6th Ohio Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry (or 6th OVI) was a regiment
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
, primarily serving in the Western Theater
in a series of campaigns and battles.
and surrounding areas. colonel
and first commander was William K. Bosley and Nicholas Longworth Anderson
of Cincinnati
was its first Lieutenant Colonel. Anderson did serve as the Colonel of the regiment during its last two years of service. The 6th was first sent to western Virginia before mustering out when its initial three-months term of enlistment expired. Reorganized as a three-years regiment, the 6th OVI spent the next three years in the Western Theater before being mustered out on June 23, 1864.
On March 13, 1865, Colonel Anderson was brevetted
to the rank of major general
and brigadier general
, for "gallant conduct and meritorious services in the Battle of Stone's River, Dec. 31, 1862" and for "distinguished gallantry and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Chickamauga
, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863".
The lineage and history of the 6th O.V.I. was carried on by the 147th Infantry Regiment during World War I
as part of the 37th Division, and during World War II
as a separate unit. The unit continued as the 1st Battalion, 147th Armor (Ohio Army National Guard
) until that unit's reorganization in 2007.
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, primarily serving in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
in a series of campaigns and battles.
Organization and service
The 6th OVI was organized in southwestern Ohio in the spring of 1861 and was mustered into Federal service on May 12. Most of its recruits were from Hamilton CountyHamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
and surrounding areas. colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
and first commander was William K. Bosley and Nicholas Longworth Anderson
Nicholas Longworth Anderson
Nicholas Longworth Anderson was a United States Army officer who served in the American Civil War as Colonel of the 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.-Biography:...
of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
was its first Lieutenant Colonel. Anderson did serve as the Colonel of the regiment during its last two years of service. The 6th was first sent to western Virginia before mustering out when its initial three-months term of enlistment expired. Reorganized as a three-years regiment, the 6th OVI spent the next three years in the Western Theater before being mustered out on June 23, 1864.
On March 13, 1865, Colonel Anderson was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
to the rank of major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
and brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, for "gallant conduct and meritorious services in the Battle of Stone's River, Dec. 31, 1862" and for "distinguished gallantry and meritorious conduct in the Battle of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863".
The lineage and history of the 6th O.V.I. was carried on by the 147th Infantry Regiment during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as part of the 37th Division, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a separate unit. The unit continued as the 1st Battalion, 147th Armor (Ohio Army National Guard
Ohio Army National Guard
The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio Military Reserve and the Ohio Air National Guard...
) until that unit's reorganization in 2007.