Black and white photograph of US President Abraham Lincoln taken November 8, 1863 August 1862

80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
An American Civil War Regiment

U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
Taken November 8, 1863 by Alexander Garner
Image LC-USZ62-13016 courtesy of US Library of Congress


"I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky. I think to lose Kentucky is nearly the same as to lose the whole game."

--President Abraham Lincoln


Below are brief descriptions of the 80th's day-to-day experiences during August, 1862, which included commissioning officers, recruiting and enlisting men, organizing companies, and reporting to Camp Gibson at Princeton, Ind., to begin training. 

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: Capt.=Captain; Co.=Company; Gov.=Governor; Ill.=Illinois; Ind.=Indiana; Ky.=Kentucky; NCO's=Non-Commissioned Officers; Pvt.=Private; Sergt.=Sergeant; U.S.=United States of America. 

The 80th Indiana was formed in response to President Lincoln's July 1862 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 1,036 men who served in it, only 320 were still with the 80th when it came home.

Sources: 80th Indiana Consolidated Morning Reports and Order Books; Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, 1861-1865, Volumes III, IV, and VIII,  (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1866); and other items as noted.
Dates Synopsis of 80th Service Quotes
Aug. 1
Friday
Aug. 2
Saturday
First 80th NCO's Enlisted.  

The following 2 volunteers enlisted as NCO's in Co. E.
Charles Mead, 3rd Sergt.
Lewis J. Stevens, 7th Cpl.
Aug. 3
Sunday
First 80th Officer Commissioned.  

Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton commissioned the first Company Officer in what would become the 80th Ind.
Jacob Ragle as Capt., Co. K
Aug. 4
Monday
Aug. 5
Tuesday
Aug. 6
Wednesday
Aug. 7
Thursday
Aug. 8
Friday
Aug. 9
Saturday
More NCO's Enlist.  

The following 3 volunteers enlisted as NCO's in Co. D.
John W. Clark, 2nd Sergt.
Isum Gwins, 1st Sergt.
Warner G. Smoot, 3rd Sergt. 

An initial 11 volunteers enlisted in Co. E, including the following 4 NCO's.
James Hughes, 1st Cpl.
Enos H. Kirk, 1st Sergt.
Francis M. Montgomery, 2nd Cpl.
Joshua D. West, 3rd Cpl.
Aug. 10
Sunday
Aug. 11
Monday
Initial Company G Enlistments.  

Commissioned as Co. A Officer by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
George T. Simonson, Capt.

The first 15 volunteers enlist in Co. G, including the following 6 who will serve as its initial NCO's.
John W. Adams, 2nd Corp.
James F. Cantwell, 1st Sergt.
William H. Clements, 7th Cpl.
Anthony Kirkey, 4th Cpl.
Josiah L. Long, 2nd Sergt.
James McGinnis, 6th Cpl.
Aug. 12
Tuesday
Initial Company I Enlistments.
 
The first 35 volunteers enlist in Co. I, including these who will serve as its initial NCO's.
Thomas W. Crotts, 3rd Cpl.
William F. Downey, 7th Cpl.
William S. Emery, 2nd Sergt.
Darius Horrall, 8th Cpl.
Richard M. Jones, 3rd Sergt.
Christian Kolla, 4th Cpl.
John H. Myers, 4th Sergt.
Silas W. Scott, 5th Cpl.
Charles Sellers, 6th Cpl.
Elisha Tomlinson, 5th Sergt.
William Tomlinson, 2nd Cpl.
Lewis Turbett, 1st Sergt.
Thomas J. Wetzel, 1st Cpl.

Company G.  An additional 10 volunteers enlist in Co. G, including the following who will serve as 2 of its initial NCO's.
Henry J. Faile, 3rd Cpl.
Jeremiah C. Glamish, 5th Sergt.
Aug. 13
Wednesday
80th Authorized, Company K Organized.  

Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton officially authorized formation of 11 new volunteer infantry regiments, one from each Ind. Congressional district.  The 1st Congressional District consisted of Davies, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Pike and Posey counties in the southwestern corner of the State.  The regiment recruited from these counties was designated as the 80th Indiana.

Commissioned as Co. K Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
Alexander W. Anderson, 2nd Lieut.
Peter Hill, 1st Lieut.

Co. K, "the White River Rangers," organized at Kecksville, Ind., under the command of Capt. Jacob Ragle.  Forty-five volunteers enlist in the company, including these men who will serve as its initial NCO's.
Thompson Cox, 4th Cpl.
Joel Holbert, 5th Cpl.
William Jones, 7th Cpl.
John L. Keck, 1st Sergt.
Alonzo O. Ragle, 2nd Sergt.
Gideon Wells, 4th Sergt.
Aug. 14
Thursday
First Full Company Enlisted.  

Co. B is first company in 80th to enlist its full number of volunteers: 3 officers, 13 NCO's, 2 Musicians, 1 Wagoner, and 79 Privates.  It was recruited almost exclusively from Loogootee in Martin County.  

Commissioned as Co. B Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
Bazil Clements, 1st Lieut.
Cutter S. Dobbins, Capt.
James T. Melton, 2nd Lieut.

The following men enlisted as Co. B NCO's.
Greenup Blanford, 4th Cpl.
James A. Bramble, 1st Cpl.
Thomas J. Brooks, 1st Sergt.
De Witt C. Brown, 3rd Cpl.
John C. L Campbell, 2nd Cpl.
Uriah Clements, 2nd Sergt.
James T. Cooney, 6th Cpl.
Patrick R. Doyle, 7th Cpl.
John H. Kelley, 4th Sergt.
William F. O'Brian, 5th Cpl.
James E. Walker, 3rd Sergt.
Ziba Whitney, 5th Sergt.

Commissioned as Co. D Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
William F. Green, 2nd Lieut.
Jacob Scammahorn, 1st Lieut.
John W. Tucker, Capt.
Aug. 15
Friday
First Field Officer Commissioned.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson Cty., Ind. 

Commissioned as an 80th Field Officer by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
Thomas Brown, Quartermaster

Commissioned as Co. C Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
Thomas Chambers, 1st Lieut.
William C. Chambers, 2nd Lieut.
James L. Culbertson, Capt.

Telegram from Col. Andrew Lewis, commanding Camp Gibson at Princeton, Ind., to Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
"The Eightieth (80) regiment will be full to-night.  Have no means of susbsistence but private contributions.  Appoint Quarter Master and advise me by telegraph that I may send him up at once to be qualified and make necessary requisitions."

Telegram from Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton to Col. Andrew Lewis, commanding Camp Gibson.
"Capt. Foster, U.S. Commissary sent instructions to Evensville for your present Qr. Master to issue rations to all men recruited in your District.  Have you been there since your return?  Complaints are made that there is nobody to take charge of the men, and a total want of discipline exists."

Aug. 16
Saturday
Company D Enlistments.  

Ten volunteers enlist Co. D, including the following who will serve as its initial NCO's.
Thomas J. Alford, 7th Cpl.
Hiram Chandler, 2nd Cpl.
John Gilkey, 6th Cpl.
James B. Gilley, 3rd Cpl.
William A. McCard, 4th Cpl.
William A. McFarron, 1st Cpl.
John C. Porter, 5th Cpl.
Joseph F. Workman, 1st Cpl.

Telegram from Col. Andrew Lewis commanding Camp Gibson, to Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
"Have enough men reported for Eightieth (80) to fill it to maximum standard...Will do the best I can to take care of Eightieth (80) but have no camp equipage.  Send to Princeton instructor all you can spare."
 
Aug. 17
Sunday
Company E Officers.  

Commissioned as Co. E Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
Alexander Montgomery, 1st Lieut.
James S. Morgan, 2nd Lieut.
Harrison M. Spain, Capt.
Aug. 18
Monday
No Camp Equipment.  

Telegram from Col. Andrew Lewis, commanding Camp Gibson, to Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
"Quarter Master Brown has not reported, expect three hundred (300) men Eightieth, and could have Eight hundred (800).  Have no camp equipage.  What shall I do?"
 
Aug. 19
Tuesday
Company H Enlistments.  

