Indiana Regiments at Franklin

List of all Indiana Regiments at Franklin
By organization at Franklin

4th U.S.  Cavalry.
Maj-Gen. James H. Wilson. 5th Division, B-Gn. Edward Hatch. 1st Brigade, Col. Robert R. Stewart, 11th Indiana Cav.

Maj-Gen. James H. Wilson. 6th Division, B-Gn.Richard W. Johnson. 2nd Brigade, Col. James Biddle, 6th Indiana Cav.

Infantry

4th Corps.

Maj-Gen. David F. Stanley.  1st Division, BG Nathan Kimball.

• 1st Brigade – Col. Isaac M. Kirby
  31st and 81st Indiana
  Also: 21st and 38th Illinois, 90th and 101st Ohio

• 2nd Brigade – BG Walter C. Whittaker
  35th Indiana
  Also: 96th and 115th Illinois, 21st and 23rd KY, 40th, 45th and 51st Ohio

• 3rd Brigade – BG William Grose
  9th, 30th, 36th, 84th Indiana regiments
  Also: 75th, 80th and 84th Illinois, 77th PA

Maj-Gen. David F. Stanley.  2nd Division, BG George D. Wagner

• 2nd Brigade – Col. John Q. Lane
  40th and 57th Indiana
  Also: 100th Illinois, 28th KY, 26th and 97th Ohio

Maj-Gen. David F. Stanley. 3rd Division, BG Thomas J. Wood

• 1st Brigade – Col. Abel D. Streight
  51st Indiana
  Also: 89th Illinois, 8th Kansas, 15th and 49th Ohio

• 3rd Brigade – Col. Frederick Knefler
  79th and 86th Indiana
  Also: 13th and 19th Ohio

23rd Corps.

Maj-Gen. Jacob D. Cox.  2nd Division, BG Thomas H. Ruger

• 2nd Brigade – Col. Orlando H. Moore
  80th and 129th Indiana
  Also: 107th Illinois, 23rd Mich., 24th MO., 111th and 118th Ohio

Maj-Gen. Jacob D. Cox.  3rd  Division, BG James A. Reilly

• 2nd Brigade – Col. John S. Casement
  65th and 124th Indiana
  Also: 65th Illinois, 103rd Ohio, 5th TN

• 3rd Brigade – Col. Israel N. Stiles
  63rd, 120th and 128th Indiana
  Also: 112th Illinois and 1st Ohio Battery D (at Fort Granger)

Col. Israel N. Stiles’ report (Union) after Battle of Franklin

Numbers 141. Reports of Colonel Israel N. Stiles, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-THIRD INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,
Nashville, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with instructions received from Brigadier-General Cox, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of the Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, at Franklin, Tenn., on the 30th of November, the brigade being temporarily under my command on that day, owing to the illness of Colonel Thomas J. Henderson, the brigade commander.

By direction of General Cox I placed the command in position early on the morning of the 30th, on the left of the Second Brigade, and with the left resting on the river and in the following order: One hundred and twentieth Indiana Infantry, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana Infantry, with the One hundred and twelfth Illinois Infantry a short distance to the rear in reserve. Substantial works were at once thrown up, and such portions of our front as were not already obstructed by a well-grown and almost impenetrable  hedge were covered with a strong abatis made of the hedges which ran at right angles with the works. At about 4 p.m. the enemy commenced his advance on our front in three lines of battle, preceded by a strong line of skirmishers. When within shell range, Battery M, Fourth Regulars, stationed on the left and rear of the brigade, opened upon the advancing lines. The front line of the enemy soon came within range of our muskets and was repulsed. A portion of their second line succeeded in reaching that part of the works held by the One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana, and planted their colors upon them. The color-bearer was killed, and the flag fell upon the outside. A number of the enemy succeeded in climbing over the works, and were taken prisoners. This charge of the enemy was soon repulsed, and he made no further serious efforts to drive us from our position. The battery I have already mentioned, together with a battery in the fort across the river, kept up a continuous firing upon our front till after dark, which, I have no doubt, did much to check any further attempt of the enemy to advance upon us. In the meantime the One hundred and twentieth Indiana on the left was subjected to a terrific enfilading fire, both from the enemy’s artillery and infantry. The regiment and its commander, Colonel Prather, in my opinion, deserve great praise for the heroic manner with which they held their position, the loss of which might have resulted in a defeat to our army. It is proper also that I should mention the stubborn and soldierly conduct of Lieutenant -Colonel Packard, One hundred and twenty-eighth Indiana, and his command, in resisting the enemy after he had reached their works. The One hundred and twelfth Illinois, Lieutenant-Colonel Bond commanding, though in reserve, was exposed to a considerable fire during the engagement, and near night-fall was ordered by General Cox to re-enforce some portion of the Second Division.

