National Tribune Article: The 60th Ohio

THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON, D.C.
NOVEMBER 20, 1913

THE 60TH OHIO

By GEORGE WARREN CAMPBELL, First Lieutenant, Co. A, 60th Ohio

George W. Campbell, First Lieutenant, 60th Ohio, and Aid-de-Camp for the First Division of the Ninth Corps, Columbus, O., writes that in the sketch of the 60th Ohio only the first organization was mentioned. This was recruited in Southern Ohio for one year and served with credit in the Shenandoah Valley. Among its achievements was the routing of Ashby's cavalry and the killing of Col. Ashby. It ended it services with the surrender of Harper's Ferry. The second organization was at Camp Chase, O., in the Spring of 1864, under the command of Lieut.-Col. James N. McElroy, a West Point cadet. It joined the Ninth Corps at Alexandria and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division. On the morning of May 5, 1864, the Ninth Corps was camped at Warrenton, where it had been left to protect Washington in case Gen. Lee should make a flank movement, as was his custom. Gen. Grant had no idea that Lee would venture to do such a thing, and soon ordered the Ninth Corps into the battle of the Wilderness. It made a forced march, and at daylight, May 6, it began crossing the Rapidan and soon filled in the gap between Warren and Hancock. Its loss in the Wilderness was light, but it suffered great slaughter two days later at Spotsylvania. Early on the morning of May 9 the 60th Ohio was ordered to deploy and drive the enemy's skirmish line across the Ny River, to take possession of the hill beyond and hold it until the rest of the division had crossed. It succeeded, but at a fearful loss. The Confederate Gen. Withers was wounded and captured by the 60th Ohio, and the regiment was highly complimented in general orders for it gallantry. The regiment suffered heavily in the many assaults it made on the works around Petersburg, and was engaged in every battle fought in Virginia under Gen. Grant. The muster-out rolls in the Adjutant-General's office of Ohio show the casualties to have been 505, with but 17 unaccounted for. Few, if any, regiments made a more brilliant record and had a higher percentage of loss for the length of times in active service. Comrade Campbell attended a Reunion at Nova, Oct. 1-2, but found only 16 of his regiment present. Of these two were members of his company. He had been for more than 40 years in the Far West, and consequently this was the first meeting, and he had not seen any of them for 49 years. A queer feeling came over him when he was asked if he recognized any of them.

Campbell, George Warren. "The 60th Ohio." The National Tribune: Washington, D.C., November 20, 1913.