In August 1861, the U.S. War Department authorized Michael Clarkson Ryan of Hamiton, Ohio to organize an "Irish Regiment".
[1] Thus, the 50th Ohio Infantry Regiment was composed of men of Irish descent.
[2] Ryan was appointed by Governor William J. Dennison Jr. to serve as the regiment's Colonel.
The regiment was recruited in Allen, Auglaize, Belmont, Hamilton, Preble, Putnam, Shelby, Tuscarawas, and Van Wert counties.
The regiment was attached to the 34th Brigade, 10th Division, Army of the Ohio, September 1862.
Unattached, 2nd Division, XXIII Corps, Department of Ohio, to August 1863.
District of South Central Kentucky, 1st Division, XXIII Corps, to April 1864.
3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, XXIII Corps, Army of the Ohio, to February 1865, and Department of North Carolina to June 1865.
The 50th Ohio Infantry mustered out of service at Salisbury, North Carolina, on June 26, 1865.
Defense of Cincinnati, Ohio, against Kirby Smith's threatened attack.
At Muldraugh's Hill, Ky., building fortifications and bridges over Sulphur and Rolling Forks of Green River until September.
Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., September 18; thence to Gallatin, Tenn., and to Glasgow, Ky., and to Knoxville, Tenn., December 25.
Moved to Cleveland, Tenn., thence march to Kingston, Ga., and joined Sherman's army May 23, 1864.
Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church, and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5.