Historical Notes:
At the beginning of the Civil War, volunteers from Ohio rushed to join the Union cause, and the 18th Regiment was among the units that responded. The 18th Ohio Infantry Regiment was organized at Cincinnati, Ohio, and mustered into service on May 3, 1861. After its formation, the regiment was initially stationed in Nashville, Tennessee. It participated in various operations and skirmishes during this time.
The 18th participated in Stone's River (Murfreesboro) and Chickamauga, then served as engineering support at Chattanooga during the Atlanta Campaign. Like many Civil War regiments, the 18th Ohio Infantry's term of service expired after three years. The regiment was mustered out of service on June 15, 1864. Those members whose enlistment periods had not ended were transferred to other Ohio regiments to complete their service.
The regiment lost a total of 184 men during service; 4 officers and 72 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 1 officer and 107 enlisted men died of disease.
Officers:
Colonel Timothy Robbins Stanley
Lieutenant Colonel Josiah Given - commanded at the battle of Stones River
Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Grosvenor - commanded at the battle of Chickamauga
Assignments:
Attached to 8th Brigade, Army of the Ohio to December 1861. 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Ohio, to July 1862. Unattached, Railroad Guard, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862. 29th Brigade, 8th Division, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Center, XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, XIV Corps, to October 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XIV Corps, to November 1863. Engineer Brigade, Department of the Cumberland, to November 1864.
Veteran infantry regiment
Organized at Chattanooga, Tenn., by consolidation of the Veteran detachments of the 1st, 2nd, 18th, 24th and 35th Ohio Infantry October 31, 1864. This consolidated unit was attached to Post of Chattanooga, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864 and continued to perform engineering duty. In response to Hood's invasion, it was recalled to Nashville where it joined 2nd Brigade, 1st Separate Division, District of the Etowah, Dept. of the Cumberland. This brigade and the 1st Colored made the assaults on Hood's right at the Battle of Nashville. They remained in Nashville to Jul., 1865. District of Augusta, GA to October, 1865. The 18th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service there on October 22, 1865.
Service:
Moved to Louisville, Ky., November 6, thence to Elizabethtown, Ky., November 15. Duty at Elizabethtown and Bacon Creek, Ky., November 1861 to February 1862. Advance on Bowling Green, Ky., February 10–15, and on Nashville, Tenn., February 18–25. Occupation of Nashville, Tenn., February 25-March 18. Reconnaissance to Shelbyville, Tullahoma and McMinnville March 25–28. To Fayetteville April 7. Expedition to Huntsville, Ala., April 10–11. Capture of Huntsville April 11. Advance on and capture of Decatur April 11–14. Operations near Athens, Limestone Bridge, Mooresville and Elk River May 1–2. Near Pulaski and near Bridgeport May 1. Moved to Fayetteville May 31. Negley's Expedition to Chattanooga June 1–15. At Battle Creek until July 11. Guard duty along Tennessee & Alabama Railroad from Tullahoma to McMinnville until September. Short Mountain Road and McMinnville August 29 (Companies A and I). Retreat to Nashville, Tenn. Siege of Nashville September 12-November 7. Near Lavergne October 7. Duty at Nashville until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26–30. Battle of Stones River December 30–31, 1862 and January 1–3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga Campaign August 16-September 22. Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19 21. Rossville Gap September 21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Reopening Tennessee River October 26–29. Brown's Ferry October 27. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23–27. Orchard Knob November 23–24. Missionary Ridge November 25. Engaged in engineer duty at Chattanooga until October 20, 1864.
Roster:
The roster of this unit contains the names of 3104 men.