[James Garfield]. Civil War Manuscript on the History of Company G, 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment. Nine pages on 12 sheets, 7.75" x 12.5", n.p.; n.d. Written in ink, manuscript is an outline of the key dates and activities of 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment that was under the leadership of Colonel James A. Garfield, future president of the United States. It is not known who wrote the manuscript or when it was composed. According to this manuscript, Company G of the 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment was "organized at Newburgh, Ohio, September 19th 1861 by Capt. Chas. P. Jewett and went into camp at Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 1st 61." After mentioning elected officers and mustering in, the manuscript offers a concise history of Company G and the 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment, with several gaps near the end, apparently due to the author not having certain details. Excerpts from the manuscript are presented below. The Battle of Middle Creek is described in pages 1-2: on January 9, 1862, "Col. Garfield with a...force of 30 men from each company in all about 1200 men pursued the enemy to Prestonburg coming up with the enemy in the evening and driving in their pickets. On the following day engaged the enemy's force numbering about 5000 men. The fighting commenced about 1PM. At about 4PM we were joined by the remainder of the force. We gained and held our position until night, when under cover of the darkness the enemy beat a hasty retreat, leaving their dead and wounded upon the field." From December 20, 1862 to January 3, 1863, Company G participated in the Yazoo Expedition. An engagement on December 28 is described on page 6: "Landed the same evening on the Bank of the Yazoo below Haines Bluff. On the 28th advanced and engaged the enemy. After three days of desperate fighting in which the 42nd lost about 75 men in killed and wounded our forces withdrew, and under cover of the night re-embarked upon our transports." The siege and fall of Vicksburg are described on page 8: "On the 22nd of June Regt. ordered to Block River to guard against an attack...by the enemy under command of Rebel Genl. Johnson. July 4 Vicksburg surrendered and on the 6 th were ordered in pursuit of Johnson and his forces. Followed him to Jackson where after several days siege, his forces were routed, and our troops took possession of the city. After destroying and tearing up RR track for some 20 miles out our forces returned to Vicksburg." The manuscript ends on page 9 with this line "Mustered out at Columbus Ohio Dec. 2nd 1864." The 42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio, in September through November 1861, and mustered in for three years' service on December 7, 1861, under the command of Colonel James Abram Garfield, future president of the U.S. After serving for a time on the Kanawha, in Western Virginia, the regiment in December joined Sherman's army in the unsuccessful attack on the Bluffs at Vicksburg, and immediately afterwards it participated in the capture of Arkansas Post. It participated in the various battles incident to the campaign resulting in the surrender of Vicksburg, and afterwards was ordered to New Orleans. The regiment participated in several engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg, the siege of Jackson, Mississippi, and the Red River Campaign. Companies A, B, C, and D mustered out September 30, 1864; companies E and F mustered out November 25, 1864; companies G, H, I, and K mustered out December 2, 1864 (all at Camp Chase). Veterans and recruits were transferred to the 96th Ohio Infantry. Condition: The manuscript has horizontal folds; otherwise in very good condition. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved