Overview
The 6th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters served as a specialized unit in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in Ohio, this company was mustered into United States service on December 20, 1862, at Camp Cleveland. The company was composed of skilled marksmen and operated independently, rather than as part of a larger regiment. It primarily served in the Western Theater and was attached to the headquarters of major Union generals.
This unit is distinct from other Ohio sharpshooter companies and regiments. The 6th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters is notable for its service as headquarters guard for both General Rosecrans and later General Thomas, reflecting its reliability and specialized role.
Organization & Service
The 6th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters was organized at Camp Zanesville in the fall of 1862. The company was mustered into federal service on December 20, 1862, at Camp Cleveland, Ohio. Captain Charles H. Coe was among its initial commanders, with subsequent leadership including Captains James H. Reed and Samuel McCammant. The company’s first lieutenants included Robert Shank, David C. Johns, George L. Evans, and George M. Barrick.
On March 1, 1863, the company was ordered to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, arriving there on March 9. Upon arrival, it was attached to the headquarters guard of General William S. Rosecrans, commanding the Army of the Cumberland. Later, when Major General George H. Thomas succeeded Rosecrans, the company, along with the 5th and 7th Ohio Independent Companies Sharpshooters, was formed into a battalion and transferred to General Thomas’s headquarters. The 6th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters continued to serve in this capacity, performing guard and sharpshooting duties, until it was mustered out of service on July 19, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee.
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
- Headquarters guard duty at Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Army of the Cumberland)
- Service at headquarters of General Rosecrans and General Thomas
- Western Theater operations, including Nashville, Tennessee
Casualties
- Killed in action: 1
- Died of disease: 12
- Total deaths: 13
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Charles H. Coe
- Captain James H. Reed
- Captain Samuel McCammant
- First Lieutenant Robert Shank
- First Lieutenant David C. Johns
- First Lieutenant George L. Evans
- First Lieutenant George M. Barrick
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 6th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on the individuals who served in the company during its period of service.
To view the complete roster, visit the 6th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes (Army of the Cumberland headquarters reports)
- 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
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 2