The companies of the 6th Indiana Volunteer Infantry were raised in different parts of the state and organized at
Indianapolis, Indiana between April 22 and April 27, 1861. The companies' counties of origin included
Jefferson,
Bartholomew,
Daviess,
Howard,
Henry,
Jennings,
Jackson, and
Hamilton. The Regiment was officially mustered into United States service for a period of three months on April 25, 1861. On the May 30, 1861, the regiment left Indianapolis, by way of
Cincinnati,
Ohio, for
Grafton, Virginia (now
West Virginia). Sent on to the town of
Webster, they arrived on June 2 and marched that same night to
Philippi. On the morning of June 3, the 6th Indiana participated in the
Battle of Philippi, one of the first land battles of the Civil War. They later participated in the
Rich Mountain Campaign. The regiment mustered out of service on August 2, 1861. Among its line officers was
Captain Jeremiah C. Sullivan, who would later rise to the rank of
brigadier general. The 6th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was re-enlisted for three year service from the original regiment at
Madison, Indiana, on September 20, 1861, by
Colonel Thomas Turpin Crittenden. The regiment subsequently fought in the
Battle of Shiloh, the
Battle of Stones River, the
Battle of Chickamauga, and the
Battle of Resaca. At the conclusion of its three-year enlistment, the regiment was mustered out of service on September 22, 1864. Soldiers of the regiment who had unexpired enlistments, and those who re-enlisted were transferred to
68th Indiana Infantry Regiment. ==Total strength and casualties==