The conduct of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, commanding Sixty-third Indiana Volunteers, as well as that of the officers generally, was praise-worthy, and that of the men was made more efficient by the aid and presence of Colonel Henderson, the brigade commander, who, though suffering from illness, could not withstand the desire to be present where his command was engaged, and who was along the lines during the engagement, and whose opportunities of witnessing their good conduct were equal to my own.

By direction of General Cox I withdrew the brigade, except the One hundred and twelfth Illinois, across the river at midnight.

I learn that a report of the casualties and the number of prisoners taken has already been forwarded to General Cox.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

I. N. STILES,

Colonel Sixty-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry.

Lieutenant STEARNS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

40th Ohio soldier writes in July 1864

Letter from First Lieutenant Silas Hart of the 40th Ohio Infantry, Company B.

Vinings Station Ga.
July 7 1864

Hart writes of Company B’s participation in the Atlanta Campaign:

We have been having very hard times since you left and have lost a great many in sick wounded prisoners and killed. Co. B has got to be a very small Co. We have lost fourteen in killed wounded and prisoners. I suppose you have heard all who were taken prisoner and it is use less for me to name them. on the night of June 29th Converse was in command of the picket in front our regt and was killed, there is thirty two present in Co. B now. I think in about two months more we will be on our road home. We are now lying in the bank of the Chattahoochie River and the rebels shooting at us like they did at Mockasin Point. I am in hopes that there will not be any more of us hurt as we get stationed to the rear.

Silas Hart mustered into Company B on 17 September 1861 and mustered out as a First Lieutenant on 7 October 1864 at Atlanta, Georgia. The 40th Ohio was engaged at Middle Creek, Franklin, Shelbyville, Tullahoma, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain.

Source: Nate Sanders online auction

104th Ohio soldiers writes in late November 1864

4pp. letter from John D. Messinger of the 104th Ohio Infantry, Company D. Written in ink and datelined

Pulaski, Tenn.
November 20th 1864

Letter reads in part:

We are just getting the particulars of the Election, and as an old ‘darky’ in ‘Alabam’ said one day as we were passing a plantation where about ‘five thousand’ were congregated along the road side. One of the boys ask him what he thought of the music (our comet band was playing) – his answer was ‘dunno suh, but pears like tis getting mity glorious Shuah’ – it pears like the election news from Sherman, begin to make things look ‘mity glorious’ for the Union cause. As the particulars are brought out – the frauds on the part of the copperheads – their total everlasting defeat, it surely is encouraging to all. I believe the end is nigh. ‘Hood’ with his rebel hart is supposed to be on the southern shore of the Tenn. River, about making an attempt to get into East Tenn. I hardly think he will win for we have the army of the Cumberland and Ohio here to whip him with in case he wishes to fight or make a forward movement. I am longing to have this war play out that we may return home to the social haunts in our native town. I rather fear that all the young ladies will have taken the ‘oath of allegiance’ ere our time expires and we will be obliged to ‘migrate’.

Messinger mustered into Company D on 30 August 1862 and was later promoted to First Sergeant. He was reduced to Private at his own request on 7 April 1865 and mustered out on 17 June 1865 at Greensboro, North Carolina. The 104th Ohio saw action at Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kennesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin and Wilmington.

Source: Nate Sanders online auction

6th MS Infantry saw action around Cotton Gin at Franklin

The 6th Mississippi Regimental flag, Company D, also known as Lowry’s Rifles. The 6th was in Adams’s Brigade, Loring’s Division. The 6th saw action to the right of Cleburne’s Division, assaulting the Federal line facing fire from Casement’s and Reilly’s Brigades.

There are three known-identified 6th MS boys buried at McGavock. It’s very likely there are numerous more unknown buried at McGavock as their known dead is a very low amount for Mississippi regiments, and considering the 6th MS saw action to the Union left of the Cotton Gin.

Picture Credit” Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy (p. 259).

“The casualties of the corps,” reported Lieut.-Gen. Stewart, “were something over 2,000 in killed, wounded and missing. Among them were many of our best officers and bravest men. Brig.-Gen. John Adams was killed, his horse being found lying across the inner line of the enemy’s works.” The casualties of Adams’ Brigade were the heaviest of the division — 10 officers and 34 men killed; 39 officers and 232 men wounded, 23 missing. Col. Robert Lowry took command of the brigade, which, on December 9, reported an aggregate present 1,769, effective 1,047, prisoners of war 50.

Dunbar Rowland’s “Military History of Mississippi, 1803-1898

50th Ohio soldier writes of Fall of Atlanta in Sept 1864

Sergeant Asa M. Weston of the 50th Ohio Infantry, Company K.

