Sixtieth Indiana Infantry. — Cols., Richard Owen, Augustus Goelzer; Lieut. - Cols., William J. Templeton, Augustus Goelzer, Samuel T. Walker; Majs., William J. Templeton, Joseph B. Cox, Wolfgang Hyne, Jesse Nash, Samuel T. Walker, Theodore Pleisch. This regiment was partially organized at Evansville in Nov., 1861, and during the recruiting was ordered to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, to guard prisoners. The last companies joined in March, 1862, and the regiment was mustered in by detachments. It left the state June 20, first going to Louisville, thence to Lebanon and later moving to Munfordville, which was surrounded by Bragg's army and captured after a determined fight in September. Among those taken prisoners were seven companies of the 60th, the other companies being detached for bridge guard duty near Lebanon Junction at the time and thus escaped. The prisoners were paroled and were joined at the parole camp at Indianapolis by the other companies. The paroled companies were exchanged in November and the regiment joined the Army of the Mississippi, being first engaged in the battle of Arkansas Post. It was in the Vicksburg campaign as part of the 1st brigade, 10th division, 13th army corps, with which it took part in the fatiguing marches, the battles of Port Gibson, Champion's hill, Black river, and in the trenches before Vicksburg until the surrender. It took part in the siege of Jackson and in various minor engagements and skirmishes, after which it was assigned to Banks' army and took part in the Teche expedition, being engaged at Grand Coteau. Returning to New Orleans, it embarked for Texas, where it was stationed for a time at Pass Cavallo, was then ordered back to New Orleans and joined the Red river expedition. It reached Alexandria on March 19 and a few days later Mower's division defeated Gen. Dick Taylor at Cane river. At Sabine cross-roads, the 60th lost heavily in killed, wounded and prisoners, the Union forces being defeated. After the defeat of the enemy at Pleasant Hill the following day, the command returned to Vicksburg. The regiment reenlisted and visited home on furlough, but its remuster was not accepted, the war department deciding it had not served long enough to entitle it to a remuster as a veteran organization. On its return to the field, it was stationed at Thibodeaux, La., until the fall of 1864. It was engaged at Carrion Crow bayou, suffering heavy loss, and after that was stationed at Algiers, near New Orleans, until Feb. 24, 1865. It was mustered out at Indianapolis on March 21, 1865. The recruits whose terms were unexpired were transferred to the 26th Ind. The original strength of the regiment was 945; gain by recruits, 151; total, 1,096. Loss by death, 203; desertion 87; unaccounted for, 29. |