OHIO VETERAN VOLUNTEEER MEDAL 27TH OVI CIVIL WAR

Stellar condition 27th Ohio Civil War Veterans Medal named to Robert Harmount of Company "A". Robert F. Harmount Residence was not listed; 18 years old. Enlisted on 7/17/1861 as a Private. On 7/24/1861 he mustered into "A" Co. OH 27th Infantry He was Mustered Out on 7/11/1865 at Louisville, KY. Twenty-seventh Infantry. - Cols., John W. Fuller, Mendal Churchill; Lieut.-Cols., Henry G. Kennett, Swift Spaulding, Edwin Nichols, Isaac N. Gilruth; Maj., James P. Simpson. This regiment was organized at Camp Chase from July 15 to Aug. 18,1861, to serve for three years. On the morning of Aug. 20, the regiment marched out of camp, 950 strong, and took the cars for St. Louis, Mo. In December it shared in the capture of 1,300 recruits, who were endeavoring to join the Confederate Gen. Price. The regiment was actively engaged during the siege of New Madrid and after the surrender of the town remained in camp about two weeks, constantly engaged in drilling. It then moved to Island No. 10, assisting in the capture of that place, and a few weeks later moved to the vicinity of Fort Pillow. During the siege of Corinth it was repeatedly under fire and in every instance behaved well. It was a part of the force sent to recapture Iuka in September and participated in the fight at that place. In the following engagement at Corinth it was in the heat of the conflict and lost about 60 men. It was with the brigade that encountered Forrest at Parker's cross-roads, Tenn. and took an active part in the engagement at that place, capturing 7 guns, 360 prisoners and 400 horses. At the close of 1863 the soldiers of the 27th re-enlisted as veterans and after their furlough home in May, 1864, joined the main army at Chattanooga. It was engaged with Hood's corps at Dallas , skirmished at Big Shanty, fought at Kennesaw mountain, losing heavily, both in officers and men; participated in the action at Nickajack creek, advancing at the head of a division with fixed bayonets and charging the Confederate works with complete success. On July 22, before Atlanta, the regiment was engaged in one of its most severe battles, and sustained its heaviest loss. From the time it left Chattanooga till the fall of Atlanta the regiment had lost 16 officers and 201 men, only 6 of whom were reported "missing." This was a loss of more than half the men present for duty when the regiment left Chattanooga. It pursued Hood northward, then marched with Sherman to the sea, skirmishing near Savannah with slight loss. It shared in the campaign of the Carolinas and at the crossing of the Salkehatchie river literally hewed its way through forest and swamp, with water nearly up to the waist, for more than a mile, and was among the first to find a way to cross the river. At Cheraw it was the first regiment to enter the town, skirmishing with the Confederate cavalry, driving them through the streets and across the Pedee river. At Bentonville, N. C., Monroe's division, to which the 27th belonged, attacked the enemy's left and pushed forward so vigorously that the skirmish line was at Gen. Johnston's headquarters before they were aware of it. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 11, 1865. Report of Lieut. Col. Mendal Churchill, Twenty-seventh Ohio Infantry, of operations July 22. HDQRS. TWENTY-SEVENTH REGT. OHIO VOL. INFANTRY, Before Atlanta, Ga., July 30, 1864. SIR: In compliance with Special Field Orders, No. 45, from headquarters Left Wing, Sixteenth Army Corps, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this command in the engagement of the 22d instant: The brigade of which this regiment forms a part on that day was in position in reserve in rear of the Fourth Division of the Seventeenth Corps. At about 12.30 p. m. the order was sent me by the commanding officer to move into the road and follow the Thirty-ninth Ohio at double-quick to the rear and left, where firing was then heard. This order was executed instantly so far as to set the regiment in march. After passing out of the woods we came into open fields, on the south side of which the enemy were advancing. After moving across the fields about 400 yards we formed line on the right of the Thirty-ninth Ohio, having double-quicked about a mile. One company was immediately thrown forward as skirmishers, when the general commanding division ordered the line forward to the top of the crest in our front. The skirmishers sent out were driven back almost immediately by the columns of the enemy which then advanced in our front. Gen. Fuller gave the order to fix bayonets and charge the enemy. The line moved forward in good style at doublequick, causing the enemy to halt, waver, and finally give way in disorder. We drove them across the field into the timber and over a ridge. In advancing this regiment had to pass through a thicket of briars and willows in the edge of the timber, which somewhat disordered the line. I gave the order to reform before resuming the charge, as I expected to meet the enemy in force after passing the ridge. While doing this a column of the enemy advanced into the field on our right flank and rear, which point was unprotected. Under the circumstances I did not deem it prudent to advance farther. Gen. Fuller directed me to refuse my right, which was promptly done. The enemy still advanced on our right and rear; we were not in a situation to offer serious resistance. It was almost impossible to execute a change of front under such a flank fire as we were sustaining. I ordered the regiment to about face, make a right wheel, and fall back behind the ridge to face this new danger. This movement was made in good order considering the difficulty of executing such a movement under a galling fire. I am greatly indebted to Gen. Fuller for his assistance in reforming the line. After this was done the regiment again charged to the top of the hill, and by a few well-directed volleys sent the enemy hurling back to the timber, from which they continued to fire on us, though not inflicting serious loss, as the men were lying down. We remained in this position until about 4.30 p. m., when a new line was formed farther to the rear, and we were ordered to withdraw to the new alignment, which we did in good order. It is proper to add that all the movements above enumerated (after forming line) were executed under a constant fire from the front and right flank. The losses sustained in the action by the regiment were as follows: Killed, 19 enlisted men; wounded, 6 commissioned officers and 102 enlisted men missing, 3 enlisted men; aggregate, 130. A detailed list has already been forwarded. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. CHURCHILL,Lieut.-Col., Cmdg. Capt. J. W. BARNES.