About the 8th Ohio
The Confederate attack on the Federal controlled Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12th 1861 signalled the beginning of the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln, in response to the attack, would call for 75,000 volunteers to serve a 3 month military service to put down the southern rebellion. Hundreds from northeastern Ohio quickly responded. The 8th Regiment was organized in Cleveland and by June, were moved to Camp Dennison to train and for guard duty. On June 22nd it mustered, but had not left the Buckeye State.
As the war continued on and the 3 month enlistments started to expire, many of the men who enlisted for the 3 month service, reenlisted for a 3 year service. On March 1, 1862, the 8th Ohio moved to Winchester, Virginia, located in the Shenandoah Valley. For the next two and half years, while brigaded with the 4th Ohio, the 14th Indiana and the 7th West Virginia Infantry, the brigade would serve in the Army of the Potomac and would earn the name the "Gibraltar Brigade". Whilst in the Shenandoah Valley, the 8th Ohio saw its first real battle in Winchester, where it attacked and defeated a portion of Stonewall Jackson's forces, but suffered almost 25% casualties.
In September of 1862, the 8th Ohio would march northward during the Maryland Campaign in pursuit of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Meeting near Sharpsburg in Maryland, the two armies would meet at the hardest fight that the 8th would encounter during the war at Antietam Creek. In early December, after being replenished by new recruits, the 8th Ohio would see combat in the Battle of Fredericksburg, initially assigned as skirmishers. Taking shelter in a nearby cluster of buildings in the town of Fredericksburg, the 8th witnessed the bloody and futile attacks on Marye's Heights. The 8th would withdraw from the houses under heavy enemy fire after hours of firing, leading to the 8th ammuniton being exhausted. After Fredericksburg, the 8th Ohio encamped in Falmouth, Virginia, until April of 1863. The 8th would become part of the reserves during the Chancellorsville Campaign.
On June 3rd, 1863, as elements of Lee's army began heading away from Fredericksburg towards the Shenandoah Valley, the Union army began to pursue Lee into Maryland and South-Central Pennsylvania. The 8th arrived near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1st and took up defensive positions along Cemetery Ridge. As Confederate attacks aimed for the south of the Union line, the 8th quickly moved near Emmitsburg Road, where it would engage in a series of attacks and counterattacks on July 2nd, whilse the rest of the brigade was sent to Cemetery Hill. The 8th held their position in the fields west of Emmitsburg Road. The 8th Ohio would face over 12,000 Confederates as they marched towards the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Despite facing a force several times its number, the 8th Ohio held its advance position and was able to flank parts of a Virginia brigade. With aid from artillery fire, the 8th routed much of Brockenbrough's force, which was the first brigade to break and flee during Lee's tenure in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. The 8th would then shift and fire onto the flank of other Confederate regiments. As the 8th reentered the Union lines, they were given a salute of arms and cheers by other regiments. After resting, the 8th would join the Army of the Potomac in pursuing the retreating Confederates into Virginia.
The 8th Ohio would not see significant fighting until the Overland Campaign. On may 8th, 1864, the regiment halted a Confederate assault on Union lines in the Wilderness, followed by another attack, which the 8th held its ground against despite serious losses. After fighting at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, the 8th marched southward as Ulysses S. Grant continually sidestepped Lee and relentlessly moved towards Richmond and Petersburg. As the 8th Ohio only had three weeks left in their 3 year term of enlistment, on June 1st the regiment was sent to the attacks at the Battle of Cold Harbor, where it would again suffer considerable casualties before withdrawing. The regiment was then placed in reserve until its enlistment expired. On June 24th, 1864, the 8th Ohio withdrew from Petersburg and was sent back to Ohio, while some men stayed in service and were transferred to Company A of the 4th Ohio Infantry.
After the celebrations, the regiment officially mustered out of service on July 13th, 1864, with only 168 men left within its ranks. During its time, the 8th Ohio lost 8 Officers and 124 enlisted men, who had been killed in battle or by mortal wounds, and 1 officer and 72 enlisted men by disease. In all, the 8th Ohio lost 205 men.
As the war continued on and the 3 month enlistments started to expire, many of the men who enlisted for the 3 month service, reenlisted for a 3 year service. On March 1, 1862, the 8th Ohio moved to Winchester, Virginia, located in the Shenandoah Valley. For the next two and half years, while brigaded with the 4th Ohio, the 14th Indiana and the 7th West Virginia Infantry, the brigade would serve in the Army of the Potomac and would earn the name the "Gibraltar Brigade". Whilst in the Shenandoah Valley, the 8th Ohio saw its first real battle in Winchester, where it attacked and defeated a portion of Stonewall Jackson's forces, but suffered almost 25% casualties.
