93rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

History of the 93rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry

The 93rd Ohio was organized during the months of July and August, 1862, at Camp Dayton, near Dayton, Ohio.  It left the rendezvous for Lexington, Kentucky, on the evening of August 23, 1862, numbering 39 officers and also 929 men. 

Under command  of General Gilbert, the regiment retreated from Lexington to Louisville, where it was  assigned to Ward's brigade, of Jackson's division, and remained in camp until September, 1862. Upon leaving it was assigned to the Fifth Brigade of McCook's division, and upon arriving in Frankfort, Kentucky, it was re-assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division of McCook's command.  The 93rd moved with the army to Nashville, and in December, while on duty guarding a forage-train, was attacked by the Rebels, and in this, its first engagement, it lost one man killed and three wounded [Note: reference to Lebanon, TN - Antioch Church]. At the battle of Stone River it was in Baldwin's brigade, of Johnson's division, and suffered severely, on December 31.

After this battle it encamped on the banks of Stone River, south of Murfreesboro, until March, 1863, when it moved to Camp Drake west of Murfreesboro. 

On June 23, 1863, McCook's corps broke camp and marched for Liberty Gap. After a slight engagement at that place, it moved to Hoover's Gap, and there joining the remainder of the army under Rosencrans, it moved on to Tuliahoma, arriving July 2, 1863. The regiment remained in camp until August 17, when, with Johnson's division, it moved to Bellefonte, Alabama, and about the last of August moved from Bellefonte to Stevenson. It crossed Lookout Mountain and bivouacked in a valley about forty miles below Chattanooga. It re-crossed the mountain, and again on September 14 it marched to the top and along the ridge, leaving it on September 17 at McLemore's Cove. On September 18, the 93rd was placed on picket on the extreme right of the battle line at Chickamauga, [monument photos] and was engaged in severe skirmishing. On the morning of September 19 orders were received to join General Thomas, and after marching 9 miles, from the extreme right to the extreme left, the last 2 miles at a double-quick, the regiment went into action at 12:30 p.m. About 2 p.m., in the afternoon the 93rd, led by Colonel Baldwin, the brigade commander, charged a Rebel battery, killed all the horses, and captured the guns and the men. The brigade was engaged until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., when, by superior numbers, it was compelled to retire 200 or 300 yards, where it bivouacked for the night. During the engagement on Saturday the regiment lost 124 officers and men killed, wounded, and prisoners. Early on Sunday morning the regiment commenced building breastworks (having only two axes, without picks or shovels), and by the time the Rebels advanced to attack it was protected by a very good barricade of logs, rails, and brush. The first Rebel attack lasted one and a half hours, during which time the amount of ammunition expended by the 93rd averaged 100 rounds to the man. From that time until midnight, there was continual skirmishing, during which private Kinsey, of Co. H, killed Colonel Richmond, Inspector General of General Polk's staff, and obtained his sword and a valuable map of Ringold, and the adjoining country. Again,  about midnight, the Rebels  charged and were repulsed handsomely after an engagement of an hour. The skirmishers were at once thrown out, and reported 300 killed and wounded lying in  front of the works of the 93rd. At each charge the Rebels came within 125 yards of the breastworks. About 4 p.m. the Rebels charged again, and while still fighting, the regiment was ordered to fall back. Not expecting to abandon the field, it fell back about 75 yards and formed in the second line of works, when orders were received to retreat  on the double-quick. It fell back to Ringold Sunday night, and at midnight of Monday the 21st, continued the retreat to Chattanooga. 

The regiment with its brigade was deployed as skirmishers along the north bank of the Chattanooga Creek, extending from the Nashville Railroad around for about 2 miles. It remained there for 4 days, and in continual skirmishing with the Rebels lost 6 or 8 men. Strong and substantial breastworks were built, which were afterward used as the advanced picket-line. 

 During the first part of October, the 93rd was assigned to the Second Brigade (Hazen's), Third Division (Wood's), Fourth Army Corps. on October 25, Hazen's brigade floated down the Tennessee on pontoons, and effected a landing at Brown's Ferry. This movement relieved the want of supplies at Chattanooga, and prevented the evacuation of the place. After remaining a few days at Brown's Ferry, the regiment returned to its camp at Chattanooga.

About noon on November 23, orders were received for the regiment to move out of camp as if going on brigade drill, taking nothing but arms, accouterments, and canteens. Instead, of going on drill, it moved into line of battle, and was consolidated with the 41st Ohio. This battalion was then advanced beyond the rest of the line, and in the charge upon Orchard Knob suffered severely. The time occupied in making the charge was not more than 5 or 6 minutes, during which time the 93rd lost 11 killed and 49 wounded. Six men were shot down while carrying the regimental colors; among them was Major William Birch who was commanding the regiment. On November 25, the regiment was in the assault on Missionary Ridge, and sustained the loss of 8 killed and 20 wounded. 

On November 28, 1863, the 93rd started for East Tennessee. The campaign of the winter of 1863-64 was very severe, and one time the regiment was reduced to 4 officers and 90 men.