Overview
The 24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, the battery was mustered into service on August 4, 1863, for a term of three years. The unit primarily performed garrison and guard duties, notably at Johnson’s Island and Camp Douglas, rather than engaging in field campaigns. Its service was characterized by assignments related to the security of Confederate prisoners of war.
Organization & Service
The 24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery was organized and mustered in at Camp Dennison, Ohio, on August 4, 1863. The battery’s initial assignment was to Johnson’s Island, Ohio, where it arrived by rail in November 1863. Its primary duty was guarding Confederate prisoners held at the island’s military prison.
On June 9, 1864, the battery received orders to move by rail to Kentucky in response to Confederate cavalry activity under John Hunt Morgan. However, upon reaching Xenia, Ohio, the unit received counter-orders and returned to Johnson’s Island. In August 1864, the battery was transferred to Camp Chase, Ohio, and subsequently ordered to report to Camp Douglas near Chicago, Illinois, another major Union prison camp. The 24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery remained on garrison duty at Camp Douglas until it was mustered out of service on June 24, 1865.
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 (1863–1864)
- Ordered to Kentucky in response to Morgan’s Raid (June 1864; countermanded)
- Guard duty at Camp Chase, Ohio (August 1864)
- Garrison duty at Camp Douglas, Illinois (1864–1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery are not detailed in primary sources. The unit’s service was largely limited to garrison and guard duties, and it did not participate in major field engagements.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain John L. Hill
- First Lieutenant James W. Gamble
- First Lieutenant James J. Brown
- First Lieutenant Frederick W. Poor
- Second Lieutenant William March
- Second Lieutenant Samuel Lyle, Jr.
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete list of members and additional service details, please visit the 24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes.
- Ohio Adjutant General’s Report.
- Dyer, Frederick H. Compendium of the War of the Rebellion.
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 2 (1908).