52nd Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 52nd Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Indiana that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized initially at Rushville in the fall of 1861 and winter of 1861–62, the regiment completed its organization at Indianapolis before mustering into federal service on February 1, 1862. The unit served primarily in the Western Theater and participated in several major campaigns and numerous engagements throughout its service.

The regiment is notable for its early participation in the siege of Fort Donelson, extensive garrison and anti-guerrilla duties, reenlistment as a veteran organization in 1864, and involvement in the Mobile campaign near the war’s end. The 52nd Indiana Infantry mustered out of service at Montgomery, Alabama, on September 10, 1865.

Organization & Service

The 52nd Indiana Infantry began organizing at Rushville, Indiana, in late 1861. After partial organization, the regiment marched to Indianapolis, where it was consolidated with the 56th Indiana (the “railroad regiment”). The regiment mustered into federal service on February 1, 1862, and departed Indiana on February 7, 1862, for Fort Henry, Tennessee. Shortly thereafter, it moved to Fort Donelson and participated in the siege as part of Smith’s Division.

Following the fall of Fort Donelson, the regiment performed garrison duty at Forts Henry and Heiman from March 3 to April 18, 1862. It then moved to Pittsburg Landing and joined Lanman’s Brigade, Hurlbut’s Division, participating in the siege of Corinth. In July 1862, the regiment relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, remaining there until September 9, when it moved to Fort Pillow, then to Columbus, Kentucky, and back to Fort Pillow. In September, the regiment engaged Faulkner’s guerrillas near Durhamville and subsequently performed garrison duty at Fort Pillow, with frequent marches and skirmishes against guerrilla forces in Tennessee and Arkansas until January 1864.

On January 23, 1864, the 52nd Indiana left for Vicksburg as part of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, and accompanied Sherman’s army on the Meridian Raid, fighting at Jackson, Mississippi. The regiment reached Canton, Mississippi, on February 26 and reenlisted as a veteran organization on February 27, 1864. Veterans went home on furlough in March, while non-veterans and recruits (126 men) were temporarily attached to the 89th Indiana and participated in the Red River Campaign, fighting at Fort De Russy, Pleasant Hill, Moore’s Plantation, and Yellow Bayou.

The veterans returned to the field on April 23, 1864, proceeding to Columbus, Kentucky, and then to Vicksburg, where they reunited with the detachment from the 89th Indiana. On June 3, 1864, the regiment joined General A. J. Smith’s forces in pursuit of Confederate General Marmaduke into Arkansas, fighting at Lake Chicot. The regiment then moved to Memphis and, on June 23, joined the expedition against Forrest, engaging at Tupelo. In August, the regiment participated in the battle of Hurricane Creek, Mississippi, and later joined Smith’s command in the Missouri campaign, fighting at Franklin and pursuing Price’s forces out of the state—a march of 350 miles.

After returning to St. Louis on November 19, 1864, the regiment moved to Nashville and participated in the Battle of Nashville in December, then pursued Hood’s army to the Tennessee River. The 52nd Indiana remained at Eastport until February 9, 1865, when it joined Canby’s forces at New Orleans for the Mobile campaign. The regiment moved to Dauphin Island in March, participated in the reduction of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, and then moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where it remained until July. On May 26, 1865, the battalion of the 50th Indiana was attached to the 52nd. The regiment moved to Tuskegee on July 14 for garrison duty until August 28 and was mustered out at Montgomery on September 10, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Siege of Fort Donelson (February 1862)
• Garrison duty at Forts Henry and Heiman (March–April 1862)
• Siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
• Garrison and anti-guerrilla operations in Tennessee and Arkansas (1862–1864)
• Meridian Raid, including engagement at Jackson, Mississippi (February 1864)
• Red River Campaign (detachments at Fort De Russy, Pleasant Hill, Moore’s Plantation, Yellow Bayou; March–May 1864)
• Lake Chicot, Arkansas (June 1864)
• Tupelo, Mississippi (July 1864)
• Hurricane Creek, Mississippi (August 1864)
• Missouri Campaign, including Franklin (October–November 1864)
• Battle of Nashville (December 1864)
• Pursuit of Hood’s army to the Tennessee River (December 1864)
• Mobile Campaign: Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely (March–April 1865)

Casualties

• Original strength: 930
• Gained by recruits: 221
• Reenlistments: 370
• Total enrolled: 1,521
• Loss by death: 167
• Desertions: 129
• Unaccounted for: 26
• Strength on reorganization: 948
• Gained by recruits (post-reorganization): 8
• Total (post-reorganization): 956
• Loss by death (post-reorganization): 20

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

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel James M. Smith
• Colonel Edward H. Wolfe
• Colonel Zalmon S. Main
• Lieutenant Colonel William C. McReynolds
• Lieutenant Colonel Edward H. Wolfe
• Lieutenant Colonel Zalmon S. Main
• Major Edward H. Wolfe
• Major Zalmon S. Main
• Major William T. Strickland

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 52nd 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 complete roster, visit the 52nd Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes VII, X, XXIV, XXXII, XXXIX, XLV
• 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