23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment

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The 23rd Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during much of the American Civil War. It served in the Eastern Theater in a variety of campaigns and battles, and is remembered with a stone memorial on the Antietam National Battlefield not far from Burnside's Bridge.

The regiment later became noted for its many up-and-coming politicians. Future presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley served in this unit, as did future U.S. senator and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court Stanley Matthews and Robert P. Kennedy, a future U.S. Congressman. Other notable officers included James M. Comly and Eliakim P. Scammon, both of whom became influential nationally after the war. Harrison Gray Otis, the famed owner and publisher of the Los Angeles Times, also fought with the 23rd Ohio during the war.

Under the first call of President Abraham Lincoln, Ohio sent to the field 22 regiments of infantry, each having been enlisted for three months only. While these organizations organized for three months' service, Lincoln issued a call for a further 300,000 men for three years enlistment. Nearly all the companies which became the 23rd Ohio were then waiting to muster in for three months in different parts of Ohio.^[1] These·companies, Poland Guards,^{[note 1]} Bellefontaine Rifles, Ohio Union Savers, and seven other volunteer companies, were ordered to Camp Chase, near Columbus, and were re-enlisted for three years and assigned to the regiment.^[3] This made the 23rd Regiment the first three-year Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiment organized.^[4] The regiment mustered into duty on Tuesday, June 11, 1861, by Capt. Howard Stansberry, USA, as a three-year regiment.^[5]

Its 950 enlistees were originally led by Col. William Rosecrans.^[6] The other initial field officers were Lieutenant-Colonel Stanley Mathews and Major Rutherford B. Hayes, however, changes in the field/staff came quickly. That Friday, June 14, Rosecrans was promoted to Brigadier-General in the regular army.^[7] Wisely opting not to be promoted above their experience and ability, Matthews and Hayes asked for another regular officer to take command. In late June, 1837 West Point graduate and Mexican-American War veteran, Col. Eliakim P. Scammon succeeded Rosecrans in command.^[8] As well as the colonel and lieutenant-colonel, the quartermaster and adjutant were also promoted and transferred. They were replaced by promotions from the regiment, except for Major James M. Comly, who was transferred from the 63d Ohio.^[7] Hayes was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.^[5]

While at Camp Chase, their first shipment of official clothing contained only undershirts and drawers followed later by full uniforms. A few weeks later, though, the men were further disappointed when their first issue of arms were flintlock muskets on July 23. After much effort by the staff, the men accepted the arms.^[9]

After training and drilling following their induction, on Thursday, July 25, 1861, the regiment was ordered to Clarksburg, for western Virginia, where it arrived by train on Saturday. It served for several months in this area of current West Virginia, helping to restore that portion of Virginia to the Union. The 23rd Ohio was attached to Jacob D. Cox's Kanawha Brigade and served throughout much of the war in what became the IX Corps.

Ordered to garrison the town of Weston, roughly 20 miles (32 km) away, the 23rd Ohio marched for two days through heavy rain followed by an intense heat. Scammon continually chided his raw recruits for their slow pace and for discarding equipment enroute.^{[3][note 2]} Shortly after arrival, Scammon was ordered to divide his command into two battalions of five companies to better counter the partisan threat. One battalion under Lt. Col. Mathews as a movable force, dedicated to counterinsurgency that was sent a further 20 miles (32 km) south to the vicinity of Bulltown and Sutton, under Matthews. The remaining battalion of five companies stayed at Weston with Scammon sending out occasional foraging and scouting expeditions against guerrillas and other disaffected inhabitants.^[8] This division of force elicited no response from the rebel military who had suffered crushing defeats in the in western Virginia and opted not to devote many resources to what they deemed an area of relatively limited value.^[8]

In this area, the 23rd Ohio operated against numerous secessionist guerrillas there, performing hard duty, marching and countermarching over the rugged mountainous terrain drenched by almost continuous rain.^[11] It was an unpleasant constabulary duty that lacked the military glory many had sought to experience. The 23rd Ohio was soon in a constant mode of incessant patrols chasing small bands of secessionist guerilla whose actions kept U.S. forces tied down and anxious.^[3]

Hope for real action rose in mid-August when Scammon was ordered south to join Rosecrans force assembling to counter a rebel offensive in the Kanawha Valley. In this part of then Virginia, the Carnifex Ferry was a key part of the major roads in the area. This ferry operated 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Summersville. It was, for many miles, practically the only crossing along the rugged Gauley River. ^[12] In 1861, it was 370 feet in width and crossed by means of two flatboats. The road from the crossing wound along the base of the cliffs on the north side.^[12] On August 12, 1861, Brig. Gen. John Buchanan Floyd, former Secretary of War, had entered Lewisburg with troops raised largely in southwestern Virginia. Advised to hold the ferry, but warned to stay on the south bank, he crossed the Gauley on Wednesday evening, August 22 and on August 26, attacked and routed Col. Erastus B. Tyler's 7th Ohio Infantry encamped at Kessler's Cross Lanes.^[13][14] After this battle, he returned to fortify the ferry from where he planned to move against Rosecrans by occupying Summersville,^[12] and sent Col. John McCausland, with the 36th Virginia Infantry (Second Kanawha), occupied the town of Summersville.^[15]

