Seventeenth Infantry. - (Three Years' Service.) Cols.,
John M. Connell, Durbin Ward; Lieut.-Cols., Marshall F. Moore,
Benjamin Showers; Majs., Benjamin F. Butterfield, James W.
Stinchcomb, Willis G. Clark. This regiment was organized at
Camp Dennison, in Sept., 1861, to serve three years. It first
participated in the Wild Cat fight in Kentucky and lost 7 men
wounded. It participated in the siege of Corinth and was
engaged in several severe skirmishes, in one of which Co. B
with 70 men, penetrated the Confederate lines, drove the pick-
ets back on their reserves, and held the position for 2 hours,
losing 2 men severely and 4 slightly wounded. The regiment
went into the battle line on the Stone's river field and with
its brigade charged the Confederate Gen. Hanson's brigade,
driving it in confusion, killing its general and some 150 of
the rank and file. The loss of the 17th was 20 wounded. It
moved with its brigade in the Tullahoma campaign, and at Hoo-
ver's gap charged the 17th Tenn. Confederate regiment, strongly
posted in a belt of woods, driving it back and occupying the
position. At the battle of Chickamauga the regiment was on the
extreme right of the center and when Gen. Wood's division was
double-quicked out of the line, the gap left exposed the right
flank of the regiment, the Confederates opened fire both on the
right flank and in front, causing it to lose heavily and scat-
tering the men in confusion. Co. B, the only one of the regi-
ment that retreated in a body, gave three cheers, sounded the
rally for the regiment, gathered some 200 men together and
charged on the enemy, but to little purpose, as the Confeder-
ates greatly outnumbered them. Falling back again, they held a
given point and fought throughout that memorable day, leaving
the field with but 52 men. The loss of the 17th in this battle
in killed and wounded was over 200, not counting those with
slight flesh wounds. Lieut.-Col. Ward fell about the middle of
the afternoon, on the front line, badly wounded. At Missionary
ridge, though in the rear line at the start, the regiment was
in the front when the top of the hill was gained. It took only
a subordinate part in the heavy skirmishing at Rocky Face
ridge, but bore its full share in the battle of Resaca. At
Kennesaw mountain the regiment suffered less than it had in
previous actions of less importance, but the heat was so in-
tense that many men were carried off prostrated by sun-stroke.
At the battle of Peachtree creek the regiment was actively en-
gaged, and it advanced under a galling fire of musketry and
artillery to the assault on Jonesboro. The regiment followed
Sherman through the Carolinas, took part in the battle of
Bentonville, passed in review before the president at Wash-
ington, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 16, 1865.
Source: The Union Army, vol. 2
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Report of Capt. Benjamin H. Showers, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 30, 1863.
SIR: On the 25th day of November, 1863, about 4 p. m., Maj.
Butterfield, of my regiment, fell badly wounded at the foot of
Missionary Ridge. I, being the ranking officer present, immediately
assumed command, formed the regiment in double column at half
distance, and charged up the ridge. I continued the charge to within
about 75 yards of the rebel breastworks in my immediate front. The
rebel lines gave way, keeping under cover so that I could not deliver a
fire that would be effective. I crossed the breastworks in battle line in
good order and moved about 200 yards farther to the front, and then
made a left half wheel, halted, and engaged the enemy about 150 yards
to my front, trying to get away with two guns. My regiment killed the
horses hauling the guns. The enemy made a stubborn resistance for
about fifteen minutes, trying to save his guns, when he fled in
confusion, leaving several of his dead and wounded with two pieces
behind. About dusk, finding that I had become separated from my
brigade, and being in advance of the general line some 200 yards, I
moved back to crest of the ridge, ascertained where the brigade was,
and joined it, and reported to brigade commander for orders, when I
received orders to move down to the front on the level, make fires and
get supper, which being done, returned by order to the west side of the
ridge on the level, and bivouacked for the night. Received orders to
move at 7 a. m. on the 26th, and then moved to the front about 4 miles,
when I received an order to send one company on a scout. I sent
Company C, Capt. Inskeep, who was gone about two hours, when he
returned, having taken 16 prisoners. I then moved with my regiment
with the brigade to Ringgold, in Georgia, and returned to this camp on
the evening of the 29th instant, without anything of note occurring, my
command being very tired and worn down.
