12th Ohio Cavalry

compiled by Larry Stevens

References for this Unit

Frank a horse of the 12th OVC
Frank, a horse of Co. A, 12th Ohio Cavalry
Frank was ridden and brought home by Abe Conger, saddler of Co. A. Frank is buried in Oceola, Ohio and has a monument. The horse attended reunions until his death. He pricked up his ears when he heard martial music. When turned loose he would trot up and stand under the flag. The veterans wept to see how well he remembered the dear old flag. Beloved by the veterans of the area, Frank was awarded special privileges. It is told that Abe was even allowed to ride him into local taverns. His obituary appears in the Sept. 17, 1886 Bucyrus Journal, along with much coverage of the first annual 12th OVC reunion. Courtesy of Clair McCullough and Brent Nimmo

Frank's Tombstone
Frank's Tombstone in Oceola Ohio
Frank
The War Horse
Co. A 12 Reg. O.C.
Died: 1886 A. 28Y.
From Atl. to the Sea.

History

Organized November 24, 1863, under Colonel Robert W. Ratliff, it moved into Kentucky. In May, 1864, it joined General Burbridge's raid on Saltville and afterwards returned in pursuit of John Morgan, and engaged him successfully at Mt. Sterling and Cynthiana. In September it made another raid upon Saltville, and again in November passed Cumberland Gap under Generals Burbridge and Stoneman, driving the Rebels before them. The salt works, foundries and immense stores were destroyed. In the spring of 1865 it joined Stoneman's celebrated raid into Virginia and North Carolina, releasing Union prisoners at Salisbury and cutting the railroads in all directions. After Lee's surrender it aided in the capture of Jeff Davis, and moving through South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, captured Generals Bragg and Wheeler with their escorts. It finally rendezvoused at Nashville and was mustered out November 14, 1865.

From Dyer's Compendium

12th Regiment Cavalry. Organized at Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered in November 24, 1863. Duty at Camp Chase, Ohio, till February, 1864, and at Camp Dennison till March. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., March 31, 1862. Attached to 2nd Brigade, 5th Division, 23rd Army Corps, District of Kentucky, Dept. to July, 1864. 4th Brigade, 1st Division, District of Kentucky, Dept. Ohio, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, District of East Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, District East Tennessee, to November, 1865.
SERVICE.--Operations against Morgan's Invasion of Kentucky May 31-June 20, 1864. Action at Mt. Sterling, Ky., June 9. Cynthiana June 12. Skirmish at Lebanon, Ky., July 30 (1 Co.). Burbridge's Expedition into Southwest Virginia September 20-October 17. McCormack's Farm September 23. Laurel Mountain September 29. Action at Saltsville, Va., October 2. Stoneman's Raid from Bean's Station, Tenn., into Southwest Virginia, December 10-29. Bristol December 14. Marion December 17-18. Saltsville December 20-21. Stoneman's Raid into Southwest Virginia and Western North Carolina March 21-April 25, 1865. Wilkesborough March 29. Wilkinsville N. C., April 8. Danbury April 9. Statesville and Salem April 11. Salisbury April 12. Dallas and Catawba River April 17. Swannanoah Gap April 20. Howard's Gap, Blue Ridge Mountains, April 22. Asheville April 25. Duty in Middle and East Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, and in North Carolina, till November, 1865. Mustered out November 14, 1865. Regiment lost during service 50 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 112 Enlisted men by disease. Total 164.

Thanks to Dr. Richard A. Sauers for the initial research and indexing of the National Tribune articles.

More about the Civil War in Ohio.

Copyright © 1995 Larry Stevens

Last updated January 11 2012