Eighteenth Indiana Infantry. — Cols., Thomas Patterson, Henry D. Washburn; Lieut. -Cols., Henry D. Washburn, DeWitt C. Thomas, Jesse L. Holman, William S. Charles, James C. Black, Josiah Campbell; Majs., DeWitt C. Thomas, Jesse L. Holman, John C. Jenks, Jonathan H. Williams, James C. Black, Napoleon H. Daniels. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis, and was mustered in on Aug. 16, 1861, for three years. It left the state the next day for St. Louis and accompanied Fremont into Missouri. On its return it moved with Pope's army to the Blackwater and aided in the capture of a large number of prisoners. In Feb., 1862, it marched to Cross Hollow, Ark., and in an engagement near Leesville in March its brigade saved another from capture, the 18th recapturing the guns of the Peoria artillery. The regiment participated in the advance at Elkhorn Tavern, when the enemy was forced from the field, and then marched for Helena, Ark., being engaged at Cotton Plant early in July and reaching Helena on the 13th. On Oct. 11, it moved for southeastern Missouri, where it passed the winter, and was transferred to Grant's army in the spring of 1863, participating in the engagement at Grand Gulf. At Port Gibson it captured a stand of colors and some artillery; was engaged at Champion's hill, Black River bridge, and at Vicksburg from May 19 until its fall, being in the assault on the enemy's works and the first to carry its colors to the parapet. It was in the Bayou Teche campaign and other operations in Louisiana during the fall, and on Nov. 12 embarked for Texas. It was engaged at Mustang island, and in the attack on Fort Esperanza. It reenlisted at Indianola in Jan., 1864, and was furloughed home, stopping at Baton Rouge to aid in repelling a force about to attack the garrison there. It was ordered to Virginia in July, joined Gen. Butler's forces at Burmuda Hundred, and was engaged in several severe skirmishes at Deep Bottom. It was then transferred to Washington and assigned to the 2nd division, 19th corps, which joined Sheridan's army in Virginia. It participated in the battle of the Opequan, losing 54 killed and wounded; aided in the defeat of Early at Fisher's hill; fought at Cedar creek, where it lost 51 killed and wounded and 35 prisoners ; took transports for Savannah Ga., Jan. 6, 1865, and was engaged for three months in building fortifications. It was detached May 3, and sent to Augusta, Ga., raising the Stars and Stripes over the arsenal for the first time since the beginning of the war. It returned to Savannah on June 7, was sent to the southern part of the state, and was mustered out Aug. 28, 1865. Its original strength was 1,056. Gain by recruits, 140; reenlistments, 359; total, 1,555. Loss by death, 180; desertion, 53; unaccounted for, 156. |