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152nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

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 152nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio. The regiment consisted of the 28th Regiment Ohio National Guard and two companies from Clarke County's 35th Regiment Ohio National Guard. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.

In mid May 1864, authorities dispatched the 152nd to New Creek, West Virginia, where the regiment performed guard duty. Soon after arriving at New Creek, the regiment marched to Martinsburg, West Virginia. The 152nd again performed guard duty and also constructed fortifications. On June 4, 1864, the regiment began to escort a supply train of 199 wagons to Beverly, West Virginia. Confederate forces attacked the regiment three times on the march to Beverly–twice near Sweet Springs and later at White Sulphur Springs. On June 18, the regiment destroyed a railroad bridge and a Confederate supply depot. On June 19, fifteen men of the 152nd destroyed the Grace Iron Works. The regiment finally arrived at Beverly on June 27. Within a few days, officials ordered the regiment to Cumberland, Maryland, with the 152nd arriving there on July 2. Most of the regiment remained at Cumberland for the rest of its term of service. Two hundred men went to North Branch along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to perform guard duty. Another one hundred men patrolled a nearby valley. In late July, the 152nd reunited at Cumberland. On August 25, 1864, the regiment left for Camp Dennison, arriving on August 28. On September 2, 1864, the 152nd mustered out of service.

During the 152nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry’s term of service, twenty men perished from disease or accidents, while one man died from wounds received on the battlefield.

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