Louis Mullich part 2

Part one is here

Camp Dennison, courtesy ohiohistorycentral.org

After his unit’s reorganization at Camp Dennison, Louis noted “$52.00 received” on March 16^th, and a week later these men were in Lexington, Kentucky, part of the Department of Central Kentucky. They helped transport 200 prisoners to Frankfort, where on April 22 Louis received another $26.00, representing two months’ pay.

On May 15, Louis recorded “shooting a deserter from 10^th Mich Reg’t.”

According to the Official Records, the 108^th Ohio had enlisted 724 volunteer infantrymen as of June 16, 1863.

This regiment then moved into western Tennessee, arriving in Nashville on May 5^th and spent the next several months guarding the railroad to Chattanooga, in both Tennessee and northern Alabama. During this time, Louis received two more payments of $52.00 each, on August 4 and November 18 and sketched the layout of the nearby camp.

At the end of November, the 108^th was involved in the Union attack on the Confederates around Chattanooga, seeing action at Tunnel Hill and Missionary Ridge. They marched to the relief of Knoxville, which the Confederates had besieged,  before returning to the Chattanooga vicinity, where, according to Louis’ diary, they went into winter quarters in Rossville, Georgia on December 26.

When the calendar turned to 1864, the 108^th Ohio became a part of Major-General William T. Sherman’s Atlanta campaign.  In his diary, Louis records a “review by Gen Thomas” on March 31 and then on May 2, he notes “leaving winter quarters” before a May 7 entry stating: “Gen Sherman as commander of the whole army.”

During this campaign, the108^th Ohio saw action in many of the skirmishes and battles that took place, such as Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church and others.

On June 25, Louis’ diary notes “108^th regt as train guard” which would last several months. During this time, he recorded reciving more pay. On August 20, he noted the second anniversary of the regiment’s enlistment.


At the battle of Dalton in mid-August, Louis and the 108^th fought alongside soldiers of the 14^th US Colored troops. James Steadman, commanding in the area, reported: “I was much pleased with the conduct of my entire command.”

Louis describes several actions of the regiment over the next few weeks. On August 28^th, a battle with cavalry resulted in losses: “108 lost 3 men; 1 Negro; 13 wounded.” He noted the fall of Atlanta in his September 2^nd entry.

His unit crossed the Chatahootchie River on the 9^th and on the same day he notes “burning 4 train loads ammunition by rebels themselves.” On September 25, “Rebels destroy a barn & a train bet Big Shanty and Marietta and take on prisoners from the 108^th,” while on the second day of October: “Telegraph cut by Rebels, collision of two trains between Big Shanty several of the 108^th injured.” On October 3, “Big Shanty captured by the Rebels” and by the 4^th, the 108^th Ohio was “following Gen Hood from Kennesaw Mt.”