171st Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 171st Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Sandusky, Ohio, on May 7, 1864, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was composed of National Guard battalions from Trumbull, Portage, Lake, and Geauga counties. It served a brief but active term, primarily in guard and garrison roles, and participated in a notable engagement against Confederate cavalry under John Hunt Morgan.

Organization & Service

The 171st Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was formed from the 51st Battalion (Trumbull County), 14th Battalion (Portage County), 85th Battalion (Lake County), and 86th Battalion (Geauga County) of the Ohio National Guard. The regiment mustered in at Sandusky on May 7, 1864, for a term of 100 days. Its initial assignment was guard and fatigue duty at Johnson’s Island, a Union prison camp for Confederate officers.

On June 9, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Covington, Kentucky, reporting to General Hobson. It was then transported by rail toward Cynthiana, Kentucky, but debarked at Keller’s Bridge. There, the regiment was attacked by Confederate cavalry led by John Hunt Morgan. The 171st Ohio suffered significant casualties in this engagement. Following the action, many members were captured and paroled by Morgan’s forces. The paroled men made their way to Augusta, Kentucky, and were transported by boat to Covington, then transferred to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where they rejoined the regiment. The unit subsequently returned to Johnson’s Island and remained there on duty until it was mustered out on August 20, 1864, at the expiration of its service term.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Guard duty at Johnson’s Island (May–June 1864)
• Action at Keller’s Bridge, Kentucky (June 1864)
• Operations in Kentucky against Morgan’s Cavalry (June 1864)
• Garrison duty at Johnson’s Island (June–August 1864)

Casualties

During the engagement at Keller’s Bridge, the 171st Ohio Infantry lost 13 men killed and 54 wounded. Additional losses due to disease or other causes during the regiment’s 100-day service are not specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Joel F. Asper
• Lieutenant Colonel Heman R. Harmon
• Major Manning A. Fowler

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 171st Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete listing of soldiers who served in this regiment, please visit the 171st Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 37, Part I
• Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 7
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)