On Sunday, September 1, the two battalions united at Bulltown and marched to Sutton to join Rosecrans's Army of West Virginia.^[16]The 23rd Ohio was reunited and incorporated into Rosecrans's 8,000 men. Scammon took command of the 3rd Brigade brigade composed of the 23rd and 30th Ohio regiments. Due to Matthews' absence, Hayes took command of the regiment.^[17]

Leaving a garrison of around 3,000 men at Sutton, the following Saturday, September 7, the army moved south towards Summersville. Rosecrans' expedition moved out of Sutton with a squadron of cavalry in front followed by pioneers. Next in the van was Benham's 1st Brigade followed by McCook's 2nd Brigade. The 3rd Brigade was the last combat unit in the column.^[18] Per Rosecrans' direction, Scammon had detailed six companies of the 30th Ohio to guard the a wagon train that trailed out for five miles. ^[12]After a hard slog, Rosecrans had his men stop at Birch River Sunday evening where he received intelligence that Floyd was at the ferry.^[15]Late Monday morning, September 9, the march resumed and that night halted 8 miles (13 km) from Summersville, on Muddlety Creek, on the site of a former Confederate outpost.^[12]

As the 23rd Ohio and the Army of West Virginia approached, McCausland, recognizing he was isolated and outnumbered, had withdrawn to rejoin Floyd at the ferry on Sunday. Floyd now had about 2000 men in fortifications as the U.S. force of 5,000 approached.^[12] Scouts reported back to Rosecrans that the rebels were still at the ferry.^[19]

At 4:00 am, on Tuesday, Rosecrans moved forward. The advance guard reached Summersville about 8:45 am.^[12] Near McKee's Creek Crossing was a road that led to Hughes Ferry on Gauley River, at the mouth of Salmon Run. McCook, with a cavalry escort, rode down to the river and was fired upon by a Confederate detachment. Four companies of the 10th Ohio then came to the rescue, and the ferry boat was secured and the march resumed. The road then led southwest to Kessler's Cross Lanes where Rosecrans paused 1 mile (1.6 km) from the crossroad for a short rest of short duration. He then sent Benham's 1st Brigade down the road leading from Cross Lanes to the ferry in line of battle, cautioning him not to bring on an engagement as while Floyd's general location was known, the disposition of his troops was not.^[12]

Meanwhile, Rosecrans climbed a steep hill to the right of the road, and with his field glass looked ahead of him. Far in front stood the 1st Brigade in line of battle, facing the river. The 2nd Brigade was on a slope to the left, and on the right, a little higher up, was the 3rd Brigade, containing the 23rd Ohio, in reserve facing the direction of the ferry.^[20].^[21][22] He could see the heights beyond the Gauley River.^[12] As Benham advanced, his men made contact with a rebel detachment of the 50th Virginia Infantry camped along the road.^[23][12] The Confederates retired to the main camp, while Rosecrans, in ignorance of the true situation, ordered Benham to send the 10th Ohio's four companies, which were 1 mile (1.6 km)ahead of the main body, down the road from Hughes Ferry, to scout the rebel position, and support Benham's advance.^[23]

Suddenly the Federal advance guard made contact with the Confederate line barely 300 yards away. With woods lining the road on both sides, except for a cornfield along one side for part of the distance, the rebels opened a heavy fire on the U.S. forces, and the battle began.^[12] The fighting at the Battle of Carnifex Ferry was a hard but relatively minor scrap.^[24] The 1st and 2nd Brigades assaulted the rebels in a series of attacks through the afternoon but could not dislodge them.^[12]

Col. Smith and his 13th Ohio had been sent down into a wooded ravine on a reconnaissance to find the rebel's right flank.^[25] After deploying in line of battle, he moved up the slope through the brush until he saw the enemy breastworks. Keeping behind the woods and the crest of a ridge in front of the rebel line, he slipped further left until his men came under fire from the end of Floyd's right flank 100 yards (91 m) away.^[26] After having his men drop flat on the ground and crawl up to the ridge's crest, his men opened a heavy fire on the enemy that drove the Confederates away. Since he had been ordered to find the right flank but not bring on an engagement, the 13th Ohio did not pursue the fleeing rebels. After receiving Smith's his findings, Rosecrans put together an ad hoc brigade to make a flank attack out of the ravine in his left. At Rosecrans' order, Scammon sent Hayes and four companies to the right of the enemy's entrenchments, taking position in the dense thicket in the ravine.^[27] There they joined the 28th Ohio, eight companies of the 13th Ohio, and two of the 12th Ohio regiments, placed under Smith's command. He was ordered to carry the works on the right by assault.^{[12] [28]} Instructed to wait until dusk before launching the assault, the men waited in the woods that grew very dark quickly. The assault was bogged down by the darkness as the men struggled up the hill. After midnight, they reached the works and drove the rebels back but the sheer exhaustion of being on the go for nearly 24 hours precluded further advance past the first entrenchments. The losses from the enemy fire, and some from friendly fire in the dark, were relatively light, but Hayes and his companies received their baptism of serious combat.^[24][27]

