April 1865

80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
An American Civil War Regiment
Sergeant Albert Pancake of Company H, 80th Indiana
Wounded in action May 9, 1864, near Rocky Face Ridge, Ga. 
Image courtesy of Ray Mulesky, husband of Albert's Great Great Grandaughter Amy Carver Mulesky
Picture shown above has been electronically enhanced by Deep Vee Productions
To view a larger copy of this and the original image, click HERE


"...The worst news that has come in Camp for a long time was the news ov the Death ov Abe Lincon we got the News las nite and the army was al mad & they couldent hardly keep the army from Burning the town I was in for it.  I am in for Burning the hole Southern States up for the Death ov Lincoln..."

--Sergt. Albert Pancake, Co. H
letter written from Raleigh, N.C.
to his father in Pike County, Ind.


Below are brief descriptions of the 80th's day-to-day experiences during April, 1865, which included the final surrender of the Confederate armies, the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, and the conclusion of the four year old American Civil War. 

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: Apl.=April; Co.=Company; C.S.A.=Confederate States of America; Dept.=Department; Gen.=General; Lieut.=Lieutenant; N.C.=North Carolina; Oh.=Ohio; U.S.=United States of America; Va.=Virginia; and '65=1865.

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); letters by 1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, 80th Ind. (1864-1865), courtesy of the Dept. of Special Collections, University of Notre Dame; and other items as noted.
Dates Synopsis Quotes
Apl. 1
Saturday
Apl. 2
Sunday
Apl. 3
Monday
"I think the decisive Battle will be faught before long.  I dont think the Rebles will hold out much longer but that is not for us to know at the presant if god has a desire in this war (and I truly believe he has) it will close when the national Sin is blotted out and not before.  Gods will must and will be done and wee Should be reconsiled to it."
--1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 4
Tuesday
Discharged at Quincy, Ill., due to wounds suffered May 14, '64 at Resaca, Ga.
Cpl. Elijah E. Richardson Co. E
"Ball entered the left arm cutting away two inches of the elbow carrying away the joint and then entered the left hip shattering the bone..." 
"...thare is good news this morning the report of Richman [Richmond, Va.] being in our hands is confermed this morning. Signed By Secrtary Stanton [US Secretary of War Edward M. Stanton], it Says the Stars and Stripes are floating over what has been termed the Reble Capital ( the military authorities Seams to think that peace is not fare distant ) I hope So..."
 --1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 5
Wednesday
Apl. 6
Thursday
"...well Dear the news here is Still good general Sherman [US Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman who commands of the army the 80th belongs to] Says that he will have his army mustered out in less than four months I hope it will be so..."
--1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 7
Friday
Apl. 8
Saturday
Discharged from Army due to disability.
Pvt. Robert Johnson Co. F
  "wounds"
Apl. 9
Sunday
Lee's Army Surrenders.  The C.S.A. Army of Northern Virginia commanded by Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders to U.S. forces under Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse, Va.
"I received a letter from Isaac [Corp. Isaac Demoss Co. C] that was ritten on the 30th of last month he was not verry well he Said that thare was Some of the Boys Sick he Said that they was in camp and they thought they would Stay thare some time..."
 --1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 10
Monday
"Dearest thare is cheering news this morning lee [CSA Maj. Gen. Robert E. Lee] has Surrendered his army to grant [US Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant] ...I hope this Bloody conflict is nearly over oh what a day of rejoising to Some when it will breake afresh the sorrows of many that has lost Dear Companions and Sons and fathers and Brothers Since this conflict commenced oh how thankful wee ought to be to him that has Spared us through the many trials and dangs that wee have passed through..."
 --1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 11
Tuesday
"We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart. The evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and the surrender of the principal insurgent army, give hope of a righteous and speedy peace whose joyous expression can not be restrained.  In the midst of this, however, He from whom all blessings flow, must not be forgotten.  A call for a national thanksgiving is being prepared, and will be duly promulgated."
--U.S. President Abraham Lincoln from his last public speech.
Apl. 12
Wednesday
"I received a letter from Stuard McLin [Pvt. Stewart McLinn Co. C] ritten on the 3 of this month...the Boys of Co C was all about well...wee got the news last night that Johnson [CSA Gen. Joseph E. Johnston] had Surrendered [his army, which the 80th had been fighting against] but it was not confirmed in the moring paper..."
 --1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 13
Thursday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh in Wake County, N.C.
Apl. 14
Friday
Lincoln Shot.  U.S. President Abraham Lincoln shot in head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.  80th camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 15
Saturday
Lincoln Dies.  President Lincoln dies at 7:22 a.m. from a gun shot wound.  80th camped at Raleigh, N.C.

Apl. 16
Sunday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
"...the news of that death give a great Shock through our nation all true harted loyal Christians feels that they have lost a friend.  Some rejoised over his death in cincinn [Cincinnati Oh.] they was Shot immediately... one in our Camp Said that he was glad of it he had ought to died four years ago  he was knocked down with a chair and was beat So he has to keep [to] his Bead.  I hope Such men will be treated in like manner every where for Such men is traitors to the goverment and the laws of our Country...this is a pritty good time to learn whether a mans Sympathy is for our Countries good or not..."
--1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 17
Monday
Raleigh.  80th receives news of the assassination of President Lincoln.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 18
Tuesday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
"...all is going fine John Mccord [Corp. John McCord Co. C] is Still [assigned duty] in the Kitchin his health is about as common..."
--1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Apl. 19
Wednesday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 20
Thursday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 21
Friday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 22
Saturday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 23
Sunday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 24
Monday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 25
Tuesday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 26
Wednesday
Surrender of Johnson's Army.  Confederate forces under command of Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Johnson surrenders to U.S. Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman.  President Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, shot and captured near Bowling Green, Va., dying later that day.  80th camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 27
Thursday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 28
Friday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.

"I have the honor to make application for a (30) days leave of absence for the following reasons.  I have been in the Service nearly (3) years and have never had a leave of absence, I have been with my Company ever since the Regt. was organized, [and] on entering the Service I left my business unsettled it is now in such a condition that it needs my personal attention."
 --Application for 30 day leave by Capt. Isum Gwin Co. D.


Apl. 29
Saturday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
Apl. 30
Sunday
Raleigh.  Camped at Raleigh, N.C.
"...the news is good Jo Johnson [CSA Maj. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston] has Surrenderd to Gen Sherman [US Lieut. Gen. William T. Sherman] on the same terms that Lee [CSA Maj. Gen. Robert E. Lee] Surrendered.  I hope and think the fighting is over.  the Rebles has but little force now any wheres...I received a letter from Isaac [Corp. Isaac Demoss Co. C] that was meled on the 21 he was well but nearly wore out marching he said that they was near raleigh [Raleigh, N.C.]..."
--1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.

This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created February 4, 2001. Last updated February 26, 2005.
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