Overview
The Wallace Guards, Infantry (Ohio), was an independent infantry company organized in Cincinnati, Ohio, during the American Civil War. This unit was formed in response to the emergency threat to Cincinnati in the fall of 1862. The company served the Union and was mustered in for a short-term period of 30 days, reflecting its role as a local emergency defense force.
The Wallace Guards were composed of volunteers from the Cincinnati area and were not part of a larger regimental structure. Their service was limited to the immediate defense needs of the city during a period of heightened alarm.
Organization & Service
The Wallace Guards, Infantry, was organized at Cincinnati, Ohio, and enrolled on September 2, 1862. The company was mustered into United States service on September 9, 1862, for a term of 30 days. Its formation was prompted by the sudden threat to Cincinnati posed by Confederate forces under General Kirby Smith during the Kentucky Campaign.
The company served exclusively in the defense of Cincinnati, performing guard and patrol duties to protect the city and maintain order. The Wallace Guards were not attached to any brigade, division, or corps, and did not participate in field campaigns outside the immediate vicinity of Cincinnati. The company was mustered out of service at Cincinnati on October 4, 1862, upon the expiration of its term.
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
- Defense of Cincinnati, September–October 1862
Casualties
No official casualty figures are reported for the Wallace Guards, Infantry (Ohio), during its 30-day service. The company did not engage in combat actions, and no losses are recorded in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Charles Worthington
- First Lieutenant Samuel K. Williams
- Second Lieutenant H. M. Diggins
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the Wallace Guards, Infantry (Ohio), including officers and enlisted men who served during its 30-day term, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete list of members, please visit the regiment’s roster page.
View the Wallace Guards, Infantry (Ohio) Roster
Sources & References
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- Ohio Adjutant General’s Report