Initially uninvolved in the fighting, at 4:00 pm, Rosecrans ordered Scammon to form his brigade in line of battle on a hill fronting the rebels'right.^[27] It was formed in two lines, the 23rd Ohio in front, and six companies of the 30th Ohio, in rear.^{[note 3]} Scammon placed Mack's Battery E, 4th U.S. Artillery of howitzers a little in advance of the infantry. At dusk, the 23rd was sent forward closer to the enemy works and to await further direction. An hour later, it was ordered back to its original position.^[27]

Although his men still held the north bank of the ferry, Floyd realized the folly of his crossing and his force was outnumbered. He decided to abandon his position and retreat across the Gauley River during the night.^[4] Heavy rains made the pursuit of the Rebels almost impossible, but it was still done capturing many prisoners. Rosecrans' chase continued to the rebels' new entrenchments at the foot of B Sewell Mountain. ^[16]

After remaining there a few days, the U.S. forces fell back to Camp Ewin on New River, a very unhealthy camp, where disease rapidly thinned the ranks.^[4] The regiment continued operations in Kanawha Valley and New River Region through October into November. On October 23, Mathews was made Colonel of the 51st Ohio,^[7] turning command over to Hayes.^[5] As Hayes was promptly promoted to succeed him and, with Scammon remining brigade commander, found himself de facto commander of the regiment, a development that met with wide approval.^[29]

There was, however, no doubt some disappointment among the senior captains already with the regiment when Ohio Governor William Dennison dispatched Maj. James M. Comly to western Virginia to take Hayes' place.^[29] Meanwhile, the Confederates had sent Lee to counter the U.S. forces in the region, however, due to the weather and terrain he failed and by mid-November, through maneuver, Rosecrans' managed to force Floyd out of the Kanawha Valley.^[30] Shortly thereafter, as snow began to blanket the mountains, the regiment moved to Fayetteville, where it went into winter quarters at Fayette Court House in November.^[31] The winter of 1861 was devoted to recruiting, drilling, and discipline. Companies F and G detached under Major Comly, and on December 31, occupied Raleigh Court House without opposition. Over 300 stands of arms, 27 prisoners, and supplies were captured.^[4]

Companies A and D were added to Colmly's detachment in the new year. On Monday, February 10, Comly marched his four companies 28 miles (45 km) from Raleigh to the mouth of Bluestone River, through a snowstorm, driving a rebel infantry regiment and a small force of cavalry across the river. Inflicting a considerable loss on this force. The 23rd Ohio captured the rebels' camps, tents, and forage. Rosecrans commended the force in general orders, for its bravery and efficiency.^[4]

The 23rd Ohio would finally turn in their flint-lock smoothbores for new percussion rifles in the new year, but they realized they were away from the main the war effort. Instead, Hayes and his men continued to engage in occupation duties in western Virginia as part of the 1st Brigade of Brig. Gen. Cox's Kanawha Division.^{[note 4]} They hunted whenever game was plentiful, drilled, patrolled, and entertained themselves.^[29] The men read the newspapers sent from home or purchased locally to keep up with war news, and Hayes regularly posted telegrams with war information for all the regiment to read winning the admiration and loyalty of many including McKinley.^[32] For his part, the now 19-year-o;d McKinley had already been recognized for his ability and worked as a clerk for the Quartermaster and occasionaly filled in for the sick commissary sergeant. He performed capably and on Tuesday, April 15, was promoted to Commissary Sergeant when his predecessor was dischargeed for illness.^[33]

For the spring of 1862, Frémont had planned to gather his forces and cross over the mountains and unite with Banks' army in the Shenandoah Valley (and eventually with McDowell). Cox was originally going to his column when it approached Christiansburg. On April 17, 1862, a Thursday, the reunited regiment received orders to leave winter quarters and go into the field.^[19] The 23rd Ohio, on April 22, moved in the direction of Princeton, under command of Lt. Col. Hayes. Leading the federal advance, they reached Princeton Thursday, May 1. The Confederate forces began leaving the town on the Federals' approach and set fire to the town.^[19] From the next week, nothing but foraging and skirmishing occurred.

