21st Ohio Infantry Marker

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Near Fort Oglethorpe in Catoosa County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

21st Ohio Infantry

By Dale K. Benington, June 6, 2009

1. 21st Ohio Infantry Marker

Inscription. [Front Inscription]

21st. Ohio
Infantry,
Sirwell's
Bridgade
Negley's
Division,
14th.Army
Corps.

[Back Plaque]

This regimental, Lt. Col. Dwella M. Stoughton commanding, engaged the enemy late Sept. 19th, 1863, east of Dyer's Field, remaining there till 10:30 A.M. Sept. 20th, then moved to this ridge. Being armed chiefly with Colt's revolving rifles, it maintained for a time, an extended line supported only by detachments of other regiments. About 2:30 P.M. it was relieved by Col. Van Derveer's troops to replenish ammunition. Returning to the line it occupied this place, maintaining it by hard fighting til after sundown when troops to the right were withdrawn without notice and being nearly surrounded, with ammunition exhausted, a part of the regiment was captured.

No. Engaged, Officers 22: Enlisted Men 539.
Loss, Killed 28: Wounded 84: Captured or Missing 131: Total 243.

Erected by State of Ohio.

Location. 34° 55.66′ N, 85° 16.281′ W. Marker is near Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Catoosa County. Marker can be reached from Glenn-Kelly Road. Click for map. This historical marker is located in the northwest section of the Chickamauga National Military Park, along a ridge called Snodgrass Hill. To view this historical marker drive to the parking area on Snodgrass Hill and proceed westward, along the southern crest of the ridge for a little more than 0.1 of a mile (about 650 feet). Marker is in this post office area: Fort Oglethorpe GA 30742, United States of America.

21st Ohio Infantry Memorial, Front Inscription Photo, Click for full size

By Dale K. Benington, June 6, 2009

2. 21st Ohio Infantry Memorial, Front Inscription

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. 22nd Michigan - Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Whitaker’s Brigade. (about 300 feet away, in a direct line); 84th Regiment (about 300 feet away); VanDerveer’s Brigade. (about 400 feet away); War Comes to the Brothertons (approx. 0.9 miles away); 74th Ohio Infantry (approx. 1 miles away); 21st Regiment (approx. 1 miles away); Field Headquarters 21st Army Corps (approx. 3.1 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Fort Oglethorpe.

Also see . . .
1. Battle of Chickamauga: 21st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Their Colt’s Revolving Rifles. This web link was both published and made available by the, "HistoryNet.com." The HistoryNet.com is in turn brought to you by the Weider History Group, the world’s largest publisher of history magazines. Their stated goal is to strive to make history interesting and educational for all of their readers. (Submitted on June 15, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
2. Infantry Units: 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This web link was both published and made available by Bowling Green State University's, "Center for Archival Collections." (Submitted on June 15, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)
3. History of the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This web link was both published and made available by the, "21st OVI, Co. E." The 21st OVI, Co. E is a non-profit living history organization dedicated to portraying a Western Theater Federal Infantry regiment of the American Civil War. (Submitted on June 15, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

21st Ohio Infantry Memorial, Back Plaque Photo, Click for full size

By Dale K. Benington, June 6, 2009

3. 21st Ohio Infantry Memorial, Back Plaque

Additional comments.
1. The 21st Ohio at Chickamauga, and Beyond
I acknowledge that coming from Northwestern Ohio may be an influencing factor in my adoration and pride in the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Perhaps too the fact that several of the members of the 21st volunteered to participate in Andrews Raid and became some of the first recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor has also heightened my interest in this local Civil War regiment.

However, I would like to believe that separate and apart from my bias for this regiment, their incredible accomplishments on Snodgrass Hill, during the Battle of Chickamauga entitle them to the well deserved recognition as being one of the Union Army's truly heroic and distinguished regiments. In fact, one could easily argue the case that had Chickamauga been a Union victory, rather than a Union defeat, then the effort and sacrifice made on Snodgrass Hill by the 21 st OVI would have resulted in their regiment being elevated in its post war status, to that of a 20th Maine (who performed a similar feat, only theirs was in a Union victory, rather than in a Union loss like Chickamauga)

— Submitted June 16, 2009, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.

By Dale K. Benington, June 6, 2009

4. 21st Ohio Infantry Marker

View of the 21st OVI historical marker,situated on the southern crest of Snodgrass Hill, facing the wooded slope that the advancing Confederates attacked from.