Post-war black and white photo of Musician Jesse Bryant of Company H, 80th Indiana, wearing civilian clothes December 1862

80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
An American Civil War Regiment

Musician Jesse Bryant of Co. H
As a young man he played fife in the 80th's regimental band
Photo courtesy William J. Marshall & Cecil E. Goode
Picture shown above has been electronically enhanced
To view a larger version of this image, click HERE.


"Disease was woefully prevalent.  It was not uncommon for new regiments to have two-thirds of their strength on the sick list...individual units suffered most during the first few months of their service."

--Bell Irvin Wiley in his 1952 book
The Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union

Below are brief descriptions of the 80th's day-to-day experiences during December, 1862, when it, as part of the 34th Brigade, was assigned to the District of Western Kentucky in the Department of the Ohio.  Most of the month was spent at Columbia, Kentucky, except for the last week when the 80th was involved in the pursuit of Confederate cavalry raiders led by Colonel John Hunt Morgan.  Many of its' soldiers were sick or wounded, and it was losing more than one man per day due to death, discharge, or resignation from the Army.

Also included below are quotes from primary and secondary sources that are intended to give insights into what the times, and the soldiers' lives, were like. These quotes have been entered on the date they were written or published (unless otherwise noted) and without changing the original grammar or spelling.  Abbreviations used on this page include: Capt.=Captain; Co.=Company; Col.=Colonel; Cpl.=Corporal; C.S.A.=Confederate States of America; Gen.=General; Ind.=Indiana; Ky.=Kentucky; Lieut.=Lieutenant; mi.=miles; Mus.=Musician; Pvt.=Private; Rd.=road; Sergt.=Sergeant; and U.S.=United States. 

The 80th Indiana was formed in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 more volunteers for the Federal Army. The 80th left Indiana in September, 1862, and did not return until July, 1865. During that time it marched over 3,700 miles on foot and fought in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and North Carolina. Of the 1,036 men who served in it, only 320 were still with the 80th when it came home.

Sources: 80th Indiana Consolidated Morning Reports and Order Books; Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, 1861-1865, Volumes III, IV, and VIII, (Indianapolis, Indiana, 1866); and other items as noted. 

Dates Synopsis of 80th Service Quotes

Dec. 1
Sunday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Danville, Ky.
Pvt. George Corban Co. C

Died in hospital at New Albany, Ind.
Pvt. James L. Lunday Co. I

Reported in Hospital No. 9 at Danville, Ky.
Pvt. J. Willey Armstrong Co. E
Pvt. Jacob Henn Co. E
Pvt. John Jones Co. E
Pvt. Lewis Overton Co. E
Pvt. Reas Perkins Co. E
Pvt. Samuel W. Thomas Co. E

Reported in Hospital No. 10 at Danville, Ky.
Pvt. Augustus P. Bullard Co. A
Pvt. John Clark Co. A
Pvt. John H. Clark Co. A
Pvt. Jacob Cain Co. K

Reported in Hospital No. 11 at Danville, Ky.
Pvt. James M. Barr Co. D
Mus. William Barr Co. D
Cpl. Hiram Chandler Co. D
Pvt. George Corban Co. C
Pvt. Thomas J. Dedrick Co. H
Pvt. Patrick Doyle Co. B
Pvt. Thomas Dunn Co. B
Cpl. James B. Gilley Co. D
Pvt. David Grimes Co. E
Pvt. James Hogland Co. K
Pvt. Elijah Jordan Co. D
Pvt. James McConnell Co. H
Pvt. Thomas Queen Co. B
Pvt. William Page Co. K
Pvt. James Shaver Co. H
Pvt. Richard Smith Co. E
Pvt. Charles Summers Co. B
Pvt. Eli Wallace Co. C
Pvt. Samuel Wininger Co. D

"It is a well-known fact that an impression prevails to a considerable extent among the slave population in Kentucky that they will be free on the first of January, under the proclamation of the President of the United States.  If this delusion is not speedily corrected, it will be likely to lead to disastrous results to the negroes, and we know of no better means for correcting the delusion than through the pulpits of the African churches.  We, therefore, for the sake of the welfare of the negroes, suggest to their preachers throughout the State to earnestly, zealously, and energetically set themselves to work to correct the evil at once.  Kentucky is not in any way included in the President's proclamation.  That proclamation expressly refers to States or portions of States that are engaged in armed rebellion, and it distinctly states that any State or portion even of a rebellious State, that shall be represented in the National Congress on the first day of January, will be relieved from the operation of the proclamation."
--Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 2
Monday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Reported transferred from hospital at Perryville, Ky., to hospital at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. James Mason Co. C


Dec. 3
Tuesday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died in hospital at Danville, Ky.
Pvt. David Grimes Co. E, "disease"

 

Dec. 4
Wednesday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky. 