Despite an initial defeat of Jackson and his army at Kernstown, U.S. forces were routed by Jackson and his army when he attacked them in detail. After he defeated Frémont's subordinates, Milroy and Schenck, at McDowel, he pulled his forces back west over the mountains into West Virginia. Frémont telegraphed Cox that "his plans were suspended, and that I must look out for myself."^[34]

The enemy had made strong efforts to concentrate a sufficient force to protect the Virginia & Tennessee Railroad (V&TRR). As part of this effort, on Thursday morning, May 8, four rebel infantry regiments and six pieces of artillery, under Brig. Gen. Heth attacked the 23rd Ohio at Princeton. Only nine companies were present and three small companies of cavalry.^[19] Despite two of the cavalry companies retreating after first contact, the regiment held firm until overwhelmed and forced make an orderly, fighting retreat. The 23rd Ohio fell back to the northeast, being pursued by the enemy to the narrows of New River.^[19] The enemy's actions isolated the 23rd but in the night, Cox marched reinforcements to Princeton from East River and the rebels out in turn.^[34]

Cox gathered his two brigades at Princeton on nine days later, May 17, and offered battle in front of the town. Although the rebels took strong positions on the hills south the town, they did not attack but remained the victors of the field having inflicted casualties on the 23rd Ohio and the cavalry on May 8.^[34] Cox realized Princeton could easily be turned by roads on the west and decided to retreat northwest to Flat Top Mountain, a stronger position.^[35] On Sunday, May 18, after destroying tents, camp, and garrison equipage, the regiment left Princeton and returned to Flat Top Mountain,^[31] after having endured excessive hardships, defeat, and food shortages.^[19]

The regiment remained at Flat Top Mountain until Sunday, July 13, when it was ordered northeast to Green Meadows, 7 miles (11 km) from Pack's Ferry, on New River. A month later, Friday, August 15, Cox was ordered to march through the mountains by way of Staunton, and join Maj. Gen. Pope who commanded the newly created Army of Virginia, at Charlottesville.^{[note 5]} Having several detachments out pursuing guerrillas and scattered bands of Confederate troops operating in his rear near the Kentucky line, he would not be able to move for a few days. While concentrating his troops at Flat Top Mountain, Cox explained to Pope, by telegraph, that marching to Charlottesville meant fifteen days of uninterrupted mountain travel through a wilderness destitute of supplies with enemy guerrillas nipping at his heels, nevermind that there was the very serious question of whether Pope would be there on schedule as Cox approached that place.^[34] Cox suggested instead that he could reach Pope in ten days or less via steamboat and railroad. Pope, with Halleck's assent, gave permission to do that on the same day.^[38]

The 23rd Ohio was ordered to march, with all possible dispatch, to meet the rest of Cox's Division at Camp Platt, the head of navigation on the Kanawha, where the regiment arrived on Monday afternoon, and embarked on river transports, having marched 104 miles (167 km) in a little more than three days.^[19] Traveling down the Kanawha and then up the Ohio to Parkersburg, the 23rd Ohio boarded the last train moving Cox's division on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) to Washington, DC,^[31] arriving on Monday, August 25.^[39]

Other regiments had joined Pope to the south, but the 23rd Ohio remained with Cox just across the Potomac frrom the capital and was ordered into the fort on Upton's Hill to cover the front of Washington toward Centreville.^[38] During the Second Battle of Bull Run, the men could hear the sound of artillery from the direction of the battlefield.^[40] They soon saw army wagons, ambulances with the wounded, marching troops, and couriers pasing by them to and from the battle assesing the scene. Hayes later wrote that none of these troops the observed were superior to his own regiment.^[3]

Despite significant Confederates manpower losses over the spring and summer campaigns, Lee decided to invade Maryland and Pennsylvania, and cut off the B&O from Washington threatening the capital and Baltimore, to "annoy and harass the enemy."^[41] This invasion would relieve pressure on Virginia's agriculture, lower Northern morale and adversely influence the upcoming mid-term Congressional elections of 1862 approaching in November,^[42] incite an uprising in Maryland, and gain foreign recognition by a military victory on Northern soil.^[43]

After Pope's defeat, Lincoln reluctantly turned back to Maj. Gen. McClellan who repaired the Army of the Potomac (AoP) after the First Battle of Bull Run and could do it again. On September 2, Lincoln named McClellan to command "the fortifications of Washington, and all the troops for the defense of the capital."^[44] McClellan, a strong organizer and a skilled trainer of troops, took command of the AoP, bolstered by units absorbed from Pope's army, included six infantry corps, about 102,000 men.^[45] The 23rd Ohio arrived in Washington, and camped in Northern Virginia, across the Potomac at Upton Hill. ^[46] The regiment was brigaded along with other troops from the Kanawha in the 1st Brigade of the of Kanawha Division. Col. Scammon being the senior colonel took command of the 1st Brigade and the 39-year-old Hayes assumed command of the regiment.^{[note 6]} On Friday, September 5, the 23rd Ohio and its division were ordered to march to Leesboro (present-day Wheaton, MD ) to join the Hooker's I andBurnside's IX Corps.^{[note 7]} Leaving at daybreak Saturday, Cox and his men crossed the Potomac, marched through the city, and arrived late afternoon in Leesboro.^[46] Sometime on Sunday or Monday, the Kanawha Division was assigned to Burnside's IX Corps as its 4th Division.^[46]

