USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > History of Hendricks County, Indiana > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
The Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, containing two nearly full companies (C and H) from Hendricks County was or- ganized at Indianapolis on the 11th of October, 1861, and mustered in on the 14th of December, with Abel D. Streight as Colonel. Proceeding to Kentucky, it went into a camp of instruction at Bardstown. In Feburary, 1862, it marched with Buell's army toward Nashville; thence after a time to the Tennessee River, where it arrived too late to participate in the battle of Shiloh. It took an active part in the siege of Corinth, and in the movement to Stevenson. It served with Buell through the Kentucky cam- paign, and in December marched toward Murfreesboro with Rose- crans's army.
The regiment was engaged in the battle of St one River, Dec. 31, 1862, and Jan. 1 and 2, 1863, losing five killed, thirty-six wounded and eight missing, or forty-nine in all. After this it remained in the vicinity of Murfreesboro until the month of April, when it left on the Streight expedition. As part of a brigade which included 1,700 men and 800 animals, it proceeded to Palmyra, on the Cum- berland River, by transports, and then marched through the country to Fort Henry, on the Tennessee River, picking up on the route all the serviceable horses and mules that could be found. Thence it proceeded on transports to Eastport, Miss., which place it left on the 21st of April, and marched in the direction of Rome, Ga., for the purpose of making a raid in the rear of Bragg's army, then at Tullahoma.
The expedition reached the base of the Sand Mountains on the evening of the 29th, and on the 30th was overtaken by the rebel cavalry under Forrest, when a battle ensned, resulting in the defeat
Digitized by Google
322 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
of the enemy. This was the battle of Day's Gap, in which the Fifty-first lost thirty-one killed and wounded. May 1 another fight took place on. Crooked Creek, in which the enemy were again re- pulsed. May 2, another engagement, on Blunt's Farm, near Gadsend, Ala., resulted similarly. The command pushed forward in hopes of capturing Rome, Ga., but May 3 it was overtaken near Gaylesville, Ala., by command of General Forrest, and com- 3 pelled to surrender. The whole force was consigned to rebel prisons, and treated with great severity. After a time the en- listed men were paroled for exchange, and went into camp at Indianapolis. Feb. 9, 1864, Colonel Streight escaped from Libby Prison, by means of a tunnel, after ten-months imprisonment. By that now famous tunnel, fifty-two other officers also regained their freedom.
In November, 1863, the regiment was exchanged, and at once returned to the field, joining the army at Nashville, and serving on various guard duties in Tennessee. In January and February, 1864, a portion of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. During the campaign of 1864, the regiment did duty at Chattanooga; and after the occupation of Atlanta moved to that place, where it re- mained until the Fourth Corps marched northward, when it moved to Pulaski, Tenn., and upon the advance of Hood's army on Nask- ville, it fell back toward that place. On the 14th of December the non-veterans were mustered out of service and proceeded home. December 15 the regiment participated in the battle of Nashville, and afterward joined in the pursuit of the routed rebels, going as far as Huntsville, Ala. At this place it remained until March, 1865, when it moved with the Fourth Corps into East Tennessee. About the 1st of May it returned to Nashville, and in June it moved on transports to New Orleans, whence it was transported to Texas. In that State it performed garrison duty until its final muster out.
FIFTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
The Fifty-third Regiment was mustered in Feb. 26, 1862, at New Albany, most of Company A being from this county. The first Colonel was the gallant Walter Q. Gresham, who was afterward made a Brigadier-General, and who since the war has been so dis- tinguished in public life. The regiment was sent to St. Louis in March, and next to Savannah, Tenn., and April 15 it joined the army moving toward Corinth. After the evacuation of this city it moved to La Grange, Holly Springs and other points, and then to
Digitized by
323
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
Memphis. In September it marched to Bolivar and thence in the direction of Corinth, and Oct. 5 participated in the battle of Hatchie, where it crossed the bridge while on fire, and charged the rebel lines.