My officers and men obeyed all orders promptly and behaved bravely.
Respectfully submitted.
B. H. SHOWERS,
Capt., Comdg. Seventeenth Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry.
Capt. CURTIS,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. XLIII.] THE CHATTANOOGA-RINGGOLD CAMPAIGN. PAGE 520-55
[Series I. Vol. 31. Part II, Reports. Serial No. 55.]
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Reports of Col. Durbin Ward, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH REGT. OHIO VET. VOL. INFTY.,
Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 1864.
SIR: In obedience to your verbal order to me of the 15th instant,
I have the honor to report the military operations of my command
since it left Ringgold, Ga., up to the 6th instant.
On the 7th day of May last I was ordered to move, and did move,
from camp into the active campaign, in which we are still engaged,
leaving behind me, under orders, most of the regimental baggage.
On that day we reached the neighborhood of Tunnel Town, and on the
next moved in front of Buzzard Roost, where it was found the enemy
was strongly posted. Skirmishing continued all day actively and
for several days afterward. On the 12th we moved off to the right,
passing through Snake Gap and gaining the rear of Dalton. On
the 13th we groped slowly and cautiously, mostly through dense
woods, the skirmishing still continuing all day and most of the night.
During the morning of the 14th we skirmished our way to the front
of the enemy's breast-works on Camp Creek, in the neighborhood of
Resaca, on the Dalton and Atlanta Railroad. At about 1 o'clock on
this day an assault was made on the enemy's works along much of
the line. I was ordered by Gen. Turchin, then in command of
the brigade, to allow Hascall's brigade, in Judah's division, of the
Twenty-third Corps, already formed in two lines of battle in our
rear, to move over us to the assault, and I was ordered to take command
of my own and the Twenty-fourth Illinois Regiment, and
sustain the charge as though supporting our own division. Hascall
had one deployed line and one in column. My line was deployed
and the Twenty-fourth Illinois was in column to my rear. It
was from half to three-quarters of a mile to the enemy's works.
We had to move through dense woods and underbrush and up quite
a steep hill till we reached the brow of the hill skirting Camp Creek.
We had heavy skirmish lines thrown out, and as we advanced the
enemy's skirmishers were driven into their works. Judah's division
moved impetuously to the charge, and we had to follow at rapid
pace. Our advance was assailed by artillery fire, which, however,
did us little harm until we reached the brow of the hill. By the
time the men reached that they were exhausted by fatigue. The
brush was almost impassable. On starting up the hill I had been
ordered to close my line into column. I perceived on reaching the
top that Judah's division did not halt under cover of the hill to rest
the men and organize the attack, but were pressing over into the open
ground near the creek, and right under the guns of the enemy. Understanding
my orders required me to follow, I moved on at supporting
distance, having first deployed my front line. On emerging
into the open field I found we were under a murderous fire of artillery
and infantry at from 300 to 400 yards distance. Judah's lines
were giving way to the left, and most of them retiring from the
attack. Putting my men into double-quick we moved to the
creek, were we were sheltered to some extent by a fringe of underbrush
and trees, as well as the depression of the ground. Here I
perceived that we were almost entirely unsupported, for we had
become, by the retirement of Judah, the front. Some of his men
had taken refuge in the low ground on my left; and some of our own
brigade were in on my right. I found it impossible to advance, and
retained my position in the ravine for an hour and ten minutes. I
sent back to advise the brigade commander of my position, but
the woods were so dense that for a long time he could not be found.
