80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, September 1863 History

*Dates*	*Synopsis of 80th Service*	*Quotes*
Sept. 1 Tuesday	Forded Clinch and Big Emory. Marched 12 mi. Forded Big Emory and Clinch rivers. Required to leave all wagons behind except 1 for hospital supplies and 1 for head quarters equipment. Enlisted men ordered to carry knapsacks, blankets, and 60 rds. of musket cartridges. Camped on south side of Clinch River 6 mi. north east of Kingston, Tenn.	"Left camp at 9 A.M. Marched three miles and stopped until 4 P.M. Marched seven miles to Clinch River and forded it at 9 P.M. We are in Rane County. Left all our wagons in park and went on with one blanket." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "We are now getting into a finer country than any we have previously been in Tennessee, and there is as much improvement in the appearance of the people as in the character of the soil. It is encouraging to our troops to witness the joy of the inhabitants when we pass. Men and women assemble at the cross roads to animate us with cheers and welcome us with their smiles. I have nowhere seen such frowns in East Tennessee as were often witnessed in Kentucky." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 2 Wednesday	Kingston. Resumed marched to Knoxville at 2:00 P.M. Passed through Kingston, Tenn. Marched 8 mi. Went into camp at 9:00 P.M. along Knoxville Road.	"We passed through Kingston this afternoon, a town of some 600 or 700 inhabitants, where they welcomed us with the display of flags and shouts for the Union." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 3 Thursday	Three Lusty Cheers. Departed camp at 2 P.M. Marched 8 mi. toward Knoxville. Camped along Knoxville Road.	"We had the nicest view of the mountains we have ever had." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "This morning the troops of this division were addressed by General White, the Division Commander. He said this army has accomplished its great mission and had driven the enemy from his strong hold in East Tennessee, and that it was a grand achievement, and was no less a victory that it was accomplished without the shedding of blood...At the conclusion of the brief address of the General, the troops responded with three lusty cheers." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 4 Friday	Loudon Captured. Div. ordered to capture Loudon, Tenn. Resumed march at 9:00 A.M. Made frequent halts. Enemy had abandoned Loudon and burned the Tennessee River bridge there. Went into camp across Tennessee River from Loudon about 3:00 P.M. "Arrived at Loudon, Tennessee and took possession of the abandoned fortifications of the rebels." --Capt. Jeremiah C. Gladish Co. G, remarks in Co. Order Book	"The rebs left on Monday but burned the bridge. They had made preparations to fight but skedaddled." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "The bridge that was burned at this place was a costly one...the bridge was 660 yards in length, enclosed and covered with tin and besides the iron [railroad] track there was a passage for wagons." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 5 Saturday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn.	"The sun is warm in camp. Spent the day in viewing the rebel works... The officers spent the day selecting a camp." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "During the march for most of the time the men have had only half rations of meat and bread. There was but little salt bacon taken, beeves [cattle] were driven along and men were generally detailed at night to butcher and so short a time was generally given to cook the beef that sometimes they were forced to leave their meat rations behind and live on roasting ears [of corn] and [hard] crackers." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 6 Sunday	Rebel Deserters. Wagons arrived in afternoon with tents and baggage. Setup new camp in beautiful forest about 200 yards from Tennessee River, across from Loudon, Tenn. Entered Convalescent Barracks Hospital No. 1, Louisville, Ky. Pvt. Hezekiah Blevens Co. C "Diarrhoea"	"Sun very warm and nights cool. Moved camp. It don't appear like the Sabbath. I went five miles for forage. I got bread, apples and peaches. Our wagons came up with our things." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "Rebel deserters from the army have begun to flock to our lines, who are anxiously taking the oath of illegiance and returning to their homes in Tennessee and Kentucky." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 7 Monday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn. Discharged from the Army. Pvt. Jacob Francher Co. I	"Nothing of interest occured." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "Standing on these heights [overlooking Loudon] and casting my eye to the South and South west, I beheld the most beautiful landscape of mountain and valley scenery, that my eye ever rested on. A long rich fertile valley more or less indulating and rolling, cultivated farms on the hill sides with the hills and mountains rising up in the distance, their lofty summits mingling with the asure sky, their proud pinacles seemed to be kissing the clouds about them." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 8 Tuesday	One Year Ago. One year ago Regt. left Camp Gibson, Ind., to join the war. Now have 314 present able for duty. Camped at Loudon, Tenn. "Clear and warm."	"Just one year ago this afternoon the 80th Indiana left camp Gibson by railway, to grapple with the solemn realities of war...We then numbered nearly one thousand men, and started out on our uncertain expedition buyount with hope of a speedy termination of hostilities, and of a final triumph of our arms over all the wicked combinations and powers that had arrayed themselves with hellish malignity to subvert and overturn the government of our fathers...Many have since gone to the long home, many others are now in hospitals, and today we number only 314 present who are able for duty. But the survivors enter on the next year with equal determination to discharge their duty to their country and with higher hopes of victory than we entered the service twelve months ago." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 9 Wednesday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn.	"Nothing of interest transpired." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 10 Thursday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn. "Clear and warm."	"Heard Chattanooga was taken by Rosencrans." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary [Reference is to Federal forces led by U.S. Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans forcing Confederate forces led by Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg to abandon Chattanooga, Tenn.]
Sept. 11 Friday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn. Discharged from the Army. Pvt. Andrew Heart Co. F
Sept. 12 Saturday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn. "Clear and dusty."
Sept. 13 Sunday	Loudon. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn. Entered Branch No. 10 of General Hospital No. 2, Louisville, Ky. Pvt. Hezekiah Blevens Co. C "Chronic Diarrhoea"	"A still day in camp. Preaching at 3 P.M. A strong camp guard put out but released." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 14 Monday	Orders to March. At 9:30 P.M. received orders to march tomorrow at 1:00 A.M. with 2 days rations in haversacks. All knapsacks, and camp, garrison and hospital equipment to be forwarded by railroad. Camped across Tennessee River from Loudon, Tenn.	"Camp news is that Bragg's force has surrendered to Rosencrans." --Pvt. John K. King, Co. A, diary [This rumor proved false.] "We were in poor condition for so unexpected a march. The division commissary had already issued all the hard crackers and bacon and the only rations on hand were flour, salt, and fresh beef, and quarter rations of sugar and coffee. Nearly all of our cooking vessels were lost and all we had left us would be required to be kept hot all night so none of the cooks got any sleep all night..." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 15 Tuesday	Early Departure. Reveille at 1:00 a.m. Marched off at 3:30 a.m. Knapsacks and equipment transported by wagon to railroad, but train failed to arrive. "Clear and warm."	"Left for Knoxville at 3 A.M. Marched 25 miles. I was sick and rode on a wagon." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 16 Wednesday	Knoxville. Left camp at 5 A.M. Marched 4 mi. Arrived Knoxville, Tenn., at 9 A.M. A detachment went ahead to Morristown, Tenn., by railroad train, but rest of 80th continued on toward Strawberry Plains, Tenn.	"The regiment went on. 140 out of the brigade went on the cars to Morristown. Eight of Co. A arrived here at dark 42 miles from Knoxville... Jefferson County and Granges County." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary, written at Morristown, Tenn..
Sept. 17 Thursday	Strawberry Plains and Morristown. Detachment camped at Morristown, Tenn. Remainder of Regt. camped near Strawberry Plains, Tenn.	"Stayed in camp. Troops moving all day. Some on the [railroad] cars." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary, written at Morristown, Tenn..
