102nd Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 102nd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Mansfield, Ohio, in August and September 1862, the regiment was mustered in for three years of service. The 102nd Ohio Infantry primarily operated in the Western Theater, participating in defensive operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.

The regiment is noted for its involvement in the defense of Covington and Louisville, Kentucky, as well as its later service guarding vital railroad lines and defending the Tennessee River. A significant event in the regiment’s history was the capture and subsequent loss of many men in the Sultana steamboat disaster following their parole from Confederate captivity.

Organization & Service

The 102nd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Mansfield, Ohio, in August and September 1862. Colonel William Given was its first commanding officer, with Lieut. Colonels Absalom Baker, George H. Bowman, Jonas D. Elliott, and John Huston, and Major George H. Topping among its field officers.

On September 4, 1862, the regiment moved by rail to Covington, Kentucky, and participated in the defense of the city against Confederate forces under General Kirby Smith. After approximately two weeks, the regiment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where it took part in the defense against General Bragg’s army and joined the pursuit of Confederate forces on October 5, 1862.

The regiment remained in Kentucky until September 21, 1863, when it moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and was stationed there for about six months. On April 26, 1864, the 102nd Ohio was transferred to Tullahoma, Tennessee, where it was assigned to guard the railroad from Normandy to Decherd until June 6. The regiment then marched across the Cumberland Mountains to Bellefonte, Alabama, arriving June 10, and continued to Dodsonville. There, it was tasked with defending the Tennessee River from Stevenson to the foot of Seven-mile Island, covering a distance of 50 miles. Throughout the summer, the regiment was frequently engaged with Confederate forces.

On September 22, 1864, about 400 men from the regiment were ordered to reinforce the fort at Athens, Alabama. Two days later, on September 24, a large number of these men were killed or wounded, and the remainder were captured and sent to Cahaba prison. After their parole, these prisoners were placed aboard the steamer Sultana; as near as can be determined, approximately 70 men from the regiment perished when the vessel exploded.

The 102nd Ohio Infantry was engaged in the siege of Decatur, Alabama, from October 26 to 29, 1864. Following the siege, the regiment continued to see action in skirmishes until it was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, on June 30, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Defense of Covington, Kentucky (September 1862)
• Defense of Louisville, Kentucky (September–October 1862)
• Pursuit of Bragg’s Army (October 1862)
• Guard duty at Nashville, Tennessee (September 1863–April 1864)
• Railroad guard duty, Normandy to Decherd, Tennessee (April–June 1864)
• Defense of the Tennessee River, Alabama (June–September 1864)
• Action at Athens, Alabama (September 24, 1864)
• Siege of Decatur, Alabama (October 26–29, 1864)
• Skirmishes in Alabama and Tennessee (late 1864–June 1865)

Casualties

According to available records, the 102nd Ohio Infantry suffered significant losses during its service. Many men were killed or wounded at Athens, Alabama, and a substantial number perished in the Sultana disaster following their release from Confederate captivity. Exact figures for killed, wounded, and deaths from disease are not consistently reported in primary sources.

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel William Given
• Lieutenant Colonel Absalom Baker
• Lieutenant Colonel George H. Bowman
• Lieutenant Colonel Jonas D. Elliott
• Lieutenant Colonel John Huston
• Major George H. Topping

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 102nd 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 102nd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (see reports on operations in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, 1862–1865)
• Ohio Adjutant General’s Report
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2