73rd Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 73rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Chillicothe, Ohio, on December 30, 1861, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served primarily in the Eastern and Western Theaters, participating in major campaigns with the Army of the Potomac and later the Army of the Cumberland. It was noted for its involvement in several significant battles and for its high casualty rates in key engagements.

The regiment was mustered in for a three-year term and became known for its discipline and effectiveness in combat. Its service record includes actions in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas, culminating in participation in Sherman’s March to the Sea and the final campaigns in the Carolinas.

Organization & Service

The 73rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Chillicothe, Ohio, and mustered into service on December 30, 1861. The regiment remained in camp until January 24, 1862, when it moved via Parkersburg to Grafton and Fetterman, West Virginia, and shortly after to New Creek. Early in its service, the regiment was engaged at McDowell in May 1862, sustaining slight losses, followed by participation in the battle of Cross Keys in June, where it lost 8 men killed and wounded.

In August 1862, the regiment marched to Culpeper, Virginia, arriving in time to relieve General Banks’ corps at the battle of Cedar Mountain. The unit then moved through several locations, including Rappahannock Station and Freeman’s Ford, engaging the enemy and performing defensive operations. At the Second Battle of Bull Run, the regiment suffered heavy casualties—out of 310 men present, 144 were killed or wounded and 20 captured.

During the Chancellorsville campaign in spring 1863, the 73rd Ohio was part of the column that turned the left of Lee’s army. In the Gettysburg campaign, the regiment held the line in front of Cemetery Hill, experiencing nearly continuous combat and losing 143 officers and men out of about 300 engaged. After the Confederate retreat, the regiment crossed the Potomac and camped at Bristoe Station before being transferred to the Army of the Cumberland.

In the fall of 1863, the regiment fought in Lookout Valley, where its conduct was commended in official reports, and later participated in the battle of Missionary Ridge. At the end of 1863, the regiment veteranized, was furloughed home, and then returned to Lookout Valley. In May 1864, it moved with the corps through Snake Creek Gap and fought at Resaca, where it was again commended for its performance. The regiment saw severe action near New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Acworth, Allatoona, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, and around Marietta.

On July 20, 1864, the 73rd Ohio fought at Peachtree Creek, suffering further losses. Throughout the Atlanta campaign, the regiment was frequently in the front lines, under fire, and engaged in skirmishing and fortification work. After the fall of Atlanta, the regiment encamped near the city before joining Sherman’s March to the Sea. In 1865, it participated in the Carolinas campaign, including the battles of Averasboro and Bentonville. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 20, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• McDowell (May 1862)
• Cross Keys (June 1862)
• Cedar Mountain (August 1862)
• Second Bull Run (August 1862)
• Chancellorsville Campaign (Spring 1863)
• Gettysburg Campaign (June–July 1863)
• Lookout Valley (October 1863)
• Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
• Resaca (May 1864)
• New Hope Church (May 1864)
• Pine Mountain, Acworth, Allatoona, Lost Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, Marietta (June–July 1864)
• Peachtree Creek (July 1864)
• Atlanta Campaign (Summer 1864)
• Sherman’s March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
• Averasboro (March 1865)
• Bentonville (March 1865)

Casualties

• Second Bull Run: 144 killed or wounded, 20 captured (out of 310 present)
• Gettysburg: 143 killed or wounded (out of about 300 engaged)
• Lookout Valley: 65 killed or wounded (out of 200 engaged)
• New Hope Church: 3 officers and 72 men killed or wounded
• Peachtree Creek: 18 killed
• Atlanta Campaign: 210 men and 8 officers lost (out of less than 350 engaged)
• Averasboro: 15 wounded
• Bentonville: 5 killed, 25 wounded

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Orland Smith
• Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Hyer
• Lieutenant Colonel Richard Long
• Lieutenant Colonel Samuel H. Hurst
• Major Thomas W. Higgins

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 73rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 73rd 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