OHIO SEVENTY-SECOND INFANTRY (Three Years)

Seventy-second Infantry. Col., Ralph P. Buckland ; Lieut.-Cols., Herman Canfield, Leroy Crockett, Charles G. Eaton; Majs., Eugene A. Rawson, Samuel A. J. Snyder. This regiment was organized in the state at large from Oct., 1861, to Feb., 1862, to serve for three years. It was equipped fully, and in February was ordered to Paducah, Ky. On April 4 Cos. B and H, while reconnoitering, became separately engaged with Confederate cavalry, Maj. Crockett and 2 or 3 men of Co. H being captured and several were wounded. Co. B was surrounded, but fought for an hour against great odds, when it was saved by the arrival of other companies though it lost 4 men wounded. The regiment was at the front constantly in the battle of Shiloh and on the second day participated in the final charge which swept the enemy from the field, resting that night in the camp which it had abandoned the day before. The regiment lost 15 killed, 73 wounded and 46 missing. In the siege of Corinth it bore a conspicuous part and its losses were trifling in action but terrible by disease. It participated in the battle at Jackson, Miss., May 14, 1863, and on the next day continued the march toward Vicksburg, where it participated in the assaults on the Confederate works on May 19 and 22, after which came the labor of the siege. It was finally thrown out on the advance picket line and continued to hold that position until the surrender. It then moved against Gen. Johnston at Jackson, and after the battle there pursued the Confederates to Brandon, where it was in an engagement. In Feb., 1864 it took part in the expedition to the Tallahatchie river, this really being a part of Gen. Sherman's Meridian expedition. The regiment veteranized and was furloughed home, and then resumed its duties in the field. In June it formed part of an expedition against Forrest, encountered him at Brice's cross-roads, Miss., and in the unfortunate affair 248 of the regiment were killed, wounded or captured the greater portion captured and of these very few ever returned to the regiment. On another expedition in the direction of Tupelo the casualties in the regiment were 21 men wounded, 5 of them mortally. In Dec., 1864, the regiment was on a reconnaissance and became warmly engaged with a band of Confederates, losing 11 men killed and wounded. On the first day of the battle of Nashville it participated in a charge, in which 350 prisoners and 6 pieces of artillery were captured. At night it was sent to Nashville with prisoners, but returned in time to take part in the fight the next day and was engaged in the charge on Walnut hills. The regiment was then sent to Louisiana and later participated in the siege of Spanish Fort, near Mobile, Ala., losing 1 man killed and 3 wounded. It then returned to Mississippi and was mustered out at Vicksburg, Sept. 11, 1865.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 72nd Volunteer Infantry (Union)

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