In the mean time, through an aide, Gen. Judah had sent word
he meant to renew the assault. At last Gen. Turchin was found,
and he ordered me to withdraw into the woods behind the crest of
the hill. This we did as cautiously as possible and in tolerably good
order. Our position had been within about 200 yards of the enemy's
works, but it was impossible to advance farther unless sustained by
a whole line of attack. My regiment lost in killed and wounded 32,
as will be hereafter stated in detail. Though afterward, under
straggling fire, we were not again seriously involved during the
engagement. On the 16th, the enemy having abandoned his works
and crossed the Oostenaula, we joined in the pursuit, marching by
the way of Calhoun and Adairsville to Kingston, where we arrived
May 19, but passing through we took position several miles to the
left, near Cartersville, where we remained till the 23d. The enemy
disputed our advance all the way.
On the morning of the 23d our march was renewed, and we crossed
Etowah River and continued to advance toward Burnt Hickory till
the 26th, when we were, with the rest of the brigade, sent back to
Kingston to guard a wagon train. We continued upon this duty till
the 7th of June, when we reached Acworth and were relieved. On
the morning of the 10th we joined the march to the front and advanced
toward Marietta. We continued to advance as the enemy
was pushed back by our column, my regiment being only in occasional
skirmishing, until the 18th, in the neighborhood of Kenesaw
Mountain. On that day, under a drenching rain, we groped through
the woods and advanced, in connection with the rest of the line, upon
the enemy's works. Having reached the edge of a field some 300 or
400 yards distant, we halted, poured a deadly fire upon the enemy,
compelling the infantry to keep behind their breast-works and
almost silencing the artillery, while we, under the point-blank range
of their guns, dug rifle-pits in the open field. The fight lasted all
day, but my regiment lost only 11 men in killed and wounded; but
so effectual was the assault of our army that during the night the
enemy abandoned his works and moved nearer the mountain. Our
lines followed, and from this time till the evacuation of Kenesaw,
though constantly involved in heavy skirmishing, there is no need
to detail the monotonous operations of my regiment.
On the 3d of July the enemy evacuated Kenesaw and fell back to
the Chattahoochee, to which place our army immediately followed.
Heavy skirmishing, but no regular combat, took place; one corps
after another crossed the river, my regiment crossing with its brigade
on the 17th of July. We skirmished slowly and steadily toward
Atlanta, being always under fire, but not involved (except slightly
on the 20th) in any of the heavy engagements around the city. The
most notable of our combats occurred on the 5th of August, when
we were ordered to support the skirmish line while we threw forward
our intrenchments nearer the enemy's works. We were subjected
to the heaviest shelling we have endured during the campaign,
though, fortunately, our caution in throwing up the works saved us
very heavy loss. This report is, perhaps, already too much in detail.
I refer with great pride to the general bravery, coolness, good conduct,
and skill of my officers and men. Though one of the most
laborious, as well as brilliant, campaigns of the war, they have for
more than 100 days dared and endured all the dangers and hardships,
glories, and privations of the sternest war, with disciplined obedience,
and, at the same time, enthusiastic courage. To all, officers
and men, I gratefully acknowledge the devotion and kindness shown
me personally, painfully suffering as I have been from my old
wound. Deeply as I regret the fall of my comrades in arms to the
humblest, I cannot refrain from making special mention of First
Lieut. Lyman W. Barnes. He was a brave soldier who had risen
from the ranks. In the dark hour of Chickamauga I saw him in
the thickest of the fight till I fell, and after that he stood by the
colors till the last moment. He was a brave and efficient officer, and
he died as a gallant soldier dies.
DURBIN WARD,
Col., Cmdg.
Capt. W. B. CURTIS,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 3d Div., 14th Army Corps.
Appendix.--The effective force of the regiment when it left Ringgold
was 544; it is now 413; loss, 131. Of these 66 have been killed
or wounded in action, and 65 have left the ranks from death, sickness,
details, and other causes.*
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH REGT. OHIO VET. VOL. INFTY.,
Atlanta, Ga., September 9, 1864.
SIR: In obedience to verbal orders from brigade headquarters of
yesterday, I have the honor to report the operations of my command
since my report of the 6th of August last.
On the 8th of August last I was ordered to the left of the position
I then occupied into some field-works which had been previously
constructed. We were in very close proximity to the enemy, and
my adjutant was shot dead in my tent. On the 11th we were moved
still farther to the right than we had yet been, and there remained
within 150 yards of the enemy's line until the 27th day of August.
