58th Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 58th Indiana Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized at Princeton, Indiana, in October 1861. Mustered into Federal service on December 17, 1861, the regiment served in the Western Theater throughout the Civil War. It was attached to various commands, including Wood’s Division of Buell’s Army, and later served with the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of Georgia. The 58th Indiana was notable for its extensive engineering work, particularly during the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea.

The regiment participated in several major campaigns and battles, including Shiloh, Corinth, Stone’s River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, the Atlanta Campaign, the March to the Sea, and the Carolinas Campaign. The unit reenlisted as a veteran organization in January 1864 and continued service until mustering out in July 1865.

Organization & Service

The 58th Indiana Infantry was organized at Princeton, Indiana, in October 1861 and mustered into service on December 17, 1861. After leaving Indiana for Louisville, Kentucky, the regiment was assigned to Wood’s Division of Buell’s Army. It marched through central Kentucky, stopping at Bardstown, Lebanon, Spring Garden, and Bowling Green, before reaching Nashville in March 1862.

On April 1, 1862, the regiment departed for Pittsburg Landing and arrived on the second day of the Battle of Shiloh. Following Shiloh, the 58th participated in the siege of Corinth and then moved into northern Alabama. The regiment returned to Nashville and, by October 1, 1862, reached Louisville, joining the pursuit of Bragg’s Confederate forces. In December, it marched toward Murfreesboro, engaged at Lavergne on December 27, and fought in the Battle of Stone’s River, suffering significant casualties.

After remaining near Murfreesboro until the Tullahoma Campaign, the regiment’s brigade was the first to enter Chattanooga. The 58th Indiana was heavily engaged at Chickamauga, with substantial losses, and subsequently participated in the battles for Chattanooga, including the assault on Missionary Ridge. The regiment then marched to relieve Knoxville and spent the winter in East Tennessee under difficult conditions.

On January 24, 1864, the regiment reenlisted as veterans and returned to Indiana on furlough in March. Upon returning to Chattanooga in April, the 58th was assigned to the engineer department for Sherman’s army, performing bridging operations from Chattanooga to Atlanta, often under fire. In October 1864, 170 veterans and recruits from the 10th Indiana were transferred to the 58th. During the division of the army at Atlanta in November, the regiment was assigned to the Army of Georgia (14th and 20th Corps) under General Slocum, continuing its engineering duties during the March to the Sea, including the rebuilding of King’s Bridge over the Ogeechee River.

The non-veterans were mustered out at Savannah on December 31, 1864. The regiment continued to serve as engineers during the Carolinas Campaign, constructing bridges—including a pontoon bridge over the Savannah River at Sister’s Ferry—often working in challenging conditions. The 58th Indiana marched with the army to Washington, D.C., bridging streams along the route, and was finally transferred to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out on July 25, 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• March through Kentucky (1862)
• Battle of Shiloh (April 1862)
• Siege of Corinth (April–May 1862)
• Operations in Northern Alabama (1862)
• Pursuit of Bragg to Louisville (September–October 1862)
• Battle of Lavergne (December 27, 1862)
• Battle of Stone’s River (December 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863)
• Tullahoma Campaign (June–July 1863)
• Battle of Chickamauga (September 19–20, 1863)
• Battles for Chattanooga, including Missionary Ridge (November 1863)
• Relief of Knoxville (November–December 1863)
• Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864)
• March to the Sea (November–December 1864)
• Carolinas Campaign (January–April 1865)
• March to Washington, D.C. (May 1865)

Casualties

• Original strength: 904
• Gains by recruits: 816
• Reenlistments: 202
• Total served: 1,922
• Loss by death: 262
• Desertion: 45
• Unaccounted for: 16

Battle losses included 18 killed, 87 wounded, and 5 missing at Stone’s River; 171 killed, wounded, or missing at Chickamauga; and 5 killed, 61 wounded at Missionary Ridge. Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel Henry M. Carr
• Colonel George P. Buell
• Lieutenant Colonel George P. Buell
• Lieutenant Colonel James T. Embree
• Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Moore
• Major James T. Embree
• Major Joseph Moore
• Major William A. Downey

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 58th Indiana Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during the regiment’s term of service, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details where available.

To view the complete roster, visit the 58th Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes X, XVI, XX, XXIII, XXXVIII
• 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, Volume 3