Overview
Jones’ Independent Infantry Battalion (Ohio) was a four-company battalion organized for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Raised in Ohio and commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Jones, the battalion was mustered into United States service in late 1861 in response to concerns about Confederate raids in Kentucky and the need to protect vital railroads in the Department of the Ohio. The unit served primarily in a defensive capacity, focusing on railroad security and the protection of military stores.
This battalion was a temporary formation, distinct from other Ohio infantry regiments, and was mustered out after the immediate emergency had passed.
Organization & Service
Jones’ Independent Infantry Battalion was composed of four companies that initially served under the authority of the State of Ohio, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Jones, who was also a member of Governor Dennison’s staff. In the fall of 1861, due to the threat of Confederate incursions into Kentucky and the lack of available Federal troops, General O. M. Mitchel, commanding the Department of the Ohio, secured permission from Governor Dennison to muster these companies into United States service for an indefinite period beginning from their enrollment date.
The battalion was tasked with guarding the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, specifically the stretch from Cincinnati, Ohio, to Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Their duties included protecting railroad infrastructure, arms, magazines, and other military stores. The battalion remained on this duty until the perceived threat subsided. With the emergency resolved, the battalion was mustered in and out of service on January 9, 1862, at Cincinnati, Ohio.
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 along the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad (Cincinnati, OH to Lawrenceburg, IN), Fall 1861 – January 1862
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for Jones’ Independent Infantry Battalion are not reported in primary sources. The battalion primarily performed guard duty and did not participate in major engagements.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Jones
Regimental Roster
The full roster of Jones’ Independent Infantry Battalion (Ohio) is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster includes the names of officers and enlisted men who served in the battalion during its period of service.
To view the complete roster, visit the Jones’ Independent Infantry Battalion (Ohio) Roster page.
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