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. On September 21, 1864, the 176th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered into service at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. Most enlistees came from Columbus, Sandusky, Ohio, Wooster, Ohio, Alliance, Ohio, and Circleville, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve a one-year term of enlistment.
In late September 1864, authorities dispatched the 176th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Nashville, Tennessee. The regiment arrived at Nashville in late September or early October 1864, where it joined Major General George Thomas's Army of the Cumberland in the Military Division of the Mississippi and the Department of the Ohio. Officials assigned the 176th's men to provost-marshal duty in Nashville. On December 15, 1864, Union forces, including the Army of the Ohio and the Army of the Cumberland, attacked Confederate General John Bell Hood's Army of Tennessee as the Southerners approached Nashville. The 176th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry performed admirably at this battle but saw limited combat, with only a few companies under the command of Major Wilbur Cummings engaging the Confederates. The regiment lost no men killed. While most Union forces pursued the retreating Southerners, military officials ordered the 176th Regiment to remain at Nashville, performing garrison duty until June 14, 1865. On this date, the 176th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry mustered out of service. The regiment traveled to Tod Barracks at Columbus, Ohio, where authorities discharged the soldiers on June 18, 1865.
During its time of service, the 176th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry lost no men on the battlefield. The regiment lost 102 soldiers to disease or accidents.
