Colonels  
Samuel H Dunning  
John H Patrick  
  

Lieutenant-Colonels  
Harry G Armstrong  
Robert L Kilpatrick  
Robert Kirkup  
  

Majors  
William Gaskill  
John Collins  
Henry E Symmes  
Krewson Yerkes  
  

This regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, June 21, 1861, to serve for three years. After an active campaign in West Virginia the 5^th Ohio was at Winchester in March 1862, and on the 23^rd marched out to Kernstown, took position in support of Daum’s West Virginia Battery, and the battle of Winchester opened up.  

Late in the afternoon companies A,B,C,D and E moved up and passing through a clump of underbrush emerged into an open field where they received the fire of the enemy. When the 84^th Pennsylvania fell back in confusion General Sullivan commanding the brigade, exclaimed that the army was whipped. But observing the 5^th Ohio still fighting, he exclaimed, "No, thank God, the brave 5^th Ohio is still standing its ground and holding the rebels."  

The regimental colors were perforated with 48 bullet holes and the state flag with 10. During the following May the regiment was presented with a beautiful stand of colors, sent to it by the city council of Cincinnati as a token of appreciation for its bravery and efficiency in the battle of Winchester.  

At the battle of Port Republic the regiment conducted itself with its usual courage and dash, and after firing a couple of volleys, it charged on a fence behind which two Confederate regiments had taken position. The charge was success, the Confederates fleeing into the woods, where they rallied, but again the 5^th Ohio charged and captured a piece of artillery. Immediately thereafter it marched to the left and repulsed a charge made by the enemy on a battery. When the order to retreat was finally given, the 5^th was designated to cover the movement, in doing which it lost 185 men taken prisoners.  

On August 9 it made a forced march of 8 miles to reach the battlefield of Cedar Mountain. At Antietam the regiment marched on the field at daylight, advanced to the edge of a belt of woods and opened fire, driving the Confederates into a cornfield, where it followed and engaged them in a fierce hand to hand conflict. Many of them were using the butts of their guns. The conflict was terrible, but the enemy was at last compelled to give way, contesting every foot of the ground as they did so.  

During the time the 5^th Ohio was engaged in this battle its cartridge boxes were emptied three times, making about 100 shots per man. On the outer edge of the cornfield lay a row of dead Confederates on their faces, as though they had been dragged three and laid in order.  

After various marches and counter marches, the 5^th Ohio went into camp at Dumfries, Virginia where it was attacked by General Stuart’s cavalry, but the attack was repulsed. On May 1, the regiment entered the battle of Chancellorsville and performed a distinguished part and following that came the great battle of Gettysburg. In the grand advance of Rosecrans’ army toward Chattanooga the 5^th Ohio formed a part and had the honor of opening the battle above the clouds, on Lookout Mountain. It was with Sherman in his march to Atlanta. When its time of enlistment had expired, notwithstanding its hard and almost continual service, and the fact that it was literally shattered to pieces, this brave band of heroes resolved to "go in for the war".  

After a short furlough home they were back "to the front", marching to sea with Sherman and participating in all the hardships of the campaign. Then came Lee’s surrender and the triumphant march to Washington joining in the grand review. Then the men went to the Queen City of the West, their home, and a muster out at Louisville, July 26, 1865.