91st Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 91st Indiana Infantry was an infantry regiment organized for Union service during the American Civil War. Raised at Evansville, Indiana, the regiment began organizing in August 1862 and was mustered into Federal service on October 1, 1862. Initially formed with seven companies as a battalion, the regiment later completed its organization with the addition of three more companies. The 91st Indiana served primarily in the Western Theater, participating in major campaigns including the Atlanta Campaign and the Nashville Campaign.

Organization & Service

The 91st Indiana Infantry was organized at Evansville, Indiana, in August 1862 with seven companies and mustered in as a battalion on October 1, 1862. The unit left Indiana on October 10, 1862, for Henderson, Kentucky, and was soon deployed in detachments to Madisonville and Smithland for guard duty. The regiment’s detachments reunited on June 15, 1863, and moved in pursuit of Morgan’s Confederate cavalry through Russellville, Bowling Green, and Burkesville.

On September 11, 1863, Companies H, I, and K joined the regiment, completing its organization. Lieutenant Colonel John Mehringer was promoted to colonel at this time. The regiment then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, returned to Russellville, proceeded to Camp Nelson, and finally to Cumberland Gap, where Company A engaged in a sharp fight against a larger Confederate force.

In May 1864, the 91st Indiana moved through Knoxville and Cleveland to Kingston, Georgia, joining Sherman’s army for the Atlanta Campaign. Assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 23rd Corps, the regiment participated in actions near Pine Mountain, skirmishes around Kennesaw Mountain, and the engagement at New Hope Church. The unit crossed the Chattahoochee River on July 7, fought at Decatur, Peachtree Creek, before Atlanta on July 22, and at Utoy Creek. On August 12, it was transferred to the 3rd Brigade and took part in the destruction of the railroad near Rough and Ready.

After camping at Decatur in September, the regiment joined the pursuit of Hood’s army in October, advancing as far as Gaylesville and Cedar Bluffs. The 91st Indiana then moved to Chattanooga, Nashville, Columbia, and Centerville, returning to Nashville to participate in the battles of Franklin (November 30, 1864) and Nashville (December 1864). The regiment marched to Clifton, Tennessee, then traveled by steamer to Cincinnati, by rail to Washington, D.C., and by steamer to Wilmington, North Carolina, landing near the mouth of the Cape Fear River on February 9, 1865, and participating in the capture of Wilmington.

The regiment marched to Goldsboro and Raleigh, camping there from April 14 to May 3, 1865, before moving to Salisbury, North Carolina. It remained at Salisbury until mustering out on June 26, 1865. Companies H, I, and K, along with recruits, were transferred to other regiments at the time of mustering out.

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

  • Guard duty at Henderson, Madisonville, and Smithland, Kentucky (1862–1863)
  • Pursuit of Morgan’s cavalry (June 1863)
  • Action at Cumberland Gap
  • Atlanta Campaign (May–September 1864): Pine Mountain, Kennesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Chattahoochee River, Decatur, Peachtree Creek, Atlanta, Utoy Creek
  • Destruction of railroad near Rough and Ready (August 1864)
  • Pursuit of Hood’s army (October 1864)
  • Battles of Franklin (November 30, 1864) and Nashville (December 1864)
  • Capture of Wilmington, North Carolina (February 1865)
  • March to Goldsboro, Raleigh, and Salisbury, North Carolina (Spring 1865)

Casualties

  • Original strength: 1,207
  • Gained by recruits: 161
  • Total enrollment: 1,368
  • Loss by death: 135
  • Deserted: 82
  • Unaccounted for: 155

Some details are incomplete in surviving primary sources regarding the breakdown of casualties by cause.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel John Mehringer
  • Lieutenant Colonel Charles H. Butterfield
  • Major Charles H. Butterfield
  • Major James S. Carson

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 91st Indiana Infantry, including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical research.

To view the complete roster, visit the 91st Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes XXIII, XXXVIII, XLV
  • 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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