97th Ohio Infantry
​in the American Civil War

​​​​​​Online Books
97th Ohio Infantry Soldier Roster - Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Volume 7, 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
Ninety-seventh Infantry.— Col., John Q. Lane; Lieut.-Col, Milton Barnes; Maj., James W. Moore. This regiment was organized at Zanesville, Sept. 2, 1862, to serve for three years. It moved by rail to Covington heights, opposite Cincinnati, and during the Kirby Smith raid was in position near Fort Mitchel, 3 miles from the Ohio river. At the battle of Perryville it was with the main part of Buell's army and assisted in holding in check and driving back the Confederate forces in an attempt to turn the Union right. It was with the army at the battle of Stone's river, and in that engagement lost 25 men killed and wounded. In the battle of Missionary ridge the regiment lost 156 officers and men killed and wounded. It remained in East Tennessee the following winter and in May, 1864, entered upon the Atlanta campaign. It participated in an unsuccessful charge on Rocky Face ridge, with slight loss ; was under constant fire for two days at Resaca, and at Adairsville it had a sharp fight, losing 20 men in less than 15 minutes. At Dallas it was under constant fire from May 25 to June 5. At Kennesaw mountain it made a charge on the enemy's position and with the assistance of the 28th Ky. drove his outposts into his second line of works. On June 22 the regiment was ordered to drive in the Confederate outposts and of 153 men who were sent forward to perform that duty 112 were either killed or wounded in the space of 30 minutes. On June 27 a general charge was made on Kennesaw mountain and in this disastrous affair the regiment lost 35 men killed and wounded. At Peachtree creek seven determined charges were made against the point held by the regiment, but the little band of less than 300 men stood firm and so pleased were Gens. Howard and Newton that they sought out the regiment and personally thanked the men for their bravery in standing up against the dreadful shock of the Confederate charges on the left. In addition an order was issued exempting the regiment from all further picket and fatigue duty during the campaign. The regiment participated in the action at Jonesboro and assisted in driving the enemy back to Lovejoy's Station. Following Hood into Tennessee it fought at Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville and in the last engagement participated in two daring charges. The regiment spent the following winter in Alabama and after news had been received of the surrender of Lee returned to Nashville. The members whose term of service would have expired previous to Oct. 1, 1865, were mustered out on June 10, and the remaining members were transferred to the 26th Ohio infantry. During its term of service the 97th lost 113 officers and men killed and 560 wounded.Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 2