Ohio’s Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration

The State of Ohio sent over 200 infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments into action in the Civil War. Approximately 35,500 Ohioans who served in the war died of combat wounds or disease.  Ohio was second only to New York among the northern states in terms of deaths.

Ohio regiments saw action all across the south; at Vicksburg, Mississippi; at Chickamauga in Georgia; and at the Battles of Franklin and Nashville in Tennessee. Some marched to the sea with General Sherman. Many more fought in the great campaigns in the east:  Gettysburg, Antietam, Petersburg, and everywhere in between.

Five Civil War veterans who were born in Ohio or fought in Ohio regiments would later become President of the United States:  Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877), Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-1881), Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893) and William McKinley (1897-1901). Grant, Hayes, and Harrison were all generals in the war. Several other important generals were also natives of Ohio, including William T. Sherman, Phil Sheridan, James McPherson, and George Custer.

Information about lectures, reenactments, and other commemorative events throughout the state can be found at the Ohio Civil War 150 web page. Information can also be found at the Ohio Civil War 150 Facebook page.