54th Indiana Infantry

[huskerblitz]

​

The 54th Indiana Infantry, an American Civil War regiment, was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 28, 1862, with Fielding Mansfield as colonel, and it was made up mostly of volunteers from all over the state. In December, the regiment left for Memphis, Tennessee.

The one-year regiment was organized into 10 companies of infantry and a Field and Staff entity in the fall of 1862. One company mustered into service on October 28, five on October 30, and two each on November 8 and 16, 1862. Like most regiments organized in Indiana at that time, there was a three-month regiment that preceded it; however, while most of the three-month regiments later formed into three-year regiments, the 54th Indiana became a one-year regiment. Several regiments organized immediately before and after the 54th Indiana became three-year organizations.

One year's service was not the only unique attribute of the 54th Indiana. The men in the regiment did not muster out in the same companies that they mustered into (Indiana Adjutant General's Report, Volume 8, vice Volume 7 when mustered in).

Company B mustered out as Company H
Company C mustered out as Company D
Company D mustered out as Company C
Company E mustered out as Company B
Company G mustered out as Company E
Company H mustered out as Company I
Company I mustered out as Company G

Companies A, F and K mustered out in the same company they mustered into.


Regimental History
Fifty-fourth Indiana Infantry (One Year Service). — Col., Fielding Mansfield; Lieut. -Cols., Herman Sturm, Daniel Shrader; Majs., Daniel Shrader, Oliver M. Wilson. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis in Oct., 1862, for one year, and was mustered in Nov. 16. It left the state Dec. 9 for Memphis, where it was assigned to De Courcy's brigade, Morgan's division, 13th army corps. It joined Sherman's expedition to Vicksburg in December, and participated in two charges at Chickasaw bluffs, losing 264 in killed, wounded and missing. It was in the expedition to Arkansas Post in Jan., 1863, returning to Young's point after the reduction of that place. With Osterhaus' division, leading the advance and opening the way for Grant's army in the Vicksburg campaign, it participated at Port Gibson, garrisoned Raymond, and with three other regiments moved thence as escort of prisoners to the Yazoo river. It entered the trenches and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, then moved with its brigade to the Big Black river, and was with the advance on Jackson, participating in the capture of that city. It returned to Vicksburg; then moving to New Orleans joined the Army of the Gulf; moved with the expedition up the Teche as far as Opelousas and Vermillionville, and was mustered out at New Orleans, Dec. 8, 1863. Its original strength was 956; gain by recruits, 33; total, 989. Loss by death, 216; desertion, 81; unaccounted for, 358.

This thread is intended to serve as the location for general regimental history, photographs, stories, articles and any other relevant information about the 54th Indiana infantry regiment. Please do not start new threads - just add your content about the regiment under this existing thread so others can easily find it. Thank you so much for contributing information for this regiment.

 

[huskerblitz]

The Battle at Vicksburg, as Seen by a Hoosier.

News from the Indiana regiments which took part in the great battle at Chickasaw Bayou, near Vicksburg, reaches us slowly. – To-day we publish a letter from Thomas F. Purnell, Quartermaster of the 54th, which gives a more accurate account than any we have yet seen:

Warren Co., Miss., 8 miles from
Vicksburg, Dec. 31.

Alfred Harrison, Esq.:

DEAR SIR- On the 24th Dec. we landed on the spot where I am now writing, 15 miles from the Mississippi river, on the banks of the Yazoo, at the mouth of the Chickasaw Bayou, having withdrawn thus far since the battle.The land is high and level; were are in an old field, surrounded by heavy timber.Morgan's Division was the first to land, and the 54th Indiana was the first regiment on the shore.One company was immediately thrown out as skirmishers while the rest of the Brigades landed.

On the 21st we commenced moving through the timber, and came upon a large plantation in a high state of cultivation, with splendid improvements.The residence, two rows of white cabins, cotton house, barn, corn crib and other buildings gave it the appearance of a new Yankeee village.Part of the buildings were in flames, showing the result of a hasty flight by the proprietor and his family.Not a living thing was to be seen.

We moved cautiously down the banks of the Bayou, on one side the broad-spreading plantations, on the other heavy timber, with thick undergrowth.We halted on a high bank to await orders, when suddenly the enemy appeared in the woods opposite, firing one volley of musketry, then as suddenly disappearing.One man was shot-Wm. Long, a private, from Montgomery county, Indiana.In his breast pocket he had the miniatures of his wife and child, which will be safely returned to them.We buried him next morning, near the place where he fell, and marked the spot, so that his remains may be found when the opportunity presents itself for their removal.

