Here are some facts and vignettes about the 80th Indiana, its
soldiers, and their experiences from 1862-1865 in the Federal Army during the American Civil
Where From. Almost all of soldiers who served in
the 80th Indiana were residents of Indiana's 1st Congressional
District, which then consisted of the counties of Davies, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Pike,
and Posey in the southwestern part of the state. A few were from Sullivan
County, Indiana, and Wabash County, Illinois.
Company Origins. The 10 companies that would form the 80th were drawn from
specific geographic areas.
Co. A was mostly from Princeton and Patoka in
Co. B was almost exclusively from Loogootee in Martin County.
Co. C was almost exclusively from
Edwardsport in Knox County.
Co. D is believed
to have been drawn from Alfordsville in Daviess County.
Co. E was from
Princeton, Port Gibson, Ft. Branch, Owensville and Patoka in
F was from Cynthiana in Posey County and Owensville and Haubstadt in
Co. G was from Vincennes and Wheatland in Knox County, with a few from
Mt. Carmel, Illinois.
Co. H was from Winslow and Petersburg in
was almost exclusively from Vincennes in Knox County, with a few from Mt. Carmel,
Co. K "the
White River Rangers" was from Edwardsport in Knox County, Newberry and
Greene County, and Carlisle in Sullivan County.
Ethnic Backgrounds. A great many of the 80th's soldiers were of
English, German, Scottish, and Irish
heritage, with a few of French extraction.
Camp of Rendezvous. The various companies that would form the 80th first came
together in August, 1862, to begin training at Camp Gibson at the Town of Princeton, in
Gibson County, Indiana. However, after only 2 weeks of training there, the 80th was ordered to Indianapolis, issued uniforms and weapons, and
sent to help resist the Confederate invasion of the State of Kentucky, which was then
Veteran Commander. The 80th was initially
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Brooks. He
had previously served in the 14th Indiana, which had seen hard fighting in Virginia.
Brooks helped get the regiment organized and trained; his combat experience proved
invaluable when the 80th first "saw the elephant" at Perryville, Kentucky.
Perryville/Chaplin Hills. This bloody October 8,
victory in Kentucky was the 80th's first big battle. It came 1 month after the 80th had first received its uniforms and weapons. In 2
hours that afternoon the regiment suffered 45% of all the casualties it would
have during its entire 3 year service. Despite the desperate nature of the
fighting and the inexperience of its' soldiers, the 80th conducted itself well and was
mentioned favorably in Army reports.
Mr. Ambassador. Colonel Charles Denby, who commanded the
80th from late 1862 through early 1863, was a lawyer who had been wounded twice at the
Battle of Perryville while serving as Lieutenant Colonel of the 42nd Indiana. From
1885 to 1898 he served as the US Minister to China, and in 1899 was a member of the Philippine
Commission. A brand of cigars was named in his honor, which are still manufactured today by the
National Cigar Corporation.
Youngest Soldier? Musician Jesse Bryant of Co. H is
believed to have been the youngest soldier to serve in the 80th. It is said that
Jesse, age 12, lied about his age in order to enlist. It is known that he played a fife in the regimental
band and served with the 80th for 6 months, a period of service that included the bloody
battle of Perryville. In the 80th's official roster Jesse is listed as having
deserted in February, 1863. However, what apparently happened was that his Mother went to Kentucky where the 80th
was then stationed, revealed his actual age, and took him home. In any case, Jesse received an honorable discharge
after the war.
Chasing Morgan's Raiders. While stationed in
Kentucky the 80th was twice involved in chasing after Confederate cavalry raiders led by
the famous John Hunt Morgan. The first instance was in late December 1862 and early
January 1863, while the latter was in late June and early July 1863. Despite long
forced marches in bitterly cold and swelteringly hot weather, they never got a good shot
at his troops.
With Burnside in East Tennessee. The 80th
participated in the successful 1863 liberation of the eastern
portion of Tennessee, including the city of Knoxville, that was led by US Major General Ambrose Burnside (he of the famous sideburns and the disastrous
Union defeat at Fredricksburg, Virginia). While in East Tennessee the 80th lost several men
killed by Confederate guerrillas and bushwackers.
With Sherman in Georgia. The 80th marched and fought its way through
northern Georgia as part of the successful 1864 campaign to
capture the city of Atlanta that was commanded by US Major General
William T. Sherman. The fall of Atlanta helped to assure President Lincoln's
successful re-election that November, which in turn guaranteed that the war would be
fought to a total Union victory the next year.
Battle of Resaca. The 80th suffered terrible casualties in this
battle, which took place during General Sherman's successful Atlanta campaign. The Union attack was
ill-advised and poorly coordinate. The 80th never had a chance to
capture the Confederate entrenchments that it was ordered to attack. The 80th's
survivors found shelter from the tremendous musket and cannon fire under the
bank of a stream, where they waited until it got dark enough for them to
safely return to Union lines. For his incompetence, US Brigadier General Judah,
their division commander, was relieved of duty.
Spring Hill. In November, 1864, the 80th was very nearly
captured, along with thousands of other Union troops, near the town of
Spring Hill, Tennessee (where Saturn automobiles are now manufactured). They
were saved by an all-night forced march, which took them right past
the camp fires of the sleeping Confederate Army led by Major General John Bell Hood. At one
point that night the escape route was closed by rebel cavalry led by the infamous General
Nathan Bedford Forest. The 80th was
in the body of Federal troops that drove Forest's men away and
reopened the escape route.
Andersonville. Twelve of the 80th's soldiers
are known to have lost their
lives at the infamous Confederate prison camp at Andersonville, in Macon County, Georgia. Most died of
"scorbutus" (scurvy) caused by a lack of vitamins in their diet.
John L. Cooper, Co. E, of Fort Branch, Gibson County,
Musician William P. Guthrey, Co. C, of
Edwardsport, Knox County, Ind.
Private John W. Hodgens,
Co. G, of Vincennes, Knox County, Ind.
Private Joseph Lawyer,
Co. B, of Loogootee, Martin County, Ind.
Marlett, Co. A, of Princeton, Gibson County, Ind.
Private Joseph L. Melton, Co. C, of Edwardsport, Knox County, Ind.
Edward Monk, Co. K, of Carlisle, Sullivan County, Ind.
Richard Montgomery, Co. F, of Owensville, Gibson
Wagoner Moses Spencer, Co. K, of Black
Private Newton E. Redman, Co. F, of
Owensville, Gibson County, Ind.
Private Thomas Sizemore,
Co. A, of Princeton, Gibson County, Ind.
Spillman, Co. F, of Cynthiana, Posey County, Ind.
Muster Out. After the war ended in April, 1865, the 80th was
engaged in guard duty at Salisbury, North Carolina, until it mustered out of
the Federal Army on June 22, 1865.
Those soldiers who had joined the 80th after its initial formation in
August, 1862, (referred to by the Army as Recruits) were transferred to the 129th
Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment to serve out the remainder of their 3
years terms of service. However, they were released
from their remaining commitments on August 29, 1865, when the 129th was
Miles Covered. During its nearly 3 years' service the 80th
traveled 7,245 miles, of which 1,050 miles were by water, 2,445 miles by
railroad, and a stunning 3,750 miles were covered on foot.
Cost of Freedom. Of the 1,036 men who joined the 80th,
325 were killed and wounded in action. Just 320 were still
with it by the the time it returned to Indiana after nearly 3
For more on the 80th and its soldiers, click the
Profiles and History links below.