CIVIL WAR 26th OVI DIARY CONFEDERATE EXCHANGE DOC

Civil War diary for 1861 and 1862, named New Testament and Confederate prisoner exchange certificate of Hospital Steward Ervin Vincent Dunnen of the 26th Ohio Regiment 15th Brigade of the 6th Division. Residence was not listed; 20 years old. Enlisted on 6/13/1861 as a Corporal. On 7/26/1861 he mustered into "C" Co. OH 26th Infantry He was Mustered Out on 7/25/1864. Promotions:* Private 12/1/1861 (Reduced to ranks) * Hospital Steward 4/20/1863 Intra Regimental Company Transfers: * 4/20/1863 from company C to Field & Staff. The diaries cover day to day life in the years 1861 and 1862. Also in the grouping is his named New Testament and finally his Confederate Prisoner exchange certificate where he was captured and exchanged at the battle of Chickamauga, GA. A very rare set just needing to transcribe the diary. Twenty-sixth Infantry. - Col., Edward P. Fyffe; Lieut. Cols., Ephraim R. Eckley, William H. Young, William H. Squires, William Clark; Majs., Christopher Degenfeld, Norris T. Peatman, James A. Spence. This regiment was organized at Camp Chase, from June 8 to July 24, 1861, to serve for three years. As soon as the organization was complete it was ordered to the upper Kanawha valley, where it performed its first service. Being then transferred to the western field it was present at the battle of Shiloh. In the advance from that place through the swamps of northern Mississippi upon Corinth, it occupied the front line and was among the first to enter the place. In the memorable forced marches of Buell and Bragg, from the Tennessee to the Ohio, and thence toward Cumberland gap in the fall of 1862, the 26th performed its whole duty. At the battle of Stone's river the 26th was one of several regiments which stood firm against the charge of the Confederates when three-fourths of the Federal forces on the right had given way and were in full flight, and though for many hours the heavily-massed columns of the enemy were hurled against them, they still stood their ground, the 26th Ohio forming the apex of that little convex line of battle that all Bragg's victorious army could not break nor bend. At this time the command lost one-third of its strength in killed and wounded. At Chickamauga the regiment was in the thickest and bloodiest of the fight and acquitted itself with honor. Its loss in killed and wounded was very severe, being nearly three-fifths of the number engaged. At the storming of Missionary ridge it also maintained its good reputation, capturing about 50 prisoners and 2 cannon. The regiment suffered at this time a loss of about one-fourth of its strength in killed and wounded. By the close of 1863 the regiment had been reduced by arduous service from 1,000 to less than 200 rifles, yet this small remnant, with elbows out, trousers worn half way to the knees, socks and shirts gone to threads, hungry and shivering in the bitter January cold, almost to a man, re-enlisted for three years more! Returning to the field at the expiration of its furlough, the regiment joined Gen. Sherman for his movement on Atlanta, marched with its corps and participated in that arduous campaign. It was at Resaca, Kennesaw mountain, Peachtree creek, Jonesboro and the minor engagements of that march, always maintaining its splendid fighting reputation. In the race that ensued, with Nashville as the goal, the 26th bore a part and again had the honor of contending with the Confederate forces. Then the regiment was sent into the Texas campaign and after remaining in that state for the better part of a year it was mustered out at Victoria, Oct. 21, 1865.