Overview
The 106th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) was a short-term infantry regiment organized in Indiana for emergency service during the American Civil War. Formed in July 1863 in response to Confederate cavalry raids led by John Hunt Morgan, the regiment served on the Union side and was composed primarily of citizen volunteers mobilized for state defense. Its service was brief, limited to the period of Morgan’s Raid through southern Indiana and Ohio.
This regiment was one of several “Minute Men” units raised rapidly in Indiana during the emergency, reflecting the state’s swift mobilization in the face of Confederate incursion.
Organization & Service
The 106th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) was organized at Indianapolis on July 12, 1863, with a total strength of 792 men. The regiment consisted of nine companies of minute men and one company from the Indiana Legion. Five companies were recruited from Wayne County, two from Randolph County, and one each from Hancock, Howard, and Marion counties.
Upon organization, the regiment was placed under the command of Colonel Isaac P. Gray, with Lieutenant Colonel John A. Haines and Major Thomas M. Browne as field officers. The unit departed Indianapolis on the night of July 13, 1863, and arrived in Hamilton, Ohio, the following morning. From there, it proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, in response to the threat posed by Morgan’s cavalry. After the immediate danger had passed, the regiment returned to Indianapolis and was mustered out of service on July 18, 1863. The 106th Indiana Infantry’s service was limited to this emergency period and did not include participation in major campaigns or extended field operations.
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
- Emergency mobilization during Morgan’s Raid (July 1863)
- Movement to Hamilton and Cincinnati, Ohio
Casualties
No casualties were reported for the 106th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men) during its brief period of service.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel Isaac P. Gray
- Lieutenant Colonel John A. Haines
- Major Thomas M. Browne
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 106th Indiana Infantry (Minute Men), including officers and enlisted men, is available for genealogical and historical research. For a complete list of members who served in this regiment, please visit the 106th 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, Vol. 3 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)