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Historic speech of J. R. Giddings after the raising of OVI 29th regiment, at Camp Giddings.
Soon after the disaster at Bull
Run, A little knot of citizens were gathered together in front of the
post office in Jefferson, waiting for details of the battle, when the
Honorable J.R. Giddings, who was then at home from Canada came up and
entered into the subject of conversation, which of course was the late
battle, its effects, and prospects before us. He said, "We
must raise a regiment in the county, and I am ready to do anything and
all in my power to promote it. We can raise the men beyond doubt,
and they ought to be ready for the field in sixty days. This
reverse is necessary to excite us to action, and now is the time for us
to move". He immediately procured an order from he War Department
for the enlistment and organization of a regiment from the Northeast
part of the State. The orders provided for this regiment
designated it as the Twenty-ninth, and Jefferson as the place of
rendezvous, the camp to be know as Camp Giddings. This camp was
located on the grounds of the County Agricultural society.
The first company of the Twenty-ninth was organized on the 11th day of
August 1861, and went into camp on Monday, August 19. By the 1st
day of December the regiment was fully organized with Lewis P. Buckley,
colonel, Thomas Clark, Lieutenant-colonel and John S. Clemmer,
major. While in camp a splendid stand of colors was presented to
the Twenty-ninth by the ladies of this and adjoining counties on which
occasion Hon. J. R. Giddings addressed the members of the regiment as
follows:
Officers and soldiers the ladies
have prepared a splendid national and regimental stand of colors, and
have imposed on me the pleasant duty of presenting them to the
regiment. In all past ages ciivilized nations have gone forth to
war under their own banner, on which is inscribed some device, figure,
or emblem to such nation. Thus each tribe among the Israelite's
had their particular banner. The early Christians fought
under the cross, the Romans under the golden eagle, the Mohammedans
under the crest. The founders of our goverment selected for their
colors a groundwork of blue, representing immutable justice and
unlimited power, on which the stars represent light, twinkling in the
vaulted heavens, while in the mid ether of bird of Joy is floating a
fitting representation of the ease and power with which liberty and
civilization are fitting representation of the ease and power of which
liberty and civilization are gliding over the earth, while the states,
with the stripes of red and white represent the vital principles and
purity of our institutions. (Addressing Colonel Buckley.)
"To you sir, as commander, I
present these beautiful standards, for the use and benefit of the
regiment. On behalf of the fair donors, I confide these
national and regimentals standards to the care of yourself, your
gallant officers, and men." "Wherever you go, let them be borne
aloft and respected as the emblem of universal freedom to all who seek
your protection." "Preserve them unstained" "Bear in mind
that you go forth to fight the battles of the human race for all coming
time" "Remember the cause in which you are engaged".
"Your own heroic deeds shall be enshrined in our memories, recorded in
our history, admired by coming generations and approved by a holy and
just God!"
Colonel Buckley replied "I receive
this stand of colors on behalf of the Twenty-ninth Regiment. I
return, through you, to the noble and patriotic ladies of Ashtabula and
Summit counties, our grateful thanks, and whenever and wherever it is
unfurled to the breeze, and we look upon its stars and stripes, may we
then remember the generous donors and the vow we this day make!"
"This flag, the flag of our country, which has been our pride and our
boast, and which is respected by all civilized nations, - this flag,
thank God, shall yet wave triumphantly wherever it has been struck
down! Companions when we look upon this beautiful flag may it
inspire us to redouble our energies to do our duty to our beloved
country; and if god, in his providence permit us to return to home and
kindred, may this flag come back with us to bear witness that the
Twenty-ninth Ohio Volunteers were in the thickest of the fight!
On Christmas morning December,
1861 the 29th left Camp Giddings via Ashtabula for Camp Chase remaining
at the latter camp until January 1862 when it was ordered to Virginia
in consequence of the Confederate advance under Jackson upon
Romney. At Patterson's Creek, Virginia the regiment was assigned
to the division of General Landor, and to the brigade of Colonel E. B.
Tyler of the Seventh Ohio. After the death of General
Landor, General James Shields assumed command of the division,
and the march commenced towards Winchester. The enemy were met on
the 23rd day of March at Kernstown. Here the 29th fought
its first battle, losing three killed and ten wounded, and afterwards
following the pursuit of Jackson as far as Strasbourg. It marched
with its division to Falmouth, where General McDowell's army was viewed
by President Lincoln. After a long march, the 29th again met the
enemy at Port Republic June 9, 1862, where a severe battle was fought
in which fourteen were killed and 36 injured.
<>with over 100 missing. Captain Horace Luce fell in this battle.
August 9th, 1862, the 29th fought at Cedar Mountain Virginia, losing
six men killed and 52 wounded. The 29th next met the enemy at
Chancellorsville, May 1st 1863. fighting through the three terrible
days following, and was posted near the Chancellor House, in the rear
of the line of rude earthworks, where solid shot plowed the ground near
its position. The enemy had gained a part of the works to the right,
where an assault was made upon the 29th, in which they were so closely
engaged upon each other. At this battle the 29th lost seventy-two
killed and wounded. It was ordered to relieve the one hundred and
thirty-seventh NY Infantry in the works, which had nearly expended its
ammunition. In passing over a flight elevation, swept by the musket of the enemy, the principal loss was sustained.
From Gettysburg the 29th marched with the army southward and early on
the morning of the 31st of July crossed the Rappanhannock River at
Kelly's ford, in the face of the enemy. August 16th the 29th with the
Ohio regiments of its brigade started for NY City to aide in enforcing
order during the draft. Returning to Virginia it was soon sent to
Hooker's army to Tennessee, and engaged in battle of Lookout Mountain,
November 24th, 1863. December 22 it was re-mustered into the service
as a veteran organization, and furloughed for thirty days, Returning to
the field it fought at Dug Gap, GA May 8th 1864. Losing over 100 men
killed and wounded. This was a strong pass to the Chateoga
range. It's sides are steep covered with forests and rocks, rising
eight hundred feet above Mill creek. Along the top facing westward,
rise palisades, impossible to scale. In addition to the natural
strength of the position were breastworks, occupied by the enemy. The
29th came within range of a destructive fire from the enemy in this
stronghold. Sixty rounds of ammunition were exhausted, but by emptying
the cartridge-boxes of the dead a desultory fire was kept up until near
dark, when the command was given to retire. At this battle Colonel
Fitch, Lieutenant-Colonel Hayes, and Adjutant Stover were wounded and
Lieutenant Grant killed. In this terrible assualt 21 were killed and
84 wounded. May 15, at Resaca, the 29th had 3 men wounded. At New
Hope Church, in Georgia, May 25th, the regiment fought at night until
darkness ended the contest. Here it was under fire until June 1. June
15th at Pine Hill, the 29th engaged in an assault upon the enemy's
earthworks and its loss was severe. The next morning it could stack up
seventy muskets. It fought at Peach-Tree Creek and engaged in the
siege of Atlanta, marched with Sherman down to the sea, participated in
the siege and capture of Savannah, and in the marches through the
Carolinas. The 29th participated in the great review at Washington,
May 24th and soon afterwards was sent to Louisville, KY, where it was
mustered out July 13th 1865. July 22 it was disbanded at Cleveland
Ohio. The rolls of the 29th OVI bear the names of fifteen hundred and
thirty-two men of who five hundred and forty were killed, wounded, or
missing.
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