Overview
The 8th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, the battery was mustered into federal service on March 11, 1862. As an artillery unit, it participated in major campaigns in the Western Theater, including actions in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The battery was noted for its active engagement in several significant battles and for receiving commendations from senior commanders.
Organization & Service
The 8th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery was organized at Camp Dennison and mustered in on March 11, 1862, under the supervision of Capt. P. H. Breslin of the 18th U.S. Infantry. The battery moved to Benton Barracks near St. Louis, Missouri, where it reported to General Halleck. Shortly thereafter, it joined General Sherman’s division and took part in the Battle of Shiloh on April 6–7, 1862, where it was heavily engaged and suffered casualties.
Following Shiloh, the battery advanced with General Lew Wallace’s division during the operations against Corinth, Mississippi. In December 1862, it marched with Sherman’s command to participate in the campaign against Vicksburg, including the engagement at Chickasaw Bluffs. The battery subsequently joined the expedition against Arkansas Post in January 1863, playing a prominent role in the Union victory there.
During the Vicksburg Campaign, the 8th Ohio Battery fought at Raymond and Champion’s Hill, earning special thanks from Generals Grant and Sherman for its service. After the surrender of Vicksburg, the battery was sent to Jackson, Mississippi, to operate against Confederate forces under General Johnston. Once operations in Jackson concluded, the battery returned to Vicksburg.
Upon the expiration of its original three-year term, non-veteran members were mustered out, while veterans and recruits continued service. The battery remained in the field until August 7, 1865, when it was finally mustered out of federal service.
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
- Battle of Shiloh (April 6–7, 1862)
- Advance on and Siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
- Chickasaw Bluffs (December 1862)
- Arkansas Post (January 1863)
- Raymond (May 12, 1863)
- Champion’s Hill (May 16, 1863)
- Siege of Vicksburg (May–July 1863)
- Jackson, Mississippi (July 1863)
Casualties
At the Battle of Shiloh, the battery lost 1 killed and 3 wounded. Detailed total casualty figures for the entire service period are not specified in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Louis Markgraf
- Captain Charles H. Schmidt
- Captain James F. Putnam
- First Lieutenant Jacob Heitzman
- First Lieutenant Emil Smith
- First Lieutenant Amos H. Worley
- First Lieutenant Jeremiah Cain
- Second Lieutenant Adolph Schmidt
- Second Lieutenant Jacob M. Porter
- Second Lieutenant Francis M. Coover
- Second Lieutenant Thomas Lewis
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 8th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.
To view the full roster, visit the 8th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 10, 17, 24, 53
- 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
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2