Overview
The 56th Indiana Infantry (Railroad Regiment) was an infantry unit authorized for Union service during the Civil War. The regiment was intended to be composed primarily of railroad operatives and was organized in Indiana. The unit was designated as the “Railroad Regiment” due to its intended composition and purpose. However, the regiment never completed its organization and did not serve as a distinct field unit.
The 56th Indiana Infantry was authorized in late 1861, with James M. Smith appointed as colonel, Silas M. Avery as lieutenant-colonel, and Frank B. Lord as major. The regiment was never fully recruited, and its enlisted men were consolidated with the 52nd Indiana Infantry on January 20, 1862.
Organization & Service
The 56th Indiana Infantry was organized under special orders with the goal of recruiting men experienced in railroad operations. Recruitment efforts began in late 1861, with the intention of forming a regiment that could support military railroad operations for the Union Army. Despite these efforts, the regiment was unable to enlist the required number of men to complete its organization.
On January 20, 1862, the attempt to form the 56th Indiana Infantry was officially abandoned. The enlisted men who had joined the regiment up to that point were consolidated with the 52nd Indiana Infantry. The 56th Indiana Infantry did not see active field service as a separate regiment, and no further organizational actions were taken under this designation.
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
The 56th Indiana Infantry did not participate in any campaigns or battles as a distinct regiment, as its organization was never completed and its members were consolidated with the 52nd Indiana Infantry.
Casualties
No casualty figures are recorded for the 56th Indiana Infantry, as the regiment did not serve as an organized field unit.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel James M. Smith (appointed, did not command in the field)
- Lieutenant Colonel Silas M. Avery (appointed)
- Major Frank B. Lord (appointed)
Regimental Roster
The full roster of men who enlisted with the 56th Indiana Infantry, prior to their consolidation with the 52nd Indiana Infantry, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This roster provides names and available service details for genealogical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 56th Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.
Sources & References
- The Union Army, Vol. 3 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
- Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion