161st Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 161st Ohio Infantry (One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry) was an infantry regiment organized for 100 days’ service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Raised from Ohio National Guard battalions, the regiment was mustered in at Camp Chase, Ohio, on May 9, 1864. The unit served primarily in the Middle Department and the Shenandoah Valley, performing guard and escort duties and participating in operations during the summer of 1864.

This regiment was composed of men from Tuscarawas, Noble, and Hancock counties, reflecting the Ohio National Guard’s mobilization for short-term federal service in response to Confederate threats in the Eastern Theater.

Organization & Service

The 161st Ohio Infantry (100 Days’ Service) was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, on May 9, 1864. The regiment consisted of the 70th Battalion (Tuscarawas County), the 43rd Battalion (Noble County), and one company from the 58th Battalion (Hancock County) of the Ohio National Guard. Colonel Oliver P. Taylor commanded the regiment, with Lieutenant Colonel George S. Corner and Major Samuel B. Pugh as principal field officers.

Immediately after organization, the regiment was ordered to Cumberland, Maryland, arriving there on May 12, 1864. On May 28, the unit moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia. On June 4, Companies A, B, D, F, and H, along with other troops, were detailed to escort a supply train up the Shenandoah Valley to support General David Hunter’s army, then believed to be near Staunton, Virginia. The detachment overtook Hunter’s forces at Lexington on June 11 and remained with the army until its arrival at Lynchburg. Subsequently, the regiment was ordered back to Martinsburg, West Virginia.

The 161st Ohio Infantry performed extensive marching and guard duty, eventually falling back to Maryland Heights. On July 6, 1864, skirmishing began in the area and continued for two days, with the regiment actively engaged. The regiment was ordered back to Ohio on August 25 and mustered out of service on September 2, 1864.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Operations in the Shenandoah Valley (June–July 1864)
• Escort of supply train to General Hunter’s army
• Skirmishes at Maryland Heights (July 6–8, 1864)

Casualties

Specific casualty figures for the 161st Ohio Infantry (100 Days’ Service) are not detailed in primary sources. Losses were primarily from disease and minor skirmishing, as the regiment was not engaged in major battles.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Oliver P. Taylor
• Lieutenant Colonel George S. Corner
• Major Samuel B. Pugh

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 161st Ohio Infantry (100 Days’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details for genealogical and historical research.

To view the full roster, visit the 161st Ohio Infantry (100 Days’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 37
• Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 8
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)