Infantry Units: 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
The biographical sketches here show only those members of the unit who wrote letters to their local newspapers. Information may be drawn from the unit roster, newspaper obituaries, or other biographical sources.
Field and Staff
Colonel William Mungen
William Mungen enlisted as a 40 year Findlay resident, receiving his commission
as Lieutenant Colonel of the 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 27, 1861.
Before the regiment left the state, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel to
date December 16, 1861. He led his regiment at Shiloh but in December 1862 was
placed under military arrest by General Morgan L. Smith in Memphis, Tennessee
for what amounted to petty matters and kept from his command for several months.
He was discharged for disability on April 24, 1863 at Young's Point, Louisiana,
near Vicksburg.
Articles: Hancock Courier: February 20, 1863, May 1, 1863, May 22, 1863
Hancock Jeffersonian: November 7, 1862, May 22, 1863
Letters: Hancock Courier: December 20, 1861, April 11, 1862, April 25, 1862, July 4, 1862
Hancock Jeffersonian: April 11, 1862, April 18, 1862, April 25, 1862
Kalida Sentinel- 6/11/1863
Colonel Americus Vespucius Rice
Americus Vespucius Rice was born November 18, 1835 in Perryville, Ohio and raised Company E, 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the opening days of the war. He enlisted April 20, 1861 as Captain but did not receive his commission until May 16, 1861. He led his company ably through the summer campaign in Virginia in 1861and mustered out with the regiment August 12, 1861 at Columbus, Ohio.
Returning home, he raised Company A, 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a Captain, but was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before the regiment left the state, his commission dating February 8, 1862. Colonel Rice served with the 57th Ohio through its entire term of service, taking parts in the battles of Shiloh, the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg, led the regiment at Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, before he was severely wounded in the right leg during the storming of Kenesaw Mountain on June 27, 1864. The wound was so severe that it necessitated the amputation of his leg. While recuperating from this, he was nominated as candidate for Congress by the Democratic Party in Hancock County, narrowly losing this election.
He continued in the service through the end of the war, accompanying his regiment on the march to the sea and through the Carolinas. His promotion to Colonel occurred to date April 16, 1863, and based on meritorious services rendered during the war, he was given a brevet promotion to Brigadier General to date May 31, 1865. He was mustered out of service January 15, 1866.
He died April 4, 1904 in Washington, D.C.
Hancock Courier: May 30, 1862
Hancock Jeffersonian: May 16, 1862, May 30, 1862, October 14, 1864
Kalida Sentinel- 7/19/1862, 7/26/1862
Colonel Samuel Rolla Mott
Samuel Rolla Mott was born January 12, 1831 in Knox Co., Ohio and helped raise Company K, 15th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the opening of the war, receiving his commission as First Lieutenant on April 27, 1861. He took part in the summer campaign in Virginia before mustering out August 27, 1861. Returning home, he raised Company C, 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting as Captain September 18, 1861 but not receiving his commission until October 20, 1861. He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Chickasaw Bayou, and Arkansas Post before receiving his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to date April 16, 1863. He continued through the rest of the war at this rank, leading his regiment following Colonel Rice's wounding at Kenesaw Mountain, taking full part in the Atlanta Campaign and the marches to the sea and through the Carolinas. Following the close of hostilities, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel to date August 10, 1865 but was never mustered at that rank, mustering out of service 4 days later. He was given a brevet promotion to Brigadier General to date March 13, 1865.
He died June 7, 1899 in Paulding Co., Ohio
Hancock Courier: March 13, 1863
Kalida Sentinel- 6/25/1863
Commissary Sergeant Lewis Parker
Enlisted, age 24, September 15, 1861 to serve three years; promoted to Commissary
Sergeant from private Co. A, October 14, 1861; re-appointed Jan 1, 1864; promoted to 2nd
Lieutenant and Acting Regimental Quartermaster February 20, 18964; 1st Lieutenant and
Regimental Quartermaster August 16, 1864; mustered out with regiment August 14, 1865; veteran.
