The National tribune., 1906-03-08
THE 22D OHIO.
A Negiment Which Did Long and Gallant
Service, but Is Not Included in the
.Fighting" List.

Hegiment Which Did Long and Gallant
Service, but Is Not Included in the
.Fightins" List.
Editor National Tribune: ] see by
The National Tribune of Jan. IS that
Ohio had 25 fighting regiments in the
civil war How about the 175 Ohio
regiments not mentioned in your list of
fighting regiments? Were they cow
ardly regiments? l claim that the State
of Ohio never sent out regiment that
was not fighting regiment-if well
officered and given 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 a 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 22d Ohio. 1t
was a fighting regiment, though it is
not mentioned in the list of rs from
Ohio. L have never seen anything in
The National Tribune from any mem
ber of the 22d Ohio. Therefore. if you
will allow the space, ] will give a brief
sketch of its work during the days of
'61-'65.
The 22d Ohio organized in Benton
Barracks, at St. Louis, in September,
1861. 1t was known for year as the
l0tn Mo. DIX we're IIoHi
Ohio, three from Missouri and one from
Illinois. Its first Colonel was Crafts j.
Wright, of Cincinnati, a West Point
graduate, and before the war owner and
editor of The Cincinnati Gazette. The
Lieutenant Colonel 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 a record as fighting regiments the
22d, under as good and competent drill
master as there was in the army, was
learning to soldier. When, a. last, in
January, '62, the regiment went to the
front, there was no better disciplined
body of men than the 22d Ohio.
From S1nithland, KY, at the time of
the capture of Fort Henry, the 22d Ohio
and regiment of Illinois cavalry
marched 50 miles toward Fort Donel-
son. Thirty miles were made the first
day in a downpour of rain. Undoubt-
edly this feint had something to do with
the precipitate retreat OF the Confeder-
ates 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 enemys 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 22d 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
vas among the panic-stricken ones who
hurriedly left the city upon the ap-
proach of the Union armv. The 22d
Ohio left the steamboat, marched
through the principal streets of the city
and returned the same day to Clarks-
vile. In passing Mrs. Polk's residence
Col Wright halted the regiment, it came
to front, and as a white-haired old
lady appeared at the door, gave a salute
with present arms.
When the Confederates made the at
tack at Shiloh, Sunday morning, April
6. 1852, the 22d Ohio was in camp near
Pittsburg Landing. Without orders Col.
Wright marched his regiment to the
front, and it 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,
so that our casualties were few COM
pared with other regiments whose Off
GERS didn't know any better than to
keep their men standing in solid coll
unln all through the fight. These regi-
ments made good fighting records, but
at terrible cost.
In the siege Of Corintn the 22d Ohio
did its full share of picket duty, and
was frequently on the skirmish linz.
The regiment was at Iuka, but FORUM
ately was not called into action.
At the battle of Corinth, on the Sec
ond day, ;he 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 beer
successful had not the 22d Ohio beer
on guard TO prevent the stampede OF
panic-stricken officers and men Of thai
division.
The 22d Ohio spent the Winter o,
'62-'e3 in 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 a
Haynes's Bluff. 1t had no chance her'
10 make fighting record, Dut the wa
tiers of the Yazoo proved as deadly Il
members of the regiment as the bullet
of the enemy might have done hat
they been on the firing-line.
The regiment marched with Gen
Steele from Helena to the capture o
Little Rock. For year afterwards th'
22d Ohio was mounted, and while !
guarded the railroad from Brownsville
Station to Little Rock it secuted tn
surrounding country, dispersed gather
ing bands of Confederates, and Will
fl was on duty made that part of tn
State OF Arkansas as peaceful as an
part of a Northern State.
Nov. 18, 1884, the regiment was mts
tered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio.-s
F. Blythe, CO. E, 22d Ohio. Hood River
Ore.