Post edited 10:34 am – August 25, 2010 by kkuehling

19^th Ohio Light Artillery

aka "Shields Battery"

Guest Author: Christopher C. Whipple, Solon, OH

This 19th OVA was formed in Cleveland in 1862 and trained in Camp Cleveland (Tremont area).   Their men were from as far east as Rochester, NY and as far west as Toledo, Ohio and all points in between.   This was a special unit; whose reputation for good men and great officers was widely known.   In the unit history written in 1878, Theodore Tracie would write "As an organization, "Shields' Battery" was composed of the best educated, the most intelligent body of men that served during the war–rather a broad assertion, but, we honestly believe, literally a true one."   It's hard to gauge if they were the smartest and best educated unit in the war however from their service we can certainly ascertain they were one of the most talented.   

The unit was made up of men of means and they were colorful characters when not on duty.   However when they performed, they quickly became known as the best artillery unit available.   

They first action was in chase of Morgan's raiders and even fired the famous shots at the battle of McConnelsville, Ohio.     At the battle of Knoxville they battled Confederate General Longstreet and held the defense of Fort Saunders (aka Fort Sanders).   The next spring they traveled down to Georgia and fought in the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Dalton and Resaca.   They then were instrumental at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain and were reported to have fired the first shots in the battle of Atlanta.   There are numerous humorous antidotal stories concerning the battle of Atlanta.   They fought at the battle of Nashville and ended in the spring of 1865 at the battle of Fort Fisher NC and at war's end in Chapel Hill, NC.   They were stationed in Salisbury, NC until September 1865, when they were shipped back to Cleveland and mustered out.

Many of the unit members rose to prominence after the war's end and Captain Shields would later become a Cuyahoga County Commissioner.   

About the author:

Chris' father John G. Whipple had been a Civil War enthusiast for many years as his mother and her sisters were raised by their grandfather, Michael Houck a veteran of the 19th Ohio Volunteer Artillery.   As children my father's mother heard many stories of the 19th's activities and they passed these stories on to their children.   John Whipple took the greatest interest in them.   He was active in 1961 during the centennial celebration of the Civil War.   The family had retained Houck's 1864 Civil War diary and my father later transcribed it.   His interest in the Civil War was a lifelong endeavor and one that brought him many friends and hours of enjoyment.     

Chris' interest in the Civil War began in High School when he did a report on Civil War artillery.   After moving to North Carolina and understanding how much interest in the Civil War was still active in the Southern states, he began to do more research on the 19th OVA.   He visited many of their battle fields and transcribed another unit member's diaries and the 1878 Unit History.   With the advent of the internet, he was able to find many photographs and information on men of the unit.   He currently has photographs of 48 of the 144 men.   

Chris is hoping   to re-write and republish the 19th OVA's unit history and Chris currently publishes articles on various topics for "Cool Cleveland".   He resides in Solon, Ohio with his wife and school aged son.