Forsyth joined the Union Army as colonel of the 64th Ohio Infantry on 9 November 1861.

He was soon commissioned as colonel of the 24th Ohio Infantry.

In August 1862, Reilly joined the military, accepting an appointment as the colonel of the 104th Ohio Infantry.

Ewing became colonel of the 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry in August 1861.

When the Civil War erupted in 1861, through his political and military connections, Lytle was commissioned as colonel of the 10th Ohio Infantry.

He was commissioned colonel of the 66th Ohio Infantry on December 17 of that year.

Later, he accepted an appointment as the colonel of the 157th Ohio Infantry, Hundred Days Regiment.

He served as colonel of the 87th Ohio Infantry (a three-month regiment), June 10-September 20, 1862.

In 1862, he entered the Union Army as colonel of the 84th Ohio Infantry, a three-month regiment.

He was ordered east and in 1861, with the beginning of the American Civil War, was made colonel of the 36th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.