OHIO TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY (Three Years)

Twenty-ninth Infantry Cols., Lewis P. Buckley, William T. Fitch; Lieut.-Cols., Thomas Clark, Edward Hayes, Jonas Schoonover; Majs., John S. Clemmer, Myron T. Wright, Everson J. Hurlbert. This regiment was organized from Aug. 14, 1861, to March 13, 1862, at Jefferson, to serve for three years. The regiment remained in camp until Jan. 17, 1862, when it was ordered to Cumberland, Md. It participated with the Army of the Potomac in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar mountain, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. In the spring of 1864 it joined the Atlanta campaign and participated in the battles of Dug gap, New Hope Church, Dallas, Pine knob, and Peachtree creek. Then it followed Sherman to the sea and up through the Carolinas, participating in the grand review, and was mustered out at Cleveland, July 13, 1865. Source: The Union Army, vol. 2 Gettysburg after battle report: Report of Capt. Wilbur F. Stevens, Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry. In the Rifle-pits, near Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863. Sir: In compliance with circular from headquarters First Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Corps, I have the honor to forward the following report of the part taken by this regiment (Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry) in the action of July 2 and 3, near Gettysburg, Pa.: On the morning of the 2d, at 5.30 a. m., we were ordered from our camp, in the wheat-field on the left of the road approaching Gettysburg, to the road, down which we moved with balance of the brigade to rear of the front of our line; from there we moved to the right of our line. Shortly after, about 8 a. m., we moved to the left in the hollow in rear of the intrenchments occupied by our troops, where we formed in close column of divisions, doubled on the center, as a support to those of our forces in the intrenchments to our front, and remained there during the day until about 7.30 p. m., when we moved with the rest of our brigade to the right and rear to near the road leading to the pike. We then formed line of battle, and threw out pickets to our front, remaining there until about 2 o'clock on the morning of July 3, when we with our brigade were ordered back to our position in rear of the intrenchments on the right of our line, as a support to Gen. Greene's brigade (Third Brigade, Second Division, Twelfth Corps), then in the intrenchments. The firing commenced about 3.45 o'clock on the morning of the 3d instant. We remained as a support to the troops in our front until about 5.45 o'clock, and about fifteen minutes before receiving the order to move forward to the intrenchments, I was struck in the neck with a spent ball, causing very severe pain and giddiness, from which cause I turned the command of the regiment over to Capt. E. Hayes, of this regiment, having received permission of Col. Charles Candy, commanding brigade, to go to the rear. I returned to the regiment (it being then in the intrenchments) about 12 m. of the 3d instant, but not feeling able to resume command, Capt. Hayes kept command until about 4.30 p. m. of the same day. Capt. Hayes' report while he was in command is herewith inclosed. I resumed command at 4.30 p. m. There was no heavy firing during the balance of the afternoon or evening until just as we were being relieved, when the enemy opened a heavy fire on our right, and moved forward with the intention of storming our position. My command immediately resumed their places in the intrenchments with the One hundred and thirty-seventh Regt. New York Volunteers, who had come forward to relieve us (time, 10 p. m.). We remained until the enemy were forced back, when I brought my command back to the rear in the hollow for rest and rations, as the men had had nothing to eat since the morning of July 2. We remained here until 1 a. m. on the morning of July 4, when we were again ordered forward to relieve the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, then in the intrenchments, where we remained until the morning of July 5. I would refer you to Capt. Hayes' report for instances of bravery and good conduct, as he had command during the hardest of the action. Both officers and men did their duty well. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WILBUR F. STEVENS, Capt., Comdg. Twenty-ninth Regt. Ohio Vol. Infantry. Lieut. A. H. W. Creigh, A. A. A. G., First Brig., Second Div., Twelfth Corps. Report of Capt. Edward Hayes, Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry. In the Rifle-pits, near Gettysburg, Pa., July 4, 1863. Sir: I have the honor to report the part taken by the Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry during the brief space of time it was under my command in the action at Gettysburg, on July 3. Capt. Stevens turned over the command to me at 5.30 a. m. Shortly after this time I received from Col. Candy, Through Capt. Gwynne, an order to move the regiment forward to the riflepits and relieve the One hundred and thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, Col. D. Ireland, then engaged. As I did not know the exact position our regiment was to occupy, I did not feel justified in taking the regiment into action without first looking at the ground. I therefore crossed the ridge in front of our position, saw Col. Ireland, and found and ascertained the position we were to occupy. Returned to my command, and, having briefly explained the work expected of us, gave the necessary orders. The regiment moved over the ridge at a run without firing a shot until fairly in the trenches, when it opened a heavy fire upon the enemy, under cover of which Col. Ireland was able to withdraw his regiment with but small loss. Shortly after entering the riflepits, Lieut. George Hayward received a ball in the neck, killing him instantly. The regiment entered the pits at 5.45 a. m., and was under a heavy fire for two hours and ten minutes, being relieved by the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under command of Capt. John Flynn, who came forward in their usual gallant style. Under cover of their fire, I withdrew my command, and, assisted by Adjt. James B. Storer, formed again in the hollow in rear of our line of battle. This interval of rest was employed by the men in cleaning arms, &c. At about 9.30 a. m. I received from Col. Charles Candy an order to get into line, ready, if necessary, to repel the enemy, who were pressing the troops near the meadow on the right of our position. They were, however, repelled at this point without our assistance. Shortly after this time, Capt. Horton, adjutant-general of the Third Brigade, came to me with a request that I would take my regiment forward and relieve the troops in the pits in front of us, as they were being hard pressed and were getting short of ammunition. Ordinarily I should not have felt justified in moving without an order from the commander of our own brigade, but the men in front were falling back by twos and threes, and there did not seem to be any time to lose. Besides, I had been informed by Lieut. Hitt, of Colonel Candy's staff, that we would soon be ordered forward. The regiment responded to the order in the most splendid manner, cheering as they charged; but, rapid as was the movement, it was not effected without severe loss. Lieut. John G. Marsh fell, mortally wounded, and just two-thirds of the loss sustained by the regiment in the whole action occurred while crossing the ridge at this time. The regiment went into action the second time at 9.55 a. m. The firing was heavy on both sides until about 11 a. m., when the enemy withdrew from our front, some 5 of their men showing a flag of truce and coming in as prisoners. Excepting an occasional shot from the enemy's sharpshooters, there was very little fighting from this time until 1 p. m., when the enemy again showed themselves in some force, and the fight was pretty general until nearly 3 p. m., when it again slackened. At 4.30 p. m. I turned the command over to Capt. Stevens. You request me to mention any instance of bravery and good conduct that came under my notice. It is hardly possible to do so where all were alike brave. I was frequently along the line during the action, and I know that every man did his duty. Every order was promptly obeyed, and I cannot close my report without mentioning Capt.'s Schoonover, Wright, Baldwin, and Lieut.'s Hulbert, Dice, Wilson, Woodbury, Storer, Russell, Grant, Crane, Fulkerson, and Nash. They all did well, and obeyed every order promptly that was given. Lieut. and Adjt. James B. Storer rendered me important assistance in maneuvering the regiment. In Lieut.'s Hayward and Marsh the regiment loses two valuable officers. Prompt, cool, brave, and efficient, their loss will long be regretted by the officers and men with whom they were associated. For an account of the other casualties in the regiment, I respectfully refer you to the accompanying official list.* I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWARD HAYES, Capt., Comdg. Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Lieut. A. H. W. Creigh, A. A. A. G., First Brig., Second. Div., Twelfth Corps.

Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 27. Part I. Reports. Serial No. 43

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