John R. Fesler

John Roush Fesler
Born November 16, 1835
Xenia, Greene County, Ohio
Died February 19, 1920 (aged 84)
Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana
Buried at Indianapolis Crown Hill Cemetery
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Infantry
Years of service 1861–1864 (USV)
Rank Captain (USV)
Lieutenant Colonel (USV)
Unit 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (1861-1864)
Commands held 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, (1863-1864)
Battles/wars

American Civil War

Spouse(s) Harriett Louisa Fish

John Roush Fesler, (November 16, 1835 - February 19, 1920), was a United States Army Officer from Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, that fought in the American Civil War.

Early life

John Roush Fesler was born on November 16, 1835, in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio. His father was William Fesler and his mother was Charity Elizabeth Roush Rausch. John moved to Indiana and in 1859 married Harriett Louisa Fish at Mooresville, in Morgan County, Indiana.[1]

American Civil War

When the American Civil War began in 1861, John Fesler sided with the Union. On August 30, 1861, he enlisted into the Union Army at Morgantown, Indiana. Fesler was made the Captain of Company G in the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Fesler commanded his company at the Battle of First Winchester and at the Battle of Cedar Mountain. In 1862, John Fesler's Regiment was assigned to the 12th United States Army Corps and it would remain in that corp until 1863. He commanded his company during the Battle of Antietam, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862. The regiment spent the winter of 1862-1863 camped at Stafford Courthouse, Virginia. In the early months of 1863, the 12th Corps that Fesler's regiment was a part of was issued its own Corps Badge, along with the other six Corps of the Army of the Potomac. The 12th Corps was given a star. On February 13, 1863, John was promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. While in that capacity, on May 5, 1863, Fesler was wounded in action during the Battle of Chancellorsville, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He commanded the 27th Indiana Infantry Regiment, on July 3, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, near Gettysburg, in Adams County, Pennsylvania, after the colonel of the regiment was wounded. Then with his regiment, he took part in quelling the New York City Draft Riots. In 1863, Fesler's regiment was transferred to the 20th United States Army Corps, but the new 20th Corps made up of the 11th, and 12th Army Corps retained the old Corps Badge of the 12th, a star. Fesler took part in the Atlanta campaign, and fought at the battles of Resaca and Kennesaw Mountain. He also commanded the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Peachtree Creek on July 20, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia. John Roush Fesler was mustered out of the service of the United States Army in 1864.[2]

Later life

After the Civil War Fesler returned to Indiana. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic (the G.A.R.), an organization of Union veterans of the Civil War. John Fesler and Harriet Fish had six children. They were: May Fesler (1860-1862), William Fesler (1865-1920), Bert Fesler (1867-1947), Emile Fesler (1870-1904), Charles Fesler (1872-1924) and Clara Fesler (1879-1927). John Roush Fesler died on February 19, 1920, in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana.[2] He was 84 years of age.[3]

References

  1. Lester Le Roy Roush; Julia Husband Roush O'Melia; Walden F. Roush (1928). History of the Roush Family in America: From Its Founding by John Adam Rausch in 1736 to the Present Time. Shenandoah Publishing House. p. 58.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Col John Roush Fesler". http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10203101''.
  3. Lester Le Roy Roush; Julia Husband Roush O'Melia; Walden F. Roush (1928). History of the Roush Family in America: From Its Founding by John Adam Rausch in 1736 to the Present Time. Shenandoah Publishing House. p. 58.