The 15th Ohio Infantry Regiment was organized in Columbus, Ohio, on April 27, 1861, in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers and mustered into service on May 4, 1861.[1] The regiment moved to Zanesville, Ohio on May 8 and then to western Virginia. It performed duty on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and operations in the vicinity of Philippi, Laurel Hill and Corrick's Ford from June 3 to July 16. They were involved in action at Bowman's Place on June 29. Then they were ordered back to Columbus and mustered out on August 27–31, 1861.[2]
Three-years regiment
The 15th Ohio Infantry was reorganized at Mansfield, Ohio, in September 1861 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Moses R. Dickey.[3][4]
The regiment was attached to McCook's Command, October to November 1861. 6th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December 1861. 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, I Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Right Wing, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, XX Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, IV Corps, to August 1865. Department of Texas to November 1865.
The 15th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service at San Antonio, Texas, on November 21, 1865, and returned to Columbus where its members were discharged on December 27, 1865.
Detailed service
1861
Moved to Camp Dennison, Ohio, September 26, thence to Lexington, Ky., October 4.
Duty at Camp Nevin, Ky., October 14-December 9, 1861.
Occupation of Munfordville, Ky., December 10, 1861.
Duty at Bacon Creek, Ky., until February 14, 1862.
1862
Advance to Bowling Green, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., February 14-March 2.
Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17–28.
1865
Camp at Bird Springs, Ala., until March 1865.
Operations in eastern Tennessee March 15-April 22.
At Nashville, Tenn., until June.
Moved to New Orleans, La., June 16, thence to Texas.
Duty at Green Lake until August 10, and at San Antonio until November.
Mustered out November 21, 1865.
Reach Columbus, Ohio, December 25, and discharged from service December 27, 1865.
Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 315 men during service; 7 officers and 172 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 135 enlisted men died of disease.[8]
Commanders
Colonel Moses R. Dickey
Colonel William Wallace - commanded at the battle of Shiloh as major
Colonel Frank Askew - commanded at the battle of Chickamauga as lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel John McClenahan
Captain A. R. Z. Dawson - commanded at the battle of Stones River while Col Wallace was in command of the brigade
Notable members
Private Robert B. Brown, Company A - Medal of Honor recipient for action at the battle of Missionary Ridge
Corporal William E. Richey, Company A - Medal of Honor recipient for action at the battle of Chickamauga
McConnell, William. Diary of William McConnell, Private, Company I, 15th O.V.V.I., 1st Brigade, 3rd Div., 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland: From September 16, 1861, to August 2, 1865 (Tiro, OH: C. McConnell), 1899.
Ohio Roster Commission (1893). 1861 Three-Month Organizations — 1st–22nd Regiments, Etc. Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War on the Rebellion, 1861–1865. Vol. I. Akron, OH: The Werner Company. p. 810. hdl:2027/mdp.39015004198746. OCLC633556.
Ohio Roster Commission (1886). 1st–20th Regiments-Infantry. Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War on the Rebellion, 1861–1865. Vol. II. Cincinnati, OH: Wilstach Baldwin & Co. p. 840. hdl:2027/mdp.39015004198787. OCLC633556.