OHIO FIFTH INDEPENDENT COMPANY SHARPSHOOTERS (Three Years)

Fifth Independent Company Sharpshooters. Capts., Gershom M. Barber, David W. Botsford; First Lieuts., Jonathan Rickard, Franklin H. Somers, William N. Watson; Second Lieuts., William L. Stearns, William G Lemon. This independent organization was composed of recruits from Cleveland and vicinity, who were enrolled during the months of Oct. and Nov., 1862, and mustered into the U. S. service Dec. 5, at Camp Cleveland. It left Cleveland on March 1, 1863, and proceeded to Murfreesboro, Tenn., via Cincinnati and the Ohio and Cumberland rivers. Arriving at Murfreesboro on March 9, it reported to Maj.-Gen. Rosecrans. A battalion was formed of the 5th, 6th and 7th companies, Ohio volunteer sharpshooters. The battalion left Murfreesboro on June 24, and marched via Tullahoma to Normandy, where it arrived on July 5, guarded a bridge over Duck river, and then proceeded to Chattanooga, arriving there Sept. 10; marched to Crawfish Springs Sept. 15, and was engaged guarding headquarters train and picking up stragglers through the battle of Chickamauga; returned to Chattanooga Sept. 21, established a line of sharpshooters at Little Suck on Oct. 13, and was engaged with a continual line of sharpshooters of the enemy until Nov. 1, driving them from their post; crossed the Tennessee river and scouted Sand mountain, returning to Chattanooga on Nov. 4. From Feb. 1 to 13, 1864, it buried 875 dead on the battlefield of Chickamauga. This company was mustered out on July 19, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn. The roll of honor shows that 17 men lost their lives during the period of service of the company, 14 of whom died of disease.

Source: The Union Army, vol. 2

Ohio 5th Volunteer Independent Infantry Sharpshooters (Union)

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