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3rd Independent Company Ohio Volunteer Sharpshooters

1862–1865

In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units.

In the American Civil War, Ohio provided the federal government with 260 regiments of men, including infantry, artillery, and cavalry units. Ohioans also served in several other regiments from other states, most notably from Kentucky, West Virginia, and Massachusetts, as well as in federal units. Almost 330,000 Ohio men, including 5,092 African Americans, served in the Union military during the conflict.

Sharpshooter units formed in Ohio became known as regiments of Ohio Volunteer Sharpshooters. In September and October 1861, Ohio officials authorized the creation of ten companies of sharpshooters. These companies were to be known collectively as Birge's Western Sharpshooters and were to be under the command of General John C. Fremont in Missouri. This plan did not materialize, but Ohio eventually did form ten different companies, including the 3rd Independent Company Ohio Volunteer Sharpshooters, which enrolled at Lima, Ohio from March 12 and April 4, 1862. Officials mustered the company into the regular service on April 7, 1862 at Camp Chase at Columbus, Ohio.

Officials immediately dispatched the 3rd to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. In Tennessee, the company joined the 14th Regiment Missouri Infantry. With this organization, the company participated in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi and several expeditions in Mississippi and Alabama during the summer and fall of 1862.

On November 28, 1862, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton ordered the 3rd Independent Company Ohio Volunteer Sharpshooters to join the 66th Regiment Illinois Infantry as Company K. The 3rd ceased to exist as a separate organization at this time and remained with the 66th for the war's duration.

During 1863, Company K fought in the following engagements: Tuscumbia Bridge, Mississippi (February 8, 1863); Danville, Mississippi (March 24 and 31, 1863); Rienzi, Mississippi (April 1, 1863); Blackland, Mississippi (April 7 and 8, 1863); Rienzi, Mississippi (May 19, 1863); Jumpertown, Mississippi (July 19, 1863); Hatchie River, Mississippi (July 23, 1863); Booneville, Mississippi (August 31, 1863); and Whiteside's Farm, Mississippi (September 9, 1863).

In May 1864, Company K embarked upon General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign. The company fought in the following engagements of this campaign: Taylor's Ridge, Georgia (May 8, 1864); Snake Creek Gap, Georgia (May 9, 1864); Dick's Ridge (May 11 and 12, 1864); Resaca, Georgia (May 13, 1864); Lay's Ferry, Georgia (May 14 and 15, 1864); Rome's Crossroads, Georgia (May 16, 1864); Dallas, Georgia (May 26 to June 1, 1864); Lone Mountain, Georgia (June 1, 1864); New Hope, Georgia (June 3, 1864); Big Shanty, Georgia (June 11, 1864); Brush Mountain, Georgia (June 15, 1864); Little Kennesaw, Georgia (June 21, 1864); Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia (June 25 to July 2, 1864); Nicojack Creek, Georgia (July 4, 1864); Howe's Ferry, Georgia (July 7 and 8, 1864); Cross Keys, Georgia (July 18, 1864); Peachtree Creek (July 19, 1864); Decatur, Georgia (July 20, 1864); Atlanta, Georgia (July 21, 1864); Bald Hill, Georgia (July 22, 1864); Howard House, Georgia (July 22, 1864); Atlanta, Georgia (July 23 to 26, 1864); Utoy Creek (July 27, 1864); Ezra Church, Georgia (July 28, 1864); Proctor's Creek, Georgia (July 31 to August 1, 1864 and August 4 to 11, 1864); Siege of Atlanta, Georgia (August 12 to 26, 1864); Jonesborough, Georgia (August 31 and September 1, 1864); and Lovejoy's Station, Georgia (September 2 to September 5, 1864).

Upon the Union's capture of Atlanta, the 66th Illinois participated in Sherman's March to the Sea in the autumn of 1864, engaging the enemy during the Siege of Savannah, Georgia (December 10 to December 21, 1864). The regiment, including Company K, also fought in Sherman's Carolinas Campaign during the first one-half of 1865, participating in the Battles of Congaree Creek, South Carolina (February 15, 1865); Columbia, South Carolina (February 16 and 17, 1865); Fayetteville, North Carolina (March 13, 1865); Bentonville, North Carolina (March 19 to March 21, 1865); and Goldsboro, North Carolina (March 21, 1865).

On April 26, 1865, Company K mustered out of service at Springfield, Illinois.

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