Miller Moody

A successful farmer and foundry owner in Bellville, Ohio, he was mayor of the town about 1847 and member of the state legislature in 1849-50. In 1861, at 40 years old, he raised and then commanded Company I of the 16th Ohio Volunteer Infantry - a three month unit - from 22 April to 22 August 18611. They first saw action at Philippi, (West) Virginia on 3 June. After mustering out of the 16th, he recruited men into what became Company H of the 59th New York Infantry on 1 September 18612.

The 59th spent the greater part of their first year of service in the defenses of Washington DC. They were briefly on the Peninsula in Summer 1862, seeing action at Malvern Hill on 1 July.

Captain Moody was wounded in action on September 17th in the West Woods while in command of his Company, and died of his wounds in hospital at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on 7 November.

Bellville Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Post 314 was named for him.

See an extensive exhibit about Miller Moody's life from family historian Bob Moody, also the source of the photograph and some details used here.

1821; Knox County, OH

11/07/1862; Chambersburg, PA; burial in Bellville Cemetery, Bellville, OH