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. |
