44th Missouri Infantry

The 44th Missouri Infantry was organized in the late summer and early fall of 1864 and was commanded by Col. Robert C. Bradshaw, a veteran officer who had previously seen action at Lexington and Shiloh. Shipped to Tennessee to help defend against the Confederate invasion aimed at Nashville, the regiment had not yet been engaged in combat when it was assigned to Brig. Gen. Thomas Ruger’s Division and posted on the secondary, or reserve line, at Franklin. After Southern troops broke through the main Federal line of defense on November 30, the 44th Missouri was suddenly drawn into heavy and often close-quarters fighting. The regiment served as an anchor and helped stem the breakthrough, suffering roughly 25% casualties while buying precious time for the Federal army, allowing Col. Emerson Opdyke’s brigade to move into the fighting and effectively shatter the Confederate attack west of the Columbia Pike.

Franklin, Tennessee · United States