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He was assigned to Company B of the Ohio 54th
Infantry. Perble County newspaper files show him back home in Preble county
on furlough along with his unit for a couple of weeks. His wife give birth to their third child on
April 30th
of 1864. After the furlough his unit reported to Larkinsville, Alabama for duty.
On may 8 Th. the 54 Th. made it's way out of Larkinsville towards Ressaca, Georgia. They 54th
arrived at Ressaca
on the 13th of May. The unit was part of William Tescumb Sherman Army. Sherman had
assembled alarge force in Northern Georgia, with the mission of driving
towards the City of Alanta. Union forces where successful on the 12 Th. in forcing the
confederates
commanded by Joseph E. Johnstonoff the cliffs of Rocky Race Ridge located some 30 miles
south of Chattanooga,
Tennessee. General Johnston forces withdrew from Rocky Face Ridge and took up entrenched
positions around Resseca.
On the 13th the Union Troops tested the Confederate line trying to verify their exact positions
and strength.
On the 15 Th. the battle resumed with neither side having a clear advantage over
the other. This did not change utill General Sherman sent a force across the
Ostanula River at Lay's Ferry to cut off the railroad supply line of the Confederate.
The movement made it possible for Johnston to stop the Union Movement. He then retired the
confederate forces
to the south. On the 15 Th. Private Sidney Hewitt received a serious leg wound during the Battle
of Resseca.
After a stint in the field Hosbital, Sidney was sent back to Camp Dennison. He spent the
remaining time in the army
recovering from his injury. He was release one day and one year after he had enlisted
in the Army, on February 21 1865, with a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability. He returned to his
farm
in Preble County, Ohio where he live for the remainder of his life.
The 54th went on to fight in most of the battles leading to Atlanta, The battle of Atlanta and
"Sherman's
infamous/famous march to the sea. The unit continue up the coast through South Carolina into
North Carolina.
They continue through Virginia participating in battles in and around Richmond and on to
Washington, D.C..
The unit was then sent to Louisville, Kentucky and then on out to Little Rock'
Arkansas. The Ohio 54 Th. Volunteer Infantry was mustered out on August 15th 1865.