Overview
The 109th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) was a short-term infantry regiment organized for emergency service during the American Civil War. Raised in response to Confederate cavalry movements under John Hunt Morgan in July 1863, the regiment was mustered at Indianapolis, Indiana, and served briefly as part of the Union Army’s efforts to defend the state. The 109th Indiana Infantry was composed of ten companies, including volunteers from Indiana and Illinois, and was mustered out after only a week of service.
Organization & Service
The 109th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) was organized on July 10, 1863, at Indianapolis, Indiana, following a call for volunteers after news arrived that Confederate cavalry under Morgan had crossed into Indiana. The regiment consisted of ten companies, with two companies from Coles County, Illinois, two from Laporte County, Indiana, two from Hamilton County, two from Miami County, one from Randolph County, and one additional company, totaling 709 men.
The regiment departed Indianapolis for Hamilton, Ohio, on July 13, 1863, and then proceeded to Cincinnati. Their mobilization was part of the rapid Union response to Morgan’s Raid. After it was determined that the Confederate force had left Indiana, the 109th returned to Indianapolis and was mustered out of service on July 17, 1863. The regiment’s service was limited to this emergency period and did not include combat operations.
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
- Emergency mobilization during Morgan’s Raid (July 1863)
Casualties
No casualties were reported for the 109th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) during its brief period of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel John R. Mahan
- Lieutenant Colonel James L. Angell
- Major McHenry Brooks
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 109th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides details on the individuals who served during the regiment’s brief period of emergency service.
To view the full roster, visit the 109th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Volume 3