HISTORICAL NOTES:
The Indiana 18th Infantry Regiment was organized at Indianapolis, and was mustered in on Aug. 16, 1861, for three years. It left the state the next day for St. Louis and accompanied Fremont into Missouri. On its return it moved with Pope's army to the Blackwater and aided in the capture of a large number of prisoners. In Feb., 1862, it marched to Cross Hollow, Ark., and in an engagement near Leesville in March its brigade saved another from capture, the 18th recapturing the guns of the Peoria artillery. The regiment participated in the advance at Elkhorn Tavern, when the enemy was forced from the field, and then marched for Helena, Ark., being engaged at Cotton Plant early in July and reaching Helena on the 13th. On Oct. 11, it moved for southeastern Missouri, where it passed the winter, and was transferred to Grant's army in the spring of 1863, participating in the engagement at Grand Gulf. At Port Gibson it captured a stand of colors and some artillery; was engaged at Champion's hill, Black River bridge, and at Vicksburg from May 19 until its fall, being in the assault on the enemy's works and the first to carry its colors to the parapet. It was in the Bayou Teche campaign and other operations in Louisiana during the fall, and on Nov. 12 embarked for Texas. It was engaged at Mustang island, and in the attack on Fort Esperanza. It reenlisted at Indianola in Jan., 1864, and was furloughed home, stopping at Baton Rouge to aid in repelling a force about to attack the garrison there. It was ordered to Virginia in July, joined Gen. Butler's forces at Burmuda Hundred, and was engaged in several severe skirmishes at Deep Bottom. It was then transferred to Washington and assigned to the 2nd division, 19th corps, which joined Sheridan's army in Virginia. It participated in the battle of the Opequan, losing 54 killed and wounded; aided in the defeat of Early at Fisher's hill; fought at Cedar creek, where it lost 51 killed and wounded and 35 prisoners ; took transports for Savannah Ga., Jan. 6, 1865, and was engaged for three months in building fortifications. It was detached May 3, and sent to Augusta, Ga., raising the Stars and Stripes over the arsenal for the first time since the beginning of the war. It returned to Savannah on June 7, was sent to the southern part of the state, and was mustered out Aug. 28, 1865. Its original strength was 1,056. Gain by recruits, 140; reenlistments, 359; total, 1,555. Loss by death, 180; desertion, 53; unaccounted for, 156.
OFFICERS:
Cols., Thomas Patterson, Henry D. Washburn; Lieut. -Cols., Henry D. Washburn, DeWitt C. Thomas, Jesse L. Holman, William S. Charles, James C. Black, Josiah Campbell; Majs., DeWitt C. Thomas, Jesse L. Holman, John C. Jenks, Jonathan H. Williams, James C. Black, Napoleon H. Daniels.
ASSIGNMENTS:
March to relief of Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, Mo., September. Action at Glasgow Mountain September 19. Attached to Fremont's Army of the West and Dept. of Missouri to January, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Southwest Missouri, to May, 1862. 1st Division, Army of Southwest Missouri, to July, 1862. District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of Missouri, to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Southeast Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to March, 1863. 1st Brigade, 14th Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 13th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to August, 1863, and Dept. of the Gulf to June, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, to August, 1864. 4th Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, Army of the Shenandoah Middle Military Division, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 19th Army Corps, to January, 1865. 1st Brigade, Grover's Division, District of Savannah, Ga., Dept. of the South, to August, 1865.
SERVICE:
Fremont's advance on Springfield, Mo., September 22-October 15, 1861. March to Otterville, Mo., November, and duty there until January, 1862. Expedition to Milford December 15-19, 1862. Action at Shawnee Mound or Milford on the Blackwater, and capture of 1,300 prisoners December 18. Advance on Springfield, Mo., January 25-February 14. Pursuit of Price to Cassville, Ark. Battles of Pea Ridge, Ark., March 6-8. At Sulphur Rock until May. March to Batesville, thence to Helena, Ark., May 25-July 14. Duty at Helena until October. Ordered to Pilot Knob, Mo., and operations in Southeast Missouri until March 5, 1863. Moved to Helena, Ark., March 5, thence to Milliken's Bend, La., and duty there until April. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson May 1. Battle of Champion's Hill May 16. Big Black River Bridge May 17. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Duty at Vicksburg until August 20. Ordered to New Orleans, La., August 20. Duty at Carrollton, Brashear City and Berwick until October. Western Louisiana Campaign October 3-November 8. Moved to New Orleans November 8, thence to Texas November 12. Capture of Mustang Island November 17. Fort Esperanza November 27-30. Duty at Mustang Island and Indianola until March, 1864. Regiment reenlisted January 1, 1864. Near Baton Rouge, La., March 8-May 3. Veteran furlough and duty in Indiana June 4 to July 16. Moved to Bermuda Hundred, Va., July 16; thence to Washington, D.C., August 5. March to Shenandoah Valley August 10-19. Sheridan's Shenandoah Valley Campaign August to November. Battle of Opequan, Winchester, September 19. Fisher's Hill September 22. Battle of Cedar Creek October 19. Duty in the Shenandoah Valley until January, 1865. Moved to Baltimore, Md., thence to Savannah, Ga., January 6-20. Duty there until May 3. At Augusta, Ga., until June 7. Provost duty in Southern Georgia until August. Mustered out August 28, 1865.
Battle of Pea Ridge
Battle of Port Gibson
Battle of Champion Hill
Battle of Big Black River
Siege of Vicksburg
Battle of Cedar Creek
ROSTERS:
The roster of this unit has the names of 1780 men.
HISTORICAL NOTES: