86th Ohio Infantry

compiled by Larry Stevens

References for this Unit

• see also Bibliography of State-Wide References
• Ohio In The War-Volume II. Whitelaw Reid. Moore, Wilstach & Baldwin. Cincinnati 1868
• National Tribune. Bloodless Victory. Albert B. Houlette. December 10, 1896. Cumberland Gap
• The Surrender of Cumberland Gap, September 9, 1863. by R.W. McFarland. Late Lieutenant Colonel. 86th O.V.I. Pamphlet. 32 pgs. Press of Nitschke Bros. Columbus. Ohio. 1898
• History of the Eighty-Sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry . By Joseph Nelson Ashburn, late Private of Company A. The A.S. Gilman Printing Co. Cleveland. Ohio. 1909
• History of Jerome Township. Union County, Ohio. by W.L. Curry. Press of Edward T. Miller Co. Columbus. Ohio. 1913. Contains a history of the 86th OVI Three Month Unit on pg 117.
• History of Jerome Township. Union County, Ohio. by W.L. Curry. Press of Edward T. Miller Co. Columbus. Ohio. 1913. Contains a history of the 86th OVI Six Month Unit on pgs 118-120.
• Diary of James T. Woodward. Company I, Eighty-Sixth Infantry. James T. Woodward. In History of Champaign County Ohio. Its People, Industries and Institutions. pgs. 706-731. B.F. Bowen & Company, Inc. Indianapolis. Indiana. 1917
• National Tribune. Guarding Supplies. Theodore L. Gray. March 11, 1926
• Biography of Archibald M. Willard. A member of the 86th OVI. by The Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio. 1998
• Images of Archibald M. Willard's Works. A member of the 86th OVI. by The Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio. 1998
• The Spirit of '76"; Some Recollections of the Artist and the Painting. by Henry Kelsey Devereux. Privately printed for the author. Five hundred copies of this volume were privately printed, on Alexandra handmade paper, by the Arthur H. Clark Company at Cleveland in the month of April, 1926. Contents: Archibald M. Willard, a brief sketch. - The fifer, Hugh Mosher. - The drummer boy, Henry Kelsey Devereux. - An early account, by J.F. Ryder. - The preliminary sketches and replicas. Call# Vault-Corral Use Only V 759.1 W661. Ohio Historical Society Columbus. Ohio
• The Spirit of '76; an Exhibition of Paintings by Archibald Willard, 1836-1918, from the Wellington Collection. Sponsored by The Diamond Shamrock Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio. 8 pgs. Illustrated. Cleveland. 1976. Concerns Archibald M. Willard a member of 86th OVI. Call# PA Box 458 18. Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio
• The Spirit of 76 ... An American Portrait: America's Best Known Painting, Least Known Artist. by Willard F. Gordon. 95 pgs. ill. Aero Publishers. Distributed by Quail Hill Associates. Fallbrook. California. 1976. Concerns Archibald M. Willard a member of 86th OVI. Call# Stacks 759.1 W661g. Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio
• Archibald M. Willard and The Spirit of 76: An Ohio Artist and His Work. by Amos J. Loveday Jr. Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio. 1992. A. Willard was a member of 86th OVI.
• Unit Bibliography. U.S. Army Military History Institute. Carlisle Barracks. PA. 1995
• Blue Bellied Yankee: The Civil War Service of William Pitt Putnam Lucas. Robert M. Miller. 298 pgs. Gilbert. Arizona. ca 2000.
• Regimental Colors of the 86th O.V.I. Painting and Original Photo. Fight for the Colors. Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. Ohio. 2000

History

There were two organizations of this number-the first under Colonel Barnabas Burns was mustered in for three months on the 11th of June, 1862, and operated in West Virginia guarding the Railroad until mustered out September 25, 1862. The second organization for six months service was completed in July, 1863, under Colonel Wilson C. Lemert, and took the field against John Morgan, who was then raiding Ohio. After the capture, the Regiment moved to Kentucky and marched to Cumberland Gap with Colonel DeCourcy's forces, resulting in the capture of that point with near 3,000 prisoners. The 86th garrisoned the place until January, when it returned to Ohio, and was mustered out February 10, 1864.

From Dyer's Compendium

86th Regiment Infantry. Organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, for three months' service, June 10, 1862. Moved to Clarksburg, W. Va., June 16-17, and assigned to Kelly's Railroad Command, June 19. Railroad guard duty at Clarksburg June 17 to August 21. Companies "A," "C," "H" and "I" on duty at Parkersburg July 27 to August 21. Expedition from Clarksburg to Huttonville to intercept raid by Jenkins August 21-25. Garrison duty at Clarksburg, also constructing fortifications and guarding stores August 25 to September 17. Ordered to Camp Delaware, Ohio, September 17, and mustered out September 25.

86th Regiment Infantry Reorganized. Organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered in for six months' service July 17, 1863. Moved to Zanesville, Ohio, July 19. Expedition from Zanesville to Eagleport, Ohio, to intercept Morgan July 20-24. Skirmish at Eagleport July 20. Expedition from Zanesville to Cambridge, Ohio, in pursuit of Morgan July 19-25. Skirmish near New Lisbon July 26. Capture of Gen. Morgan's Command near Salineville July 26. Moved to Camp Nelson, Ky., August 8-11. Attached to DeCourcy's Brigade, Willcox's Left Wing forces, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of Ohio, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps, Dept. Ohio, to February, 1864.
SERVICE.--Expedition under DeCourcy to Cumberland Gap August 17-September 7, 1863. Operations about Cumberland Gap September 7-10. Capture of Cumberland Gap September 9. Occupation of Rocky Fort September 9. Garrison at Cumberland Gap September 9, 1863, to January 16, 1864. March to Nicholasville, Ky., January 16-23, thence moved to Cleveland, Ohio, January 23-26. Mustered out February 10, 1864. Regiment lost during service by disease 37 Enlisted men.

Thanks to Dr. Richard A. Sauers for the initial research and indexing of the National Tribune articles.

More about the Civil War in Ohio.

Copyright © 1995 Larry Stevens

Last updated January 21 2006