1st Indiana Heavy Artillery Regiment 1st Regiment Indiana Heavy Artillery was a heavy artillery regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War . It was nicknamed the " Jackass Regiment " . Service . The 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery was organized in Indianapolis , Indiana , July 24 , 1861 , as the 21st Indiana Infantry under the command of Colonel James Winning McMillan . The regiment was converted to heavy artillery in February 1863 . The regiment was attached to Dix ' s Division , Baltimore , Maryland , to February 1862 . Butler ' s New Orleans Expedition to March 1862 . 2nd Brigade , Department of the Gulf , to October 1862 . Independent Command , Department of the Gulf , to January 1863 . Unattached , 1st Division , XIX Corps , Department of the Gulf , to February 1863 . Artillery , 1st Division , XIX Corps , to August 1863 . District of Baton Rouge , Louisiana , Department of the Gulf , to June 1864 . Unattached , XIX Corps , and unattached , Department of the Gulf , to January 1866 . The 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery mustered out January 10 , 1866 at Baton Rouge , Louisiana . Detailed service . Left Indiana for Baltimore , Maryland , July 31 , and duty in the defenses of that city until February 19 , 1862 . Expedition to Eastern Shore of Maryland November 14 – 22 , 1861 . Moved to Newport News , Virginia , February 19 , 1862 ; then sailed on the steamer " Constitution " for Ship Island , Mississippi , March 4 – 13 . Duty at Ship Island until April 14 . Operations against Forts St . Philip and Jackson April 14 – 28 . Occupation of New Orleans May 1 ( first regiment to land ) . Camp at Algiers until May 30 . Expedition to New Orleans and Jackson Railroad May 9 – 10 . Moved to Baton Rouge May 30 , and duty there until August 20 . Battle of Baton Rouge August 5 . Evacuation of Baton Rouge August 20 . Camp at Carrollton until October . Action at Bayou Des Allemands September 4 – 5 . Expedition from Carrollton to St . Charles Court House September 7 – 8 . Skirmish near St . Charles Court House September 8 . Expedition from Carrollton to Donaldsonville and skirmish October 21 – 25 . Duty at Berwick Bay until February 1863 . Bayou Teche November 3 , 1862 . Action with steamer " Cotton " , Bayou Teche , January 14 , 1863 . Operations in western Louisiana April 9 - May 19 . Teche Campaign April 11 – 20 . Fort Bisland April 12 – 14 . Advance on Port Hudson May 20 – 24 . Siege of Port Hudson May 24 - July 9 . Assaults on Port Hudson May 27 and June 14 . Lafourche Crossing June 20 – 21 ( Company F ) . Brashear City June 23 ( Company F ) . Expedition to Sabine Pass , Texas , September 4 – 11 ( detachment ) . Garrison duty at New Orleans , Baton Rouge , and at various points in the Department of the Gulf until February 1865 . Companies L and M were organized August 12 to November 2 , 1863 . Red River Campaign March to May 1864 ( Companies G & I ) . Blair ' s Landing April 12 – 13 ( detachment ) . Monett ' s Ferry , Cane River Crossing , April 23 ( detachment ) . Retreat to Morganza May 13 – 20 . Operations in Mobile Bay , Alabama , against Forts Gaines and Morgan August 2 – 23 ( Companies B , F , H , and K ) . Siege and capture of Fort Gaines August 3 – 8 . Siege and capture of Fort Morgan August 8 – 23 . At New Orleans until March 1865 . Campaign against Mobile , Alabama , and its defenses March 17 - April 12 , 1865 . Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26 - April 8 . Fort Blakely April 9 . Occupation of Mobile April 12 , and duty there until June 24 . Garrison duty until January 1866 . Companies B and C at Fort Morgan ; Companies H and K at Fort Gaines ; Companies F and L at Fort Barrancas , Florida ; Companies I and M at Fort Pickens , Florida ; Companies A , E , and G at Baton Rouge , Louisiana ; Company D at Port Hudson , Louisiana . Casualties . The regiment lost a total of 390 men during service ; 7 officers and 60 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded , 3 officers and 320 enlisted men died of disease .