Overview
The 103rd Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) was a short-term infantry regiment organized for emergency service by the State of Indiana during the American Civil War. Formed in response to Confederate cavalry raids in July 1863, the regiment was mustered at Indianapolis and served on the Union side, primarily in Indiana and southern Ohio. Its service was brief, focused on the pursuit of Confederate forces under General John Hunt Morgan during Morgan’s Raid.
Organization & Service
The 103rd Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) was organized at Indianapolis on July 10, 1863, in direct response to the threat posed by Morgan’s Raid. The regiment consisted of seven companies from Hendricks County, two from Marion County, and one from Wayne County, all drawn from the Indiana Legion. The unit mustered in with 681 men under the command of Colonel Lawrence S. Shuler, Lieutenant Colonel Virgil H. Lyon, and Major Samuel J. Banta.
On July 11, 1863, the regiment moved by rail from Indianapolis to Vernon, Indiana. Colonel Shuler secured horses for 146 men from his regiment and Gregory’s command, forming a mounted detachment that joined the Union pursuit of Morgan’s cavalry. The 103rd Indiana Infantry advanced into Ohio, engaging in several skirmishes with Confederate rear-guards near Harrison, Ohio, on July 13. The regiment entered Harrison soon after Morgan’s forces had departed and continued the pursuit as far as Batavia, Ohio. After Morgan’s escape further into Ohio, the 103rd returned to Indianapolis via Sunman’s Station and was mustered out on July 16, 1863.
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
- Pursuit of Morgan’s Raid in Indiana and Ohio (July 1863)
- Skirmishes near Harrison, Ohio (July 13, 1863)
Casualties
Specific casualty figures for the 103rd Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) are not reported in primary sources. The regiment’s service was brief and primarily involved pursuit and skirmishing.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Lawrence S. Shuler
- Lieutenant Colonel Virgil H. Lyon
- Major Samuel J. Banta
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 103rd Indiana Infantry (Minute Men), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource provides names, ranks, and counties of origin for those who served during the July 1863 emergency mobilization.
To view the complete roster, visit the 103rd Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. 23, Part II
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- The Union Army, Federal Publishing Company, 1908, Vol. 3