76th Ohio Infantry
Encyclopedia
The 76th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry ( or 76th OVI) was an infantry
regiment
of the Union Army
during the American Civil War
. The regiment served in the Western Theater
, primarily as part of the XV Corps
in the Army of the Tennessee
.
Charles R. Woods
to organize a regiment
of infantry
at Camp Sherman, near Newark, Ohio
. Recruitment had begun for a Licking County
regiment as early as September 1861. Enrollment was for three years' duty. Of the ten companies formed for this new regiment, seven were from Licking County, two were from Stark County
, and one was from Columbiana County
. Since the majority of the troops were from Licking County, the regiment had the field nickname of "The Licking Volunteers." The regiment held 962 officers and men when it was mustered in on February 9, 1862.
The initial officers were as follows:
Company B formed November 12, 1861:
Company C formed December 4, 1861:
Company D formed December 16, 1861:
Company E formed December 16, 1861:
Company F (Columbiana County) formed December 18, 1861:
Company G formed January 7, 1862:
Company H:
Company I was originally Company B of the 61st Ohio Infantry
. They were transferred to the 76th OVI on February 3, 1862.:
Company K:
The 76th OVI mustered out on July 15, 1865.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The regiment served in the Western Theater
Western Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
, primarily as part of the XV Corps
XV Corps (ACW)
The XV Army Corps was a corps of the Union Army during the American Civil War. It served in the Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gens. Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman. It was commanded by Sherman in the Siege of Vicksburg and then by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan in Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. ...
in the Army of the Tennessee
Army of the Tennessee
The Army of the Tennessee was a Union army in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, named for the Tennessee River. It should not be confused with the similarly named Army of Tennessee, a Confederate army named after the State of Tennessee....
.
Organization
Special Order Number 882 of October 1861 authorized Col.Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Charles R. Woods
Charles R. Woods
Charles Robert Woods was a career United States Army officer and a Union general during the American Civil War...
to organize a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
of infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
at Camp Sherman, near Newark, Ohio
Newark, Ohio
In addition, the remains of a road leading south from the Octagon have been documented and explored. It was first surveyed in the 19th century, when its walls were more apparent. Called the Great Hopewell Road, it may extend to the Hopewell complex at Chillicothe, Ohio...
. Recruitment had begun for a Licking County
Licking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
regiment as early as September 1861. Enrollment was for three years' duty. Of the ten companies formed for this new regiment, seven were from Licking County, two were from Stark County
Stark County, Ohio
Stark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2010 census, the population was 375,586. It is included in the Canton-Massillon, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and one was from Columbiana County
Columbiana County, Ohio
Columbiana County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 107,841. It is named for Christopher Columbus and the county seat is Lisbon....
. Since the majority of the troops were from Licking County, the regiment had the field nickname of "The Licking Volunteers." The regiment held 962 officers and men when it was mustered in on February 9, 1862.
The initial officers were as follows:
- Colonel Charles R. Woods
- Lt. Colonel William Burnham WoodsWilliam Burnham WoodsWilliam Burnham Woods was an American jurist, politician, and soldier.-Early life and career:Woods was born on August 3, 1824 in Newark, Ohio. He was the older brother of Charles R. Woods, another future Civil War general. He attended college at both Western Reserve University and Yale...
- Major Willard WarnerWillard WarnerWillard Warner was a brevet brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was a U.S. senator from the state of Alabama after the war.-Early life and career:...
- Adjutant Jerome N. Rappleyea
- Quartermaster Henry D. Wright
- Surgeon Charles R. Pierce
- Asst. Surgeon Thomas B. Hood
- Chaplin Reverend John W. McCarty
Companies
Company A formed November 1, 1861:- Captain Thaddeus Lemert
- 1st Lieutenant Bevery W. Lemert
- 2nd Lieutenant Simeon B. Wall
Company B formed November 12, 1861:
- Captain Joseph M. Scott
- 1st Lieutenant Ira P. French
- 2nd Lieutenant John R. Miller
Company C formed December 4, 1861:
- Captain Levi P. Coman
- 1st Lieutenant John S. Anderson
- 2nd Lieutenant John V. Gray
Company D formed December 16, 1861:
- Captain Charles H. Kibler
- 1st Lieutenant I. Newton Hempsted
- 2nd Lieutenant Reason C. Strong
Company E formed December 16, 1861:
- Captain Joseph C. Wehrle
- 1st Lieutenant Michael R. Maher
- 2nd Lieutenant Charles Luther
Company F (Columbiana County) formed December 18, 1861:
- Captain Strew M. Emmons
- 1st Lieutenant James H. H. Hunter
- 2nd Lieutenant Freeman Morrison
Company G formed January 7, 1862:
- Captain James Stewart
- 1st Lieutenant Jehile T. Wintrode
- 2nd Lieutenant Richard W. Burt
Company H:
- Captain Jerome N. Rappleyea
- 1st Lieutenant John A. Dill
- 2nd Lieutenant Lucien H. Wright
Company I was originally Company B of the 61st Ohio Infantry
61st Ohio Infantry
The 61st Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 61st Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on April 23, 1862 under the command of Colonel Newton Schleich.The...
