I am looking for anything related to this regiment and in particular when they were at the Battle of Monocacy. Photos, flags - anything!
I am "Googled out" finding very little.
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Report of Lieut. Col. Aaron W. Ebright, One
hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry.
HDQRS. 126TH REGT. OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
August 27, 1864.
LIEUT.: In obedience to instructions, I have respectfully to
submit the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the
present campaign from May 4, 1864, to July 9, 1864:
I.
On the 3d day of May, 1864, the regiment, numbering 23
commissioned officers and 555 enlisted men present for duty, then lying
winter quarters at Brandy Station, Va., was ordered to be in readiness
to move at daylight on the following morning. At the appointed time I
moved with the brigade in direction of the Rapidan River, which stream
we reached and crossed without opposition at 4 p.m., and encamped for
the night a short distance from the southern bank. During the afternoon
of the succeeding day we marched into the Wilderness, meeting the
enemy about dark on the extreme right of the line and engaging him
until after night-fall. My regiment being in the second line of battle,
suffered but a loss of 2 enlisted men wounded. We lay on our arms
during the entire night, often disturbed by volleys fired from the
skirmish line. The following morning I was ordered into the front line
of battle. At daylight skirmishing was
commenced and constantly kept up. At 9 a.m. we charged upon the
enemy's breast-works, the brigade in two lines of battle. Although we
failed to drive the enemy we were not repulsed, but stubbornly held all
the ground charged over until late in the evening and until after a line
of breast-works had been prepared for us by the rear line, to which we
fell back as soon as completed. In this charge myself and Actg. Adjt.
Thomas J. Hyatt had our horses killed under us. Although this was the
first engagement of the campaign, any failure to drive the enemy could
not be attributed to lack of courage of either officers or men, all with
a very few exceptions behaving with much gallantry.
The brigade was now no longer the extreme right of the line, Gen.
Shaler's brigade, of the First Division, Sixth Army Corps, having been
ordered to the right to protect the flank. In this position we rested until
just before night-fall, when our skirmish line was suddenly driven in and
our position outflanked on the right, thus subjecting my regiment to a
severe fire from both front and rear. We held our position, however,
until Gen. Shaler's brigade, forming the extreme right, had given
away, allowing the enemy to get in our rear, and thereby subjecting us
to danger of capture, when we fell back by company successively as the
enemy closed in upon us. By this time the enemy, as well as ourselves,
had been thrown into confusion, and darkness having set in, friend could
not be distinguished from foe. The enemy, who had captured a number
of prisoners, was driven back by our partially rallied lines, but was not
pursued. In this day's fighting my regiment lost 1 officer and 22 enlisted
men killed, 7 officers and 129 enlisted men wounded, and 3 officers and
67 enlisted men missing.
II.
Having rested on our arms during the night after the battle of the 6th of
May until after midnight, we moved silently by the left flank along the
line of breast-works to a point near the Wilderness Tavern. Soon after
daylight we were attacked, but the enemy were driven off by a battery
near us. In this position we remained until 8.30 p.m., when we marched
in direction of Spotsylvania Court-House. The march during the night
was extremely tedious and slow, the men often dropping to sleep in the
road. After a march rendered very severe by excessive heat and dust,
we found the enemy in the evening in a strong position, and made
preparations to storm his works. After having been formed, apparently
for that purpose, we lay quietly until after dark, then moved forward,
and approached as near the enemy's works as possible without bringing
on an immediate engagement. In this position we remained during the
night. Early on the following morning skirmishing commended, and was
continued during the day without intermission. Soon after daylight we
constructed a line of breast-works and lay behind them during the day,
nothing occurring in our front but continued and heavy skirmishing. In
the evening four companies of my regiment were detailed to support the
skirmish line in an advance upon the enemy. By straggling shots and this
heavy skirmish my regiment sustained a loss of 1 officer and 2 enlisted
men killed and 6 enlisted men wounded. During the succeeding day, the
10th, we lay behind our works, momentarily expecting an attack.
Desperate fighting occurred a few hundred yards from our right, the
enemy evidently attempting to break our lines at that point. On the 11th
one company
was sent out on the skirmish line. My regiment lay this day near its
former position, having moved but a short distance to the left. This
afternoon it rained very heavily, continuing nearly all night. On the
morning of the 12th of May artillery firing between the enemy's
batteries and our own was very severe. About 9 a.m. we marched to the
left, where heavy fighting was in progress. The division having been
formed in position about noon, my regiment was detached from the
division and sent to support Brig.-Gen. Wheaton's brigade, of the
Second Division, Sixth Army Corps. Here I marched over several lines
of battle to the front line and within about 100 yards of the enemy's
works, where we engaged him until 50 rounds of ammunition were
expended, and until every fourth man had been killed or wounded, then
retiring to the rear in good order. This I consider the most severe
engagement in which my regiment participated during the present
campaign. Early in this engagement I was struck by a musket-ball on the
head, which glancing inflicted no serious injury. I was, however,
knocked down and render unfit for duty during the remainder of the
day. My regiment in this day's battle lost 16 enlisted men killed and 1
officer and 53 enlisted men wounded. The entire regiment was not
engaged at this place, part having been left on the skirmish line in front
of our former position.
May 13, the enemy having been driven from his works by yesterday's
fighting, we were ordered on a reconnaissance, and soon found the
enemy in force. In the evening we moved back to a position near the
battle-ground of the 12th, and rested during the night under orders to
move with the corps at daylight. In the morning of the 14th we moved
in direction of the Richmond and Fredericksburg turnpike, crossing the
River Ny in line of battle in the evening and securing a position on the
heights south of that stream, where we intrenched during the night.
During the 15th and 16th our position was unchanged. About sunset on
the 17th we received an order to put ourselves in readiness to move at
once. At dark we moved out and marched very show, but continually,
during the night, arriving at a point near the battle-ground of the 12th
soon after daylight the following morning. Soon after getting in position
the enemy opened on us with shot and shell, killing and wounding
several in the brigade, but fortunately for my regiment, it suffered no
loss. Having lain under artillery fire some hours, we returned to
yesterday's position without an engagement. On the 19th we moved
forward as far as possible without bringing on an engagement and
intrenched, having advanced about 2 miles. But little skirmishing
occurred during the day.
May 20, skirmishing was very brisk. About noon on the 21st we moved
to the right and a few hundred yards to the rear into a new line of works
parallel to those we left just being completed. A short time before sunset
a sharp skirmish took place, in which the enemy drove our skirmish line
into the line of works we had recently abandoned. At 10 p.m. we left
the works and marched for Guiney's Station.
III.
The march from Spotsylvania Court-House to the North Anna River was
not attended with any fighting, the regiment with the brigade acting as
guard to the trains. In this capacity we moved with the trains until the
evening, of the 25th, when, leaving them, we
crossed the North Anna and took a position behind a line of
breast-works. On the morning of the 26th we crossed the works and
marched forward across the Central railroad, but immediately
countermarched to the works again. During the night it rained very
heavily. At dusk in the evening we recrossed the North Anna, marching
with much difficulty over roads rendered almost impassable with mud
and water, arriving at Chesterfield Station at about 12 midnight. At 6
o'clock on the following morning we took up the line of march in
direction of Pamunkey, halting within a few miles of the river, and
remained in position during the night. At 12 m. on the 28th we crossed
the Pamunkey on pontoons and threw up breast-works on high ground
2 miles from the southern bank. At 3 p.m. on Sunday, the 29th, we
were ordered under arms, to be in readiness to support Gen.
Russell's division in a reconnaissance; lay during the night in the works.
