15th Indiana Infantry Regiment

15th Indiana Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment from Indiana that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in the summer of 1861, it saw extensive combat in the Western Theater. The regiment participated in several major campaigns, including the Battle of Shiloh, the Siege of Vicksburg, and the Atlanta Campaign, before mustering out in 1864.

Organization and early service

The 15th Indiana was organized at Indianapolis and mustered into federal service on June 14, 1861, for a three-year enlistment under the command of Colonel George B. Hovey. Initially assigned to the Department of the Ohio, the regiment moved to West Virginia for its first deployment, engaging in minor skirmishes. In early 1862, it was transferred to the Army of the Ohio under Major General Don Carlos Buell and moved south into Kentucky and Tennessee, preparing for its first major engagement.

Detailed service

The regiment's first significant action came at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, where it was part of the Army of the Tennessee's VI Corps and suffered substantial casualties. Following Shiloh, it participated in the Siege of Corinth under Major General Henry W. Halleck. In late 1862, the 15th Indiana fought at the Battle of Perryville as part of the XIV Corps. The following year, the regiment saw intense action during the Vicksburg Campaign, participating in the Battle of Champion Hill and the subsequent Siege of Vicksburg under Major General Ulysses S. Grant. After the fall of Vicksburg, it was involved in the Meridian Campaign. In 1864, the regiment joined the Atlanta Campaign under Major General William Tecumseh Sherman, fighting at the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, and the Battle of Peachtree Creek before the capture of Atlanta.

Casualties and commanders

The 15th Indiana sustained significant losses throughout its service. The regiment lost 4 officers and 95 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded in battle, and 2 officers and 140 enlisted men died from disease, for a total of 241 fatalities. Its first commander, Colonel George B. Hovey, was promoted to brigadier general in 1863. Subsequent commanding officers included Colonel John A. Hendricks, who was killed at the Battle of Resaca; Colonel John C. McQuiston; and finally Colonel Isaac C. B. Suman, who led the regiment until its muster out.

Notable members

Several soldiers of the 15th Indiana achieved distinction during or after the war. Private John C. Robinson of Company K was awarded the Medal of Honor for capturing a Confederate flag at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House while serving with a different unit. Lieutenant Colonel William W. Darnall later served as a U.S. Congressman from Indiana. Chaplain John Milton Whitehead became a prominent Methodist minister and educator in the post-war years.

Legacy and memorials

The 15th Indiana Infantry Regiment was mustered out of service at Indianapolis on June 14, 1864, having completed its three-year term. Veterans of the regiment were active in the Grand Army of the Republic and contributed to local commemorations. The service of the regiment is memorialized on the Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis. A monument dedicated to the 15th Indiana stands on the Shiloh National Military Park battlefield, and its actions are recorded in the Official Records.

Category:Indiana Civil War regiments Category:1861 establishments in Indiana