32nd Ohio Infantry
​in the American Civil War

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32nd Ohio Infantry Soldier Roster - Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Volume 3, by Ohio Roster Commission (Joseph B. Foraker, Governor, James S. Robinson, Sec'y of State and H. A. Axline, Adjutant-General), 1886     View Entire Book
Regimental History
Thirty-second Infantry.— Cols., Thomas H. Ford, Benjamin F. Potts, Jefferson J. Hibbetts ; Lieut.-Cols., Ebenezer H. Swinney, Robert H. Bentley, Sheldon Guthrie; Majs., Sylvester M. Hewitt, Abraham M. Crumbecker, Isaac B. Post. This regiment was organized near Mansfield, from Aug. 20 to Sept. 20, 1861, to serve three years. Its first assignment was in western Virginia. In October it made a forward movement and led the advance of the army through the mountains and pines of that region by night against Greenbrier, and in December accompanied Gen. Milroy in his advance on Camp Alleghany. In his report Gen. Milroy complimented the regiment very highly on its gallantry and good conduct in its charge into the camp of the enemy. The loss of the regiment in this affair was 4 killed and 14 wounded, some severely. On the return from this expedition it was ordered to Beverly, where it remained the rest of that severe winter. At the battle of McDowell the following May the 32nd lost 6 killed and 53 wounded, some mortally, being the last regiment to leave the field. In Fremont's pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley the regiment bore its part, participating in the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic. It remained at Winchester doing garrison duty until Sept. 1, the day the place was evacuated by Gen. White, when the regiment removed with the brigade to Harper's Ferry and assisted in the defense of that place, but after making a hard fight and losing 150 of its number, the regiment, with the whole command, was surrendered by the commanding officer of the post as prisoners of war. The regiment was exchanged in Jan., 1863, when it was sent South, moved with the army to Lake Providence, La., and during the campaign against Vicksburg took a prominent part in the gallant achievements of the 3d division, 17 corps. At the battle of Champion's hill the regiment made a bayonet charge and captured the 1st Miss. Confederate battery — men, guns and horses — with a loss of 24 men. The total loss of the regiment during the campaign and siege of Vicksburg was 225, rank and file. It participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson and Champion's hill ; was in the extreme front of Logan's division when Vicksburg surrendered ; was assigned to post duty under Gen. Logan ; was also with Sherman in Feb., 1864, at Meridian, and lost 22 men at Clinton. At about this time more than three-fourths of the regiment reenlisted as veterans and after a furlough home rejoined the army in the movement on Atlanta. It was identified with the movements of the 17th corps in Sherman's advance ; participated in the assault on Kennesaw mountain; was engaged at Nickajack creek, and was also in the battles of July 20, 21, 22 and 28 before Atlanta, losing more than half its number in killed and wounded. After the fall of Atlanta it moved with the army in pursuit of Hood, then rejoined Sherman and accompanied him on his "March to the Sea." It was in the advance of the army, contributed its share toward driving the enemy into his works at Savannah, on Dec. 21 entered the city, and then went into camp near Fort Thunderbolt. It moved with the army through the Carolinas, and a detachment of the regiment entered and captured Fayetteville, N. C, after a severe fight with Wade Hampton's cavalry. It was also engaged with the enemy at Bentonville and was present at the surrender of Johnston's army. It was mustered out on July 20, 1865. The 32nd entered the field, 950 strong, and during the war received more than 1,600 recruits, but only 565 remained at its muster-out.Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2