15th Indiana Light Battery in the American Civil War

Overview

The 15th Indiana Light Battery was an artillery unit organized in Indiana for Union service during the American Civil War. Mustered in at Indianapolis on July 5, 1862, the battery served in the Western and later Eastern Theaters, participating in numerous campaigns and engagements. The unit was notable for its capture at Harper’s Ferry, subsequent exchange, and active service in the Atlanta, Tennessee, and Carolinas campaigns.

This battery served the Union Army from July 1862 until its mustering out on June 30, 1865. It was commanded by Captains John C. H. Von Schlen and Alonzo D. Harvey.

Organization & Service

The 15th Indiana Light Battery was organized at Indianapolis during the winter of 1861 and spring of 1862. Initially, it was assigned to guard duty over prisoners in Indianapolis until July 1862. The battery was officially mustered into service on July 5, 1862, and departed the same day for Harper’s Ferry, Virginia.

In September 1862, the battery, along with other Union forces at Harper’s Ferry, was captured by Confederate forces under Stonewall Jackson. The men were paroled and sent to Camp Douglas, Illinois. After being exchanged, the battery returned to Indianapolis and was re-equipped with new artillery pieces.

In March 1863, the battery moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and participated in the pursuit of Confederate cavalry under John Hunt Morgan through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. Following Morgan’s capture, the battery was sent to East Tennessee, where it engaged the enemy at Kingston, Calhoun, Philadelphia, and Loudon in August and September 1863. After evacuating Loudon in late October, the battery was divided between Kingston and Lenoir’s Station, engaging in actions at both locations.

The battery fought at Campbell’s Station and Concord, and entered Knoxville on November 17, 1863, where it played a role in repulsing Confederate assaults during the siege. It joined the pursuit of retreating Confederate forces, engaging at Blain’s Cross Roads and Rutledge, before returning to Knoxville. On January 19, 1864, the battery moved to Red Clay, Georgia, and was assigned to the 3rd Division, 23rd Corps.

During the Atlanta Campaign, the battery was engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, near Cartersville, Dallas, Allatoona, Nose’s Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, and Fort Riley. At Atlanta, it participated in the siege and the battle of July 22, 1864, and later fought at Jonesboro. After the fall of Atlanta, the battery camped at Decatur and joined the pursuit of Hood’s army in October 1864. Detached from Sherman’s main force at Rome, Georgia, it moved with its corps to Chattanooga and then to Columbia, Tennessee, where it helped cover the Union retreat and fought at Franklin on November 30, 1864.

The battery fell back to Nashville, engaging in artillery duels on December 8 and during the Battle of Nashville a week later. It then moved to Clifton, Tennessee, and embarked for Cincinnati, then Washington, D.C., and finally to the mouth of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, landing near Fort Fisher on February 9, 1865. The battery participated in the advance on Wilmington, entering the city on February 22, and joined Sherman’s army at Cox’s Bridge in March. It moved to Raleigh in April and remained at Greensboro until mustered out at Indianapolis on June 30, 1865, with 2 officers and 122 men.

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

  • Harper’s Ferry (September 1862)
  • Pursuit of Morgan (March–July 1863)
  • Kingston, Calhoun, Philadelphia, and Loudon (August–September 1863)
  • Campbell’s Station and Concord (November 1863)
  • Siege of Knoxville (November–December 1863)
  • Blain’s Cross Roads and Rutledge (December 1863)
  • Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864): Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Cartersville, Dallas, Allatoona, Nose’s Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, Fort Riley, Atlanta (July 22), Jonesboro
  • Pursuit of Hood (October 1864)
  • Columbia and Franklin (November 1864)
  • Nashville (December 1864)
  • Operations in North Carolina: Fort Fisher, Town Creek, Wilmington (February 1865)
  • Advance to Cox’s Bridge and Raleigh (March–April 1865)

Casualties

Specific casualty figures for the 15th Indiana Light Battery are not detailed in the primary sources. The battery mustered out with 2 officers and 122 men present. Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Captain John C. H. Von Schlen
  • Captain Alonzo D. Harvey

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 15th Indiana Light Battery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.

To view the complete roster, visit the 15th Indiana Light Battery Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes and parts
  • 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, Vol. 3
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