After some minor movements in Tennessee and Mississippi, the regiment bore an honorable part in the siege of Vicksburg, and also in the successful expedition against Jackson. After three months of inactivity during the hot season, at Natchez, it partici- pated in an expedition into Louisiana, capturing an important fort, and otherwise injuring the enemy. In February, 1864, it marched with Sherman's army to Meridian and return. At Hebron, Miss., 383 of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. Transferred to Ten- nessee, the regiment, on the 6th of June, joined Sherman's army at Acworth, Ga., participating in all the subsequent battles and skir- mishes of the Atlanta campaign. It bore a conspicuous part in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Peach Tree Creek, and in the engagements before Atlanta on the 22d of July, where it suffered a severe loss. After the fall of Atlanta it moved in pur- suit of Hood, and in November it joined the famous march to Savannah, and thence through the Carolinas, halting at Goldsboro, N. C. After the surrender of Johnston's army, it moved to Wash- ington, and thence to Louisville, where it was mustered out with the Army of the Tennessee, July 21, 1865.
FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT.
The Fifty-fourth Regiment, containing one company (H) from Plainfield and vicinity, was organized under special orders for an emergency, and was mustered in for three-months service June 10, 1862, at Indianapolis. It was placed on duty at Camp Morton until Angust, and then moved to Kentucky with other troops, to resist the invasion of that State by General Kirby Smith. At the expiration of its term of service it was mustered out at Indianapolis.
A one-year regiment, also called the Fifty-fourth, was organized in October, 1862, from drafted men or their substitutes. Company F was made up of men from North Salem and vicinity. In De- cember the regiment left for Memphis, and on the 20th it em- barked with Sherman's expedition to Vicksburg. For three days it was exposed continually, and in the two charges on the rebel's works at Chickasaw Bluffs, it lost 264 in killed, wounded and missing. It moved against Arkansas Post in January, 1863, and after the reduction of that place returned to Young's Point. After
Digitized by Google +
1
0
324 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
a sickly season here and at Milliken's Bend, it became a part of the advance in the Vicksburg campaign. It fought at Thompson's Hill, or Port Gibson. Afterward it garrisoned Raymond, and then acted as escort of prisoners to the Yazoo River. Returning from this duty, it entered the trenches at Vicksburg, and after the sur- render of that stronghold it was in the advance on Jackson. July 23 it returned to Vicksburg, whence it was transported to New Orleans. Joining the army of the Gulf, it moved, on the 6th of September, with the expedition up the Teche, going as far as Ope- lonsas and Vermillionville, returning to New Orleans, Nov. 1. The regiment was mustered out Dec. 8, 1863.
SEVENTIETH REGIMENT.
In the Seventieth Regiment, most of Company C and all of Company K were raised in Hendricks County. This regiment was mustered in Ang. 12, 1862, under the colonelcy of Benjamin Harri- son, since Brigadier-General and United States Senator from In- diana. The regiment left Indianapolis the 13th for Bowling Green, Ky., where it went into camp and remained there three months, drilling and doing camp duty, and on the 30th of September the regiment was sent to Russelville, Ky., where they surprised a camp of rebel troops and killed and wounded several besides cap- turing a large number of valuable horses. Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Merrill got a black pony there that he rode through the war and brought home with him, that is still living at Indianapolis. Nov. 10, 1862, the regiment broke camp and took up the march with Rosecrans's army for the front, and got as far south as Gal- latin, Tenn., where it remained until June, 1863, doing guard duty on the line of the Nashville & Louisville Railroad. From there it was sent to Murfreesboro, Tenn., and remained until August, 1863. Aug. 30 was sent back to Nashville, Tenn., and remained there until Feb. 24, 1864, and while stationed there was on guard duty on trains, both passenger and freight, between Nash- ville and Chattanooga, and while in that line of duty had many skirmishes with Morgan's men and bushwhackers. Feb. 24, 1864, the regiment left Nashville and arrived at the foot of Lookout Mountain, March 10, and built one of the finest camps on the side of Lookout Mountain ever seen by any army, and remained there until May 2, 1864, drilling and doing camp duty. When the army was reorganized the Eleventh and Twelfth corps were consolidated and named the Twentieth. The Seventieth Regiment was assigned
ยท
Digitized by Google
.
BISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 325
to the First Brigade, Third Division of said corps, with General Ward, of Kentucky, as Brigade-Commander, and Joseph Hooker, Corps Commander. May 2, 1864, General Sherman's army moved out from Chattanooga, Tenn., on what proved to be the Atlanta campaign, and the regiment took an active part in the following battles : May 14 and 15, Resaca, where the regiment led a charge against the rebel fortification and took a battery of four brass guns that was well supported by infantry. These were the only artillery captured during the campaign. In the charge of May 15 the regiment lost in killed and wounded out of 450 strong, 131 men. They buried thirty-nine in one trench on the 16th, the rebels hav- ing fallen back the night of the 15th, and as many more died from wounds in the hospitals. May 19 the regiment took part in the fight at Cassville, May 25 at Burnt Hickory, June 14 and 15 at Lost Mountain. On the 15th they charged the rebel lines strongly fortified, but on account of the barriers could not get up to their lines and lay within 100 yards of the enemy's works and were shelled at short range for four or five hours until dark, when the regiment withdrew and took up a position on the skirmish line to the left. In the charge and shelling the regiment lost in killed and wounded several brave and valiant men. On the 16th, en- gaged in a hand to hand fight on the skirmish line and with sharp- shooters with heavy loss, and on the 21st day of June met the enemy at the foot of Kenesaw Mountain. On this day General Sherman's army took up its lines at the base of the the mountain on the north, east and west, and kept a continual skirmish and canonade with Johnson's army. The night of July 3 the Coufeder- ates evacuated their stronghold simply because Sherman flanked them out, and July 4 Sherman's army advanced on Johnston's army and went into camp on the north side of the Chattahoochee River, with the enemy on the south bank. The army remained in this position until the 17th of July, and it was a very common thing for the boys in blue and boys in gray to mart and trade. The boys in gray seemed to have plenty of tobacco if nothing else, and as a general thing the Yankee soldiers would trade almost anything for tobacco. While in this camp the boys in blue would climb the tall pine-trees and look over into the city of Atlanta, a distance of eight miles, but there was many a brave man that never lived to see the 2d day of September, when General Sherman's army went into the coveted city. On the 17th they crossed the river, and on the 20th the Twentieth Corps took up its position on the line at the 21
Digitized by Google
326 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
right of the Fourth Corps and on the left of the Fourteenth. It was a very warm day, and about 2 P. M., before they had hardly got into position, General Hood charged the Twentieth Corps with the whole of the Confederate army, five lines deep, coming unex- pected, and the Brigade Commander of the Third Division being fond of strong drink and not being at his post and not in fit con- dition to handle an army, Generale Benjamin Harrison and John Coburn took the responsibilities of the division and moved up with their brigades and met Hood's combined forces and fought almost a hand to hand fight, and repulsed General Hood's army, with heavy loss on both sides. The Seventieth was on the line all the remainder of the Atlantic campaign. After the capture of the city the army went into camp in and about the city and rested and recruited, and while here the veterans of the Twenty-seventh Regi- ment were transferred to the Seventieth, and on the 15th day of November, 1864, General Sherman's army, consisting of the Four- teenth, Fifteenth, Seventeenth and Twentieth Army corps, touk up the line of march through Georgia to what point was conjecture only with the boys. When we left Atlanta we destroyed every thing that would be of any benefit to the Confederate army, and a great many things that would hardly be termed contraband. The army moved south on parallel roads, and on the 21st the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps camped in and around the city of Milledge- ville, at that time the capital city of the State, and remained there two days ; and while here some one with high authority issued his proclamation calling for a special sitting of the Georgia Legis- lature, and no member would be admitted unless he was a member of Sherman's raiders or boomers, and during the two-days session there were some very wholesome laws passed without any opposi- tion, all relating to Georgia loyalty to the stars and stripes, and they have never been repealed. From Milledgeville the army went to Sandersville, a distance of twenty-six miles, through swamps, taking three days to make the trip. Here the regiment had a skirmish with Johnston's army, and on the 1st day of December lay in camp all day resting near Louisville, near the farm of Her- shall V. Johnson, candidate for Vice-President on the Democratic ticket with S. A. Douglas, in the memorable campaign of 1860, and on the 6th day of December went into camp at Effingham, Ga., and remained two days, and moved out and came up to the out-post of rebel forces at Savannah, Dec. 9; skirmished and built lines of fortifications until Dec. 26. Hardee evacuated the city and
Digitized by Google
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY. 327
