115th Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 115th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Ohio during the American Civil War. Mustered into Union service in August and September 1862, the regiment was formed primarily from recruits in Portage, Stark, and Columbiana counties. Serving in the Western Theater, the 115th Ohio Infantry was engaged in provost and guard duties, railroad defense, and saw action against Confederate cavalry and guerrilla forces.

This unit served the Union Army from its organization in 1862 until its mustering out in June 1865. The regiment is notable for its divided early service between Cincinnati and Columbus, its defense of the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, and the tragic loss of men in the Sultana disaster.

Organization & Service

The 115th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized in August and September 1862. Upon completion of organization, the regiment was ordered to Cincinnati. On October 9, 1862, the regiment was divided: five companies remained in Cincinnati as provost guard, while the other five were sent to Columbus for guard duty. The Columbus detachment was ordered to Maysville, Kentucky, in October 1862, and then to Covington, Kentucky, in December, where it performed provost duty until October 1863.

In October 1863, the regiment was ordered to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and subsequently sent to Murfreesboro. There, a portion of the regiment was mounted and dispatched against Confederate guerrilla forces. By June 1864, the unmounted companies were assigned to blockhouse duty along the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, tasked with protecting the line from Confederate attacks. During this period, the regiment engaged Wheeler’s Confederate cavalry at La Vergne, Tennessee.

In early December 1864, nearly 200 men stationed in blockhouses were captured by Confederate forces. After being paroled, these men were placed aboard the steamer Sultana, which later exploded near Memphis, Tennessee, on April 27, 1865, resulting in significant loss of life. The regiment also participated in actions near Murfreesboro in December 1864.

The Cincinnati detachment spent 1862–1863 guarding prisoners and forwarding convalescent soldiers. In July 1863, it was called out for several days in pursuit of General John Hunt Morgan during his raid through Ohio. In October 1863, the regiment was sent to the front and assigned to the 4th Division, 20th Corps. The 115th Ohio Infantry was mustered out of service on June 22, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Provost and guard duty at Cincinnati, Columbus, Maysville, and Covington (1862–1863)
• Pursuit of Morgan’s Raid in Ohio (July 1863)
• Provost duty at Covington, Kentucky (to October 1863)
• Operations at Chattanooga and Murfreesboro, Tennessee (late 1863–1864)
• Defense of Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad (1864)
• Engagement at La Vergne, Tennessee (1864)
• Actions near Murfreesboro (December 1864)
• Capture of blockhouse detachments (December 1864)
• Sultana disaster (April 27, 1865)

Casualties

Specific casualty figures for the 115th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) are not fully detailed in primary sources. Available records indicate losses from combat, disease, and the Sultana disaster, but exact numbers are not consistently reported.

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Jackson A. Lucy
• Colonel Thomas C. Boone
• Lieutenant Colonel Asa H. Fitch
• Lieutenant Colonel Harrington R. Hill

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 115th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the regiment.

To view the complete roster, visit the 115th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XXIII, XXIV, XXXII, XXXIX
• Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. VIII
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Vol. 2, Federal Publishing Company, 1908