"The Examiner says that smallpox has made its appearance in the Danville hospitals."
--Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 5
Thursday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died in hospital at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. Walter Wilson Co. G, "fever"


Dec. 6
Friday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.  

Died at Lebanon, Ky.
Pvt. John Hunt Co. D

Discharged from the Army.
Pvt. Morris Blair Co. H

Letter from Col. Charles Denby commanding 80th Ind., to Ind. Adjutant Gen. Laz Noble.
"This Regiment has never had any blanks.  The Captains have never made out a monthly Report for the want of blanks.  Since I joined it I have made requisitions which have not been complied with.  As a final resort I appeal to you to send me a three months supply of all the blanks that I am entitled to.  A few Regulations, a fresh supply of tactics and outpost duty, and Bayonet Exercise are much needed." 

 

Dec. 7
Saturday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.


Dec. 8
Sunday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky. 

Died at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. Benjamin F. Gibner Co. C, "measles"
Pvt. Daniel Gross Co. C, "measles"


Dec. 9
Monday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.  

Died at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. William S. Banks Co. G, "consumption"
Pvt. Joseph Newton Co. E


Dec. 10
Tuesday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.


Dec. 11
Wednesday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky. 

Died at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. Richard H. L. Beckes Co. C
  "measles"

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. William Johnson Co. H

Died at Lebanon, Ky.
Cpl. William T. Stofford Co. C
  "fever"


Dec. 12
Thursday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.


Dec. 13
Friday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. George D. Bowers Co. H


Dec. 14
Saturday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Discharged from the Army.
Pvt. John W. Robins Co. C

Reported at Hospital No. 3 at Louisville, Ky.
Cpl. Greenup Blanford Co. B
Pvt. Joseph R. Blanford Co. B
Pvt. George W. Carpenter Co. G
Pvt. Anthony Kirkey Co. G
Pvt. Edward N. McReynolds Co. F
Pvt. George W. Padget Co. B
Pvt. Samuel A. Thorpe Co. G
Pvt. Joshua Westhaver Co. B


Dec. 15
Sunday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Reported as still in hospitals wounded at Perryville, Ky.
Pvt. John H. Ashmead Co. A
  "hips"
Pvt. Zebulon P. Estes Co. A
  "hips"
Pvt. Joseph Howard Co. K
  "arm"
Pvt. Anthony Ravalette Co. G
  "left arm fractured"
Pvt. William Turbett Co. I
  "fractured femor"


Dec. 16
Monday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. William Hedrick Co. C

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. Thomas Hogland Co. K
  "measles"
Pvt. Edwin B. Reeves Co. D

Reported in Hospital No. 7 at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. George W. Fox Co. D

"General Grant has issued an order respecting Kentucky; that as a State she has fulfilled the requirements of the Constitution of the United States and laws of Congress by choosing loyal men to fill her State offices and execute the laws.  The military will not be used except to suppress revolts and resistance to the laws.  All civil authority that can be executed at military posts will be permitted."
--telegram from Cairo, Ill., received by Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 17
Tuesday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died in hospital at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. Pleasant Smith Co. E

"This government is the government under which the American people have risen to a height of prosperity and of power without example in the history of man, and under whose protection we now live.  It is the government  which the rebel leaders are attempting to destroy, avowedly in order to return to a government like the one which so nearly shipwrecked our independence in its infancy, and which our fathers, grappling sublimely with the emergency, swept away like so much rubbish from the fair domain of the people.  The overshadowing question raised by the rebellion is: Shall we stand by the present government, which has been proved, and which has triumphantly abided the proof, or shall we return in effect to the old confederation, which has been weighed in the balance, and has been found ruinously wanting?"
--Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 18
Wednesday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Danville, Ky.
Pvt. David Bicknell Co. C

"At Perryville all wagons, including those belonging to hospitals, were left behind, and what was worse, no water was to be had.  What little there was the flock of cowards got more of than the wounded men; they collected around the springs and drank the water which oozed slowly from the mud.  Surgeons were also scarce, and attendants the same."
--letter by "M.D." about medical care at the Battle of Perryville, Ky., printed in Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 19
Thursday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. William Jordan Co. G
  "measles"

Reported at Hospital No. 3 at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. Joseph Cannon Co. B
Cpl. John L. Cooper Co. E
Pvt. John B. Rutledge Co. E
Pvt. John A. Rutter Co. F

"...Out of fifty-four hogs I was feeding for market, I can find but eighteen left, and my fencing being thrown down and burnt, the hogs had access to the battle-field, and, feeding on dead men and horses, rendered themselves unfit for food..."
--letter by "A Subscriber" about his losses due to the Battle of Perryville, Ky., printed in Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 20
Friday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. James R. Killon Co. C
  "measles"

