The 26th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an
infantry regiment that served in the
Union Army during the
American Civil War.
Service
The 26th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized and federalized in
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
,
ndiana, on August 1, 1861. The regiment was processed and trained at Camp Morton in Indianapolis.
The regiment (26th Infantry Regiment of the Indiana Volunteers) was fielded in St. Louis, Missouri, and organized under the "Army of the West" Department of Missouri. This was accomplished on September 7, 1861. The 26th with many other military organizations made up the "Western Campaign".
Military actions to include battles:
* Advance on
Springfield, Missouri. September, 1861. The action was a failure resulting in relieving of General
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont or Fremont (January 21, 1813July 13, 1890) was an American explorer, military officer, and politician. He was a U.S. Senator from California and was the first Republican nominee for president of the United States in 1856 ...
from command.
* Pursuit of General
John Marmaduke
John Sappington Marmaduke (March 14, 1833 – December 28, 1887) was an American politician and soldier. He served as the 25th governor of Missouri from 1885 until his death in 1887. During the American Civil War, he was a senior officer ...
's Confederates. Resulted in many skirmishes and losses of men.
* Defense of the
Union Pacific Railroad at
Sedalia, Missouri. July, 1862.
* Skirmish in
Newtonia, Missouri
Newtonia is a village in Newton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 199 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. Newtonia was the site of the Battles of Newtonia during the American Ci ...
. October 4, 1862. This was an extension of fighting that started on September 30, 1862.
* Reorganized under a district identified as "District of Southwest, Missouri". October, 1862.
* Advance on
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville () is the second-largest city in Arkansas, the county seat of Washington County, and the biggest city in Northwest Arkansas. The city is on the outskirts of the Boston Mountains, deep within the Ozarks. Known as Washington until ...
. December 1862.
*
Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. December 7, 1862.
* Skirmish at Dripping Springs, Arkansas. December 29, 1862.
* Battle "
Siege of Vicksburg", Mississippi. June 11 - July 4, 1863.
* Relief of
Port Hudson, Louisiana
Port Hudson is an unincorporated community in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. Located about northwest of Baton Rouge, it is known primarily as the location of an American Civil War battle, the siege of Port Hudson, in 1863.
...
. July 23–27, 1863. Located north of
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge ( ; ) is a city in and the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-sma ...
on the
Mississippi River.
* Expedition to
Carrollton, Louisiana. August 28, 1863. Carrollton is west of
New Orleans.
* Expedition to
Morganza, Louisiana. September 5–12, 1863.
*
Battle of Stirling's Plantation
The Battle of Stirling's Plantation (also known as the Battle of Fordoche Bridge) was an American Civil War battle took place on September 29, 1863 in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana.
Background
Following the Siege of Vicksburg, Union Major Ge ...
/Farm. September 29, 1863.
* Encampment at Carrollton, Louisiana, with security of prisoners. October 1863.
* Expedition to the
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico.
The length of the Rio G ...
area,
Texas.
*
Battle of Brownsville
The Battle of Brownsville took place on November 2–6, 1863 during the American Civil War. It was a successful effort on behalf of the Union Army to disrupt Confederate blockade runners along the Gulf Coast in Texas. The Union assault precipit ...
, Texas. November 2–6, 1863. Pioneer Company led by Capt. Alden H. Jumper attached to
MG Napoleon J. T. Dana's 2nd Div.]
* Garrison duty for the purpose of rest and relaxation.
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville () is a city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Mexico. The city covers , and has a population of 186,738 as of the 2020 census. It ...
, area and Fort Butler at
Donaldsonville, Louisiana.
** The regiment conducted reenlistment efforts and granted furloughs during the Garrison Duty period of time. October 1863 - May 1864.
* Reorganized under the District of LaFourche,
Department of the Gulf. February 1865. Preparation for battle in the Gulf area.
* Campaign against
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population within the city limits was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, down from 195,111 at the 2010 United States census, 2010 cens ...
. March 17 - April 12, 1865. Siege of
Spanish Fort and
Fort Blakely
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
.
** During this period of time, surrender actions were taking place at
Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865.
* The regiment mustered out of service
eactivatedon January 15, 1866.
Total strength and casualties
The regiment lost 96 enlisted men killed in action or died of wounds and 3 officers and 265 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 364 fatalities.
The Civil War Archive website
after Dyer, Frederick Henry. A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion. 3 vols. New York: Thomas Yoseloff, 1959.
Commanders
* Colonel William M. Wheatly
* Colonel John G. Clark
See also
* List of Indiana Civil War regiments
* Indiana in the Civil War
Notes
{{reflist
References
The Civil War Archive - Indiana Units
Units and formations of the Union Army from Indiana
1861 establishments in Indiana
Military units and formations established in 1861
Military units and formations disestablished in 1866
1866 disestablishments in Indiana