88th Ohio Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 88th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (or 88th OVI) was an infantry
regiment
in the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. It was initially known as the "1st Battalion Governor's Guard".
in Columbus, Ohio
in July 1862 and mustered in on October 27, 1862 for three years service under Colonel
George W. Neff.
When Edmund Kirby Smith
threatened Cincinnati, Ohio
in September 1862, the 88th moved to Covington, Kentucky
, but soon returned to Camp Chase. A detachment then served in western Virginia and Maryland, but returned to Ohio to operate against John Hunt Morgan
. The regiment served guard duty at Camp Chase until October 1863, and served at Cincinnati, Ohio
until December 20, 1863. It then returned to Columbus to serve guard duty at Camp Chase until July 1865.
The 88th Ohio mustered out of the service at Camp Chase on July 3, 1865.
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 initially known as the "1st Battalion Governor's Guard".
Service
The 88th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp ChaseCamp Chase
Camp Chase was a military staging, training and prison camp in Columbus, Ohio, during the American Civil War. All that remains of the camp today is a Confederate cemetery containing 2,260 graves. The cemetery is located in what is now the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.- History :Camp Chase...
in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
in July 1862 and mustered in on October 27, 1862 for three years service under 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...
George W. Neff.
When Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith
Edmund Kirby Smith was a career United States Army officer and educator. He served as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, notable for his command of the Trans-Mississippi Department of the Confederacy after the fall of Vicksburg.After the conflict ended Smith...
threatened 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...
in September 1862, the 88th moved to Covington, Kentucky
Covington, Kentucky
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 43,370 people, 18,257 households, and 10,132 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,301.3 people per square mile . There were 20,448 housing units at an average density of 1,556.5 per square mile...
, but soon returned to Camp Chase. A detachment then served in western Virginia and Maryland, but returned to Ohio to operate against John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
. The regiment served guard duty at Camp Chase until October 1863, and served at 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...
until December 20, 1863. It then returned to Columbus to serve guard duty at Camp Chase until July 1865.
The 88th Ohio mustered out of the service at Camp Chase on July 3, 1865.
Notable members
- Captain Joseph D. TaylorJoseph D. TaylorJoseph Danner Taylor was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Joseph D. Taylor was born in Goshen Township, in Clermont County, Ohio...
, Company E - U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Ohio, 1883–1885, 1887–1893
See also
- List of Ohio Civil War units
- Ohio in the Civil WarOhio in the Civil WarDuring the American Civil War, the State of Ohio played a key role in providing troops, military officers, and supplies to the Union army. Due to its central location in the Northern United States and burgeoning population, Ohio was both politically and logistically important to the war effort...