169th Ohio Infantry


The 169th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army between May 13, 1864, and September 4, 1864, during the American Civil War.

Service

The 169th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Taylor near Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered on May 13, 1864, for 100 days service under the command of Colonel Nathaniel Haynes. The regiment left Ohio for Washington, D.C., May 19 and was attached to 1st Brigade, DeRussy's Division, XXII Corps, to July 1864. 2nd Brigade, DeRussy's Division, XXII Corps, to August 1864. Assigned to duty in the defenses of Washington south of the Potomac River as garrison at Fort Ethan Allen and in other fortifications south of the Potomac until September. Participated in the repulse of Early's attack on Washington July 11–12. The 169th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service September 4, 1864.

Ohio National Guard

Over 35,000 Ohio National Guardsmen were federalized and organized into regiments for 100 days service in May 1864. Shipped to the Eastern Theater, they were designed to be placed in "safe" rear areas to protect railroads and supply points, thereby freeing regular troops for Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s push on the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. As events transpired, many units found themselves in combat, stationed in the path of Confederate Gen. Jubal Early’s veteran Army of the Valley during its famed Valley Campaigns of 1864. Ohio Guard units met the battle-tested foe head on and helped blunt the Confederate offensive thereby saving Washington, D.C. from capture. Ohio National Guard units participated in the battles of Monacacy, Fort Stevens, Harpers Ferry, and in the siege of Petersburg.

Casualties

The regiment lost 41 enlisted men during service, all due to disease.