73rd Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 73rd Indiana Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized at South Bend, Indiana, and mustered into Federal service on August 16, 1862. Serving in the Western Theater, the regiment participated in major campaigns and engagements across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. The 73rd Indiana was noted for its involvement in Streight’s Raid and its determined defense at Athens and Decatur, Alabama.

The regiment served the Union cause from its organization in 1862 until its mustering out in July 1865, seeing action in several significant operations and enduring periods of hard campaigning, capture, and parole.

Organization & Service

The 73rd Indiana Infantry was organized at South Bend, Indiana, and mustered in on August 16, 1862. The regiment departed the state immediately for Lexington, Kentucky, then moved to Louisville in early September. It was assigned to the 20th Brigade, 6th Division, Army of the Ohio (Buell’s army), and participated in the pursuit of Confederate forces under Bragg. The regiment was held in reserve at the Battle of Perryville and continued the pursuit as far as Wild Cat, Kentucky.

Following operations in Kentucky, the regiment returned to Glasgow and then moved to Gallatin, Tennessee, where it engaged and drove Confederate forces from the field, capturing 19 prisoners. The 73rd Indiana marched into Nashville on November 26, 1862, and subsequently moved to Lebanon, Tennessee, where it was involved in a skirmish. It then joined Rosecrans’ army for the advance on Stone’s River, crossing the river on December 29, 1862, and engaging in heavy skirmishing and combat during the Battle of Stones River. The regiment suffered significant casualties in this engagement and was commended by General Rosecrans for its conduct.

In April 1863, the 73rd Indiana was assigned to Colonel Streight’s independent provisional brigade, mounted at Eastport, Mississippi, and participated in Streight’s Raid into Georgia. The regiment fought at Day’s Gap, Crooked Creek, and Blount’s Farm, where Colonel Hathaway was killed. Surrounded and exhausted at Cedar Bluffs, the brigade surrendered; enlisted men were paroled and later exchanged, while officers were sent to prison.

After returning to duty, the regiment was stationed along the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, with headquarters at Triune, Tennessee, performing guard duty and engaging in minor actions. It was later attached to the 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 20th Corps. In the summer of 1864, the regiment defended Prospect, Tennessee, against Wheeler’s raid, and in September moved to Decatur, Alabama, and then to Athens, where it successfully repulsed an attack by Buford’s cavalry. The regiment also participated in the defense of Decatur against Hood’s army in October 1864.

The 73rd Indiana spent the winter of 1864–1865 on railroad guard duty at Stevenson, Huntsville, and Larkinsville, Alabama, engaging in several skirmishes. The regiment was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, on July 1, 1865. Remaining recruits were transferred to the 29th Indiana Infantry.

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

  • Pursuit of Bragg in Kentucky (1862)
  • Battle of Perryville (reserve)
  • Gallatin, Tennessee (skirmish)
  • Battle of Stones River (December 29–31, 1862)
  • Streight’s Raid (April–May 1863): Day’s Gap, Crooked Creek, Blount’s Farm, Cedar Bluffs
  • Defense of Prospect, Tennessee (1864)
  • Defense of Athens, Alabama (October 1864)
  • Defense of Decatur, Alabama (October 1864)
  • Railroad guard duty and skirmishes in Alabama and Tennessee (1864–1865)

Casualties

The original strength of the 73rd Indiana Infantry was 1,020. The regiment gained 149 recruits, for a total of 1,169 men. Losses by death numbered 229. There were 74 desertions and 5 unaccounted for. During the Battle of Stones River, the regiment lost 22 killed, 46 wounded, and 36 missing. Other detailed breakdowns by cause are not specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Gilbert Hathaway (killed at Blount’s Farm, 1863)
  • Colonel Alfred B. Wade
  • Lieutenant Colonel Oliver H. P. Bailey
  • Lieutenant Colonel Robert W. Graham
  • Lieutenant Colonel Irvin N. Walker
  • Lieutenant Colonel William M. Kendall
  • Major William Krimbill
  • Major Irvin N. Walker
  • Major Alfred B. Wade
  • Major William M. Kendall

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 73rd Indiana Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term of service, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.

To view the complete roster, visit the 73rd Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

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