Comment by Gerry Regan on May 30, 2013 at 9:46am

The GAR played a major role in the development of Memorial Day in 1868, 145 years ago today.

Comment by Gerry Regan on May 30, 2013 at 9:49am

Ryan, can you share with us your ancestors' experience of the American Civil War? We're creating a discussion thread on the subject today, the 145th anniversary of the founding of Memorial (Decoration) Day.

Comment by Séamus Ó Dubsláine on May 30, 2013 at 11:59am

Hugh J.Ryan (Company E)

UNION OHIO VOLUNTEERS
5th Regiment, Ohio Cavalry
OVERVIEW:
Regiment originally organized at Camp Dick Corwin, near Cincinnati, Ohio, October 23-November 14, 1861, as 2nd Ohio Cavalry. Designation changed by Gov. Dennison November, 1861. Duty at Camp Dick Corwin till November 5, 1861, and at Camp Dennison, Ohio, till March, 1862. Ordered to Paducah, Ky. 2nd Battalion left Cincinnati, Ohio, February 28, and 1st and 3rd Battalions on March 1, 1862. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., March, 1862. Sherman's 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to April, 1862. 1st and 2nd Battalions attached to 4th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. District of Memphis, Tenn., to September, 1862. District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. Lee's 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Lee's 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to April, 1863. 4th Brigade, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 3rd Battalion (Cos. "E," "H," "I" and "K") attached to 3rd Division, Army Tennessee, April, 1862. 2nd Division, Army Tennessee, to July, 1862. 2nd Division, District of Corinth, Miss., to November, 1862. Unattached Cavalry, District of Corinth, Miss., 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. Tennessee, to December, 1862. District of Corinth, Miss., 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to May, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 16th Army Corps, to October, 1863. Regiment attached to Headquarters 15th Army Corps October, 1863, to April, 1864. Cavalry, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to October, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Kilpatrick's 3rd Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to January, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, to June, 1865. Dept. of North Carolina to October, 1865.

SERVICE:
March from Danville to Savannah, Tenn., March 10-11, 1862. Expedition to Mobile & Ohio Railroad to destroy bridges March 14-15. Beach Creek Bridge, Tenn., March 13. Near Eastport, Miss., March 14. Burnsville March 14-15. Reach Pittsburg Landing March 15. Skirmish Pittsburg Landing March 16. Reconnoissance toward Corinth March 16. Black Jack Forest March 16 (Detachment). Near Shiloh Church March 24 (1st and 2nd Battalions). Purdy Road near Adamsville March 31 (Co. "I"). Expedition to Chickasaw, Ala., and Eastport, Miss., April 1. Near Monterey, Tenn., April 3. Crump's Landing April 4 (Detachment). Battle of Shiloh April 6-7. Corinth Road April 8. Beech Creek Bridge April 13 (3rd Battalion). Affair with Cavalry April 14. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Tuscumbia River June 1-6. March to Memphls, Tenn., via LaGrange and Grand Junction June 10-July 27 (1st and 2nd Battalions), and duty there till September. Horn Lake Creek August 16 (Cos. "A," "C"). 3rd Battalion at Corinth, Miss., till August, 1863. 1st and 2nd Battalion moved from Memphis to Jackson, Tenn., September 6-12, 1862. Battle of Corinth, Miss., October 3-4 (3rd Battalion). Pursuit to Ripley October 5-12 (3rd Battalion). Battle of the Hatchie, Metamora, October 5, 1862 (1st and 2nd Battalions). Chewalla October 5 (3rd Battalion). Ruckersville and near Ripley October 7 (3rd Battalion). Guard Mobile & Ohio Railroad at Glendale October 15 to November 8, 1862 (3rd Battalion). Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November, 1862, to January, 1863. About Oxford, Miss., December 1-3, 1862. Free Bridge December 3. Water Valley Station December 4. Coffeeville December 5. Raid from Corinth to Tupelo December 13-19 (3rd Battalion). Operations against Forest December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863 (1st and 2nd Battalions). Lexington December 18, 1862. Salem Cemetery near J

Comment by Séamus Ó Dubsláine on May 30, 2013 at 12:10pm

Salem Cemetery near Jackson December 19. Davis Mills, Wolf River, December 21 (Cos. "B," "M"). Guard Memphis & Charleston Railroad till March, 1863 (1st and 2nd Battalions), and duty at and about Memphis, Tenn., till August, 1863 (1st and 2nd Battalions). Expedition from Memphis, Tenn., to Coldwater, Miss., April 18-24, 1863. Tuscumbia, Ala., February 22 (3rd Battalion). Hernando April 18. Perry's Ferry, Coldwater River, April 19. Expedition from Memphis toward Hernando, Miss., May 23-24 (Detachment). Scouts from Memphis toward Hernando, Miss., May 26 and 28 (Detachments). Operations in Northeast Mississippi June 13-22 (3rd Battalion). Operations in Northeastern Mississippi June 15-25 (1st and 2nd Battalions). New Albany and Coldwater June 19 (3rd Battalion). Hernando June 20 (3rd Battalion). Adkin's Plantation, Mud Creek Bottom, Rocky Crossing, Tallahatchie River and Hernando, June 20 (3rd Battalion). Near Memphis July 16 and 18. At Camp Davies till October. Wartrace September 6. Joined Gen. Sherman at Chickasaw, Ala., and march to Chattanooga, Tenn., leading advance. Operations on Memphis & Charleston Railroad in Alabama October 10-30. Cane Creek and Barton's Station October 20. Dickson's Station October 20. Cherokee Station October 21. Cane Creek and Barton's Station October 26. Bear Creek, Tuscumbia, October 27. Cherokee Station October 29. Barton's Station October 31. Guarding trains, escort and courier duty during battles of Chattanooga, Tenn., November 23-25. Pursuit to Ringgold, Ga., November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Near Loudon December 2. (3rd Battalion joined Long's Brigade in Knoxville.) Expedition to Tellico Plains after Longstreet's trains December 6-11. Report to Gen. Howard at Athens, Tenn. Picket Hiawassee River and courier duty between Grant and Burnside. Regiment veteranize at Larkinsville, Ala., January, 1864. Near Kelly's Plantation, Sulphur Springs, April 11 (Detachment). Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Advance guard of 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to near Rome, Ga. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Old Church June 13. March to Kingston June 22. Duty there and at Cartersville guarding railroad till November 7. Cartersville July 24. Canton August 22. Shadow Church and Westbrooks near Fairburn October 2 (Detachment). Marietta October 4. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Bear Creek Station November 16. East Macon, Walnut Creek, November 20. Waynesboro November 27-28. Buckhead Creek or Reynolds' Plantation November 28. Rocky Creek Church December 2. Ebenezer Creek December 8. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Altamaha Bridge December 17. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Williston, S. C., February 8. North Edisto February 12-13. Monroe's Cross Roads March 16. Taylor's Hole Creek, Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Goldsboro March 23. Advance on Raleigh April 10-13. Raleigh April 13. Morrisville April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. Picket near Raleigh till April 30. Duty in Sub-District of Morgantown, District of Western North Carolina, Dept. of North Carolina, to October, 1865. Mustered out October 30, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 26 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 140 Enlisted men by disease. Total 170.

Comment by Séamus Ó Dubsláine on May 30, 2013 at 12:24pm

Hugh J. Ryan is my mother's maternal great-grandfather.

We have other Civil War stories in our family.

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