Eighty-first Indiana Infantry. — Cols., William W. Caldwell, Horatio Woodbury, Ranna S. Moore, Oliver P. Anderson; Lieut. -Cols., John Timberlake, Horatio Woodbury, Leonidas Stout, William C. Wheeler, Oliver P. Anderson, Edward G. Mathey; Majs., Horatio Woodbury, Leonidas Stout, William C. Richards, Edward G. Mathey, William D. Evritt. This regiment was organized at New Albany and was mustered in Aug. 20, 1862. It left the state at once for Louisville, where it remained until Oct. 1, when it moved with Buell's army in pursuit of Bragg and was in reserve at the battle of Perryville. At Nashville it was assigned to the 3d brigade, 1st division, and took part in the movement towards Murfreesboro. At the battle of Stone's river, it was on the right wing in the terrible charge of Dec. 31, its brigade holding the ground until those on either flank fell back, compelling it to retire and take a new position. The 81st lost 4 killed, 44 wounded and 40 missing. It remained at Murfreesboro until in June, when it moved forward and took part in the fight at Liberty gap. It remained at Winchester until Aug. 17, when it marched for Stevenson, Ala., and reached Chattanooga in time to engage in the battle of Chickamauga, losing 8 killed, 59 wounded and 22 missing. It was then at Chattanooga until Oct. 25, when it marched for Bridgeport, Ala., where it remained until Jan. 26, 1864. It went into camp at Ooltewah, Tenn., until May 3, and then joined Sherman's army. It fought at Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost gap, Rocky Face ridge, Resaca, Dallas, Bald knob, Kingston, Kennesaw mountain, Chattahoochee river, Peachtree creek, about Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station. It joined the pursuit of Hood at Gaylesville, Ala., and proceeded thence to Chattanooga. On Oct. 31 it was detailed as train guard as far as Pulaski, marched thence to Franklin and participated in the battle at that point Nov. 30. It then marched to Nashville, took a prominent part in the battle there in December, and then pursued the enemy to Huntsville, Ala. It was ordered to Strawberry plains in eastern Tennessee, and on April 3, 1865, moved into North Carolina but returned and proceeded to Nashville, which place was reached April 22. It was mustered out June 13, 1865, when the recruits were transferred to the 31st Ind., with which they remained until its muster-out. The original strength of the 81st was 939; gain by recruits, 43; total, 982. Loss by death, 236; desertion, 33, unaccounted for, 8. |