Overview
The 170th Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Ohio for Union service during the American Civil War. Mustered in at Bellaire, Ohio, on May 13 and 14, 1864, the regiment was composed primarily of men from the 74th Battalion, Ohio National Guard (Belmont County), and the 78th Battalion, Ohio National Guard (Harrison County). The unit served for a term of 100 days, primarily in the Eastern Theater, and was tasked with garrison and defensive duties in the Washington, D.C. area and later in Maryland and West Virginia.
Organization & Service
The 170th Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was organized at Bellaire, Ohio, on May 13 and 14, 1864. Upon organization, the regiment immediately moved to Washington, D.C., where it was assigned to garrison duty at Forts Simmons, Mansfield, Bayard, Gaines, and Battery Vermont. These posts were part of the defensive fortifications surrounding the capital.
On July 4, 1864, the regiment was ordered to leave the Washington defenses and proceed to Sandy Hook, Maryland, to join Union forces defending Maryland Heights. The 170th Ohio remained in the vicinity of Maryland Heights until July 15, when it was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Army of West Virginia. During the remainder of its service, the regiment participated in the movements and engagements of that command. While stationed at Cedar Creek, the regiment was detached and ordered to Harper’s Ferry to serve as escort to a supply train. The 170th Ohio Infantry remained at Harper’s Ferry until August 24, 1864, when it received orders to return to Ohio. The regiment arrived at Columbus on August 27 and was mustered out of service on September 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
- Garrison duty in the defenses of Washington, D.C. (May–July 1864)
- Defense of Maryland Heights (July 1864)
- Movements with the Army of West Virginia (July–August 1864)
- Escort duty for supply train to Harper’s Ferry (August 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 170th Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) are not detailed in the primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment experienced limited losses during its term of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Miles J. Saunders
- Colonel Lewis Lewton
- Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Higgins
- Major Milton W. Junkins
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 170th Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details for those who served in the unit.
To view the complete roster, visit the 170th Ohio Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 37, Part 1
- Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 7
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)