Sept. 18 Friday	Strawberry Plains and Morristown. Knapsacks and equipment reached Regt. at 2:00 P.M. Detachment camped at Morristown, Tenn. Remainder of Regt. camped near Strawberry Plains, Tenn. Discharged from the Army. Pvt. Joseph A. Malcom Co. I	"It rained. Moved into a store." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary, written at Morristown, Tenn.
Sept. 19 Saturday	Hodgetown and Knoxville. At 10:00 A.M. Regt. received orders to return to Loudon, Tenn. Marched 9 mi. and camped in a field by Hodgetown, Tenn. Detachment left Morristown by railroad train at 2:00 P.M. and arrived Knoxville at 6:00 P.M. "The night was very cool, a heavy frost." Discharged from the Army. Pvt. Spencer Cully Co. F
Sept. 20 Sunday	Knoxville. Regt. awoke covered with frost. Departed Hodgetown at 3:00 A.M. Crossed Tennessee River at sunrise. Passed through Knoxville, Tenn., about Noon. Camped 4 mi. south of Knoxville. Regt. marched 13 mi. today. Detachment rejoined Regt. at camp. Cold night.	"Knoxville is a pleasant place. It is on a hill and the streets are graded and piked. The streets however are too narrow to look well. There are some beautiful private residences in different parts of town, and on the various eminance around the city." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary "I took a walk through the city, which is very nice. Left at 2 P.M. Marched five miles and joined the regiment." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 21 Monday	Reached Loudon. Heavy frost this morning. Resumed march at 4:00 A.M. Reached Loudon, Tenn., at 3:15 p.m. Marched 27 mi. in less than 11 hours, without rations. Spent night at previous camp site on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon.	"Having no rations I went a mile and a half to a farm house, in company with Lieutenant McConnell [1st Lieut. Bailey McConnell] of Company K and Lieutenant Montgomery [1st Lieut. Alexander Montgomery] of Company E for supper. They told us that they had nothing for themselves. They said the soldiers had stripped them of all their garden vegtables and fruit, and had taken all their hogs, and they had nothing left to get a meal of. We told them we had eat nothing since morning and had marched about 30 miles and must have something if possible. So she got us up as good as she had, consisting of boiled cabbage leaves, a little fried meat, some warm bread, a piece of butter the size of a walnut, and a glass of buttermilk a piece for us but no coffee." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 22 Tuesday	Rumors of Rebels. After dark received orders to prepare to march at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. Camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. Entered Branch No. 3 of General Hospital No. 2, Louisville, Ky. Pvt. Hezekiah Blevens Co. C "Chronic Diarrhoea"	"In camp but expecting to move all day. Sent a letter home." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "The camp has been rife with various rumors of the advance of Rebels..." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 23 Wednesday	Crossed the River. In morning went over Tennessee River on pontoon bridge in dense fog. By evening entire division was across. Camped on south side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. Discharged from the Army. Pvt. Patrick Doyle Co. B Pvt. Franklin Nellis Co. F	"Left camp at 4 A.M. and moved across the river. Drawed three days' rations." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "Went into camp where the men went to work preparing rations consisting of flour mixed up with water and baked in pans and camp kettles without soda, and fresh beef." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 24 Thursday	Sweetwater and Back. Departed Loudon at 5:00 A.M. Passed by Philadelphia, Tenn. and camped at Sweetwater, Tenn., at 11:00 A.M. after covering 12 mi. In evening received orders to return to Loudon. Marched out of Sweetwater at 9:00 P.M.	"A nice country. Left Sweet Water at 9 P.M. and got back to Louden at 3 A.M. The moon shone bright." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "...I waited till dark and then placed [wooden fence] rails with one end on the fence and the other on the ground and on the rails spread my tent to shelter me from the dew. I gathered corn leaves and made a good bed in the corner under my tent and after having spread down my blankets, just as I was taking off my shoes to lie down, orders came to prepare to return to Loudon, immediately!" --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 25 Friday	Loudon. Reached Loudon at 3:00 A.M. after march of 12 mi. in dark on dusty roads. Went back into previous camp on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. Entered General Hospital Madison, Ind. Pvt. Hezekiah Blevens Co. C "Chronic Diarrhoea" Discharged from the Army. 1st Sergt. Thomas H. Endicott Co. F	"I never suffered so much from want of sleep as I did this night. On the night of the 4th of July it is true were we sleepy; but we halted long enough for men to catch several short naps, but from Sweet Water to Loudon there were no opportunities given for sleep." