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45th Indiana
Regiment / 3rd Indiana Cavalry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
45th
Indiana Regiment / 3rd Indiana Cavalry Officer Roster - Report of the
Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 2, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General,
Indiana, 1865 View Entire Book
45th
Indiana Regiment / 3rd Indiana Cavalry Soldier Roster - Report of the
Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 5, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General,
Indiana, 1866 View Entire Book
45th
Indiana Regiment / 3rd Indiana Cavalry Reorganized Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 5, by W.H.H. Terrell,
Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Forty-fifth Indiana Regiment.— (3d Indiana Cavalry). — Cols.,
Scott Carter, George H. Chapman; Lieut. -Cols., Jacob S. Buchanan, George H. Chapman,
Robert Klein; Majs., George H. Chapman, Charles Case, William S. McClure, Robert Klein,
Charles Lemon, William Patton, Benjamin Q. A. Gresham, George H. Thompson, Alfred Gaddis.
This regiment was organized in 1861. Six companies, originally organized at Madison Aug.
22, for the 1st cavalry and sent to the Army of the Potomac under the command of Lieut.
-Col. Carter, were on Oct. 22, 1861, united with four companies that had been accepted in
September and October and sent to Kentucky, the ten companies bearing the designation of
the 3d cavalry. In Dec, 1862, two new companies, L and M, were organized and added to the
regiment. The companies with the Army of the Potomac constituting the right wing, were
designated as Cos. A, B, C, D. E and F, Col. Carter commanding; and the companies serving
in Kentucky were designated as Cos. G, H, I and K. The right wing joined Hooker's division
at Budd's ferry, south of Washington, in Dec. 1861. Cos. A, B and F were detached for the
purpose of breaking up the contraband trade between Baltimore and Virginia and were thus
occupied for four months. Co. E was detached for similar duty during the same time, in the
vicinity of Maryland point and Port Tobacco. The regiment was on duty in lower Maryland
until May, 1862, then moved to Washington, on May 25 to Thoroughfare gap, and thence to
Luray participating in the movement to Front Royal. From there it moved to Bristoe Station
and on July 7 was ordered to report to Gen. King at Falmouth, remaining there until the
last of August, engaged in scouting south of Fredericksburg. It dispersed a rebel cavalry
squadron at Anderson turnout, and after the evacuation of Fredericksburg moved to
Washington, taking part in the Maryland campaign as part of Gen. Pleasonton's command. It
was engaged in a number of cavalry skirmishes, and at South Mountain and Antietam. In the
advance toward Warrenton, it was engaged with the enemy's cavalry at Philomont, Union,
Upperville and Barber's cross-roads. It moved with the army to Falmouth, was in reserve at
the battle of Fredericksburg, in a skirmish at Rapidan ford, in April, 1863, and took part
in a cavalry battle near Beverly ford, in July, against Lee's forces during his second
invasion of Maryland. It was assigned soon afterward to Gen. Buford's division and was in
a cavalry battle at Upperville in June, in which it met a brigade of Stuart's cavalry at
close quarters and aided in driving it back with heavy losses. It entered Gettysburg on
June 30, and the next day its division held the enemy in check for 2 hours until the
arrival of the 1st corps. It joined with the 8th N. Y. cavalry in checking a heavy
flanking force until the troops could take up a new position. After the battle it moved in
the pursuit of Lee's army, being engaged at Williamsport, Boonsboro, Beaver creek,
Funkstown, Falling Waters, Chester gap, Brandy Station and at the Rappahannock. It was on
picket and outpost duty near Culpeper Court House during the winter, and joined
Kilpatrick's raid towards Richmond in Feb., 1864. It rejoined the army on March 15, and in
April its brigade was transferred from the 1st to the 3d division, commanded by Gen. J. H.
Wilson. On May 4, it crossed the Rapidan at Gennanna ford at daybreak, driving off the
enemy's pickets. It was in a cavalry engagement at Craig's meeting house, fought at
Spottsylvania, was in Sheridan's raid on Richmond, being in action at Yellow tavern and
Meadow bridge, after which it moved to Haxall's landing, thence to White House, rejoining
the army at Chesterfield on May 25. It next participated in engagements at Hanover Court
House and Salem Church. Being in the advance in the movement from Cold Harbor across the
Chickahominy, it drove off the enemy's pickets at Long bridge, and was engaged at White
Oak swamp, Riddle's shop, Nottoway Court House, Roanoke Station and Stony creek. Col.
Carter resigned, March 11, 1863, and was succeeded by Lieut. -Col. Chapman, who was
promoted to brigadier-general July 21, 1864. In August the non-veterans of the battalion
were mustered out, leaving 198 veterans and recruits, who were organized into two
companies, A and B, and sent to the Shenandoah Valley. This battalion participated with
Sheridan's army at Opequan creek and Cedar creek, capturing 2 pieces of artillery and 4
stands of colors. It accompanied Sheridan on the James River canal raid in the spring of
1865; was in the battles of Five Forks and Sailor's creek, capturing 5 stands of colors ;
was engaged at Appomattox Court House, capturing 2 pieces of artillery; was then ordered
to Louisville, and was mustered out at Indianapolis Aug. 7, 1865. Its losses amounted to
605. Of this number 81 were killed or died of wounds; 232 were wounded, 107 taken
prisoners, 7 deserted and 17 were discharged for disability. Cos. G, H, I and K, which
were sent to Kentucky, were detached for duty with different commands for over a year and
then joined in the movement towards Nashville. After the battle of Shiloh they moved to
Corinth, thence through Alabama and Tennessee with different divisions of Buell's army in
its movement against Bragg. They went into camp near Edgefield Junction, in November, and
moved with Rosecrans' army for Murfreesboro, being at Stone's river and all the subsequent
movements and engagements of the winter of 1862-63, and of the spring, summer and fall
following, terminating with the battle of Missionary ridge. The battalion moved into
eastern Tennessee and was engaged in scouting and skirmishing during the winter, being
joined by Cos. L and M, which had been organized in Dec, 1862, and kept at Indianapolis
nearly a year. The battalion joined the Atlanta campaign and was engaged in all the
cavalry operations of that movement. During the march through Georgia it was with
Sherman's cavalry. At Savannah the remaining veterans and recruits were consolidated with
the 8th Ind. cavalry and participated with that regiment in all its marches and
engagements until its muster-out at Lexington, N. C, July 20, 1865. The original strength
of the regiment was 1,058; gain by recruits, 393; reenlistments, 37; total, 1,488. Loss by
death, 133; desertion, 65; unaccounted for, 319. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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