| 1864
History 80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry An American Civil War Regiment |
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--From the song Tenting on the Old
Camp Ground |
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The 80th Indiana was formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's July 1, 1862, call for 300,000 more men to volunteer for the Union Army in order to help the Federal government win the American Civil War. The table below contains information about the 80th's second full year of service. The column on the left contains links that lead to day-by-day overviews by month. The center column contains overviews of what the 80th was doing and where it was located in 1864. The column on the right features quotes from primary and secondary sources, which are intended to give insights into what the times, and the soldiers' lives, were like. These quotes have been entered on the date they were written or published (unless otherwise noted) and without changing the original grammar or spelling. Abbreviations used on this page include: Abbreviations used on this page include: Co.=Company; C.S.A.=Confederate States of America; Gen.=General; Ga.=Georgia; Maj.=Major; Tenn.=Tennessee; and U.S.=United States. This is the first comprehensive history ever written about the 80th Indiana. It is being assembled using data from many sources, and is very much a work in progress. Contributions are both encouraged and welcomed. All who do so will be credited on the list of Modern 80th Indiana Volunteers on this website. For details, visit the Help Needed section of this site. Together this history can grow to be a rich tribute to the men of the 80th Indiana, who helped preserve the United States of America and end slavery within it.
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| Months | Synopsis of 80th Service | Quotes |
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January 1864 |
Camped in the Field. Camped near Mossy Creek, Tenn., till mid-month, then to Strawberry Plains and near Knoxville, Tenn. at end of month. Col. Culbertson resigns. |
"Weeping sad and lonely, hopes and fears, how vain. When this cruel war is over, praying that we meet again." --from the song Weeping, Sad and Lonely by C. Sawyer and H. Tucker |
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February 1864 |
Near Knoxville. |
"Therefore, Resolved, That in this transaction the said late Col. Culbertson has been guilty of an unpardonable attempt to override the will and wishes of the officers and men of this regiment and has evinced a degree of duplicity, impudence, and deceit which we did not believe could be carried out or endured by a man of his physical structure or intellectual calibre, and has given evidence of a wanton disregard for the future welfare of his former regiment." --part of a public protest resolution by 80th officers, Feb, 1, '64, at Knoxville, Tenn. |
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March 1864 |
Near Knoxville. |
"'Tis the song and the sigh of the hungry, Hard crackers, hard crackers, come again no more! Many days have you lingered upon our stomaches sore, Oh, hard crackers come again no more." --From the song Hard Crackers Come Again No More lyrics by unknown soldier(s) in the 1st Iowa Vol. Inf. Regt. |
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April 1864 |
Preparing for Atlanta Campaign. The 80th's torn and tattered flags, inscribed with "Chaplin Hills" and "Knoxville," were exchanged for new ones. |
"Away down South in the land of traitors, Rattlesnakes and alligators, Right away, come away, right away, come away. Where cotton's king and men are chattels, Union boys will win the battles, Right away, come away, right away, come away." --from a Union parody of Dixie's Land, which was a popular anthem of the C.S.A. |
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May 1864 |
Disaster at Resaca. Left Tennessee for Georgia as part of General Schofield's 23rd Corps to take part in General Sherman's campaign to capture Atlanta. Fought skirmishes at Rocky Face Ridge and Dalton, Ga. Lost 145 killed, wounded, and captured in doomed attack at Resaca, Ga. |
"We've been fighting today on the old camp ground, Many are lying near; Some are dead and some are dying, Many are in tears. Many are the hearts that are weary tonight, Wishing for the war to cease; Many are the hearts that are looking for the right, To see the dawn of peace. Dying tonight, dying tonight, Dying on the old camp ground." --From the song Tenting on the Old Camp Ground by Walter Kittredge |
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June 1864 |
Kenesaw Mountain. Pursuit of C.S.A. Gen. Joe Johnson's army by U.S. Gen William T. Sherman's army. 80th took part in fighting near Kenesaw Mountain, Ga. |
"I expect ere this you have seen that the 80th has been in a fierce and destructive battle, killing and wounding many of the remainder of the old regiment... The loss the 80th sustained was about 130. There were but nine companies engaged and I think not quite 300 men... We lay between the contending armies from one o'clock till dark; so near together were they that the shells from both the enemy's and our own guns would burst directly over us." --1st Lieut. Eli P. Bicknell Co. C, 80th Ind., from a Jun. 1, '64 letter to his brother-in-law about the May 14-15, '64, fighting at Resaca, Ga. |
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July 1864 |
Siege of Atlanta. Operations along Chattahoochie River, Decatur, Howard House, Ga., followed by laying siege to Atlanta. |
"I think the Johnnies are getting tired or they certainly have reason to be quiet their loss in killed wounded and prisoners is estimated at 25,000 men since our Army crossed the Chattahoochee River... Our Boys [in Co. D] are in tolerable good health and spirits only one attended surgeon's call William A. McFerren [Sergt. William A. McFarren] has been in the Field Hospital three or 4 days with some kind of fever..." --Capt. Isum Gwin Co. D, July '64, letter to his parents |
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August 1864 |
Siege of Atlanta. Most of the month spent laying siege to Atlanta, followed by flank movement on Jonesboro and Battle of Jonesboro. |
"...On the 7th, about 1 p.m., we advanced our lines one mile, driving the enemy, forcing him to abandon his works, and taking possession of the same. We advanced about half a mile farther and threw up works. Having just finished and laid aside our tools to take a little sleep and rest, orders came to change the direction of the line. The order was received at dark. Although the men hungry, sleepy, and worn down from excessive work, still with a will and cheerfulness worthy of their profession, they went to work, and completed the works..." --Capt. Jacob Ragle Co. K, commanding 80th Ind., undated official report on the Atlanta Campaign |
September 1864 |
Capture of Atlanta. Battle of Jonesboro, fighting at Lovejoy Station followed by capture of Atlanta, Ga. Most of month spent occupying the city, resting, and refitting. |
"So Atlanta is ours and fairly won...Since May 5 we have been in one constant battle or skirmish, and need rest." --U.S. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, Sept. 2, '64, telegram to President Abraham Lincoln |
October 1864 |
Pursuit of Hood's Army. Most of month spent in pursuit of C.S.A. Gen. Hood's army into Alabama. |
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November 1864 |
Bloody Battle of Franklin, Tenn.. President Lincoln re-elected to 2nd term. Advance by C.S.A. Gen. Hood's army into Tennessee. Near capture of 80th at Spring Hill, Tenn., followed by Battle of Franklin, Tenn. |
"...at 4 P.M. their line was moving on our works. They made 11 successive charges, but was handsomly repulsed everytime, with heavy looss. It was a continual roar of muskets and cannons until 9 P.M... It was really unpleasant to hear the cryes and groans of the wounded, yet I think it would have been worse to see the field of slaughter the next morning. At 12 M. we left for Nashville." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary, Nov. 30, '64, Franklin, Tenn. |
December 1864 |
Bloody Battle of Nashville, Tenn.. Two day Battle of Nashville, Tenn., at mid-month, followed by pursuit to the Tennessee River of the remnants of C.S.A. Gen. Hood's defeated army. |
"And now I'm going southward, for my heart is full of woe; I'm going back to Georgia, to find my Uncle Joe. You may talk about your Beauregard, and sing of General Lee, but the gallant Hood of Texas, played hell in Tennessee." --Parody of The Yellow Rose of Texas sung by C.S.A. Army of Tennessee soldiers after the Battle of Nashville |
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