129th Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 129th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Indiana that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Michigan City, Indiana, during the winter of 1863–64, the regiment was mustered into Federal service on March 1, 1864. The unit primarily served in the Western Theater and participated in several major campaigns, including the Atlanta Campaign and the Nashville Campaign.

The regiment was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps. It saw active service in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and North Carolina, and was mustered out on August 29, 1865, after performing provost duty in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Organization & Service

The 129th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Michigan City, Indiana, and mustered in on March 1, 1864. The regiment departed Indiana for Nashville, Tennessee, on March 30, 1864, where it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps. On April 24, the regiment reached Charleston, Tennessee, and began movement toward Atlanta on May 3 as part of the Atlanta Campaign.

The regiment was engaged at the Battle of Resaca in May 1864, followed by actions at Cassville, New Hope Church, and near Lost Mountain. In July, the regiment fought at Decatur, suffering significant losses. On August 6, the division attacked at Utoy Creek, leading to the engagement at Strawberry Run, where the regiment lost 25 men killed and wounded. The unit participated in operations at East Point and near Rough and Ready, then camped at Decatur, Georgia.

In October 1864, the regiment joined the pursuit of Confederate General Hood’s army as far as Gaylesville, Alabama. The 23rd Corps was then detached and sent to reinforce General Thomas at Nashville. The 129th Indiana was involved in heavy skirmishing at Columbia in late November and fought in the Battle of Franklin, where it sustained heavy casualties. The regiment subsequently participated in the Battle of Nashville and the pursuit of retreating Confederate forces.

On January 5, 1865, the regiment moved to Clifton, Tennessee, then traveled by transport to Cincinnati and by rail to Washington, D.C. From there, it sailed to Morehead City, North Carolina, moved by rail to New Berne, and marched toward Kinston. During March 1865, the regiment was engaged in heavy skirmishing and repulsed repeated enemy assaults near Kinston, suffering further losses. The unit advanced to Goldsboro and took position at Mosely Hall until April 5, then moved to Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, where it performed provost duty until mustering out on August 29, 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

  • Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864): Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Lost Mountain, Decatur, Utoy Creek, Strawberry Run, East Point, Rough and Ready
  • Pursuit of Hood’s Army (October 1864): to Gaylesville, Alabama
  • Columbia (November 1864)
  • Battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864)
  • Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864)
  • North Carolina Campaign (March–April 1865): Morehead City, New Berne, Kinston, Goldsboro, Mosely Hall, Raleigh, Charlotte

Casualties

The original strength of the regiment was 947. It gained 70 recruits, for a total of 1,017 men. Losses by death totaled 175; there were 34 desertions and 4 men unaccounted for. Detailed breakdowns of killed, wounded, and died of disease are not fully specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Charles Case
  • Colonel Charles A. Zollinger
  • Lieutenant Colonel Charles A. Zollinger
  • Lieutenant Colonel Solomon De Long
  • Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. McGuire
  • Major Solomon De Long
  • Major Samuel B. McGuire
  • Major William H. Cole

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 129th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 129th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XXXVIII, XLV, XLIX
  • 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
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