Decatur Ga, Sept. 11th 1864

Letter offers an account of the Fall of Atlanta:

“…we have for two or three weeks cut loose from Mail communications in order to Capture Atlanta…before this reaches you, you will have heard how we succeeded in taking the City we have so long been striving for…now we have fallen back to Decatur 6 miles from Atlanta, where the 23rd Corps will remain until we rest & get some drafted men to fill our Army and enable us to continue our forward movement which we shall probably do in a month. I escaped all accidents though many bullets and shells flew around me and it was almost a miracle that I did escape…  This country is completely desolated…  We have crossed all the railroad tracks and torn them up & destroyed those south of the city…  our regiment has not lost any men for three weeks. Before that we lost over one man on an average per day…  Will Old Abe be reelected. I hope so though there are many here especially in the Ky. Regt which belong to our brigade who will vote for McClellan. They would vote for him so much the more willingly I suppose because he suits Vallandingham…  I have not time to write much more. Am too tired & dirty & lazy after our severe campaign…

The 50th Ohio Infantry saw frequent fighting in its three years’ service, encountering the enemy at Perryville, Kingston, Lost Mountain, Dallas, Pine Mountain, Atlanta and Nashville. Weston mustered into Company K on 11 August 1862. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant of Company E before mustering out on 26 June 1865 at Salisbury, North Carolina.

Source: Nate Sanders online auction

Salt print photograph of CSA Colonel Alexander McKinstry, 32nd Alabama

Salt print photograph of CSA Colonel Alexander McKinstry. The writer has misidentified his regiment as the 23rd when he was actually in the 32nd Alabama Infantry.

An excellent seated pose of Colonel Alexander McKinstry in a Confederate colonel’s uniform with quatrefoil sleeve braid, wearing a sash and sword belt around his waist and holding his high-grade officer’s sword in his lap. His colonel’s kepi lies next to him on a side table.

Alexander McKinstry, originally of the 32nd Alabama Regiment, served as Provost Marshal and a member of the staff of General Braxton Bragg for much of the war. In addition to his duties involving the exchange of prisoners and army discipline, McKinstry was also actively involved with intelligence gathering and espionage activities.

Because of the presence of his photograph in Miss Tarleton’s album, it can be assumed that McKinstry was a close friend of Patrick R. Cleburne, the Irish-born former Arkansas lawyer who became the most admired yet controversial figure in the ill-starred Army of Tennessee. Cleburne was killed in action at the Battle of Franklin, Tennessee on November 30, 1864.

Alexander McKinstry is mentioned a number of times in the Official Records of the War of Rebellion. The 32nd Alabama saw heavy action during the war.

The rendezvous of the regiment was at Mobile, where it was organized in April, 1862. In July it was sent into Tennessee, and received its baptism of fire at Bridgeport, where it crossed the river. It was this regiment that captured Stevenson, Tenn. It was in middle Tennessee under General Forrest, and was overpowered and lost a number of prisoners at Lavergne, October, 1862.

The regiment met severe loss at Murfreesboro and its roll of honor is a long one. It was sent to the relief of Vicksburg, and did valiant work in the trenches at Jackson, where, in repulsing an attack of the enemy without loss, it slaughtered 260 yanks.

It rejoined the army of Tennessee and at Chickamauga suffered severely. During the winter of 1863-64, the regiment was transferred from Adams’ to Clayton’s brigade and consolidated with the Fifty-eighth under Col. Bush. Jones, and took part in the Atlanta campaign; was with Hood in Tennessee, taking part at Franklin, Columbia and Nashville.

Transferred to the district of the Gulf under General Maury, it suffered serious losses during the siege of Spanish Fort and was finally surrendered at Meridian.

George Estes, Co A, 14th MS writes about the expected battle

The 14th MS was part of Adams’s Brigade, Loring’s Division

Our division was in the right of the Pike and on the top of a high ridge from where we could see all the movements of the enemy. The blue coats were busy fixing for us. We could see them by the thousands, shoveling dirt, cutting brush and bushes and making all kind of traps for us to march against. I was very much in hopes they would run again, but they kept on digging and seemed to be burying themselves behind their breastworks. I kept feeling more and more anxious about the kind of reception they were going to give us. We lay in full view of them till nearly sundown. Oh! What a day of suspense, and mortal fear. I could hardly content myself with standing or sitting for I fully realized the fact that many of us who were now alive and full of fond anticipation would in a very short time ‘be laid low by the shells and shots of a relentless foe,’ and my anticipations were fully realized.
-The Civil War Years Revealed Through Letters, Diaries & Memoirs. Warwick, p. 189.

Estes survived the battle. Ten of Estes’s fellow 14th MS are buried at McGavock.

50th Ohio soldier writes of Franklin battle, mentions dead and wounded.

