First Ohio Light Artillery Battery M

Sidney Ohio’s Battery M, First Ohio Light Artillery

vogel_and_joslin
Vogel and Joslin at Gettysburg Reunion

The battery was organized under Ohio’s militia laws in 1860 under the command of Colonel James Barnett. It was composed primarily of men from Shelby County, with additional enlistees from Auglaize and Miami Counties. After the start of the war, Battery M was reorganized at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio and mustered in for a three year enlistment on December 3, 1861, Major (later promoted to Captain) Frederick Schultz commanding.

The battery was attached to the Artillery Reserve, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. 8th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, Center, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. Artillery, 2nd Division, XIV Corps, to October 1863. 1st Division, Artillery Reserve, Department of the Cumberland, to March 1864. 2nd Division, Artillery Reserve, Department of the Cumberland, to July 1864. Artillery Brigade, IV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1864. Garrison Artillery, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Department of the Cumberland, to April 1865.

Battery M was ordered to Louisville, Ky., December 3; thence moved to Bacon Creek, Ky., and duty there until February, 1862. Battery M them marched to Nashville, Tenn., February 10-March 3, 1862, and to Savannah, Tenn., March 17-April 6. Battery M participated in the Battle of Shiloh, April 7. They then advanced on and participated in the siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Battery M participated in Buell’s Campaign in northern Alabama and middle Tennessee June to August, 1862, before serving garrison duty at Nashville, Tenn., August to December 1862.

Battery M advanced on Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26–30. They saw action in the Battle of Stones River December 30–31, 1862, and January 1–3, 1863. They had garrison duty at Murfreesboro until June, then participated in the Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. They were part of the occupation force that held middle Tennessee until August 16. Battery M then crossed over the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River participating in the Chickamauga Campaign August 16-September 22. They saw action at Davis Cross Roads/Dug Gap on September 11 and then the Battle of Chickamauga September 19–21. They participated in the Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Battery M participated in the Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23–27 and saw action at Missionary Ridge November 24–25. They were ordered to Nashville, Tenn., December 1863, and had duty there until June 1864.

Battery M joined Sherman’s army at Kennesaw Mountain, Ga., June 25. They participated in operations against Kennesaw Mountain June 25-July 2, and were engaged in the assault on Kennesaw June 27. They then saw action at Chattahoochie River July 3–17, and at Peachtree Creek July 19–20. They were part of the Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Battery M was part of the flanking movement on Jonesboro August 25–30, and were engaged in the Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Battery M was ordered to Chattanooga in September, and served there until December. Non-veterans were mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, December 17, 1864. Veterans were garrisoned at Chattanooga, until April 1865. Battery M, 1st Ohio Light Artillery ceased to exist on April 11, 1865 when its members were consolidated with Battery I, 1st Ohio Light Artillery.

The battery lost a total of 19 men during service; 2 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 17 enlisted men died of disease. Many of the survivors joined Neal Post, Grand Army of the Republic in Sidney following the war.