. They were transferred to the 76th OVI on February 3, 1862.:
- Captain Edward Biggs
- 1st Lieutenant James M. Blackburn
- 2nd Lieutenant John H. Hardgrove
Company K:
- Captain James M. Jay
- 1st Lieutenant David R. Kelley
- 2nd Lieutenant Mark Sperry
Service
During the service time of the 76th OVI, from February 1862 to July 1865, the unit saw action in an estimated 44 battles across eleven Confederate States. Notable events were as follows:1862
- February 9: Mustered in and left Camp Sherman to join the campaign up the CumberlandCumberland RiverThe Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
and Tennessee RiverTennessee RiverThe Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
s - February 14 to February 16: Battle of Fort DonelsonBattle of Fort DonelsonThe Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
- March 6 to March 31: Operations along the Tennessee RiverTennessee RiverThe Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other names...
and then joined the divisionDivision (military)A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of Maj. Gen.Major GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Lew WallaceLew WallaceLewis "Lew" Wallace was an American lawyer, Union general in the American Civil War, territorial governor and statesman, politician and author... - April 6 and April 7: Battle of ShilohBattle of ShilohThe Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
- April 29 to May 30: Siege of CorinthSiege of CorinthThe Siege of Corinth was an American Civil War battle fought from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi.-Background:...
- August 16: Captured 40 men from the 31st Louisiana at Milliken's Bend, LouisianaBattle of Milliken's BendThe Battle of Milliken's Bend, fought June 7, 1863, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Confederate Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton and his army were besieged in Vicksburg, Mississippi, by Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S...
- August 18: Captured the steamer FairplayUSS FairplayFairplay was a wooden riverine ship in the United States Navy during the American Civil War.She was originally built in 1859 at New Albany, Indiana, for service on the Mississippi River and other waterways...
- October 22 to[November 12: Rest and reorganization at Pilot Knob, MissouriPilot Knob, MissouriPilot Knob is a city in Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 697 at the 2000 census. It lies eight miles south of Belgrade and thirteen miles east of Centerville.-History:...
- December 22: joined the Yazoo RiverYazoo RiverThe Yazoo River is a river in the U.S. state of Mississippi.The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe living near the river's mouth. The exact meaning of the term is unclear...
expedition of Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh ShermanWilliam Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
in the Operations against Vicksburg CampaignVicksburg CampaignThe Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen.... - December 26 to December 29: Battle of Chickasaw BayouBattle of Chickasaw BayouThe Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, also called Walnut Hills, fought December 26–29, 1862, was the opening engagement of the Vicksburg Campaign during the American Civil War. Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton repulsed an advance by Union Maj. Gen. William T...
1863
- January 9 to January 11: Battle of Fort HindmanBattle of Fort HindmanThe Battle of Fort Hindman, or the Battle of Arkansas Post, was fought January 9–11, 1863, near the mouth of the Arkansas River at Arkansas Post, Arkansas, as part of the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War.-Background:...
- January 23 to April: various movements as part of Grant's Operations against VicksburgVicksburg CampaignThe Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi River. The Union Army of the Tennessee under Maj. Gen....
- May 12: Battle of RaymondBattle of RaymondThe Battle of Raymond was fought on May 12, 1863, near Raymond, Mississippi, during the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. The bitter fight pitted elements of Union Army Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee against Confederate forces of Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton's...
- May 14: Battle of Jackson (MS)Battle of Jackson (MS)The Battle of Jackson, fought on May 14, 1863, in Jackson, Mississippi, was part of the Vicksburg Campaign in the American Civil War. Union commander Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennessee defeated Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, seizing the city, cutting supply lines, and...
- May 18 to July 4: Siege of VicksburgBattle of VicksburgThe Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate army of Lt. Gen. John C...
