Overview
The 163rd Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Ohio for Federal service during the American Civil War. Mustered at Camp Chase on May 12, 1864, the regiment was composed of companies drawn from the 48th Regiment, Ohio National Guard (Richland County), 72nd Battalion (Henry County), 96th Battalion (Ashland County), and 99th Battalion (Stark County). The 163rd Ohio Infantry served in the Union Army, primarily in the Eastern Theater, during its brief period of enlistment.
This unit was part of the large mobilization of Ohio National Guard regiments called for 100 days’ service in 1864, intended to provide rear-area security and free veteran troops for front-line operations.
Organization & Service
The 163rd Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into Federal service on May 12, 1864. The regiment departed Ohio on May 13 under orders from General Heintzelman, commanding the Department of Ohio, and proceeded to Washington, D.C. Upon arrival, it was assigned to duty with headquarters at Fort Reno, where it remained until June 8, 1864.
On June 8, the regiment was ordered to the front, traveling by transport to White House, Virginia, and then to Bermuda Hundred. Reporting to General Butler at Point of Rocks on June 12, the 163rd participated in a reconnaissance on the Petersburg & Richmond Railroad on June 14. On June 15, a detachment of 250 men was engaged in a severe skirmish. The following day, the regiment moved to Wilson’s Landing and subsequently conducted several reconnaissances on the west side of the James River.
The 163rd Ohio Infantry was relieved from duty on August 29, 1864, and returned to Columbus, Ohio. The regiment was mustered out of service on September 10, 1864, upon the expiration of its 100 days’ term.
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
- Duty at Fort Reno, Washington, D.C. (May–June 1864)
- Operations at White House and Bermuda Hundred, Virginia (June 1864)
- Reconnaissance on the Petersburg & Richmond Railroad (June 14, 1864)
- Skirmish near Petersburg (June 15, 1864)
- Reconnaissances from Wilson’s Landing, west side of the James River (June–August 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 163rd Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) are not detailed in Dyer’s Compendium or the Official Records. Available sources indicate the regiment suffered losses during its skirmish near Petersburg, but exact numbers are not reported.
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Hiram Miller
- Lieutenant Colonel John Dempsey
- Major Aaron S. Campbell
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 163rd Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and other service details for members of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 163rd Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 36, 40
- 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
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 2 (1908)