Overview
The 3rd Indiana Light Battery was an artillery unit organized at Connersville, Indiana, on August 5, 1861, and mustered into Federal service on August 24, 1861. Serving with the Union Army, the battery participated in campaigns across Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. The unit was active throughout the Western Theater and is notable for its involvement in several major campaigns and battles, including the Red River Campaign and the siege of Fort Blakely.
Organization & Service
The 3rd Indiana Light Battery was organized at Connersville and mustered in on August 24, 1861. The battery moved to St. Louis in September and was assigned to Fremont’s army, participating in the campaign through southwestern Missouri. Captain Watton W. Frybarger was promoted to major, and Lieutenant James M. Cockefair succeeded him as captain. The battery moved from Springfield to Tipton, then to Lamine Cantonment, where it remained until spring 1862 before proceeding to Jefferson City.
During the summer and fall of 1862, sections of the battery were detached to various points in Missouri and engaged in actions at Moon’s Mill, Kirksville, and Lone Jack. The unit regrouped at Springfield for the winter of 1862-63, then moved to Rolla and St. Louis, remaining there until late 1863. On November 30, 1863, a majority of the members reenlisted as veterans, took furlough, and rejoined the battery in the field. In December 1863, the battery moved to St. Louis and then to Columbus, Kentucky, where it was assigned to General A. J. Smith’s command and participated in the winter campaign through western Tennessee.
After the Tennessee campaign, the battery moved to Vicksburg and joined Sherman’s expedition to Meridian, Mississippi, in February 1864. Returning to Vicksburg, it participated in the Red River Campaign, including the storming and capture of Fort De Russy, and was engaged at Pleasant Hill, Cane River Crossing, Cloutierville, Alexandria, Old Oaks, and Round Lake. The battery returned to Vicksburg, then moved to Memphis and Tupelo, Mississippi, where it was engaged at Tupelo, Tallahatchie, Jackson, and Clinton.
Following re-equipment in Memphis, the battery moved to Oxford, Mississippi, then returned to Memphis and joined the 16th Army Corps for the pursuit of Price in Missouri, marching 800 miles before returning to St. Louis. The battery then proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee, and participated in the battle in front of that city in December 1864. In January 1865, it moved to Eastport, Mississippi, then to New Orleans, where it was assigned to General Canby’s command and took part in the siege and capture of Fort Blakely, leading to the surrender of Mobile. The battery subsequently moved to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, remaining there until July 30, 1865, before returning to Indianapolis and mustering out on August 13, 1865, with 3 officers and 71 men present.
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
- Fremont’s Campaign in southwestern Missouri (1861)
- Moon’s Mill, Missouri
- Kirksville, Missouri
- Lone Jack, Missouri
- Winter Campaign in western Tennessee (1863-1864)
- Expedition to Meridian, Mississippi (February 1864)
- Red River Campaign, including Fort De Russy, Pleasant Hill, Cane River Crossing, Cloutierville, Alexandria, Old Oaks, Round Lake (Spring 1864)
- Tupelo, Tallahatchie, Jackson, and Clinton, Mississippi
- Pursuit of Price in Missouri (1864)
- Battle of Nashville, Tennessee (December 1864)
- Siege and Capture of Fort Blakely, Alabama (April 1865)
Casualties
The 3rd Indiana Light Battery lost a total of 64 men killed and wounded during its service. Detailed breakdowns of deaths by cause are not specified in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Watton W. Frybarger
- Captain James M. Cockefair
- Captain Thomas J. Ginn
- Captain Richard Burns
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 3rd Indiana Light Battery, including names and service details of its members, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete listing, please visit the regiment’s roster page.
View the 3rd Indiana Light Battery Regimental Roster
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts (see Western Theater operations, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, 1861–1865)
- 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