Overview
The 23rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Columbus, Ohio, between June 1, 1861, and March 23, 1862, the regiment was mustered for a three-year term. The 23rd Ohio is notable for its distinguished leadership, including future President Rutherford B. Hayes and future President William McKinley, who served as officers in the regiment. The unit saw extensive service in western Virginia, Maryland, and the Shenandoah Valley, participating in numerous campaigns and engagements throughout the war.
Organization & Service
The 23rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Columbus, Ohio, beginning June 1, 1861, and completed by March 23, 1862. The regiment left Ohio in July 1861 for western Virginia, where it was immediately engaged in active operations. It was present at Carnifex Ferry in September 1861, participating in skirmishes with Confederate forces. The winter of 1861–1862 was spent in recruiting, drill, and discipline.
In May 1862, the regiment was attacked at Princeton, Virginia, by a superior Confederate force but made a determined stand before retiring in good order. In September 1862, the 23rd Ohio moved to Washington, D.C., and soon after was ordered to Maryland, where it fought at South Mountain and Antietam. The regiment suffered heavy losses at South Mountain, losing nearly 200 men, with a significant portion killed or mortally wounded.
After wintering in the Great Kanawha Valley, the regiment was stationed at Charleston, West Virginia, from March to July 1863, engaging in scouting and participating in operations against Morgan’s Raid along the Ohio River. The 23rd Ohio returned to Charleston and remained there until spring 1864, when it took part in the battle of Cloyd’s Mountain and the affair at New River Bridge. The regiment then marched toward Lynchburg, Virginia, and participated in the subsequent retreat.
In July 1864, the 23rd Ohio fought at the battle of Winchester, suffering significant casualties. The regiment was also engaged at Berryville in September and played a notable role at the battle of Opequon (Third Winchester), capturing about 200 Confederate soldiers. At Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864, the regiment participated in the engagement that resulted in a Union victory after an initial setback. The winter of 1864–1865 was spent in West Virginia. The regiment was mustered out of service on July 26, 1865.
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
- Carnifex Ferry (September 1861)
- Princeton (May 1862)
- South Mountain (September 1862)
- Antietam (September 1862)
- Operations in the Great Kanawha Valley (1862–1863)
- Operations against Morgan’s Raid (July 1863)
- Cloyd’s Mountain (May 1864)
- New River Bridge (May 1864)
- Lynchburg Campaign (June 1864)
- Winchester (July 1864)
- Berryville (September 1864)
- Opequon / Third Winchester (September 1864)
- Cedar Creek (October 1864)
Casualties
At the battle of South Mountain, the 23rd Ohio lost nearly 200 men, with almost one-fourth killed or mortally wounded. At Winchester in July 1864, the regiment lost 153 men, including 10 commissioned officers. Total losses for the regiment over its term of service are not fully detailed in all sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel William S. Rosecrans
- Colonel E. Parker Scammon
- Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes
- Colonel James M. Comly
- Lieutenant Colonel Stanley Matthews
- Lieutenant Colonel Russell Hastings
- Major James P. McIlrath
- Major Edward M. Carey
- Major Harry Thompson
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 23rd 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 23rd Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 5, 12, 19, 37, 43
- 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