126th Ohio Infantry

compiled by Larry Stevens

References for this Unit

• see also Bibliography of State-Wide References
• Ohio In The War-Volume II. Whitelaw Reid. Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin. Cincinnati 1868
• Official Reports of J.Warren Keifer, Brevet Major General of Volunteers, U.S.A. Detailing movements and operations of his command in the battles of Winchester (1863), Brandy Station, Orange Grove, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg (1864), Monacocy, Opequon, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Petersburg (1865), and Sailor's Creek, also prior to and at the surrender of General Lee's Army. J. Warren Keifer. Daily Republican Steam Job Office. Springfield, Ohio 1866
• Concise History of the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from the date of Organization to the end of the Rebellion; with a complete roster of each company, from date of muster, battles and skirmishes participated in, lists of the killed, wounded and missing, and other incidents of the Camp and Field. Compiled by Comrade J.H. Gilson, of Company D. 272 pgs. Walton, Steam Job and Label Printer. Salem. Ohio. 1883
  Reprint: History of the 126th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. J.H. Gilson. 330 pgs. Blue Acorn Press. Huntington. West Virginia. 2000
• National Tribune. Spotsylvania. The Battle as Seen From the Ranks of the 126th Ohio. John E. Peck. 126th O.V.I. October 20, 1887
• Historical Address by General J. Warren Keifer, Second Brigade, Third Division Sixth Corps at Brigade Reunion at Columbus, Ohio, September 12, 1888. Gen. J. Warren Keifer. George Lilienthal Press. Zanesville 1888
• The Battle of Monocacy. July 9, 1864. General Early Defeated. A Gallant Shot. - A Hot Pursuit. Leaden Missiles of Destruction Fly Thick amd Fast. A Wonderful Escape. W.T. McDougle. Company K, 126th O.V.I. pgs. 371-372. In: Camp and Field. Sketches of Army Life. Written by those who followed the Flag. '61-'65. Compiled by W.F. Hinman, Author of "Corporal Si Klegg and His Pard," etc. 704 pgs. The N.G. Hamilton Publishing Co. Cleveland, O. 1892. Thanks to L.M. Strayer for this reference
• National Tribune. The Wilderness. What a Private Saw and Felt in that Horrible Place. Francis Cordrey. Co. E. 126th O.V.I. June 21, 1894
• Slavery and Four Years of War. A Political History of Slavery in the United States. Together with a narrative of the Campaigns and Battles of the Civil War in which the author took part...... Joseph Warren Keifer. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York and London. 1900
• To the Memory of My Brother, Edwin W. Niver, Compiled by Emogen Niver Marshall. Edwin W. Niver 3rd OVC. Compiled by Emogene Niver Marshall. 72 pgs. Krewson's Printers. Sandusky. 1932. On the Cover: Reminiscences of the Civil War and Andersonville Prison. "Andersonville Prison ..... As Seen by Corporal H.J. Peters." pgs 49-58. Corporal H.J. Peters. 126th OVI.
• Captain Hyatt, Being the Letters Written During the Years 1863-1864, to His Wife, Mary, by Captain T.J. Hyatt, 126th Ohio. Thomas Jefferson Hyatt. Edited by Hudson Hyatt. pgs. 166-183. Ohio Historical Quarterly. LIII. 1944
• Rufus Ricksecker Letters. 1862-1864. Rufus Ricksecker. 18??-1864. 126th O.V.I. 31 Items. Call# Spec.MMS.86 OCLC# 14164360 ISN/STD# 3819149 Ohio State University. Columbus. Ohio
• Unit Bibliography. U.S. Army Military History Institute. Carlisle Barracks. PA. 1995
• 126th OVI Page. by Eric T. Davis. 1996
• Colors of the 126th O.V.I. Painting and Original Photo. Fight for the Colors. Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio. 2000
• Three John brothers in the Civil War / Charles R. Leech, Jr.. by Charles R. Leech. 168 pgs. ill. maps. C.R. Leech. Gambier. Ohio. 2005. Call# E525 .L44 2005. Jefferson or Adams Building Reading Rooms. Library of Congress. Washington. DC
• Francis Cordrey Webpage. Francis Cordrey 126th OVI. by Laura Cooper. 2006. Includes two diaries written by Cordrey during the war. Warning, these are large .pdf files. Diary 1. and Diary 2.

1st Lt. Rufus Ricksecker Co.G 126th Regt. OVI
Killed in action September 19 1864 at the Battle of Opequan
In J.H. Gilson's Concise History of the
One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

History

Organized September 4, 1862, under Colonel Benjamin F. Smith, it moved the same month to Parkersburg, West Virginia, and then to Cumberland, Md. It guarded the Railroad during the winter, and in the spring of 1863 operated against guerillas in West Virginia. In June the Regiment returned to the vicinity of Martinsburgh and was severely pressed by the advance of Lee's army, but escaped to Harper's Ferry and afterwards moved to Washington City. It soon re-joined the Army of the Potomac and operated in Virginia under Grant. It took part in the battles of Snicker's Gap, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, the Wilderness and Petersburg, and joined the pursuit of Lee until the surrender. The Regiment was mustered out June 25, 1865, and lost during its term of service over 500 men in battle.

J.H. Gilson's
Concise History of the One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Regiment
Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Web Copyright © 1999 Larry Stevens

From Dyer's Compendium

126th Infantry organized at Camp Steubenville, Ohio, and mustered in September 4, 1862. Moved to Parkersburg, W. Va., September 16, 1862. Attached to Railroad Division, West Virginia, to January, 1863. Martinsburg, W. Va., 8th Army Corps, Middle Department, to March, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Army Corps, to June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, French's Command, 8th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 3rd Army Corps. Army of the Potomac, to March, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 6th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac and Army of the Shenandoah, Middle Military Division, to June, 1865.
SERVICE.--Moved to Cumberland, Md., October 17, 1862, and to North Mountain December 12. Guard duty on Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from North Mountain to Martinsburg December 12-20, and duty at Martinsburg till June 14, 1863. Expedition to Greenland Gap April 15-22. Action at Martinsburg June 14 (Co. "B"). Retreat to Harper's Ferry June 15-17. Guard stores to Washington, D.C.; thence to Frederick, Md., July 1-5. Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap, Va., July 5-24. Action at Wapping Heights, Va., July 23. Duty in New York City during draft disturbances August 18-September 5. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Kelly's Ford November 7. Brandy Station November 8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. Demonstration on the Rapidan February 6-7, 1864. Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River May 3-June 15. Battles of the Wilderness May 5-7. Spottsylvania May 8-12; Spottsylvania Court House May 12-21. Assault on the Salient "Bloody Angle" May 12. North Anna River May 23-26. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor June 1-12. Before Petersburg June 18-July 6. Jerusalem Plank Road June 22-23. Ordered to Baltimore, Md., July 6. Battle of Monocacy Junction, Md., July 9. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August 7-November 28. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty at Kernstown till December. Moved to Washington, D.C., December 3; thence to Petersburg, Va. Siege of Petersburg December 9, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Assault on and fall of Petersburg April 2. Pursuit of Lee April 3-9. Sailor's Creek April 6. Guard prisoners at Burkesville April 6-15. March to Danville April 15-27, and duty there till May 16. Moved to Richmond, Va., May 16; thence to Washington, D.C., May 24-June 2. Corps Review June 9. Mustered out June 25, 1865. Regiment lost during service 9 Officers and 148 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 142 Enlisted men by disease. Total 296.

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Copyright © 1995 Larry Stevens

Last updated March 19 2011