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4th Indiana
Light Battery
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
4th
Indiana Light Battery Officer Roster - Report of the Adjutant General
of the State of Indiana, Volume 3, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 View Entire Book
4th
Indiana Light Battery Soldier Roster - Pages 705-709, Report of the Adjutant General
of the State of Indiana, Volume 7, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1867 View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Fourth Indiana Light Battery. — Capts., Asahel K. Bush, David
Flansburg, Benjamin F. Johnson. This battery was raised in Laporte, Porter and Lake
counties and was mustered in at Indianapolis, Sept. 30, 1861. It was immediately ordered
to Louisville, Ky., where it joined Gen. Buell's army. During the winter it remained in
camp in the vicinity of New Haven, Munfordville and Bowling Green and in the spring of
1862 moved with Buell to Nashville. It next marched to Savannah, Tenn., but was unable to
cross the river in time to take part in the battle of Shiloh. It participated in the
campaign through northern Alabama and middle Tennessee following the siege of Corinth,
reaching Nashville late in August. Proceeding to Louisville at the time of Bragg's
invasion, it accompanied Rousseau's division and took part in the campaign that drove
Bragg's forces from the state, being in the battle of Perryville, where it was one of two
batteries to occupy a high ridge on Rousseau's left, its work aiding materially in saving
the left of McCook's corps and securing to the army the Mackville road, upon which stood
the entire ammunition train and ambulances. Upon its return to Nashville it was assigned
to the 3d division of McCook's corps, Gen. Sheridan being the division commander. At the
battle of Stone's river it performed heroic service, driving an opposing battery to cover
the first day, then moved across an open field and shelled a battery in the woods for two
hours, silencing it, the enemy losing half his horses, a gun disabled, 1 lieutenant and 12
men killed and several wounded, besides a number of the supporting infantry. The 4th lost
4 killed and 3 wounded. The following day it was in a hot engagement, losing a caisson
through having every horse drawing it shot down while falling back to take a new position.
Later it lost 2 guns, the infantry driving past with such rapidity as to force them to one
side, 1 gun being fastened in the trees and nearly all the horses killed by a battery
posted but 40 yards away. Having exhausted its ammunition it moved to the rear, obtained a
supply and reported again for duty with 3 pieces. It was in position the following day,
losing in the 3 days' battle 6 killed, and 17 wounded, 2 paroled by the enemy and 1
missing. It was encamped near Murfreesboro until June, 1863, then moved on the Tullahoma
campaign and was engaged at Hoover's gap. It was next engaged at Dug gap and at the battle
of Chickamauga, where it rendered effective service. It took part in the battles of
Lookout mountain and Missionary ridge, and was then stationed at Chattanooga until Sept.
21, 1864, at which time the reenlisted veterans and recruits were transferred to the 7th
battery, with which they remained until its muster-out. The non-veterans were mustered out
at Indianapolis on Oct. 6, 1864, with Benjamin F. Johnson as captain. It joined the army
of the Cumberland at Nashville, and after the battle at that place was assigned as
garrison of Fort Rosecrans, Murfreesboro, remaining there until mustered out Aug. 1, 1865.
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Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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