79th Ohio Infantry ​in the American Civil War

Overview

The 79th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Dennison between August 20 and October 21, 1862, the regiment was mustered in for three years’ service. The unit participated in major campaigns in the Western and Southern theaters, including the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign.

The 79th Ohio Infantry was notable for its heavy losses during the Atlanta Campaign and its distinguished performance at Averasboro, where it captured enemy artillery and prisoners. The regiment’s service extended until June 9, 1865, when it was mustered out at Washington, D.C.

Organization & Service

The 79th Ohio Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, from August 20 to October 21, 1862. Colonel Henry G. Kennett was appointed as its first commander. Upon completion of organization, the regiment crossed the Ohio River at Cincinnati, responding to the threat posed by Confederate forces concentrated at Lexington, Kentucky.

Initially, the regiment performed guard and detailed duty in Kentucky and Tennessee. It remained in these states until the spring of 1864, when it joined the Union forces in the campaign against Atlanta, Georgia. During the early stages of the Atlanta Campaign, the 79th Ohio was held in reserve during the demonstrations at Buzzard Roost and Dug Gap. After passing through Snake Creek Gap near Resaca, the regiment engaged in skirmishing, suffering notable casualties.

The regiment took part in the assault on Kennesaw Mountain, where it was among the charging units and incurred several losses. At the Battle of Peachtree Creek, the 79th Ohio was in the front line and was the second regiment engaged, losing half its men in the action. By the end of the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment had been reduced from 600 to 182 men, with 425 lost in approximately 100 days of combat. Fifteen recruits joined during the campaign, but seven were lost in action.

Following the Atlanta Campaign, the regiment participated in Sherman’s March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaign. At Columbia, South Carolina, the regiment’s losses were fewer than 30 men. At Averasboro, North Carolina, the 79th Ohio played a key role in assaulting and capturing enemy artillery positions, seizing three pieces of artillery, 100 stands of small arms, and 31 prisoners. The regiment’s losses at Averasboro amounted to one-fourth of those engaged. The unit continued through the Carolinas, participating in the Battle of Bentonville.

In May 1865, the regiment marched north by way of Richmond, Virginia, and was mustered out at Washington, D.C., on June 9, 1865. The total loss from all causes during its service was approximately 1,000 men, exceeding its original strength.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Guard and detailed duty in Kentucky and Tennessee (1862–1864)
• Atlanta Campaign (1864): including actions at Snake Creek Gap, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, and Peachtree Creek
• Siege and occupation of Atlanta (1864)
• March to the Sea (1864)
• Carolinas Campaign (1865): including Columbia, Averasboro, and Bentonville

Casualties

• Losses during the Atlanta Campaign: 425 men in about 100 days
• Loss at Peachtree Creek: half the regiment engaged
• Loss at Averasboro: one-fourth of those engaged
• Total loss from all causes during service: approximately 1,000 men

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Henry G. Kennett
• Lieutenant Colonel Azariah W. Doane
• Major Henry S. Clements
• Major William W. Wilson
• Major Samuel A. West

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 79th 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 79th 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