Overview
The 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, for Union service during the American Civil War. Mustered in on June 10, 1862, the regiment served primarily in the Western Theater. Its brief period of service coincided with the Confederate invasion of Kentucky under General Kirby Smith.
This unit is distinct from the 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Years’ Service).
Organization & Service
The 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was organized at Indianapolis and mustered into Federal service on June 10, 1862. The regiment was initially stationed at Camp Morton, Indiana, where it performed guard and garrison duties. In August 1862, as Confederate forces under General Kirby Smith advanced into Kentucky, the regiment was ordered to move south to assist in the defense of that state.
During its service, the regiment was primarily engaged in duties related to the emergency response to the Confederate incursion. Colonel John L. Mansfield commanded the regiment at organization but resigned on June 18, 1862, and was succeeded by Colonel David G. Rose. The regiment’s original strength was 887 men, with an additional 59 recruits joining during its term, for a total of 946. The 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Months’ Service) was mustered out in September 1862, following the expiration of its term and the subsiding of the immediate threat in Kentucky.
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 at Camp Morton, Indiana (June–August 1862)
- Movement to Kentucky in response to Confederate invasion (August–September 1862)
Casualties
Original strength: 887; gain by recruits: 59; total: 946. Specific casualty figures for the 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Months’ Service) are not detailed in available primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel John L. Mansfield (resigned June 18, 1862)
- Colonel David G. Rose
- Lieutenant Colonel L. Gilbert Knox
- Major L. Gilbert Knox
- Major Fielding Mansfield
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Months’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where recorded.
To view the complete roster, visit the 54th Indiana Infantry (Three Months’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- 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)