Overview
The 11th Indiana Light Battery was an artillery unit organized for Union service during the American Civil War. Recruited primarily at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and mustered in at Indianapolis on December 17, 1861, the battery served in the Western Theater. It was attached to various divisions and corps throughout its service, participating in several major campaigns and battles, including the siege of Corinth, the Tullahoma Campaign, Chickamauga, and the Atlanta Campaign.
The battery was known for its active field service, including periods of railroad guard duty and participation in significant engagements. It remained in service until June 7, 1865, when it was mustered out at Indianapolis.
Organization & Service
The 11th Indiana Light Battery was organized at Indianapolis and mustered into Federal service on December 17, 1861, under the command of Captain Arnold Sutermeister. Shortly after organization, the battery moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and joined Buell’s army en route to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving there on February 16, 1862. The unit proceeded to Pittsburg Landing but arrived after the Battle of Shiloh had concluded.
The battery participated in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and, following the Confederate evacuation, advanced with Union forces through northern Mississippi to Tuscumbia, Alabama, and then to Huntsville, Alabama, where it encamped. During the Confederate advance into Tennessee and Kentucky under General Bragg, the battery moved with the main Union column in pursuit. Upon returning to Nashville, it was assigned to the 3rd Division, 21st Corps.
After the Battle of Stone’s River, the battery camped near Murfreesboro until June 1863, then advanced with the army during the Tullahoma Campaign, halting at Cowan’s Station after the Confederate evacuation. The battery was then divided into sections for railroad guard duty along the line from Decherd, Tennessee, to Stevenson, Alabama. In August 1863, it moved to Stevens’ Gap and was heavily engaged at the Battle of Chickamauga, suffering significant casualties. The battery withdrew to Rossville and then to Chattanooga, where it participated in the siege and the Battle of Missionary Ridge, remaining in Chattanooga through the winter.
On March 9, 1864, a number of members reenlisted as veterans. In May, the battery joined the Atlanta Campaign, taking part in its principal actions. After the fall of Atlanta, the unit returned to Chattanooga, where it remained until November 21, 1864, when 65 members were transferred to the 18th Indiana Battery. The remainder of the battery stayed at Chattanooga until late May 1865, then returned to Indianapolis and was mustered out on June 7, 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
- Siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
- Advance through northern Mississippi and Alabama (1862)
- Tullahoma Campaign (June–July 1863)
- Railroad guard duty (Summer 1863)
- Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–20, 1863)
- Siege of Chattanooga (September–November 1863)
- Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25, 1863)
- Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 11th Indiana Light Battery are not consistently reported in primary sources. The battery is noted to have suffered heavy losses in killed and wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga. Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Arnold Sutermeister
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 11th Indiana Light Battery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term of service, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and, when available, additional service details.
To view the complete roster, visit the 11th Indiana Light Battery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes X, XVI, XXIII, XXXVIII
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 3 (1908)