Indiana Legion
in the American Civil War
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Regimental History
Indiana Legion. — Under the special act of May 11, 1861, an organization to be known as the "Indiana Legion" was authorized. The purposes of this organization were to protect the state from invasion and to aid in recruiting and enforcing the laws. Mention of the Legion has been made in the general history of Military Affairs. Companies were raised in almost every county in the state, and these were organized into regiments and brigades, though the organization was never fully perfected according to the original intentions of the act, which divided the state into brigade districts — the 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th brigades to constitute the 1st division, of which Maj.-Gen. John L. Mansfield was appointed commander, and the 2nd division was to be composed of the 1st, 2nd, 7th and 8th brigades, under command of Maj.- Gen. James Hughes. Twelve regiments or legions were formed bearing the numbers from 1 to 12, chiefly in the southern part of the state where the danger from invasion was greatest, though partial regimental formations were effected in nearly every Congressional district. The companies forming this organization were generally known as "Home Guards." Their chief service was during the Morgan raid in the summer of 1863, and in guarding prisoners of war at Indianapolis and some other points in the state.Footnotes: Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3 |
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