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Union County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

Source:
HISTORY of JEROME TOWNSHIP, UNION COUNTY, OHIO
Curry, W. L. : Columbus, Ohio: Press of the E. T. Miller Co.
1913

86TH REGIMENT,
 OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
- SIX MONTHS' SERVICE -
pg. 118

     The Eighty-sixth Regiment for the six months' service was organized at Cleveland, Ohio, in the summer of 1863, and was mustered in under Colonel Wilson C. Lemert, who had served as a Major in the 86th O. V. I. three months' service, and a number of other officers of the same regiment also served in this new organization.
     A company of this regiment was recruited in Union County by Captain James W. Fields, and was assigned as Company B when the regiment was organized and mustered into the U. S. service at Camp Chase in July, 1863.
     Fifteen Jerome Township soldiers served in this company, two of whom, James A. Curry and William Wise, died in the service.

Pg. 119 -
     The rebel General, John Morgan, was then making a raid through Ohio and the regiment took an active part in pursuit of Morgan and rendered most excellent service under the command of Colonell Shackleford, making hard marches on foot and at other times a part of the command impressing horses.  They were continuously making efforts to intercept detachments of the enemy, who were making rapid marches to make their escape across the Ohio River, and were present at the surrender of Morgan's command at Salineville, Ohio.
     After the pursuit of Morgan's forces, the regiment returned to Camp Todd, Columbus, Ohio, for a few days, and about the first of August was ordered to Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and having joined the forces under Colonel D. E. Courcy, marched to Cumberland Gap, arriving about the first of September.
     General Burnsides arrived a few days later on the opposite side of the Gap, thus investing the Confederate forces.  The 86th was stationed on the Harlem Road and formed a line of battle ready for action, and a section of Captain Henry M. Neil's Ohio Battery was stationed on the left.  The command of Colonel De Courcy was composed of the 86th Ohio, 129th Ohio, the 9th and 11th East Tennessee Cavalry, and Captain Neil's 22nd Ohio Battery.  A peremptory demand was then
made for an unconditional surrender of the Confederate forces under General Frazier, who at once accepted the terms without firing a shot.  The 86th Ohio was then accorded the honor of marching into the Fort, hauling down the rebel flag, and raising the Stars and Stripes.  General Frazier surrendered nearly 3,000 men, 5,000 stands of small arms, thirteen pieces of artillery, with commissary and quartermaster stores.
     Company B of the 86th was detailed to assist in guarding the prisoners to Lexington, Ky., and then returned to the Gap and remained on duty until the term of service expired. James A. Curry took sick on this march and died at Crab Orchard, Kentucky, October 2nd.  As forage was very scarce, many expeditions were sent out to gather grain and other supplies, and they had many skirmishes with the rebel cavalry.

Pg. 120 -
     This regiment saw a great deal of hard service, beginning with the campaign after Gen. John Morgan in July, 1863.  Then the winter campaign at Cumberland Gap, participating in the siege and marching back and forth from the Gap to Lexington and Camp Nelson, they were continuously on the move in all kinds of weather.  Many regiments that had a much longer service did not experience the severe campaigning that this regiment did, even in six months, as it was rushed to the front as soon as mustered into the service.
      The regiment left the Gap for home January 16th and was mustered out at Cleveland, Ohio, February 10th, 1864, after a very strenuous, active service of six months.  The loss by death was thirty-eight.

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