Overview
The 129th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Cleveland, Ohio, on August 10, 1863, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered in for a six-month term and served primarily in Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. Its service was notable for participation in the capture of the Confederate garrison at Cumberland Gap and subsequent operations in the region.
Organization & Service
The 129th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) was organized at Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered into service on August 10, 1863. Immediately after organization, the regiment proceeded to Camp Nelson, Kentucky. On August 20, it departed Camp Nelson for Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. Upon arrival, the regiment took part in the operations that led to the capture of the Confederate garrison at Cumberland Gap, resulting in the surrender of over 2,000 prisoners and a significant quantity of military supplies.
Following the capture, the regiment remained stationed at and around Cumberland Gap, performing duties such as foraging, scouting, and picket duty. On December 1, 1863, the regiment was ordered to move toward the Clinch River, reaching the area where the Knoxville road crosses the river. There, the regiment engaged in a sharp action and continued to encounter occasional skirmishes with Confederate forces throughout December. The 129th Ohio Infantry was mustered out of service between March 4 and March 10, 1864.
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
- Operations and capture of Cumberland Gap (September 1863)
- Duty at Cumberland Gap (September–December 1863)
- Engagement at Clinch River (December 1863)
- Skirmishes in eastern Tennessee (December 1863)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 129th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) are not detailed in the primary sources. Available records do not provide a breakdown of losses from battle or disease.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Howard D. John
- Lieutenant Colonel George L. Hayward
- Major Charles Mitchener
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 129th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete list of members and additional details, please visit the regiment’s roster page.
View the 129th Ohio Infantry (Six Months’ Service) Regimental Roster.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 30, Part 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”
- “The Union Army,” Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 2