Here is the third edition of the history of a group of men who valiantly fought to preserve the Union during the American Civil War. The first edition was published in 2010 to wide acclaim. An updated second edition was printed in 2013. Now, seven years later, this third edition expands on the previous ones with a new chapter and many more stories, burial locations, maps and photos. The men of the 26th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry were among the first to answer their country’s call to duty, and among the last ones to finally be mustered home. The “Old 26th” fought in numerous western theater campaigns and battles; including: Shiloh, Corinth, Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville. After the war’s end, the veterans yearned to publish their regiment’s proud history as so many other units had done. Regrettably, the high cost of publishing proved too steep for the aged veterans, and their dream died with them. The descendant of three veterans of the 26th Ohio, Jeffrey A. Hill resurrected their dream and brought it to fruition. Meticulously researched, their history is based on over five hundred primary source documents including letters, diaries, military and pension records, regimental and company records, and other first person accounts. Their narrative conveys their omnipresent sense of duty and loyalty. This book chronicles the involvement of the 26th Ohio from the initial fervor following Fort Sumter and throughout the war, as well as the postbellum activities. The appendices include a roster, list of burial sites, photo gallery, and index. This history is a lasting tribute to the men who so bravely fought to protect what they held most dear—their beloved country. At long last, here is their story...

The 26th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry: The Groundhog Regiment is the gripping story of the men and boys who valiantly fought to preserve their country's glory during the Civil War. These brave souls were among the first to answer the Union's call to duty and among the last to be mustered home. They proudly adopted the nickname, "The Groundhog Regiment" as the rodent's agility and determination epitomized their strengths. The Old 26th played a pivotal role in numerous major western theater campaigns and battles, from the early conflicts in western Virginia and Shiloh to the bloody fields of Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Kennesaw, Spring Hill, Franklin, and Nashville. After the war's end, the veterans yearned to write their regiment's history as so many other units had done. Regrettably, the high price of publishing proved to be too steep for the soldiers, and their dream of telling their story died with them. The descendant of two veterans of the 26th Ohio, Jeffrey A. Hill resurrected their dream and brought it to fruition. Meticulously researched, this history is based on over three hundred primary source documents from the soldiers. From the daily struggles of the privates to the internal anguish of Colonel Fyffe and the other senior commanders, the history offers an intriguing insight into the men who preserved the Union. The book chronicles the involvement of the 26th Ohio from the initial fervor following Fort Sumter, throughout the War, and the post-war activities of the veterans. The appendices include an updated roster, list of burial sites, and a photo gallery. The history is a lasting tribute to the men who so bravely fought to protect what they held most dear: their country. At long last, here is their story

Told in unflinching detail, this is the story of the Twenty-Ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, also known as the Giddings Regiment or the Abolition Regiment, after its founder, radical abolitionist Congressman J. R. Giddings. The men who enlisted in the Twenty-Ninth OVI were, according to its lore, handpicked to ensure each was as pure in his antislavery beliefs as its founder. Whether these soldiers would fight harder than other soldiers, and whether the people of their hometowns would remain devoted to the ideals of the regiment, were questions that could only be tested by the experiment of war. The Untried Life is the story of these men from their very first regimental formation in a county fairground to the devastation of Gettysburg and the march to Atlanta and back again, enduring disease and Confederate prisons. It brings to vivid life the comradeship and loneliness that pervaded their days on the march. Dozens of unforgettable characters emerge, animated by their own letters and diaries: Corporal Nathan Parmenter, whose modest upbringing belies the eloquence of his writings; Colonel Lewis Buckley, one of the Twenty-Ninth’s most charismatic officers; and Chaplain Lyman Ames, whose care of the sick and wounded challenged his spiritual beliefs. The Untried Life shows how the common soldier lived—his entertainments, methods of cooking, medical treatment, and struggle to maintain family connections—and separates the facts from the mythology created in the decades after the war.

A Shouting of Orders conveys the history of the 99th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, an American Civil War unit formed from the counties of northwest Ohio surrounding Lima. The regiment, one among nearly 200 formed in the Buckeye State, has a history rich in personalities and experiences. A Shouting of Orders is the culmination of nearly 10 years of research and features previously unpublished primary source documents from key members of the regiment, including the lieutenant colonel and a company captain. McCray also heavily relied on the regimental papers kept with the National Archives, as well as contemporary newspaper reports.

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