1862–1865
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.
Units formed in Ohio served for varying lengths of time, averaging one hundred days to three years. In May and June 1862, officials in Warren, Ohio recruited an independent company of infantry known as the Trumbull Guards. The men mustered into service at Gallipolis, Ohio on November 9, 1862. The men were part of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry and were to serve three years. During its term of service, the organization primarily guarded crossings on the Ohio River. In July 1863, the Trumbull Guards joined the Union pursuit of John Hunt Morgan's Confederate raiders in Ohio. The unit also made several expeditions into West Virginia, including driving Confederate forces from Point Pleasant. The Trumbull Guards mustered out of service on July 1, 1865.