Due to other commitments, this reunion of descendants will be postponed. For further information, contact John Rutherford at OVI24th@juno.com
for MORE DETAILS.
Would you like to know more about the 24th OVI's Battleflags? Just CLICK HERE.
To Email John Rutherford at OVI24th@juno.com.
I promise that I shall search the 24th Ohio Regiment's roster and reply.
What Ohio Civil War unit histories exist?
How do I contact researchers for other Union units? Check out Carol Botteron's Civil War Units Files.
Would you like to look up a few Ohio death dates? Check the Ohio Death Index 1913-1937.
For more information about the author, CLICK HERE.
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Updated 16 October 2009
After the ten companies assembled at Camp Chase near Columbus in early June, 1861, the veterans trained for six weeks under West Point graduate, Colonel Jacob Ammen, and Lieutenant Colonel Samuel A. Gilbert. Companies A & B received Springfield rifled muskets. Companies C through K received old Harpers Ferry smoothbore muskets, which had been converted from flintlock into percussion firearms. In late July, the volunteers of the 24th Ohio Infantry Regiment began their first campaign in the mountains of modern day West Virginia. The regiment participated in numerous skirmishes near their campsite on Cheat Mountain Summit, and generally demonstrated "cool courage" in the Battles of Cheat Mountain and Greenbrier River. In fact, the other Union regiments on Cheat Mountain and captured Confederates described the 24th O.V.I. volunteers as "U. S. Regulars." In November, the 24th Ohio was ordered to Kentucky and more training near Hodgenville, Kentucky. Some of the lessons learned were harsh, as Frank E. Myers noted in Died for Discipline.
The 24th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment's greatest successes occurred in 1862. The regiment participated in the Capture of Nashville in February. The 24th OVI also served with distinction at the Battle of Shiloh, attacking the Confederate Right flank and routing their opponents on April 7, 1862. In May 1862, Companies C through K received Springfield rifled muskets; for the first time in the war the 24th Ohio Regiment was uniformly armed. During July, the Regiment raced from Alabama to Murfreesboro to hunt down Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest's Cavalry. The 24th OVI was on the Perryville Battlefield within sight of the fighting but was not committed. At the Battle of Stones River the regiment won even more laurels, although at the cost of its three highest ranking officers.
With the deaths of the regiment's three field officers at the Battle of Stones River, the 24th Ohio Regiment's brigade commander, William Grose, took a chance and promoted the regiment's three senior company commanders to regimental command. The unit continued to fight well at Woodbury, Tennessee, January 24, 1863, routing Confederate General John Hunt Morgan's cavalry. In early September 1863, the regiment brushed away its Confederate opponents while fighting its way over Lookout Mountain. Near Chickamauga Creek, Georgia, however, the regiment suffered its only defeat on a battlefield when its bravest and most capable officers were shot down. After Brigade Commander Colonel William Grose cleaned out the regiment's marginal field officers in early October, the regiment returned to its old fighting style, aiding in the break out from their besieged camp near Chattanooga, and again outfighting their Confederate opponents near the Cravens House on Lookout Mountain and on Missionary Ridge. The 24th O.V.I. was also in the front ranks during the pursuit to Ringold. While on a reconnaissance mission west of Ringold on December 1, the 24th OVI veterans were infuriated upon discovering that most of the Union dead were still unburied at Chickamauga Battlefield ten weeks later! After Grose's Brigade interred the Union war dead, the truth was brought to General Sherman's attention. It was the beginning of total war on the Confederacy....
The Final Months--1864
The 24th Ohio Regiment's veterans participated in one more fight, Buzzard's Roost or Rocky Face Ridge near Dalton, Georgia. Then, they returned to Chattanooga in April to serve as part of the city's garrison while awaiting orders to muster out the regiment. The veterans were reunited with their first commander, Brigadier General Jacob Ammen, for a few hours when he came down from Knoxville on military business. Ammen's surprise visit was another of the good memories the veterans took home when they mustered out in June.
REUNION IN KENTUCKY IS POSTPONED
Thanks to a tip from Mr. Paul Melzer of California, I recently obtained an album of tintypes; 14 images are identified as members of the 24th OVI! I suspect that the others are 24th OVI veterans also. CLICK HERE to view their portraits and biographies.
Coming Soon! Marcus McLemore, a descendant of Frederick Everhart from Company C, is transcribing his relative's diary. Stop back soon and learn what Private Everhart thought.
I wish to express my thanks to Jeff Patrick of Wilson's Creek Battlefield for locating critical source information about the 24th Ohio from the National Tribune, the post-war newspaper for Union Veterans.
Are you uncertain about your relative's participation in the unit?
Do you have any memorabilia affiliated with the 24th OVI or one of its veterans? If you have any questions....
Then, I Want You
Do you need information about other Ohio Civil War units? Check out Larry Stevens' Ohio in the Civil War page.
To find copies of these cool old regimental histories, simply, Click Here.
Where are collections of Civil War veterans' photographs online? CLICK HERE to view the U. S. Army Military History Institute's index of photographs.
Do you have other Civil War ancestors? Check out the Indexed Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System .
Would you like to know more about your Ohio ancestors? Check the Ohio Genweb Page.
for many of the upcoming images on the 24th OVI's website. Please stop by and see the Civil War Clipart Page. You will enjoy it.
I hope you enjoyed your mini tour. Please come back and visit again soon. This site will have frequent additions in the near future.