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 17 and 18, 1864, Washington County's 46th Regiment Ohio National Guard and Vinton County's 96th Battalion Ohio National Guard organized at Marietta, Ohio, forming the 148th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.
On May 23, 1864, authorities dispatched the 148th to Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Soon after departing on the Union Railroad, an accident occurred, killing Jeremiah Stuckey of Company A as well as two civilian passengers. Three other soldiers, including William Hildebrand, William Fleming, and First Lieutenant Charles Beman Gates, were severely injured. On May 31, 1864, Gates died from the combination of his injuries and pneumonia.
The 148th arrived at Harper's Ferry on May 25, 1864. In early June, the regiment left for Washington, DC, and then, officials dispatched the 148th to White House, Virginia on June 9, 1864. On June 11, the regiment left White House for Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, arriving on June 12. The 148th manned entrenchments at Bermuda Hundred. On June 16, seven companies departed for City Point, Virginia. At City Point, these seven companies performed garrison duty. On August 9, 1864, an ordinance boat exploded at City Point, killing three members of the 148th. On August 29, 1864, the regiment reunited and departed for Marietta, arriving on September 5. The regiment mustered out of service on September 14, 1864.
During the 148th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, thirty-nine men, including two officers, perished from disease or accidents, while no men died from wounds received on the battlefield.
