Overview
The 139th Indiana Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was an infantry regiment organized in Indiana for Union service during the American Civil War. The regiment was mustered in at Indianapolis in June 1864 as part of Indiana’s contribution to the Federal call for one hundred days’ troops. Its primary role was to perform guard and garrison duty in Tennessee, thereby freeing veteran units for active campaigning during the critical summer of 1864.
This regiment is distinct from Indiana infantry regiments of other service terms. The 139th Indiana Infantry was the last of eight Indiana regiments raised for one hundred days’ service in 1864.
Organization & Service
The 139th Indiana Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) was organized at Indianapolis and mustered into Federal service on June 8, 1864. Companies were recruited from various Indiana towns: Elizaville, Lawrenceburg, Kendallville, Knightstown, Connersville, Newcastle, Portland, and Vevay each provided one company; New Albany and Metamora together furnished another; and Columbia City, New Haven, and New Philadelphia supplied the final company.
After organization, the regiment proceeded to Tennessee, where it was assigned to guard duty along key railroad lines, including the Nashville & Chattanooga, Tennessee & Alabama, and Memphis & Charleston railroads. The 139th Indiana was tasked with protecting these vital supply routes, which were essential for the movement of Union troops and materiel supporting General Sherman’s campaigns in the South. The regiment’s service extended beyond its original enlistment period, remaining on duty until late August 1864 to ensure the security of Union lines of communication. The regiment was mustered out in September 1864. The original strength was 865 men.
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 along the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad (Tennessee), summer 1864
- Guard duty along the Tennessee & Alabama Railroad, summer 1864
- Guard duty along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, summer 1864
The regiment was not engaged in major battles but played a key role in maintaining Union supply lines during the Atlanta Campaign.
Casualties
- Killed or died of disease: 11
- Deserted: 1
- Total initial strength: 865
No further breakdown of casualties is available in primary sources.
Field Officers & Commanders
- Colonel George Humphrey
- Lieutenant Colonel John M. Hartley
- Major John Colter (declined commission)
- Major Wellington F. Howard (commissioned in place of Colter)
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 139th Indiana Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service), including officers and enlisted men, is available on the regiment’s roster page. This roster provides names, ranks, and additional service details valuable for genealogical and historical research.
To view the complete roster, visit the 139th Indiana Infantry (One Hundred Days’ Service) Roster page.
Sources & References
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, relevant volumes
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
- Federal Publishing Company, The Union Army, Vol. 3 (1908)