Resigned from the Army.
2nd Lieut. William F. Green Co. D

"The 34th brigade, commanded by Col. Read (121st O.V.I.), at this place, have a quiet time.  Col. Read keeps constant vigil, and will not be surprised should the ubiquitous Morgan [CSA Col. John Hunt Morgan] choose to give him a call.  Should John have the temerity to attempt a disturbance of our Christmas, he will go up the spout.  We have had some disturbances upon the "nigger question."  Some officers wanted "colored help" to wait upon them, and were loath to part with their loved "gemmen of color;" but Col. Read quietly yet firmly enforced the orders of Generals Boyle and Gilbert, by "excluding all unauthorized persons" from the camps.  All is quiet now and will remain so upon this subject.  Col. Read, when advised of any wrong perpetrated by soldiers of his command, promptly redresses the injury and takes steps to prevent a recurrence, and his command at this time is under fine discipline."
--letter by "T.E.B." about the 80th's brigade, printed in Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 21
Saturday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Reported in Hospital No. 7 at Louisville, Ky.
Pvt. Thomas J. Brothers Co. F


Dec. 22
Sunday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died.
Pvt. Joseph A. Gold Co. D
Pvt. William Sutton Co. D

"The Sanitary Commission closes its work of benevolence in Perryville, Ky., to-day...Since the 12th day of October they have distributed the following articles, besides hundreds of minor articles, and numerous delicacies of diet that would be impossible to enumerate: 665 cotton and cotton flannel drawers; 115 woolen drawers; 904 cotton shirts; 285 woolen shirts; 448 sheets; 450 towels; 285 bed-quilts and blankets; 361 pairs wool socks; 284 pillow slips; 54 barrels onions, potatoes, and dried fruit; 12 kegs butter, wines, berries, canned fruit, &c., &c.  Without the above articles the condition of the wounded here would have been intolerable..."
--James G. Hatchett, U.S. Army Surgeon in charge at Perryville, letter in Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 23
Monday

Columbia. Camped at Columbia, Ky.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. James T. Ranner Co. G
  "measles"
Pvt. Manoah Sullivan Co. D
Pvt. Columbus Wright Co. H


Dec. 24
Tuesday

Christmas Eve.  Ordered to have 2 days rations in haversacks ready to march.  Camped at Camp Gilbert, Columbia, Ky.

"Tomorrow brings Christmas once more and glad would I be to be at home on that notable day...I do not know how long we will be here but we are ordered to have two days Rations in Haversacks ready to march it may be that we will not have the pleasure of passing the day here."
--Mus. Jesse Bryant, Co. H, 80th Ind., letter to his mother

Dec. 25
Wednesday

Christmas Day.



Dec. 26
Thursday

Pursuit of Morgan.  Departed Columbia, Ky., in pursuit of Cavalry raiders led by C.S.A. Col. John Hunt Morgan.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. Spencer Brooks Co. K
  "typhoid fever"
Pvt. Nathaniel McIntire Co. D

Died in hospital at Louisville, Ky.
Cpl. Lewis J. Stevens Co. E

Died of accidental shot.
2nd Lieut. Lewis C. Turbett Co. I

"We are satisfied from all we can hear that Morgan, with his guerilla band, is at or near Glasgow, [Ky.] and that it is their purpose to break the communication between this [city] and Nashville."
--Louisville Daily Journal newspaper, Louisville, Ky.

Dec. 27
Friday

Pursuit of Morgan.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. Elijah Jordan Co. D
Pvt. Joseph N. Turner Co. F

Admitted to Hospital No. 7 at Louisville, Ky.
Cpl. John L. Cooper Co. E

Discharged from the Army.
Pvt. Thomas J. Brothers Co. E

Resigned from the Army.
1st Lieut. Bazil Clements Co. B

Notation by Capt. Russell J. Showers, commanding Co. F, 80th Ind., in his company's Consolidated Morning Reports for Dec. 27. '62 through Dec. 31, '62.
"On the march."

 

Dec. 28
Saturday

Pursuit of Morgan.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Pvt. Joseph Able Co. D


Dec. 29
Sunday

Pursuit of Morgan.

Died at Columbia, Ky.
Sergt. Adam Snyder Co. F


Dec. 30
Monday

Pursuit of Morgan.  Bitter cold night of freezing rain and sleet driven by strong winds.

Telegram from U.S. Gen. H. G. Wright, commanding the Dept. of the Ohio,  to U.S. Maj. Gen. Henry Halleck, General-in-Chief of the U.S. Army.
"I have information, on which I am inclined to rely, that in case the President issues his proclamation of emancipation on the 1st proximo, the Legislature of Kentucky, which meets on Monday next, will legislate the State out of the Union...I propose...to arrest all members of the Legislature voting for ordinance of secession..."

 

Dec. 31
Tuesday

Pursuit of Morgan.  



This page Copyright by Scott Cantwell Meeker of Deep Vee Productions.
All Rights Reserved. Created February 2, 2000. Last updated February 1, 2005.


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