In September of 1862, the 8th Ohio would march northward during the Maryland Campaign in pursuit of Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Meeting near Sharpsburg in Maryland, the two armies would meet at the hardest fight that the 8th would encounter during the war at Antietam Creek. In early December, after being replenished by new recruits, the 8th Ohio would see combat in the Battle of Fredericksburg, initially assigned as skirmishers. Taking shelter in a nearby cluster of buildings in the town of Fredericksburg, the 8th witnessed the bloody and futile attacks on Marye's Heights. The 8th would withdraw from the houses under heavy enemy fire after hours of firing, leading to the 8th ammuniton being exhausted. After Fredericksburg, the 8th Ohio encamped in Falmouth, Virginia, until April of 1863. The 8th would become part of the reserves during the Chancellorsville Campaign.
On June 3rd, 1863, as elements of Lee's army began heading away from Fredericksburg towards the Shenandoah Valley, the Union army began to pursue Lee into Maryland and South-Central Pennsylvania. The 8th arrived near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on July 1st and took up defensive positions along Cemetery Ridge. As Confederate attacks aimed for the south of the Union line, the 8th quickly moved near Emmitsburg Road, where it would engage in a series of attacks and counterattacks on July 2nd, whilse the rest of the brigade was sent to Cemetery Hill. The 8th held their position in the fields west of Emmitsburg Road. The 8th Ohio would face over 12,000 Confederates as they marched towards the Union line on Cemetery Ridge. Despite facing a force several times its number, the 8th Ohio held its advance position and was able to flank parts of a Virginia brigade. With aid from artillery fire, the 8th routed much of Brockenbrough's force, which was the first brigade to break and flee during Lee's tenure in command of the Army of Northern Virginia. The 8th would then shift and fire onto the flank of other Confederate regiments. As the 8th reentered the Union lines, they were given a salute of arms and cheers by other regiments. After resting, the 8th would join the Army of the Potomac in pursuing the retreating Confederates into Virginia.
The 8th Ohio would not see significant fighting until the Overland Campaign. On may 8th, 1864, the regiment halted a Confederate assault on Union lines in the Wilderness, followed by another attack, which the 8th held its ground against despite serious losses. After fighting at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, the 8th marched southward as Ulysses S. Grant continually sidestepped Lee and relentlessly moved towards Richmond and Petersburg. As the 8th Ohio only had three weeks left in their 3 year term of enlistment, on June 1st the regiment was sent to the attacks at the Battle of Cold Harbor, where it would again suffer considerable casualties before withdrawing. The regiment was then placed in reserve until its enlistment expired. On June 24th, 1864, the 8th Ohio withdrew from Petersburg and was sent back to Ohio, while some men stayed in service and were transferred to Company A of the 4th Ohio Infantry.
After the celebrations, the regiment officially mustered out of service on July 13th, 1864, with only 168 men left within its ranks. During its time, the 8th Ohio lost 8 Officers and 124 enlisted men, who had been killed in battle or by mortal wounds, and 1 officer and 72 enlisted men by disease. In all, the 8th Ohio lost 205 men.
Ranks and Structure
Private: Privates server as the backbone of the army, and are the primary fighting force. Fighting shoulder to shoulder together in lines, Privates follow orders given to them by their officers. Privates rarely work independently, working more commonly with their group as to use numbers against the enemy.
Corporal: Corporals may serve as the color guard or in the individual companies of the regiment. Corporals who are not color guards are placed in the lines during battle, helping to maintain a uniform line whilst the company is moving. Privates will look to Corporals to guide them during combat.
Sergeant: Like Corporals, Sergeants may serve as the regimental color guard or as individuals in the company. Sergeants roles could be divided among administrative roles, such as First Sergeant and Quartermaster Sergeant. An Infantry Sergeant advances either in or behind the line of battle, depending on the individuals responsibilities. Sergeants help to maintain and guide troop movements and keep men in their positions, by example and force of command, forming the work horse of the company. Sergeants of different platoons are given titles such as "Second Sergeant" or "Third Sergeant". This is to allow for placement of different Sergeants in the line during battle.
