Name/Title
21st OVIEntry/Object ID
2009.414.019Description
4.5" x 6.5" black and white photo on poster board of 21st - Company I - JH Bolton
Lieutenant John H. Bolton served with the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) during the Civil War, enlisting as a sergeant and eventually being promoted to First Lieutenant. His personal wartime journals and letters are preserved in historical archives and provide valuable first-hand accounts of the regiment's major campaigns.
Military Service Summary
Enlistment: John H. Bolton enlisted on September 6, 1861, and was appointed Sergeant of Company F of the 21st OVI.
Commission: He was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company I on May 18, 1865. He also served as the regimental quartermaster.
Mustering Out: He was mustered out of service with the rest of his regiment on July 25, 1865.
Key Engagements and Campaigns
During his service, Bolton participated in several significant battles and campaigns:
Morgan's Raid (1862): Involved in the actions against Confederate Brigadier General John Hunt Morgan's cavalry raid through Ohio and other states.
Battle of Stones River (Dec 1862–Jan 1863): The 21st OVI saw heavy action here, where their colonel famously ordered them to "give them hell by the acre, boys, hell by the acre".
Battle of Chickamauga (Sep 1863): The regiment performed "gallant duty" at Chickamauga, holding a crucial position on Snodgrass Hill. Bolton was wounded on September 20, 1863, during this battle.
Atlanta Campaign & Sherman's March: In 1864, the 21st OVI joined General William T. Sherman's army, participating in battles at Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, and Jonesboro, followed by the Siege of Atlanta and the March to the Sea.
Grand Review of the Armies: Following the war's conclusion, the regiment marched to Washington, D.C., and took part in the Grand Review.
Historical Records
Bolton's experiences are well-documented through his personal writings:
Diaries/Journals: Transcriptions of his Civil War journal entries, which describe daily camp activities, weather, marches, and battles, are available for researchers.
Archival Collections: His papers, including his diaries and letters, are housed at institutions like the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museums and the Ohio History Connection.Photograph Details
Subject Person or Organization
21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry OVI, Bolton, John HCollection
Civil WarLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Photograph, Black-and-WhiteNomenclature Primary Object Term
PhotographNomenclature Sub-Class
Graphic DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects