Shelby County OHGenWeb

Shelby County in the Civil War 99th Regiment O.V.I.

    This regiment was organized at Camp Lima, O., and mustered into service August 26, 1862. Of this regiment two companies were raised in Allen county, two in Shelby county, two in Hancock, and one each in Auglaize, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert.   1700 men were recruited for the 99th Reg. O.V.I., but 700 were immediately transferred to the 118th Reg. O.V.I.
    The 99th Reg. O.V.I. left Camp Lima, August 31, 1862 with 1,021 men, under orders to report at Lexington, Ky. While en route to Lexington, they found out that the Southern Army had taken it so they were thus ordered to Cynthiana. After a few weeks, they then moved on to Covington and entered the fortifications at Fort Mitchell. In September, it went by steamer to Louisville and assisted in the defense of the city against the threatened assault of the army under Bragg. On October 1, 1862, the regiment was transferred to Colonel Stanley Matthew's Brigade, which was composed of the 51st & 99th O.V.I.; the 80th & 21st Ky.V.I.; and the 35th In.V.I. This subsequently became the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 21st Army Corps.   The regiment now marched in pursuit of Bragg's retreating forces as far as Wild Cat to Mount Vernon, and again in regular order to Somerset, Columbia, Glasgow, and Gallatin. From Gallatin, the regiment was ordered to Lebanon to intercept the command of John Morgan. The march to Lebanon and back to Silver Springs was accomplished in one day, and Morgan's command was first dislodged, but soon followed the brigade on it's retreat. Morgan captured about 100 of the Union forces who were unable to keep up the rapid march of the brigade. About 20 of these captured men belonged to the 99th Reg. O.V.I. After a days rest, the regiment moved toward Nashville and took position about seven miles from the city.   Here the troops suffered greatly from sickness, and when the men were ordered to Stone River, the regiment could only muster 369 privates, 2 field officers, 7 line officers, and 3 staff officers, who were fit for duty. On December 26, 1862, the regiment advanced toward Murfreesboro, being under the rebel fire during part of the march. At the battle of Stone River, it formed on the extreme left of the line. On the morning of December 31, 1862, the division crossed Stone River, but on account of the disaster on the right, was ordered back to hold the ford while the first and second brigades were sent to reinforce the corps of General McCook. On January 1, 1863, the third division crossed the river and took a position which it held until Friday afternoon, when the rebels formed in heavy column, and doubling the center, drove Van Cleve's division across the river. This division was at once reinforced and was able to drive the rebels back and, in the process, captured all the artillery used in the attack. Bragg commenced his retreat under cover of that night. In this battle, the 99th Reg. O.V.I. had 3 officers & 17 men killed, 2 officers & 49 men wounded, and one officer & 29 men captured. After this battle, the regiment took position at Murfreesboro' on the left of the line.
    On June 30, 1863, it marched to McMinnville, where it remained until the 16th of August, when it moved to Pikesville. After various duties and marches, the regiment moved to Ringgold and participated in the battle of Chickamauga. Soon afterward the 20th and 21st Corps were consolidated and the 99th Reg. was transferred to the 2nd Brigade, First Division, 4th Corps. This brigade camped for some time opposite Lookout Mountain, but on November 1, 1863, it moved to Shell Mound where it did duty guarding and repairing the railroad from Chattanooga to Bridgeport. On the 22nd it moved up the valley, and on the 24th participated in the "Battle above the clouds," being the second line of the charging column. As the lines swept around the mountain the 2nd closed up on the 1st, until, nearing the Point, it rushed through the first line and held the advance until relieved after nightfall by fresh troops.
    The next day, the regiment was engaged at Mission Ridge, occupying the extreme right of the National line. After following the Rebels to Ringgold, the regiment returned to Shell Mound, where it remained until February 1864 when it moved to Cleveland, Tenn. On May 3rd, 1864, the regiment entered upon the Atlanta campaign. It next participated in the actions of Rocky Face Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Pine Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. In all of those engagements, the regiment bore an honorable and prominent part.
    On June 28, 1864 the regiment was assigned to the 4th Brigade, 2nd Div., 23rd Corps and on July 19, 1864 took possession of Decatur. The regiment participated in the actions before Atlanta and moved to Jonesboro and Lovejoy. It was next assigned to the 1st Brigade and returned to Decatur, having lost in the Atlanta campaign 30 men killed and 56 wounded. On October 1, 1864, the regiment started in pursuit of the command of Hood, moving to Centreville by way of Resaca, Johnsonville, and Waverly. For a few weeks, their communication was cut off, but they finally received the orders by courier to march to Franklin. Because Franklin was in the hands of the enemy, they marched to Nashville instead.
    The regiment next appeared in line in front of Nashville, and on the morning of December 15, 1864, moved against the intreached army of Hood. It drove the enemy from one position to another until it found them posted on a hill covered by a stone was. The division was, without orders, charged the position, carried it, and turned the guns on the retreating foe. The enemy was pursued to Columbia, where this regiment was consolidated with the 50th O.V.I. and the 99th ceased as an organization. The regimental colors were then sent to Sidney, until the return of Sergeant WM. M. Van Fossen, when he took them in charge.
Roster Lists Field & Staff Officers | Company A | Company B | Company C | Company D | Company E Company F | Company G | Company H | Company I | Company K | Company S | Company U

Information was gathered from the following sources: "History of Shelby County, Ohio" by R. Sutton & Co. 1883 "The Union Army, vol. 2" "Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio" published 1886