16th Indiana Infantry Regiment
in the American Civil War
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Online Books:
16th Indiana Infantry Officer Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 2, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1865 16th Indiana Infantry Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 4, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 16th Indiana Infantry Reorganized Officer Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 2, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1865 16th Indiana Infantry Reorganized Soldier Roster - Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volume 4, by W.H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Indiana, 1866 Regimental History Sixteenth Indiana Infantry. — Cols., Pleasant A. Hackleman, Thomas J. Lucas, Robert Conover; Lieut. -Cols., Thomas J. Lucas, Joel Wolfe, John M. Orr, James H. Redfield, Robert Conover, James M. Hildreth, James R. S. Cox. This regiment was organized for state service at Richmond in May, 1861, for a one-year term, but when the news was received of the Bull Run disaster, it was offered to and accepted by the general government. It was mustered in July 23, and left the state the same day, being the first regiment to pass through Baltimore after the firing upon the 6th Mass. in April. It was assigned to Banks' army and stationed in Pleasant Valley. It was attached to Abercrombie's brigade and in August moved to Hyattstown. It left there for Ball's bluff on Oct. 20, reaching there the following morning and went into line of battle, taking part in the engagement that followed, and was detailed to cover the retreat on the 22d, being the last to cross the river. On Dec. 2 it moved to Frederick City, then to Harper's Ferry, and later to Winchester. It built a bridge across the Shenandoah at Snicker's ferry, and was in various movements until Warrenton was reached in April, 1862. Col. Hackleman was commissioned a brigadier-general on April 30. The regiment was mustered out at Washington May 14, 1862, but was reorganized as a three-years regiment during the summer and left the state for Kentucky to aid in repelling the invasion of Kirby Smith's forces. It was engaged in the Battle of Richmond, losing 200 in killed and wounded, and 600 captured, Lieut. -Col. Wolfe being killed in an attempt to cut through the enemy's lines. The prisoners were paroled and sent to Indianapolis, and were exchanged Nov. 1. Then the regiment moved to Memphis and from there to Vicksburg. With its brigade it marched 65 miles, on Dec. 25-26, swam two bayous, destroyed 10 miles of railroad, and destroyed $1,000,000 worth of cotton. It participated in the assault at Chickasaw bayou, its brigade losing 500 men. It then moved to Arkansas Post and participated in the reduction of that stronghold, being the first regiment to plant its colors within the fort. Gen. Churchill, who surrendered the fort, was the same officer to whom the 16th had surrendered at Richmond in Aug., 1862. The regiment then moved to Young's point, and on April 14 embarked for Grand Gulf. It joined the forces at Port Gibson and participated in the battle ; was in a skirmish at Edward's station ; and was engaged at Black River bridge ; then went into the trenches at Vicksburg, and participated in all the operations of that siege, holding an important position for nearly 10 hours' continuous fighting in the assault of May 22. After the surrender it moved to Jackson and was then sent to New Orleans, where it was mounted and attached to the cavalry corps, Department of the Gulf, being distributed in detachments for protection of transportation along the eastern shore of the river from New Orleans to points above. It joined the Bayou Teche expedition in October, and was in continual skirmishing until Jan. 2, 1864, when it returned to New Orleans. It took part in Banks' expedition up the Red river, being in 16 engagements, and on its return was assigned to frontier outpost duty. It was mustered out at New Orleans June 30, 1865. Col. Lucas was appointed brigadier-general in Feb., 1865, and Lieut. -Col. Conover was commissioned colonel. The recruits whose terms of service had not expired were transferred to the 13th Ind. cavalry. The original strength of the one-year regiment was 725; it gained by recruits, 246; total, 971. It lost by death, 12 ; by desertion, 73; unaccounted for, 16. The original strength of the three-year regiment was 963; it gained by recruits, 282; unassigned recruits, 241; total, 1,486. It lost by death, 271; desertion, 36; unaccounted for, 204.Footnotes: Regimental history taken from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3 |
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