Piatt's Brigade 2nd Manassas

63rd Indiana

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Jun 15, 2020
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Hello,

In all of the battle histories of the 63rd Indiana, I have repeatedly read that they were dispatched early after their creation to the defense of Washington and 2nd Manassas. They were attached to Piatt's Brigade. I've struggled to find out much of what they did at 2nd Manassas...it seems as if they were a part of a snafu where Porter didn't leave clear instructions and they were one of two brigades sent directed to go initially away from the battlefield before being re-directed there. Anyone have details about what Piatt's Brigade did here?

The 63rd went on to guard the railroad South of Louisville and was an active participant in the Atlanta Campaign, Franklin and Nashville and then North Carolina in 1865.
 
Piatt's Brigade was an ad hoc creation of a few spare regiments from the Washington defences, the 63rd Indiana, 86th NY and the 122nd NY (the latter of which was left at Alexandria). It was part of the Reserve Corps created by taking all the spare regiments accumulated at Washington and placing them under Sturgis. It would quickly evolve in Whipple's Division and end up being the 3rd division of the 3rd Corps.

Whilst on paper it had been assigned to Porter's Corps, no-one told Porter of this fact. Thus he issued no orders to Piatt. This lack of orders to Piatt was the 5th specification of the 1st charge against Porter. Orders had been issued directly to Sturgis (who was with Piatt) to follow the 5th Corps, but Porter being unaware they were supposed to be following didn't send guides etc. Hence Piatt got lost trying to follow Porter and fell in with McDowell late in the battle.
 
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