38th 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
• National Tribune. Baird's Charge at Jonesboro. Benj. F. Mattern. 38th O.V.I. May 17, 1883
• National Tribune. The Battle of Jonesboro. A. Scott 78th Ill. and G. 38th Ohio. May 24, 1883
• National Tribune. Atlanta Campaign: What the Brigade did at Jonesboro, Ga.. Lee H. Rudisille, Sgt. 38th O.V.I. August 7th 1890
• National Tribune. The Charge at Jonesboro: The Magnificent Assault by Este's Brigade. Lee H. Rudisille, Sgt. 38th O.V.I. August 5th, 1909
• John D. Vail Papers. John Vail 38th OVI. 71 pgs. Typescript copy of Vail's diary describing camp life of 38th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on march to Savannah, Ga., Oct. 1864-Jan. 1865. Also includes speeches on slavery, Indians, and presenting a flag to Bellair Union Guards; poetry describing camp life; and financial statements of Vail, 1863-1888. Formerly cataloged as MSS 28. Call# VFM 3419. Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio
• Andrew Altman Papers. Collection of Andrew Altman 68th OVI. Collection also contains several letters of Cyrus Altman serving in Co.B of the 38th O.V.I. Call# Archives MS707. Center for Archival Collections. Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green. Ohio
• Pratt Family Papers. Papers of the Bruce Pratt Family. Collection includes some Civil War correspondence of John Carter, Co.B, 38th OVI, who died in 1862. Call# MS692. Center for Archival Collections. Bowling Green State University. Bowling Green. Ohio
• Reunion History of the 38 O.V.V.I.. by David L. Lupien. 24 pgs.: ill. NP. Ft. Wayne. Ind. 1985. Call# E525.5 38th .L86 1985. Library of Congress. Washington. DC
• Unit Bibliography. U.S. Army Military History Institute. Carlisle Barracks. PA. 1995
• The Frederick Persin Civil War Diary of His Service in Ohio's 38th O.V.I. Organized in Defiance, Ohio. August 1, 1864 to December 31, 1864. Louis A. Simonis. 70 pgs. Louis A. Simonis. 2006

Gurden and Wallace Dunbar
Co K 38th OVI
Courtesy of and Copyright © L.M. Strayer Collection

History

Organized in September, 1861, under Colonel Bradley, it went to Kentucky, and after the campaign of Mill Springs to Louisville, thence to Nashville, and that summer operated about Huntsville and Winchester, Tenn. The fall found it again at Louisville. In December it marched to Nashville and took part in the Tullahoma campaign in June 1863. After the battle of Mission Ridge it veteranized, and returned to take part in the Atlanta campaign, following from that time the fortunes of Sherman's army through to Savannah and thence northward. It was finally mustered out at Louisville, in July, 1865.

From Dyer's Compendium

38th Regiment Infantry. Organized at Defiance, Ohio, September 1, 1861. Ordered to Nicholasville, Ky., September 1. At Camp Dick Robinson, Ky., till October 19. March to relief of Wild Cat October 19-21. March to Somerset, Ky., and duty there till January, 1862. Attached to 1st Brigade, Army of the Ohio, October-November, 1861. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3rd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division (Centre), 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.--Advance on Camp Hamilton, Ky., January 1-17, 1862. Battle of Mill Springs, Ky., January 19-20. Moved to Louisville, Ky., February 10-16; thence to Nashville, Tenn., via Ohio and Cumberland Rivers February 18-March 2. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 20-April 8. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville June 1-6. March to Iuka, Miss., June 22; thence to Tuscumbia, Ala., June 26. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., July 19-22; thence to Deckard, Tenn., July 27. Decatur, Ala., August 7 (Detachment). March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 21-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-15. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 16-November 7, and duty there till December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro till March, and at Triune till June. Expedition toward Columbia March 4-14. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover's Gap June 24-26. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Conducting trains of the army from the Cumberland to Chattanooga during battle of Chickamauga, Ga., Chattanooga, Tenn., September 25-26. Siege of Chattanooga September 26-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Regiment reenlisted December, 1863. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8, 1864. Demonstrations on Rocky Face Ridge May 8-11. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Ackworth June 4. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Fayetteville, N. C. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June 12. Mustered out July 12, 1865. Regiment lost during service 8 Officers and 132 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 227 Enlisted men by disease. Total 369.

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Copyright © 1995 Larry Stevens

Last updated January 11 2012