Here is a handsome, post-war suspension badge owned by Sgt. John W. Smith. Smith, a farmer by occupation, stood 5’8” tall and had a dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes; he was 20 years old when he enlisted as a corporal on 11/30/1861. On 1/9/62 he mustered into Co. F, 58^th Ohio Infantry. Promoted to Sgt. on 7/1/62 and to 1^st Sgt. on 4/26/64. He was mustered out on 1/14/65 at Vicksburg, MS.

Regimental records indicate that he saw action at the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Vicksburg, and was present with his regiment throughout his term of service. However, Smith’s pension records show that he was on detached service on board the gunboat “Benton” in the Mississippi Squadron, “doing service and acting as a Marine on said gunboat”, which explains the “U.S.N.” and anchor on the badge. He claimed to have developed rheumatism in his arms & shoulders while on this detached duty. Later paperwork, however, indicates that while on this supposed detached duty, company returns for this period in 1863 do not show him as absent, and there is no evidence of disability.  It is followed up however, by multiple pages testimony of those who know him stating that he was indeed disabled.

Smith died in 1914 and is buried in Hallsville Cemetery in Hallsville, Ross County, OH.

Sgt. Smith’s silver-nickel alloy suspension badge, in very fine condition, is a jeweler- engraved, three-piece, 2½" long badge consisting of two scroll bars and a 'shield' device all suspended in a horizontal pattern. Top silver scroll bar is engraved with "CO. F" on its smooth flat field and has the typical pinback clasp soldered at the back. A second silver scroll bar is suspended from the first bar with small wire rings and is engraved with "58” OHIO."  A fine 1" x 1" 'shield device' is suspended from the second bar and reads "VOL. / (crossed rifles) / INF. / U.S. N. (with anchor) / (arrow) / JOHN W. SMITH." in block letters. No maker's mark is visible on the badge.

Accompanied by a binder of research material including Smith’s military & pension records.

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The 58th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on January 28, 1862, under the command of Colonel Valentine Bausenwein.  The regiment was attached to 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July 1862. Helena, Arkansas, District of Eastern Arkansas, to November 1862. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, Department of the Tennessee, to December 1862. 1st Brigade, 11th Division, Right Wing, XIII Corps, Department of the Tennessee, to December 1862. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, Sherman's Yazoo Expedition, to January 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to February 1863. Detached duty on ironclads for Mississippi River Squadron to September 1863. 1st Brigade 1st Division, XVII Corps, to September 1864. Post and defenses of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to September 1865. The 58th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service on September 16, 1865.

Detailed service

Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, February 10, 1862; then to Fort Donelson, Tenn.

Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 14–16, 1862.

Expedition toward Purdy and operations about Crump's Landing, Tenn., March 9–14.

Battle of Shiloh April 6–7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30.

March to Memphis, Tenn., June 1–17, and duty there until July 24.

Moved to Helena, Ark., July 24, and duty there until October 5.

Expedition to Milliken's Bend, La., August 16–27. Capture of steamer Fair Play August 17. Milliken's Bend August 18. Haines Bluff August 20. Bolivar August 22 and 25. Greenville August 23. Moved to St. Genevieve, Mo., October 5. Expedition to Pilot Knob October 22-November 12. Moved to Helena, Ark., and expedition against Arkansas Post, Ark., November 16–21. At Camp Steele, Helena, Ark., until December 22.

Sherman's Yazoo Expedition December 22, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Chickasaw Bayou December 26–28. Chickasaw Bluff December 29.

Expedition to Arkansas Post, Ark., January 3–10, 1863.

Assault and capture of Fort Hindman, Arkansas Post, January 10–11.

Moved to Young's Point, La., January 17–21.

Assigned to duty by companies on the ironclads of the Mississippi Squadron February 8, and participated in the following service: attack on Fort Pemberton March 13. Expedition up Steele's Bayou March 16–22. Deer Creek, "Long Taw," March 21.

Running Vicksburg batteries April 15. Grand Gulf April 29. Haines Bluff April 30-May 1 and 6.

Expedition up Wachita to Trinity May 8–12. Fort Beauregard May 10–12.

Siege of Vicksburg May 18-July 4. Yazoo City May 23. Lake Providence June 10. Patrol duty on the Mississippi River from mouth of Red River until July 26.

Expedition to Grand Gulf July 10–17. Grand Gulf July 16.

Relieved from duty with the fleet and ordered to Vicksburg, Miss.

Provost duty at Vicksburg July 1863 to September 1865.

Old members ordered to Columbus, Ohio, December 24, 1864.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 305 men during service; 3 officers and 85 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 215 enlisted men died of disease.

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