History of the Indiana 101st Regiment Indiana Volunteers


Report of the Adjutant General
of the State of Indiana 1861 - 1865	
Volume 3, pgs 152-154


Contributed by: Steve Niblick, plan_director@wico.net


        The One Hundred and First Regiment was organized in the Eleventh 
Congressional District during the month of August, 1862, rendezvoused at Wabash, 
and was mustered into service on the 7th of September, 1862, with William Garver 
as Colonel.  Troops were at that time being rapidly thrown into Kentucky to 
repel the invasion of Kirby Smith, and the regiment, as one of the new levies, 
moved at once to Covington, Kentucky, where it was assigned to a brigade, took 
position in the defenses, and remained until the threatening column of the enemy 
withdrew.  On the 23d of September the regiment sailed on a steamboat to 
Louisville, Kentucky, and from thence marched with the command of General 
McCook, on the 1st of October, in search of the retiring forces of General 
Bragg.  The column marched through Jefferson, Taylorsville, Bloomfield, and 
Berryville, reaching Maxwell, Kentucky, on the 7th.  There the regiment took 
charge of the Tenth Division train and escorted it to Springfield, Kentucky.  
Thence moved with the train to Crab Orchard.  From thence the regiment marched 
to Lebanon; thence to Munfordsville, and was employed in guarding the railroad 
bridge at that place until the 30th of November.  The regiment then moved to 
Glasgow, and from thence to Castillian Springs, Tennessee, where it remained 
until the 26th of December, 1862.  The regiment then marched in pursuit of John 
Morgan, who was making a raid through Kentucky.  The march was rapid but 
unsuccessful, and, after a week's journey through mud and rain, fording rivers 
and creeks, the command returned to its camp at Castillian Springs, on the 2d of 
January, 1863.  From thence the regiment moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 
arriving there on the 11th and going to camp.  While stationed here the regiment 
was assigned to the Second Brigade, (Colonel Hall,) Fifth Division, (Reynolds,) 
Fourteenth Army Corps, (Thomas.)  The regiment marched with a reconnoisance in 
force to Lebanon, on the 3d of February, and again, on the 4th of March, to 
Woodbury, accomplishing the object sought for, and returning to camp at 
Murfreesboro.

        On the 18th of March our brigade marched from Murfreesboro for the 
purpose of beating up certain rebel hiding places, and dispersing guerrilla 
bands infesting Wilson county, Tennessee.  Moving by the way of Gainesville and 
Milton, at the latter place the rebel General John Morgan was encountered with a 
force of 3,700 men.  Col. Hall resolved to give battle.  He therefore posted his 
brigade on Vaught's Hill, near Milton, placing the One Hundred and First on the 
left.  The rebels made several desperate assaults upon our position, and, after 
six hours' severe fighting, were repulsed with loss.  The regiment lost in this 
fight forty-three killed and wounded.  Lieut. Col. Doan was in command of the 
regiment.  After defeating Morgan, the regiment marched with its brigade back to 
Murfreesboro'.

        On the 29th of April the regiment moved with its division to 
McMinnville, captured seventy prisoners, some stores, and destroyed the railroad 
in that vicinity.  The division then returned to Murfreesboro', where the 
regiment remained in camp until June.  On the 31st on May, Lieut. Co. Doan 
assumed command of the regiment, Col. Garver having resigned.

        On the 24th of June the whole army made a forward movement.  At Hoover's 
Gap, at 4 P.M., Wilder's brigade became engaged.  The Second Brigade moved to 
its support, under a heavy artillery fire, and for two days were on the skirmish 
line.  After driving the enemy from the Gap, the regiment moved with its brigade 
to Manchester, Tullahoma and Elk river.  The army halted at Decherd, and the 
regiment went into camp on University Hill, and remained there until the 17th of 
August.  It then marched by the way of Battle Creek, Jasper and Sequatchie 
Valley to Shell Mound ferry, crossed the Raccoon and Lookout Mountains, and 
reached the battle field of Chicamauga on the morning of the 19th of September, 
having marched all night.

        The Second Brigade, at once became engaged with the enemy.  It took 
position on General Palmer's right, and the battle raged with great fury.  Twice 
the enemy were repulsed; but, being reinforced, rallied and forced us from 
position.  Our brigade fell back to a strong position, and bivouacked.  On the 
morning of the 20th, the battle commenced far to our left, and reached our front 
about noon.  The enemy surged upon our line with greatly superior numbers, and 
with obstinate fury, but, protected by slight breastworks, our line repulsed 
every assault, and firmly held the position.  The enemy's loss in the immediate 
front of the Second Brigade, largely exceeded ours.  At sundown the enemy had 
broken the extreme right of our army, and was threatening the Chattanooga road.  
The division to which the regiment was attached, was ordered to cut its way 
through to Rossville.  The charge was successfully made, but with considerable 
loss, our line being raked by grape and canister.  Our division then halted for 
rest.  The Fourteenth Corps was filing past for Rossville.  General Thomas 
ordered two regiments to cover the retreat.  The One Hundred and First and 
Sixty-Eight Indiana, were selected.  After marching one mile and a half toward 
the enemy, the command reached Brannan's Brigade, which was holding the front 
with fixed bayonets, having no ammunition.  The enemy were in force over the 
crest of a hill within speaking distance.  Our movements were covered by 
darkness.  Taking ground in front of Brannan's line, he quietly withdrew, and 
ordered us to follow, which was done, the command reaching Rossville at 
midnight.  The gallant Colonel Edward A. King, commanding our brigade, was 
killed.  The regiment lost thirteen killed, eighty-five wounded, and sixteen 
missing.  A total loss of one hundred and fourteen.  The regiment remained at 
Rossville during the next day, and, at night, moved to Chattanooga; thence went 
on picket, and, on the 22d, had a sharp picket fight, losing nine wounded and 
two prisoners.  The regiment then retired to Chattanooga.

        On the 9th of October, the regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, 
Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps.  On the 22d of November, it moved out of 
camp, and prepared for the assault on Mission Ridge.  The regiment took part in 
the storming of Mission Ridge on the 25th, and moved with our pursuing column to 
Ringgold, Georgia, losing in the battle thirty-four in killed and wounded.  
Until the first week in May, 1864, the regiment remained near Chattanooga.

        Upon the 7th of May, the regiment moved with Sherman's army, on its 
Atlanta campaign.  The command of General Thomas occupied Tunnel Hill.  A 
demonstration was then made upon Buzzard's Roost.  After two days' fighting, the 
regiment moved with its corps through Snake Creek Gap, and thence to Resacca, 
where it was engaged.  It then moved with the pursuing column to Adairsville and 
Cassville, participating in fights at each place.  Then moved to the right, 
forded the Etowah river, and moved by the way of Burnt Hickory to Dallas; then 
took position in line of battle near Pine Hill; then changed to the left near 
Lost Mountain, and then to Kenesaw Mountain, skirmishing from day to day.  The 
regiment was in support of the Second Division in the assault on Kenesaw 
Mountain on the 27th of June.


        On the 3d of July, the enemy having withdrawn from Kenesaw, the pursuit 
was pressed, and on the 18th the regiment crossed the Chattahoochee river.  On 
the 22d, crossed Peach Tree Creek and engaged in skirmishing until the 28th of 
August.  Then marched with the army, on the flank movement around Atlanta, and 
took part in the battle of Jonesboro, on the 1st of September.  The regiment 
then marched to Atlanta.  On the 3d of October it joined in the pursuit of Hood.  
Reaching Gaylesville, the pursuit ceased.  The regiment then marched to 
Kingston, and thence to Atlanta.

        On the 17th of November, the regiment started from Atlanta with the left 
wing of Sherman's army, on its march to Savannah.  Marching by the way of 
Decatur, oxford, Covington, New Eatonton and Milledgeville, with but a few 
skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry, the column reached and entered Savannah on 
the 23d of December.

        On the 20th of January, 1865, the regiment moved with its division, on 
the campaign through the Carolinas, and reached Goldsboro on the 23d of March.  
From thence moved to Raleigh, arriving there on the 14th of April.  On the 30th, 
marched by the way of Richmond, Virginia, for Washington, D.C., reaching there 
on the 19th of May.  On the 14th of June it left Washington for Louisville, and 
arrived there on the 19th.  On the 24th of June, 1865, the regiment was mustered 
out of service at Louisville, Kentucky, and proceeded to Indianapolis, arriving 
on the 25th, and was greeted with a public ovation in the State House Grounds, 
after which it was finally discharged and its members retured home.

        During its term of service the regiment has marched three thousand five 
hundred and seven miles, traveled by railroad seven hundred and fifty-nine 
miles, and by steamer six hundred and fifty miles, being a total of four 
thousand nine hundred and sixteen miles.