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

125th Ohio Infantry

Harker's Brigade

— Wood's Division —

125th Ohio Infantry Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

1. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

View of the front side of the historical monument.

Inscription. [Frontside Text written on Stone]:

125th O.V.I.
Col. Emerson Opdycke, Comdg.
Harker's Brig., Wood's Div.
21st Army Corps.
[Backside Text written on Plaque]:

Sept. 19th, 1863, from 4:30 P.M. to 5:30 P.M. this regiment was severely engaged about 600 yds. north of Viniard's, and about 200 yds. East of the road, capturing one officer and nine men.

Sept. 20th, about 11:30 A.M. formed for battle about 100 yds. South of this ridge, and advanced to the North end of Dyer's Field where it met and engaged the enemy and resisted his further advance from 12:00 M. to 1:00 P.M. when it was forced to retire. It reached this position about 1:30 P.M. and occupied it until about 7:00 P.M. when it was ordered to Rossville. From 1:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. it assisted in repelling all assaults on this part of the line.

Went into action with 16 Officers; 298 Men; Aggregate 314. Loss: Killed 17; Wounded 83; Missing 5; Aggregate 105.

Erected 1894 by the State of Ohio. (Marker Number MT-1037.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 20, 1863.

Location. 34° 55.78′ N, 85° 16.02′ W. Marker is near Fort

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Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Walker County. Marker can be reached from Vittetoe Road west of Vittetoe-Chickamauga Road when traveling west. 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 in front of the Snodgrass House and the marker can be seen situated in the field just to the northeast of the Snodgrass House. According to the location information provided by the National Park Service the, “Monument located within the Chickamauga Battlefield on Snodgrass Hill, map site #146”. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Oglethorpe GA 30742, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 9th Indiana Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 65th Ohio Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 41st Ohio Infantry (a few steps from this marker); 86th Indiana Infantry (a few steps from this marker); Hazen's Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); Dick's Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); 44th Indiana Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); 64th Ohio Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Oglethorpe.

More about this marker. According to the description information provided by the National Park

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

2. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

View of plaque attached to the front side of the historical monument that shows an artist's rendering of the regiment in battle.

Service, the monument is, “12' high monument on 7'6" x 5'6" base. Stepped base supports pedestal with bronze tablet of battle scene; shaft contains bronze portrait medallion of Col. Opdycke; with sculpted stone tiger at top. Located on Snodgrass Hill.”

The National Park Service also identifies A. O’Connor as being the sculptor of this monument and the E. F. Carr Company of Quincy, Massachusetts as being the Architect.

I used the "Chickamauga Battlefield" map, that I purchased at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Visitor Center, to determine both the monument number for this marker and the marker's location in relation to the rest of the park's monuments, markers, and tablets. According to the map it provides the, "numerical listing of all monuments, markers, and tablets on the Chickamauga Battlefield (using the Chick-Chatt NMP Monument Numbering System).”

Regarding 125th Ohio Infantry. With regards to the sculpting of a "Tiger" at the top of this historical monument, it was at the Battle of Chickamauga that the 125th Ohio Infantry came to be called "The Opdycke Tigers." An account on the "125th Reg't O.V.I." web site shares the following information: "The following day, they were withdrawn from the line, along with the rest of Wood's Division, as per instructions of the disputed

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

3. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

View of the back side of the historical monument.

order to have him support Reynold's Division. It was this withdrawal that left the gap in the line which allowed Longstreet to pour through. Harker's Brigade was halted north of Dyer's field and as the Confederate attack swept across the field, the Springfields of the 125th spoke for the first time that day. The fight was furious but the line held long enough for the routed Union forces to regroup along Horseshoe Ridge and Snodgrass Hill. It was during the fight that Lt. Charles T. Clark, of Co. H, yelled to Col. Opdycke, 'They might kill us but they will never beat us!'. It was for their stand at Dyer's field that the regiment was dubbed 'The Opdycke Tigers' by Gen. Wood."

It should be noted that this monument displays a bronze bas-relief artwork, that depicts the combat action that this regiment saw from this position.

When discussing Battlefield Monuments, the National Park Service offers this special insight: "Of special interest are bronze bas-relief plaques attached to many monuments. These depict battle scenes based on veterans' eyewitness accounts. Because there are no photographs of the fighting, these plaques are among the best visual records of the battles."

Also see . . .
1. 125th Ohio Infantry Opdycke Tigers. This is a link to information regarding the Civil War in Ohio, that was compiled

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

4. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

View of the art work depicting the Great Seal of the State of Ohio which is located on the backside of the historical monument.

by Larry Stevens. (Submitted on December 15, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. 125th Ohio Infantry. This is a link to information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Submitted on December 15, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

5. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

A close-up view of the text, located on the plaque, on the back of the historical monument.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

6. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

7. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

View of the historical monument, looking southwest, in the direction of the distant Snodgrass House.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, July 18, 2012

8. 125th Ohio Infantry Marker

View of the historical monument, looking northeast, along the line of Union regimental monuments and historical tablets.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 14, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 689 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 14, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on December 15, 2012, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.