Overview
The 3rd Indiana Cavalry (Forty-fifth Indiana Regiment) served as a Union cavalry regiment during the American Civil War. Organized in 1861, the regiment was unique in its composition, with companies serving in both the Eastern and Western Theaters. The unit was mustered in at Madison, Indiana, and operated under the command of Colonels Scott Carter and George H. Chapman, among others. The regiment is notable for its divided service, with the right wing (Companies A–F) serving with the Army of the Potomac and the left wing (Companies G–K, later L and M) operating in Kentucky and the Western Theater.
The 3rd Indiana Cavalry participated in many significant campaigns and battles, including Antietam, Gettysburg, Stone’s River, and the Atlanta Campaign. Its service extended through the end of the war, with final mustering out occurring in August 1865.
Organization & Service
The 3rd Indiana Cavalry was organized in 1861. Six companies (A–F) were initially formed at Madison, Indiana, on August 22, 1861, originally intended for the 1st Indiana Cavalry. These companies were sent to the Army of the Potomac under Lieutenant Colonel Carter. On October 22, 1861, they were joined by four additional companies (G–K), which had been accepted in September and October and sent to Kentucky, forming the full ten-company regiment. In December 1862, Companies L and M were organized and added to the regiment.
The right wing (Companies A–F) joined Hooker’s division at Budd’s Ferry, Maryland, in December 1861. Several companies were detached for anti-contraband operations in Maryland and Virginia. The regiment remained on duty in lower Maryland until May 1862, then moved to Washington, Thoroughfare Gap, Luray, and participated in the movement to Front Royal. It was engaged in scouting and skirmishing near Fredericksburg, and after the evacuation of Fredericksburg, returned to Washington. The right wing took part in the Maryland Campaign, including South Mountain and Antietam, and later fought at Philomont, Union, Upperville, and Barber’s Cross-Roads. The regiment was in reserve at Fredericksburg and participated in cavalry actions at Rapidan Ford, Beverly Ford, Upperville, and Gettysburg, where it played a key role on June 30 and July 1, 1863. After Gettysburg, it joined in the pursuit of Lee’s army, engaging at Williamsport, Boonsboro, Beaver Creek, Funkstown, Falling Waters, Chester Gap, Brandy Station, and the Rappahannock. The regiment served on picket duty near Culpeper Court House during the winter and joined Kilpatrick’s raid toward Richmond in February 1864. It participated in the Overland Campaign, Sheridan’s raid on Richmond, and actions at Hanover Court House, Salem Church, Long Bridge, White Oak Swamp, Riddle’s Shop, Nottoway Court House, Roanoke Station, and Stony Creek. In August 1864, non-veterans were mustered out, and the remaining veterans and recruits formed a battalion that served in the Shenandoah Valley, participating at Opequon Creek, Cedar Creek, Five Forks, Sailor’s Creek, and Appomattox Court House. The battalion was mustered out at Indianapolis on August 7, 1865.
The left wing (Companies G–K) was detached for duty with various commands in Kentucky and Tennessee, joining the movement toward Nashville after Shiloh, then moving to Corinth, Alabama, and Tennessee with Buell’s army. The battalion camped near Edgefield Junction in November 1862 and moved with Rosecrans’s army for Murfreesboro, participating at Stone’s River and subsequent operations, including Missionary Ridge. The battalion moved into eastern Tennessee, engaged in scouting and skirmishing, and was joined by Companies L and M. It participated in the Atlanta Campaign and marched through Georgia with Sherman’s cavalry. At Savannah, the remaining veterans and recruits were consolidated with the 8th Indiana Cavalry and served with that regiment until mustered out at Lexington, North Carolina, on July 20, 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
- Duty in lower Maryland (1861–1862)
- Thoroughfare Gap, Luray, Front Royal (May 1862)
- Bristoe Station, Falmouth, Fredericksburg (1862)
- Maryland Campaign: South Mountain, Antietam (September 1862)
- Philomont, Union, Upperville, Barber’s Cross-Roads (late 1862)
- Fredericksburg (reserve), Rapidan Ford (April 1863)
- Beverly Ford, Upperville (June 1863)
- Gettysburg (June–July 1863)
- Williamsport, Boonsboro, Beaver Creek, Funkstown, Falling Waters, Chester Gap, Brandy Station, Rappahannock (July–August 1863)
- Kilpatrick’s Raid toward Richmond (February 1864)
- Overland Campaign: Craig’s Meeting House, Spottsylvania, Sheridan’s Raid, Yellow Tavern, Meadow Bridge, Haxall’s Landing, White House, Chesterfield (May 1864)
- Hanover Court House, Salem Church, Long Bridge, White Oak Swamp, Riddle’s Shop, Nottoway Court House, Roanoke Station, Stony Creek (1864)
- Shenandoah Valley: Opequon Creek, Cedar Creek (1864)
- James River Canal Raid (Spring 1865)
- Five Forks, Sailor’s Creek, Appomattox Court House (April 1865)
- Western Theater (left wing): Shiloh, Corinth, Stone’s River, Missionary Ridge, Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea, Savannah (1862–1865)
Casualties
- Total losses: 605
- Killed or died of wounds: 81
- Wounded: 232
- Taken prisoner: 107
- Deserted: 7
- Discharged for disability: 17
- Loss by death (aggregate): 133
- Desertion (aggregate): 65
- Unaccounted for: 319
Figures are based on regimental and official reports; some numbers reflect aggregate totals for the regiment’s entire service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Scott Carter
- Colonel George H. Chapman
- Lieutenant Colonel Jacob S. Buchanan
- Lieutenant Colonel George H. Chapman
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Klein
- Major George H. Chapman
- Major Charles Case
- Major William S. McClure
- Major Robert Klein
- Major Charles Lemon
- Major William Patton
- Major Benjamin Q. A. Gresham
- Major George H. Thompson
- Major Alfred Gaddis
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry (Forty-fifth Indiana Regiment) includes the names and service details of all officers and enlisted men who served with the regiment during the Civil War. This roster is a valuable resource for genealogists and researchers interested in individual soldiers’ service records.
To view the complete roster, visit the 3rd Indiana Cavalry (Forty-fifth Indiana Regiment) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes
- 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