May 9, 1863, Junction to Big Sandy Creek

May 10, 1863, Big Sandy to Cayuga, Miss

May 12, 1863, Cayuga to 14 mile Creek

May 13, 1863, 14-mile Creek to Barre's Plantation

May 15, 1863, Barre's to Raymond

May 16, 1863, Raymond to Champion's Hill

May 17, 1863, Champion's Hill to Black River

May 18, 1863, Black River to Vicksburg, Miss

July 5, 1863, Vicksburg to Jackson, Miss., and return. . .

July 26, 1863, Rear of Vicksburg to River

Aug 27, 1863, CarroUton to Camp

Sept. 25, 1863, Near Donaldson to River

Sept. 26, 1863, Near River to landing on Mississippi

Oct. 8, 1863, Berwick to Pattersonville, La

Oct. 9, 1863, Pattersonville to Camp in Field

Oct. 10, 1863, Camp in Field to Iberia

Oct. 11, 1863, Iberia to Vermillionville

Oct. 15, 1863, Vermillionville to Carencro

Oct. 21, 1863, Carencro to Barre's Landing

Nov. 1, 1863, Barre's to Carencro

Nov. 5, 1863, Carencro to Vermillionville

Nov. 7, 1863, Vermillionville to Camp in Field

Nov. 8, 1863, Camp in Held to New Iberia

Dec. 7, 1863, Iberia to Camp in Field

Dec. 8, 1863, Camp in Field to Franklin, La

Dec. 10, 1863, Franklin to Camp in Field

Dec. 11, 1863, Camp to Berwick

Dec. 15, 1863, Brashear to Tigerville

Dec. 16, 1863, Tigerville to Thibedeauxville

Dec. 17, 1863, Thibedeauxville to Mississippi River

Dec. 18, 1863, Mississippi River to Camp in Field

Dec. 19, 1863, Camp in Field to Algiers

Jan. 24, 1864, Landing to F'actor's Press

Feb. 2, 1864, Factor's Press to Depot

Feb. 4, 1864, Madisonville to Camp

5 15

9 15

8 10 14 16 18 10 10 12 80

8 13

18 18 10 28 28 25 34 20 1

2 1

History op the Eighty-Tuird Ohio Vot,UNTEER Infantry.

Feb. 20 Mar. 11 Mar. 16 Mar. 17 Mar. 18 Mar. 19 Mar. 20 Mar. 22 Mar. 23 Mar. 24 Mar. 25 Mar. 26 Mar. 28 Mar. 29 Mar. 30 April April April April April April April 10 April 11 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 25 April 28 May 2 May 7 May 13 May 14 May 15 May 16 May 17 May 19 May 20 May 21 May 22 May 28 July 31

Camp to Madisonville 1

Franklin to Camp 4

Near Franklin to Camp in Field 16

Camp to Lake Tasse 14

Lake Tasse to Vermillionville 17

Vermillionville Bayou to Carencro Bayou 19

Carencro Bayou to Washington 17

Washington to Camp in Field 16

Field to Wilson's Plantation 18

Wilson's Plantation to Camp 16

Camp to Alexandria 10

Alexandria to Henderson Hill 18

Henderson Hill to Cane River 18

Cane River to Field 16

Field to Natchitoches 6

Natchitoches to Camp in woods 15

Woods to Pleasant Hill 20

Pleasant Hill to Sabine Cross Roads 15

Sabine Cross Roads to Camp in Field 31

Field to Grand Ecore 17

Grand Ecore to Glondinville 30

Glondinville to Cane River 12

Cane River to Henderson Hill 21

Henderson Hill to Alexandria 18

Near Alexandria to City of Alexandria 3

Alexandria to Moore's Plantation and return .... 18

Alexandria to Field 6

Field to Wilson's Bend 18

Wilson's Bend to Marksville 14

Marksville to Cooperville 10

Cooperville to Fort Taylor 12

Fort Taylor to Atchafalaya River 8

Atchafalaya River to Field 1

Field to Mississippi River 18

Mississippi River to Morganza 16

Landing Baton Rouge to Camp 1

Camp back to Landing 1

History of the Eighty-Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

1 9

Sept. 16 Sept. 18 Oct.

Oct.

Oct.

Mar. 11 Mar. 20 Mar. 21 Mar. 23 Mar. 25 Mar. 25 Mar. 26 Mar. 27 Mar. 28 Mar. 29 Mar. 30 Mar. 31 April 1 April 2 April 11 April 21 May 14 June 13

1864, Morganza to Atchafalaya 10

1864, Atchafalaya to Morganza 10

1864, Morganza to Atchafalaya 15

1864, Return to Morganza 15

1864, Same trip and return 30

1865, Barrancas to Pensacola, Fla 15

1865, Pensacola to Field 12

1865, Field to Field U

1865, Field to Pine Creek 3

1865, Pine Creek to Canal Creek 10

1865, Canal Creek to Escambia River 8

1865, Escambia to Field 14

1865, Field to Stockton, Ala 17

1865, Stockton to Carpenter's Station 10

1865, Carpenter's Station to near Blakeley 8

1865, Near Blakeley to Blakeley 2

1865, Landing at Mobile to Camp and return 3

1865, Landing at Mobile to Camp and return 3

1865, Camp to Landing 2

Total Miles Marched 1,831

ORGANIZATION AND ASSIGNMENTS.

Organized at Camp Dennison, moved to Kentucky, September 3rd.

Attached to First Brigade, First Division, Army of Kentucky; September to October, 1862.

First Brigade, Tenth Division, Department of The Tennessee; to December, 1862.

First Brigade, First Division, Sherman's right wing. Thirteenth Army Corps, Department of The Tennessee, to January, 1863.

First Brigade, Tenth Division, Thirteenth Corps, Army of The Tennessee, to July 1863.

First Brigade, Fourth Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, Department of the Gulf, to June, 1864.

Third Brigade, Third Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, Department of the Gulf to August, 1864.

Third Brigade, Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps, to November, 1864.

Third Brigade, Reserve Division, Department of the Gulf to February, 1865.

Third Brigade, Second Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, to July, 1865.

To the memory of those who met death that their beloved country might have life this volume is lovingly and gratefully DEDICATED

HISTORY

OF THE

Eighty-Third Regiment

Ohio Volunteer Infantry.