We drove the enemy from one position to another until we occupied a low bottom, heavily timbered-the enemy occupying the hill side before us, inside of rifle-pits and fortifications, which they had constructed with great skill.The 54th , up to this time, being in the advance, had suffered severely.

On Saturday night we fortified and the morning found us in our intrenchments.On Sunday afternoon Gen. Morgan ordered DeCourcey's (Ky.) brigade to advance and take the enemy's intrenchments by a bayonet charge.Like a true soldier he obeyed, and at the word "advance fifty paces," all moved forward with a firm even step.The movement was made in splendid style-not a man halted or wavered-the order was again given, "advance fifty paces and halt."The whole line moved at once as before.The last order was given "advance to the enemy and take their works," with a loud huzzah they all started forward amid the thunder of the enemy's guns, while shell, canister and bullets fell upon us like hail.The enemy then appeared in force before our staggering column.How so many escaped is a miracle.-The havoc was terrible.The 54th went in with 725 men and could barely muster next moning 269.Other regiments suffered equally with ours.Four regiments, the 22d Kentucky, 16th and 42d Ohio, and the 54th Indiana, were terribly cut up; but braver men never entered the field of battle.

All except the 54th regiment had followed General Morgan in his Kentucky campaign to Cumberland Gap, but, rest assured, the 54th did not disgrace our noble State.Great praise was awarded by these old regiments to our new troops and young officers, calling us the brave 54th.Two of our Captains were thrown a considerable distance by the explosion of shells, escaping with slight bruises, and are yet with their companions.Col. Mansfield led the advance through a shower of bullets, and yet escaped without a scratch.

Since the battle our wounded have been coming in, and many whom we supposed killed were only stunned by the bursting of shells.We have not up to this time been able to get to the field to bury our dead, or take care of our wounded.Whenever we have sent a flag of truce, they have fired upon us until today, and now negotiations are being made between messengers, but as yet without any decisive answer.Such treatment needs no comment.The only prisoner taken from the 54th was young Hayden, our Adjutant.He was heavily clothed, and some of our men in the retreat saw him in the hands of the enemy.Like all the rest, he was brave to the last.

We still have a large army which has not been in the engagement, and trust yet to succeed, but by a different mode of attack.
Yours,Thomas F. Purnell
Indianapolis Daily Journal January 29, 1863

 

[huskerblitz]

54th Indiana Infantry (1 Year) Officer Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 2, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1865 View Entire Book
54th Indiana Infantry (1 Year) Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 5, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 View Entire Book
http://www.civilwarindex.com/armyin/54th_in_infantry_1year.html

 

[Legion Para]

