Overview
The 173rd Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Gallipolis in September 1864, the regiment was mustered in for one year’s service. Its primary service was in the Western Theater, with notable duty in Tennessee. The regiment was commanded by Colonel John R. Hurd and played a supporting role during the Battle of Nashville.
Organization & Service
The 173rd Ohio Infantry was organized at Gallipolis, Ohio, in September 1864 and mustered into Federal service for one year. Shortly after organization, the regiment was ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving around October 1, 1864. Upon arrival, it was assigned to duty in the city, performing garrison and guard duties.
During the Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864), the regiment took position on the Murfreesboro Pike early on December 15. After daylight, it was moved to the left of Fort Negley and later in the afternoon to the right of the fort, where it remained during the engagement. Following the battle, the 173rd Ohio Infantry was tasked with guarding Confederate prisoners in Nashville and during their transfer to Louisville, Kentucky.
On February 15, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Columbia, Tennessee, where it remained for several days before being sent to Johnsonville. In June 1865, the regiment returned to Nashville and was mustered out of service on June 26, 1865, by order of the War Department.
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
- Garrison and guard duty at Nashville, Tennessee (October–December 1864)
- Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864)
- Guarding prisoners and transit duty (December 1864–February 1865)
- Duty at Columbia and Johnsonville, Tennessee (February–June 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 173rd Ohio Infantry are not detailed in primary sources. Available records indicate the regiment primarily performed garrison and guard duties, with limited combat exposure during the Battle of Nashville.
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel John R. Hurd
- Lieutenant Colonel Calvin A. Shepard
- Major Jeremiah Davidson
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 173rd Ohio Infantry (One Year Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 173rd Ohio Infantry (One Year Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 45, Part 1
- 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”
- Federal Publishing Company, “The Union Army,” Vol. 2 (1908)