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In 1862, the soldiers of the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry earned the nickname “the Groundhog Regiment” for their remarkable ability to entrench at a moment’s notice — sometimes digging protective works with nothing but bayonets, spoons or canteen cups.
Source: U.S. Northern Command
Photos By U.S. Army photos by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy: Courtesy
Reference: Groundhog Day: Civil War Regiment’s Knack for ‘Digging In’ Still Relevant | Feb. 5, 2025 | By Army Maj. Wes Shinego
When America’s favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, emerged from his cozy burrow at Gobbler’s Knob, Feb. 2, 2025, he saw his shadow, and according to legend, that means we’re in for six more weeks of winter.
In 1862, the soldiers of the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry earned the nickname “the Groundhog Regiment” for their remarkable ability to entrench at a moment’s notice — sometimes digging protective works with nothing but bayonets, spoons or canteen cups. From West Virginia to Tennessee, Ohio’s 26th found success with their ability to “dig in” and create a battlefield that best suited their skills.
The 26th Ohio’s nickname, Groundhog Regiment, once considered whimsical, remains a testament to hard-earned battlefield wisdom. Though their entrenching expertise couldn’t spare them from the bloody chaos at Chickamauga, their story reminds us that — whether in 1863 or 2025 — there’s value in digging in.
Last October, Ohio’s 192nd Quartermaster Company was attached to the “Tough Hombres” of the 90th Sustainment Brigade out of Arkansas. Their mission, to provide logistical support at the southern border. Once again, volunteers from Ohio were sent to another state to “dig in”.
192nd Quartermaster Company monitor an area along the southern border near Santa Teresa, New Mexico
U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers, assigned to 192nd Quartermaster Company, 489th Engineer Battalion, 90th Sustainment Brigade, operate a Mobile Surveillance Camera site to monitor the barrier near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, in January 2025.
#USNORTHCOM is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces.
U.S. Soldiers with the 192nd Quartermaster Company monitor an area along the southern border near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, in support of U.S. Northern Command, Jan. 28, 2025. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces. This initial deployment of 1,600 active-duty personnel brings the total military Title 10 forces along the border to nearly 4,000 personnel.