McClellan's AoP left Washington starting on September 7 with his 87,000-man army in a slow pursuit.^[48] Naturally cautious, he assumed he would be facing over 120,000 Confederates, and as a result, argued with Washington that the forces defending the capital report to him.^[49] The Kanawha Division had joined an AoP with low morale after its defeats on the Peninsula and at Second Bull Run, but upon moving northwest into Maryland, the morale rose due to the "friendly, almost tumultuous welcome" that they received from the citizens of the state.^{[50][note 8]} McClellan had organized his army into three wings as he moved nothwest in pursuit of Lee. Burnside, as the Right Wing, now commanded Hooker's I and IX Corps, now commanded by Reno). The Center Wing, was under Maj. Gen. Edwin Vose Sumner, was his II Corps and Mansfield's XII Corps.^[52] The Left Wing, commanded by Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, consisted of his own VI Corps and Maj. Gen. Darius N. Couch's division of the IV Corps.^[53]

On Monday, September 8, the 23rd Ohio's division was ordered to take the advance and marched to Brookville, then Goshen, then Ridgeville, where it met the B&O, moving west arriving at Frederick, shortly after noon, Friday, September 12.^[46] Hayes later wrote in his diary that, in contrast to the rugged mountains of their former location, they marched through a "well-cultivated, beautiful region," with the heat and dust moderatedf by occasional rain.^[24]

Late in the afternoon of Friday, September 12, IX Corps neared Frederick. The 23rd Ohio and its division were leading the advance and made contact with the Confederate rear-guard of cavalry under Hampton at the Monocacy River 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Frederick and drove them back into the town. Cox deployed his division in line of battle once across the river on both sides of the National Pike. The 23rd Ohio, in Scammon's brigade on the south side of the macadamized road, advanced west with its division, driving Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill's forces west out of the city with slight loss on both sides.^[19]

The 23rd Ohio and other members of the Kanawha found that Frederick was a stronghold of unionists, and as Hampton's cavalry (Hill's rearguard) departed, "while the carbine smoke and the smell of powder still lingered,"^[54] the local citizens warmly received them giving the column fruits and refreshments. Hayes wrote to his wife of the joy of the residents at their arrival, and a loc al resident later wrote, "a regiment of Ohio volunteers makes its appearance and is hailed with most enthusiastic demonstrations of joy. Handkerchiefs are waved, flags are thrown from Union houses, and a new life appears infused into the people."^[24] Hayes and his men did not get to tarry in Frederick, as McClellan continued to push his people forward, and the 23rd Ohio encamped Friday night just beyond the western edge of the town.^[54]

About noon on Saturday, September 13, Cox was ordered to march 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest to Middletown, on the National Road leading to Hagerstown. {receded by a cavalry division, the Kanawha division marched over Catoctin Mountain into its valley reaching Middletown midafternoon and pushed through.^[55] Again, the men were warmly greeted by the locals.^[56] The IX Corps was now 4 miles (6.4 km) from Turner's and Fox's Gap. town Valley. Cox's men went camp on the western side of the village. ^[24]

Meanwhile, Lee learned during late Saturday afternoon, that McClellan was moving far faster than anticipated. The Confederates, with more than half of their army at Harpers Ferry, a two-day march of 15 miles (24 km), and with the remainder divided into two parts, 13 miles (21 km), from each other, were very vulnerable to defeat in detail.^[57] To remedy this, Lee told Hill to ensure the gaps in the mountains were held long enough for him to concentrate his forces at Sharpsburg.^[58]

On Sunday, arranged his three wings for the attacks on the passes at South Mountain. Burnside' Right Wing was tasked with Turner's Gap in the north. Franklin's Left Wing was assigned to Crampton's Gap in the south. McClellan kept Sumner's Center Wing in reserve.^[48]

Elements of Hill's division, primarily Garland's North Carolinians,^{[note 9]} reinforced by a regiment from Drayton's Brigade, Jones' Division, Longstreet's^[59] Right Wing, and the 5th Virginia Cavalry under Rosser were sent by Hill to defend Fox's Gap.^[60] As part of Hill's task of defending two northern gaps, as some of Lee's wagon train still had not gotten through,^{[note 10]} he was also told to watch roads toward Harpers Ferry (then under siege by Jackson) to intercept any relief effort from McClellan.^[57]

The National Road, as it went north-westward, passed through Turner's Gap, a depression in South Mountain's crest. The Old Sharpsburg Road left the turnpike a little west of Middletown to the left, and crossed the mountain at Fox's Gap, about 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Turner's. The mountain crests were 1,300 feet (400 m) above Middletown with the two gaps 200–300 feet (61–91 m) feet lower than the summits near them. These summits, scattered and somewhat irregular hills upon the high rounded surface of the mountaintop, were wooded, but along the open south-easterly slopes, quite near the top, there were small farms with meadows and cultivated fields. The Federals would have to climb up the mainly open mountainside in view of the enemy, crossing across stonewalls and fields before entering the woods at the crest to drive the rebels off allowing the AoP to surge through and strike Lee before he could concentrate his army. Reno would direct Cox to send one of the Kanawha Division's brigades to support a cavalry reconnaissance by Brig. Gen. Pleasonton's cavalry at Turner's Gap in the morning.^[19] Cox would send Scammon's 1st Brigade with the 23rd Ohio.^[61]

