Ninety-first Indiana Infantry. — Col., John Mehringer; Lieut. -Cols., John Mehringer, Charles H. Butterfield; Majs., Charles H. Butterfield, James S. Carson. This regiment was organized at Evansville, with but seven companies, in Aug., 1862, and was formed into a battalion and mustered in Oct. 1. It left the state on Oct. 10, for Henderson, Ky., from where in detachments it was sent to Madisonville and Smithland for guard duty. The detachments reunited June 15, 1863, and moved in pursuit of Morgan's forces, via Russellville, Bowling Green and Burkesville. Three companies, H, I and K, were sent on Sept. 11, to complete the regimental organization and Lieut. -Col. Mehringer was made colonel. It then moved to Nashville, back to Russellville, thence to Camp Nelson, and finally to Cumberland gap, where Co. A had a sharp fight with a force of 1,200. On May 17 the regiment moved by way of Knoxville and Cleveland to Kingston, Ga., where it joined Sherman's army for the Atlanta campaign. It was assigned to 1st brigade, 2nd division, 23d corps, was engaged near Pine mountain, in the skirmishing about Kennesaw mountain, and was actively engaged at New Hope Church. With its corps it effected a lodgment on the east bank of the Chattahoochee river July 7 ; was in a heavy skirmish at Decatur, fought at Peachtree creek, before Atlanta on the 22nd, and at Utoy creek. On Aug. 12 it was transferred from the 1st to the 3d brigade, and joined the movement to the right, aiding in the destruction of the railroad near Rough and Ready. It went into camp at Decatur Sept. 8, and moved on Oct. 4, in pursuit of Hood, proceeding as far as Gaylesville and Cedar bluffs, where its corps was detached and ordered to join Gen. Thomas. Proceeding to Chattanooga, Nashville, Columbia and Centerville and back to Nashville, it took part in the battles at Franklin Nov. 30, and at Nashville in December. Marching to Clifton, it took steamer for Cincinnati, moved thence by rail for Washington city, and then by steamer to Wilmington, N. C, its corps landing near the mouth of the Cape Fear river Feb. 9, and capturing Wilmington. Marching to Goldsboro and Raleigh, it was in camp from April 14 to May 3, 1865, then moved to Salisbury and remained there until June 26, 1865, when it was mustered out. Cos. H, I and K and recruits were transferred to other regiments. The original strength of the 91st was 1,207; gain by recruits, 161; total, 1,368. Loss by death, 135; desertion. 82; unaccounted for, 155. |