Overview
Burdsall’s Independent Cavalry was an Ohio cavalry company organized at Cincinnati in June 1861. Composed primarily of young men from Hamilton and Butler counties, the company served the Union in the Western Virginia theater during the early months of the Civil War. It was attached as an independent cavalry unit and was notable for its active field service in difficult terrain.
This unit operated separately from other Ohio cavalry regiments and was primarily engaged in scouting, train guarding, and skirmishing operations in the mountainous regions of Western Virginia.
Organization & Service
Burdsall’s Independent Cavalry was organized at Cincinnati, Ohio, in June 1861 under the command of Captain Henry W. Burdsall. The company was quickly ordered to Western Virginia, where it was employed in active operations throughout its brief term of service. The company was frequently in the saddle, performing duties such as guarding supply trains, conducting reconnaissance, and engaging in skirmishes with both organized Confederate forces and irregular bands.
The company participated in the battle of Rich Mountain in July 1861 and was involved in numerous smaller engagements and hand-to-hand encounters in the rugged mountain passes. After a period of continuous field service, the company was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, on August 23, 1861.
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 (June–August 1861)
- Battle of Rich Mountain
- Various skirmishes and scouting actions in the mountain passes of Western Virginia
Casualties
- Killed in battle: 1
- Died of wounds: 2
- Died of disease: 1
- Discharged for disability: 5
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Henry W. Burdsall
- First Lieutenant Minor Milliken
- Second Lieutenant C. B. Hunt
Regimental Roster
The full roster of Burdsall’s Independent Cavalry, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details for members of the company.
To view the complete roster, visit the Burdsall’s Independent Cavalry Roster page.
Sources & References
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- 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