Overview
The 8th 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 service in 1863 and performed a variety of duties, including guard and headquarters security, as well as participating in operations against Confederate raids and internal disturbances. The company was primarily active in the Western Theater and was attached to headquarters commands for much of its service.
Organization & Service
The 8th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters was formed from recruits enrolled on October 9, 1862, at Camp Portsmouth, Ohio. On January 7, 1863, the company was ordered by Governor Tod to Camp Dennison, arriving there two days later. The company was mustered into United States service on March 9 and August 22, 1863, at Camp Dennison.
On June 16, 1863, the company was ordered to the command of Colonel Wallace to suppress an insurrection in Holmes County, Ohio, returning from this duty on June 23. In July, the company was sent to Cincinnati and participated with other troops in repelling Morgan’s Raid. It performed picket duty west of Cincinnati until July 17, after which it returned to the city for guard duty.
On November 10, 1863, by order of Major General Ulysses S. Grant, the company proceeded to Chattanooga, Tennessee, arriving on November 25. There, it was attached to a temporary organization with the 5th, 6th, and 7th Ohio Sharpshooter companies, serving as headquarters guard to Major General George H. Thomas. The company continued in this capacity until it was mustered out 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
- Suppression of insurrection in Holmes County, Ohio (June 1863)
- Defense against Morgan’s Raid (July 1863)
- Headquarters guard duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee (from November 1863)
Casualties
- 3 men died of disease
- 1 man drowned in the Cumberland River
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Charles A. Barton
- First Lieutenant Cyrus B. Moore
- Second Lieutenant David N. Long
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 8th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters, including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on enlistment, rank, and service record for each member of the company.
To view the full roster, visit the 8th Ohio Independent Company Sharpshooters Roster page.
Sources & References
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- 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