The 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

     
Our Flag
and 2 Confederate Flags the 57th captured.

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The brave men who served in the regiment.

"click here" to read about William D. Carlin, Surgeon of the 57th.

The Fifty-seventh Infantry (three years) was organized at Findlay, Ohio, in September, 1861, and mustered in between September 2, that year, and February 5, 1862. Company K, the last mustered, completed organization at Findlay, February, 1862.

Its officers successively were: William Mungen, Americus V. Rice, Samuel R. Mott, Cols. ; William Mungen, Americus V. Rice, Samuel R. Mott and George D. McClure, Lieut.-Cols.; Silas B. Walker, John McClure and Squire Johnson, Majors. Company B was recruited from Hancock, Seneca, and Wood counties, Lieut. Wm. S. Bonnell, of "B," was a Wood county man.

On February 10 the new regiment had 956 men and thirty-eight commissioned officers, who set out for Paducah, Ky., eight days after. On March 8 the command left Paducah for Fort Henry, on the Tennessee, whence it proceeded to Savannah, Tenn., and to the mouth of Yellow creek, with the object of seizing the railroad at Iuka, Miss. High water militated against success, so that by the 16th the command reported at Pittsburg Landing. From that date to April 6, the command was engaged in a series of little expeditions sent out from camp at Shiloh Church. On the 6th it was, with its brigade, swept back by the furious assaults of the Confederate hosts, and only regained their camp after two days' participation in one of the bloodiest battles of the war. On the 8th the 57th took part in the pursuit of the retreating enemy, and suffered further loss, the total in three days being, 27 killed, 150 wounded (16 mortally) and 10 prisoners. During most of the summer and fall after the Corinth campaign, the regiment was on duty in West Tennessee, with headquarters at Memphis part of the time. In the Yazoo and Chickasaw campaign the 57th lost 37 men, killed and wounded.

On January 11, 1863, the attack on Arkansas Post was led by this regiment, it being for two hours within 270 feet of the embrasures in the parapet, before the works were surrendered. In this affair the 57th lost thirty-seven killed and wounded. After this campaign the regiment joined in the operations against Vicksburg until May 1, when Grant's soldiers took boats and floated down to Grand Gulf, where the 57th took part in the brilliant campaign which preceded the capture of Vicksburg, including the siege, in which the 57th took a gallant part.

In November, 1863, the 5 7th, with the rest of Sherman's command, after a toilsome march from Mississippi to Chattanooga, Tenn., arrived in time to take a hand in the successful assault on Mission Ridge.

In May, 1864, the regiment entered on the Atlanta campaign, having, on March 29, arrived at Nashville, after a long furlough, following the re-enlistment in January. It was present at Snake Creek Gap, May 8; at Resaca, from May 13 to 16; at Dallas, May 25 to June 4; at Kenesaw Mountain, June 9 to 30, where, on June 27, it lost fifty-seven killed and wounded. On July 22 it was a stern wall opposing Hood's sortie from Atlanta, recapturing the works in its front three times, and holding its position. From July 28 to September 2 it was engaged in the siege of Atlanta, took part in the affairs at Jonesboro on August 31 and September 1 ; at Statesboro on December 4, and at Fort McAllister, December 13, 1864, losing, in the bayonet charge at the last named place, ten killed and eighty wounded. On March 13, 1865, at Fayetteville, and on March 19-20 and 21 at Bentonville, N. C., it was in the thick of battle, and remained in the front until after Johnston's surrender. It participated in the grand review at Washington in May, 1865, and moving to Little Rock, Ark., it was mustered out, August 14, 1865. On August 25 it was discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio. Of the 1,594 men enrolled, only 481 were living on date of muster-out.