A photo of 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Co. G. The men
obviously displayed a sense of humor when the photo was taken. Toward
the left of the photo, a man can be seen holding his bare arm out to
the side while another soldier holds a saw as if preparing for an
amputation. Many other men display pieces of hardtack, with some men
holding the hardtack over their hearts. On a more serious note, the
image includes two African Americans. At right an African American
appears to be shown as a cook. He may have been a cook, though this
was a "white" regiment and the cooks, being simply men of the
regiment, would typically not been African American. Another African
American appears at left, lying on his side. He appears to be much
younger than the men in the regiment. Likely he would have been
serving as a servant and would have been taken a long as a "mascot"
(i.e., not a formal member of the regiment, but as someone who desired
to accompany the regiment). Pvt. Orville K. Morris has been identified
as being seating left of center in the first row.
General:
The 3rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry served its term of service within the continental U.S. It did not see service abroad.
The History:
The regiment was organized at Columbus, Ohio on April 26, 1898, and was mustered into the federal service on May 10, 1898. Some companies were mustered into service as late an June 30. At the time of mustering in, the regiment consisted of forty-three officers and 913 enlisted men. The regiment was under the command of Col. Charles Anthony of Springfield, Ohio.
The companies of the regiment were formed in the following locations in Ohio:
Company A – Covington
Company B – Springfield
Company C – Gettysburg
Company D – Urbana
Company E – London
Company F – Hillsboro
Company G – Dayton
Company H – Ripley
Company I - Dayton
Company K - Piqua
Company L - Sidney
Company M – Sabina
Eight days after being mustered in, the regiment departed for Tampa, Florida, arriving on May 23. In Flroida, the regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division of the Seventh Army Corps, under the command of Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. On June 11, the regiment was transferred to the Second Brigade, Third Division of the Fourth Army Corps. The regiment was later transferred to Fernandina, Florida, arriving on July 25. On August 29, the regiment was again transferred, this time to Huntsville, Alabama, where it arrived on August 31.
On September 14, the regiment departed for home, arriving at Columbus on September 15. After being furloughed for one month, the regiment was mustered out on October 26, 1898. At the time of muster out, the regiment consisted of fifty-three officers and 1,297 enlisted men. During its term of service the regiment had two officers and eight enlisted men die from disease, and six enlisted men discharged on disability.
Correspondence relating to the War with Spain And Conditions Growing Out of the Same Including the Insurrection in the Philippine Island and the China Relief Expedition. Vol. 1 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1902) 610.
Morris, Kent - Company G photo.
Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into Service During the War with Spain; with Losses from All Causes. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899).
The Official Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War with Spain, 1898-1899. (Columbus: Edward Miller Co., 1916) 150.