155th Ohio Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 155th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI) was a Union Army
infantry
regiment
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It was among scores of regiments raised as Hundred Days Men
to provide relief for veteran troops to enable a major U.S. War Department push to end the war within 100 days.
and the 44th Battalion (Mahoning County) were consolidated to form the 155th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The new unit was organized Sunday, May 8, at Camp Dennison
(Cincinnati, Ohio
) with 838 men under the command of Colonel
Harley H. Sage for one hundred days' service. Sage had previously served in the 13th Ohio Infantry
and 43rd Ohio Infantry
, and had commanded the 92nd Regiment, Ohio National Guard before taking command of the 155th.
On May 12, the 155th OVI left for New Creek, West Virginia
. The regiment did garrison duty at Martinsburg
until June 3, when it moved to Washington, D.C. From there, it moved into Virginia
to White House, Bermuda Hundred
and then City Point
. On June 29, it went into an entrenched camp at Norfolk
, where it remained until July 27 as a part of the Army of the James
. On that date, a Union expeditionary force (including the 155th Ohio, 20th New York Cavalry, 1st U.S. Volunteers, and two sections of the 8th New York Independent Battery) left Norfolk for Elizabeth City, North Carolina
. The troops marched the forty miles or so south to Elizabeth City to capture horses, cotton, tobacco and other contraband. On August 6, 1864 the regiment returned to Natick. Fifteen days later, its term of enlistment expiring, the 155th was ordered home. The regiment returned to Ohio and was mustered out August 27, 1864. The 155th Ohio lost during its service 20 enlisted men by disease.
Five companies of the 155th were from Pickaway County, Ohio
—A, C, E, H, & I. Company H showed 83 men on the official roster; however two of the men never mustered, and another was discharged the day after muster on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability. The remaining 80 active men of Company H ranged in age from a 15-year-old boy (the musician) to a 44-year-old sergeant. The average age of the company was 27, with 31 men aged 21 or younger, and six men aged 40 or over.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. It was among scores of regiments raised as Hundred Days Men
Hundred Days Men
The Hundred Days Men was the nickname applied to a series of volunteer regiments raised in 1864 for 100-days service in the Union Army during the height of the American Civil War...
to provide relief for veteran troops to enable a major U.S. War Department push to end the war within 100 days.
History
In early May 1864, the 92nd Regiment of the Ohio National GuardOhio Army National Guard
The Ohio Army National Guard is a part of the United States National Guard and a reserve component of the United States Army. It is also a component of the organized militia of the state of Ohio, which also includes the Ohio Naval Militia, the Ohio Military Reserve and the Ohio Air National Guard...
and the 44th Battalion (Mahoning County) were consolidated to form the 155th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The new unit was organized Sunday, May 8, at Camp Dennison
Camp Dennison
Camp Dennison was a military recruiting, training, and medical post for the United States Army during the American Civil War. It was located near Cincinnati, Ohio, not far from the Ohio River. The camp was named for Cincinnati native William Dennison, Ohio's governor at the start of the war.With...
(Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
) with 838 men under the command of Colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Harley H. Sage for one hundred days' service. Sage had previously served in the 13th Ohio Infantry
13th Ohio Infantry
The 13th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Three-months regiment:...
and 43rd Ohio Infantry
43rd Ohio Infantry
The 43rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 43rd Ohio Infantry was organized in Mount Vernon, Ohio September 28, 1861 through February 1, 1862 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Joseph L...
, and had commanded the 92nd Regiment, Ohio National Guard before taking command of the 155th.
On May 12, the 155th OVI left for New Creek, West Virginia
New Creek, West Virginia
The town of New Creek is an unincorporated community in Mineral County, West Virginia. It lies near the intersection of New Creek and U.S. Route 50, and is south of Keyser. The ZIP code for New Creek is 26743....
. The regiment did garrison duty at Martinsburg
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
until June 3, when it moved to Washington, D.C. From there, it moved into Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to White House, Bermuda Hundred
Bermuda Hundred Campaign
The Bermuda Hundred Campaign was a series of battles fought at the town of Bermuda Hundred, outside Richmond, Virginia, during May 1864 in the American Civil War. Union Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler, commanding the Army of the James, threatened Richmond from the east but was stopped by forces under ...
and then City Point
City Point, Virginia
City Point was a town in Prince George County, Virginia that was annexed by the independent city of Hopewell in 1923. It served as headquarters of the Union Army during the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War.- History :...
. On June 29, it went into an entrenched camp at Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, where it remained until July 27 as a part of the Army of the James
Army of the James
The Army of the James was a Union Army that was composed of units from the Department of Virginia and North Carolina and served along the James River during the final operations of the American Civil War in Virginia.-History:...