- July 10 to July 17: Siege of Jackson
- July 23 to late September: camped at Big Black River
- October 20 to October 29: destroyed tracks along the Memphis and Charleston RailroadMemphis and Charleston RailroadThe Memphis and Charleston Railroad, completed in 1857, was the first railroad in the United States to link the Atlantic Ocean with the Mississippi River. Chartered in 1846 the railroad ran from Memphis, Tennessee to Stevenson, Alabama through the towns of Corinth, Mississippi and Huntsville,...
- November 23 to November 25: Third Battle of Chattanooga
- November 27: Battle of Ringgold GapBattle of Ringgold GapThe Battle of Ringgold Gap was fought November 27, 1863, in northwest Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate victory by Maj. Gen...
- November 28 to December 8: relief of Knoxville, TennesseeKnoxville, TennesseeFounded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
1864
- January 1: went to winter quarters at Paint Rock, AlabamaPaint Rock, AlabamaPaint Rock is a town in Jackson County, Alabama, United States, along the Paint Rock River, and is included in the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 185....
- January 4: about two-thirds of the unit re-enlisted as veterans
- January to early March: on furlough in Ohio
- mid-March: return to Alabama
- May to September: participated in the Atlanta CampaignAtlanta CampaignThe Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
- May 7 to May 13: Battle of Rocky Face RidgeBattle of Rocky Face RidgeThe Battle of Rocky Face Ridge was fought May 7–13, 1864, in Whitfield County, Georgia, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union army was led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and the Confederate army by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston...
- May 14 and May 15: Battle of ResacaBattle of ResacaThe Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13 - 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement was fought between the Military Division of the...
- May 28: Battle of DallasBattle of DallasThe Battle of Dallas was a series of engagements during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. They occurred between May 26 and June 4, 1864, in and around Dallas, Georgia, between Lt. General William J. Hardee's Confederate corps and the Union defense line, held by the XV Corps under Maj....
- June 9 to July 3: Battle of MariettaBattle of MariettaThe Battle of Marietta was a series of military operations from June 9 through July 3, 1864, in Cobb County, Georgia, between Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The Union forces, led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, encountered the Confederate Army of Tennessee, led...
- June 27: Battle of Kennesaw MountainBattle of Kennesaw MountainThe Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. It was the most significant frontal assault launched by Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman against the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E...
- July 22: Battle of AtlantaBattle of AtlantaThe Battle of Atlanta was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply center of Atlanta, Union forces commanded by William T. Sherman overwhelmed...
- July 28: Battle of Ezra Church
- August 31 and September 1: Battle of JonesboroughBattle of Jonesborough-Further reading:...
- September 29 to November 3: operations against Hood's Tennessee CampaignFranklin-Nashville CampaignThe Franklin-Nashville Campaign, also known as Hood's Tennessee Campaign, was a series of battles in the Western Theater, conducted from September 18 to December 27, 1864, in Alabama, Tennessee, and northwestern Georgia during the American Civil War. The Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lt....
in northern GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... - October 18: non-veterans mustered out at Summerville, GeorgiaSummerville, GeorgiaSummerville is a city in Chattooga County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,556 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Chattooga County.- Geography :Summerville is located at ....
- November 15 to December 21: Sherman's March to the SeaSherman's March to the SeaSherman's March to the Sea is the name commonly given to the Savannah Campaign conducted around Georgia from November 15, 1864 to December 21, 1864 by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army in the American Civil War...
- December 21 to January 9, 1865: provost guard in Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, GeorgiaSavannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
1865
- January 31 to April 1: Carolinas CampaignCarolinas CampaignThe Carolinas Campaign was the final campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. In January 1865, Union Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman advanced north from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas, with the intention of linking up with Union forces in Virginia. The defeat of ...
- March 19 to March 21: Battle of BentonvilleBattle of BentonvilleAt 3 p.m., Confederate infantry from the Army of Tennessee launched an attack and drove the Union left flank back in confusion, nearly capturing Carlin in the process and overrunning the XIV Corps field hospital. Confederates under Maj. Gen. D.H. Hill filled the vacuum left by the retreating...
- March 24: occupation of GoldsboroughGoldsboro, North CarolinaGoldsboro is a city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 37,597 at the 2008 census estimate. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787 and Goldsboro was...
- April 10 to April 24: advance on and occupation of Raleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh, North CarolinaRaleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
- May 24: Grand Review of the ArmiesGrand Review of the ArmiesThe Grand Review of the Armies was a military procession and celebration in Washington, D.C., on May 23 and May 24, 1865, following the close of the American Civil War...
in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... - July 15: mustered out in Louisville, KentuckyLouisville, KentuckyLouisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
- July 24: discharged in Columbus, OhioColumbus, OhioColumbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
The 76th OVI mustered out on July 15, 1865.