INDIANA 63rd -- hometown boys - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

The Indiana 63rd was given the go to raise troops December 31, 1861 at Covington with James McManomy Commandant, John S. Williams adjutant. Some who enlisted were sent to Lafayette in order to guard prisoners of war. There on February 21, 1862, companies A,B, C, and D were organized as one battalion. Even upon official mustering, the same group of men were ordered to Indianapolis and placed there to guard prisonners.

Finally, in May that year the battalion headed out and engaged in their first battle (Manassas Plains, sometimes called 2nd Bull Run). Upon their return to Indianapolis, Companies E-K were raised. William, above was promoted to Col. and McManomy to Lt. Col. Throughout the next couple of years, this group were in charge of guarding the Louisviille & Nashville Rail road. Moving to Camp Nelson, Kentucky in January 1864, on Feb 25th they marched toward Knoxville, Tennessee, reaching there on March 15th after a march of 185 miles over atrocious roads.

One days rest and it was on to Bull's Gap where they joined the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division of the 23rd Army. 100 miles in four days was next going to Jonesboro, buring the bridges and destroying tracks of the Tennessee & Virginia RR for miles. On April 28th they were back at Bull's Gap for a few hours then marched to Georgia to join the army of General William Tecumseh Sherman who was ready to have his own fame on his March to the Atlantic. The group occupied the left line at the battle of Rocky Face Ridge, losing two with four wounded. Less than two weeks later, they were fighting at Snake Creek Gap (at Resaca) where their brigade tore across an open field and tore into the rebel works. The gain was great but indeed the loss its equal with 18 killed and 94 wounded, some severely.

With two rivers crossed (Ostanaula and Coosawattee), the group overtook the enemy at Cassville on May 18th. Continuing their chase of the enemy, they ended up entrenched on the Dallas line on the 27th. Several more were wounded until the men were finally relieved on the 1st of June.

Early June the men built a forge-type structure and fought from behing it, losing only one wounded and one dead. Of course, one in any capacity is a sad case. On the 15th they were pulled out of reserve and sent right to the front near Lost Mountain where six died and eight were hurt. The Kenesaw line, under great fire, they lost none (17th). Again, they remained in their trenched homes losing a few more men. Upon a few light skirmishes in the area with rebels, the North men discovered a long line of abandoned rebel works. Purshing on further into Georgia, on the 8th of July, they forded the Chattahoochee River, neck-deep in a rapid current and losing no man. They were the first to cross. Fighting alongside James Birdseye McPherson, they knew almost immediately their beloved General fell, during the Battle of Atlanta. There were more small battles around Atlanta then on August 6th, they joined the 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division under Col. Stiles and were in various positions for the next several days, including making reconnaissances on the Campbelltown Road.

On August 28th, they took three days to arrive at the Atlanta and Macon RR at Rough & Ready Station. The next morning, the RR was destroyed and in the afternoon, the men headed toward Jonesboro. Marching to Lovejoy's, they were able to rest a couple of days, then went back to Decatur where they again made their intrenchments and fortified a camp where they were able to enjoy until the 4th of October when Sherman's forces marched long and hard to meet Hood. A few other men were lost on the marches and during a battle at Columbia three were killed, three wounded. At the Battle of Franklin on November 30th and the continued march to Nashville, one was killed and one wounded.

The last year of the war found the group chasing Hood, both unsuccessfully and eventually got the job completed. On March 21st, the regiment was in Goldsboro, where they remained until April 10th when it moved to Raleigh and finally on May 5th moving by rail to Greensboro. On May 20, 1865 companies, A-D were mustered