80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, December 1864

*Dates*	*Synopsis*	*Quotes*
Dec. 1 Thursday	All Night March. Departed Franklin, Tenn., at midnight and marched to Nashville, Tenn., arriving that afternoon, exhausted. Went into lines around Nashville. Rained after dark. "At 12 o'clock at night we left the works, crossing the [Harpeth] river, and marched toward this place, arriving at 3 p.m. of the 1st instant, where we have remained uninterrupted until the present." --Lieut. Col. Alfred D. Owen, commanding 80th Ind., Dec. 5, '64 report of operations from Nov. 23, '64, to Dec. 5, '64	"Arrived in Nashville at 4 P.M. near Frt Negly. We felt like resting and sleep as we had not slep any for 3 nights." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 2 Friday	Entrenching at Nashville. Spent day entrenching near Nashville. C.S.A. troops observed nearby. 80th's Hospital Steward discharged from the Army. Cpl. De Witt C. Brown Co. B	"All the troops in line. Keermishing in front." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 3 Saturday	Enemy in Force. Entrenched at Nashville. C.S.A. Army of Tennessee now present in force.	"Kermishing in front occasional shell thrown from the fort and to our rite." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 4 Sunday	Nashville. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville.	"Cannonading to our rite all day. We were working on the fortifications." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 5 Monday	Nashville. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville.	"Very unpleasant, it is very cold. Cannonading all day." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 6 Tuesday	Rebel Deserters Coming In. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville.	"Skermishing in front, still the lonesome sound of the Cannon is heard on our rite. Deserters coming in every day." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 7 Wednesday	Weather Change. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. Morning was warm and cloudy, but at noon turned windy and rainy and then intensely cold with piercing north wind.	"Cold and looks like snow. Skermishing." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 8 Thursday	Frozen Ground. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. Continued cold. Ground froze overnight.	"Cannonading down the river by the [Union Navy] Gun Boats." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 9 Friday	Terrible Storm. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. Morning dawned cold, windy, dark and cloudy with rain that turned to sleet followed by 3 in. of snow.	"All quiate around the lines. It is sleeting. Winter quarters would [be] much pleasanter than our shelter tents." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 10 Saturday	Nashville. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. Continued cold with strong northwest wind blowing. Killed in action at Nashville. Pvt. Pierre Bonean Co. G	"Very cold and no wood [for fires]. All quiate around the lines." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 11 Sunday	Below Zero. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. Temperature estimated at -10 degrees Fahrenheit.	"It is the coldest day we have had this winter. All quiate, the boys all went to town to keep from Freezing. Bono [Pvt. Pierre Bonean] of Co. G was killed." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 12 Monday	Drew Clothing. Winter clothing issued. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. "Still coald..."	"...nothing of interest gowing on. We drew clothing I got an overcoat." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 13 Tuesday	Marching Orders. Received orders to be ready to march. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville. Commissioned by Ind. Gov. Oliver P. Morton. Archibald W. Spain as Asst. Surg.	"Orders to be ready to march. I was on Guard, Cannonading." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 14 Wednesday	Drew Rations. Camped in the defensive lines south of Nashville.	"Drew rations to be ready to march at 4 tomorrow." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 15 Thursday	Battle of Nashville. In morning moved out of entrenchments and took position on Hardin Pike in rear of 16th Corps. In afternoon moved to right of 16th Corps, advanced and pushed enemy back. Captured prisoners and artillery. Lost 1 man killed and 4 men wounded in action. Spent night camped on Hillsborough Pike. Killed in Action at Nashville. Recruit Henry L. Douglass Co. F Wounded in Action at Nashville. 1st Lieut. Daniel C. Ashby Co. H Deserted "...his Company and Regiment under fire." Pvt. John Madison Co. H "...had my command in readiness to move at 5 a.m. ...Marched at 9 a.m. ...across the Franklin and Granny White pikes, halted near the Hardin pike and formed line of battle...remained in this position until 1 p.m., when I received orders to move by the right flank...and moved to the right of General Smith's line. The lines were advanced a short distance, when the enemy opened fire on us -- with artillery and infantry. I was ordered to move my brigade to the left of First Brigade and then charged the enemy...The enemy made very little resistance; many of them were captured and the rest fled in confusion. After following them nearly a mile I halted my command, formed line of battle in an advanced position, and, as night was setting in, threw up a line of breast-works, and occupied the line during the night...Two stands of colors and about 200 prisoners were captured by my brigade..." --Col. Orlando K. Moore, commanding 80th's Brig., report of operations between Nov. 14, '64 and Jan. 23, '65.	