Overview
The 177th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, from September 23 to October 4, 1864, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served primarily in the Western and Atlantic theaters, participating in operations in Tennessee and North Carolina. It was mustered in for a one-year term and played a role in several key actions during the closing months of the war.
Organization & Service
The 177th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, under the command of Colonel Arthur T. Wilcox, with Lieutenant Colonel William H. Zimmerman and Major Ernst J. Kreiger as field officers. The regiment mustered in between September 23 and October 4, 1864. Immediately after organization, the unit moved to Nashville, Tennessee, via Indianapolis and Louisville. Upon arrival, it was ordered to Tullahoma and became part of the garrison under General Robert H. Milroy.
The regiment remained at Tullahoma until the Confederate advance under General Hood, at which point it was ordered to Murfreesboro, arriving there on December 2, 1864. On December 7, Milroy’s command, including the 177th Ohio, charged Confederate works, capturing two artillery pieces and over 200 prisoners. Shortly thereafter, during a foraging expedition, the regiment engaged the enemy and suffered several wounded. Following the Confederate retreat from Tennessee, the regiment was ordered to Clifton, Tennessee.
In mid-January 1865, the 177th Ohio Infantry embarked at Clifton, traveled down the Tennessee River and up the Ohio River to Cincinnati, and then by rail to Washington, D.C. From there, it moved to Annapolis, Maryland, and sailed to North Carolina, arriving at Fort Fisher on February 7, 1865. The regiment participated in two assaults on Confederate works from the Cape Fear River to the coast, crossed the river, and took part in the flank movement that led to the evacuation of Fort Anderson. It was also engaged at Town Creek, where it charged from the rear and captured the entire opposing command. The regiment then moved opposite Wilmington, remaining there about a week before joining General Cox at Kinston and proceeding to Goldsboro, where it joined Sherman’s army. After the surrender of General Johnston, the 177th Ohio was sent to Greensboro, North Carolina, and mustered out on June 24, 1865.
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
- Garrison duty at Tullahoma, Tennessee
- Defense of Murfreesboro, Tennessee (December 1864)
- Engagement at Murfreesboro (December 7, 1864)
- Foraging expedition near Murfreesboro
- Operations at Clifton, Tennessee
- Operations against Fort Fisher, North Carolina (February 1865)
- Assaults on Confederate works from Cape Fear River to the coast
- Evacuation of Fort Anderson
- Engagement at Town Creek, North Carolina
- Occupation of Wilmington, North Carolina
- Advance to Kinston and Goldsboro, North Carolina
- Operations leading to the surrender of General Johnston
Casualties
According to available records, the 177th Ohio Infantry lost a number of men during its service. Specific figures for killed, wounded, and deaths from disease are not fully detailed in primary sources.
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Arthur T. Wilcox
- Lieutenant Colonel William H. Zimmerman
- Major Ernst J. Kreiger
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 177th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and other service details for members of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 177th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 45, 47
- 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”
- Federal Publishing Company, “The Union Army,” Vol. 2 (1908)