The 350 men in the 23rd Ohio were ordered to arms early on Sunday, September 14, and at 6:00 am were leading Scammon's 1500-man brigade west from Middletown.^[62] The first infantry regiment in the column, Hayes and his men marched west up National Road accompanied by Cox. After 1 mile (1.6 km), Cox was surprised to meet the 28th Ohio's Col. Augustus Moor who had been captured in a skirmish in Frederick on Friday. Paroled at daylight and heading for Frederick, when Moor heard they were bound for Turner's Gap, he blurted, "My God! Be careful," then, caught himself and said, "But I am paroled!" riding on lest he violate his parole.^[63] Cox galloped back up to Scammon and Hayes at the head of his column telling them he would follow him in close support with Crook's 2nd Brigade. As he rode back down along the column, warned each regimental commander to be prepared for anything, from a skirmish tot be a battle.^[62] After getting Crook on the road, Cox sent word to Reno that he might meet strong resistance on the mountain and should go forward with both brigades instead of just one. Meanwhile, the 23rd Ohio had met Brig. Gen. Pleasonton, the cavalry commander, whose scouts reported he rebels strongly posted in Turner's Gap. At 7:00 am, Pleasonton had Scammon turn left off the National Pike south onto the Old Sharpsburg Road, which crossed the mountain at Fox's Gap. When Cox returned, he was briefed by Pleasonton at the turn off for Old Sharpsburg Road.^[63] Pleasonton planned to let his cavalry demonstrate on the main road, supporting artillery that would fire on the rebels, while Scammon marched up the Sharpsburg road to flank the force on the summit. Telling him of his suspicions of the enemy, Cox also told him that he had Crook coming forward too, and if it became necessary to fight with the whole division, he would assume the responsibility as his senior officer for bringing on an engagement.^[63]

At 7:30 am, Crook's brigade filed off the turnpike onto Old Sharpsburg Road following Scammon's path. Cox's two brigades had fully 2 miles (3.2 km) up the steep road to go before reaching their jump-off point.^[61] On the way up, a courier returned from Reno with approval of Cox' action, and the assurance that the rest of IX Corps would come forward to support.

U.S. artillery, on a knoll in front of the turn off, began dueling with a rebel battery well up toward Turner's Gap. at 8:00 am. Hill instructed Garland to sweep through the woods, reach the Old Sharpsburg Road, and hold it all costs, as the safety of Lee's large train depended upon its being held.^[64] The 3,000 men of the Kanawha Division would advance on the 1,000 odd men of Garland's five regiment brigade. Garland's planned line would run from Old Sharpsburg Road up the hill, along a ridge road that ran along the crest of the mountain, up to the edge of the woods.^[65][66] Rosser's cavalry would be further up the hill on his right.^[65]

At about .5 miles (800 m) from the summit on the road to Fox's Gap, the rebel artillery had opened upon Scammon from the edge of the timber above the open fields, and Scammon had judiciously turned off upon an unfrequented road leading up the mountain just south of the main road,^[48] leading still farther to the left and nearly parallel to the ridge above. Here, Cox overtook him, his brigade being formed in line, under cover of the timber, facing open pasture fields, having a stone-wall along the upper side, with the forest again beyond this.^[61] Cox, instead of pushing directly into the gap, had Scammon advance further along the road to get around the rebels' southern flank. The 23rd Ohio was sent to advance for a flank attack on the rebel left by an unfrequented road leading up the mountain just south of the main road, followed the 12th and 30th Ohio. ^[48] Although the 23rd Ohio's column moving up the road to the left was screened by trees, Hayes deployed Capt James P. McGrath's Company A^[67] as skirmishers to his right front in the woods, but receiving word that the rebels were nearby, he also pushed Capt. Israel Canby's Company F out as left flank and Capt. Selleck B. Warren's Company I as right flank guards.^[29]

Meanwhile, Garland's brigade reached the mountain crest from the other side and moved south along the ridge road that intersected Old Sharpsburg Road at the crest at the Wise family's farm in Fox's Gap.^[68] Garland directed McRae's 5th North Carolina, to turn left short of the intersection with the mountain road and deploy in line of battle along the ridge road up the hill behind a fence overlooking a cornfield about 150 yards east of the ridge road to the right of Old Sharpsburg Road.^[65][29] The 12th North Carolina, as its support, and the 23rd North Carolina were posted along the ridge road behind a low stone-wall between Old Sharpsburg Road and the 5th. The 20th and 13th North Carolina were not in contact with the other three but further down the ridge road with 150 yards between them.^[66] Garland had also split Captain Bondurant's Jeff Davis (Alabama) Artillery of two 3-inch Ordnance Rifles and two 12 pounder Howitzers, placing one section on the ridge road between the 12th and 23rd North Carolina and the other across the Old Sharpsburg Road, also on the ridge road, between the 13th North Carolina and the main road.^[65][69]

