72nd Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 72nd Indiana Infantry (Union) was organized at Lafayette, Indiana, and mustered into service on August 16, 1862. Initially serving as an infantry regiment, it was later converted to mounted infantry and became known for its participation in major campaigns in the Western Theater. The regiment served the Union cause throughout the remainder of the Civil War, participating in significant operations across Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and beyond.

The 72nd Indiana was notable for its transition to mounted infantry, which allowed it to operate with greater mobility during campaigns such as Tullahoma, Chickamauga, and the Atlanta Campaign. The regiment mustered out of service at Nashville, Tennessee, on June 26, 1865.

Organization & Service

The 72nd Indiana Infantry was organized at Lafayette, Indiana, and mustered in on August 16, 1862. The regiment departed Indiana the following day, proceeding to Lebanon, Kentucky, where it remained until the Confederate invasion under General Bragg. The unit then moved with General Buell’s army and entered Tennessee in November 1862, arriving at Murfreesboro on January 8, 1863.

At Murfreesboro, the regiment was mounted and served as mounted infantry. It participated in the Tullahoma Campaign and the advance on Chattanooga, playing a key role at Hoover’s Gap, where it sustained significant losses. The regiment also engaged and routed a Confederate brigade at Rock Springs and fought in the Battle of Chickamauga, again suffering heavy casualties. Following Chickamauga, the 72nd Indiana aided in driving Wheeler’s cavalry out of Middle Tennessee and saw action at Mooresville, Alabama, in November 1863.

In December 1863, the regiment was sent to Memphis and attached to the cavalry command of Sherman’s army, participating in the Meridian Raid. After returning to Memphis and then Nashville, the 72nd joined the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division in March 1864. On April 30, it commenced operations in the Atlanta Campaign, remaining actively engaged in battles and skirmishes until the city’s fall. When Sherman began his March to the Sea, the regiment’s horses were transferred to Kilpatrick’s division, and the men were ordered to Louisville for remounting.

On December 28, 1864, the regiment moved to Gravelly Springs, Alabama, and joined Wilson’s Cavalry Corps. It participated in the Wilson Raid, which resulted in the capture of Selma and Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus and Macon, Georgia, along with thousands of prisoners and large quantities of supplies. After the fall of Richmond, the regiment was deployed in detachments to intercept Confederate President Jefferson Davis. The 72nd Indiana left Macon for Nashville on May 23, 1865, and was mustered out at Nashville on June 26, 1865.

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

  • Bragg’s Kentucky Campaign (1862)
  • Tullahoma Campaign (1863)
  • Hoover’s Gap
  • Rock Springs
  • Battle of Chickamauga
  • Operations against Wheeler’s Cavalry in Middle Tennessee
  • Mooresville, Alabama (November 1863)
  • Meridian Raid (1864)
  • Atlanta Campaign (1864)
  • Wilson’s Raid through Alabama and Georgia (1865)
  • Capture of Selma, Montgomery, Columbus, and Macon

Casualties

The original strength of the regiment was 988. It gained 337 recruits, for a total enrollment of 1,325. Loss by death totaled 155. There were 35 desertions and 36 men unaccounted for. Detailed breakdowns of killed, wounded, and died of disease are not fully specified in available sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Abram O. Miller
  • Lieutenant Colonel John B. Milroy
  • Lieutenant Colonel Samuel C. Kirkpatrick
  • Lieutenant Colonel Chester G. Thompson
  • Major Samuel C. Kirkpatrick
  • Major Henry M. Carr
  • Major Adam Pinkerton
  • Major Lawson S. Kilborn

Regimental Roster

The full roster of soldiers who served in the 72nd Indiana Infantry is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster includes names, ranks, and service details as recorded in official state and federal records.

To view the complete roster, visit the 72nd Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XXIII, XXX, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX
  • 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
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