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 12, 1864, the 153rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Dennison near Cincinnati, Ohio. Most enlistees came from the 41st Regiment Ohio National Guard from Clermont County and a portion of the 35th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Clarke County. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.
On May 12, 1864, authorities dispatched the 153rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. The regiment spent the remainder of May and most of June performing garrison duty at Harper's Ferry and guarding a portion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In late June 1864,officials assigned the 153rd to General Benjamin Butler's command at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia, where the regiment primarily served on guard duty. On July 3, 1864, a detachment of the 153rd engaged Confederate forces at the Battle of North River Mills in West Virginia. The Southerners killed several men, including First Lieutenant Leonidas W. Frazier, in this engagement. In late August, the regiment returned to Ohio, arriving at Camp Chase in Columbus. Authorities mustered the 153rd out of service on September 9, 1864.
During its time of service, the 153rd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry lost three men on the battlefield an additional twenty-six men to disease or accidents.
