71st Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 71st Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized for Federal service during the American Civil War. Raised primarily at Camp Dave Tod in Troy, Ohio, and at Paducah, Kentucky, the regiment mustered in from September 1861 through January 1862. Serving in the Western Theater, the 71st Ohio participated in several significant campaigns and engagements, including the battles of Shiloh and Nashville.

This regiment served the Union cause and was attached to various commands throughout its service, operating in Kentucky, Tennessee, and later Texas. The 71st Ohio Infantry is distinct from any other Ohio regiments of similar designation.

Organization & Service

The 71st Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Camp Dave Tod, Troy, Ohio, and at Paducah, Kentucky, between September 1861 and January 1862. Upon completion of organization, the regiment was mustered into Federal service for a three-year term.

The regiment’s first major engagement was at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, where it suffered significant casualties. Following Shiloh, the 71st Ohio was ordered to garrison duty along the Cumberland River, holding posts at Fort Donelson and Clarksville. On August 18, 1862, the detachment stationed at Clarksville was overwhelmed and captured by a superior Confederate force. After being exchanged, the regiment resumed active operations, with four companies notably defeating Woodward’s Confederate force at Fort Donelson.

During the early part of the 1864 campaign, the regiment moved south and participated in several skirmishes, with both officers and men noted for their gallantry. The 71st Ohio played a prominent role in the Battle of Nashville in December 1864, where it incurred heavy losses, including several officers. After Nashville, the regiment was ordered to Texas, where it remained on duty through the summer of 1865. The regiment was mustered out of service on November 30, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Battle of Shiloh (April 1862)
• Garrison duty at Fort Donelson and Clarksville (1862)
• Action at Clarksville (August 18, 1862)
• Action at Fort Donelson (date following exchange, 1862)
• Skirmishes during the 1864 campaign
• Battle of Nashville (December 1864)
• Post-war duty in Texas (1865)

Casualties

At the Battle of Shiloh, the 71st Ohio Infantry lost approximately 130 men killed and wounded. During the Battle of Nashville, the regiment lost about one-third of its number in killed and wounded, including several officers. Complete aggregate casualty figures for the entire service term are not specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Rodney Mason
• Colonel Henry K. McConnell
• Lieutenant Colonel Barton S. Kyle
• Lieutenant Colonel George W. Andrews
• Lieutenant Colonel James H. Hart
• Major James W. Carlin

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 71st 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 for those who served in the regiment.

To view the complete roster, visit the 71st 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