7th Ohio Infantry Regiment
It was noted for its holding the high ground at the center of the line at Antietam as part of Tyndale's 1st Brigade, Greene's 2nd Division of Mansfield's XII Corps.
On 27 April 1861, orders were given to form the 7th Ohio Infantry Regiment from independent companies gathered at Camp Taylor in Cleveland.
Among the original officers was Captain John W. Sprague of Sandusky; he would later be a brigadier general and Medal of Honor recipient while serving in the 63rd Ohio Infantry.
On 26 June 1861, the reconstituted regiment departed Camp Dennison for western Virginia, where the men would see their first action of the war.
The Seventh was surprised and routed with severe loss, the two wings of Tyler's line retreating in opposite directions.
[2] Throughout the rout and carnage Major Jack Casement, at the head of Tyler's left wing, commenced a retrograde march through Confederate territory over mountain ranges and rivers to Charleston, West Virginia without the capture of a single man.
On 9 August, at the Battle of Cedar Mountain, the regiment was again at the front and engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict.
During the subsequent campaign, which lasted until 2 September and culminated in the Second Battle of Manassas, the Seventh was held in reserve guarding the railroads.
After the rebels were driven back, Tyndale's brigade began their movement at the edge of the Cornfield and proceeded through the fields along Smoketown Road until they were in front of the Dunker Church.
During Jackson's famous flank march on 2 May, the Seventh held its position near the Chancellor house and did not take part in this action.
That evening, Hooker reshuffled his line, placing the Twelfth Corps on his left flank, next to the Rappahannock River.
Sherman R. Norris of Company D found that the Rebel formation in the 7th Ohio Infantry's front "melted away before our volleys, and after they had been broken, numbers of the enemy took refuge behind trees and rocks."
About 11:00 a.m., Creighton noticed a makeshift white flag thrown out from behind rocks in front of the 7th Ohio Infantry's entrenchments.
The next morning, Company H Corporal John Pollock climbed over the works and picked up the 4th Virginia's rumpled colors, one of three battle flags captured by Geary's division at Culp's Hill.
In the general attack, they pushed on to Cravens' house, and continued in action on the front line throughout the afternoon, and then participated in the heavy skirmishing of the night.
On 27 November, with General Hooker, the Seventh charged up a series of hills in which the Confederates were holding called Taylor's Ridge in the battle of Ringgold.
Before Sherman's forces entered Atlanta, the Seventh was removed from the front because their three-year term of service had reached its expiration.
On 11 July 1864,[3] with the regiment's term of enlistment having expired, men who wished to continue serving in the army were transferred to the 5th Ohio, while the others left the front for their withdrawal from active service.
To see that this Act would be carried out in the best means, a meeting of the surviving Ohio soldiers was held at the State Capitol on 4 July 1885.
At that same meeting, it was agreed upon that a committee would accompany the Adjutant-General to Gettysburg, and assist him in locating the positions in which Ohio troops fought.
After inspecting the field, the committee declared that $2,000 would be appropriated for each Ohio regiment, battery, or other organization which took part in the battle.
This sum would be for the proper placement of monuments and tablets, and for keeping the grounds and memorials in good condition.
On 14 September 1887, they were formally dedicated and turned over to the Gettysburg Battlefield Commission for future care and protection.
It lies on the "saddle" between the lower and upper crest of Culp's Hill in Gettysburg National Military Park.
