The National tribune., 1906-03-08
Stories Eminenty Worth Telling Of Experiences Adventures
in the Great National Struggle
THE 22D OHIO.

THE 22D OHIO.
A Regiment Which Did Long and Gallant
Service, but Is Not Included In the
"Fighting" List.
Editor National Tribune: / see by
The National Tribune OF Jan. Is that
Ohio had % fighting regiments in the
civil war. How about the IT'S Ohio
regiments not mentioned in your list of
fighting regiments? Were they cow
ardly regiments? / claim that the State
of Ohio never sent out regiment that
was not a fighting regiment-if we'll
officered and given a chance. Because
a regiment had the misfortune to have
a big number of men killed in action,
often through the fault of its officers,
is no reason why it should be heralded
as fighting regiment. while others that
did their full duty whenever called upon
are never mentioned.
L had the honor to serve three years
and three months in the ed Ohio. 1t
was fighting regiment, though it is
not mentioned in the list of 25 from
Ohio l have never seen anything in
The National Tribune from any MEM
Der OF the 22d Ohio. Therefore, If you
will allow the space, will give a brief
sketch of it's work during the days of
'61-'65.
The ed Ohio organized in Benton
Barracks, at St. Louis, in September,
1861. 1t was known for a year as the
18th Mo. Six companies were from
Ohio, three from Missouri and one from
Illinois. Its first Colonel was Crafts j.
Wright, of Cincinnati, West Point
graduate, and before the war owner and
editor of the Cincinnati Gazette. The
Northumberland and Major, ST. James
and Anderson, were Missourians. For
four long months the regiment drilled
every day in Benton Barracks. While
other regiments We're at the front max.
ing record as fighting regiments the
I'D, under as good and competent drill
master as there was in the army, was
learning to soldier. When. at last in
January, go, the regiment went to the
front, there was no better disciplined
body of men than the 22d Ohio.
From Smithland, KY, at the time of
the capture of Fort Henry, the 22d Ohio
and regiment of Illinois cavalry
marched 35 miles toward Fort Donel-
son. Thirty miles were made the first
day in downpour of rain. Undoubt-
edly this feint had something to do with
the precipitate retreat of the Confeder-
afes from Fort Henry.
AT Fort DOnelson the 22d Ohio put
in four days during the siege, but for
tunately was in reserve most Of the
time. and did not get mixed up in any
OF the bloody engagements that took
place along the enemy's line. Many of
the boys. by permission of their Off
GERS, left their ranks and engaged with
the sharpshOoters in front of the regi-
ment, and with their long-range Aus
trian rified muskets did effective work
The ED Ohio was one OF the first
regiments to enter Nashville after the
retreat of the Confederates. And right
here / wish to correct a comrade writ
ing some time ago to The National
: Tribune. who said Mrs. James K Polk
was among the panic-stricken ones who
hurriedly left the city upon the ap-
proach of the Union armv. The ed
Ohio left the steamboat, marched
through the principal streets Of the city
snd returned the same day to Clarks-
Vile. In passing Mrs. Folks residence
Col. Wright halted the regiment, it came
TO front, and as a white-haired old
lady appeared at the door. gave salute
with present arms.
When the Confederates made the at
tack at Shiloh, Sunday morning, April
s. 1862, the 22d Ohio was in camp near
Pittsburg Landing. Without orders Col.
Wright marched his regiment to the
front, and 1t was the first to reinforce
Gen. Sherman's sore-pressed division.
1t stayed with Sherman through the
two days fight. 1t belonged to Gen.
c. F. Smiths Division, Army of the
Tennessee. Gen. Sherman gave the 22d
Ohio good mention in his report. Col.
Wright knew how to protect his men,
50 that our casualties were few COM
pared with other regiments whose Off
GERS didn't know any better than to
umn all through the fight. These regi-
ments made good fighting records. but
at terrible cost.
In the siege Of Corinth the 22d Ohio
did its full share Of picket duty, and
was frequently on the skirmish line.
The regiment was at Iuka, but FORUM
ately was not called into action.
AT the battle of Corinth on the sec
ond day, the 22d Ohio was posted In
the rear Of the Second Division, Army
of the Tennessee, to halt stragglers and
return them TO the firing-line. The des-
perate charge OF the Confederates under
Price and Van Dorm might have been
successful had not the 22d Ohio been
on guard to prevent the stampede Of
panic-stricken officers and men Of that
division.
The ED Ohio spent the Winter of
'S2-'63 I'm West Tennessee. At Trenton
part of the regiment was mounted and
did good service in capturing and dis
persing Confederate regiments In proc
ess OF organization.
In the Vicksburg campaign the regi-
ment was with the Sixteenth Corps at
Haynes's Bluff. It had no chance here
to make fighting record, but the wa
tiers OF the Yazoo proved as deadly to
members OF the regiment as the bullets
OF the enemy might have done had
they been on the firing-line.
The regiment marched with Gen.
Steele from Helena to the capture of
Little Rock. For year afterwards the
I'D Ohio was mounted, and while IT
guarded the railroad from Brownsville
Station to Little Rock it secuted the
surrounding country, dispersed gather
of To
IL was ON duty made that part of the
State OF Arkansas as peaceful as any
part of a Northern State.
Nov. Is, 1854, the regiment was mus
tered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio.-S
F. Blythe, Go. E, 22d Ohio. Hood River
Ore.
Haxletrs Battery at Gettysburg.
Editor National Tribune: With no