Kalida Sentinel- 3/22/1862
Major Silas Bailey Walker
Silas Bailey Walker enlisted as a 37 year old Major in the 15th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry for three months service, enlisting on April 17, 1861 and mustering into
service April 27, 1861. He served with the regiment through the summer campaign
in Virginia before mustering out August 30, 1861 at Columbus, Ohio. He later
enlisted in the 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 2, 1861, serving with
the regiment at Shiloh, Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou, and Arkansas Post before being
discharged for disability April 26, 1863.
Hancock Courier: April 25, 1862
Surgeon William D. Carlin
William D. Carlin was commissioned Surgeon of the 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
on May 26, 1862, and served with the regiment for about six months before he died
of disease December 26, 1862 at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana.
Article: Hancock Jeffersonian: January 23, 1863
Adjutant Daniel S. Price
Daniel S. Price enlisted as a 27 year old Private in Company H, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 2, 1861, but was soon promoted to the rank of
First Lieutenant and detailed as regimental Adjutant to date September 21, 1861.
He served with the regiment through the Fort Donelson campaign but died on the
Tennessee River March 30, 1862. He is buried at Vicksburg National Cemetery
Article: Hancock Courier: April 11, 1862
Article: Hancock Jeffersonian: April 11, 1862
Roster - Company A, 57th OVI
Captain (later Major) John McClure
John McClure enlisted as a 27 year old First Lieutenant and Quartermaster in
the 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 27, 1861, and served in many of the
battles of the 57th Ohio. He was promoted to the rank of Captain and given command
of Company A to date April 6, 1862, and took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth,
Arkansas Post, and Vicksburg. Following Colonel Mungen's resignation, he was promoted
to the rank of Major to date April 26, 1863. He took part in several battles of
the Atlanta campaign before being discharged December 21, 1864.
Hancock Jeffersonian: May 16, 1862
Kalida Sentinel- 6/21/1862, 8/2/1862, 3/5/1863
1st Lieutenant George D. McClure
Enlisted, age 18 on September 2, 1861 to serve three years; promoted to 1st
Lieutenant from 2nd Lieutenant February 8, 1862; Captain April 26, 1863; mustered
out with company August 14, 1865
Kalida Sentinel- 8/30/1862
Private Thomas U. Lane
Enlisted, age 23, September 2, 1861 to serve three years; died July 17, 1863 at
Memphis, TN
Kalida Sentinel- 4/19/1862
Company B, 57th OVI
Captain Philip Faulhaber
Philip Faulhaber enlisted as a 28 year old Captain of Company B, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 16, 1861, receiving his commission to date October
2, 1861. He took part in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth before he was killed
December 28, 1862 at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi. He is buried at Vicksburg
National Cemetery.
Articles: Hancock Courier: October 2, 1863
Hancock Jeffersonian: October 2, 1863
Company F, 57th OVI
Captain Daniel Gilbert
Daniel Gilbert enlisted as a 30 year old Private in Company F, 21st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on April 20, 1861, mustering into service April 27, 1861.
After the short summer campaign in western Virginia, he returned home and was
mustered out with the regiment August 12, 1861. That fall, he set to work raising
Company F, 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting as First Lieutenant November 6,
1861 and receiving his commission January 10, 1862. He took part in many of the
battles of the 57th Ohio, including Shiloh, Corinth, Arkansas Post, and Vicksburg
before being promoted to captain to date June 30, 1863. He was discharged on
November 20, 1863.
Hancock Jeffersonian: April 18, 1862
Corporal George W. Hall
George W. Hall enlisted as a 21 year old Corporal in Company F, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on November 9, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
He took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Arkansas Post, and the siege of
Vicksburg before he was discharged for disability September 1, 1863 at Camp
Sherman, Mississippi.
Hancock Jeffersonian: September 11, 1863
Private Calvin C. Baker
Calvin C. Baker enlisted as an 18 year old Private in Company F, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on October 22, 1861. His service was brief as he was wounded
in action April 6, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh and died of his wounds two days
later. He is buried at Shiloh National Cemetery. The letter listed below reveals
the circumstances of his death as related by Major Silas Bailey Walker (see above)
Hancock Courier: April 25, 1862
James A. Wilson--see 21st OVI
Captain Jacob R. Tussing
Jacob R. Tussing enlisted as a 24 year old Private in Company G, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on October 30, 1861, and was mustered into service the same
day. He took part in the Shiloh and Corinth campaigns before being promoted to
First Sergeant to date August 19, 1862. Following the debacle at Chickasaw Bluffs,
he was commissioned Second Lieutenant to date December 31, 1862. At the opening
of the Atlanta campaign, he was again promoted to Captain to date May 9, 1864,
but was never mustered at this rank. He mustered out December 31, 1864.
Hancock Jeffersonian: July 3, 1863
Corporal John H. McKinley
John H. McKinley enlisted as a 21 year old Private in Company G, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on November 10, 1861. He took part in the many battles of the
regiment until he was wounded May 22, 1863 outside Vicksburg, Mississippi. He
died of his wounds July 4, 1863 on board a steamer en route to a hospital in
St. Louis, Missouri. He is buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in
St. Louis, having been promoted to the rank of Corporal before his wounding.
Articles: Hancock Courier: August 28, 1863
Hancock Jeffersonian: August 21, 1863
Private James W. Lanning
James W. Lanning enlisted as a 20 year old Private in Company G, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on December 5, 1861, and took part in many of the battles of
the 57th Ohio before being detailed to Battery B, 1st Illinois Light Artillery
during the siege of Vicksburg. He died of disease July 28, 1863 at Camp Sherman,
Mississippi and is buried at Vicksburg National Cemetery. The letter listed below
is from Second Lieutenant Israel P. Rumsey of Battery B, 1st Illinois Light
Artillery, who recounts the services of Lanning with his battery and Lanning's
subsequent death.
Article: Hancock Jeffersonian: March 13, 1863
Letter: Hancock Courier: August 21, 1863
Company H, 57th OVI
First Lieutenant Charles L. Brown
Charles L. Brown enlisted as a 19 year old Private in Company H, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 2, 1861 and served with the regiment through
the entire war, taking part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou,
Arkansas Post, the siege of Vicksburg, Resaca, and others. He reenlisted in 1864
and was later promoted to Sergeant Major to date June 23, 1865, and commissioned
First Lieutenant to date August 10, 1865 but not mustered at that rank. He was
mustered out August 24, 1865 at Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hancock Courier: September 1, 1864, September 8, 1864
Corporal William H. Grable
William H. Grable enlisted as a 21 year old Private in Company H, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on November 4, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He
took part in several battles and was promoted to Corporal December 22, 1862. He
died of disease June 9, 1864 at the hospital in Acworth, Georgia.
Hancock Jeffersonian: September 4, 1863, February 26, 1864
Roster - Company I, 57th OVI
First Lieutenant George P. Blystone
George P. Blystone enlisted as a 33 year old Private in Company I, 57th Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on November 2, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
Commissioned First Lieutenant to date February 10, 1862, he resigned his commission
April 6, 1863.
Letter: Seneca Advertiser: June 20, 1862
Crawford County Forum: May 7, 1862, June 13, 1862, July 18, 1862, July 25, 1862, September 12, 1862, September 26, 1862, November 28, 1862, December 19, 1862 (2), May 29, 1863
Captain Alvah Stone Skilton
Alvah S. Skilton was born April 12, 1836 in Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio and enlisted while a 26 year old Monroeville, Ohio merchant as a Private in Company I, 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on November 2, 1861. Mustering in service the same day, he was commissioned Captain to date February 10, 1862. Wounded at the Battle of Shiloh, he served with the regiment until he was mustered out April 13, 1865. An active member of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, he died July 27, 1887 in Monroeville, Ohio.
Article: Bucyrus Journal: April 18, 1862
WWW Sites
- 57th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
- References for 57th OVI
- Wartime Letter of Col. Mungen
- Farewell Address of Col. Mungen
