68th Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 68th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) was an infantry regiment from Indiana that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized at Greensburg, Indiana, the regiment mustered into Federal service on August 19, 1862. It participated in operations primarily in the Western Theater, serving in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. The regiment is noted for its early capture at Munfordville, subsequent exchange, and active participation in major campaigns, including Chickamauga and Nashville.

Organization & Service

The 68th Indiana Infantry was organized at Greensburg and mustered in on August 19, 1862. Immediately after mustering, the regiment departed for Louisville, Kentucky, and then moved to Lebanon. It proceeded to Munfordville, where it, along with other Union troops, was surrendered to Confederate General Braxton Bragg. The regiment was paroled and later exchanged in December 1862.

On December 26, a detachment moved to Louisville, and by December 31, the entire regiment was reunited. The 68th Indiana then moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where it was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 14th Army Corps. The regiment participated in the engagement at Hoover’s Gap in June 1863 and crossed the Tennessee and Lookout Mountains in September, engaging in skirmishes at Pond Springs. At the Battle of Chickamauga, the regiment suffered significant losses, including the death of Colonel Edward W. King, and was among the last Union units to leave the field.

On October 11, 1863, the regiment was transferred to the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, and took part in the Battle of Missionary Ridge, again sustaining heavy casualties. The regiment marched to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville and operated in East Tennessee, including duty at Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, New Market, Morristown, and McDonald’s Station during March 1864. From April 28 to August 14, it performed garrison duty at Chattanooga, Tennessee, and was involved in a skirmish with Wheeler’s cavalry at Dalton, Georgia.

The 68th Indiana participated in several minor expeditions from Chattanooga until October 27, 1864, when it moved to Decatur, Alabama, and was engaged in the defense against Hood’s forces. It guarded railroad operations near Resaca, Georgia, from November 13 to 29, then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where it fought in the Battle of Nashville in December. The regiment pursued Hood’s retreating army as far as Leighton, Alabama, before returning to Chattanooga. It was subsequently assigned to bridge guard duty and mustered out at Nashville on June 20, 1865. Remaining recruits were transferred to the 44th Indiana Infantry and served until September 14, 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

  • Munfordville, Kentucky (September 1862)
  • Hoover’s Gap (June 1863)
  • Pond Springs (September 1863)
  • Battle of Chickamauga (September 1863)
  • Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
  • Relief of Knoxville (November–December 1863)
  • Skirmish at Dalton, Georgia (August 1864)
  • Defense of Decatur, Alabama (October 1864)
  • Operations near Resaca, Georgia (November 1864)
  • Battle of Nashville (December 1864)
  • Pursuit of Hood’s Army (December 1864)

Casualties

  • Original strength: 905
  • Gained by recruits: 112
  • Total served: 1,017
  • Loss by death: 142
  • Deserted: 48
  • Unaccounted for: 5

Casualty figures are based on regimental and state reports. At Chickamauga, the regiment lost 135 killed, wounded, and missing out of 356 engaged. At Missionary Ridge, 82 were killed and wounded.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Edward W. King (killed at Chickamauga)
  • Colonel John S. Scobey
  • Colonel Harvey J. Espy
  • Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin C. Shaw
  • Lieutenant Colonel John S. Scobey
  • Lieutenant Colonel Harvey J. Espy
  • Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Finn
  • Major John S. Scobey
  • Major James W. Innis
  • Major Harvey J. Espy
  • Major Edmund Finn
  • Major Cyrus B. Goodwin

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 68th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides details on enlistment, service, and mustering out for each member of the regiment.

To view the complete roster, visit the 68th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service) Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XVI, XXIII, XXX, 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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