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 26 Saturday	Ready for Action. Received orders at 8:00 P.M. to inspect muskets, make sure all men had 40 rds. of musket cartridges, and be ready for action at any moment. All but blankets and shelter tents loaded into wagons. Mules harnessed to wagons all night. Remained camped at Loudon, Tenn.	"Expecting to move camp. At 5 P.M. we got word the Rebs were coming. Great excitement all night. Sent a letter home." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 27 Sunday	Seeking Refuge. Reveille at 2:00 A.M. Citizens poured into Loudon all day from around Athens and Sweetwater, Tenn., seeking protection from advancing Rebel forces near Philadelphia. Remained camped at Loudon, Tenn.	"Great excitement. It is reported the Rebels are within five miles. I am at work on the pontoon bridge." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary "The dust rises up in clouds on all the roads leading to Loudon from the south, occassioned by the continual stampeed of men, women, and children and strange to say some cavalry men rode back with exciting rumors of the magnitude of the Rebel force...containing two Indian Regiments advancing on us on the Madisonville road only one mile and half distant. No small portion of the Skedaddlers were negroes. Though we were in readiness all day the enemy did not appear." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary
Sept. 28 Monday	Anxious Day. At 9:00 A.M. brisk cannonading heard from near Philadelphia, Tenn. At 1:30 P.M. Regt. ordered forward 1 mi. on Athens road. Stacked arms in line of battle. At 2:30 P.M. marched back to Loudon. Stacked arms south of town in line of battle beside Athens road near 24th Ind. Battery.	"...just as dinner [lunch] was ready and while I was in the act of pouring my first cup of coffee, the bugle sound the signal of alarm, and the long roll beat as the signal for the 80th to fall into line, and the same call was sounded in the other Regiments at the same time...Rebel army reported coming, and on this side of Philadelphia. Everybody looks anxious and appearances indicate "hot work"." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary "Cannonading at Philadelphia six miles away. The cavalry fell back and we went into line of battle and lay all night. Supposed to be 7000." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 29 Tuesday	Enemy Gone. At 8:00 A.M. scouts reported the Rebel army had retreated. Returned to camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn.	"I laid cold last night and got but little sleep. Got up at 2 o'clock [A.M.] and stood around the fire. Had breakfast at 3 o'clock [A.M.]. 4 o'clock A.M. It is full moon and as bright as day and we are expecting the enemy to open their fire on us at any minute. 5 o'clock A.M. A dense fog is now rising and it is not likely that any engagement will take place..." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, diary "At sun up we expected them to attack us but they skedaddled at midnight. We went back to camp at 11 A.M." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary
Sept. 30 Wednesday	Orders to March. Occasional cannon fire heard. Co. A on picket duty. Received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice, but remained camped on north side of Tennessee River at Loudon, Tenn. "PRESENT FOR DUTY. Captain...............1 1st Lieutenants...1 Sergeants...........3 Corporals..........6 Drummers..........1 Fifers.................1 Wagoners..........1 Privates...........14" Morning Report of Co. G, signed by: 1st Sergt. James F. Cantwell Capt. Jeremiah C. Gladish

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	September 1863 80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry An American Civil War Regiment
Bridge at Strawberry Plains, East Tennessee Photo by George N. Barnard taken circa late 1863/early 1864 Digital ID: cwp 4a39758, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Image has been cropped and electronically enhanced by Deep Vee Productions To view a larger version of this photograph, click HERE