Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry. — Cols., William M. Wheatley, John G. Clark; Lieut.-Cols., Richard O'Neal, John G. Clark, Augustine D. Rose, Newton A. Logan; Majs., John G. Clark, Augustine D. Rose, Harvey Johnson, Newton A. Logan, Alden H. Jumper. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis and was mustered in Aug. 31, 1861. It left the state Sept. 7, and reported at St. Louis, where it joined Fremont's forces in the campaign to Springfield. It returned to Sedalia and engaged in railroad guard duty until July, 1862, when it moved with the army into southern Missouri, engaging in the battles at Newtonia, Prairie Grove, Ark., and Van Buren. At Prairie Grove it was conspicuously engaged, losing heavily. It was on guard duty until May 1, 1863, and was then ordered to join Grant's army at Vicksburg, where it was actively engaged in the trenches until the surrender. It went up the Yazoo river in July, recaptured Yazoo City, was stationed at Port Hudson after its surrender, and subsequently at Carrolton, La. The regiment was engaged at Stirling's Plantation, near Morganza, where it was defeated and had almost half its force captured, the prisoners being taken to Tyler, Tex., and held for many months. The regiment accompanied Gen. Herron's expedition to Texas in October, landing at Brazos Santiago and moving to Brownsville on the Mexican frontier. It reenlisted Feb. 1, 1864, and was on a furlough during April. It returned to the field in Louisiana on June 1, and was assigned to garrison duty at Fort Butler, where it remained until the spring of 1865. On Feb. 18, 1865, the recruits of the 60th regiment were transferred to the 26th, and the regiment was ordered to Mobile in March as part of the 16th corps, participating in the siege and assault upon Spanish Fort. Upon the occupation of Mobile after its surrender, the regiment was assigned to duty in the city, but was subsequently moved to Meridian, Miss., and thence to Macon. A detachment of those whose term had expired was mustered out in Sept., 1865, and the remainder was mustered out Jan. 15, 1866. The original strength was 1,024; gain by recruits, 725; reenlistments, 248; total, 1,997. Loss by death, 336; desertion, 38; unaccounted for, 36. |