History of Fayette County
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
FIFTY-FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Recruiting for this regiment began in the latter part of the summer of 1861, the place of the rendezvous being Camp Dennison, where the regiment was organized and drilled during the fall of 1861. The men composing this command were from the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Butler, Cuyahoga, Fayette, Greene, Hamilton, Logan, and Preble.
On the 17th of February, 1862, the regiment went into the field with an aggregate of eight hundred and fifty men. The 54th reached Paducah, Kentucky, February 20, 1862, and was assigned to a brigade in the division commanded by General Sherman. On the 6th of March, the command ascended the Tennessee River, disembarked at Pittsburg Landing, and camped near Shiloh Church. On the 6th of April, the regiment engaged in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, its position being on the extreme left of the army, but on the second day it was assigned a new position near the center of the line.
In the two days' fighting the regiment sustained a loss of one hundred and ninety-eight men killed, wounded, and missing. On the 29th of April the regiment moved upon Corinth, skirmishing severely at Russell House, May 17th, and engaging in the movement upon the works at Corinth, May 31st. On the morning of the evacuation the 54th was among the first organized bodies of troops to enter the town. The regimental colors were unfurled from a public building, and the regiment was designated to perform provost duty, the commanding officer of the regiment being appointed commandant of the post of Corinth.
The regiment moved with the army to La Grange, Tennessee, and from there to Holly Springs; from there to Moscow, Tennessee, and thence to Memphis, where it arrived July 21, 1862. During the summer the regiment was engaged in several short expeditions, and on the 29th of November it moved with the army toward Jackson, Mississippi, by way of Holly Springs. The regiment soon returned to Memphis, and with a portion of the army, under General Sherman, moved down the Mississippi and went into position before the enemy's line at Chickasaw Bayou. It was engaged in the assault on the rebel works, December 28th and 29th, with a loss of twenty men killed and wounded. On the 1st of January, 1863, the regiment withdrew, ascended the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers, and engaged in the assault and capture of Arkansas Post.
The 54th again descended the Mississippi River, and disembarked at Young's Point, Louisiana. Here it was employed in digging a canal, and in other demonstrations connected with the siege of Vicksburg. It was a severe march among the bayous to the rear of Vicksburg, which resulted in the rescue of the gunboats, which were about to be abandoned and destroyed!
On the 6th of May the regiment began its march to the rear of Vicksburg by way of Grand Gulf, and was engaged in the battles of Champion Hills and Big Black Bridge. It was engaged in a general assault on the enemy's works in the rear of Vicksburg, on the 19th and 22d of June, losing in the two engagements forty seven killed and wounded. It was continually employed in skirmishing and fatigue duty during the siege of Vicksburg, except for six days, which were consumed in a march of observation toward Jackson, Mississippi.
After the fall of Vicksburg, the 54th moved with the army upon Jackson, Mississippi, and was constantly engaged in skirmishing, from the 9th to the 14th of July. After the capture of Jackson, the regiment returned to Vicksburg, and remained until October, 1863, when, forming a part of the Fifteenth Army Corps, it ascended the Mississippi River to Memphis, and from there proceeded to Chattanooga.
It was engaged in the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 26th, and next day marched to the relief of the garrison, at Knoxville, Tennessee. It pursued the enemy's wagon-train from Knoxville through the southeastern portion of Tennessee, and a short distance into North Carolina, and then returned to Chattanooga, and moved thence to Larkinsville, Alabama, where it went into winter quarters, January 12, 1864.
The regiment was mustered into the service as a veteran organization on the 22d of January, and at once started to Ohio on a furlough. It returned to camp in April, with an addition of two hundred recruits, and entered on the Atlanta campaign on the first of May.
It participated in a general engagement at Resaca, and at Dallas, and in a severe skirmish aft Kew Hope Church, June 6th and 7th.
It was in the general assault upon Kenesaw Mountain, June 27th, losing twenty-eight, killed and wounded.
It was in a severe skirmish at Nicojack Creek, July 3d, losing thirteen, killed and wounded; and was in a battle on the east side of Atlanta, July 21st and 22d, sustaining a loss of ninety-four killed, wounded and missing.
The 54th lost eight men, killed and wounded, at Ezra Chapel, on the 28th of July, and from the 29th of July to the 27th of August, it was almost continually engaged in skirmishing before the works at Atlanta.
It was in a heavy skirmish at Jonesboro, August 30th, and in a general action at the same place, two days immediately following. After resting a few weeks in camp, near Atlanta, the regiment started in pursuit of Hood, and followed him within sixty miles of Chattanooga, and from there to Gadsend, Alabama, when it returned to Atlanta, and prepared for the march to Savannah.
