March 1865

80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
An American Civil War Regiment


"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan -- to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

--President Abraham Lincoln
Second Inaugural address
Mar. 4, '65


Below are brief descriptions of the 80th's day-to-day experiences during March, 1865, which included the capture of Goldsboro, North Carolina. 

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: BGen.=Brigadier General; Co.=Company; C.S.A.=Confederate States of America; Dept.=Department; Gen.=General; G.O.=General Order; Ind.=Indiana; Mar.=March; N.C.=North Carolina; Oh.=Ohio; Sergt.=Sergeant; U.S.=United States; 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
Mar. 1
Wednesday
Wilmington.  Camped at Wilmington in New Hannover County, N.C., along the Atantic coast.

Mustered into the Army.
Recruit William Turner Co. I
Mar. 2
Thursday
Mar. 3
Friday
Mar. 4
Saturday
Lincoln Inauguration.  Abraham Lincoln takes oath of office for second 4 year term as President.

Died at Louisville, Ky.
Recruit Samuel Melton Co. I

Discharged from Army due to disability.
Recruit Franklin B. Gillespie Co. F
  "wounds"
Mar. 5
Sunday
Mar. 6
Monday
Discharged from the Army.
Pvt. Joseph Strickland Co. E
  "wounds"
Mar. 7
Tuesday
Mar. 8
Wednesday
Mar. 9
Thursday
Mar. 10
Friday
Discharged from the Army.
Pvt. James Dugan Co. I
Mar. 11
Saturday
Mar. 12
Sunday
Mar. 13
Monday
Discharged from Army due to disability.
Pvt. Abram Corn Co. H
  "wounds"
"My legs is about the same as when I left My breast is better...John McCord [Corp. John McCord Co. C] is on the Mend he is on lite duty...  I Stay in the Same Ward and have got a good bead to Sleep on...
--1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Mar. 14
Tuesday
Mar. 15
Wednesday
"...I have not heared from the boys [in Co. C] Since the 23d of last month. let me know when you here from them. I See an account of the Division that the 80 is in being in a fight at kinston [Kingston in Cleveland Cty.], N.C. ) I hope that they have all come out on the Safe Side..."
 --1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Mar. 16
Thursday
Winston.  Camped at Winston, N.C.
"I will Send you a paper [newspaper] once and a while...in reading these papers where it speaks of Colonel Moores Brigade [Col. Orlando Moore] remember the 80 is in that...  my health is about as common...  wee got a letter from Derias Johnson [Sergt. Darius Johnson Co. C] it was ritten on the 26 of last month Co. C. was all well when he wrote (thare had been none of the 80 wounded or killed up to that time)."
 --1st Sergt. Samuel T. Reeves Co. C, letter from Camp Dennison Oh., to his wife Huldah and family in Edwardsport, Ind.
Mar. 17
Friday
Winston.  Camped at Winston, N.C.
Mar. 18
Saturday
Discharged from the Army.
Pvt. Henry Barton Co. I


Mar. 19
Sunday
Mar. 20
Monday
Mar. 21
Tuesday
Occupation of Goldsboro, N.C..

Discharged from Army due to disability.
Pvt. Thomas J. J. Cook Co. H
  "wounds"

"The following officers are announced as members of the division staff, and will be obeyed and respected accordingly...Lieut. Thomas Brown, Eightieth Indiana Infantry, acting assistant quartermaster..."
--BGen. Davis Tillson, commanding 4th Division, Mar. 18, '65, G.O. No. 1, issued Knoxville, Tenn.
"I think I will Stay here untill I am able to go to the front I have not inproved So rapidly Since I come here as I did a few days before I left home John McCord [Corp. John McCord Co. C] 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.
Mar. 22
Wednesday
Mar. 23
Thursday
Mar. 24
Friday
Mar. 25
Saturday
Mar. 26
Sunday
Mar. 27
Monday
Mar. 28
Tuesday
Mar. 29
Wednesday
Mustered into the Army.
Recruit William H. Williams Co. F
Mar. 30
Thursday
Mar. 31
Friday
Mosely Hall.  Camped at Mosely Hall Station, N.C.

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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