Overview
The 61st Indiana Infantry (Infantry) was an incomplete Union regiment organized in Indiana during the winter of 1861–1862. Intended as the “2nd Irish Regiment,” it was authorized under the command of Bernard F. Mullen. The unit was initially assembled at Madison, Indiana, and later moved to Terre Haute and Indianapolis for duty. The regiment served the Union cause in the Western Theater, primarily in a guard capacity.
This unit is distinct from any other Indiana regiments with similar designations or service terms.
Organization & Service
Authority to organize the 61st Indiana Infantry (Infantry) was granted to Bernard F. Mullen during the winter of 1861–1862. Recruitment began at Madison, Indiana, with the intention of forming a full regiment, known as the 2nd Irish Regiment. The recruits were subsequently transferred to Terre Haute and Indianapolis, where they were assigned to guard Confederate prisoners captured at Fort Donelson.
The effort to complete the regiment was unsuccessful, and the 61st Indiana Infantry never reached full regimental strength. On May 22, 1862, the enlisted men and a small number of officers were transferred to the 35th Indiana Infantry, where they continued their service for the remainder of the war. The 61st Indiana Infantry was not mustered as a complete regiment and did not serve independently in the field.
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 61st Indiana Infantry (Infantry) did not participate as a regiment in any campaigns or battles. Its members were transferred to the 35th Indiana Infantry, which saw active service in the Western Theater.
Casualties
No separate casualty figures are recorded for the 61st Indiana Infantry (Infantry), as the regiment was never fully organized and its members were transferred to the 35th Indiana Infantry.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Bernard F. Mullen, Colonel (authorized to organize the regiment)
Regimental Roster
The roster of the 61st Indiana Infantry (Infantry) includes those men who enlisted under its authority before being transferred to the 35th Indiana Infantry. The full roster, as far as it is preserved, is available on the regiment’s roster page.
To view the complete list of officers and enlisted men, visit the 61st Indiana Infantry (Infantry) 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
- The Union Army, Vol. 3 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)