The 54th started on that wonderful march on the 15th of November, and on the 15th of December, was engaged in the assault and capture of Fort McAlister, near Savannah.
The regiment assisted in tlie destruction of the Gulf Raih'oad, towards the Altamaha River, and on the 7th of January, 1865, marched into Savannah.
After a rest of several weeks, it moved with the army on the march through the Carolinas, skirmishing at the crossing of the South Edisto and North Edisto rivers, on the 10th and 12th of February, respectively.
It was closely engaged in the vicinity of Columbia, and participated in its last battle at Bentonsville, North Carolina, March 21, 1865.
The regiment marched to Richmond, Virginia, and from there to Washington City, where it took part in the grand review of the Western Army. On the second of June it was transported by railroads and steamboats to Louisville, Kentucky, und after remaining there two weeks, it proceeded to Little Rock, Arkansas, and there performed garrison duty until August 15, 1865, when it was mustered out. The regiment returned to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where it received final pay, and was disbanded on the 24th of August, 1865.
The aggregate Strength of the regiment, at muster-out, was two hundred and fifty-five—twenty-four officers and two hundred and thirty-one men. It marched, during its term of service, a distance of three thousand six hundred and eighty-two miles; participated in four sieges, nine severe skirmishes, fifteen general engagements, and sustained a loss of five hundred and six men, killed, wounded and missing.
COMPANY I.
Jerre Houser, captain, enlisted September 1, 1861.
Luther W. Saxton, second lieutenant, enlisted December 1, 1861.
Joseph Doland, sergeant, enlisted December 1, 1861.
Jacob Dommond, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
William Allen, private, enlisted December 23, 1861.
Henry Belt, private, enlisted September 7, 1861.
John Ibes, private, enlisted December 23, 1861.
Jacob Ibes, private, enlisted December 23, 1861. .
Thomas R. Jones, private, enlisted November 11, 1861.
George Richardson, private, enlisted November 10, 1861.
Eber Allen, private, enlisted December 31, 1861.
Michael Bonny, private, enlisted December 2, 1861.
Timothy Morgan, private, enlisted December 30, 1861.
Jacob Bales, private, enlisted December 2, 1861.
John High, private, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Usual Kimbell, private, enlisted Septei^ber 20, 1861.
Archibald Stetsworth, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
COMPANY C.
Charles A. White, captain, enlisted September 1, 1861.
Joseph Hauser, first lieutenant, enlisted September 18, 1861.
John S. Wells, second lieutenant, enlisted September 7, 1861.
James P. Wyatt, sergeant, enlisted September 12, 1861.
John A. Kuhl, sergeant, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Harrison Doster, sergeant, enlisted September 18, 1861.
David Hopkins, sergeant, enlisted October 20, 1861.
Milium Birk, corporal, enlisted September 20, 1861.
John Reynolds, corporal, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Rabers Wells, corporal, enlisted October 20, 1861.
Edmund Updegrove, corporal, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Peter Tammany, corporal, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Thomas C Doster, corporal, enlisted October 19, 1861.
Edmund Millikan, musician, enlisted December 6, 1861.
Francis L. Blakemore, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
James M. Bougham, private, enlisted October 22, 1861.
William Black, private, enlisted October 19, 1861.
Charles W. Craig, private, enlisted September 7, 1861.
John Craig, private, enlisted September 7, 1861.
John Caplin, private, enlisted September 9, 1861.
John Conner, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
John B. Dewey, private, enlisted October 17, 1861.
James Dewey, private, enlisted November 19, 1861.
John W. Dorman, private, enlisted October 18, 1861,
Dennis Dorman, private, enlisted December 6, 1861.
William Eastman, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Thomas S. Edminson, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Matthias Engle, private, enlisted October 25, 1861.
Anthony Prickers, private, enlisted September 9, 1861.
Jasper Hire, private, enlisted September 10, 1861.
Timothy Hixon, private, enlisted October 19, 1861.
Henry M. Grove, private, enlisted December 6] 1861.
James M. Goldsberry, private, enlisted September 18, 1861
. Michael Halton, private, enlisted October 19, 1861,
Thomas C. Hellen, private, enlisted October 19,1861.
David Jones, private, enlisted Sepbember 18, 1861.
Edward King, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Patrick Karon, private, enlisted December 6, 1861.
William D. Keith, private, enlisted October 21, 1861.
Isaac Miller, private, enlisted September 12, 1861.
William Miller, private, enlisted December 6, 1861.
Leopold Mader, private, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Robert Nixon, private, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Fergus Nixon, private, enlisted October 23, 1861.
