Hale Farm AAR

From the Captain's Desk

1864, August:

After Action Reports

Hale Farm and Village, Ohio: There were two skirmishes at Hale Farm and Village.

The action started on Saturday afternoon, August 8th, at about 1:30 pm. It was drizzling and muggy. We were informed that there were some Confederates in the village area. Birney's was comprised of three companies and a platoon of sharpshooters. There was also one company and a platoon of sharpshooters from the USV's. The sharpshooters moved into the village to disperse the enemy, with the USV's in support. Birney's was in reserve. As the Confederate skirmishers were pushed back, they and a small group of Confederates retreated from the village. We pushed through the village and waited as it appeared that a larger Confederate force was across the road in the wooded area. We crossed the road, into a field, as the Confederates emerged from the woods. It was a tough fight with Birney's leading the attack. We were unable to flank the enemy and each time we seem to gain a little ground we were pushed back. Many a brave Union soldier lay dead or wounded in the field after several attempts to push the enemy from the field. In the end we were forced to retreat from the field and stop the loss of valuable men. The 5th OVI was combined with the 4th OVI, the 30th OVI and the 51st OVI. We fought valiantly but to no avail. We would still be on the field had our commanders not stopped the battle. We spent most of the night trying to dry out from the rain. Several of us, the Slattery boy's and myself, went looking for some other soldiers to try to amend for some of the lost life at the battle. We found several others, from the USV's, but the Union Commander saw us and told us to hold off until tomorrow. He said we would get our chance to avenge our comrades' lives.

On Sunday, August 9th, the men were still angry that our commanders pulled them from the field. The weather was very hot and muggy. The rebels reoccupied the village and our men were itching for another fight. Just like the Union Commander said, they were pulling us together for another battle. Birney's and the USV's moved into the town to push out the Confederates again. Just like the day before, the USV's, with the sharpshooters, push them out of the town. This time as they retreated to the woods across the field, to combine with their fellow secessionists, we were ready for the fight. Birney's again led the battle in the field. With hard fighting and several forward pushes, combined with our sharpshooters and the USV's flanking the enemy, we forced the rebels to call for a halt in the fighting. Many a gray and butternut soldier lay on the field that day. The men were hot and tired but proud as we marched from the field victorious.

August 2009

The event at Hale Farm & Village was wet, very hot and very humid. You would have thought we were in Virginia, not Ohio. The military camp was in the same place as it was last year. We only had one family camp and they were with the others near the carriage house. Wood was in short supply on Friday, but the Hale staff opened up a reserve and we were able to have enough for the weekend. The small skirmish in the village made the battle a little better, even though we were in reserve both days during that part. The Saturday night tactical was cancelled because of the rain. We had several men from the 4th OVI, the 51st OVI, the 30th OVI and one from the 74th New York fall in with us. I commanded the combined company on Saturday and the Lt. from the 4th OVI commanded us on Sunday.


Your Humble Servant,

Captain Andrew J. Kaminski
5th OVI, Co. H