Overview
The 1st Ohio Union Light Guard (Independent Company, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry) was a unique cavalry unit organized during the Civil War to serve as a bodyguard for President Abraham Lincoln. Raised by special order of Governor David Tod in November and December 1863, the company was composed of one selected man from each county in Ohio. The unit was mustered into United States service at Columbus, Ohio, on December 17, 1863, and was known as the 7th Independent Company, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. The company served the Union cause, primarily in the defenses of Washington, D.C., throughout its term of service.
This unit is distinct from other Ohio cavalry regiments and operated independently as a presidential guard rather than as part of a larger regiment.
Organization & Service
The 1st Ohio Union Light Guard was organized at Columbus, Ohio, in late 1863, with Captain George A. Bennett commanding. Recruitment was conducted by selecting one man from each Ohio county, resulting in a company that represented the entire state. The company was mustered in on December 17, 1863, and departed for Washington, D.C., on December 22, 1863.
Upon arrival in Washington, the company reported to the Secretary of War and was assigned to duty as a bodyguard for President Lincoln and to guard key government buildings, including the President’s House (White House), Treasury Building, War Office, and other public offices. The company performed these duties continuously, providing security in and around the city. The Union Light Guard remained in Washington for the duration of the war and was mustered out of service on September 9, 1865, in accordance with orders from 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
- Guard and security duty in Washington, D.C., including the White House, Treasury Building, War Office, and other public buildings (December 1863 – September 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 1st Ohio Union Light Guard are not detailed in primary sources. The company primarily performed guard duty and did not participate in field campaigns or battles.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain George A. Bennett
- First Lieutenant Arthur W. White
- First Lieutenant James B. Jamison
- Second Lieutenant George C. Ashmun
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 1st Ohio Union Light Guard, including the names and counties of origin for each member, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource is valuable for genealogists and researchers seeking information about individual soldiers who served in this unique company.
To view the complete roster, visit the 1st Ohio Union Light Guard Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- Ohio Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 2 (1908)