Carroll County, Indiana - Chapter 12: Eighty-Sixth Regiment, 1882

Organization of the Regiment and Mustering-In - Company B FROM Carroll County - Movement to the Seat of War - Review of its Campaigns - Experiences in the Enemy's Country - Return - Muster-Out of Service - Roster of the Company - Individual Record of the Members of the Company, Etc.

'T^HE Eighth Congressional District furnished the material that -*- composed the Eighty-sixth Regiment, the volunteers being recruited from most of the counties composing the disti'ict. It was organized at La Fayette dm'ing the month of August, and mustered into service on the 4th of September, 186'2, with Orville S. Hamilton as Colonel. Immediately afterward, it left for the seat of war in Kentucky, to meet and oppose the forces of Kirby Smith and Bragg, the former of whom was threatening Cincinnati, and the latter Louisville. To meet this emergency, the Eighty-sixth was at once hmried to Cincinnati, where it an'ived on the 7th, thi'ee days after it was mustered in, and was promptly assigned to duty on the defenses at Covington, Ky. Remaining on duty at that point until the 20th, it was sent by steamer to Louisville, and there awaited fui'ther orders. On the 1st of October, it was assigned to the Foruteenth Brigade, Fifth Division, Ai'my of the Ohio, and marched out in pui'suit of Bragg, who, at that time, was on an expedition through Kentucky. The next two months were chiefly occupied in hm'ried marches by day and by night, frequently skirmishing with the enemy's rear guard, though never able to force a battle in consequence of the slow strategic movements of the General commanding. In this route, the regiment passed thi'ough Bardstown, Danville, Springfield, Peri'vville, Crab Orchard, Mount Vei'non. and, reaching Wild Cat, the regiment retraced its steps by way of Mount Vernon, Somerset, Scottsville, Glasgow, Columbia and Gallatin, reaching Nashville on the 26th of November.

"Upon the formation of the Ai-my of the Cumberland, the Eighty-sixth was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division (Van Cleve's), Twenty-first Army Corps. The regiment was under conuuand of Lieut. Col. George F. Dick at the battle of Stone River December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863, and the division to which it was attached foi-med a portion of the left wing of the army on that battle-field. When the right of the left wing gave way, our division rushed rapidly to its support, and aiTived in time to materially check the enemy. It was at this junctiu'e that Gen. Rosecrans led a charge in person, which drove the enemy for nearly a mile. The regiment lost in this battle twenty -four killed and twenty-four wounded - a total loss of fortyeight. The regiment moved with the main army into Miu'freesboro, where it remained until the general foi'ward movement was made upon Chattanooga." On the 19th and 20th of September, it took an active part in the battle of Chickamauga, afterward falling back with the main army to Chattanooga, where it remained on duty dm'ing the siege. Later in the season, a re-organization of the army and the formation of the Fourth Army Coqjs took place, when the Eigthy-sixth was assigned to duty in the Third Brigade (Beatty's), Third Division (Woods') of that corps. A general advance was made ujwn the lines of the enemy besieging Chattanooga on the 23d of November, which resulted in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, on the 23d, 24th and 25th of that month. The Eighty-sixth formed the storming column in the assault on Mission Ridge, and aided in captvtring eleven pieces of artillery and many prisoners. The assault was so determined that the men swept up the rugged hillside and over the enemy's works regardless of the commands of the otfieers. After these engagements, the regiment marched with its division to East Tennessee, and passed there the winter of 1863-64, in long and fatiguing marches and scouts in that locality: in April following, the division rejoining its coi-ps near Chattanooga. In May, it moved with Sherman's army on the expedition of which Atlanta was the objective point, pai'ticipating in all the operations of the main army on its long and arduous campaign - in the actions at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville. Kingston, Picket's Mills (where Col. Dick was severely wounded), Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River. Peach Tree Creek, the battle and siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's, being actively engaged. At Atlanta, the regiment, with the main army, after a short rest, was dispatched with its corps toward Chattanooga to watch and piu-sue Hood, the policy of Gen. Sherman being to drive him and his army as far north as necessary. The pursuit, however, was not very vigorous, and upon reaching Gaylesville it was abandoned. Then, the Fom-th Corps being assigned to Gen. Thomas' command, moving northward, the Eightysixth took pai-t in the battle of Franklin on the 30th of November, and in the battles of Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December.

The enemy, under Hood, had been, for a short time previous to this engagement, in front of Nashville, commanding its southern approaches. " On the 15th of December, Gen. Thomas assumed the offensive. Thomas' line was formed with Wilson's cavalry on the right, then A. J. Smith, Wood and Steadman, Schofield's corps being in reserve. After an opening tire from our batteries, Steadman made a strong demonstration on the enemy's right, the real attack being designed for his center and left. Wood carried the strong works in the center. Oiu- batteries then advanced, and Smith assailed the hostile left. Schotield came upon Smith's right, outflanking the enemy, who began to give way. Our right was thus thrown between the river and the enemy's loft, which was hurled back on the center. Wilson's cavalry now pushed forward, and our whole li ne advanced in the face o f a hot fire. The enemy's works were taken, and he fell back in confusion. Night closed the action. The next morning, the tight was renewed with decided success, the enemy being driven from each successive line of intrenchments and falling back to Franklin. The pursuit was briskly pressed, and the defeated and demoralized enemy di'iven across the Tennessee River, when our army ceased pursuit."

From the 1st of January. 1865, imtil the 16th of March, the Eighty-sixth remained in camp at Huntsville, Ala., moving thence with its corps into East Tennessee, arriving at Nashville on the 27th of April, where it was in camp until the 6th of June, 1865, when it was mustered out of the service of the United States, and left at once for Indianapolis by rail. Upon its arrival at the capital, on the evening of the 7th of June, the Eighty-sixth was gi'eeted with an ovation on the morning of the next day, in the State House Grove, and were welcomed by speeches from Gov. Morton, Gen. Wagner and others. That afternoon, the regiment was paid off and finally discharged, the members of the several companies leaving for their respective homes to enjoy the fruits of victory in peace.

First Lieutenants - John S. Armitage; Jeremiah Hough, promoted Captain; Matthew Mclnerny, promoted to Captain of Company H; John L. Bullock, mustered out with regiment.

Second Lieutenants - Jeremiah Hough, promoted First Lieutenant: Matthew Mclnerny, promoted First Lieutenant; John T. Whitcher, mustered out as First Sergeant with regiment.

Sergeants - Newton H. Gist, mustered out June 6, 1865, as private; James Reed, discharged February 14, 1863; Lewis Heintz, killed at Stone River December 31. 1862; William L. Smiley, deserted; mustered out May 14, 1865.

Corporals - James M. Crowell, died at Nashville. Tenn., December 23, 1862: Henry W. Penny, mustered out June 6, 1865, as private; Frank H. Spitznagh, mustered out May 10, 1865: Robert Chandler, mustered out May 6, 1865: Charles Watters, died December 1, 1863, of weunds: John L. Bullock, promoted First Lieutenant; David Hotik, deserted March 1, 1863: Samuel York, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps July 29, 1864.