Overview
The 44th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Springfield, Ohio, between September 12 and October 14, 1861, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served primarily in the Western Virginia and Kentucky theaters and was known for its high reenlistment rate and eventual conversion to cavalry service.
This unit is distinct from any other Ohio regiments with similar designations or different service terms.
Organization & Service
The 44th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was mustered into Federal service at Springfield, Ohio, from September 12 to October 14, 1861. Colonel Samuel A. Gilbert was appointed as its first commander, with Lieutenant Colonels H. Blair Wilson and Lysander W. Tulleys, and Majors Ackber O. Mitchell and Alpheus S. Moore among its field officers.
After organization, the regiment moved via Cincinnati to Camp Piatt, West Virginia, where it spent the winter of 1861–1862 drilling and preparing for active operations. In May 1862, the 44th Ohio, along with another regiment, advanced as far as Dublin Depot, destroying a section of the railroad. Upon learning of a Confederate attempt to intercept their retreat, the regiment withdrew to Lewisburg, where it participated in repulsing and routing the enemy, capturing artillery and prisoners.
Later, the regiment was transferred to Kentucky, where it took part in the engagement at Dutton’s Hill in March 1863, contributing to the Union victory there. In January 1864, a significant majority of the regiment—550 out of 600 men—reenlisted as veterans. Upon reassembly, the regiment was reorganized as the 8th Ohio Cavalry, and its subsequent service continued under that designation.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Operations in Western Virginia (1861–1862)
- Expedition to Dublin Depot (May 1862)
- Action at Lewisburg, Virginia (May 1862)
- Engagement at Dutton’s Hill, Kentucky (March 1863)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 44th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) are not fully detailed in available primary sources. The regiment sustained losses in action and by disease during its service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Samuel A. Gilbert
- Lieutenant Colonel H. Blair Wilson
- Lieutenant Colonel Lysander W. Tulleys
- Major Ackber O. Mitchell
- Major Alpheus S. Moore
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 44th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details for those who served in the unit.
To view the full roster, visit the 44th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes covering Western Virginia and Kentucky operations
- Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. 4
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2