118th Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 118th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Cincinnati and Camp Mansfield between September 12 and November 7, 1862, the regiment was mustered in for a three-year term. The unit primarily served in the Western Theater, participating in campaigns across Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina.

The 118th Ohio Infantry was known for its involvement in several significant campaigns, including the Atlanta Campaign and the Carolinas Campaign. The regiment experienced heavy combat and sustained considerable losses in several major engagements.

Organization & Service

The 118th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Cincinnati and Camp Mansfield, Ohio, from September 12 to November 7, 1862. Colonel Samuel R. Mott was the regiment’s first commanding officer. After organization, the regiment moved with other Union troops toward Lexington, Kentucky, and was detached at Cynthiana to guard the railroad. The regiment spent nearly its entire first year on railroad guard duty in Kentucky.

In late 1863, the regiment moved into East Tennessee and saw its first significant combat at the battle of Mossy Creek, where it suffered about 40 casualties. The following months were marked by frequent marches and maneuvers, with no major engagements until the spring of 1864. In May 1864, the regiment advanced on Dalton, Georgia, and participated in the battle of Resaca, where it lost 116 men out of 300 engaged in less than ten minutes during a charge on Confederate works. The regiment also fought at Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, and took part in the operations leading to the fall of Atlanta, losing about 75 men in these actions. During this campaign, the regiment’s effective strength was often below 250 men and at one point was reduced to 120.

After Atlanta’s capture, the 118th Ohio Infantry withdrew to Decatur for a brief rest before joining the pursuit of Confederate General Hood. The regiment fought in the battles of Franklin and Nashville and participated in the pursuit of retreating Confederate forces as far as Columbia, Tennessee. In early 1865, the regiment was transferred to North Carolina, where it took part in the capture of Fort Anderson—being the first regiment to plant its colors on the fort’s walls—and fought at Town Creek and Mosely Hall during the final operations against General Johnston’s forces. The regiment was mustered out of service on June 24, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Railroad guard duty in Kentucky (1862–1863)
• Battle of Mossy Creek (East Tennessee)
• Atlanta Campaign (including Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, and the fall of Atlanta)
• Pursuit of Hood, including the battles of Franklin and Nashville
• Pursuit to Columbia, Tennessee
• Carolinas Campaign (including the capture of Fort Anderson, Town Creek, and Mosely Hall)

Casualties

At the battle of Mossy Creek, the regiment lost about 40 killed and wounded. During the charge at Resaca, it lost 116 men out of 300 engaged in less than ten minutes. In the operations at Dallas, Kennesaw Mountain, and the fall of Atlanta, the regiment lost approximately 75 men. Detailed total casualty figures for the entire service period are not specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Samuel R. Mott
• Lieutenant Colonel John Walkup
• Lieutenant Colonel Thomas L. Young
• Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Sowers
• Major Lester Bliss
• Major John W. Kincaid

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 118th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional details valuable for genealogical and historical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 118th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes
• Ohio Adjutant General’s Report
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2