80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, April 1864 History

Below are brief descriptions of the 80th's day-to-day experiences during April, 1864. Most of this month they were camped at Morristown, in Hamblen Cty., Tenn., about 60 miles East/Northeast of Knoxville, Tenn. The 80th's time there was spent reorganizing and preparing for the beginning of U.S. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's campaign to capture Atlanta, Ga. During this time the regiment exchanged the national flag issued to it in 1862, now bearing the battle honors of "Chaplin Hills" (Perryville) and "Knoxville" and torn and tattered from 19 months in the field, for a brand new one. The 80th ended the month at Charlestown, Bradley Cty., Tenn., about 25 mi. Northeast of Chattanooga, poised to begin the Atlanta Campaign.

Also included below are quotes from primary and secondary sources that 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: Brig.=Brigade; Co.=Company; Cty.=County; Dept.=Department; Div.=Division; Ga.=Georgia; Gen.=General; Hdqrs.=Headquarters; Ind.=Indiana; Lieut.=Lieutenant; Maj.=Major; Pvt.=Private; Tenn.=Tennessee; and U.S.=United States.

The 80th Indiana was formed in response to President Lincoln's call for 300,000 more volunteers for the Federal Army. The 80th left Indiana in September, 1862, and did not return until July, 1865. During that time it marched over 3,700 miles on foot and fought in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. Of the roughly 1,000 men who served in it, only 320 were still with the 80th when it came home.

Sources: 80th Indiana Regimental and Company Order Books; Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volumes III and IV, 1861-1865 (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1866); personal diaries of Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, 1st Lieut. Isum Gwin, Co. D, and Pvt. John K. King, Co. A, 80th Ind.; and other items as noted.