Moved at daylight on the 30th in a northwestern direction, striking the
Hanover Court-House and Richmond road at the 17-mile post, following
this road 1 1/2 miles. The regiment moved with the corps to the
Totopotomoy, and formed in line of battle on the north side of that
stream. Remained in position in sight of the enemy until 12 m. on the
31st, when we moved across the stream to the front. The brigade was
here formed in two lines of battle, my regiment in the front line. Two
of my companies were on the skirmish line. At one time during the
afternoon the enemy drove the skirmish line back upon the line of battle,
but advanced no farther. In this skirmish I had 1 man wounded. In the
evening the remaining eight companies of my regiment were detailed for
picket duty. Soon after dark 100 of my picket detail returned and rested
near the rear line of battle.
IV.
At 1 a.m. June 1, leaving the picket out, we commenced the march for
Cold Harbor. Having reached a point near the enemy, after a march
rendered doubly severe by heat and dust, at 10.30 a.m., we rested a
short time and commenced work on a line of breast-works. Before they
were completed, however (our pickets having arrived in the mean time
much exhausted and hungry), the brigade was moved to the left and
formed in four lines of battle, preparatory to charging the enemy's
works. My regiment in this charge was placed on the right of the rear
line. Gen. Smith's troops having arrived, and all preparations having
been completed, we advanced with a yell upon the enemy, driving him
in confusion form his works, and capturing many prisoners. Although
having been placed in the rear line immediately on crossing the enemy's
works, by some mistake I found myself in the front, which position I
held during the night. In this charge I had but 1 officer and 9 enlisted
men wounded, and 2 enlisted men missing.
June 2, having reconstructed the enemy's works for our own protection,
my regiment remained in them until evening, then moved to the rear. I
had 2 men wounded this day.
From the 3d to the 11th the regiment took its regular turn in going to
the front without any unusual occurrences. On the 6th I had 1 officer
killed, shot through the head by a rebel sharpshooter. About 2 a.m. on
the 11th I moved with the brigade to the rear, halting at daylight and
remaining in the rear during the day. At night fall we moved to that part
of the front line occupied by the Second Army Corps, relieving the
troops there. The brigade was
here formed in two lines of battle, my regiment in front. Our front line
in this place was between 50 and 75 yards from the enemy. In this
position we lay until 10 p. m. of the 12th, when, leaving 150 men of
my regiment in the works, we commenced the movement in direction of
the Charles City Court-House. During the march from Cold Harbor to
the James River no occurrence of an unusual nature took place. The
Sixth Corps was the last to reach the James River, being in rear of the
army.*
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. W. EBRIGHT,
Lieut. Col. 126th Ohio Volunteers.
Lieut. JOHN A. GUMP,
A. A. A. G., Second Brig., Third Div., Sixth Army Corps.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 747-67 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. XLVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 36. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 67.]
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Report of Lieut. Col. Aaron W. Ebright, One hundred
and twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, of operations June 12-July 6.
HDQRS.126TH REGT. OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
August 27, 1864.
LIEUT.:*
V.
On the 13th [June] we crossed the Chickahominy at a point near Jones'
Bridge. Our picket detail joined us to-day at noon.
On the morning of the 15th my regiment received 114 drafted men and
substitutes. With this accession to my strength I moved with the corps
on the 16th to a point near the river and assisted in constructing a strong
line of works facing to the rear and with each flank resting on the banks
of the river. In the evening we moved to the river, and, embarking on
steam transports, reached Bermuda Hundred at 11 p.m. At this place the
corps lay in or near the works until Sunday, the 19th, when, having
been relieved by the Eighteenth Army Corps, we moved across the
Appomattox in direction of Petersburg.
At 10 p.m. on the 21st, having reached the extreme left of the line in
front of Petersburg, after marching a short distance in line of battle, we
took position, the men constructing slight defenses without the aid of
intrenching tools.
