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The Mexican War's First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and Its Civil War Legacy

Writer's picture: Darryl R. SmithDarryl R. Smith

During the Mexican War the state of Ohio raised five volunteer infantry regiments along with fifteen independent companies, while also providing regular soldiers for the Fifteenth United States Infantry and the United States Mounted Riflemen. Reading through the rosters of these units is like reading a Who's Who listing of minor Civil War personalities, but perhaps none more so than the First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This regiment saw action at both Monterrey and Ceralvo, providing those men who would later serve during the next war experiences they could put to practice. One might surmise by the following names that this single regiment of volunteers may have had a Civil War legacy unlike any other volunteer unit from the Mexican War.


Russell H. Alcott (Company I) - Alcott would be wounded in Mexico at the Battle of Monterrey. During the Civil War he was first lieutenant then captain in the First Michigan Infantry, then made major of the Twentieth Michigan Infantry. Alcott was killed at Second Bull Run on August 30th, 1862. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.


Henry Burdsal

Henry W. Burdsal (Company E) - Captain of Burdsal's Cavalry, serving in western Virginia (where he was wounded), then promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry. A druggist prior to the Civil War, Burdsal died in 1872 from an abscess caused by his wound, and is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati.


James P. Fyffe (Company G) - Colonel of the Fifty-Ninth Ohio Infantry and commanded a brigade at Stones River. Returning to Ohio in July 1863, Fyffe led a militia unit during John H. Morgan's 1863 raid. Fyffe died in January 1864 of disease and is buried in Old Georgetown Cemetery, Georgetown, Ohio. His son became colonel of the Third Tennessee Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. (see duel)


James George

James George - Born in New York, resident of Ohio. After moving to Ohio, he served four years as Register of Deeds in Butler County and four years as Secretary of the State Board of Public Works. George was also wounded at Monterrey. He moved to Minnesota after the Mexican War where he was an attorney. George became colonel of the Second Minnesota Infantry. George died in 1882 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Rochester, Minnesota.


Thomas L. Hamer - While Hamer did not survive the Mexican War (dying of disease in December 1846), he did have a profound impact on the Civil War. It was Congressman Hamer who nominated one Hiram Ulysses Grant to the United States Military Academy. It was also Hamer who submitted Grant's nomination with the incorrect name of Ulysses Simpson Grant. Hamer is buried in the Old Georgetown Cemetery, Georgetown, Ohio.


John G. Hughes - Serving with both the First and then the Second Ohio Regiments during the Mexican War, Hughes was made major in the First Ohio Infantry (three months) during the Civil War. He is buried in Greenville Union Cemetery in Greenville, Ohio.


James F. Harrison - Grandson of President William H. Harrison. Colonel of the Eleventh Ohio Infantry. Harrison graduated from West Point, Class of 1845. A lawyer prior to the Civil War. He was allegedly with William H. Lytle when he was mortally wounded at Chickamauga, resigning shortly thereafter. Harrison moved to Kansas after the war, dying in 1907. He is buried in Woodland Cemetery in Mound City, Kansas. (see duel)


August Kautz

August V. Kautz - Regular army, colonel of the Second Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Kautz is credited with being the first white man to climb Mount Rainer. He pursued John H. Morgan during the Indiana-Ohio Raid of 1863, helping to defeat Morgan at the Battle of Buffington Island. Kautz was later promoted and led cavalry raids in Virginia. He died in 1895 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.


Robert M. Moore - Lieutenant colonel of the 10th Ohio Infantry. Moore was mayor of Cincinnati after the war. He died in 1880 and is buried in Cincinnati's Spring Grove Cemetery.


Nathaniel Niles - Colonel of the 130th Illinois Infantry. A native of New York, later resident of Ohio. He moved to Illinois and later was a lawyer and newspaper editor. Niles died in 1900 and is buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Bellville, Illinois.


Alfred A. Phillips - Major of the Ninety-Third Ohio Infantry. Phillips died in 1881 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Ohio.


Jonathan Richmond - Colonel of the 126th Illinois Infantry. Born in 1823 in Butler County, Ohio, Richmond moved with his wife and children to Illinois in 1860, owning a dry goods store. After the war he would run milling operations and be a stockholder in the Mattoon National Bank. He died in 1893 and is buried in Mattoon's Dodge Grove Cemetery.


Ferdinand Van Derveer - Colonel of the Thirty-Fifth Ohio Infantry. Effectively led his brigade at Chickamauga, and along with Henry Van Ness Boynton was instrumental in creating a battlefield park at Chickamauga. He served in various civic capacities before and after the war, including county sheriff. Van Derveer is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Hamilton, Ohio. (see duel)


George P. Webster

George P. Webster - Webster was wounded at Monterrey. During the Civil War he served as major of the Twenty-Fifth OVI, then promoted to colonel of the Ninety-Eighth OVI. Webster was killed in action at Perryville while leading his brigade. He is buried in Union Cemetery in Steubenville, Ohio. Webster is the ancestor of William H. Webster, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


Carr B. White - Colonel of the Twelfth OVI. He is buried in the same cemetery as his nemesis, James P. Fyffe. (see duel)

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