Overview
The 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized for Union service at the outset of the Civil War. Raised primarily from young men in Cincinnati and the surrounding area, the regiment was formed at Camp Harrison, Ohio, in April 1861. It served under the Union banner in the Western Theater during the initial mobilization following the outbreak of hostilities.
This unit is distinct from the 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service).
Organization & Service
The 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized at Camp Harrison on April 20, 1861. The regiment moved to Camp Dennison on April 23 and was mustered into United States service between April 29 and May 9, 1861. The regiment was commanded by Colonel Samuel H. Dunning, with Lieutenant Colonel John H. Patrick and Major Charles L. Long as principal field officers.
While the regiment was still completing its equipment and organization, President Lincoln issued a call for 300,000 troops to serve for three years. Nearly all members of the 5th Ohio Infantry volunteered to reenlist for the extended term, with enrollment for the three years’ service taking place between June 15 and June 21, 1861. Those who did not reenlist were mustered out at the expiration of their three months’ term, between August 24 and September 5, 1861. The regiment’s initial three months’ service was primarily spent in organization, training, and preparation for further service, with no major field operations recorded during this period.
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
The 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service) did not participate in any major battles or campaigns during its brief period of service. Its activities were limited to organization, training, and preparation for extended service.
Casualties
There are no recorded battle casualties for the 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service). Specific figures for deaths from disease or other causes during this term are not detailed in primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Samuel H. Dunning
- Lieutenant Colonel John H. Patrick
- Major Charles L. Long
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served during the regiment’s initial term.
To view the complete roster, visit the 5th Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- 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)