26th Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 26th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, from June 8 to July 24, 1861, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served primarily in the Western Theater and was noted for its participation in several major campaigns and battles. It remained in service until mustering out in Texas in October 1865.

This unit is distinct from any other formations of the 26th Ohio Infantry with different service terms.

Organization & Service

The 26th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Camp Chase, Ohio, between June 8 and July 24, 1861. Upon completion of its organization, the regiment was ordered to the upper Kanawha Valley in western Virginia, where it performed its initial service. Subsequently, the regiment was transferred to the Western Theater and took part in the battle of Shiloh in April 1862.

Following Shiloh, the 26th Ohio participated in the advance through northern Mississippi toward Corinth, occupying the front line and being among the first Union troops to enter the town after its evacuation. The regiment was involved in the campaigns led by Generals Buell and Bragg, including the movements from Tennessee to Ohio and toward Cumberland Gap in the fall of 1862.

At the battle of Stone’s River (December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863), the 26th Ohio held its ground during a critical Confederate assault, suffering heavy casualties. The regiment also fought at Chickamauga in September 1863, where it sustained severe losses. At Missionary Ridge in November 1863, the regiment captured prisoners and artillery, again incurring significant casualties.

By the end of 1863, the regiment’s numbers had been reduced by continuous service, but most men reenlisted as veterans. After a furlough, the 26th Ohio rejoined the army and participated in Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, fighting at Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Jonesboro, and other engagements. The regiment was also involved in the Nashville Campaign and was later sent to Texas, where it remained for nearly a year before mustering out at Victoria, Texas, on October 21, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Kanawha Valley operations (1861)
• Battle of Shiloh (April 1862)
• Advance on and siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
• Buell’s Campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee (1862)
• Battle of Stone’s River (December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863)
• Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863)
• Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
• Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864): including Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Jonesboro
• Nashville Campaign (late 1864)
• Texas occupation (1865)

Casualties

According to Fox’s Regimental Losses and official reports, the 26th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) suffered significant casualties in several major battles. At Stone’s River, the regiment lost approximately one-third of its strength in killed and wounded. At Chickamauga, losses were nearly three-fifths of those engaged. During the assault on Missionary Ridge, about one-fourth of the regiment was killed or wounded. Total loss figures for the entire service term are not fully detailed in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Edward P. Fyffe
• Lieutenant Colonel Ephraim R. Eckley
• Lieutenant Colonel William H. Young
• Lieutenant Colonel William H. Squires
• Lieutenant Colonel William Clark
• Major Christopher Degenfeld
• Major Norris T. Peatman
• Major James A. Spence

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 26th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.

To view the complete roster, visit the 26th 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