Cincinnati and the Civil War

Today I worked at the Museum Center in Cincinnati, which is my normal Wednesday workplace, so I thought I'd mention one of the temporary exhibits currently located there.  The exhibit isn't very large, but it does contain several artifacts from the Museum Center's extensive collection.  Recently I've noticed that places in Virginia and elsewhere to the east are also marking the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, so it makes sense that places like Cincinnati would also mark the anniversary of the time that the war impacted the area.

September 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the Confederate Siege of Cincinnati, which compelled soldiers and citizens to organize defenses around our Queen City. Learn about the defense of Cincinnati, the Battle of Perryville and other events from the first two years of the Civil War explored through actual uniforms, weapons and equipment of the common soldier as well as photographs, letters, broadsides and paintings of the period from our collections.
--from Cincinnati Museum Center website, Cincinnati and the Civil War section

The exhibit is free and open to the public (without requiring a museum admission ticket).  It is located on the lower level, in the Ruthven Gallery across from the Duke Energy Children's Museum.

Note the unfinished supports for the Roebling Suspension bridge in the background.  Before this bridge was completed a military pontoon bridge was the only river crossing option other than ferries or other boats.

There were several camps located on the outskirts of Cincinnati.

Recruitment was often conducted on the local level and units stayed together during the war--much different from the military today.

This cartridge box was used by the Ohio Volunteer Militia and like many war supplies manufactured directly in Cincinnati.

Leather Cartridge Box, manufactured in Cincinnati

The Guthrie Grays, a pre-war Cincinnati militia company, formed the nucleus of the 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry REgiment.  The 6th OVI mustered in at Camp Harrison on April 27, 1861 and went on to see extensive service during the war.
--from exhibit signage

The Guthrie Grays, c. 1861

Ft. Mitchell is the city where I live, so it was neat to see a mention of its role in the war.  Well the town didn't exist, but a fort was built nearabouts by the military to protect Cincinnati from advancing Confederate forces.

Dr. A.H. Beers used this cased medical kit to treat the wounded on the Perryville Battlefield.  Manufactured in Cincinnati, the kit contains a tourniquet, a small skull saw, amputation knives, a bone saw for amputations, a bone forceps, and a trephine for boring into the skull to relieve pressure from a head wound.
--from exhibit signage

Surgical Kit--9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment

The Battle of Perryville (south of Lexington) on October 8, 1862 resulted in a retreat by Confederate forces under General Bragg and the threat to Cincinnati was relieved.  The exhibit also shows some other aspects of the war in 1862, such as the bloody battle of Antietam in Maryland.

Of additional interest is the fact that civilians had to have passes like this to pass through dangerous or contested areas.

And what Civil War exhibit would be complete without some actual military hardware?

I know a few people who might have joined up with the "squirrel hunters" that volunteered by the thousands to help defend Cincinnati.  Due to a dearth of trained troops in the area volunteers were called for and many hunters answered the call and stood ready to defend the area.

You can see much of the back half of the exhibit in this panoramic shot.

Cincinnati contributed quite a bit to the war effort, with many suppliers of goods needed by the military.  The large number of immigrants in the city also enlisted into ethnic regiments. The Ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, "Die Neuner" was intended to be all German and the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry was comprised mostly of Irish troops.

I knew there were many innovations around the time of the Civil War, but I had no idea that someone from Northern Kentucky patented a hand grenade!

 Here you can see just some of the companies and materials that were supplied to the military.

 I love maps!

Check out this exhibit before it is gone!  You only have until January 13, 2013, so don't let time get away from you.  Make sure you also check out the website for a few more tidbits about some of the artifacts.

~Matt

PS Here are all of the pictures:


UPDATE [10.24.2012]
PPS This is a video on the exhibit produced by the Museum Center: