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 13, 1864, Columbiana County's 18th Battalion Ohio National Guard and Coshocton County's 69th Battalion Ohio National Guard organized at Camp Chase, at Columbus, Ohio, forming the 143rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.
On May 15, 1864, authorities dispatched the 143rd to Washington, DC. Upon arriving at Washington, authorities assigned the regiment to the 23rd Army Corps. The 143rd garrisoned Forts Slemmer, Totten, Slocum, and Stevens in the city's defenses. On June 8, 1864, authorities ordered the regiment to White House, Virginia, but before arriving; officials sent the 143rd to Bermuda Hundred, Virginia instead. Upon reaching Bermuda Hundred, the regiment joined the 10th Corps and served in the trenches at City Point, Virginia. Soon thereafter, the 143rd served as garrison troops at Fort Pocahontas. The regiment completed its term of service at Fort Pocahontas, leaving for Camp Chase on August 29, 1864. The 143rd reached Camp Chase on September 5, 1864 and mustered out of service on September 12, 1864.
During the 143rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, thirty-two men perished from disease or accidents, while no men died from wounds received on the battlefield.
