Overview
The 4th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters served as a specialized unit within the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in the fall of 1862 at Goshen, Clermont County, and Camp Dennison, Ohio, this company was mustered into U.S. service on September 29, 1862. Initially intended as part of a larger sharpshooter regiment for service under Gen. John C. Fremont in the Army of the Missouri, the company ultimately became Company K of the 79th Ohio Infantry. The unit was equipped with Spencer rifles and was recognized for its marksmanship and value to the regiment. The company served primarily in the Western Theater and was mustered out near Washington, D.C., on June 9, 1865.
Organization & Service
The 4th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters was recruited in the fall of 1862 at Goshen and Camp Dennison, Ohio. The War Department originally ordered the formation of a full regiment of sharpshooters to be sent to Gen. John C. Fremont, but the stringent requirements for enlistment delayed recruitment, and the full regiment was never organized. As a result, the company was assigned to the 79th Ohio Infantry as Company K.
The company joined the 79th Ohio Infantry at La Vergne, Tennessee, where it was armed with Spencer repeating rifles. Its members were noted for their marksmanship and were considered a significant addition to the regiment. The company participated in the campaigns and movements of the 79th Ohio Infantry until the end of the war. The unit was mustered out of service on June 9, 1865, near Washington, D.C.
Research This Regiment Further
If you’d like to explore this unit’s history in more depth, regimental histories and Civil War reference works offer valuable detail.
Engagements & Campaigns
- Served with the 79th Ohio Infantry in the Western Theater
- Participated in campaigns and operations as part of the 79th Ohio Infantry from late 1862 through June 1865
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Casualties
- Killed in battle: 2
- Died of disease: 14
- Total deaths: 16
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Jacob Flegle
- Captain Robert C. Williamson
- First Lieutenant Isaiah Daughman
- First Lieutenant Henry C. Corbin
- First Lieutenant William P. Juday
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 4th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on the individuals who served in the company during its term of service.
To view the complete roster, visit the 4th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- Ohio Roster Commission, “Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion”
- Dyer, Frederick H., “A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion”
- Federal Publishing Company, “The Union Army,” Vol. 2 (1908)