Overview
The 156th Indiana Battalion (Battalion, Union Army) was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, in April 1865 as part of the Union Army’s infantry forces during the final months of the Civil War. Composed of five companies—three from Indiana’s 6th district and one each from the 4th and 5th districts—the battalion served in the Eastern Theater. Its primary assignment was guard duty in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
The battalion was mustered into service on April 12, 1865, and departed Indiana for Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, on April 27, 1865. The unit’s service coincided with the closing weeks of the conflict and the immediate postwar period.
Organization & Service
The 156th Indiana Battalion was organized at Indianapolis in April 1865, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles M. Smith. The battalion consisted of five companies: three recruited from the 6th district and one each from the 4th and 5th districts of Indiana. The battalion mustered into Federal service on April 12, 1865.
Shortly after organization, the battalion left Indiana on April 27, 1865, and proceeded to Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. Upon arrival, the unit was assigned to guard duty in the Shenandoah Valley. The battalion’s service was primarily focused on maintaining order and security in the region during the early stages of Reconstruction. The 156th Indiana Battalion was mustered out of service on August 4, 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
- Guard duty in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia (April–August 1865)
Casualties
- Loss by death: 17
- Desertions: 54
- Original strength: 514; gain by recruits: 17; total: 531
Field Officers & Commanders
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles M. Smith
Regimental Roster
The full roster of the 156th Indiana Battalion, including officers and enlisted men who served during its term, is available for genealogical and historical research. This roster provides names, ranks, and company assignments for members of the battalion.
To view the complete roster, visit the 156th Indiana Battalion Roster page.
Sources & References
- The Union Army, Vol. 3 (Federal Publishing Company, 1908)
- Indiana Adjutant General’s Report
- Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I
- Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion