The nucleus of this regiment was two companies raised in Fairfield County on the first call for troops, in April, 1861. At Lancaster they were subsequently joined by several companies from other counties, among which were those of Capt. Thomas Acton, of London, and Capt. Thomas J. Haynes, of Plain City, Madison County. The regiment was immediately organized by electing field officers. On the 20th of June, the Seventeenth left Zanesville, whither it had proceeded, for Bellaire. On arriving at Benwood, on the Ohio River, a fleet of boats was found waiting to receive the troops. On the 23d, all were embarked, arriving at Marietta on Sunday afternoon. The following morning the fleet started for Parkersburg, and in a few hours the Seventeenth was on Virginia soil. It was at once brigaded with the Ninth and Tenth Ohio, Gen. William S. Rosecrans commanding the brigade.
Its first duty was to guard trains to Clarksburg, Va., and return. Company F was first detailed on this service. Companies A and B were detailed as guard to Gen. McClellan. Companies I, F, G and K were sent down the river on an expedition, with sealed orders, not to be opened until Blennerhassett Island was passed. One company was put off at Larue. W. Va., and the other two proceeded on down to Ripley Landing and crossed over by land to Ripley, the county seat of Jackson County. Both detachments were to operate against the guerrillas of the different localities. The two Wises, father and son, were in command of the rebels in that vicinity, and made their boasts that they would "annihilate the Yankees on sight," but took good care to keep at a respectful distance from said Yankees. Two companies remained at Ravenswood until July 10, when they were ordered to report to the regiment at Buckhannon, Va., on July 14. The other five companies of the regiment left the railroad at Petroleum and marched across to Buckhannon, at which place, on the 4th of July, they were surrounded by about 1,500 rebels, but held the position uatil re-enforced bv the Tenth Ohio.
It was intended to have had the Seventeenth Ohio concentrated in time to participate in the battle of Rich Mountain, but, as it was thought a much better work was being performed in Jackson County by breaking up recruiting camps and preventing many from joining the rebel ranks, it was not done. Shortly after the regiment was consolidated at Buckhannon, it was ordered on an expedition, in company with several other regiments, Col. Tyler commanding, to Sutton, Va. After a long and very hard march, Sutton was occupied and fortified. On the 3d of August, 1861, the Seventeenth Ohio, having over-served the time some days, started for home, arriving at Zanesville, Ohio, on the 13th of August, and two days later was mustered out of the service. The two companies from Madison County returned to their homes, and many, if not all of the men composing them, subsequently joined other regiments, principally enlisting in the different companies from Madison County that went into the Twenty-sixth. Fortieth, Ninetv-fifth and One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiments.
This company, originally called the "Eagle Guards," wss organized at London, and mustered into the service under the first call for troops in April, 1861. It subsequently was ordered to Lancaster, and there joined the Seventeenth Regiment, with the following roster:
On the first call for troops in April, 1861, this company was immediately raised at Plain City, and forwarded to Lancaster, where it was mustered into the Seventeenth Regiment on the 5th of June, as follows: