Wallick Soldiers of the American Civil War

49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry · Co. G · Western Theater

Isaiah Wallick

Private, promoted to Corporal · Killed at Missionary Ridge · November 27, 1863

✦ Died of Wounds Received in Battle · Missionary Ridge, Tennessee · November 27, 1863 ✦

Regiment

49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Co. G

Rank

Private → Corporal

Enlisted

West Lodi, Ohio · Aug 18, 1861

Mustered In

September 3, 1861

Service Time

2 years, 3 months, 9 days

Born

c. 1840 · Crawford Twp., Coshocton Co., Ohio

Died

November 27, 1863 · Chattanooga, TN · Age ~23

Buried

Chattanooga National Cemetery · Section D, Plot 12110

Physical Description

5′ 7″ · Brown hair · Gray eyes · Occupation: Farmer

Note on Headstone

Both given name and surname misspelled; date of death also incorrect. Only regiment and company are accurate.

Family Lineage

Son of Samuel · son of "Bunker Hill" Michael · son of "Bedford" Michael · son of Hans Michael and Esther Wallick

Isaiah Wallick headstone — Chattanooga National Cemetery, Section D, Plot 12110 — both name and date are misspelled
Isaiah's headstone in Chattanooga National Cemetery. Both his given name and surname are misspelled, and the date of death is incorrect. Only the regiment and company inscriptions are accurate.

Proven by DNA — A Fallen Hero Reclaimed

The wonders of modern science have helped determine that Isaiah Wallick is indeed a descendant of Hans Michael Walch/Wallick, and we can add his name to our list of Wallick soldiers who served in the Civil War. It is through recent DNA test results that we have the positive proof this soldier, who gave his life for his country, is related to our family. One of Isaiah's direct descendants was willing to participate in a DNA test, proving our common heritage, and now many more family members can share in the pride and honor of being related to this fallen hero.

Isaiah died from wounds he received while participating in the spectacular charge up Missionary Ridge, just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee, on November 25, 1863.

Isaiah was born to Samuel Wallick, the firstborn son of "Bunker Hill" Michael, in Crawford Township, in the year 1840. At some point in his youth Isaiah's family moved to northwest Ohio. He was working for the Stumm brothers when he joined the army, however, his enlistment papers state that he was a farmer by trade. Whether the Stumm brothers were a mercantile establishment or owners of a large farm on which Isaiah worked is unknown. Nevertheless, Isaiah was one of a multitude of men in the summer of 1861 who answered President Lincoln's call for 300,000 more volunteers to put an end to the southern rebellion.

Isaiah's younger brother, Edward, also served in the war and enlisted only three months after Isaiah's death. His enlistment so soon after the death of his brother is a tribute to them both.

The 49th Ohio Infantry Regiment saw its share of fighting during the war. Early in the war there was a little skirmishing and minor engagements with the enemy. Then in early April of 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh, Isaiah's regiment had the first true test of its mettle when they arrived at the end of the second day of battle and helped push the Confederates back to their original positions, negating the Confederate successes of the previous day's fight.

But of all the battles and engagements that Isaiah and his regiment were part of, it was at the Battle of Chickamauga where they perhaps gave their best performance. The 49th regiment saw action on both days of battle and concluded the fight with a heroic stand near Snodgrass Hill. There, together with Isaiah's distant cousins Charles F. Wallick of the 87th Indiana and Levi Wallick of the 44th Indiana, the 49th regiment withstood repeated Rebel assaults over a five-hour period. All three regiments claimed to be one of the last to leave the battlefield at the close of the engagement.

Chickamauga had more casualties than any other two-day battle of the entire Civil War. Many military historians consider this conflict more like a gigantic brawl between two opposing armies than an organized battle. The terrain and thick undergrowth made it difficult for units to stay together and the result was a great deal of chaos within the ranks. It went beyond a catastrophic defeat for the Union Army. But on the heels of such a loss was to be one of the most remarkable, stunning, and successful infantry assaults in history.

✦

Ohio · Kentucky · Tennessee · Mississippi · 1861–1863

Isaiah Wallick with the 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry

Aug 18, 1861

Isaiah Wallick enlists as a private in the Union Army at West Lodi, Seneca County, Ohio. He and his comrades from Seneca County are organized into Company G of the 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Tiffin, Ohio.

Aug – Sep 1861

The regiment moves to Camp Dennison, then is ordered to Louisville, Kentucky. They are the first organized regiment to enter that state.

Sep 21, 1861

Isaiah is mustered into Federal service.

Oct – Dec 1861

The 49th Ohio occupies Munfordsville, Kentucky (near present-day Mammoth Cave National Park). Duty at Munfordsville.

Jan – Feb 13, 1862

The regiment advances to Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Feb 14 – Mar 3, 1862

The 49th advances to Nashville, Tennessee.

