The 71st Ohio Infantry Regiment, sometimes 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (or 71st OVI) was an

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and marine i ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

in the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

Service

The 71st Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Tod in

Troy, Ohio Troy is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Ohio, Miami County, Ohio, United States, located north of Dayton, Ohio, Dayton. The population was 26,305 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the largest city in Miami Cou ...

September 1861 through January 1862 and mustered in for three years service on February 1, 1862, under the command of

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

Rodney Mason. The regiment was attached to District of Paducah, Kentucky, to March 1862. 2nd Brigade, 5th Division,

Army of the Tennessee An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

, to April 1862. Garrison at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, to June 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Reserve Corps,

Department of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creation ...

, to September 1863. Post of Gallatin, Tennessee, Department of the Cumberland, to April 1864. Unassigned, 4th Division, XX Corps, Department of the Cumberland, to August 1864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, IV Corps,

Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creation ...

, to June 1865. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, IV Corps, to August 1865. Department of Texas to November 1865. The 71st Ohio Infantry mustered out of service at

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

, on November 30, 1865.

Detailed service

Ordered to Paducah, Ky., February 10. Reconnaissance toward Columbus, Ky., February 25-March 3, 1862. Action at and occupation of Columbus March 3. Moved from Paducah, Ky., to Savannah, Tenn., March 6–10. Expedition to Yellow Creek, Miss., and occupation of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 14–17.

Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh (also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing) was fought on April 6–7, 1862, in the American Civil War. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater. The battlefield i ...

, April 6–7. At Shiloh, Colonel Rodney Mason, the regimental commander, fled from field on horseback. ُThe rest of the regiment soon joined in “a wild, disorganized stampede.” Ordered to Fort Donelson, Tenn., April 16. Garrison duty at Fort Donelson and Clarksville, Tenn., and operations in northern and middle Tennessee until August. Action at Clarksville August 18. Post surrendered by Col. Mason who along with his officers was cashiered by the President. Fort Donelson August 25 (Companies A, B, G, and H). Cumberland Iron Works August 26 (Companies A, B, G, and H). Expedition to Clarksville September 5–10. Pickett's Hill, Clarksville, September 7. Garrison duty at Forts Donelson and Henry, Tenn., until August 1863. Guard duty along Louisville & Nashville Railroad (headquarters at Gallatin, Tenn.) until July 1864. Expedition from Gallatin to Carthage October 10–14, 1863 (detachment). Near Hartsville October 10 (detachment). Expedition from Gallatin to Cumberland Mountains January 28-February 8. Winchester May 10 (detachment). Relieved from garrison duty July 1864, and ordered to join Sherman's Army before Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta Campaign July 31-September 8. Siege of Atlanta July 31-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25–30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations against Hood in northern Georgia and northern Alabama September 29-November 3. At Athens, Ga., October 31-November 23. March to Columbia, Tenn., November 23–24. Nashville Campaign November–December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24–27. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15–16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17–28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there until March 1865. Operations in eastern Tennessee March 15-April 22. Duty at Strawberry Plains and Nashville until June. Ordered to New Orleans, La., June 16, thence moved to Texas. Duty at San Antonio until November.

Casualties

The regiment lost a total of 206 men during service; 3 officers and 66 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 5 officers and 132 enlisted men died of disease.

Commanders

* Colonel Rodney Mason - resigned August 22, 1862 * Colonel Henry Kumler McConnell- promoted to

Brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

Brigadier General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

, March 13, 1865; mustered out with regiment November 30, 1865 *

Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

James H. Hart - commanded at Battle of Nashville (not to be confused with Major James H. Hart of the 1st New Jersey Cavalry) *

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

William H. McClure - commanded at Battle of Nashville

Notable members

* Corporal Charles Marley Anderson, Company B -

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from Ohio, 1885–1887 * Captain

Elihu S. Williams Elihu Stephen Williams (January 24, 1835 – December 1, 1903) was a farmer, lawyer, soldier, and politician who became a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio, serving from 1887 to 1891. Biography Elihu S. William ...

, Company H - U.S. Representative from Ohio, 1887–1891

Notes

References

* Dyer, Frederick H. ''A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion'' (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Pub. Co.), 1908. * McConnell, Robert. ''The McConnell Letters'' (S.l.: Ronald E. Toops), 1975. * Ohio Roster Commission. ''Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War on the Rebellion, 1861–1865, Compiled Under the Direction of the Roster Commission'' (Akron, OH: Werner Co.), 1886–1895. * Reid, Whitelaw. ''Ohio in the War: Her Statesmen, Her Generals, and Soldiers'' (Cincinnati, OH: Moore, Wilstach, & Baldwin), 1868. ;Attribution *

External links

Ohio in the Civil War: 71st Ohio Volunteer Infantry by Larry Stevens

National flag of the 71st Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry

Regimental flag of the 71st Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry

Regimental guidon of the 71st Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry

Regimental guidon of the 71st Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry
{{Ohio in the Civil War Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 Units and formations of the Union Army from Ohio 1861 establishments in Ohio