11th Ohio Infantry - 3 Years Service
in the American Civil War
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Online Books
11th Ohio Infantry Soldier Roster - Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Volume 2, by Ohio Roster Commission (Joseph B. Foraker, Governor, James S. Robinson, Sec'y of State and H. A. Axline, Adjutant-General), 1886 Regimental History Eleventh Infantry. — (Three Years' Service.) Cols., Charles A. De Villiers, Philander P. Lane; Lieut.-Cols., Joseph W. Frizell, Augustus H. Coleman, Ogden Street; Majs., Lyman J. Jackson, Asa Higgins. This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison on June 20, 1861, to serve for three years. On July 7, it was ordered to the Kanawha valley and after remaining on duty in West Virginia during the winter and a part of the following summer it was sent to Alexandria, Va. On Aug. 27, 1862, it was ordered to Manassas Junction, but upon arriving at Fairfax Station it was found that the Confederates had taken possession of the fortifications at Manassas. The regiment then crossed Bull run, formed in line near the railroad and checked a flanking movement of the enemy. Upon the retreat of the Federal forces the regiment acted as rear-guard, its cool and determined bravery doing much toward securing the safety of the whole column. On Sept. 6 the regiment moved toward Maryland and six days later reached the Confederate picket-line in the vicinity of Frederick City. In the engagement that ensued three attacking columns were formed, with the 11th in the advance of the center. A charge was ordered, but the line was thrown into some confusion, and the Confederates rallied and captured 2 pieces of artillery. Gen. Cox called to Col. Coleman: "Will the 11th recover those guns?" With a loud cheer the regiment dashed at the Confederates, drove them from the guns, and still pressed on cheering and charging, advancing into the city, halting only when the enemy was completely routed. Next morning the division crossed the creek and moved toward Turner's gap in South mountain. When the order came to charge the 11th moved along the edge of a strip of woods and by adroitness and bravery drove back a strong force of the Confederates attempting a flank movement. Again the regiment was ordered to charge across an open field on the left of the road against a force of the enemy protected by a stone wall. They met the enemy in almost a hand-to-hand fight, in which muskets were clubbed and bayonets crossed over the low stone wall, but finally the enemy was driven from his position into the undergrowth. The following day, at Antietam, an order was received to carry the bridge at all hazards. The 11th was to lead the storming party and while advancing steadily and determinedly Col. Coleman fell mortally wounded. The regiment wavered an instant, then pressed on, gained the bridge, crossed it, scaled the bluffs, and drove the Confederates from their position. In the following spring the regiment was transferred to the western field of operations and in June was with the division that engaged the enemy at Hoover's gap, Tenn. After the enemy was driven back it pressed on and led the advance into Manchester, capturing a number of Confederates. The regiment fought valiantly at Chickamauga and Lookout mountain, and in a charge at Missionary ridge captured a battle-flag and a quantity of artillery and small arms. It pursued the enemy toward Ringgold and after some severe fighting there returned to Chattanooga. The regiment was engaged in a reconnoissance toward Rocky Face ridge and advanced as far as Buzzard Roost, where the enemy was found in strong position. By some mistake the 11th was ordered to charge up a steep hill held by two brigades and several pieces of artillery. It advanced bravely, but after heroic efforts was compelled to fall back with a loss of one-sixth of its men. The troops then fell back to Ringgold and on March 26 the veterans of the regiment numbering about 200, returned to Ohio for the purpose of recruiting, so that when the regiment should be mustered out the name and organization might still be continued. The regiment remained at Ringgold on garrison duty till June 10, when it proceeded to Cincinnati, where it received a hearty welcome and was mustered out at Camp Dennison on June 21, 1864. Footnotes: Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2 |
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