The companies composing this organization were enrolled as follows: Companies A and F, April 20, 1861, at Lima; B, April 19, 1861, at Oxford; C and D, April 22, 1861, at Eaton; E, April 17, 1861, at St. Mary’s; G, April 25, 1861, at Chesterville; H, April 27, 1861, at Sidney; I, April 22, 1861, at Steubenville, and K, April 25, 1861, at Columbus.
Companies A, B, C, D, I and K were ordered to Camp Jackson, Columbus, and E, F, G and H to Camp Goddard, Zanesville. The quota being full under the President’s first call for 75,000 troops, the muster and regimental organization was delayed for several weeks, until the companies were mustered into State service in accordance with an act of the General Assembly, to provide more effectually for the defense of the State against invasion, passed April 26, 1861.
The six companies at Camp Jackson, Columbus, were mustered as follows: B, C, D, and I, May 15, 1861; A and K, May 16, 1861 by Henry M. Neil, Aid-de-Camp to Governor of Ohio. A few days later they moved to Camp Goddard, Zanesville, where Companies E, F and G were mustered May 24, 1861 and H May 27, 1861, by Henry M. Neil, Aid-de-Camp to Governor of Ohio, Mustering Officer, for a period of three months, to date from April 27, 1861.
Immediately after muster the regimental organization was formed and the equipment and drilling for the field actively engaged in until early June, when it was ordered to move to Virginia. Arriving Bellaire, it crossed the Ohio River to Benwood, and was distributed along the line of the B&O Railroad as far as Grafton, with headquarters at Fairmont. The Regiment performed a large amount of marching and guard duty, and rendered valuable service to the Government in assisting to stay the progress of the rebels, who were endeavoring to carry the war into the North.
Its entire service was in this direction, with the exception of one expedition made to counteract the retreat of the rebels from Carrick’s Ford. It would have been successful in this expedition if the news had not been carried to the enemy of its approach. The Regiment then being on top of Knobby Mountain, the rebels at once broke camp and moved toward Petersburg. Its term of enlistment about to expire, it moved back on the B&O Railroad for a few days and was then ordered home to be mustered out.
It was mustered out of service at Columbus, Ohio, August 18, 1861, by E. Morgan Wood, Captain 15th Infantry, USA, Mustering Officer. The casualties during this brief period of service were two killed in a railroad accident, one died from accidental gunshot wound, and even died of disease.
Sources
Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1866, Vol. 1. Akron: The Werner Company, 1893.
Spirit of '61 