The 48th Ohio Infantry regiment was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, from September through December, 1862. It would be mustered into Federal service on February 17, 1862, at which time it would be ordered to Paducah, Kentucky. Lieutenant Colonel Peter J. Sullivan would organize the 48th, along with three other regiments. He would be promoted to full colonel, commanding the 48th, on January 23, 1862. He would bravely lead his regiment, through its “baptism of fire,” at the Battle of Shiloh, where he would have four horses shot out from under him, and suffer three wounds.
The 48th Ohio would initially be attached to the District of Paducah, and in March 1862 would formally be assigned to Colonel Ralph Buckland’s Fourth Brigade, of William T. Sherman’s Fifth Division of Major General Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Tennessee. Within 30 days of receiving their rifles (they received inferior Austrian rifles), the 48th would find itself bivouacked around the Shiloh Meeting House, a couple of miles southwest of Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee.
In the early morning hours, of April 6, the Federal divisions, camped around Pittsburg Landing, would receive a rude awakening – a dawn assault from CS General A. Sidney Johnston’s Army of the Mississippi. Overnight, advanced scouts from US Colonel Everett Peabody’s brigade would engage in skirmishing with advanced units of the Confederate army. Unfortunately, the two Federal divisions, in their path, Sherman’s Fifth Division and US Brigadier General Benjamin Prentiss’s Sixth Division would be caught off guard. Both Prentiss, and Sherman, discounted reports of Rebel activity in their front. By 6:45 AM, on April 6, they would pay the price. Prentiss’s Sixth division was totally unprepared, receiving the brunt of the first assault, before Prentiss had much opportunity to throw out a defensive line. His division would be roughly pushed back. Further to the Federal right Sherman was little more prepared, than Prentiss. However he did have time to put together a defensive line, with Colonel Jesse Hildebrand’s Third Brigade on the left, Buckland’s Fourth Brigade holding the center and Colonel John McDowell’s First Brigade holding the left flank. In the mayhem that followed, Sullivan’s 48th Ohio would hold the center of Buckland’s brigade. None too soon, Buckland organized his brigade. Charging at them was the crack brigade of CS Brigadier General Patrick Cleburne. Composed of regiments from Tennessee, and Arkansas, the veteran 2nd Tennessee Infantry regiment, commanded by Colonel William B. Bate, charged headlong into the 48th Ohio. With his regiment wavering, under tremendous pressure, Sullivan coolly worked to maintain the regiment’s alignment. With the exception of their regimental color bearer, who immediately dropped their colors, retreating to the rear, the regiment held firm.(i) Letting loose a terrific musketry barrage, over 100 of the 2nd Tennessee littered the ground in front of the 48th. This included CS Major W.R. Doak and two captains, Joseph Tyree and Humphrey Bate, all killed. A short time later William Bate would also be seriously wounded, incapacitating him from further action at Shiloh. Cleburne’s attack, with little artillery support, foundered. Unfortunately, the Confederate assault kept coming, by waves, finally overpowering Sherman’s line, and pushing 
them beyond the Crossroads. Essentially in a fighting retreat, Sherman would end up being pushed back to what would be Grant’s final line, on the Pittsburg Landing Road. There they would reform, after nightfall, and take part in Grant’s successful counterattack on April 7. The 48th Ohio had proven their mettle, even with inferior rifles, losing 131 men at Shiloh, including Colonel Peter Sullivan, wounded in the right arm.
The 48th Ohio would remain in active duty, participating in many significant battles: Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Grand Gulf, Port Gibson, Champion’s Hill, Vicksburg, Red River Campaign and the Siege of Fort Blakely, Alabama. At Vicksburg, the 48th Ohio would be active in assaults on May 20 and again on May 22, when they were actively engaged in the fighting at the Railroad Redoubt. At Vicksburg, they would leave behind 35 men, killed and wounded.(ii)
The 48th Ohio would remain active through January 27, 1865, when their term of enlistment expired. Veterans would be consolidated into the 83rd Ohio Infantry regiment. The soldiers of this proud regiment are true American HEROES.
(i) Cunningham, Edward O., Shiloh and the Western Campaign of 1862, published 2007 by Savas Beatie, Pgs. 171–172.
(ii) 48th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry Regiment online history, the manuscript can be read here.
