Artillery Units: 1st Reg't. Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery
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.
Battery A, 1st OVLA
Private Lester A. Elster
Lester A. Elster enlisted as a 29 year old Private in Battery A, 1st Ohio Light
Artillery on September 25, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was
discharged for promotion into the U.S. Army Hospitals on July 2, 1863 at
Nashville, Tennessee.
Letter: Norwalk Experiment: January 6, 1862
Battery B, 1st OVLA
Corporal Merwin Blanchard
Merwin Blanchard enlisted as a 33 year old Corporal in Battery B, 1st Ohio
Volunteer Light Artillery on September 5, 1861, mustering into service October
8, 1861. He was discharged for disability April 18, 1863 at Columbus, Ohio. He
reenlisted in the battery the following year February 12, 1864, serving with it
until mustered out July 22, 1865.
Letter: Elyria Independent Democrat: February 12, 1862
Battery D, 1st OVLA
Corporal Jeriboam "Jerry" B. Creighton - Battery D
Jeriboam B. Creighton enlisted as a 33 year old Private on June 28, 1861 in
Williams' Independent Battery and was promoted to Corporal July 1, 1861. He was
mustered out November 6, 1861. He later served in Battery A, 1st Ohio Light
Artillery, enlisting February 16, 1864 and mustering out July 31, 1865 at Camp
Cleveland, Ohio.
Letter: Tiffin Weekly Tribune: July 28, 1861
Battery H, 1st OVLA
Captain James F. Huntingdon - Battery H
Enlisted 10/4/1861 as Captain, resigned commission 10/27/1863.
Letter: Toledo Blade- 7/9/1862
1st Lieutenant William A. Ewing, "Wanderer" - Battery H
Enlisted as a Corporal 10/19/1861, mustered in 11/7/1861, promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 4/1/1862, promoted to 1st Lieutenant 6/4/1863, mustered out 10/24/1864.
Letters: Toledo Blade- 11/29/1861, 2/10/1862, 4/3/1862, 6/30/1862, 7/22/1862, 10/13/1862, 11/4/1862, 11/22/1862, 12/13/1862, 12/19/1862, 1/28/1863, 3/6/1863, 6/23/1863, 7/11/1863, 7/18/1863, 12/11/1863, 1/26/1864, 4/25/1864, 6/15/1864, 7/20/1864
1st Lieutenant Martin B. Ewing, "Battery Shields" - Battery H
Enlisted 10/19/1861 as 2nd Lieutenant, mustered in 11/7/1861, promoted to 1st Lieutenant 1/7/1863, resigned commission 6/4/1863. Enlisted as Major of 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery 7/1/1863, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 8/15/1863, mustered out with regiment 8/23/1865 at Nashville, TN.
Letter: Toledo Blade- 6/21/1862
1st Lieutenant William H. Perigo - Battery H
Enlisted 10/26/1861 as Corporal, mustered in 11/7/1861, promoted to Sergeant 5/1/1863, promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 6/14/1864, promoted to 1st Lieutenant 2/8/1865, mustered out with battery 6/14/1865 at Cleveland, OH.
Letter: Toledo Blade- 5/14/1863
Wood County Independent- 5/15/1863.
Corporal George Frederick "Frederick" Spencer - Battery H
Enlisted 8/5/1862 as a Private, appointed Corporal, mustered out with battery 6/14/1865 at Cleveland, OH.
Letter: Toledo Blade- 5/8/1863
Private Harlow J. Boice - Battery H
Enlisted 10/31/1861 as a Private, discharged for disability 2/21/1863 at Fort Delaware, DE.
Letter: Toledo Blade- 10/21/1862
Private William E. Parmalee, Jr. - Battery H
Enlisted, age 18, August 5, 1862 for three years; appointed Corporal, March 31, 1864; Sergeant, September 29, 1864; promoted to 2nd Lieutenant February 8, 1865; mustered out with battery June 14, 1865
Letter: Toledo Daily Commercial- 5/14/1863
Private John L. Pray - Battery H
Enlisted, age 25, September 28, 1861 for 3 years; transferred to Signal Corps January 1, 1864
Letter: Toledo Daily Commercial- 5/18/1863
Private Herbert H. Walker - Battery H
Enlisted, age 21, August 6, 1862 for 3 years; served as bugler; mustered out with battery June 14, 1865
Letter: Toledo Daily Commercial- 2/7/1863