Twenty-eight volunteers enlist in Co. H from Pike County, Ind., including the following who serve as its initial NCO's.
Daniel C. Ashby, 4th Sergt.
Willis Brewster, 5th Sergt.
Andrew J. Brock, 5th Cpl.
Fletcher H. Curtis, 1st Cpl.
Felix G. Dearing, 7th Cpl.
George T. Dearing, 2nd Sergt.
Robert M. Henry, 6th Cpl.
Henry J. Higgs, 4th Cpl.
William H. H. Ivy, 1st Sergt.
Merrick M. Frambes, 3rd Sergt.
Christian H. Rynierson, 3rd Cpl.
Milton Spraggins, 8th Cpl.
Simon C. Woods, 2nd Cpl.

Telegram from Col. Andrew Lewis, commanding Camp Gibson, to Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
"No Quarter Master for Eightieth (80)...Can I contract for Camp Kettles here?  Have contracted for water buckets coffee boilers and wash forms."
 
Aug. 20
Wednesday
Camp Gibson.  
Aug. 21
Thursday
Ready Soon.  

 Telegram from Col. Andrew Lewis, commanding Camp Gibson, to Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
"Eightieth will be ready to Muster by twenty sixth (26)."
 
Aug. 22
Friday
Many Men Enlist Today.  Large number volunteers enlist in various companies of the 80th. 
Aug. 23
Saturday
Company K Filled.   

Co. K completes its recruitment when 43 more volunteers enlist in it, including the following who will serve as some of its initial NCO's.
William Fry, 6th Cpl.
John Halstead, 8th Cpl.
Turner M. Johnson, 1st Cpl.
William Johnson, 2nd Cpl.
Bailey McConnell, 3rd Sergt.
Alexander Rose, 5th Sergt.
Daniel Timmons, 3rd Cpl.
Aug. 24
Sunday
Company G and I Officers.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Ind.

Commissioned as Co. G Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
Porter Clarkson, 2nd Lieut.
Samuel E. Smith, 1st Lieut.
Willis H. Watson, Capt.

Commissioned as Co. I Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
William D. Lewis, Capt.
Lewis C. Turbett, 2nd Lieut.
Thomas J. Walker, 1st Lieut.

Telegram from U.S. Gen. H. G. Wright, commanding US Dept. of the Ohio, to Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton about the C.S.A. invasion of Ky.
"Major-General Nelson telegraphs from Lexington the enemy in force near Richmond. Your troops needed. Send them forward with all dispatch."
 
Aug. 25
Monday
Camp Gibson.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind. 
"Left home in a buggy with J. F. Trafzer and went to Winslow, thence with about 50 other recruits in wagons, to camp Gibson, in Princeton."
--Pvt. Joseph P. Glezen, Co. H, of Petersburg, Pike Cty., post-war memoir based on his war time diaries
Aug. 26
Tuesday
Camp Gibson.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind. 
Aug. 27
Wednesday
Company F Officers. Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind.

Commissioned as Co. F Officers by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton.
James S. Eppleson, 1st Lieut.
James H. C. Lowe, 2nd Lieut.
Russell J. Showers, Capt.
Aug. 28
Thursday
80th is Full.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind. 
"The Princeton Clarion learns that the 80th regiment rendezvoused at that place is full--that a sufficient number of companies and more have reported to complete it."
Evansville Journal newspaper, Evansville, Ind.
Aug. 29
Friday
Camp Gibson.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind. 
Aug. 30
Saturday
Camp Gibson.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind. 
Aug. 31
Sunday
Come With Utmost Dispatch.  Camped at Camp Gibson, Princeton, Gibson County, Ind.

Reported as a deserter.
Pvt. Jesse Bucknor, Co. C

Telegram from Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton to Col. Andrew Lewis, commanding Camp Gibson.
"Bring to this place every man in the 80th.  Fill the companies by transfers.  Leave an officer to forward any who may be on furlough as fast as they come in.  Emergency requires the utmost dispatch."
 


This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created January 1, 2000. Last updated December 12, 2004.
1862

 1863

 1864

 1865

 Next
Facts Rosters Profiles Images History
Home Changes Modern Needed Sources