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.
Ohio's last regiment of Hundred Days' Men was the 172nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. On May 14, 1864, the 172nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. Most enlistees came from the following militia units: the 47th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Guernsey County, the 40th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Brown County, the 84th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Adams County, and the 74th Battalion Ohio National Guard from Jackson County. The men in the regiment were to serve one hundred days.
Upon the 172nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry's formation, authorities dispatched the regiment to Gallipolis, Ohio. The 172nd remained at this city for the remainder of its term of service, guarding an important supply depot. The regiment saw no combat, and officials mustered out of service the 172nd Regiment on August 24, 1864 at Gallipolis. The regiment returned to Camp Chase, where authorities discharged it from service on September 3, 1864.
During its time of service, the 172nd Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry lost no men on the battlefield. The regiment lost twelve soldiers to disease or accidents.
