Overview
The 126th Indiana Regiment, also known as the 11th Indiana Cavalry, served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in Indianapolis during the fall and winter of 1863–64, this regiment was mustered into service on March 1, 1864. Initially formed as infantry, it was later mounted and served primarily in the Western Theater, operating in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and Kansas. The regiment is notable for its service as railroad guards, participation in the Nashville campaign, and subsequent duty along the Santa Fe route.
This unit is distinct from earlier Indiana infantry regiments and should not be confused with other Indiana cavalry units. It was commanded by Colonels Robert R. Stewart and Abram Sharra during its term of service.
Organization & Service
The 126th Indiana Regiment (11th Indiana Cavalry) was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, with mustering completed on March 1, 1864. After organization, the regiment departed Indiana on May 1, 1864, for Nashville, Tennessee, where it remained until June 1. The regiment then marched into Alabama, where it was assigned to railroad guard duty, with headquarters established at Larkinsville. This duty continued through the summer and early fall of 1864.
On October 16, 1864, the regiment returned to Nashville and was mounted for cavalry service. During November and December, it was actively engaged in operations around Nashville, including the defense of the city and the subsequent pursuit of Confederate General Hood’s forces after the Battle of Nashville. The regiment pursued Hood as far as Gravelly Springs, Alabama, remaining there on dismounted duty from January 7 to February 7, 1865. It then crossed to Eastport, Mississippi.
On May 12, 1865, the regiment embarked for St. Louis, Missouri, where it was remounted and marched to Rolla, arriving on June 26. From Rolla, the regiment moved to Fort Riley and Council Grove, Kansas, and was stationed in detachments along the Santa Fe route. The 126th Indiana was ordered to Fort Leavenworth on September 1, 1865, and was mustered out of service on September 19, 1865.
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
- Railroad guard duty in Alabama (summer–fall 1864)
- Operations around Nashville, Tennessee (November–December 1864)
- Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864)
- Pursuit of Hood’s army to Gravelly Springs, Alabama (December 1864–January 1865)
- Duty at Eastport, Mississippi (February 1865)
- March to Rolla, Missouri, and duty along the Santa Fe route in Kansas (summer 1865)
Casualties
- Original strength: 1,246
- Gained by recruits: 63
- Total: 1,309
- Loss by death: 170
- Desertion: 108
- Unaccounted for: 8
Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources regarding the breakdown of deaths by cause.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Robert R. Stewart
- Colonel Abram Sharra
- Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert M. L. Johnson
- Lieutenant Colonel Abram Sharra
- Lieutenant Colonel Meredith H. Kidd
- Major Jehu C. Hannum
- Major Meredith H. Kidd
- Major Hugh A. Stephens
- Major Edgar A. Henderson
- Major Elias Showalter
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 126th Indiana Regiment (11th Indiana Cavalry), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.
To view the complete roster, visit the 126th Indiana Regiment (11th Indiana Cavalry) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 39, 45, 49
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Fox, William F., Regimental Losses in the American Civil War
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 3