James R.
Johnson's Great Grandfather:
William D. Johnson's GGGGrandfather
William D. Johnson's GGGGrandfather
John Von Der
Au
Biography of
John Von Der Au (1842 – 1923)
Private, 121st Regiment,
34th Brigade, 10th Division, Army of the Ohio - 1862
Corporal, 121st Regiment,
2nd Brigade, 2 Division, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland - 1865
Born March
21, 1842 at the home of Jacob Ritner near Carlisle, Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, Johannes (John) Von Der Au was a young boy when his family moved
from Pennsylvania to Union County, Ohio. In 1862 at 20 years of age, John
(Johannes) Von Der Au enlisted into the Union Army of the United States of
America.
Enlistment
John (Johannes) Von Der Au enlisted in the 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) on August 18, 1862. John’s brother, John Philip Von Der Au, enlisted four days later on August 22, 1862. The brothers both serviced in Company I of the 121st OVI throughout the war.
The Ohio 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized and mustered in for three years of service on September 11, 1862. Initially under the command of Colonel William P. Reid, the Regiment was recruited in Delaware, Knox, Logan, Marion and Morrow Counties. The Regiment was active September 11, 1862 to June 8, 1865.
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| 121st Regimental Flag |
121st
Significant Engagements
Defense of
Cincinnati
Battle of
Perryville
Tullahoma
Campaign
Battle of
Chickamauga
Siege of
Chattanooga
Battle of
Lookout Mountain
Battle of
Missionary Ridge
Atlanta
Campaign
Battle of
Resaca
Battle of
Kennesaw Mountain
Battle of
Peachtree Creek
Siege of
Atlanta
Battle of
Jonesboro
Sherman's
March to the Sea
Carolinas
Campaign
Battle of Averasboro
Battle of Averasboro
Battle of
Bentonville
Battle of
Kennesaw Mountain
During the
Georgia Campaign in June 1864, John (Johannes) Von Der Au was wounded at the
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
During the
time period of June 20th to the 27th, it is know
that the 121st was in the area of Kennesaw Mountain. All units
of the XIV Army would have been in skirmishes during this time. June 27, 1864
is considered the significant date of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. On this
date John (Johannes) Von Der Au was wounded while on forward picket duty.
The wound was
described as an enemy musket ball entering the back of his right thigh and
traveling to the front of his thigh. Records continue to detail that John
(Johannes) Von Der Au was first taken to a field hospital where the wound was
cleaned and dressed. He was then transferred and hospitalized in Nashville,
Tennessee. It was not until late August 1864 that John (Johannes) Von Der Au
returned to active duty with the 121st Regiment and Company
“I”. His regiment was then camped in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia.
Return to
Action
Returning to his Regiment in August, John Von Der Au completed his service participating in the “March to the Sea” and subsequently through the “Carolina Campaign”. The Regiment’s final battle was at Bentonville, North Carolina.The 121st remained in the field until after the Confederate surrender at Bennett farm (Bennett Place).
Returning to his Regiment in August, John Von Der Au completed his service participating in the “March to the Sea” and subsequently through the “Carolina Campaign”. The Regiment’s final battle was at Bentonville, North Carolina.The 121st remained in the field until after the Confederate surrender at Bennett farm (Bennett Place).
Wars End
On April 17 Confederate General Joseph Johnston and Union General William T. Sherman met on the farmhouse of James Bennitt (now called Bennett Place) to negotiate the terms of Johnston's surrender. On April 26, 1865 the Bennitt home became the site of the largest troop surrender of the Civil War.
Following the ending of the Civil War, the Ohio 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry marched in the Grand Review of the Armies in Washington DC on May 23 and May 24, 1865
Regimental
Summary
121st Infantry. — Cols., William P. Reid, Henry B. Banning; Lieut.-Cols., William S. Irwin, Maecenas C. Lawrence, Aaron B. Robinson; Majs., Reason R. Henderson, John Yager, Jacob M. Banning. This regiment was organized at Delaware, Sept. 11, 1862, to serve for three years. It entered Kentucky 985 strong, and participated in the fall campaign in that state, the most stirring event of which was the Battle of Perryville, in which the regiment engaged at great disadvantage and of course did not win for itself much reputation for military efficiency. It remained in Kentucky doing guard duty until Jan., 1863, when it was ordered to Tennessee. It remained in that state during the summer and in the second day's fighting became fully engaged at the battle of Chickamauga. In a charge made by the regiment to save the only remaining road into Chattanooga, it performed feats of bravery second to no other in the army and won for itself an enduring name. It met and vanquished the 22nd Ala. Confederate infantry, capturing its colors and a majority of the regiment. But the loss of the 121st was severe — 19 killed, 77 wounded and 3 missing, who were also probably killed. Falling back with the army behind the intrenchments at Chattanooga, the regiment remained quiet until the battles of Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge, in which it took a prominent part. It then remained in camp until it moved with the army on the Atlanta campaign. The first engagement on this campaign in which the regiment participated was that of Buzzard Roost gap, in which it drove the enemy from an important position. In the affair at Rome it was complimented by the brigade commander for having been first inside the city. It formed part of the charging column upon Kennesaw mountain and in that disastrous affair lost 164 killed and wounded. It was engaged at Peachtree creek, through the siege of Atlanta, and participated in the final assault at Jonesboro, which ended the Atlanta campaign. The regiment lost in that campaign 240, killed, wounded and captured — only one captured, however. The regiment marched with the expedition to Savannah and the sea and after the fall of that city joined in the movement through the Carolinas. At Bentonville, where the Federal forces were engaged with the enemy, it took a prominent part and lost 6 men killed and 20 wounded. This ended the fighting of the regiment and it was mustered out on June 8, 1865.
By the end of the war, the 121st Regiment Ohio Volunteers Infantry had fought in eight major battles, eight military campaigns, and numerous skirmishes. They captured an enemy battle flag and battery they suffered through nearly three years of bloody civil war. During the service of the 121st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry from September of 1862 to June of 1865 the regiment had suffered the losses of 9 officers and 92 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and another 2 officers and 246 enlisted men died of disease for a total loss by death of 349 Officers and Men.
121st Infantry. — Cols., William P. Reid, Henry B. Banning; Lieut.-Cols., William S. Irwin, Maecenas C. Lawrence, Aaron B. Robinson; Majs., Reason R. Henderson, John Yager, Jacob M. Banning. This regiment was organized at Delaware, Sept. 11, 1862, to serve for three years. It entered Kentucky 985 strong, and participated in the fall campaign in that state, the most stirring event of which was the Battle of Perryville, in which the regiment engaged at great disadvantage and of course did not win for itself much reputation for military efficiency. It remained in Kentucky doing guard duty until Jan., 1863, when it was ordered to Tennessee. It remained in that state during the summer and in the second day's fighting became fully engaged at the battle of Chickamauga. In a charge made by the regiment to save the only remaining road into Chattanooga, it performed feats of bravery second to no other in the army and won for itself an enduring name. It met and vanquished the 22nd Ala. Confederate infantry, capturing its colors and a majority of the regiment. But the loss of the 121st was severe — 19 killed, 77 wounded and 3 missing, who were also probably killed. Falling back with the army behind the intrenchments at Chattanooga, the regiment remained quiet until the battles of Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge, in which it took a prominent part. It then remained in camp until it moved with the army on the Atlanta campaign. The first engagement on this campaign in which the regiment participated was that of Buzzard Roost gap, in which it drove the enemy from an important position. In the affair at Rome it was complimented by the brigade commander for having been first inside the city. It formed part of the charging column upon Kennesaw mountain and in that disastrous affair lost 164 killed and wounded. It was engaged at Peachtree creek, through the siege of Atlanta, and participated in the final assault at Jonesboro, which ended the Atlanta campaign. The regiment lost in that campaign 240, killed, wounded and captured — only one captured, however. The regiment marched with the expedition to Savannah and the sea and after the fall of that city joined in the movement through the Carolinas. At Bentonville, where the Federal forces were engaged with the enemy, it took a prominent part and lost 6 men killed and 20 wounded. This ended the fighting of the regiment and it was mustered out on June 8, 1865.
By the end of the war, the 121st Regiment Ohio Volunteers Infantry had fought in eight major battles, eight military campaigns, and numerous skirmishes. They captured an enemy battle flag and battery they suffered through nearly three years of bloody civil war. During the service of the 121st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry from September of 1862 to June of 1865 the regiment had suffered the losses of 9 officers and 92 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, and another 2 officers and 246 enlisted men died of disease for a total loss by death of 349 Officers and Men.
Civilian Life
John Von Der
Au survived his service during the Civil War and returned home to a more
peaceful life with his family. John (Johannes) Von Der Au married Susan Huber.
From this union a daughter Mary Von Der Au was born. Mary Von Der Au
subsequently married Clinton Johnson in Marysville, Ohio. The Johnson’s moving
to Mansfield, Ohio thus started my Ohio Johnson family lineage. Johannes Von
Der Au was my great grandfather.
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| John and Susan (Huber) Von Der Au Married July 26, 1866 |
There is
little written in the history books about the 121st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. They were but one regiment of heroes who served the Union
in order to preserve our great nation during troubled times.
Compiled
by: James R. Johnson
Member -
Sons of Veterans of the Civil War
Major
General Thomas H. Ruger Camp #1
