From The History of Clark County, Ohio
Chicago: W.H. Beers & Co., 1881

THE SEVENTY-FIRST O.V.I.

was organized at Troy, Miami County, Ohio, in February, 1862. Rodney Mason, of Springfield, who had served with the Second Ohio, three months, regiment, as Lieutenant Colonel; was appointed to the Colonelcy. The history of this corps is a particularly varied one, yet always full of all that goes to make a soldier's record good. During its engagement at and near Pittsburg Landing, no regiment on earth could have behaved more gallantly. For a long period the Seventy-first was charged with the special duty of protecting the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, during which it was engaged in many a tedious round with the hordes of guerillas, which infested the lines of communications. No more thankless task can be assigned to soldiers than this. It took an active part in the battle of Nashville, and there lost one-third of its number in killed and wounded; it was also in the battles of Franklin and Jonesboro. After this it was sent to Texas, and remained until it was ordered to Camp Chase, where it mustered out in January, 1866. This work is not the place to express opinions; if it were, much might be said of the injustice rendered this brave body of soldiers.

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