As his men deployed, Garland sent scouts forward who soon spotted the 23rd Ohio's column moving behind the trees on his right front, outheast of the cornfield, and reported back.^[68] Realizing the 23rd Ohio was moving to higher ground from where they could turn his flank, Garland had McRae push forward 50 skirmishers of the 5th North Carolina who around 9:00 am made contact the 23rd Ohio's Company A who formed a line facing the cornfield.^[70] At the sound of contact, Garland ordered McRae to go over the fence into the cornfield and advance on the Federals.^[68] Meanwhile, Scammon had halted the 12th and 30th Ohio and was forming them into battle line facing the crest.^[61] Cox had returned, and Crook's brigade was behind him and soon began deploying for battle behind Scammon.^[71][65]

Through the trees and still atop his horse, Hayes was able to see the 5th North Carolina coming over the febce and toward him in the cornfield. He halted his column in the woods and formed it into line of battle facing the enemy. Once in position, he then ordered his men forward over the rough ground between them and the advancing rebels in the cornfield^[29] The 23rd Ohio advanced in line, initialy alone, with its skirmishers out front.^[72] Hayes' advance startled the inexperienced troops on the right of the 5th North Carolina's advancing line who quickly broke and forced McRae and the rest of the regiment to fall back to their original position behind the fence. Scammon saw the 23rd Ohio suddenly advancing out of the woods on his left and soon had White's 12th Ohio andEwing's 30th Ohio hustling forward in support.^[65]

Posted behind the fence and stone walls, the 5th North Carolina soon poured a destructive fire of musketry, grape, and canister into the regiment at close range.^[73] They were soon joined by the 23rd North Carolina on their left, which had advanced about forty yards from the ridge road in front of the Wise farm to counter White's, who had by then come up.^[29] The volume of fire soon stopped Hayes' advance in the cornfield 100 yards (91 m) from the Confederates. Hayes, who had dismounted for the passage through the corn, ordered a charge.^[29]

Very quickly, Hayes and several command elements were badly wounded (Hayes's arm broken), and over 100 dead and wounded lay on the mountain slope including his Serggeant Major.^[74] Struck in the left arm just above his elbow, Hayes refused to leave the field but tried to carry on. When the enemy, probably Rosser's dismounted cavalrymen,^[65] suddenly opened fire from the left, Hayes ordered Capt. James L. Drake's Company H, his left flank company, to refuse the line to counter the new threat, however to his dismay, his whole regiment began faling back to the woods leaving him lying in no-man's land.^[29] When the men realized they had left him, a party came back that attracted heavy fire such that Hayes told them to fall back. A second attempt was successful and brought him back behind the regiment now in the woods. After arguing with his staff, Hayes relented and departed to have his wound dressed, officialy passing command to Maj. Comly.^[75]

Colmly quickly refused the regiment's left to defend against the rebels there. While not breaking the rebel line, Scammon's brigade had battered it.^[29] Elements of Crook's brigade had extended Scammon's left and right flanks. Cox had Crook send Col. Ogden Street's 11th Ohio up the hill on Colmly's left, but they were repulsed. Lt. Col. Gottfried Becker's 28th Ohio entered the line to the right of the 30th Ohio. Scammon had the 11th, 12th, and 23rd make a coordinated charg up the hill. Garland's brigade managed one volley before the three regiments were on them and over the fence and walls,^[76] dislodging the enemy and driving them into the woods beyond leaving a large number of their men killed by bayonet.^[77] The 11th Ohio drove Rosser's cavalry and a battery from the left. The 23rd Ohio and the 12th sent the 5th, 12th, 23rd and 20th North Carolina reeling back.

Elements of Crook’s brigade had extended Scammon’s right flank as well; Ewing's 30th Ohio now had Lt. Col. Gottfried Becker's 28th Ohio and Crook's own 36th Ohio on their right.^[76] The left cleared and center completely broken, these two regiments pushed the Confederate left. Garland was between them and the Wise farm on the crest with the 13th North Carolina's commander, Lt. Col. Ruffin.^[78] Ruffin was soon wounded in the hip and Garland was mortally wounded soon after. Garland soon died and the Ruffin quickly found out the rest of the brigade was gone and the Cox’s division was just up the ridge road.^[72] Ruffin began a fighting retreat to a secondary position along the Old Sharpsburg Road and gathered the remnants of the brigade.^[79] The Kanawha Division still came on and in a bitter struggle once again drove the rebels beyond Sharpsburg Road and up the slope of the crest toward the Mountain House at Turner's Gap.^[80][65] The 5th North Carolina, cut off, retreated southwest down the mountain toward Rohrersville.^[72] The rebels’ left flank conducted a fighting retreat until the arrival of Anderson's brigade.