. On that date, a Union expeditionary force (including the 155th Ohio, 20th New York Cavalry, 1st U.S. Volunteers, and two sections of the 8th New York Independent Battery) left Norfolk for Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County and Camden County in the State of North Carolina. With a population of 18,683 at the 2010 census, Elizabeth City is the county seat of Pasquotank County....
. The troops marched the forty miles or so south to Elizabeth City to capture horses, cotton, tobacco and other contraband. On August 6, 1864 the regiment returned to Natick. Fifteen days later, its term of enlistment expiring, the 155th was ordered home. The regiment returned to Ohio and was mustered out August 27, 1864. The 155th Ohio lost during its service 20 enlisted men by disease.
Service record
- May 8, 1864 - Mustered in at Camp Dennison
- May 12 - Departed Camp Dennison at 5:00 A.M.
- May 13 - At Parkersburg, West VirginiaParkersburg, West VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
- May 14 - At Cumberland, MarylandCumberland, MarylandCumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
- May 15 - Arrived at Martinsburg, West Virginia
- May 20 - Defenses of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
- May 25 - To Cedar Creek, Virginia, for escort duty
- May 26 - Back to Martinsburg, West Virginia
- June 3 - Ordered to Washington, D.C.
- June 9 - At White House, Virginia
- June 17 - Arrived at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia
- June 21 - At City Point, Virginia
- June 29 - Entrenched camp at Norfolk, Virginia
- July 27 - Expedition to Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- July 28 - Arrived at Elizabeth City, North Carolina
- August - Returned to Norfolk, Virginia
- August - Left for Ohio
- August 24 - Arrived at Camp Dennison, Ohio
- August 27 - Mustered out
Statistics
The men of the 155th varied greatly in age, with 52 men aged 40 and older. The oldest recruit was 48-year-old Private McAlister of Company A, and the youngest was 13-year-old William Barker, a musician with Company B. There was also 14-year-old Private Jimmy Ross of Company K.Five companies of the 155th were from Pickaway County, Ohio
Pickaway County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 52,727 people, 17,599 households, and 13,287 families residing in the county. The population density was 105 people per square mile . There were 18,596 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
—A, C, E, H, & I. Company H showed 83 men on the official roster; however two of the men never mustered, and another was discharged the day after muster on a Surgeon's Certificate of Disability. The remaining 80 active men of Company H ranged in age from a 15-year-old boy (the musician) to a 44-year-old sergeant. The average age of the company was 27, with 31 men aged 21 or younger, and six men aged 40 or over.
Field & staff
- Harley H. Sage, Colonel
- Roswell Shurtleff, Lt. Colonel
- Peter Lutz, Major
- R. G. McLean, Surgeon
- R. S. Stansbury, Surgeon
- Thomas J. Watkins, Adjutant
- Joseph Wallace, Regimental Quartermaster
- Samuel M. Bright, Chaplain
- Charles N. Dodd, Sergeant Major
- Archibald Armstrong, Quartermaster Sergeant
- Joseph B. Dunlap, Commissary Sergeant
- William R. Elder, Hospital Steward
- Charles B. Dowe, Principal Musician
Roll of Honor
- Clavin, Wilson T., Sergeant, Co. D - died July 13, 1864 at Norfolk, Virginia
- Howard, Cowden, Private, Co. G - died July 14, 1864 at Norfolk, Virginia
- Holiday, Lewis, Private, Co. E - died July 15, 1864 at Norfolk, Virginia
- Justice, G.A., Private, Co. F - died July 17, 1864
- McKinlay, William, Private, Co. E - died July 18, 1864 at Washington, D.C.
- Hunter, William, Private, Co. C - died July 19, 1864
- McCollum, Joel, Private, Co. D - died July 20, 1864 at Portsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth, VirginiaPortsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
- Warner, A.O., Private, Co. E - died July 21, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Miller, James C., Private, Co. D - died July 31, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Martz, Soloman, Private, Co. G - died August 1, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Leopard, Manuel, Private, Co. D - died August 4, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Baker, Lawrence, Private, Co. D - died August 5, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Brothers, John W., 1st Sergt., Co. D - died August 13, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Floor, Hiram, Private, Co. G - died August 14, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- McClain, John, Private, Co. H - died August 15, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Shafer, David, Private, Co. G - died August 16, 1864 at Norfolk, Virginia
- Haggard, Thomas C., Private, Co. I - died August 21, 1864 at Portsmouth, Virginia
- Kennedy, Henderson G., Private, Co. D - died August 25, 1864 at Washington, D.C.
- Cunningham, Benj. C., Private, Co. B - died August 27, 1864
- Jacobs, Thomas, Private, Company B - died September 3, 1864 at Washington, D.C.