Overview
The 24th Indiana Light Battery was an artillery unit organized in Indiana for Union service during the American Civil War. Mustered in on November 29, 1862, the battery served primarily in the Western Theater, participating in campaigns across Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. The unit was noted for being the first battery to cross the Cumberland Mountains with Burnside’s army and for its active role in the defense of Knoxville.
Organization & Service
The 24th Indiana Light Battery was organized in the fall of 1862 and officially mustered into service on November 29 of that year. The battery departed Indiana on March 13, 1863, moving first to Louisville, Kentucky, and then marching to several points along the Cumberland River, including Lebanon, Burkesville, Jamestown, and Monticello. The battery saw action at Horse Shoe Bend before returning to Columbia in June 1863. On June 23, it moved to Glasgow and was engaged at Marrowbone in early July, subsequently joining the pursuit of Confederate cavalry under Morgan.
In late summer 1863, the battery marched into eastern Tennessee with Burnside’s army, becoming the first battery to cross the Cumberland Mountains. It reached Loudon on September 2 and participated in engagements at Philadelphia and Sweetwater in October. The unit moved to Knoxville on November 4 and took part in the engagement at Campbell’s Station, followed by active involvement in the defense during the siege of Knoxville.
After the siege, the battery joined the pursuit of Longstreet’s forces in December 1863 and January 1864, enduring difficult conditions with limited supplies. Returning to Knoxville, the battery rested until April, then moved to Charleston, Tennessee, where it was assigned to Hovey’s division of the 23rd Corps. The battery advanced to Red Clay, Georgia, and participated in the Atlanta Campaign, including actions at Resaca, Campbellton, Moore’s Bridge, Sandtown, and Sunshine Church. At Sunshine Church, two officers, 47 men, and two guns were captured. The remainder of the battery continued to Atlanta, remaining there until October 4, 1864, before joining the pursuit of Hood’s forces into Tennessee and engaging at Columbia.
The battery reached Nashville on December 1, 1864, and was present at the battle there two weeks later. On January 18, 1865, the unit moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where it performed post duty until ordered to Indianapolis in July. The battery arrived in Indianapolis on July 28, 1865, and was mustered out on August 3, 1865. During its service, Capt. Joseph A. Sims resigned on January 20, 1864, and was succeeded by Lt. Alexander Hardy.
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
- Horse Shoe Bend (Kentucky)
- Marrowbone (Kentucky)
- Pursuit of Morgan
- March into eastern Tennessee with Burnside’s army
- Philadelphia (Tennessee)
- Sweetwater (Tennessee)
- Campbell’s Station
- Siege of Knoxville
- Pursuit of Longstreet
- Atlanta Campaign (including Resaca, Campbellton, Moore’s Bridge, Sandtown, Sunshine Church)
- Columbia (Tennessee)
- Battle of Nashville
Casualties
According to available records, the 24th Indiana Light Battery lost 30 men by death, 18 by discharge, and 33 by desertion during its service. More detailed breakdowns of killed, wounded, or died of disease are not specified in the primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Captain Joseph A. Sims (resigned January 20, 1864)
- Captain Alexander Hardy (appointed after Sims’s resignation)
Regimental Roster
The complete roster of the 24th Indiana Light Battery, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.
To view the full roster, visit the 24th Indiana Light Battery Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, various volumes (see reports on Burnside’s East Tennessee Campaign and Atlanta Campaign)
- 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)