3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment
The 3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment, also designated the 45th Indiana Infantry Regiment or the 45th Indiana Volunteers was a military unit from the U.S. state of Indiana that participated in the American Civil War. It consisted of two separate "wings" or battalions that were separated for much of the regiments service.
Service
The 3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment "East Wing" or "Right Wing" consisted of Companies A, B, C, D, E, and F, which were organized at Madison, Indiana on August 22, 1861, that were intended for service with the 1st Indiana Cavalry Regiment. On October 22, 1861, the six companies were designated as part of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment and assigned to the Army of the Potomac in the Eastern Theater of [the American Civil War|Eastern Theater] of the war. The East Wing saw action at the Battle of Antietam and fought with distinction at the Battle of Gettysburg, where in the opening day's action on July 1, 1863, the unit held off far larger Confederate forces until the main Union force arrived.The 3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment "West Wing" or "Left Wing" consisted of Companies G, H, I, K, L and M. The first four companies were organized at Madison, Indiana on October 1, 1861. In December 1861 the companies were assigned to the Army of the Ohio. Company L was organized in October 1862, and Company M, organized in December 1862, both companies L and M later joined the unit in Eastern Tennessee. The West Wing saw action at the Battle of Chickamauga. In December 1864, the West Wing companies were transferred to the 8th Indiana Cavalry Regiment.
| Company | Primary Place of Recruitment | Earliest Captain |
| A | Switzerland County | Jacob S. Buchanan |
| B | Harrison County | James D. Irvin |
| C | Switzerland County | Theophilus M. Danglade |
| D | Dearborn County | Daniel B. Keister |
| E | Jefferson County | William Simrall McClure |
| F | Union County | Patrick Carland |
| G | Johnson County | Felix W. Graham |
| H | Clinton County | Alfred Gaddis |
| I | Henry County | Will C. Moreau |
| K | Switzerland County | Robert Klein |
| L | No cities or counties given | Oliver M. Powers |
| M | No cities or counties given | Charles U. Patton |
Image:3rd Indiana Cavalry 01718r.jpg|thumb|Col. George Henry Chapman and his staff of the 3rd Regiment Indiana Cavalry on duty with the Army of the Potomac.
Casualties
The regiment lost a total of 148 men during its service: 2 Officers, and 146 Enlisted men.Commanders
- Scott Carter: October 21, 1861 - March 11, 1863.
- George Henry Chapman: March 12, 1863 - July 21, 1864.
Notable people
- William Nimon Pickerill: Originally from Brown County, Ohio Pickerill served as a private in Company F. Pickerill later wrote a book on the official history of the 3rd Indiana Cavalry Regiment in 1906 titled History of the Third Indiana Cavalry. Pickerill is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.
Memorials