THREE-YEARS' SERVICE.This Regiment took active and honorable part in the following battles:
The Regiment's first rendezvous was at Camp Clay, in the Eastern suburbs of Cincinnati, June 10, 1861. August 27th, its organization having been perfected, it was ordered to Clarksburg, West Virginia, to report to General Rosecrans. August 29th it was fully equipped for the field. At Weston, the Regiment was divided, Companies A, B, C, D, H and K, under the Colonel and Major, joining the main Army; leaving E, F, G and I, under Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, to guard the Village. Colonel Poschner, at Bulltown, was brigaded with the Ninth and Twenty-Eighth Ohio, under Colonel Robert L. McCook, whose command was familiarly known as the "Bully Dutch Brigade." At Sutton Company B was left as re-enforcement to the garrison, the remainder of Colonel Poschner's men moving forward and taking part in the battle of Carnifex Ferry. September 24th the Brigade crossed Gauley River and advanced on Big Sewell Mountain, where the Regiment suffered almost beyond description, the result of excessive rains where supplies were denied them for a long time. The men were in for a lively time. They were on quarter rations and without clothing to make them comfortable; and were finally forced to retire to Gauley Bridge, Colonel McCook's Brigade being assigned to camp about six miles to the East. While there the Forty-Seventh with the Ninth Ohio crossed the New River to Fayette C. H. and destroyed valuable Rebel property. For four days the Regiment suffered from incessant cannonading from Fiord's Rebel force across the River, but Captain Mack's ten-pounder Parrotts finally silenced the enemy's guns, and he retreated, when the Forty-Seventh went into winter quarters at Gauley Mountain. A letter from Captain Pugh, Co. I, of date of January 25th, 1862, gave an account of a visit he had made eight miles from Camp Gauley Mountain, to see an "old Virginian," 91 years of age. He had lived in the place 73 years-was an old hunter and Indian-fighter, who had personally known Daniel Boone and other noted pioneers. He was a strong Union man, and denounced the Secessionists roundly. At his advanced age, he was able to read the finest print without glasses. On the 19th September, Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott, with three Companies of the Regiment, had marched to Cross Lanes, to relieve the Thirteenth Ohio and Schneider's Battery, and succeeded in ridding the country of guerrilla bands. His force performed active and severe work, by night and by day, and did much to support and protect loyal citizens. The Regiment was re-united at Gauley Mountain December 5, 1861, and began a line of fortifications covering Gauley Ridge and the Kanawha Valley, which it occupied until April, 1862, with the exception of one week, when it took part in an expedition to Little Sewell Mountain to drive the Rebels from their quarters, whose works were destroyed and prisoners taken. May 10th the three Companies formed part of a force under Lieutenant-Colonel Elliott which moved on Lewisburg, and was entirely successful, the enemy being routed with loss of camp equipage, horses, and many prisoners. The Third Provisional Brigade, Colonel George Crook, Thirty-Sixth Ohio, commanding, was organized, the Forty-Seventh constituting part of the force. June 22d the Brigade compelled the Rebel General Lovering to retreat to Salt Pond Mountain and captured valuable property from him, the march of 90 miles being performed in three days, under intense heat, causing cases of sun-stroke. In July, the Regiment under Major Parry, performed valuable service on expeditions, including the suppression of guerrilla bands. On December 30, 1862, the Regiment took steamers for Louisville, Kentucky, and Memphis, at which latter point it joined the expedition against Vicksburg, in the Third Brigade, Second Division, Thirteenth Corps. Work on the canal was commenced late in January, 1863. The Regiment was in the advance to the rear of Vicksburg, reaching Walnut Hills May 18th. On the 19th Colonel Parry (meantime promoted from Lieutenant-Colonel), led an impetuous charge on Cemetery Hill, which was partially successful, but with severe loss. A like charge was made by them on the 22d. The Regiment was in front line on Cemetery Hill until the surrender of the City. The next day after the surrender, the Forty-Seventh was dispatched toward Jackson, Mississippi, after Johnston's forces, and took part in the capture of Jackson, when Colonel Parry was made Provost-Marshal, and his Regiment destroyed the Rebel fortifications and the Railroad about the City. September 27, 1863, the Corps proceeded to Memphis, where it was ordered to march to Germantown. Thence the Forty-Seventh went to Corinth; and thence to Iuka, and to Tuscumbia, Alabama. On the 21st October the Regiment arrived opposite Chattanooga, and at once constructed rifle-pits for its use on the South side of the Tennessee River.
November 15th, the Forty-Seventh, as part of Sherman's Army, commenced the "March to the Sea." This accomplished, the Regiment was prominent in the Northerly advance. At Fort McAllister, December 13th, it was in the advance, and was prominent throughout the engagement, and its colors were believed to have been the first planted on the Rebel fortress. The Seventeenth Ohio disputed for this honor. The Rebellion finally collapsed, the Forty-Seventh was permitted to join in the march through the Confederate Capital to Washington City, and participate in the grand review there. It entered the field with 830 men, who, at the close of the Atlanta campaign were reduced to 120; but were recruited to 520. Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace was paroled at the close of operations and died soon after, from effects of starvation while a prisoner of war. Colonels Parry and Taylor were both brevetted Brigadier General. From Washington the Regiment proceeded to Cincinnati, and thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, where it served in the "Army of Occupation" until August 11th, when it was mustered out and again left for Camp Dennison, Ohio, where it arrived August 22d and was paid off and discharged, after a service of four years, two months and nine days, having campaigned through every Southern State, save Texas, Florida and Missouri. |
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