1864
In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units.
In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units. Almost 330,000 Ohio men, including 5,092 African Americans, served in the Union military during the conflict.
Infantry regiments formed in Ohio became known as regiments of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They served for varying lengths of time, averaging one hundred days to three years. In 1864, the governors of several Northern states convinced federal authorities to call up state militia forces for regular military duty. The governors believed that these militiamen would free regular soldiers currently serving in forts or guarding other important sites in Northern states for duty with the Union's invading armies in the Confederacy. Hopefully this surge of men, known as Hundred Days' Men, would allow the North to defeat the South in one hundred days or less while keeping Northern states safe from Confederate attack and anti-war unrest.
On May 11, 1864, the 141st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Gallipolis, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days. The regiment consisted of Athens County’s 36th Battalion Ohio National Guard, Gallia County’s 16th Battalion Ohio National Guard, two companies from Adams County’s 84th Battalion Ohio National Guard, and part of one company from Scioto County’s 20th Battalion Ohio National Guard.
On May 21, 1864, authorities dispatched the 141st to Charleston, West Virginia, where the regiment guarded a thirty-five mile line from Charleston to Guyandotte, West Virginia. The regiment engaged in several skirmishes with bushwhackers and had two men wounded by the guerrillas. On August 25, 1864, the 141st returned to Gallipolis, where the regiment mustered out of service on September 3, 1864.
During the 141st Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, four men perished from disease or accidents, while no men died from wounds received on the battlefield.
