43rd Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 43rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Andrews in Mount Vernon and other locations across Ohio between September 28, 1861, and February 1, 1862, the regiment was mustered in for a three-year term. The 43rd Ohio saw extensive service in the Western Theater, participating in numerous campaigns and battles, and was noted for its high rate of reenlistment and active engagement throughout the war.

This unit is distinct from any other Ohio infantry regiments with different service terms.

Organization & Service

The 43rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Camp Andrews, Mount Vernon, and other points in Ohio from September 28, 1861, to February 1, 1862. The regiment mustered in for three years’ service and departed for the front on February 21, 1862, reporting to Brigadier General John Pope in the District of Mississippi. Shortly after arrival, the regiment was engaged at New Madrid, Missouri, in March 1862, participating actively in the operations and final bombardment that led to the capture of the post, suffering significant casualties.

In September 1862, the regiment fought at the Battle of Iuka and joined the pursuit of Confederate forces to Cripple Creek. At the Battle of Corinth in October 1862, the 43rd Ohio, alongside the 63rd Ohio, played a prominent role, sustaining heavy losses. From late 1862 through October 1863, the regiment was stationed at various points along the railroads of West Tennessee and at Memphis, working to secure communications for General Grant’s army during the Vicksburg campaign.

In December 1863, the majority of the regiment reenlisted as veterans and, after a 30-day furlough, returned to the field. The first subsequent engagement was at Decatur, Alabama, where the regiment remained until the start of General Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. The 43rd Ohio suffered severe losses at Resaca and participated in the fighting at Dallas and near Big Shanty, where Company D notably captured a Confederate barricade and prisoners. The regiment was also engaged in the siege of Kennesaw Mountain and, later, was detached to hold the bridge at Roswell during the advance on Decatur, Alabama.

Throughout the remainder of the Atlanta Campaign, the 43rd Ohio served with distinction in the 16th Corps. After the fall of Atlanta, the regiment rested briefly before joining Sherman’s March to the Sea, participating in the operations around Savannah and holding Dillon’s Bridge after the city’s capture. The regiment continued into the Carolinas, fighting at Rivers’ Bridge and advancing through Whippy Swamp. Following the end of hostilities, the 43rd Ohio marched to Washington, D.C., participated in the Grand Review, and was mustered out on July 13, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Operations against New Madrid, Missouri (March 1862)
• Battle of Iuka (September 19, 1862)
• Battle of Corinth (October 3–4, 1862)
• Railroad guard duty in West Tennessee and Memphis (1862–1863)
• Battle of Decatur, Alabama (1864)
• Atlanta Campaign, including Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, and Kennesaw Mountain (May–September 1864)
• March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
• Siege and capture of Savannah (December 1864)
• Carolinas Campaign, including Rivers’ Bridge (February 1865)
• Grand Review, Washington, D.C. (May 1865)

Casualties

According to available primary sources, the 43rd Ohio Infantry suffered significant losses in several engagements, particularly at New Madrid, Corinth, and Resaca. Specific casualty figures for killed, wounded, and died of disease are not fully detailed in all sources.

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel J. L. Kirby Smith
• Colonel Wager Swayne
• Colonel Horace Park
• Lieutenant Colonel Walter F. Herrick
• Lieutenant Colonel John H. Rhodes
• Major Harley H. Sage
• Major Albert H. Howe

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 43rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the regiment during its three-year term.

To view the complete roster, visit the 43rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (see operations in the Western Theater, 1862–1865)
• Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 5
• 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, Vol. 2