The Civil War in Indiana

On April 15, 1861, then-President Abraham Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers to serve in the military during the next few months of insurrection that would eventually lead to the Civil War. The Indiana Governor at the time was Oliver Perry Morton, who responded by telegram that he would raise 10,000 Indiana soldiers to help preserve the Union. Indiana would go on to have 196,000 Hoosiers serve in the Civil War. That is more men per capita than any other state except for Ohio, without including the several thousand Hoosiers that volunteered in the Indiana Legion to guard the southern border of the state.

Morton would appoint General Lew Wallace to muster the troops. In days, Wallace had transformed the Indiana Fairgrounds into Camp Morton, where they trained and organized their volunteers. Indiana regiments fought in almost every major battle but were more prominent in the fighting west of The Appalachian Mountains. Hoosiers fought and died for the Union until the Civil War ended. According to Civil War scholar Dr. Thomas Rodgers, "Indiana units fought in the first substantial battle of the war at Philippi, Virginia, on June 3, 1861, and in the last significant engagement at Palmetto Ranch, Texas, on May 13, 1865."

Learn More about the Civil War IN Indiana

Indiana has over 70 locations that pertain to the civil war throughout the state - that's more locations than any other war in comparison - so there is plenty to explore. With so much to explore, we made exploring easy with our map. Find your location and explore what is near you or plan a trip to see some of the amazing locations throughout Indiana.

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