Overview
The 86th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered into United States service on July 14, 1863, for a term of six months. Serving in the Union Army, the regiment operated primarily in the Western Theater. Its service included participation in the pursuit of Confederate cavalry under General John Hunt Morgan and involvement in the campaign leading to the capture of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.
This unit is distinct from the 86th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service).
Organization & Service
The 86th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) was organized at Camp Cleveland and mustered in on July 14, 1863. Colonel Wilson C. Lemert commanded the regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. McFarland and Major William Kraus as principal field officers. Shortly after organization, the regiment participated in the pursuit of Confederate cavalry led by General John Hunt Morgan during his raid into Ohio and Indiana.
Following the conclusion of Morgan’s Raid, the regiment was ordered to Kentucky and then to eastern Tennessee. The 86th Ohio Infantry joined the Union expedition against the Confederate-held Cumberland Gap. The regiment was present during the operations that resulted in the surrender of the Confederate garrison at Cumberland Gap in September 1863. After the capture, the regiment remained on duty at the Gap, performing garrison and guard duties until the expiration of its term. The 86th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) was mustered out of service on February 10, 1864.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Pursuit of Morgan’s Raiders (July 1863)
- Expedition and operations against Cumberland Gap (September 1863)
- Garrison duty at Cumberland Gap (September 1863 – February 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 86th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) are not detailed in primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment did not participate in major combat and suffered minimal losses, primarily from disease.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Wilson C. Lemert
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. McFarland
- Major William Kraus
Regimental Roster
The full roster of officers and enlisted men who served in the 86th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 86th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes
- Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)