Although Garland's line had been broken, the rallying and fighting had been stubborn for more than an honr. Cox's men were now positioned diagonally across the mountaintop with the right exposed to a severe artillery fire.^[76] Thew men of the 23rd Ohio and their comrades learned from their prisoners that they were up against Hill's five-brgade division, and that Longstreet was said to be in near support. The 23rd Ohio's and the division's losses had not been trifling, and Cox deemed it wise to contract his lines, so that he could hold the crest until the rest of IX Corps arrived.^[76] To protect his right, he pulled the 30th and 36th Ohio back to the crest into the woods on the south side of the gap, where he could still command the Sharpsburg road, and making the 30th Ohio his right flank, with the 28th and 36th Ohio in second line. His right in the woods now looked north into Wise's fields.^[76]

By noon, the rebels had drawn out of range of the 23rd Ohio and its brethren and the battle was reduced an artillery duel. At 2:00 pm, IX Corps elements began arriving with Willcox's division reporting to Cox. Reno soon brought the remainder of the corps up and renewed the battle for Fox's Gap during the afternoon. During the remainder of the day the regiment fought with its division.^[19] Shortly after personally commending Scammon on his brigade's performance, Reno was mortally wounded and Cox moved up to command the corps. Scammon took over the Kanawha Divisiion, and Ewing took command of the brigade. The Kanawha had pushed the rebels back, the 23rd Ohio participating in three bayonet charges that day, and inflicted heavy losses but the men were exhausted.^[81] This pause allowed Confederate reinforcements under Hood to deploy in the gap around the Daniel Wise farm. Now the corps commander, Cox could not drive the defenders off the mountain.^[82] The 23rd Ohio and the Kanawha held their positions and repulsed Confederate attacks trying to close Fox's Gap. By nightfall, the Confederates were still on the mountain but had lost control of the gaps and therefore withdrew in the night giving the AoP claim to victory.

Within a week, the regiment fought at Antietam in the fields southeast of Sharpsburg, Maryland, before returning to duty in West Virginia. It was again heavily engaged in Philip Sheridan's 1864 Valley Campaign. The regiment mustered out in July 1865.

During March 1864, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant became commander of all Union armed forces.^[83] Grant's strategy in Virginia was to attack the Lee's Army of Northern Virginia with the AoP directly, while other U.S. forces would attack toward Richmond from the east and destroy the railroads supplying Lee's army from western Virginia. The Virginia & Tennessee Railroad (V&TRR) and the Virginia Central Railroad (VCRR) were prime targets.^[84] Each of those two railroads also had more mileage within Virginia than any other railroad.^[85] Attacking the railroads would cause Lee to send troops west to protect vital railroad infrastructure, resulting in fewer men available to protect the Confederate capitol in Richmond.^[84]

While Grant sent Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel south up the Shenandoah Valley to Staunton, Virginia against the VCRR,^{[86][note 11]} he ordered Brig. Gen. George Crook, who had replaced Cox as commander of the Kanawha Division, to attack the V&TRR, including its bridge over the New River. Crook would join Sigel at Staunton and advance to Lynchburg.^[89] Crook began making preparations in Charleston, West Virginia. By the end of April his troops were assembled further south in Fayetteville, and they began moving toward their destination on May 3.^[90]

The regiment lost 5 officers and 154 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 130 enlisted men by disease (total 290 out of 2230 who were members of the regiment at various times).

Attached to:^[91]

• Attached to Cox's Kanawha Brigade, WV, to September 1861
• Scammon's Brigade, District of the Kanawha, WV, to October 1861
• 3rd Brigade, Kanawha Division, to March 1862
• 1st Brigade, Kanawha Division, Department of the Mountains, to September 1862
• 1st Brigade, Kanawha Division, IX Corps, Army of the Potomac (AoP), to October 1862
• 1st Brigade, Kanawha Division, District of West Virginia, Department of the Ohio, to March 1863
• 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, VIII Corps, Middle Department, to June 1863
• 1st Brigade, Scammon's Division, Department of West Virginia (DoWV), to December 1863
• 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, DoWV, to April 1864
• 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry, Division West Virginia, to January 1865
• 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry, Division West Virginia, to April 1865
• 4th Provisional Division West Virginia to July 1865

The official list of battles in which the regiment bore a part:^[92][21][22]

The 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry's detailed service is as follows:^[31]

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 154 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 130 Enlisted men by disease. Total 290.

• James M. Comly - Diplomat and journalist
• Rutherford B. Hayes - 19th president of the United States
• Robert P. Kennedy - Congressman from Ohio
• Stanley Matthews - U. S. Senator and Supreme Court Justice
• William McKinley - 25th president of the United States
• Harrison Gray Otis - Journalist
• William S. Rosecrans - Later commander of the Army of the Cumberland
• Eliakim P. Scammon - Career U.S. Army officer

• Ohio in the Civil War

• Ohio in the Civil War: 23rd OVI by Larry Stevens
• National Park Service: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System
• Ohio in the Civil War User Based Archive and Network
• Battle Unit Details - 23rd Regiment, Ohio Infantry - National Park Service