Columbia Tenn
Dec 28th 1864

Dear Sister,

I received a long letter from you today. I reply not because there is anything of importance transpiring just at present, but because when the most happens is the time I am entirely unable to write. Since I was last at Columbia we have had some stirring times. Hood drove us back to Nashville. We had a very severe battle at Franklin during which our Regiment lost in killed wounded & captured some thing over half its men. After that we were in the big fight at Nashville & our company lost its Commanding Officer, a fine man who was shot through the breast & had an arm broken by a musket ball. But the success atoned for all the loss & more. Hood has halted at Columbia again. The rest of the Army has gone down after Hood. How long we shall remain here idle I know not but presume we shall have plenty to do. Sherman has taken Savannah & Hardee has escaped with his 15,000 men & will probably reinforce Hood which will give him a chance to show us considerable fight. But we shall conquer in the end. The right will triumph in the end. Charleston will be taken next and all important Sea ports. Christmas is over & I thought often of the fine times you were having at home. We had rather hard times living on hard tack & sow belly. It is quite cold to night, I have just had an argument on Slavery with the Captain who is for allowing the slaveholders credit for honesty on account of early education and I am not. I would just as — take a horse or hoe from one of these men as not. But I must stop writing. Having passed safely through the Battle of Franklin I expect good times for a while. Let me know if any thing new happening and you hear from Thomas.
Goodbye.
Your Bro. A.M.Weston

Asa M. Weston enlisted on 8/11/62 as Sergeant in Company K, 50th Ohio Infantry. He survived the Civil War.

The fiercest fighting during the battle of Franklin (November 30, 1864) centered around the home of Fountain Branch Carter (see above), looking East. Hundreds of wounded and dead could be seen from the porch after the battle. Many of those – Confederate soldiers – would eventually be interred at McGavock cemetery close by.

9th Mississippi fights at Franklin, Sharp’s Brigade, Johnson’s Division

Two known-identified 9th MS boys who fought at Franklin are buried at McGavock. The 9th MS also fought with the 7th, 10th, 41st and 44th MS Infantries, and the 9th Mississippi Sharpshooters Battalion.

Here is an early picture of the 9th Mississippi regiment, taken in 1861 at Pensacola.

Picture credit: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy (p. 263 & 31).

Though this picture of the 9th MS is taken in 1861 at Pensacola, it does not take much to imagine that this scene was replayed again in Spring Hill, TN, on November 29, 1864, one day before the bloody Battle of Franklin.

40th Ohio soldier writes in July 1864

Letter from First Lieutenant Silas Hart of the 40th Ohio Infantry, Company B.

Vinings Station Ga.
July 7 1864

Hart writes of Company B’s participation in the Atlanta Campaign:

We have been having very hard times since you left and have lost a great many in sick wounded prisoners and killed. Co. B has got to be a very small Co. We have lost fourteen in killed wounded and prisoners. I suppose you have heard all who were taken prisoner and it is use less for me to name them. on the night of June 29th Converse was in command of the picket in front our regt and was killed, there is thirty two present in Co. B now. I think in about two months more we will be on our road home. We are now lying in the bank of the Chattahoochie River and the rebels shooting at us like they did at Mockasin Point. I am in hopes that there will not be any more of us hurt as we get stationed to the rear.

Silas Hart mustered into Company B on 17 September 1861 and mustered out as a First Lieutenant on 7 October 1864 at Atlanta, Georgia. The 40th Ohio was engaged at Middle Creek, Franklin, Shelbyville, Tullahoma, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain.

Source: Nate Sanders online auction

4th Missouri saw action against Federal Brigades of Reilly and Casement

The 4th Missouri carried this flag which was presented to them in April of 1862 in Springfield, Missouri. The 4th fought for Cockrell’s Brigade, French’s Division alongside the: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th Missouri Infantry, and the 1st Missouri Cavalry (dismounted) and 3rd Missouri Cavalry Battalion (dismounted).

Cockrell’s Brigade fought to the immediate Confederate right of Cleburne’s Division, assaulting the Federal line at Franklin where the Union Brigades of Reilly and Casement came together.

Picture credit: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy (p. 260).

There are five known-identified 4th MO soldiers buried at McGavock Confederate Cemetery, a light number compared to the other infantries it fought with. It is likely that there are several 4th MO boys buried as ‘unknowns’ at McGavock.

The McGavock Cemetery Book

George Cuppett, who led the re-burial project from April to June 1866, recorded the names and identities of about 1,500 Confederate dead. He kept them the book pictured below. The book was passed on to the care of Carrie McGavock, which she kept diligently.

Here the book is opened to the Mississippi section of boys killed at Franklin.

Photos provided for and courtesy of the Carnton Foundation.