More Information on this guy?

[Deleted member 8452]

My GGGG Grandfather First Sergeant Alva Kendall Fenton - 173rd Ohio Infantry Regiment...

I believe the unit saw no battle action but could be wrong.

I know he was a blacksmith and was appointed 1st Sgt. probably because everyone in town knew him, kinda like that Elisha Hunt Rhodes guy from Rhode Island, who was a cobbler? saddler? I forgot but I believe he said "I was appointed first sergeant, what a first sergeant does, I have no idea"? or something like that. Anyways just looking for more information on this guy. And wondering if they saw civil war action. Thank You.

 

[rpkennedy]

It looks like the 173rd Ohio was part of the Nashville garrison for their service. They lost 108 men, all to disease so they probably did not see action during the Nashville Campaign.

R

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

My GGGG Grandfather First Sergeant Alva Kendall Fenton - 173rd Ohio Infantry Regiment...

I believe the unit saw no battle action but could be wrong.

I know he was a blacksmith and was appointed 1st Sgt. probably because everyone in town knew him, kinda like that Elisha Hunt Rhodes guy from Rhode Island, who was a cobbler? saddler? I forgot but I believe he said "I was appointed first sergeant, what a first sergeant does, I have no idea"? or something like that. Anyways just looking for more information on this guy. And wondering if they saw civil war action. Thank You.

OHIO
ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTY-THIRD INFANTRY
(One Year)
One Hundred and Seventy-third Infantry. - Col., John R
Hurd; Lieut.-Col., Calvin A. Shepard; Maj., Jeremiah Davidson.
This regiment was organized at Gallipolis, in Sept., 1864, to
serve for one year. Immediately after muster-in it was ordered
to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived about Oct. 1 and was as-
signed to duty in that city. Early on the morning of Dec. 15
it took position on the Murfreesboro pike. After daylight it
was moved to the left of Fort Negley and in the afternoon to
the right of the fort, where it remained during the battle.
After the battle it was employed in guarding prisoners at
Nashville and in their transit from Nashville to Louisville.
On Feb. 15, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Columbia, and
after remaining there a few days was directed to proceed to
Johnsonville. On June 20 it was ordered to Nashville, where it
was mustered out, June 26, 1865, by order of the war depart-
ment.


Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

 

[Deleted member 8452]

OHIO
ONE HUNDRED and SEVENTY-THIRD INFANTRY
(One Year)
One Hundred and Seventy-third Infantry. - Col., John R
Hurd; Lieut.-Col., Calvin A. Shepard; Maj., Jeremiah Davidson.
This regiment was organized at Gallipolis, in Sept., 1864, to
serve for one year. Immediately after muster-in it was ordered
to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived about Oct. 1 and was as-
signed to duty in that city. Early on the morning of Dec. 15
it took position on the Murfreesboro pike. After daylight it
was moved to the left of Fort Negley and in the afternoon to
the right of the fort, where it remained during the battle.
After the battle it was employed in guarding prisoners at
Nashville and in their transit from Nashville to Louisville.
On Feb. 15, 1865, the regiment was ordered to Columbia, and
after remaining there a few days was directed to proceed to
Johnsonville. On June 20 it was ordered to Nashville, where it
was mustered out, June 26, 1865, by order of the war depart-
ment.

I dont know much about the western campaign or the Battle of Nashville, wanna fill me in?


Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Seth,

Here's what Wikipedia says about Nashville in the Civil War:

"By 1860, when the first rumblings of secession began to be heard across the South, antebellum Nashville was a very prosperous city. The city's significance as a shipping port made it a desirable prize as a means of controlling important river and railroad transportation routes. In February 1862, Nashville became the first state capital to fall to Union troops. The Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864) was a significant Union victory and perhaps the most decisive tactical victory gained by either side in the war."​

Nashville was important to the Union both as an occupied capital and as an important military base and supply center. The 173rd Ohio was sent to help garrison Nashville's defenses under MGen Steedman. Check out the Wikipedia entry for the Battle of Nashville (link above) to see what happened during that fight. It appears that your 4xg grandfather's unit stayed at the Nashville defenses while the IV Corps, XXIII Corps, and the detachment of the Army of the Tennessee (MGen A. Smith) conducted the assault against the Confederate lines. His situation was kind of like my gg grandfather Procter's service with the 30th WI Infantry; lots of hard and honorable duty but no combat.

 

[Deleted member 8452]

Seth,

Here's what Wikipedia says about Nashville in the Civil War:

"By 1860, when the first rumblings of secession began to be heard across the South, antebellum Nashville was a very prosperous city. The city's significance as a shipping port made it a desirable prize as a means of controlling important river and railroad transportation routes. In February 1862, Nashville became the first state capital to fall to Union troops. The Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864) was a significant Union victory and perhaps the most decisive tactical victory gained by either side in the war."​

Nashville was important to the Union both as an occupied capital and as an important military base and supply center. The 173rd Ohio was sent to help garrison Nashville's defenses under MGen Steedman. Check out the Wikipedia entry for the Battle of Nashville (link above) to see what happened during that fight. It appears that your 4xg grandfather's unit stayed at the Nashville defenses while the IV Corps, XXIII Corps, and the detachment of the Army of the Tennessee (MGen A. Smith) conducted the assault against the Confederate lines. His situation was kind of like my gg grandfather Procter's service with the 30th WI Infantry; lots of hard and honorable duty but no combat.

Well that must be nice, enlisted, got to be a good rank, saw no blood and guts, and went home. "A nice little war for him!" not so much for my Confederate ancestors who all got hit....