13th Indiana Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War

Overview

The 13th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Indiana that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, the regiment was mustered into U.S. service for three years on June 19, 1861. It was among the first four Indiana regiments to volunteer for three years’ service and participated in campaigns across the Eastern and Southern theaters, including West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina.

The regiment saw extensive service, including early actions in western Virginia, the siege of Fort Wagner, operations around Petersburg and Richmond, and the final campaigns in North Carolina. The 13th Indiana Infantry was mustered out of service on September 5, 1865, at Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Organization & Service

The 13th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was organized at Indianapolis and mustered in on June 19, 1861. The regiment left Indiana on July 4, 1861, joining General McClellan’s forces at Rich Mountain, West Virginia, and participated in the battle there on July 11. It was engaged in skirmishes near Cheat Mountain in September, supported artillery at Greenbrier in October, and fought at Camp Alleghany in December 1861.

In early 1862, the regiment moved to Green Spring Run, remaining there until March, then took part in the battle of Winchester Heights and pursued Confederate forces to New Market. After Colonel Jeremiah C. Sullivan was promoted to brigadier-general in May, Lieutenant Colonel Robert S. Foster became colonel. The regiment was engaged at Summerville and participated in operations toward Luray and Alexandria. In late June 1862, it embarked for Harrison’s Landing, remaining there until mid-August before marching to Fortress Monroe and moving to Suffolk, Virginia, where it conducted reconnaissance and defensive operations through the fall and winter.

In January 1863, the regiment fought at Deserted House and helped repel Longstreet’s attempt to seize Suffolk in the spring. Colonel Foster was promoted to brigadier-general in June, and Lieutenant Colonel Cyrus J. Dobbs was promoted to colonel. The regiment joined the expedition north of Richmond in late June and sailed for Folly Island, South Carolina, in July. It participated in the siege operations against Forts Wagner and Gregg, being the first regiment to enter Fort Wagner on September 7, 1863. Part of the regiment reenlisted as veterans in December and received furloughs home.

In February 1864, the regiment moved to Jacksonville, Florida, remaining until April 17, then transferred to Gloucester Point, Virginia, and was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps. It participated in operations south of Richmond, including actions at Port Walthal Junction, Chester Station, and assaults on enemy rifle pits, suffering significant losses. On May 26, it was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps and joined the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor on June 1. After Cold Harbor, the regiment took part in early assaults on Petersburg. Non-veterans mustered out at Indianapolis on June 24, 1864.

The regiment fought in the charge at the Crater on July 30, 1864, and remained in the trenches before Petersburg until September. It was engaged at Strawberry Plains, Chaffin’s Bluff, Fort Gilmer, and in the October attack on Richmond. In November, the regiment was sent to New York during the presidential election, then joined the first expedition to Fort Fisher in December, returning to Chaffin’s Bluff at the end of the month. On December 6, 1864, the veterans and recruits were reorganized into a battalion of five companies, with five additional companies of drafted men added later, restoring regimental strength.

In 1865, the regiment participated in the assault on Fort Fisher, the capture of Fort Anderson, and the occupation of Wilmington, North Carolina. It was stationed at Raleigh until July 20, then assigned to duty at Goldsboro, where it remained until mustered out on September 5, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Battle of Rich Mountain (July 1861)
• Skirmishes near Cheat Mountain (September 1861)
• Greenbrier (October 1861)
• Battle of Camp Alleghany (December 1861)
• Battle of Winchester Heights (March 1862)
• Pursuit to New Market
• Summerville
• Operations at Luray and Alexandria
• Harrison’s Landing (July–August 1862)
• Defenses of Suffolk (Fall–Winter 1862–1863)
• Deserted House (January 1863)
• Siege of Suffolk (Spring 1863)
• Expedition north of Richmond (June 1863)
• Siege operations against Forts Wagner and Gregg (July–September 1863)
• Jacksonville, Florida (February–April 1864)
• Port Walthal Junction, Chester Station (May 1864)
• Cold Harbor (June 1864)
• Early assaults on Petersburg (June 1864)
• Charge at the Crater (July 30, 1864)
• Trenches before Petersburg (Summer 1864)
• Strawberry Plains, Chaffin’s Bluff, Fort Gilmer (August–October 1864)
• Attack on Richmond (October 1864)
• New York City (November 1864)
• First expedition to Fort Fisher (December 1864)
• Assault on Fort Fisher (January 1865)
• Capture of Fort Anderson and occupation of Wilmington (February 1865)
• Duty at Raleigh and Goldsboro (Spring–Summer 1865)

Casualties

• Original strength: 1,047
• Gains by recruits: 192; reenlistments: 148; unassigned recruits: 40; total: 1,427
• Loss by death: 136
• Desertion: 103
• Unaccounted for: 25
• At reorganization (late 1864): strength 980; gain by recruits: 166; total: 1,146
• Loss by death (reorganized battalion): 98
• Desertion (reorganized battalion): 1
• Unaccounted for (reorganized battalion): 30

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Jeremiah C. Sullivan
• Colonel Robert S. Foster
• Colonel Cyrus J. Dobbs
• Colonel John H. Lawrence
• Lieutenant Colonel Will Cumback
• Lieutenant Colonel Horace Heffren
• Lieutenant Colonel John M. Wilson
• Lieutenant Colonel Samuel M. Zent
• Major Robert S. Foster
• Major Cyrus J. Dobbs
• Major John M. Wilson
• Major John C. Burton
• Major John H. Lawrence
• Major Richard J. Graham

Regimental Roster

The complete roster of the 13th 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 research.

To view the full roster, visit the 13th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts
• 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, Volume 3