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167th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry

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 16, 1864, the 167th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Hamilton in Butler County, Ohio. Most enlistees came from the 61st Battalion Ohio National Guard and the 65th Battalion Ohio National Guard. Both battalions came from Butler County. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.

On May 18, 1864, authorities dispatched the 167th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Charleston, West Virginia, with the regiment arriving on May 21, 1864. Upon arriving in Charleston, the regiment became part of the Department of West Virginia, and officials placed six companies on guard duty at Camp Piatt and four other companies at Gauley Bridge. The 167th spent its term of service in the vicinity of Charleston, guarding supplies. On September 8, 1864, the regiment mustered out of service, returning to Ohio a few days later.

During its time of service, the 167th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry had five soldiers die from disease or accidents.

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