TWELFTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
Under the call for seventy-five thousand three-months, troops the Twelfth Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Jackson, Ohio, on the 3d of May, 1861. It moved to Camp Dennison May 6th, and there re-enlisted, was reorganized and mustered into the service for three years on the 28th of June, 1861.

The Twelfth left Camp Dennison for the Kanawha Valley July 6th; arrived at Point Pleasant on the 9th, and on the 14th reached Pocotaligo River. On the 17th of July the regiment fought the battle of Scary Creek, the enemy being strongly posted beyond the ravine. The regiment fought three hours; and after exhausting its ammunition fell back in good order to its camp at the mouth of the Pocotaligo, with a loss of five killed, thirty wounded, and four missing. The regiment entered Charleston, West Virginia, on the 25th, and reached Gauley Bridge on the 29th, where it captured a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Eight companies marched down the Kanawha to Camp Piatt August 13, and from there moved to Clarksburg, West Virginia, and were assigned to General Benham's brigade. Marching south through Weston, Sutton and Summerville, they arrived at Carnifex Ferry September 10th, and engaged in the battle at that place with a loss of two killed and ten wounded. Two days after this they were engaged in a slight skirmish on the Gauley with guerrillas; then marched to Camp Lookout, and from there, on October 10th, moved to Hawk's Nest on New River. In the meantime the two companies left at Gauley Bridge surprised and routed two hundred Rebel cavalry under Jenkins, on the 25th of August. They were engaged in several skirmishes and reconnoissances, and finally joined the other eight companies at Hawk's Nest on the 16th of October. On the 1st of November the Twelfth marched to the mouth of Loop Creek and attempted to flank Floyd, who was threatening Gauley. It soon after engaged in the pursuit of Floyd's forces, and having followed him until near Raleigh, C. H., gave up the chase and returned to Loop Creek. The regiment was transferred to General Cox's brigade December 10th, and moved to Charleston and went into winter-quarters.

On the 3d of May, 1862, the regiment left Charleston and joined Seammon's brigade at the mouth of East River. It skirmished at the narrows of New River, and fell back to Princeton, then to Blue Stone River, and then to summit of Flat Top Mountain and fortified. from the 20th of May until the 14th of August the regiment scouted the country in every direction, made some heavy marches in the mountains and captured many "bushwhackers." It was ordered to the Army of the Potomac August 15th, and arrived at Alexandria on the 24th.

It met the enemy at Bull Run Bridge August 27th; was severely engaged for six hours against a greatly superior force, and was compelled to fall back to Fairfax Station with a loss of nine killed, sixty-eight wounded (six mortally) and twelve missing. The regiment returned to Alexandria, rejoined Cox's brigade and marched to Upton Hill. On the 7th of September it advanced into Maryland, and after a sharp skirmish at Monocacy Bridge on the 12th entered Frederick City. On the 14th of September it engaged in the battle of South Mountain, participating in three bayonet charges and capturing three battle flags, a large number of small

arms, and over two hundred prisoners, with a loss of sixteen killed, ninety-one wounded, and eight missing. On the 17th the regiment was engaged at Antietam and lost six killed and twenty-nine wounded. After the battle it marched for West Virginia, via Hagerstown and Hancock, Maryland; but, on arriving at Hancock, it moved into Pennsylvania to operate against Stuart's cavalry. Stuart having retreated, the Twelfth returned to Hancock, and arrived at Clarksburg, Western Virginia, October 16th. The regiment marched from Clarksburg October 25th, in Crook's division, through Weston, Sutton, and Summerville, endeavoring to gain the rear of the Rebel forces in the Kanawha Valley, and arrived at Gauley Bridge November 14th, the Rebels having retreated before the division arrived.

On the 4th of December the regiment marched to Fayette C. H., West Virginia, and went into winter-quarters. Here it was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Eighth Army Corps. The brigade under Colonel White repulsed the enemy's attack on Fayette C.H., May 19th, 1863, the regiment losing two killed, nine wounded, and eight missing. It pursued the retreating rebels to Raleigh C.H., and returned to Fayette C. H. On July 13th the Twelfth marched against the enemy at Piney Creek, but the Rebels retreated and the regiment returned to Fayette C.H. On the 17th the brigade was ordered to Ohio to assist in capturing John Morgan, and after proceeding up the Ohio as far as Blennerhassett's Island and guarding fords for several days, it returned to C. H. During the months of August and September the regiment was employed in constructing fortifications. On the 4th of November it marched against Lewisburg, but the enemy fled and it again returned to Fayette C.H. On the 9th of December it made another move on Lewisburg as a diversion for General Averill. Bushwackers were very troublesome on the march, and regiment lost two killed, two slightly, and two mortally wounded, and two missing. The Twelfth went into winter-quarters at Fayette C.H., and was engaged in holding outposts and in watching the enemy.

On the 3d of May, 1864, the regiment left Fayette C.H., marched to Cloyd's Mountain and there engaged the enemy on the 9th. The fight lasted over an hour, and the regiment lost eleven killed and sixty-eight wounded, in addition to these Surgeon Graham and nineteen men, left on the field in charge of the wounded, fell into the enemy's hands. The Twelfth pursued the fleeing Rebels to New River Bridge, where a heavy artillery fight ensued, in which the enemy was driven back. The regiment crossed New River at Pepper's Ferry, destroyed a number of bridges and a large amount of property belonging to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. The Twelfth marched northward, and on the 19th reached Blue Sulphur Springs where it remained until the 31st, when it moved on Staunton. Arriving at Staunton June 8th, it joined the forces under Hunter, marched southward, flanked Lexington, and on the 12th assisted in destroying large quantities of ammunition and in burning the Virginia Military Institute. On the 16th it destroyed the railroad between Liberty and Lynchburg and burned several large bridges. The next day it moved on Lynchburg, and met the enemy in force at Quaker Church, three miles from the City. The Twelfth and Ninety-First Ohio regiments charged the enemy in fine style and drove them back in disorder. The regiment captured a number of prisoners, and lost eight killed and eleven wounded. The next day the regiment was engaged before the enemy's works but withdrew after dark, and on the 19th marched to Liberty. It moved along the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad to Salem, and from there proceeded northward, via Catawba Valley, New Castle, Sweet Springs, While Sulphur, Lewisburg and Gauley to Camp Piatt, on the Kanawha, where it arrived June 29th. On this march both men and horses suffered considerably from hunger and thirst.

The regiment was ordered to Columbus, Ohio, July 2d, and was mustered out of the service at that city on the 11th of July, 1864.

During its term of service the regiment moved on foot, by rail and by water, a distance of four thousand and forty-nine miles, and sustained a loss in killed, wounded and missing, of four hundred and fifty-five men.