130th Indiana Infantry in the American Civil War

Overview

The 130th Indiana Infantry (Union) was an infantry regiment organized at Kokomo, Indiana, during the winter of 1863–1864. It was mustered into Federal service on March 12, 1864, and served in the Western and later the Atlantic theaters of the American Civil War. The regiment was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps, Army of the Ohio. It participated in several major campaigns, including the Atlanta Campaign and the Carolinas Campaign, and remained on duty in North Carolina until mustering out in late 1865.

Organization & Service

The 130th Indiana Infantry was organized at Kokomo, Indiana, and mustered in on March 12, 1864. The regiment departed Indiana for Nashville, Tennessee, on March 16, 1864, where it was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 23rd Army Corps. On April 5, the regiment left Nashville and marched to Charleston, Tennessee, arriving on April 24. In early May, it moved into Georgia and participated in the action at Rocky Face Ridge, supporting operations at “Tater Hill.”

The regiment was engaged in the series of skirmishes leading up to the Battle of Resaca, where it repelled a Confederate charge and joined in the subsequent pursuit. It saw action at Lost Mountain and Pine Mountain, and on June 27, 1864, fought at Kennesaw Mountain, holding an advanced position for several days. In July, the regiment drove Confederate forces from Decatur and assisted in destroying railroad infrastructure. During the Atlanta Campaign, it was actively engaged at Atlanta and participated in the charge at Jonesboro, followed by operations at Lovejoy’s Station and a return to Decatur for encampment.

In October 1864, the 130th Indiana joined the pursuit of Confederate General Hood, moving to Gaylesville, Alabama. The corps was then detached and ordered to join General Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee. The regiment was engaged in defensive operations along Duck River and later participated in the Battle of Nashville on December 15–16, 1864, joining in the pursuit of Hood’s defeated army. After a period in camp at Columbus, the regiment moved to Clifton, Tennessee, and then by transport to Cincinnati, Ohio. From there, it traveled to Fort Fisher, North Carolina, via Washington, D.C., and participated in operations at Fort Anderson, Morehead City, and New Berne. The regiment was engaged at Wise’s Forks near Kinston, North Carolina, and subsequently joined General Sherman’s army at Goldsboro. It advanced with the army to Smithfield and Raleigh, then moved to Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina, where it performed guard duty through the summer and fall of 1865. The regiment was mustered out of service on December 2, 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

  • Rocky Face Ridge (May 1864)
  • Resaca (May 1864)
  • Lost Mountain (June 1864)
  • Pine Mountain (June 1864)
  • Kennesaw Mountain (June 27, 1864)
  • Decatur (July 1864)
  • Atlanta (July–August 1864)
  • Jonesboro (August–September 1864)
  • Lovejoy’s Station (September 1864)
  • Pursuit of Hood (October 1864)
  • Battle of Nashville (December 15–16, 1864)
  • Fort Fisher (February 1865)
  • Fort Anderson (March 1865)
  • Wise’s Forks (March 1865)
  • Goldsboro, Smithfield, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte (March–December 1865)

Casualties

The original strength of the regiment was 964. It gained 28 recruits, for a total of 992 men. Losses by death totaled 178. There were 21 desertions, and 9 men were unaccounted for. Detailed breakdowns of killed, wounded, and died of disease are not fully specified in available primary sources.

Field Officers & Commanders

  • Colonel Charles S. Parrish
  • Lieutenant Colonel James R. Bruner
  • Lieutenant Colonel Elijah W. Penny
  • Major Joseph W. Purviance
  • Major Elijah W. Penny
  • Major Jesse Butler

Regimental Roster

The full roster of the 130th Indiana Infantry, including names and service details of officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This resource is valuable for genealogical research and for those seeking information on individual soldiers who served in the unit.

To view the complete roster, visit the 130th Indiana Infantry Regimental Roster page.

Sources & References

  • Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XXXVIII, XLV, XLVII
  • 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, Vol. 3
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