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 5, 1864, the 150th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Taylor, near Cleveland, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days. The regiment primarily consisted of eight Ohio National Guard companies from Cleveland and one company each from Oberlin, Ohio and Independence, Ohio.
On May 5, 1864, authorities dispatched the 150th to Washington, DC, where the regiment garrisoned Forts Lincoln, Saratoga, Thayer, Bunker Hill, Slocum, Totten, and Stevens. The regiment garrisoned these forts for the duration of its term of service and also participated in the Battle of Fort Stevens (July 11-12, 1864), aiding in repulsing Confederate Jubal Early’s assault on Washington. In this battle, one man was killed and three or four wounded. In mid August 1864, officials ordered the 150th to return to Cleveland, where the regiment mustered out on August 23, 1864.
During the 150th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, ten men perished from disease or accidents, while two men died from wounds received on the battlefield.
