50th Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 50th Indiana Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized at Seymour, Indiana, in September 1861 and mustered into Federal service in October 1861. Serving in the Western Theater, the regiment participated in numerous campaigns across Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Alabama. The 50th Indiana was notable for its early railroad guard duties, its defense against Morgan’s cavalry, and its later involvement in major operations such as the Camden Expedition and the siege of Spanish Fort.

The regiment served continuously from its muster in 1861 until its consolidation with the 52nd Indiana Infantry in May 1865, with its final service ending at Montgomery, Alabama, in September 1865. The unit saw significant action and endured considerable losses during its term of service.

Organization & Service

The 50th Indiana Infantry was organized at Seymour, Indiana, in September 1861 and mustered in during October. The regiment departed Indiana on December 25, 1861, for Bardstown, Kentucky, and was subsequently stationed at Bowling Green. Its early service consisted primarily of railroad guard duty, with detachments posted along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad until September 1862.

In August 1862, a detachment of 20 men under Captain Atkinson, stationed in a stockade near Edgefield Junction, successfully repulsed an attack by approximately 1,000 of Morgan’s cavalry after a three-hour engagement. In September, the regiment moved to Munfordville, Kentucky, where it was surrendered with the Union forces to General Bragg on September 14, 1862. The regiment was paroled and exchanged in October.

Returning to duty, the 50th Indiana reported at Jackson, Tennessee, on November 10, 1862, and was assigned to General Sullivan’s division, 16th Army Corps. In December, it engaged Forrest’s command at Parker’s Cross Roads, Tennessee, capturing 500 prisoners and seven pieces of artillery. The regiment remained near Jackson through the winter, then moved to Collierville and Memphis in the spring of 1863. It was transferred to Arkansas, participating in the capture of Little Rock and then moving to Lewisburg for garrison duty until May 1, 1864. During this period, 350 men reenlisted as veterans.

The 50th Indiana joined the Camden Expedition in 1864, fighting at Terre Noir, Prairie D’Ane, Red Mound, Camden, and the Saline River. After returning to Little Rock, the regiment was stationed there until late July, when it went home on furlough, returning to Little Rock on September 25 for further garrison duty. Non-veterans were mustered out on December 31, 1864, while veterans and recruits were consolidated into a battalion of five companies.

The battalion participated in the Saline River expedition and was ordered to Mobile, Alabama, arriving on February 23, 1865. It took part in the siege of Spanish Fort and was present at the capture of Mobile, later engaging in a skirmish at Whistler’s Station. In April, the battalion was transferred to the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps. On May 26, 1865, it was consolidated with the 52nd Indiana Infantry, serving with that regiment until its final muster out at Montgomery, Alabama, on September 10, 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 along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad (1861–1862)
  • Defense at Edgefield Junction (August 1862)
  • Siege and surrender at Munfordville, Kentucky (September 1862)
  • Battle of Parker’s Cross Roads, Tennessee (December 1862)
  • Operations at Collierville and Memphis, Tennessee (Spring 1863)
  • Capture of Little Rock, Arkansas (September 1863)
  • Garrison duty at Lewisburg, Arkansas (1863–1864)
  • Camden Expedition: Terre Noir, Prairie D’Ane, Red Mound, Camden, Saline River (Spring 1864)
  • Saline River expedition (1865)
  • Siege of Spanish Fort, Alabama (March–April 1865)
  • Capture of Mobile, Alabama (April 1865)
  • Skirmish at Whistler’s Station (1865)

Casualties

  • Original strength: 983
  • Gained by recruits: 333
  • Reenlisted: 248
  • Total served: 1,564
  • Loss by death: 211
  • Desertions: 71
  • Unaccounted for: 20

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources regarding breakdowns of killed, wounded, and died of disease.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Cyrus L. Dunham
  • Colonel Samuel T. Wells
  • Lieutenant Colonel Horace Heffren
  • Lieutenant Colonel Samuel T. Wells
  • Lieutenant Colonel Horace N. Atkisson
  • Major Bannister Compton
  • Major Samuel T. Wells
  • Major Horace B. Atkisson
  • Major John Hungate

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 50th Indiana Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.

To view the complete roster, visit the 50th Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XVI, XVII, XXII, XXXIV, XXXVIII
  • 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
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