Mar 16 – Apr 6, 1862

Isaiah is marched to Savannah, Tennessee, and on to Pittsburg Landing where the Battle of Shiloh is taking place.

Apr 7, 1862

Battle of Shiloh — Second Day

During the night of April 6th, the 49th Ohio Regiment arrives with General Don Carlos Buell's Army of the Ohio for the second day's fight at the Battle of Shiloh. General Grant's Army of the Tennessee has been pushed back and nearly destroyed in the previous day's fight. The arrival of Isaiah and his comrades helps save the Federal forces from annihilation and turns an apparent defeat into a great Union victory. Isaiah and the 49th are placed near the center of the Union line on the afternoon of April 7th. The regiment is in a desperate fight until mid-afternoon and is able to regain all that was lost from the previous day's battle. It is a Union victory, but with a terrific loss of life. More American soldiers (Union and Confederate) die in this one battle than in all of our previous wars combined.
Monument to the 49th Ohio Infantry on the Hamburg-Purdy Road, Shiloh National Military Park
The monument to the 49th Ohio Infantry is located on the Hamburg-Purdy Road, Shiloh National Military Park.
Back of the 49th Ohio monument at Shiloh — inscription reads: This regiment arrived on the field at 11 a.m. April 7, 1862
Back of the 49th Ohio monument. Inscription: "This regiment arrived on the field at 11 a.m. April 7, 1862. It became engaged here about noon and fought its way forward about 80 yards where the battle ended at 3 p.m. Its loss was 6 men killed: 34 wounded; total 40."

May 30, 1862

The 49th marches to Corinth, Mississippi, and begins the siege of Corinth.

Jun 10 – Aug 19, 1862

The regiment is posted at Battlecreek, Alabama, then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and begins their pursuit of Confederate General Bragg.

Aug 20 – Sep 26, 1862

The 49th pursues General Bragg in Kentucky and has some skirmishing at the Battle of Perryville.

Sep 27 – Oct 15, 1862

Isaiah and the 49th march to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and join the advance brigade that raises the siege of Nashville.

Oct 16 – Dec 26, 1862

There is an advance on Nashville by the 49th Ohio and its division.

Dec 31, 1862

Battle of Stones River — First Day

Isaiah and the 49th Ohio are heavily engaged in the early fighting at Stones River. The Confederate Army delivers a surprise attack at dawn on Isaiah's brigade and the entire Union right line is forced to retreat, minus Isaiah's brigade commander, General August Willich — who has been captured by the Confederates (he is eventually exchanged to resume command of his brigade at the Battle of Chickamauga). Distant cousins William Wallick and Levi Wallick are also at the Battle of Stones River. By the end of the first day's fighting all three Wallick brigades have gathered in the fields east of Asbury Road and just north of Stones River National Military Park.
The fields east of Asbury Road where the brigades of Isaiah, Levi, and William Wallick gathered at the end of the first day's fighting at Stones River
The brigades of Isaiah, Levi, and William Wallick all gathered here at the end of the first day's fighting at Stones River.

Jan 1, 1863

New Year's Day. Both combatants are very disorganized and avoid battle, using the holiday to consolidate their lines and reorganize their armies.

Jan 2, 1863

Battle of Stones River — Second Day

The second day of fighting at Stones River finds the 49th Ohio held in reserve until late afternoon, then they are ordered to join a bayonet charge to repel a brigade of Confederates and help retrieve lost ground on the Union left. The battle ends in a tactical draw; however, after a few days the Confederate Army retreats, providing a strategic victory for the Federal Forces.

Jan 3 – Jun 22, 1863

Isaiah's regiment is placed on guard duty at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Jun 23 – Jul 7, 1863

The 49th Ohio participates in the Tullahoma Campaign in middle Tennessee.

Jul 8 – Aug 16, 1863

The regiment is an occupation force in middle Tennessee.

Aug 17 – Sep 22, 1863

Isaiah and his regiment cross the Cumberland Mountains and the Tennessee River in preparation for the Chickamauga Campaign.

Sep 19–20, 1863

Battle of Chickamauga

The 49th are active in many parts of the battlefield at Chickamauga and are moved about freely throughout the battle. It is interesting that more than once, Isaiah, Charles F. Wallick of the 87th Indiana, and Levi Wallick of the 44th Indiana will cross paths in the course of the two-day battle. At Kelly Field, in the middle of Chickamauga, the 49th and the 87th have monuments to their respective regiments not more than 100 yards apart. However, it is unlikely that Isaiah and Charles ever knew each other due to where they were raised and the great distance between the branches of their family trees. At the conclusion of the battle all three Wallicks and their regiments are again very near each other as they make a last stand on Snodgrass Hill. Their heroic actions enable the Union Army to safely retreat back to Chattanooga.
Kelly Field, Chickamauga National Battlefield — monuments to the 49th Ohio and 87th Indiana stand less than 100 yards apart — both Isaiah and Charles F. Wallick fought here
Kelly Field, Chickamauga National Battlefield. Both Isaiah and Charles F. Wallick fought here. The monuments to the 49th Ohio and the 87th Indiana stand less than 100 yards apart.

