Overview
The 4th Ohio Independent Cavalry Company was an independent cavalry unit organized at Georgetown, Ohio, for Union service during the American Civil War. The company was mustered in on July 9, 1861, with each member providing his own horse and equipment. Serving primarily in the Western Theater, the company was notable for its assignment as headquarters escort for senior Union commanders and for participating in major late-war campaigns.
Organization & Service
The 4th Ohio Independent Cavalry Company was organized at Georgetown, Ohio, and mustered into service on July 9, 1861, for a term of three years. The following day, the company moved to Camp Chase, remaining there until August 19, 1861, when it was ordered to Missouri. On March 1, 1862, the company was stationed in St. Louis and assigned as the headquarters escort for Major General Henry W. Halleck. It continued in this capacity until General Halleck was transferred to Washington, D.C.
After Halleck’s transfer, the company performed various duties, including headquarters and escort service. On July 16, 1864, the original members were mustered out at Cincinnati, Ohio, upon expiration of their term. Approximately 50 recruits remained at General James B. McPherson’s headquarters. In August and September 1864, John L. King, formerly a sergeant, recruited the company back to full strength and was commissioned captain. The reorganized company participated in General Sherman’s March to the Sea, the Carolinas Campaign, and was present at the Grand Review in Washington, D.C. The company was mustered out of service on May 28, 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
- Escort duty at General Halleck’s headquarters (Missouri and St. Louis, 1862)
- Miscellaneous service in the Western Theater (1862–1864)
- Sherman’s March to the Sea (1864)
- Campaign of the Carolinas (1865)
- Grand Review, Washington, D.C. (May 1865)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 4th Ohio Independent Cavalry Company are not detailed in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain John S. Foster
- Captain John L. King
- First Lieutenant William H. Hannah
- First Lieutenant Joseph F. Thomas
- Second Lieutenant Stephen D. Porter
- Second Lieutenant Thomas C. Yates
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 4th Ohio Independent Cavalry Company, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details for members of the company throughout its term of service.
To view the complete roster, visit the 4th Ohio Independent Cavalry Company Roster page.
Sources & References
- The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (O.R.), Series I, various volumes
- 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
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 2 (1908)