19th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery in the American Civil War

Overview

The 19th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service) served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, the battery was mustered into service on September 10, 1862, for a three-year term. As an artillery unit, it participated in operations in the Western Theater, including the East Tennessee and Atlanta campaigns, and was attached to various commands within the Army of the Ohio and the Army of the Cumberland.

This unit was primarily engaged in major campaigns from late 1862 through mid-1865 and is noted for its service during the siege of Knoxville and the Atlanta campaign. The battery was mustered out on June 27, 1865, at Camp Cleveland, Ohio.

Organization & Service

The 19th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery was organized at Camp Cleveland and mustered into Federal service on September 10, 1862. The battery departed for Covington, Kentucky, in October 1862, where it remained on duty until July 1863. During this period, the battery did not engage in combat, except for routine artillery practice.

In late 1863, the battery moved to East Tennessee and took part in the siege of Knoxville. While most of the battery was not heavily engaged, one section was stationed at Fort Sanders and participated in the defense, reportedly inflicting damage on attacking forces without suffering any casualties. The battery continued to serve in the East Tennessee campaign through early 1864, enduring the hardships of that theater.

In the spring of 1864, the 19th Ohio Battery joined General William T. Sherman’s forces for the Atlanta campaign. The battery was engaged in actions from Rocky Face Ridge through Lovejoy’s Station, participating in the major battles of the campaign. Following the fall of Atlanta, the battery joined in the pursuit of Confederate General John Bell Hood’s army into Tennessee. In December 1864, it moved with General George H. Thomas’s army and took part in the battles around Nashville, contributing to the defeat and retreat of Hood’s forces.

The battery remained in service until it was mustered out at Camp Cleveland, Ohio, on June 27, 1865, in accordance with orders from the War Department.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Siege of Knoxville (November–December 1863)
• East Tennessee Campaign (1863–1864)
• Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864), including Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, and Lovejoy’s Station
• Pursuit of Hood into Tennessee (late 1864)
• Battles before Nashville (December 1864)

Casualties

Specific casualty figures for the 19th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery are not detailed in available primary sources. It is noted that the battery suffered no losses at Fort Sanders during the siege of Knoxville. Total losses from all causes are not fully recorded.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Captain Joseph C. Shields
• Captain Frank Wilson
• First Lieutenant William Dustin
• First Lieutenant Charles B. Harris
• Second Lieutenant Robertson Smith
• Second Lieutenant John N. Estabrook
• Second Lieutenant James W. Grimshaw

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 19th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details useful for genealogical research.

To view the full roster, visit the 19th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery Roster page.

Sources & References

• The War of the Rebellion: 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, Vol. VIII
• Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
• Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
• The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)