| Captain I.H. McCormick | 148th Ohio Voluntary Infantry |
| by Toby Tucker |
Mr. McCormick, I believe, was an Illinois native, who attended three years at Otterbein. In 1857, Mr. McCormick registered as J.H. McCormick at the Academy, a preparatory school to Otterbein University. In 1858, Mr. McCormick registered at Otterbein University as I. H. McCormick. His last year at Otterbein was 1859, that year he registered as J. H. McCormick. After his second year at the University, he never again attended Otterbein.
In 1861 he volunteered for military service in Illinois. He was in company A of the 40th regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He began his service as a Corporal and gained a promotion to Sergeant within the Illinois 40th. During this time with the 40th, his regiment took place in a couple of the early battles of war within the Army of the Tennessee. There were four major battles that he was in, these were Shiloh (Pittsburg Landing), Corinth, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga. All of which were considered Union victories. In 1864 Sergeant McCormick changed regiments from the 40th Illinois to the 148th Ohio. In the 148th Ohio Volunteer Infantry National Guard, Sergeant McCormick was a Captain of company E. This regiment was gathered for 100 days of service. Which was composed of the 46th Regiment of Ohio National Guard and the 96th Battalion of Ohio. They were shipped out of Marietta on May 23 for the field. When they just got out of town, there was an accident on the railroad and a few of the soldiers were killed. After a short layoff at Harper’s Ferry the 148th went on to Washington D.C. They were only there a short time before being sent on June ninth into General Butler’s entrenchments at the front. They stayed at the front until early August, then they were sent home. On the 13th of September, they were given a public dinner in Marietta and were discharged from service the next day. This was the last of Captain I. H. McCormick’s service. I believe he took up residency in Ray, Ohio.
Bibliography
"Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Website." http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss (accessed March 1, 2003).
Otterbein’s Civil War Veterans’ Registry Book, Otterbein College.
Otterbein Student Register, Otterbein College.
Whitelaw, Reid. Ohio in the War, 1861-1865: Her statesmen, her generals, and soldiers. Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin, 1868.