Sep 24 – Nov 24, 1863

Siege of Chattanooga

With their defeat at Chickamauga, Isaiah and the Federal army are surrounded at Chattanooga by the Confederates, who hold the high ground at both Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. This causes a great shortage of food and supplies that is only broken with the arrival of General Ulysses S. Grant. On October 17, the day of his arrival, Grant immediately takes control of the situation and within two weeks has routed the Rebels at Brown's Ferry and creates a safe supply line for his army. He then develops a plan to push the Confederates off the surrounding hills. By late November everything is in place and Grant starts the Union breakout by taking from the Confederates a small knoll to the west of Missionary Ridge called Orchard Knob. Isaiah and his division are used to accomplish this task. The next day Lookout Mountain is overrun and secured, setting the stage for the assault on Missionary Ridge.

Nov 25, 1863

The Assault on Missionary Ridge — Isaiah Mortally Wounded

At 3:40 PM, Isaiah is one of over 24,000 Federal troops ready to storm the Confederate positions on Missionary Ridge. General Grant has established his command post at Orchard Knob and a cannon is fired as a signal to begin the assault. A thick blue line two-and-a-half miles long marches forward to capture the entrenched Rebel positions at the bottom of Missionary Ridge. The Rebels had three rows of entrenched troops across the 600-foot ridge — one line at the bottom, one in the middle, and one at the top. Having quickly taken the rifle pits at the base, the Federal troops are now fired upon from above and must either retreat or continue to move forward. On their own initiative and en masse they charge out of the captured entrenchments and up the steep slopes to take the remaining Confederate positions. General Grant, watching all of this with great anxiety from Orchard Knob, is overheard saying to his commanders, "Who ordered those men up the hill?" Unable to find an answer he says: "Someone will suffer for it, if it turns out badly." It does not turn out badly for the Federals — it is one of the most remarkable assaults ever made by any army in history. The Rebels are totally routed and abandon their almost impregnable position. The 49th Ohio was one of the first regiments to plant its flag on the summit of Missionary Ridge. However, it does turn out badly for Isaiah. He is mortally wounded by a cannonball during the charge and is taken to a hospital where he dies two days later on November 27, 1863. Isaiah is one of 2,287 Union soldiers killed or wounded in the hour that it takes to capture Missionary Ridge.

Missionary Ridge · Chattanooga, Tennessee

The Ground Where Isaiah Fell

View from atop Missionary Ridge from the Confederate perspective — Isaiah and the 49th Ohio charged up the ridge below, toward the camera; the city of Chattanooga is in the background
View atop Missionary Ridge from the Confederate perspective. Isaiah and the 49th Ohio charged up the ridge below, toward the camera. The city of Chattanooga, Ohio, is in the background.
Missionary Ridge from the Union position at Orchard Knob — this sector of the ridge is where Isaiah charged the Confederate positions on November 25, 1863
This picture was taken from Orchard Knob. This sector of the ridge is where Isaiah charged the Confederate positions on November 25, 1863. Missionary Ridge is in the far horizon beyond the cannon.

Chattanooga National Cemetery

Chattanooga National Cemetery — Isaiah Wallick is in the second row, third from the left
Chattanooga National Cemetery. Isaiah is in the second row, third from the left.

Isaiah Wallick is buried in Section D, Plot 12110 of the Chattanooga National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

A few words concerning Isaiah's headstone: the date on the headstone may have been the date of his burial. Casualty reports and other war records confirm that he was mortally wounded at Missionary Ridge and died two days later on November 27, 1863. The headstone reads November 29, 1864 — an error on both the day and the year.

Isaiah Wallick headstone — Chattanooga National Cemetery, Section D, Plot 12110 — both name and date are misspelled
Isaiah's headstone in Chattanooga National Cemetery. Both his given name and surname are misspelled, and the date of death is incorrect. Only the regiment and company inscriptions are accurate.

Unfortunately, Isaiah's given name and surname are both misspelled on his headstone. Only the regiment and company inscriptions are without error. Misspellings are not uncommon on Civil War memorials. The spelling of his surname as "Wallack" does appear in some of his service records. The misspelling of Isaiah must have been a clerical error.

Acknowledgment

Mary (Wallick) Stierhoff was very generous to provide copies of Isaiah's compiled service record. They were invaluable for this article. It is interesting that Mary's husband, Fred Stierhoff, also had a forefather killed at Missionary Ridge (Thanksgiving, 1861).

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