http://hcaauctions.com/lot-5574.aspx

Pocket diary kept by "A. Eaton" of the 54th Indiana Infantry, from October 1862 through December 1863, with daily entries, including a section titled "The Losses in Genl. Grants Army from the Crossing of the Mississippi at Bruinburg on the 20th of April 1863 to the surrender of Vicksburg on the 4th of July 1863..." which lists total causaltiesat Vicksburg, Big Black, Champion Hill, and others. Eaton records his initial induction into the service in October through December of 1862, which includes content on his participation in General Sherman's Yazoo Campaign, in the back of this diary, which he titles"Memoranda of Events 1862", he then continues in the chronological order of the diary. The text reads in part: "....[10/21/62]Volunteered in Co. I 54th Regiment for one year....[11/8/62]Mustered in the service of the U.S....[11/28/62] Several regiments reviewed by Governor Marton and Staff...[12/17/62]General Morgan Reviews his division 54th Mustered into it...[12/26/62]formed in line of Battle and marched out one mile and drove in the Rebel pickets...[12/28/62]Drove the rebels one mile during the day had heavy firing all day...[12/29/62]charged on their breast works at 2 oclock PM and was repulsed with a heavy loss and fell back upon the field...[1/1/1863] Regiment lay in the rifle pits until 9 oclock PM when we retreated to the boats...[1/4/63]on board the Lady Jackson...[1/10/63] Fighting commenced...1/11/63]Heavy firing going on between the gunboats and fort our Brigade is laying in reserve we were ordered up at 4PM when the Fort surrendered...[1/15/63] War Eagle is our boat...[1/18/63]landed at dusk on Island No. 82...[1/23/63]raised our tents in a nice yeard by the Negro Quarters...[1/31/63]our regiment took down their tents and moved over by the mill and Cotton gin this place is known as Ballard's plantation...[2/2/63]heavy cannonading at Vicksburg...two of our gunboats run the blockade at Vicksburg...[2/3/63] some firing at Vicksburg the Indianola run the Blockade at Vicksburg last night... [2/5/63]ground froze hard during the night the boys are sitting around the fires with their overcoats on we buried 15 men from the Hospital...[2/22/63]Army celebrated Washington's birth day by firing cannon i nthe morning along the Levee all of the Gunboats fired a salute in honor of the day...[2/24/63]The canal is black with men at work on it...[3/2/63]Regiment worked on the canal the rebels threw some shells that bursted close to us but no one was hurt...[3/4/63]the health of the regiment is very bad there is only one hundred and 20 for duty...[3/5/63]we heard of a battle at Richmond Louisiana today...[3/20/63]Had brigade drill General Austerhouse was in command...[3/22/63]I heard heavy firing at Vicksburg last night...[4/5/63]Brigade received marching orders..started for Richmond [La.]...4/13/63]Regiment marched 5 miles and went in camp on the Holmes Plantation this is the richest plantation I have ever saw...[4/14/] the 22nd Ky. went out on a scout to day but found no rebs...[4/16/63]Brigade marched 7 miles down the Bayou and raised our tents on Smiths Plantation...[4/22/63]3 gunboats run teh blockade at Vicksburg three gunboats run down to Grand Gulf...[4/29/63]fight commenced between the gunboats and fort...[5/1/63]Marched last night from Bruensburg guarding Fosters Battery arrived on the Battle Filed at 8 am and was sent to Smiths Division...[5/5/63]passed trhoguh Rocky Springs...and went in camp on Col. Browns farm...[5/8/63]our Brigade was reviewed by General Grant at 2pm we then lay in the shade...[5/14/63]troops passed throug hteh town in large bodies during the day...[5/17/63] the Battle of Champion Hills fought today...[5/18/63]Our regiment and the 120th Ohio guarded the prisoners at Edwards Station...[5/21/63]took 1200 prisoners on the Ohio Belle and run down to Youngs Point...[5/23/63]heavy firing going on at Vicksburg our Army made a charge but was drove back...[5/31/63]our boat was fired upon about midnight and two men wounded...[6/1/63]Arrived at Napoleon Arkansas...boys drinking lager beer and whiskey...[6/2/63]landed at Lakes Plantation...same field where we had our first fight last December...[6/4/63]marched to the brigade in the rear of Vicksburg...[6/5/63]skirmishing is very brisk cannonanding is going on brisk balls whistle over our camp...[6/6/63]Lampiers Battery keeps up a regular fire on the forts...[6/19/63]had a good time with two Rebel girls that came to our post while we sent for the Provost marshall...[6/20/63]heavy cannonading at Vicksburg...[6/22/63]the cavalry had a fight up Black river with the rebel pickets the firing at Vicksburg was very heavy...[7/4/63]We heard the firing at Vicksburg the city surrendered at 10 am and Grants Army marched in the boys cheered very loud in camp when we heard the news...[7/5/63]the troops are coming in from Vicksburg on to Jackson I went over to see the boys of the 34th Reg....[7/9/63]cavalry fight four miles from Clinton. We camped near the Battleground...[7/10/63]skirmishing commenced the rebels threw shells over our regiment...[7/11/63]Heavy skirmishing in front of the fortifications several shells passed close over our heads as we were moving up to take our position before the breast works...[7/13/63]heavy firing...Lieutenant Julian shot in the arm...[7/14/63]Firing commenced at daylight between the pickets two men in company B were killed this morning while going on picket...[7/16/63]fighting all day our division was relieved by General Tuttle...[7/17/63]The rebels evacuated Jackson last night...the city was soon filled iwth our men...[8/22/63]Three Divisions of the 13th Army Corps Reviewed by General Banks...[8/25/63]went to New Orleans I saw Jacksons and Henry Clays monument and had a ride on the street cars...[8/29/63]The Western troops reviewed by General Banks...[9/4/63]The Western Army reviewed by General Grant and Banks...General Grant ws thrown off and hurt very bad in the evening...[9/23/63]the 19th Army Corps is crossing the Bay...[10/13/63]The Ohio and Iowa regiments held election and voted for Governor...[10/20/63]Paroled Prisoners started for the regiment in the evening there was 700 started from camp..."

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

Leonard D. Spann (1841-1921) - Find a Grave...

Only record of service found thus far is in Legion #9, Indiana Legion. Gravestone states he served in Co. G, 54th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Service unconfirmed. No one in the Official Roster of the 54th Indiana Infantry (3 months), the 54th Indiana Infantry (1 year) or the 154th Indiana...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

David M. White (1842-1933) - Find a Grave...

David M. White David M. White served as a corporal in Co. K, 54th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. He enlisted as a private on November 16, 1862. He was promoted to corporal. His regiment was mustered out on December 8, 1863, at New Orleans, Louisiana. The 54th Indiana Infantry...

www.findagrave.com