Overview
The 185th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Ohio for service in the Union Army during the final months of the American Civil War. Mustered in at Camp Chase on February 25, 1865, the regiment was intended for one year’s service. The unit primarily served in Kentucky, performing garrison and guard duties across the state. The 185th Ohio Infantry did not participate in major field campaigns or battles but played a role in maintaining order and security during the closing phase of the war.
Organization & Service
The 185th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, and mustered into Federal service on February 25, 1865. The regiment was initially ordered to report to General George H. Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee. However, upon reaching Louisville, Kentucky, the regiment was detained by General John M. Palmer, who requested and received permission from General Thomas to retain the unit in Kentucky for local security duties.
Regimental headquarters were established at Eminence, Kentucky. Companies of the regiment were distributed throughout the state, with detachments stationed from Owensboro to Cumberland Gap. Four companies were assigned to guard Cumberland Gap for several months. Two companies, along with a detachment of the 53rd Kentucky Infantry, guarded Mt. Sterling under the command of Major Horatio N. Benjamin. Other companies were stationed at Shelbyville, Lagrange, Greensburg, and various other towns as needed for garrison duty. The regiment performed these duties until it was mustered out of service at Lexington, Kentucky, on September 26, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.
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
- Guard and garrison duty at various locations in Kentucky, including Eminence, Cumberland Gap, Mt. Sterling, Shelbyville, Lagrange, and Greensburg (February–September 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 185th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) are not detailed in primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment did not engage in major combat actions and primarily performed garrison duty.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel John E. Cummins
- Lieutenant Colonel Dennis E. Williams
- Major Horatio N. Benjamin
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 185th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 185th Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes
- 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”
- Federal Publishing Company, “The Union Army,” Vol. 2 (1908)