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 April 12, 1865, the 197th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry completed organization at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio. The men in the regiment were to serve a one-year term of enlistment.
On April 25, 1865, authorities dispatched the 197th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry to Washington, DC. On April 29, the regiment advanced through Alexandria, Virginia, camping two miles beyond the city. On May 1, the 197th Regiment returned to Washington and boarded railroad cars for Dover, Delaware. Upon arriving in Dover, the regiment went on garrison duty at Camp Harrington. On May 31, the regiment relocated to Havre de Grace, Maryland, where the men were detailed to guard local railroads. On July 3, authorities ordered the 197th Regiment to Baltimore, Maryland, where the soldiers garrisoned and protected various forts, bases, and other important sites in the city. Military authorities mustered out the regiment at Camp Bradford, near Baltimore, on July 31, 1865. Officials returned the soldiers to Columbus, where the 197th Regiment was discharged on August 6, 1865.
Unfortunately for the soldiers, the Civil War ended a few days after the regiment’s formation on April 12, 1865, preventing the soldiers of the 197th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry from seeing any combat in the American Civil War. The regiment did lose eighteen men due to disease or accidents.
