Why was Indiana in the Civil War?
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Indiana's involvement in the Civil War is usually overlooked, although the state's citizens saw significant action in every major battle of the Civil War. Hoosier Soldiers sought to participate in the War in every way possible, with monetary donatations and volunteering their time. Three out of four men who could participate in the Civil War, actively participated and volunteered for their services for the effort. President Abraham Lincoln sent out a request for 7,500 men from Indiana to serve in the Civil War efforts, and within three weeks, over 22,000 men had volunteered to fight in the Civil War. Oliver Morton, Governor of Indiana from 1861-1867, was one of the first governors in the north to respond to the President's request for support from the states. One of the reasons that Indiana provided over 22,000 soldiers to the Civil War effort is the Beriah Magoffin, Governor of Kentucky, refused to order Kentucky's troops to mobilize within the states. Governor Morton allowed Kentucky soldiers to join the regiments in Indiana, and thus swelling the numbers of Indiana soldiers. At the conclusion of the Civil War, Indiana sent a total of 208,367 troops to defend the Union, which meant that ten present of all Union Soldiers were from Indiana. The photo below is an image of the 3rd Indiana Calvary.
-Photo Courtesy of the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. Photo: Prints & Photographs Division, Courtesy of the Library of Congress, LC-DIG-cwpb-03682. Indiana: A History. Written by Howard H. Peckham. Terre Haute: Queen City of the Wabash. Written by Mike McCormick. |
