Overview
The 11th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery was an artillery unit from Ohio that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized for three years’ service, the battery was mustered in at the St. Louis Arsenal, Missouri, on October 27, 1861. The unit served primarily in the Western Theater and was noted for its participation in several major campaigns and battles, including New Madrid, Iuka, Corinth, and Vicksburg.
Organization & Service
The 11th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery was organized at St. Louis Arsenal, Missouri, and mustered into Federal service on October 27, 1861, under the command of Capt. Archibald G. A. Constable. The original strength was 151 men, rank and file. The battery’s first active service was with the New Madrid expedition in early 1862, where it captured two Confederate 6-pounder guns. After the expedition, the unit remained in camp until April 12, focusing on field maneuvers and drill.
The battery participated in the siege and subsequent battles leading to the evacuation of Corinth, Mississippi, bearing its share of the action. In September 1862, the battery fought at the Battle of Iuka, entering the engagement with 102 men. The battery was charged three times during the battle, suffering heavy casualties, including two officers and 55 men killed or wounded. Despite these losses, the battery quickly reorganized and was present at the Battle of Corinth in October 1862, where it again saw significant action and sustained additional casualties.
During the siege of Vicksburg in 1863, the 11th Ohio Battery was held in reserve but participated in several expeditions to the rear, engaging as needed. On the day of Vicksburg’s capitulation, the battery was stationed at Snyder’s Bluff on the Yazoo River. The unit continued to serve until it was mustered out on November 5, 1864.
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
- New Madrid Expedition (March 1862)
- Siege and evacuation of Corinth (April–May 1862)
- Battle of Iuka (September 19, 1862)
- Battle of Corinth (October 3–4, 1862)
- Siege of Vicksburg (May–July 1863)
- Expeditions and actions near Vicksburg and Snyder’s Bluff (1863)
Casualties
At the Battle of Iuka, the battery suffered 2 officers and 55 men killed or wounded, with 18 killed on the field and others dying later from wounds. At the Battle of Corinth, 5 men were wounded. Complete aggregate casualty figures for the entire service term are not specified in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Archibald G. A. Constable
- Captain Frank C. Sands
- Captain Fletcher E. Armstrong
- First Lieutenant Henry M. Neil
- First Lieutenant Cyrus Sears
- First Lieutenant William M. Wynne
- Second Lieutenant William D. Linn
- Second Lieutenant David A. Southworth
- Second Lieutenant William K. Perrine
- Second Lieutenant Amos B. Alger
- Second Lieutenant William Bush
- Second Lieutenant Milon D. Whaley
- Second Lieutenant John A. McArthy
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 11th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its three years’ service, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 11th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 8, 17, 24, 52
- 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
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Vol. 2 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)