Sherman went in and took possession. The enemy left behind 264 pieces of artillery that fell into the hands of the Yankees, besides many other things of value. On the night of Dec. 31, while the Seventieth Regiment was lying at the wharf expecting to cross over the Savannah River into South Carolina on the morning of Jan. 1, 1865, a schooner ran the Yankee blockade with a load of contra- band guns for the rebel army. It is not necessary to say that the commander of the vessel was somewhat surprised. Jan. 1, 1865, the Seventieth was put across the river on a small boat captured during the siege, and went out to the Hardee plantation, near Hardeeville; went into camp and remained until Feb. 3. The Seventieth was the first regiment that went on South Carolina soil not as prisoners. Feb. 3 they started north through the State for Branchville, on the Charleston & Augusta Railroad, and moved the rebel forces out of its stronghold in and about the city of Charles- ton; struck the railroad at Branchville and tore the same np for several miles. On the 12th left Williston for the north. Heavy frost was on the ground and the army had to wade the Edisto River, which was out of its bank one-quarter of a mile wide, and on the 16th came up to the south bank of the Saluda River. The Seventieth did not cross the river and go into the city. The 17th the regiment moved up the river and crossed it at Winsboro. The next place of any importance was Cheraw, where the enemy made some resistance and burnt the bridge, and the next engagement was March 13, 1865, at Averysboro, and on Sunday, March 19, a hard- fought battle with Johnston's army at Bentonville. The 24th arrived at Goldsboro, ragged and almost barefooted, and not as clean and free from greybacks as might have been. Remained in camp at Goldsboro until April 10, when they moved with the army for Raliegh, N. C., and arrived there the 13th. The 11th, while at Smithfield, came the welcome news of the surrender of Lee to General Grant, and it would have done any body good to have heard the cheering of the boys. Remained in camp at Raleigh until April 26, when they moved to the front in search of J. E. Johnston, and marched one day and went into camp and re- mained two days, and then came the glad news of the surrender of Johnston to Sherman. They then moved back to Raleigh and re- mained until Sunday, April 30, when they took up the line of march for Washington City, where it arrived May 19, passing through Richmond, Chancellorsville, Wilderness and all the noted places where the army of the Potomac operated for four long year's,
Digitized by Google
328 HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
and on May 26 passed in grand review with Sherman's army be- fore President Johnson and his Cabinet and all the Foreign Min- isters, said to be the grandest thing of the kind that ever took place in this or any other country. From the time the army left At- lanta, Nov. 15, 1864, until the surrender of Johnston's army, April 28, 1865, they lived almost entirely off the country passed through, by foraging, except the time in camp at Savannah, Goldsboro and Raleigh. The regiment was discharged at Fort Washington, near Washington City, June 8, 1865, and arrived at home June 13, 1865, thirty-four months to a day from the time it left. The regi- ment lost during its time of service forty-six men killed in battle, thirty-five died of wounds, 110 died of disease iu camp and hos- pitals, and during the first year sixty-one were discharged on ac- count of disability, and a large per cent. of that number died from disease contracted during their service. They hardly ever dis- charged a man for disability unless it was to save trouble and ex- pense of burying him at the front. During the thirty-four-months service the regiment never turned its back to the enemy. Dr. L. H. Kenney, Assistant Surgeon of the regiment, said that there were 200 men in the regiment that were competent to command it. Eleven years ago the ex-members of the regiment organized a so- ciety and meet once a year in regimental reunion and have a good time. It would not be right not to say something about A. C. Allen, the Chaplain of the regiment. Ele was not as entertaining a speaker as some, but in times of danger and when the wounded and dying needed assistance A. C. Allen would be found at his post ever ready to give spiritual advice to the dying and help to the needy.
SEVENTY-SEVENTII REGIMENT (FOURTH CAVALRY).
In the Seventy-seventh Regiment (Fourth Cavalry) nearly all the members of Company A were from Hendricks County. The regiment was organized at Indianapolis, Aug. 22, 1862, with Isaac P. Gray as Colonel. Four companies were sent under Major Platter to Henderson, Ky., and the remaining companies to Louis- ville, and thence into the interior of the State. The battalion nn- der Major Platter fought the enemy at Madisonville and Mount Washington, and in the spring of 1863 joined the other compa- nies, which, under Colonel Gray, had been serving in Indiana and Kentucky, had fought John Morgan successfully near Munford- ville, and which had been serving actively near Murfreesboro, Tenn., during the first three months of 1863.
Digitized by Google
329
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
The united regiment now moved with Rosecrans in the campaign toward Tullahoma and Chattanooga, participating in the battle of Chickamauga. Crossing the Tennessee, it fought the rebels near Fayetteville, Tenn., Nov. 1. Early in December it marched into East Tennessee, where it remained during the ensuing winter, holding the advanced position in all the cavalry movements. It was conspicuously engaged at Mossy Creek, Talbots' and Dandridge, and was complimented highly for its part at Fair Garden. In March the regiment arrived at Cleveland, Tenn., and in May moved with the cavalry of Sherman's army in the campaign against Atlanta. May 9 it fonght at Varnell's Station, Ga., and June 2 at Burnt Church. It next moved on the McCook raid, participat- ing in all the movements of that expedition.
