38th Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 38th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Defiance, Ohio, between July 24, 1861, and April 12, 1862, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served primarily in the Western Theater, participating in major campaigns with the Army of the Cumberland. The unit was notable for its reenlistment as a veteran organization and its sustained service through the end of the war.

This regiment is distinct from any other Ohio infantry units with similar designations or differing service terms.

Organization & Service

The 38th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Defiance, Ohio, beginning July 24, 1861, and completed organization by April 12, 1862. The regiment was mustered into Federal service for three years and was initially ordered to Kentucky for active duty. Early in its service, the regiment undertook various marches across Kentucky and participated in the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. Following this, it was engaged in the Kentucky campaign and went into camp on Rolling Fork near Lebanon.

The regiment played a significant role at the Battle of Stones River at the end of 1862, suffering relatively light casualties. Afterward, it camped near Murfreesboro until March 1863, then joined Union forces at Triune. The 38th Ohio marched with the Army of the Cumberland and was active in the Tullahoma Campaign. During the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863, the regiment was assigned to guard the supply train and did not participate directly in the fighting.

On November 25, 1863, the regiment’s division assaulted the Confederate fortifications at the foot of Missionary Ridge, then advanced up the hill and captured the works, incurring notable casualties. The regiment reenlisted as a veteran organization, received furlough, and rejoined the army at Ringgold, Georgia. In 1864, the 38th Ohio participated in the Atlanta Campaign, including the siege of Kennesaw Mountain and actions at the Chattahoochee River and Utoy Creek. At Utoy Creek, Companies A, C, and K charged the enemy’s skirmish line, suffering significant losses. During the charge at Jonesboro, the regiment again sustained heavy casualties. The 38th Ohio then marched with Sherman through the Carolinas, participated in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C., and was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, on July 12, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Battle of Perryville (October 1862)
• Kentucky Campaign (1862)
• Battle of Stones River (December 1862 – January 1863)
• Tullahoma Campaign (June–July 1863)
• Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863) – guarded supply train
• Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
• Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864), including:
  • Siege of Kennesaw Mountain
  • Chattahoochee River
  • Utoy Creek
  • Jonesboro
• March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
• Carolinas Campaign (1865)
• Grand Review of the Armies (May 1865)

Casualties

At Missionary Ridge, the regiment lost 7 killed and 41 wounded. At Utoy Creek, Companies A, C, and K lost 9 killed and 42 wounded out of 120 engaged. At Jonesboro, the regiment lost 42 killed and 108 wounded out of 360 men, totaling 150 casualties in that action. Comprehensive totals for the entire service term are not fully detailed in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Edwin D. Bradley
• Colonel Edward H. Phelps
• Colonel William A. Choate
• Lieutenant Colonel Charles Greenwood
• Lieutenant Colonel William Irving
• Major Epaphras L. Barber
• Major Andrew Newman

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 38th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.

To view the complete roster, visit the 38th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts
• Ohio Roster Commission, “Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion”
• Dyer, Frederick H., “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
• Fox, William F., “Regimental Losses in the American Civil War”
• “The Union Army,” Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2