Ohio Volunteer Militia Surgeon General's Report, May and June 1861

This chart from the Ohio Surgeon General lists the name, rank, and regiment of soldiers in the Ohio Volunteer Militias who died or were medically discharged between May and June 1861. The 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th Regiments are heavily represented. For each soldier, his date of discharge or death is included, along with the disease or cause of death. The third column of the document includes names, but the additional information about each individual appears to be missing. Common reasons listed for death or discharge include typhoid fever, dysentery, pneumonia, gunshot wounds and debility, which refers to a physical weakness or exhaustion, often the result of illness. With the outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861, Ohio Governor William Dennison encouraged Ohio communities to revive the militia system (originally established in 1803) and form units that they would send to Columbus, the state capital. Dennison entrusted General George B. McClellan with command of these units, asking him to create a cohesive and professional force out of the volunteers. Most of these units formed the basis of Ohio Volunteer Infantry units, which the State of Ohio eventually provided to the U.S. government for the war against the South