Overview
The 59th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Ohio for service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Recruitment and organization took place throughout the state from September 12, 1861, to September 23, 1862. The regiment served in the Western Theater and participated in several major campaigns and battles, including Shiloh, Corinth, Chickamauga, and the Atlanta Campaign.
The 59th Ohio Infantry was known for its active engagement in key operations and for enduring significant hardships, particularly during the winter of 1863–1864 in East Tennessee. The regiment mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee, on November 1, 1864.
Organization & Service
The 59th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at large in Ohio between September 12, 1861, and September 23, 1862. Upon completion of organization, the regiment was mustered into Federal service and assigned to various brigades and divisions within the Army of the Ohio and later the Army of the Cumberland.
The regiment saw its first major action at the Battle of Shiloh, where it was engaged throughout the second day and suffered notable casualties. Following Shiloh, the 59th Ohio participated in the advance on Corinth, Mississippi, taking part in skirmishes and enduring difficult marches. The regiment was among the first Union troops to enter Corinth after its evacuation and pursued Confederate forces beyond Rienzi.
Subsequently, the 59th Ohio joined in the pursuit of Confederate General Bragg through Tennessee and Kentucky, returning to Tennessee for continued operations until late 1863. At the Battle of Chickamauga, the regiment was involved in the opening of the engagement and fought on both days. It also participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge.
After Missionary Ridge, the regiment was ordered to Knoxville, Tennessee, to assist in relieving General Burnside. The winter was spent in the Knoxville area, particularly near Strawberry Plains, where the regiment endured severe shortages of clothing and rations. In May 1864, the 59th Ohio took part in the fighting at Rocky Face Ridge, and subsequently engaged at Resaca, Adairsville, Dallas (New Hope Church), Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, and Jonesboro during the Atlanta Campaign. The regiment received orders in October 1864 to proceed to Nashville, where it was mustered out on November 1, 1864.
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
- Battle of Shiloh (April 1862)
- Siege and occupation of Corinth (May 1862)
- Pursuit of Bragg through Tennessee and Kentucky (1862)
- Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863)
- Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
- Relief of Knoxville and operations near Strawberry Plains (Winter 1863–1864)
- Rocky Face Ridge (May 1864)
- Battle of Resaca (May 1864)
- Adairsville (May 1864)
- Dallas / New Hope Church (May 1864)
- Kennesaw Mountain (June 1864)
- Peachtree Creek (July 1864)
- Siege of Atlanta (July–August 1864)
- Battle of Jonesboro (August–September 1864)
Casualties
During its service, the 59th Ohio Infantry lost 4 men killed and 53 wounded at Shiloh, with 5 of the wounded dying from their injuries. At Rocky Face Ridge, the regiment lost 1 man killed and 6 wounded. Complete casualty figures for the entire service term are not provided in the available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel James P. Fyffe
- Lieutenant Colonel Farran Olmstead
- Lieutenant Colonel William Howard
- Lieutenant Colonel Granville A. Frambes
- Major Robert J. Vanosdol
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 59th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides details on enlistment, rank, and service records for members of the regiment.
To view the complete roster, visit the 59th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes.
- 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.