Overview
The 2nd Ohio Independent Battery (Two Months’ Service) served as an artillery unit for the Union during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, the battery was mustered into service on October 17, 1864, for a term of two months. Its primary duty was within the Northern theater, specifically assigned to guard Confederate prisoners at Johnson’s Island in Lake Erie. The battery’s service was brief and focused on garrison and security operations rather than field campaigns.
Organization & Service
The 2nd Ohio Independent Battery (Two Months’ Service) was organized and mustered in at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, on October 17, 1864. The mustering officer was Lieutenant P. W. Horrigan of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. The battery was formed for a short-term enlistment of two months, reflecting the Union’s need for additional security forces late in the war. The unit was assigned to Johnson’s Island, where it was tasked with guarding Confederate prisoners of war. The battery remained at this post for the entirety of its service, performing garrison duties and maintaining security at the prison camp. The battery was mustered out at Camp Cleveland on December 19, 1864, again under the supervision of Lieutenant Horrigan.
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 duty at Johnson’s Island, Ohio (October–December 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 2nd Ohio Independent Battery (Two Months’ Service) are not detailed in available primary sources. The battery’s service was limited to guard duty, and no combat losses are recorded.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Samuel M. Espy
- First Lieutenant James Tripp
- First Lieutenant James H. Bradford
- Second Lieutenant George H. Darling
- Second Lieutenant William A. S. Beasley
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 2nd Ohio Independent Battery (Two Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names and, where available, additional service details for individuals who served in the unit.
To view the complete roster, visit the 2nd Ohio Independent Battery (Two Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)
- 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