John N. Pocock, private, enlisted September 17, 1861.
William Priddy, private, enlisted September 20, 1861.
Levi Ross, private, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Isaac N. Rorice, private, enlisted September 17, 1861.
Samuel Solvers, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Samuel Sallars, private, enlisted October 19, 1861.
Jonathan Sallars, private, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Joseph Smith, private, enlisted September 20, 1861.
Charles W. Smith, private, enlisted November 1, 1861.
Isaac Smith, private, enlisted November 15, 1861.
Silas M. Smith, private, enlisted December 6, 1861.
Oliver Vaupelt, private, enlisted September 11, 1861.
Charles Willson, private, enlisted September 18, 1861.
Joseph Willson, private, enlisted December 6, 1861.
RECRUITS.
James M. Doster, corporal, enlisted February 8, 1864.
Albert Siddens, private, enlisted February 8, 1864.
Isaac J. Shields, private, enlisted February 20, 1864.
Robert Wells, private, enlisted October 20, 1861.
Albert P. Coyner, private, enlisted October 28, 1861.
Matthias Engle, private, enlisted December 21, 1861.
Dennis Dorman, private, enlisted December 6, 1861.
COMPANY A.
Complete roster of all officers and men, who enlisted at Washington C. H., Ohio, for three years, or during the war, and those who veteranized :
S. B. Yeoman, captain, enrolled September 5, 1861, discharged June 8, 1863. Resigned on account of wounds.
L. W. Saxton, captain, enrolled September 11, 1861, discharged June 27, 1864. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain.
E. B. Updegrove, captain, enrolled September 11, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865, with the company at the close of the war.
George F. Kili, first lieutenant, enrolled September 5, 1861, discharged May 17, 1862. Transferred as captain of Company K.
James Depoy, first lieutenant, enrolled September 5, 1861, discharged February 19, 1863. Resigned.
Judson McCoy, first lieutenant, enrolled September 5, 1861, discharged November 9, 1864. Time expired.
Philip Weitzel, first lieutenant, enrolled December, 1864, discharged August 15, 1865, with the company.
MUSTER-OUT ROLL.
Non-commissioned officers and privates mustered out with the company, at the close of the war, at Little Rock, Arkansas :
Norman Shellers, veteran first sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Harrison Cline, veteran 2d sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Peter Ulmer, veteran 3d sergeant, enlisted September, 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Elias Tracey, veteran 4th sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Hensy Johnson, non-veteran 5th sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Thomas Hagne, veteran 1st corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Michael Assing, recruit private, enlisted January 4, 1864, discharged August 15, 1865.
Michael Cedle, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
B. F. Calvin, recruit private, enlisted December 27, 1863, discharged August 15, 1865.
William Ducey, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
George Eberhart, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
George P. Edie, recruit private, enlisted December 29, 186.3, discharged August 15, 1865.
John H. Edie, recruit private, enlisted December 29, 1863, discharged August 15, 1865.
David Hedsick, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Samuel Keasn, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Jacob Misler, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
Thomas Miller, recruit private, enlisted December 27, 1863, discharged August 15, 1865.
John N; Office, recruit private, enlisted February 29, 1864, discharged August 15, 1865.
Cornelius Peas, recruit private, enlisted February 10, 1864, discharged August 15, 1865.
John Petsy, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
W. D. Rumor, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865,
J. E.. Roads, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
S. B. Sanderson, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
S. B. Spangler, recruit private, enlisted December 29, 1863, discharged August 15, 1865.
Levi Wright, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
W. D. Woods, veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged August 15, 1865.
John White, recruit private, enlisted December 29, 1863, discharged August 15, 1865.
Harvey Rogers, non-veteran sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, killed July 22, 1864, near Atlanta, Georgia.
KILLED
James Wimer, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, killed December 28, 1862, at Chickesaw Bluffs, Mississippi.
John Coil, recruit private, enlisted August 4, 1862, killed December 28, 1862, at Chickesaw Bluffs, Mississippi.
Nathan Chesley, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, killed April 6, 1862, at Shiloh, Tennessee.
William Holcomb, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, killed April 6, 1862, at Shiloh, Tennessee.
Ezra Lathem, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, killed April 6, 1862, at Shilob, Tennessee.
William Radke, recruit private, enlisted June 13, 1862, killed May 22, 1863, storming Fort Pemberton, near Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Lewis Sterz, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, killed April 6, 1862, at Shilob, Tennessee.
Nathan White, recruit private, enlisted December 29, 1863, killed June 27, 1864, at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia.
DIED.
John P. Fechthorn, non-veteran sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, died March 26, 1863, at Paducah, Kentucky.
