Overview
The 196th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Ohio for service in the Union Army during the final months of the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered in at Camp Chase, Ohio, on March 25, 1865, and served primarily in the Eastern Theater. Its service was notable for its late organization and postwar garrison duties.
Organization & Service
The 196th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into Federal service on March 25, 1865, under the command of Colonel Robert P. Kennedy. Shortly after organization, the regiment was ordered to Virginia, where it was attached to the Ohio brigade stationed at Winchester. The unit performed garrison and security duties in Winchester until July 1865.
In July, the regiment was transferred to Baltimore, Maryland, where it was assigned to the fortifications surrounding the city. During this period, a portion of the regiment was detached and sent to Fort Delaware for guard duty. The 196th Ohio Infantry continued these assignments until it was mustered out of service on September 11, 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
- Garrison duty at Winchester, Virginia (March–July 1865)
- Garrison and guard duty at Baltimore, Maryland (July–September 1865)
- Detachment to Fort Delaware (Summer 1865)
Casualties
Available records do not indicate that the 196th Ohio Infantry suffered combat casualties, as the regiment was primarily engaged in garrison and guard duties after the close of major hostilities. Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Robert P. Kennedy
- Lieutenant Colonel Eben S. Coe
- Major Thomas C. Thoburn
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 196th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for members of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 196th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes
- 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)