3rd Ohio Infantry – 3 Years Service ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 3rd 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 Dennison on June 20, 1861, the regiment was mustered for a three-year term. The 3rd Ohio participated in several significant campaigns and battles in the Western Theater, earning distinction for its conduct in action.

This unit is distinct from the 3rd Ohio Infantry (Three Months’ Service).

Organization & Service

The 3rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and mustered into service on June 20, 1861. Initially, the regiment was attached to operations in western Virginia, where it first engaged the enemy at Middle Fork bridge near Rich Mountain. A detachment from Company A encountered Confederate forces and suffered its first casualties during a reconnaissance mission.

In August 1861, the regiment moved to Elkwater Creek, Virginia, where it participated in constructing fortifications and took part in subsequent operations in the region. The regiment was later transferred to Kentucky and became involved in the Perryville Campaign. At the Battle of Perryville, the 3rd Ohio sustained heavy losses, with over one-third of its men killed or wounded, and received commendation for its steadfastness under fire.

The regiment continued its service in the Western Theater, participating in the Battle of Stone’s River. In April 1863, the 3rd Ohio was detached for a raid into northern Georgia. On April 30, while crossing Sand Mountain, the regiment captured a Confederate battery but was soon after surrounded and compelled to surrender to Confederate forces under General Forrest. The men were paroled and later exchanged. Following their exchange, the regiment did not participate in further combat and was mustered out of service on June 21, 1864, upon expiration of its term.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Operations in western Virginia (1861)
• Middle Fork bridge near Rich Mountain
• Elkwater Creek, Virginia
• Perryville Campaign and Battle of Perryville, Kentucky (October 8, 1862)
• Battle of Stone’s River, Tennessee (December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863)
• Raid into northern Georgia and action at Sand Mountain (April 1863)

Casualties

At the Battle of Perryville, the regiment lost more than one-third of its number killed or wounded. Specific total casualty figures for the entire service term are not fully detailed in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Isaac H. Marrow
• Colonel John Beatty
• Colonel Orris A. Lawson
• Lieutenant Colonel J. Warren Keifer
• Lieutenant Colonel James H. Wing
• Major James Vananda

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 3rd 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 full roster, visit the 3rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 4, 10, 16, 20, 23
• 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