39th Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 39th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, from August 3 to August 13, 1861, for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment served primarily in the Western Theater and was involved in several major campaigns and battles. It was notable for its early participation in operations along the Mississippi River, its veteranization, and its sustained combat during the Atlanta Campaign.

Organization & Service

The 39th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was mustered into service at Camp Dennison in August 1861. After being fully armed and equipped, the regiment moved by rail to St. Louis, Missouri, to join the forces organizing under General John C. Fremont. The regiment participated in the operations leading to the capture of New Madrid and Island No. 10 in early 1862. Following these actions, it moved down the Mississippi River to near Fort Pillow.

The regiment held the advance of Major General John Pope’s army during the occupation of Corinth, Mississippi, and was among the first to enter the town. In the fall of 1862, the 39th Ohio fought at the battles of Iuka and Corinth. In December, it was engaged at Parker’s Cross Roads, where it confronted and helped defeat Confederate forces under General Nathan Bedford Forrest.

The regiment reenlisted as a veteran organization and, after a furlough, participated in the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. It fought at Resaca and Dallas, advanced through Acworth and Big Shanty, and was under constant fire at the base of Kennesaw Mountain. The regiment took part in the assault at Nickajack Creek and played a significant role in repelling the Confederate attack on July 22, 1864, during the Battle of Atlanta, suffering heavy casualties.

After the Atlanta Campaign, the 39th Ohio marched to the sea with General Sherman’s army. In early 1865, it participated in the Carolinas Campaign, including actions at Rivers’ Bridge, Midway, and Bentonville, North Carolina. The regiment continued to serve until the end of hostilities, participating in the Grand Review in Washington, D.C., before being mustered out on July 9, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Operations against New Madrid and Island No. 10 (Spring 1862)
• Occupation of Corinth, Mississippi (May 1862)
• Battle of Iuka (September 1862)
• Battle of Corinth (October 1862)
• Parker’s Cross Roads (December 1862)
• Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864): including Resaca, Dallas, Acworth, Big Shanty, Kennesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, and Battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864)
• March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
• Carolinas Campaign (January–April 1865): including Rivers’ Bridge, Midway, Cheraw, and Bentonville

Casualties

During the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment lost 24 men killed and 168 wounded. At the Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, it suffered 4 killed, 17 wounded, and 3 missing. Total casualty figures for the entire service term are not fully detailed in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel John Groesbeck
• Colonel Alfred W. Gilbert
• Colonel Edward F. Noyes
• Colonel Daniel Weber
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry T. McDowell
• Lieutenant Colonel Henry A. Babbitt
• Major William H. Lathrop
• Major John S. Jenkins
• Major George T. Rice

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 39th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ 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 and historical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 39th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts covering Western Theater operations, 1861–1865
• Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Ohio Roster Commission. Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F. Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2