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79th Indiana
Infantry
in the American Civil War
Online Books:
79th
Indiana Infantry 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
79th
Indiana Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the
State of Indiana, Volume 6, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 View Entire Book
| Regimental History |
| Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry. — Col., Frederick Knefler; Lieut.
-Cols., Samuel P. Oyler, George W. Parker; Majs., Perry M. Blankenship, Elliot G. Wallace,
George W. Parker, John G. Dunbar. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis and was
mustered in Sept. 2, 1862. It left at once for Louisville, which was being menaced by the
approach of Braggs' army, and was assigned to the 1st brigade, 3d division, 21st army
corps, Buell's army. It left on Oct. 1, in pursuit of Bragg, being in reserve at
Perryville and in a skirmish at Crab Orchard, with the enemy's rear-guard. It moved to
Logan's cross-roads, thence to Gallatin, and went into camp at Nashville. It participated
at Stone's river, losing 7 killed and 44 wounded, and aided in the repulse of
Breckenridge's assault on the left wing. It remained in camp at Murfreesboro until June
24, and moved thence to Tullahoma, Manchester, McMinnville and Pikeville. On the march to
Chattanooga it was engaged in heavy skirmishing and in the battle of Chickamauga it
charged and captured the 1st Va. battery, suffering a loss of 1 killed, 40 wounded and 13
missing. It was at Chattanooga during its siege by the enemy, being assigned to the 3d
brigade, 3d division, 4th corps. The 86th Ind. was temporarily consolidated with the 79th
and this consolidated force led the column which stormed and captured Missionary ridge,
its flag being the first on the enemy's works. It captured 11 pieces of artillery and
several hundred prisoners. The regiment then moved to the relief of Knoxville, reaching
there Dec. 6. It remained in East Tennessee during the winter of 1863-64, suffering
greatly from exposure and insufficient food, and was engaged almost constantly in
skirmishing and marching. It participated at Strawberry plains, New Market, Mossy creek
and Clinch valley, inflicting heavy losses and capturing many prisoners. While en route
for Cumberland gap, it was in numerous minor engagements and it rejoined its corps at
Chattanooga in April, 1864. On May 3, it marched to Catoosa springs, Ga., thence to Tunnel
Hill and Rocky Face ridge, being engaged heavily in skirmishing. It was in reserve at
Resaca; was in severe skirmishing at Calhoun, Adairsville, Kingston and Cassville; was
engaged at New Hope Church, Pickett's mills, Lost mountain and Kennesaw mountain, and at
Peachtree creek captured the enemy's works and a number of prisoners. It was on active
duty in the siege of Atlanta ; participated at Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station ; marched
as far as Gaylesville, Ala., in October in the pursuit of Hood; and then with its corps
was detached from Sherman's army and sent to the relief of Gen. Thomas at Nashville.
Reaching Pulaski, Tenn., Nov. 1, it spent some time in fortifying the place, but on Hood's
approach fell back as far as Franklin, where it was in reserve during the battle of Nov.
30. Reaching Nashville, Dec. 1, it took position in the fortifications until the battle,
and was present at the storming of Overton's hill, part of its brigade capturing the
position, with 9 pieces of artillery. It moved to Huntsville, Ala., in pursuit of the
retreating army and remained there from Jan. 6 to Mar. 17, 1865, when it moved by rail to
Morristown and marched to Jonesboro. Learning of the surrender of the Confederate armies
in Virginia, it returned to Nashville and was mustered out at Indianapolis June 11, 1865.
Its original strength was 921; gain by recruits, 245; total, 1,166. Loss by death, 187;
desertion, 48; unaccounted for, 6. |
Footnotes:
Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing
Company, 1908 - Volume 3
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