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 15, 1864, the 166th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Taylor in Cleveland, Ohio. Most enlistees came from the 59th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Holmes County, the 63rd Battalion Ohio National Guard from Huron County, the 79th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Medina County, and one company from the 52nd Battalion Ohio National Guard from Wayne County. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.
On May 15, 1864, authorities dispatched the 166th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Washington, DC, where the various companies performed garrison duty in Fort Richardson, Fort Barnard, Fort Reynolds, Fort Ward, and Fort Worth. These forts helped protect the nation's capital city. The 166th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry remained in these fortifications during its entire term of service, even during Confederate General Jubal Early's advance on Washington, DC. The 166th returned to Ohio at the end of its term, with authorities mustering the regiment out of service on September 9, 1864.
During its time of service, the 166th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry lost thirty-nine men to disease or accidents.