On the 22d we completed a strong line of works, but at 10 a.m. moved
out of them to the front, the brigade in two lines of battle, my regiment
in the front line. Having built breast-works of rails, we lay behind them
until evening, when we about faced and moved back to our original
works. Considerable skirmishing had occurred in our front during the
afternoon. This day I had one man accidentally and mortally wounded
while lying in the rail breast-works. In the evening we moved forward
again in two lines, and, charging through the woods with a yell,
captured a line of works from the enemy, from which he fled, offering
but little resistance. During the night and succeeding day we held a
position in the woods [having built new works] until evening, when we
retired to our original works on the line first formed. In this position our
line remained unchanged till noon of the 29th, when the corps marched
to the left to operate on the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad. Having
destroyed a considerable portion of the railroad, in which my regiment
took no part, we returned again to original works without meeting the
enemy in battle, arriving July 2.*
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. W. EBRIGHT,
Lieut.-Col. 126th Ohio Volunteers, Cmdg. Regt.
Lieut. JOHN A. GUMP,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen.,2d Brig.,3d Div., 6th Army Corps.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 511-80 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. LII.
[Series I. Vol. 40. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 80.]
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Reports of Capt. George W. Hoge, One hundred and twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry,
of operations September 19-22 and October 19.
HDQRS. 126TH OHIO VOLUNTEERS,
In the Field, September 26, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with direction of this date from the headquarters of
the brigade, I have respectfully to report the operations of my command at
the late engagements at the Opequon and Fisher's Hill, as follows, to wit:
The regiment entered into the battle of the 19th instant forming the
extreme left of the first line of battle of the brigade. It advanced with
the line over the open fields, charging upon that part of the enemy's line
in the ravine, a few rods east of -------'s house, driving it in much
confusion and taking many prisoners. The advance was continued to a
point a few rods beyond the house (the left of the regiment passing just
to the right of it), where the line halted; after which it continued in the
line and participated in the final and victorious advance in the evening.
Lieut. Col. A. W. Ebright, in the early part of the action soon
after the rebel line was broken, fell, killed by a musket-ball piercing his
breast while gallantly leading his regiment; also Capt. Thomas J.
Hyatt, ever conspicuous for his valor on the field, and Lieut. Rufus
Ricksecker, bravely leading his company in his first battle, were killed
near where the colonel fell. The strength of the regiment engaged was
11 officers and about 270 enlisted men (30 of whom were skirmishers).
The loss, 3 officers and 9 enlisted men killed, and 3 officers and 37
men wounded, and 2 men missing.
On the 21st instant, in the vicinity of Fisher's Hill, in the movement of
the corps toward the right, under an order from the colonel commanding
the brigade, I moved the regiment rapidly forward to aid our skirmishers
to drive back those of the enemy who were strongly posted behind rail
defenses. On advancing through a wood the right of the line was
suddenly met by a galling fire from the front and right, when a portion
of the men (many of them inexperienced soldiers) commenced firing,
upon which the line halted. The right of the line, resting on open
ground, being much exposed and suffering terribly without the ability
to inflict much loss on the enemy, temporarily gave way, but was easily
rallied a short distance to the rear, and soon after, other troops coming
up and extending the line to the right, we again advanced and the enemy
was driven from his position. The loss in this affair was 4 enlisted men
killed and 17 wounded.
On the 22d instant the regiment formed the extreme left of the line of
battle of the brigade in the advance of the division to the position it
occupied near the enemy's works at the time his left was turned. Soon
after the attack by Gen. Cook's command was begun, that portion of
the enemy in our front having commenced moving to the relief of that
part of his forces engaged, to prevent the object I took forward a part
of the regiment, by order of the colonel commanding the brigade, and
made feint of charging his works. This feint had the desired effect, for
the rebels were soon seen hurriedly returning, some into their works,
but more rushing panic-stricken to the rear. Soon after the regiment
moved forward in the grand charge made by the division and did its part
in winning the glorious victory of that day. The loss was 1 officer
slightly wounded and 2 enlisted men killed and 8 wounded.
In these actions the officers and men behaved well, and the drafted men
(some fifty of whom had joined the regiment as late as the 2d instant)
vied with the old soldiers in deeds of valor, and deserve great credit for
the manner in which they acquitted themselves.
The command of the regiment devolved upon me on the death of Col. Ebright.
Accompanying this report, as directed, I forward a nominal list* of the
casualties occurring in the foregoing engagement. The loss of so many
brave men is deeply to be regretted.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. HOGE,
Capt., 126th Ohio Volunteers, Cmdg. Regt.
Lieut. JOHN A. GUMP,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Brig., Third Div., Sixth Corps.
HDQRS. 126TH OHIO VOLUNTEERS,
November 3, 1864.
CAPT.: In obedience to instructions received from headquarters of
the brigade, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
taken by this regiment in the engagement of October 19 at this place:
At about daylight, the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps having been attacked
by the enemy, the regiment, less two commissioned officers and 100
men then on picket duty, was ordered under arms at once, and after
some maneuvering in changing and recharging the line was ordered to
advance. Under this order we crossed the creek near our present camp,
and having advanced but a few yards beyond it, were ordered to fall
back to the crest we had previously occupied. In this crossing and
recrossing the stream, the regiment was thrown into considerable
confusion, and order could not be restored until after passing the crest
in our rear. Here the regiment engaged the advancing columns of the
enemy, whose progress was sensibly checked at this point until the
gradual falling back of our line to the point where a permanent stand
was made by the corps. From this place the regiment moved with the
brigade and division to the left and into the woods, resting about an
hour, then moved in line of battle to the rear a short distance, then to
the left, and again to the front. Having advanced in line a short distance,
a line was established and strengthened by logs, rails, &c., behind
which we lay until about 3.30 o'clock, when the line was ordered to
advance upon the enemy. In this advance the regiment formed the
extreme right of the brigade and was increased by the officers and about
twenty men of the picket guard. After considerable resistance, the
enemy suddenly and unaccountably gave way and retreated precipitately
and in confusion over the ground they had gained by our temporary
reverse, and were followed by our line in as quick time as possible to
the works occupied by the Eighth Corps in the morning. It being now
dark, we returned to the position we occupied at the commencement of
the battle, and having collected the dead and wounded, friend and foe,
in our vicinity, went quietly into camp.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. HOGE,
Capt., 126th Ohio Volunteers, Cmdg. Regt.
Capt. J. J. BRADSHAW,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. 2d Brig., 3d Div., 6th A. C.
Statement of casualties in the regiment in the engagement of October 19, 1864:
Killed--enlisted men, 4. Wounded--officers, 1; enlisted men, 14.
Missing--enlisted men, 4. Aggregate, 23.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. LV.] THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY CAMPAIGN. PAGE 263-90
[Series I. Vol. 43. Part I, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 90.]
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Report of Lieut. Col. Thomas W. McKinnie,
One hundred and twenty-sixth Ohio Infantry, of operations March 25.
HDQRS. 126TH OHIO VOLUNTEERS,
April 17, 1865.
CAPT.: I have respectfully to forward the following report of the
part taken by my command in the assault of the enemy's picket-line on
the 25th ultimo:
At daylight on the morning of the 25th ultimo the regiment was placed
under arms in the trenches and remained thus until 12 m. The regiment,
except two officers and 100 men left to garrison Fort Welch, was
ordered through the works and passed to the reserve picket-line post,
where it halted. About 1 p.m. orders were received to move out to the
picket-line and take position on the left of the Sixth Maryland
Volunteers, which was to precede this regiment in gaining this position.
This was accomplished by moving by the flank to within 100 yards of
the picket-line, coming to a front, and moving directly forward under
a vigorous fire from the enemy's picket-line. After remaining in this
position about half an hour, the assault, upon the signal being given,
was made with great promptness. The regiment leaped over our
intrenched picket-line and rushed upon the rebel line under a heavy line
of musketry, capturing almost all of the enemy's pickets in our front.
Our loss in this engagement was one enlisted man killed by one of our
own shells and four enlisted men wounded. The behavior of the officers
and men on this occasion could not have been better.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. W. McKINNIE,
Lieut.-Col., Cmdg.
Capt. WILLIAM L. SHAW,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 314-95 N. AND SE. VA., N. C., W. VA., MD., AND PA. [CHAP. LVIII.
[Series I. Vol. 46. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 95.]
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