Overview
The 3rd Ohio Independent Cavalry Company (also known as Pfau’s Company) served as an independent cavalry unit from Ohio in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Cincinnati in July 1861, this company was composed of men who provided their own horses and equipment. The company was mustered into state service on July 4, 1861, and subsequently into U.S. service for three years on August 16, 1861, at Camp Chase. The company was primarily active in western Virginia and was recognized for its effective scouting and skirmishing operations.
This unit is distinct from other Ohio cavalry regiments and companies. It served independently and was not attached to a larger regimental structure during its term of service.
Organization & Service
The 3rd Ohio Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Cincinnati by Captain Philip Pfau, with each member supplying his own horse and equipment. The company entered state service on July 4, 1861, and was mustered into federal service for three years on August 16, 1861, at Camp Chase, Ohio. Shortly after mustering, the company was dispatched to western Virginia, where it joined Union forces under General George B. McClellan.
Throughout its service, the company was engaged in scouting and skirmishing duties, often operating ahead of the main Union columns. Its activities were noted for energy and effectiveness in the field. The original members were mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio, on July 11, 1864, upon expiration of their term. The company, consisting of later recruits, remained in service until May 22, 1865, when it was mustered out at Cumberland, Maryland, by order of the War Department.
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
- Western Virginia operations, 1861–1862
- Various scouting and skirmishing actions in western Virginia
- Service with Union forces under General McClellan
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 3rd Ohio Independent Cavalry Company are not separately reported in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Philip Pfau
- Captain Frank Smith
- First Lieutenant Jonas Seaman
- First Lieutenant Waldemar G. Wahle
- Second Lieutenant Frank A. Dousman
- Second Lieutenant Frederick Smith
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 3rd Ohio Independent Cavalry Company, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the complete roster, visit the 3rd Ohio Independent Cavalry Company Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes
- 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
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)