After the capture of Atlanta it marched into Tennessee and en- gaged the enemy at Columbia, Tenn., in October. In November it was stationed near Louisville; in January, 1865, it was in the vicinity of Nashville, and in the f llowing month at Waterloo, Ala. Moving into Alabama with General Wilson's forces, it partic- ipated in the active campaign in that State and Georgia, engaging in the battles of Plantersville and Selma. Leaving Macon, Ga., in May, it reached Nashville, and went into the Provisional Cav- alry Camp at Edgefield, where it remained until mastered out of service, June 29, 1865.
SEVENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
1
A few in Company F and most of those in Company K, Seventy- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, were from Hendricks County. The regiment was mustered in at Indianapolis, Sept. 2, 1862, and was at once hurried to the field, arriving at Louisville the next day. Oct. 1 it left that city with Buell's army, joined in the pur- suit of Bragg, and at Crab Orchard had its first skirmish with the rebels. It took part at Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862, and Jan. 1 and 2, 1863, losing seven killed and forty-four wounded. It was then in camp at Murfreesboro until June 24, when it marched to Tullahoma, Manchester, McMinnville and Pikeville. Sept. 1 it moved toward Chattanooga, and on the 19th and 20th fought in the battle of Chickamauga, losing one killed, forty wounded and thirteen missing. In this battle the Seventy-ninth charged and captured the First Virginia Battery of Longstreet's corps. It fell back with the army to Chattanooga, and was upon duty during its siege by the enemy.
Digitized by Google
330
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
On the 23d of November the army moved to attack the be- sieging force under General Bragg. Then occurred the celebrated battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. The Seventy- ninth and Eighty-sixth Indiana led the column which stormed and captured Mission Ridge, planted the Union colors first on the rebel works and captured eleven pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners. The loss of the regiment was small, the rapidity of its advance and the conformation of the country protecting it from the fire of the enemy. The Seventy-ninth then moved to East Tennes- see, where it was constantly marching and skirmishing for four weary months. It fought successfully with Vaughn's rebel com- mand at Strawberry Plains, New Market, Mossy Creek and Clinch Valley. It also accompanied a cavalry expedition to Thornhill, en route for Cumberland Gap. In April, 1864, it rejoined its corps at Chattanooga and, for the first time in ten months, rested for ten days.
Then came the Georgia campaign, which actively occupied our regiment in numerous battles and skirmishes It effected the first crossing of Peach Tree Creek, capturing the rebel works and many prisoners. It participated for several weeks in the siege of Atlanta and was then detached to the support of General Thomas, who was opposed by Hood. It fell back to Columbia, Springfield and Franklin, and then to Nashville. After the battle at this place it joined in the pursuit, arriving at Huntsville, Ala., Jan. 6, 1865, where it camped. March 17 it started for Richmond, and had only reached Jonesboro when Lee's army surrendered. Returning to Nashville, it remained there until June 5, when it was ordered home. It was finally discharged June 11, having had an excep- tionally active service, all campaigning and no garrison duty. It captured eighteen pieces of artillery and over 1,000 prisoners.
NINETY-NINTH REGIMENT.
The next regiment in which Hendricks had a respectable rep- resentation was the Ninety-ninth, in which the county contributed all of Company G and part of Company H. The regiment was mustered in Oct. 21, 1862, and the following month proceeded to Menphis. Taking part in the Tallahatchie campaign, it was then placed in charge of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, at La Grange and Moscow, Tenn. May 6, 1863, it joined the besieging forces of General Grant, in the rear of Vicksburg, and July 4 it marched with Sherman to Jackson. Here for three days the reg-
Digitized by Google
331
HISTORY OF HENDRICKS COUNTY.
iment was under fire. After the capitulation of Jackson, the regiment was in camp for several weeks. After several long marches, Nov. 24 found the regiment at Chattanooga. It at once took possession of Indian Hill, the eastern extremity of Mission. Ridge, and spent the following night in throwing up works. By daylight it had improvised a fine line of defense, though sticks, tin plates and cups were used as intrenching tools, no shovels or picks being convenient.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.