Overview
The 178th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio, the regiment mustered in on September 26, 1864, for a one-year term of service. The unit was primarily active in the Western Theater, serving in Tennessee and North Carolina during the final months of the war.
The regiment is notable for its rapid deployment to the field shortly after organization, its participation in the defense of Murfreesboro during the siege, and its involvement in operations in North Carolina near the close of hostilities.
Organization & Service
The 178th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into Federal service on September 26, 1864. Colonel Joab A. Stafford commanded the regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel Aaron C. Johnson and Major John C. Hamilton as principal field officers. Upon completion of organization, the regiment was sent by rail and river to Nashville, Tennessee, reporting to Major General George H. Thomas for duty.
After approximately two weeks of guard duty in Nashville, the regiment was ordered to Tullahoma, Tennessee, where it became part of the post command. In the winter of 1864, the post at Tullahoma was evacuated, and the 178th Ohio Infantry was transferred to Murfreesboro. There, the regiment participated in the defense of the city during the siege in December 1864. Following the defeat of Confederate General Hood’s army at Nashville, the regiment was ordered to North Carolina. It landed at Morehead City with the XXIII Corps and soon after took part in a skirmish at Wise’s Forks. After the surrender of Confederate General Johnston’s army, the regiment was stationed at Charlotte, North Carolina, performing garrison duty until it was mustered out on June 29, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.
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
- Guard duty at Nashville, Tennessee (October 1864)
- Post duty at Tullahoma, Tennessee (late 1864)
- Siege of Murfreesboro, Tennessee (December 1864)
- Operations in North Carolina, including skirmish at Wise’s Forks (March 1865)
- Garrison duty at Charlotte, North Carolina (Spring–Summer 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 178th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) are not consistently reported in primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment suffered losses due to disease and limited combat, but detailed numbers are incomplete.
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Joab A. Stafford
- Lieutenant Colonel Aaron C. Johnson
- Major John C. Hamilton
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 178th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.
To view the complete roster, visit the 178th 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, Vol. 8
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 2 (1908)