First Sergeant: Being a Senior NCO, the First Sergeant takes on a lot of paperwork. The First Sergeant is in charge of the other NCO's as well as handing out fatigue duties and punishments. During parade or before battle, the First Sergeant takes roll call and ensures that the company is properly lined up before handing it over to an officer. During Drill or battle, the First Sergeant serves as the Right Guide with the Second Sergeant as the Left Guide.
Second Lieutenant: The Second Lieutenant was in charge of a section. Second Lieutenants would help the Captain in troop movements by guiding them ,and assist with firing.
First Lieutenant: First Lieutenants held the same role as Second Lieutenants, helping the Captain in running the company.
Captain: The highest ranking Officer in the Company. In addition to his administrative duties, an Infantry Captain led his Company into battle by giving the proper commands for the movement and fighting of his troops, in concert with the other companies in the regiment.
Corporal: Corporals may serve as the color guard or in the individual companies of the regiment. Corporals who are not color guards are placed in the lines during battle, helping to maintain a uniform line whilst the company is moving. Privates will look to Corporals to guide them during combat.
Sergeant: Like Corporals, Sergeants may serve as the regimental color guard or as individuals in the company. Sergeants roles could be divided among administrative roles, such as First Sergeant and Quartermaster Sergeant. An Infantry Sergeant advances either in or behind the line of battle, depending on the individuals responsibilities. Sergeants help to maintain and guide troop movements and keep men in their positions, by example and force of command, forming the work horse of the company. Sergeants of different platoons are given titles such as "Second Sergeant" or "Third Sergeant". This is to allow for placement of different Sergeants in the line during battle.
First Sergeant: Being a Senior NCO, the First Sergeant takes on a lot of paperwork. The First Sergeant is in charge of the other NCO's as well as handing out fatigue duties and punishments. During parade or before battle, the First Sergeant takes roll call and ensures that the company is properly lined up before handing it over to an officer. During Drill or battle, the First Sergeant serves as the Right Guide with the Second Sergeant as the Left Guide.
Second Lieutenant: The Second Lieutenant was in charge of a section. Second Lieutenants would help the Captain in troop movements by guiding them ,and assist with firing.
First Lieutenant: First Lieutenants held the same role as Second Lieutenants, helping the Captain in running the company.
Captain: The highest ranking Officer in the Company. In addition to his administrative duties, an Infantry Captain led his Company into battle by giving the proper commands for the movement and fighting of his troops, in concert with the other companies in the regiment.
Organization
While the 8th Ohio Company B focuses on the Structure of a Company, it is important to know and understand the organization of the army.
Company:
Led by a Captain, Consists of around 100 men
2 Platoons, led by a Lieutenant, with 2 sections in each platoon
4 Sections, led by a Sergeant with 2 Squads in each. The Sergeant commands 10 Privates and 2 Corporals
8 Squads, led by a Corporal. Corporal commands 5 men
Battalion/Regiment:
Contains around 10 Companies, with about 1000 men and is commanded by a Colonel. If only 4 to 8 Companies are present then it becomes a Battalion rather than a Regiment.
Brigade:
A Brigade held on average 4 Regiments. A Brigade held around 4000 men and is typically commanded by a Brigadier General.
Division:
A Division holds around 3 to 5 Brigades, with around 12000 men and is commanded by a Major General.
Corps:
A Corp holds 2 to 4 Divisions and is commanded by a Major General, with the number of men varying.
Army:
Comprised of 1 to 8 Corps, an army is commanded by a General.
Company:
Led by a Captain, Consists of around 100 men
2 Platoons, led by a Lieutenant, with 2 sections in each platoon
4 Sections, led by a Sergeant with 2 Squads in each. The Sergeant commands 10 Privates and 2 Corporals
8 Squads, led by a Corporal. Corporal commands 5 men
Battalion/Regiment:
Contains around 10 Companies, with about 1000 men and is commanded by a Colonel. If only 4 to 8 Companies are present then it becomes a Battalion rather than a Regiment.
Brigade:
A Brigade held on average 4 Regiments. A Brigade held around 4000 men and is typically commanded by a Brigadier General.
Division:
A Division holds around 3 to 5 Brigades, with around 12000 men and is commanded by a Major General.
Corps:
A Corp holds 2 to 4 Divisions and is commanded by a Major General, with the number of men varying.
Army:
Comprised of 1 to 8 Corps, an army is commanded by a General.