Overview
The 5th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters served as a specialized sharpshooter unit for the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in Ohio, this company was composed primarily of recruits from Cleveland and the surrounding area. The company was mustered into United States service on December 5, 1862, at Camp Cleveland. It operated independently and later as part of a battalion with other Ohio sharpshooter companies, serving in the Western Theater under the Army of the Cumberland.
Organization & Service
The 5th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters was enrolled during October and November 1862 and officially mustered in on December 5, 1862, at Camp Cleveland, Ohio. The company departed Cleveland on March 1, 1863, traveling via Cincinnati and the Ohio and Cumberland rivers to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where it arrived on March 9 and reported to Major General William S. Rosecrans.
Shortly after arrival, the 5th was grouped with the 6th and 7th Ohio Sharpshooter Companies to form a battalion. On June 24, 1863, the battalion left Murfreesboro, marching through Tullahoma to Normandy, Tennessee, where it arrived on July 5 and was assigned to guard a bridge over the Duck River. The battalion then proceeded to Chattanooga, arriving on September 10, and marched to Crawfish Springs on September 15. During the Battle of Chickamauga, the company was tasked with guarding the headquarters train and rounding up stragglers. After the battle, the company returned to Chattanooga on September 21.
On October 13, 1863, the company established a line of sharpshooters at Little Suck, engaging in continuous skirmishing with Confederate sharpshooters until November 1, when they succeeded in driving the enemy from their position. The company then crossed the Tennessee River, scouted Sand Mountain, and returned to Chattanooga on November 4. In February 1864, the company participated in burying the dead on the Chickamauga battlefield. The 5th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters was mustered out of service on July 19, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.
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
- Duty at Murfreesboro, Tennessee (March–June 1863)
- Tullahoma Campaign (June–July 1863)
- Bridge guard duty at Normandy, Tennessee (July 1863)
- Advance to Chattanooga (September 1863)
- Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–21, 1863) – guarding headquarters train and stragglers
- Skirmishing at Little Suck (October–November 1863)
- Scouting operations on Sand Mountain (November 1863)
- Burial detail at Chickamauga battlefield (February 1864)
Casualties
The roll of honor for the 5th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters records a total of 17 men lost during its service. Of these, 14 died of disease. Other specific casualty figures are not detailed in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Gershom M. Barber
- Captain David W. Botsford
- First Lieutenant Jonathan Rickard
- First Lieutenant Franklin H. Somers
- First Lieutenant William N. Watson
- Second Lieutenant William L. Stearns
- Second Lieutenant William C. Lemon
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 5th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for those who served in the company.
To view the complete roster, visit the 5th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes (Army of the Cumberland reports, 1863–1865)
- Ohio Roster Commission, Official Roster of the Soldiers of the State of Ohio in the War of the Rebellion, Vol. IX
- Dyer, Frederick H. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 2 (1908)