Source: http://ourgrampascivilwar.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/missouri-in-the-civil-war-the-44th-missouri-infantry/

History and Service:

The 44th Infantry Regiment was organized at St. Joseph, Missouri between August 22 and September 7, 1864.
- Attached to District of Rolla, Dept. of Missouri to November, 1864. Moved to Rolla, Mo., September 14-18, 1864, and duty there till November 5. Expedition from Rolla to Licking November 5-9. Near Licking November 9. Moved to Paducah, Ky., November 12-16
Attached Dept. of Ohio, November, 1864. Unattached, 23rd Army Corps, Army Ohio, to December, 1864. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., November 24-27, and to Columbia, Tenn., November 28. Spring Hill November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30.

As November 1864 neared its end troops were urgently needed in middle Tennessee. The 44th moved to Paducah and then Nashville where they immediately boarded rail cars headed to Columbia, TN. In the cars, already loaded, were the men of the 183rd Ohio. If one reads the History of the 183rd beginning in Nashville to their arrival at Franklin, you have read the travels of the 44th, mostly marching north (right through the Confederate Army) with a small interference at Spring Hill. At Franklin the 44th was held in reserve just to the west of Columbia Pike. The 183rd was further west and the 175th Ohio was just across the pike to the east, also in reserve. When the Confederate Army attacked the Union lines they were able to breach the area at the pike and as they did Union troops up front were forced back. The whole mass crashed right into the 44th Missouri. Simply stated, had the 44thfaltered the Battle of Franklin may have been lost. Instead they stood their ground and fought with great courage until reinforcements came forward and until the retreating main line troops were able to gather themselves and rejoin the fight.

Attached 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to Columbia and Pulaski December 17-28. Moved to Clifton, Tenn., December 29-January 2, 1865, thence to Eastport, Miss., January 9-11, and duty there till February 6, 1865.

The actual battle at Franklin lasted a little over five (5) hours. At about 9:00 p.m. most of the fighting ended and at midnight the Union Army moved across the Harpeth River, north to Nashville. There the 44th was told to report to Commander A.J. Smith. The Army was reorganized with two old divisions now under Smith’s command. The Battle of Nashville began on December 15. The men were first held in reserve and then moved forward to the main body and joined the attacked Hood’s Army, driving them back about one mile. They did not suffer any losses. On Dec. 16 they were held in reserve as the Union Army continued their attack and forced Hood into full retreat. Hood’s army was defeated.

The 44th joined in pursuit of Hood to Pulaski. In their pursuit they passed through Franklin and there they recovered men who had been wounded and left behind, including Thomas Richardson, Henry Harris, and Ben Branch. By the time they reached Pulaski the majority of the men were barefooted, wrapping their feet to keep theem warm on the cold winter ground.

Attached 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 16th Army Corps (New), Military Division West Mississippi, to August, 1865. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., thence to New Orleans, La., February 6-21. Campaign against Mobile, Ala., and its defenses March 11-April 12. Expedition from Dauphin Island to Fowl River Narrows March 18-22. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25, thence to Tuskegee, and duty there till July 19. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., thence to St. Louis, Mo., July 19-August 4. Mustered out August 15, 1865.
Mustered out August 15, 1865.

Official records found in most historical accounts will list; “Regiment lost during service 4 Officers and 61 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 168 Enlisted men by disease; total 238.”

The regiment’s five hours at The Battle of Franklin, Tennessee accounted for 67 dead, 39 captured (survivors), and 43 wounded; total 149. This accounts for sixty-percent of the regiment’s casualties. Given my focus on Tennessee I will not pursue further the Roll of Honor. I will hope that others will do so someday. I suspect that they might find that many of that “168 by disease” will have taken place in the deep-south as their winter turned into summer.

Abraham Barron