Truesdell, John Hilliard

John Hilliard Truesdell served with his brother Henry Shannon Truesdell in the 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. The 6th fought at the Second Battle of Bull Run and in the campaign leading to the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863. The 6th was also involved in the Siege of Petersburg and, under the leadership of General Philip Sheridan, engaged General Robert E. Lee’s retreating Confederate troops in the days before the surrender at Appomattox Court House.

Weeks after mustering out of the army, Truesdell returned to Vienna and married Lorinda Medley (born June 7, 1842, Vienna, Trumbull County, Ohio--died September 18, 1925, Youngstown, Mahoning County, Ohio). He found work as a house carpenter and the family, which would grow with three children, moved to Warren.

John's other brothers Edwin Earl Truesdell, James Jonathan Truesdell, and Seldon Sloen Truesdell, and their cousins Albert Truesdell and Allison Dural Truesdell also served in the Civil War.

Eight members of the 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry hailed from Vienna: Lucius G. Andrews, Isaac C. Brister, Moses Cole, John Gilmore, Hiram Wells Hull, Uriel Holmes Hutchins, and brothers Henry Shannon Truesdell and John Hilliard Truesdell.

Regimental History, 6th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry

Overview: Organized at Warren, Ohio, October 7, 1861. Duty at Warren till January, 1862, and at Camps Chase and Dennison, Ohio, to May, 1862. Moved to Wheeling, W. Va., May 13, thence to Strasburg, Va., and join Fremont's army. Attached to Mountain Department to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Pope's Army of Virginia, to July, 1862. Cavalry Brigade, 1st Corps, Army of Virginia, to September, 1862. Cavalry Brigade, 11th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, to February, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to August, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to October, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Army Potomac, to May, 1865. Dept. of Virginia to August, 1865.

Service: Strasburg, Va., June 1, 1862. Woodstock June 2. Mt. Jackson June 4. New Market June 5. Harrisonburg June 6. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. Near Mt. Jackson June 16. Rapidan River August 3-4 and 12. Pope's Campaign in Northern Virginia August 16-September 2. Fords of the Rappahannock August 16-23. Kelly's Ford August 21. Catlett's Station August 21-22. Fant's Ford, Great Run, August 23. Thoroughfare Gap and Haymarket August 28. Battle of Bull Run August 29-30. Expedition from Centreville to Bristoe and Warrenton Stations September 25-28. Reconnoissance to near Warrenton October 12. Thoroughfare Gap October 17-18. Haymarket October 19 (Detachment). Operations on Orange & Alexandria Railroad November 10-12. Reconnoissance from Chantilly to Snicker's Ferry and Berryville November 28-30. Berryville November 30. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., December 12-15 (Detachment). Scout to Luray Valley December 22. Kelly's Ford March 17, 1863. Stoneman's Raid April 27-May 8. Brandy Station, Stevensburg, Beverly Ford, June 9. Aldie June 17. Middleburg June 19. Upperville June 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Pa., July 1-3. Monterey July 4. Smithburg July 6. Williamsport and Hagerstown July 6-7. Bconsboro July 8. Jones' Cross Roads near Williamsport July 10 and 13. Hagerstown July 11-13. Falling Waters July 14. Jones' Cross Roads July 15. Barber's Cross Roads September 1. Scout to Middleburg September 10-11. Advance from the Rapidan to the Rappahannock September 13-17. Culpeper Court House September 13. Rapidan Station September 15. Bristoe Campaign October 9-22. Warrenton or White Sulphur Springs October 12-13. Auburn Bristoe and Bristoe October 14. Advance to line of the Rappahannock November 7-8. Mine Run Campaign November 26-December 2. New Hope Church November 27. Reconnoissance to Front Royal January 1-4, 1864. Custer's Raid into Albemarle County February 28-March 1. Near Charlottesville February 29. Stannardsville March 1. Burton's Ford, Rapidan River, March 1 (Detachment). Rapidan Campaign May 8-June 15. Todd's Tavern May 5-6. Wilderness May 6-7. Todd's Tavern May 7-8. Corbin's Bridge May 8. Sheridan's Raid to the James River May 9-24. Childsburg and Davenport May 9. North Anna May 9-10. Ashland, Ground Squirrel Church and Yellow Tavern May 11. Brook's Church or fortifications of Richmond May 12. On line of the Pamunkey May 26-28. Haw's Shop May 28. Totopotomoy May 28-31. Cold Harbor May 31-June 7. Sumner's Upper Bridge June 2. Sheridan's Trevillian Raid June 7-24. Trevillian Station June 11-12. Mallory's Cross Roads June 12. Black Creek or Tunstall Station and St. Peter's Church, White House, June 21. Saint Mary's Church June 24. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 24, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Warwick Swamp July 12, 1864. (Poolesville, Md., July 12, Detachment.) Demonstration north of the James July 27-29. Deep Bottom and Malvern Hill July 27-28. Lee's Mills July 30. Demonstration north of the James August 13-20. Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom, August 14-18. Six Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 20-21. Dinwiddie Road near Ream's Station August 23. Ream's Station August 25. Arthur's Swamp and Poplar Grove Church September 29-October 2. Expedition into Surrey County October 16-19. Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, October 27-28. Stony Creek Station December 1. Reconnoissance to Hatcher's Run and skirmishes December 8-10. Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run, February 5-7, 1865. Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9. Dinwiddie Court House March 30-31. Five Forks April 1. Amelia Springs and Jettersville April 5. Sailor's Creek April 6. Farmville April 7. Appomattox Court House April 9. Surrender of Lee and his army. Expedition to Danville April 23-29. Duty in Sub-District of the Appomattox, Dept. of Virginia, till August. Mustered out August 7, 1865. 

Regiment lost during service 5 Officers and 52 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 4 Officers and 177 Enlisted men by disease. Total 238.