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

17th Ohio Infantry

Connell's Brigade

— Brannan's Division —

17th Ohio Infantry Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 7, 2014

1. 17th Ohio Infantry Marker

Inscription. Text from the front side of the Monument:

17th Ohio Infantry,
Lieutenant Colonel Durbin Ward Commanding.
Connell's Brigade, Brannan's Division.
14th Army Corps.
Text from the back side of the Monument:

September 19th, 1863, from about 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. the Regiment was engaged on the right of Van Derveer's Brigade, about one mile east of the Lafayette road, and a few hundred yards south of the Reed's bridge road.

September 20th, was in the first line of battle in this position until 12:00 noon when General Wood's Division vacated the line on its right, then being assailed in front and on the its right flank, was driven beyond the range of hills west of here and became separated from the left of the Army. Later in the day Lieutenant Colonel Ward was wounded. The command thereafter devolved on Major Butterfield. A detachment of the Regiment rallied on Snodgrass Hill and fought till the Army retired at night. Loss, killed 16: wounded 114: captured or missing 21: total 151.

Erected 1894 by the State of Ohio. (Marker Number MT-967.)

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

Location. 34° 55.29′ N,

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

85° 15.731′ W. Marker is near Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, in Catoosa County. Memorial is on Poe Road west of Lafayette Road, on the left when traveling south. This historical marker is located in the national park that preserves the site of the Chickamauga Battlefield, along the east side of the national park's battlefield tour roadway called Poe Road. According to the location information provided by the National Park Service the, “Monument is located in the Chickamauga Battlefield along Poe Road, map site #138”. 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. Connell's Brigade (a few steps from this marker); Lumsden's Alabama Battery (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery D, 1st Michigan Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); Benning's Brigade (within shouting distance of this marker); 17th Georgia Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery D, 1st Michigan Light Artillery (within shouting distance of this marker); 20th Georgia Infantry (within shouting distance of this marker); Kolb's Alabama Battery (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 Service,

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 7, 2014

2. 17th Ohio Infantry Marker

View, looking northwest, of the front side of the historical monument, situated on the east side of Poe Road.

the monument is, “8' x 5' x 9'6" high, monument consists of three rectangular blocks on a rock-faced base. Lowest block is inscribed, middle block has relief carving of kneeling soldier, and top has carved acorn and bronze state seal.”

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 17th Ohio Infantry. Because of its position in the Union line of battle, on the morning of September 20th, the 17th Ohio found itself in an extremely dangerous and critical situation. The following is a description, from the Familypedia website, of what the 17th Ohio experienced:

"The unit suddenly became the shoulder of the right wing of the Army of the Cumberland when a mixup in orders resulted in the disintegration of one third of the army to the south of their position under the assault of James Longstreet who had recently arrived via rail with new reinforcements. The mix-up in Union commands caused a

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 7, 2014

3. 17th Ohio Infantry Marker

View, looking southeast, of the back side of the historical monument, situated on the east side of Poe Road.

quarter mile gap immediately to the south of the Seventeenth. By coincidence, this happened to be the precise location where Longstreet would attack in force... Most of the casualties that the Seventeenth Ohio sustained were inflicted [by] these forces in Hood's division. When Longstreet attacked at the point vacated by Wood, Hood's division moved to protect the advancing column, sending 3 brigades in a diagonal charge, placing maximum pressure on the 17th. Few other regiments were in a more dangerous position. Fresh troops under one of the most able generals of the south were attacking the front and flank of the Seventeenth at the moment the units to their right had abandoned their positions."

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Also see . . .
1. Battle of Chickamauga (17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry ... This is a link to information provided by the wiki, familypedia website. (Submitted on August 18, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

2. 17th Ohio Infantry. This is a link to information provided by Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (Submitted on August 18, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.)

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 7, 2014

4. 17th Ohio Infantry Marker

View, looking just south, of the historical marker, of the Confederate unit markers representing the sweeping flank attack of General Longstreet's September 20th breakthrough of the Union battle line.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 7, 2014

5. 17th Ohio Infantry Marker

A close-up view of the text displayed on the backside of the historical marker.

Photographed By Dale K. Benington, August 7, 2014

6. 17th Ohio Infantry Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 18, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. This page has been viewed 430 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 19, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 20, 2014, by Dale K. Benington of Toledo, Ohio.