Walter L. Hill, veteran sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, died January 5, 1865, at Andersonville, Georgia, of wounds received at Kenesaw Mountain.
James Heffley, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, died February 14, 1864, at Paducah, Kentucky. (Disease).
William Figins, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, died October 1,1863, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
Joshua Ferguson, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, died January 5, 1863, at Young s Point, Louisiana. (Disease).
Fielding Latham non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, died June 20, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
Isaac Abner, non-veteran private, enlisted September 6, 1861, died August 10, 1862, at Atlanta, Georgia.
John Baker, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died October 20, 1863, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Abscess).
Simon Coil, non veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died February 8, 1864, at home. (Disease).
J. E. Emery, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died August 3, 1863, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Flux),
Carl Kranter, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died September 3, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Congestive fever).
Fritz Krim, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died February 14, 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio. (Disease).
David Lindsey, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died January 31, 1861, at Camp Dennison, Ohio. (Disease).
Levi Morrow, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died August 2, 1863, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. (Disease).
Jacob Rankin, non- veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died May 31, 1862, at New Corinth, Mississippi, of wounds received at Shiloh.
William Richardson, non-veteraa private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died 1862, at Saint Louis, Missouri. (Disease).
Collum Rumor, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
John M. Smidt, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio, of wounds received at Shiloh.
John H. Smith, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died June 24, 1862, at Hamburg, Tennessee. (Fever).
Ignatious H. Smith, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio. (Disease).
John A. Sanderson, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died July 13, 1863, at Plymouth, Ohio. (Disease).
Jefferson Seedlfe, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
David Turner, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, died April 19, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio. (Disease).
Jo&eph White, recruit private, enlisted December 29, 1863, died August 9, 1864, at Marietta, Georgia. (Disease).
Charles Weaver, recruit private, enlisted February 3, 1864, died November 28, 1864, at Camp Chase, Ohio. (Disease).
DISCHARGED ON SURGEON'S CERTIFICATE.
Hensy C. Wimer, non-veteran 1st sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged July 22, 1862, at Columbus, Ohio. Wounded at Shiloh, Ten-
William Sick, non-veteran sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged July 24, 1862. Wounded at Shiloh, Tennessee.
James W. Richardson, non-veteran sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged November 24, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
George W. Pippenger, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged November 24, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease),
Patrick Driscoll, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged November 24, 1862. Wounded at Shiloh, Tennessee.
James Hensey, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged 1862, at Camp Dennison, Ohio. (Disease).
Martin Joice, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged December 25, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
Adam Krant, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged November 24, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee, (Disease).
Michael Kuderer, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Wounded at Shiloh.
Thoma.s J. Lindsey, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 18G1, discharged December 19, 1SG2, of wounds received at Shiloh, Tennessee.
John H. Miller, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged May 20, 1865. Wounded near Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
Charles P. Smith, non veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged December 11, 1862. Wounded at Shiloh, Tennessee, April 6, 1862.
John F. Shoemaker, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged January 16, 1862, at Memphis, Tennessee, of wounds.
tlensy Sherer, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged July 29, 1862, at Columbus, Ohio. (Disease).
Sanford Tucker, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1862, discharged March 12, 1863, of wounds received at Shiloh.
Elijah Williams, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1862, discharged 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh.
Peter Zager, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1862, discharged January 16, 1863, at Memphis, Tennessee. (Disease).
DISCHARGED.
The following members were discharged September 19, 1864, at East Port, Georgia, by reason of expiration of first three years' enlistment
:
Samuel E. Hamilton, non-veteran 1st sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Joseph White, non- veteran sergeant, enlisted September 5, 1861.
James K. Ayers, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Robert D. Blue, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Rufus Degroat, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Godfred Gestner, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Paul Jones, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Simon Kaulter, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Lucean McCollum, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Levi Murphy, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Benjamin Office, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
John Piggott, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
John Servis, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Hensy C. Steel, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
Richard Weber, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861.
DISCHARGED BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
James Calkins, recruit private, enlisted December 18, 1862, discharged June 26, 1865, at Washington, D. C.
David Ibes, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged February 19, 1863, at Saint Louis, Missouri.
John Staley, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, discharged January 12, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
TRANSFERRED.
John D. Long, non-veteran corporal, enlisted September 5, 1861, transferred to V. R. Corps.
Joseph Utz, veteran bugler, enlisted September 5, 1861, transferred January 1, 1864, to field and staff.
Levi D. Starr, non-veteran private, enlisted September 5, 1861, transferred to V. R. Corps.