The Campaigns of the 124th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with Roster and Roll of Honor

In Short

This volume is a regimental history of the 124th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, recording its organization, campaigns, and final muster during the American Civil War. Written by an officer of the regiment, the text weaves personal recollections of major engagements across Tennessee and Georgia with official military reports and complete company rosters. The book endures as a direct testimony to the sacrifices of midwestern Union volunteers, preserving the specific dates, locations, and personal fates of the soldiers who served under its colors.

The Story

The narrative follows the campaign trajectory of the 124th Ohio Volunteer Infantry from its muster and initial movements in 1862 through the conclusion of the war in 1865. The regiment marches south from Ohio into the desolate terrain of Tennessee, encountering harsh weather, difficult roads, and logistics troubles. Assigned to General Hazen’s brigade, the men move through Murfreesborough and Readyville, struggling across flooded creeks and muddy mountain passes as they pursue Confederate forces.

Their first major baptism of fire occurs at the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863, where the regiment encounters the chaos of warfare in thick timber. Following this severe trial, the unit finds itself trapped in the desperate siege of Chattanooga, facing severe supply shortages over dangerous mountain wagon routes while guarding against enemy assault. Their fortune changes at Missionary Ridge, where the 124th joins the Audacious assault up the mountain, capturing artillery pieces and routing the Confederate lines atop the summit.

The narrative then shifts to the grueling East Tennessee campaign, marked by continuous marching through extreme mud, winter exposure, and the devastating impact of partisan warfare on local populations. The regiment continues south into the Atlanta Campaign of 1864, enduring relentless skirmishing and heavy casualties at engagements such as Pickett's Mills and New Hope Church. The author vividly describes the dark, harrowing recovery of fallen comrades from burning pine forests under enemy skirmish fire.

The campaign culminates in the grand flank movements around Atlanta, leading to the capture of the city after months of constant maneuver and combat. As the army turns north to confront General Hood, the regiment takes part in the bloody Battle of Franklin, where Company B is left behind to guard a river ford in tense isolation until dawn. The chronicle closes with the regiment's final movements to Nashville and its eventual muster out in mid-1865, accompanied by detailed rosters recording the promotions, injuries, and deaths of every soldier who served.

How It Unfolds

The march to Tennessee begins The regiment moves out from Ohio, joining Hazen's brigade and navigating desolate, muddy terrain in Tennessee while pursuing General Bragg's army.

Baptism at Chickamauga The men face their first major combat in dense woods, experiencing the confusion and heavy casualties of a large-scale battle.

Siege and victory at Chattanooga Trapped with dwindling rations, the regiment endures severe supply hardship before participating in the triumphant assault up Missionary Ridge to capture enemy artillery.

Hardships in East Tennessee The unit marches through deep winter mud around Knoxville, observing the tragic destruction of local homes caused by partisan warfare.

The bloody Atlanta Campaign Constant fighting brings heavy losses at New Hope Church and Pickett's Mills, where survivors retrieve dead comrades from dark battlefields under night fire.

The final stand at Franklin During the retreat toward Nashville, a single company remains isolated at a river crossing to guard against incoming Confederate cavalry until morning light.

The People

Captain G. W. Lewis Serving as an officer commanding Company B before being promoted to Major, he seeks to preserve an accurate historical record of his men's sacrifices. He leads his troops through extreme weather, logistical collapses, and perilous rearguard actions, ultimately surviving the war to write this history.

Lieutenant Charles M. Steadman A dedicated officer who starts as a Second Lieutenant in Company B, he faces the daily dangers of field command alongside his comrades. His service ends tragically when he is killed in action during the brutal battle at Pickett's Mills, Georgia.

Sergeant Orson Vanderhoef A dependable soldier in Company B recognized for his physical strength and resolve under fire. He volunteers to step onto a burning, dark battlefield at night to help recover the body of his fallen lieutenant while enemy forces advance.

Colonel Payne The commanding officer who finds himself isolated with the remnants of his regiment after intense combat, having lost his major to death and his lieutenant colonel to severe wounds. He relies on key companies to hold critical positions despite total exhaustion.

In Its Own Voice

"Fisher Ames said, 'nobody sees a battle,' and it is literally true."

This reflection underscores the confusion and limited sightlines experienced by infantrymen fighting inside dense southern woods.

"The M. D., with a glance at the new and dazzling uniform of the chaplain, sang out, 'Look a yer stranger, do you think it's any time for conundrums when I'm stuck fast in the mud and the rebels not a quarter of a mile in the rear?'"

A stranded supply driver responds with harsh realism to a chaplain attempting to preach while wagons are mired under enemy threat.

"The old dead pine trees standing on the ridge had taken fire from the bursting shells and cast a weird and gloomy light over the battlefield."

This moment captures the grim atmosphere as soldiers search the darkness for fallen comrades among wounded men calling out for help.

What It's Really About

The core focus of the text rests on the shared endurance and burden of the common volunteer soldier. Rather than dwelling on broad strategic overview, the chronicle highlights the reality of army life: navigating endless mud, surviving supply line failures, and watching friends fall in dense, confusing woods. It addresses the emotional cost of duty, illustrating how ordinary men from Ohio maintained discipline and humor despite constant danger and loss. The book stands as an effort to ensure that individual names, promotions, and supreme sacrifices are not forgotten by future generations.

Why Read It Today

Readers drawn to primary Civil War accounts will value this work for its unvarnished, direct perspective on regimental life. The narrative conveys the exact texture of campaign existence—the physical exhaustion of long marches, the dark humor shared among weary men, and the stark reality of post-battle recovery. Its writing remains grounded and plainspoken, avoiding theatrical romanticism in favor of clear detail.

The book does present challenges typical of late nineteenth-century military histories. The inclusion of extensive roster tables, official reports, and specific military designations may slow down readers looking for continuous prose. Additionally, the author's casual references to local destruction and period military slang reflect the rough, partisan context of the era. Nevertheless, the vivid descriptions of night retrieval under fire and tense morning rearguards leave a lasting impression of the harsh conditions borne by Union infantrymen in the Western Theater.