The Indiana Legion
A Civil War Militia
by
John P. Etter
Over 50,000 men in Indiana served during the Civil War to
form one of the Union’s strongest militias—The Indiana Legion. Often
vilified as “shirkers” by the soldiers at the front, the Indiana Legion
nevertheless performed credible services such as spying at the border with
Kentucky, chasing and fighting with Rebels in Kentucky in the Perryville
campaign, and repelling the invasion of John Hunt Morgan in 1863. The
Legion also served as guards at Indiana prisoner-of-war camps. This
introductory story of the Indiana Legion surveys their purpose, inception,
activities and challenges, often telling the men’s story in their own
words. Reproduction of several official Legion documents and photos and
career summaries of its two military commanders are included.