Infantry Units: 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry
The biographical sketches here show only those members of the unit who wrote letters to their local newspapers. Information may be drawn from the unit roster, newspaper obituaries, or other biographical sources.
Roster - Field and Staff
Colonel Thomas Morton
Thomas Morton enlisted as Colonel of the 81st Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on August 19, 1861, mustering into service October 15, 1861. He resigned
his commission July 30, 1864.
Letter: Lima Weekly Gazette: December 30, 1863
Lieutenant Colonel William H. Hill
William H. Hill enlisted as a 30 year old Captain on July 12, 1862, receiving
his commission in Company A, 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on October 15, 1862.
During his service, he took part in the battles of Town Creek, Rome, Dallas,
Atlanta (July 22), Jonesboro, Lovejoy Station, the march to the sea and through
the Carolinas, and Bentonville. He received his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel
to date October 10, 1864, and mustered out with his regiment July 13, 1865 at
Louisville, Kentucky.
Hancock Courier: March 13, 1863
Lima Weekly Gazette: July 29, 1863
Roster - Company B, 81st OVI
Captain Martin Armstrong
Martin Armstrong enlisted as a 26 year old First Lieutenant in Company F,
20th Ohio Volunteer Infantry on April 20, 1861, mustering into service April 27,
1861. He was promoted to Captain to date May 27, 1861, and mustered out August
18, 1861 at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio. Returning home, he quickly raised
Company B, 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry as enlisted as Captain on August 30,
1861, mustering into service September 19, 1861. He was killed in action April
6, 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh and is buried at Shiloh National cemetery.
Article: Lima Weekly Gazette: April 23, 1862
Letters: Lima Weekly Gazette: September 4, 1861, October 23, 1861, December 4, 1861, December 11, 1861, February 19, 1862
Private Isaac McGrady
Isaac McGrady enlisted as a 50 year old Private in Company B, 81st Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on November 23, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He was discharged
for disability February 15, 1864 at Camp Dennison, Ohio.
Letter: Lima Weekly Gazette: April 22, 1863
Private William Francis "Frank" Maltbie
William "Frank" Maltbie enlisted as a 24 year old Private in Company B, 81st
Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 30, 1861, mustering into service the same day.
Reenlisting as a veteran in 1864, he was transferred to Company D on December 27,
1864 and mustered out with the regiment July 13, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Letter: Lima Weekly Gazette: April 8, 1863
Roster - Company D, 81st OVI
Captain Peter A. Tyler
See 15th OVI
Corporal John W. Gillian
John Gillian enlisted as a 23 year old Corporal in Co. D, 81st Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on September 1, 1861 and served with the regiment throughout the war.
He was reduced to the ranks as a Private and was mustered out March 9, 1865 at
Columbus, Ohio.
Wyandot Democratic Union- April 16, 1863 pg. 2, October 1, 1863 pg. 3
Private Jeremiah C. Groff, "J.C."
Jeremiah C. Groff was born December 21, 1838 and enlisted as a Private in Co.
D, 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on September 1, 1861. He was soon transferred to
the Quartermaster's Department and served in that capacity until January 1864,
having served with the regiment through the Shiloh, Corinth, and Vicksburg. He
was selected to become Quartermaster Sergeant of the 110th United States Colored
Troops and joined that regiment January 5, 1864, serving until his mustering out
on February 6, 1866. He returned to Ohio following the war and died March 7,
1883, being buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot Co., Ohio.
Wyandot Pioneer- October 4, 1861 pg. 3, October 19, 1861 pg. 1, October 25,
1861 pg. 2, November 29, 1861 pg. 2, December 13, 1861 pg. 2, January 3,
1862 p. 2, January 10, 1862 pg. 2, January 24, 1862 pg. 2, April 4, 1862 pg. 2,
May 30, 1862 pg. 2, September 26, 1862 pg. 3
Private Michael W. Kimmel
Michael W. Kimmel enlisted as a 41 year old Private in Co. D, 81st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on September 1, 1861 and was mustered into service the same
day. He served with the regiment throughout the war, taking part in the battles
of Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca, and Atlanta. He mustered out at the expiration of his
term of service September 26, 1864.
Wyandot Pioneer- March 13, 1863 pg. 2
Roster - Company E, 81st OVI
Private Valentine Bowersock
Valentine Bowersock enlisted as a 39 year old Private in Company E, 81st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on November 15, 1861, mustering into service the same day. He
was mustered out November 14, 1864 at Marietta, Georgia.
Letter: Lima Weekly Gazette: March 25, 1863
Roster - Company G, 81st OVI
Captain George W. Overmyer
George W. Overmyer enlisted as Captain of Company G, 81st Ohio Volunteer
Infantry on August 9, 1862, mustering into service the same day. He was discharged
November 6, 1864.
Letter: Lima Weekly Gazette: June 3, 1863
Roster - Company K, 81st OVI
Captain Benjamin F. Matthias
Benjamin F. Matthias was commissioned Captain of Company K, 81st Ohio Volunteer Infantry on August 15, 1862, serving briefly but through the battles of Iuka and Corinth before resigning his commission December 31, 1862.
Hancock Courier: March 13, 1863
Corporal Martin McClelland
Martin McClelland enlisted as a 20 year old Corporal in Company K, 81st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on August 16, 1862, mustering into service the same day. He
died of disease October 12, 1863 at Pocahontas, Tennessee.
Letter: Bucyrus Journal: March 27, 1863
Private John P. Emerson
John P. Emerson enlisted as a 20 year old Private in Company K, 81st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on August 26, 1862, mustering into service the same day. He
was mustered out July 13, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Letter: Bucyrus Journal: June 19, 1865
Private Thomas W. Snyder
Thomas W. Snyder enlisted as an 18 year old Private in Company K, 81st Ohio
Volunteer Infantry on August 22, 1862, mustering into service the same day. He
was mustered out July 13, 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.
Letter: Lima Weekly Gazette: March 25, 1863