*Dates*	*Synopsis of 80th Service*	*Quotes*
Apl. 1 Friday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Misting rain." Mustered into the Army. Recruit Samuel Arnold Co. G Recruit Richard L. Williams Co. G
Apl. 2 Saturday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Misting rain."
Apl. 3 Sunday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear and pleasant."
Apl. 4 Monday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."
Apl. 5 Tuesday	Moved Camp. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear. Very cold."	"Moved camp over the creek [to] a nice place." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 6 Wednesday	Cleaned Camp. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."
Apl. 7 Thursday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear." Died at Knoxville, Tenn. Pvt. William Page Co. K, "inflamation of brain"
Apl. 8 Friday	Picket Duty. Regiment sent on picket duty near Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."
Apl. 9 Saturday	Mustered into the Army. Recruit Samuel B. Estes Co. A Recruit William McGillum Co. H Recruit John Stephenson Co. H Recruit John Thompson Co. H Recruit William Thompson Co. H Recruit William Willis Co. H
Apl. 10 Sunday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear." "I. The Twenty-third Army Corps will be reorganized as follows, to take effect on the 11th instant: Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, Brig. Gen. H. M. Judah commanding: First Brigade, Brig. Gen. M. S. Hascall commanding: Twenty-fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Eightieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Thirteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, Third East Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, Sixth East Tennessee Volunteer Infantry." --Maj.-Gen. John M. Schofield, Special Order No. 101, Hdqrs., Dept. of the Ohio, Knoxville, Tenn.	"All quiet and nothing to do. Getting plenty of rations." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 11 Monday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "It rained."
Apl. 12 Tuesday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear." Resigned from the Army. Capt. Charles G. Brownlee Co. A
Apl. 13 Wednesday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear." Commissioned as Co. A officers. Sergt. William Archer as 1st Lieut. 2nd Lieut. William M. Duncan as Capt.
Apl. 14 Thursday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."	"Spent $2.00 for paper and envelopes." --Pvt. John K. King, Co. A, diary. This purchase represented 15% of $13.00 per month that King received as a Private.
Apl. 15 Friday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."
Apl. 16 Saturday	No Drill Today. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."	"No drill as this is Saturday." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 17 Sunday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."
Apl. 18 Monday	Resignation Accepted. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear." Resignation from Army accepted. Capt. Charles Brownlee Co. A, "Neuralgia and Indigestion"
Apl. 19 Tuesday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."	"Drill as usual." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 20 Wednesday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. Tried by Court Martial at Mossy Creek, Tenn., convicted of "desertion" for being absent without leave from Jan. 27, '63 to Mar. 8, '64 and sentenced to loss of pay for that period and required to make good the time lost. Pvt. Jacob McMillen Co. E	"Drilled four hours." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 21 Thursday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."
Apl. 22 Friday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear. Very warm."
Apl. 23 Saturday	Inspection and Drill. Inspection in the morning. Drilled four hours in afternoon. Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield present. "Clear."
Apl. 24 Sunday	Morristown. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."	"As we had no church or drill it was a dull day in camp." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 25 Monday	Received Marching Orders. Co. A, B and E detached as railroad train guards. Camped at Morristown, Tenn. "Clear."	"...went up to Bulls Gap 29 miles as train guards. We had a pleasant trip and plenty of fun. When I got back to camp I got two letters. --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 26 Tuesday	Goodbye Guard Duty. Departed at 5:00 A.M. as part of 1st Brig. of 2nd Div. of 23rd Corps to join campaign led by U.S.A. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman to capture Atlanta, Ga. Passed through New Market, Tenn. Crossed Holston River and rested at Strawberry Plains, Tenn. Late in evening went into camp at Flat Creek, Tenn. Marched 17 mi. "Clear."	"At an early hour we were under March toward Dixie." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen, Co. H, 80th Ind., diary entry "Left camp (Mossy Creek) at 5 A.M. all the division. The First Brigade is in the rear. Rested at Strawberry Plains one hour for dinner. Marched on to Flat Creek, making 17 miles where we camped. Received a long letter." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 27 Wednesday	Passed Through Knoxville. Reveille at 4:00 A.M. Marched at 5:00 A.M. Passed through Knoxville, Tenn., at Noon. Quarter Master issued new shoes. Halted for 3 hours in afternoon before finishing 22 mi. march. "...rained some during the night."	"Marched from Flat Creek early in the morning arrived at Knoxville about 12 O'clock M [midday] rested awhile and drew some shoes [then] marched out 4 miles and encamped..." --1st Lieut. Isum Gwin Co. D, from his leather-bound pocket diary.
Apl. 28 Thursday	On to Louden. Reveille at 4:00 A.M. Marched at 5:30 A.M. Passed through Campbells Station and reached Lenoir in evening. Went into camp across the Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn., at dusk. Marched 24 mi. "Clear."	"All of us very tired. We did not halt for dinner, nor to take a good rest all day." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Apl. 29 Friday	On to Sweet Water. Reveille at 4:00 A.M. Marched at 5:00 A.M. Crossed Tennessee River. Passed through Loudon and Philadelphia, Tenn. Camped in the woods near Sweet Water, Tenn. Marched 20 mi. "It rained." Reported to the regiment. Recruit Samuel B. Estes Co. A Recruit William McGillum Co. H Recruit John Stephenson Co. H Recruit John Thompson Co. H Recruit William Thompson Co. H Recruit William Willis Co. H	"...most of the troops crossing [the Tennessee River] on the RR [railroad] bridge some crossing at the ferry. Rained soon after crossing, but cleared off[. We] passed through Philadelphia and Sweetwater encamping about 5 miles from Sweetwater...rained during the night." --1st Lieut. Isum Gwin Co. D, from his leather-bound pocket diary.
Apl. 30 Saturday	Charleston. Reveille at 4:00 A.M. Marched at 5:00 A.M. Arrived at Charleston, Tenn., on Hewassee River at 5:00 P.M. Camped on a hillside. Marched 25 mi. Entire 23rd A.C. now assembled at Charleston, Tenn. "It rained."	"...let Gilford Brown [Recruit Tilford M. Brown Co. D] have two dollars in money." --1st Lieut. Isum Gwin Co. D, from his leather-bound pocket diary. Brown died July 31,'64, at Knoxville, Tenn. "Still keeping near the railroad [track], sometimes on it. We passed some good farms and country... Camped on a hillside. It just poured down rain. Three of us slept in a house. We found the 1st division and the 3rd division had come down on the train." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions. All Rights Reserved. Created May 11, 2000. Last updated January 1, 2005.

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