On that day my regiment moved in common with the corps to the
right, taking part in the general movement upon Jonesborough.
We continued to move, as ordered, cautiously to the right till the
31st of August, when we attained close proximity to the enemy.
On that day my regiment supported the Ninety-second Ohio, and
skirmishing forward in advance of the general line, the two regiments
moved across the headwaters of Flint River and took possession
of the Atlanta and Jonesborough road before noon, near Seaborn
Smith's house. Subsequently the rest of the division came up.
We executed this movement with little opposition. In the afternoon
Capt. Grosvenor, assistant inspector-general of the brigade, asked
me for a detail of 100 men and 3 officers to make a scout toward the
Atlanta and Macon Railroad. This detail was furnished, Capt.'s
Noles and Inskeep accompanying it, and Adjt. Angustus Ward as
a mere volunteer. This daring party pushed three miles beyond
the general line, and during the afternoon driving off a small body
of cavalry, were the first to seize and hold the railroad till re-enforcements
could be sent. On the next morning, September 1
instant, my regiment moved with the rest of the corps upon Jonesborough,
and were in reserve supporting Este's brigade in the
brilliant charge of that day. We were advanced to within a little
over 200 yards of the enemy's works, but they being carried in our
immediate front by the impetuous charge of Este, we did not become
actively engaged. We were constantly under fire from musketry
and artillery, but being somewhat sheltered by the ground, we had
no casualties except that First Lieut. Edward M. Champlin and 1
private were wounded. As I have ever had to report, my men bore
themselves gallantly, and without claiming credit for anything
brilliant, I can proudly say they did, as they always do, their duty.
I cannot omit the honorable mention of the lamented Adjt. J. M.
Ruffner, who met his untimely fate on the 9th of August. He was
the soul of true manhood and amongst the "bravest of the brave."
To all my subordinates in command I am under many obligations
for efficient aid in the arduous campaign through which we have
just passed.*
Respectfully submitted.
DURBIN WARD,
Col., Cmdg.
Capt. W. B. CURTIS,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 3d, Div., 14th Army Corps.
__________
* Nominal list of casualties accompanying this report shows 1 officer and 1 man
killed and 9 men wounded.
Source: Official Records
PAGE 774-72 THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. [CHAP. L.
[Series I. Vol. 38. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 72.]
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Report of Lieut. Col. Benjamin H. Showers, Seventeenth Ohio Infantry,
of operations January 20-March 23.
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH REGT. OHIO VET. VOL. INFANTRY,
Goldsborough, N. C., March 28, 1865.
In obedience to your order I have the honor to submit the following
report of the operations of my regiment in the campaign that has just
closed:
The regiment had present when leaving Savannah, Ga., January 20, 501
enlisted men and 16 commissioned officers, and had when reaching this
place on the 23d instant 491 enlisted men and 15 commissioned
officers.
Gained and lost during the campaign as follows: Gained-1 recruit from
depot; 4 colored under-cooks; 3 enlisted men returned to duty; 1
commissioned officer returned to duty. Lost-2 enlisted men died of
disease; 1 enslisted man killed accidentally; 1 enlisted man killed while
foraging; 2 enslisted men captured while foraging; 1 enlisted man
mustered out of service; 1 commissioned officer resigned; 11 enlisted
men sent to hospital sick; 1 commissioned officers sent to hospital
wounded.
The regiment has been under the enemy's fire but once during the
campaign, which was on the 20th instant in a reconnaissance of the
enemy's position made by Brevet Maj.-Gen. Baird, in which Maj.
W. G. Clark was severely wounded in the left hip as rifle-ball from one
of the enemy's sharpshooters.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
B. H. SHOWERS,
Lieut. Col., Cmdg. Seventeenth Ohio Vet. Vol. Infantry.
Col. M. C. HUNTER,
Cmdg. First Brig., Third Div., Fourteenth Army Corps.
Source: Official Records
CHAP. LIX.] THE CAMPAIGN OF THE CAROLINAS. PAGE 558-98
[Series I. Vol. 47. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 98.]
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