93rd Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 93rd Indiana Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized at Madison, Indiana, and mustered into Federal service on October 31, 1862. Serving in the Western Theater, the regiment participated in major campaigns and battles across Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, and Georgia. The unit was attached to various brigades and divisions, notably serving under Sherman’s command during the Vicksburg Campaign and later in operations in the Department of the Gulf.

The 93rd Indiana Infantry was mustered out at Memphis, Tennessee, on August 10, 1865, with Companies I and K, along with remaining recruits, continuing in service until October 1865. The regiment is noted for its participation in significant engagements, including the siege of Vicksburg, the battle at Brice’s Cross Roads, and the assaults on Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely.

Organization & Service

The 93rd Indiana Infantry was organized at Madison, Indiana, and mustered in on October 31, 1862. The regiment left Indiana on November 9, 1862, proceeding to Cairo, Illinois, and then to Memphis, Tennessee, where it was assigned to Buckland’s brigade. In late 1862, the regiment moved with Sherman’s army to Hurricane Creek near Oxford, Mississippi, and operated in the vicinity of La Grange, Tennessee, during December.

In January 1863, the regiment moved to Corinth, Mississippi, and then returned to Memphis, performing railroad and blockhouse guard duty from February 22 to March 13. It was subsequently ordered to Helena, Arkansas, and then to Duckport, Louisiana, where its division was transferred to the 15th Army Corps. The regiment crossed the peninsula on May 2, 1863, at the opening of the Vicksburg Campaign, crossed the Mississippi River at Grand Gulf on May 7, and entered Jackson, Mississippi, on May 14 after an artillery engagement. The 93rd moved on Vicksburg on May 16, crossed the Big Black River, and reached the rear of the city on May 18, participating in the assaults and the siege until June 22. The regiment then moved to intercept Johnston’s army and constructed works at Little Creek. It was involved in the siege and capture of Jackson in July and camped near the Big Black River until September 5.

After moving to Oak Ridge and encamping until October 14, the regiment’s brigade participated in an expedition to Brownsville. Returning to Memphis in November, the 93rd Indiana performed picket and provost guard duty, participated in expeditions into Mississippi, and engaged in occasional skirmishes until May 10, 1864. In June, the regiment joined the Guntown expedition and fought at Brice’s Cross Roads, suffering significant losses. The survivors returned to Memphis, moved to Moscow, Tennessee, and then to Harrisburg, Mississippi, where they helped repel an assault on July 15. The regiment returned to Memphis, participated in additional expeditions, and skirmished with enemy forces during the summer of 1864.

In September 1864, the regiment moved to Devall’s Bluff, Arkansas, then to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Little Santa Fe, Kansas, and finally to St. Louis, Missouri, arriving on November 14. The 93rd Indiana then embarked for Nashville, Tennessee, arriving in time to participate in the December 1864 battle and the subsequent pursuit of Confederate forces to the Tennessee River. The regiment wintered at Eastport, Mississippi, before moving to Dauphin Island, Alabama, in March 1865. It participated in the siege of Spanish Fort and the assault on Fort Blakely. The regiment then moved to Montgomery, Alabama, remaining there until May 10, and subsequently to Selma and Gainesville, where it was stationed until ordered home in August. The regiment was mustered out at Memphis on August 10, 1865, except for Companies I and K and remaining recruits, who were discharged in October 1865.

Engagements & Campaigns

• Operations near Oxford, Mississippi (late 1862)
• La Grange, Tennessee (December 1862)
• Corinth, Mississippi (January 1863)
• Railroad and blockhouse guard duty near Memphis (February–March 1863)
• Vicksburg Campaign (May–July 1863)
• Jackson, Mississippi (May and July 1863)
• Expedition to Brownsville (October 1863)
• Expeditions and skirmishes in Mississippi (1863–1864)
• Guntown Expedition and Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads (June 1864)
• Harrisburg, Mississippi (July 1864)
• Expeditions to Tallahatchie and Oxford (July–August 1864)
• Devall’s Bluff, Arkansas; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Little Santa Fe, Kansas; St. Louis, Missouri (September–November 1864)
• Battle of Nashville (December 1864)
• Eastport, Mississippi (Winter 1864–65)
• Dauphin Island, Alabama (March 1865)
• Siege of Spanish Fort (March–April 1865)
• Assault on Fort Blakely (April 1865)
• Montgomery, Selma, and Gainesville, Alabama (Spring–Summer 1865)

Casualties

The original strength of the 93rd Indiana Infantry was 952 men, with a gain by recruits of 200, totaling 1,152. The regiment lost 279 men by death, 47 by desertion, and 22 unaccounted for. At the Battle of Brice’s Cross Roads, the regiment suffered 13 killed, 56 wounded, and 184 captured, for a total of 253 casualties in that engagement. Detailed breakdowns of killed, wounded, and disease-related deaths are not fully available in all sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

• Colonel De Witt C. Thomas
• Lieutenant Colonel George W. Carr
• Lieutenant Colonel John W. Poole
• Lieutenant Colonel Samuel S. Crowe
• Major James F. McCurdy
• Major John W. Poole
• Major Samuel S. Crowe
• Major Charles A. Hubbard

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 93rd Indiana Infantry, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term of service, is available for genealogical and historical research. The roster provides details on enlistment, rank, and service records for each member of the regiment.

To view the complete roster, visit the 93rd Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volumes 24, 32, 39, 45
• 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