"Revalee at 4 A.M. Marched at 6 O'clock mooved to our rite at P.M. we lay in line supporting a battery. The shells come near us but did no damage, at 3 Mooved on still farther to our rite. It was warm and very mudy, passed a fort whair 4 guns an a number of prisoners had been captured. All the Division charge the Reebs, captured 2 guns. Lut. Ashy [1st Lieut. Daniel C. Ashby] of Co. H was wounded. Douglas [Recruit Henry L. Douglass] of Co. F was killed. At dark a line formed and a line of works erected during the night. Very quiate during the night." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary. "On the 15th Dec./64, we moved out under Command of Maj. Gen. Thomas to attack the Rebel General Hood in front of Nashville. About the middle of the forenoon the engagement commenced with energy. We were advancing on the enemy's works when Madison [Pvt. John Madison of Co. H] fell back, remarking to some of the Company (who told me afterwards,) that he would "be damned if he was going up where those shells were bursting." He then went to the City and reported at the Zollicoffer Barracks the same day..." --Capt. Joseph P. Glezen Co. H, 80th Ind., Nov. 4, '65, letter to H. P. Lantz
Dec. 16 Friday	Battle of Nashville. Remained under fire on Hillsborough Pike till afternoon. Attacked and drove enemy completely away. Spent night camped on Granny White Pike. "Cloudy and cool." Discharged from Army due to disability. Pvt. Levi E. Riggs Co. E "arm amputated" "On the morning of the 16th the line was moved a short distance to the right to close an interval and remained in this position until 3 p.m. ...The lines were advanced across the Granny White pike, following the enemy, and halted a little before dark." --Col. Orlando K. Moore commanding 80th's Brig., report of operations between Nov. 14, '64 and Jan. 23, '65.	"At 8 A.M. Cannonading commenced, and was kep up all day. Trrops to our rite and left was mooving at 3 A.M. A charge was made which was victorious. 1,000 prisoners was captured. Our Brigade had not moved all day as we had been supporting 3 batterys. We then mooved rear a mile and were in Camp. The Johnnies commenced their retreat in earnest. Hood [C.S.A. Maj. Gen. John Bell Hood] came to the conclution it was the safist to get across the Tenn River." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 17 Saturday	Pursuit of Hood. At 11:30 a.m. advanced down Granny White Pike in rear of 16th Corps. Halted at dirt road to Franklin Pike. "Rain continued all day."	"Moved at 8 A.M... Guns and occasionaly a dead Reeb was lying by the road, very mudy, at least 6 inches deep. marched 6 miles went in Camp in a good place in a woods pasture. We mooved out on the Granny White Pike." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 18 Sunday	Pursuit of Hood. About 10:00 a.m. marched south toward Franklin. "Still continued to rain all day..." Camped 2.5 mi. north of Franklin, Tenn.	"...at 8 A.M. all the troops mooved. We got on the Franklin Pike arrived thair at 8 P.M. Unpleasant for me as I was sick. I was with the wagon, and rode part of the way." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 19 Monday	Franklin. Moved into Franklin, Tenn., and went into camp. "Rained very hard..."	"...mooved over Harpeth River. In a good place and went in Camp." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 20 Tuesday	Spring Hill. Started at 7:00 A.M., marched 12 mi. to Spring Hill, Tenn., and went into camp there. "Continued raining."	"Marched to Spring Hill [Tenn.] 12 miles, and went into Camp." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 21 Wednesday	Snowed. Started at 2:00 P.M. and marched 5 mi. Passed the 16th A.C. Camped in a woods. "It snowed."
Dec. 22 Thursday	In the Woods. Remained camped in woods 5 mi. south of Spring Hill, Tenn. "It is very cold."
Dec. 23 Friday	In the Woods. Remained camped in woods 5 mi. south of Spring Hill, Tenn. "Very cold."
Dec. 24 Saturday	Christmas Foraging. Remained camped in woods 5 mi. south of Spring Hill, Tenn. "Very cold."	"Some prisoners coming back. Still in camp all day. Some of the Co went out foraging for Chrystmas. 3 of us went out and got some salt." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 25 Sunday	Third Christmas Away. Remained camped in woods 5 mi. south of Spring Hill, Tenn.	"Expecting to march. Nothing of interest going on." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 26 Monday	Columbia. Marched 5 mi. south to Columbia, Tenn. Went into camp at 2:00 P.M. on North Bank of Duck River. "Very cold."
Dec. 27 Tuesday	Columbia. Remained camp on North Bank of Duck River. "Cloudy and cold."
Dec. 28 Wednesday	Columbia. Remained camped on North Bank of Duck River. "Very coald."
Dec. 29 Thursday	Columbia. Remained camped on North Bank of Duck River. Discharged from Army due to disability. Recruit William McGillum Co. H "wounds"	"It looks like snow." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.
Dec. 30 Friday	Columbia. Remained camped on North Bank of Duck River. "It snowed."
Dec. 31 Saturday	New Years Eve. Remained camped on North Bank of Duck River. "Very coald."	"1864 is past and gone and this cruel war is still gowing on. Old Jeff [C.S.A. President Jefferson Davis] and his reble boys must soon give up all the southern land." --Pvt. John K. King Co. A, diary.

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	Dcember 1864 80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry An American Civil War Regiment
U.S. Major General George H. Thomas "the Rock of Chickamauga" Commanded Federal forces that the 80th was part of at the Battle of Nashville, Tenn. Image taken by noted Civil War photographer Mathew Brady Digital ID: cwp 4a40430 Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Photograph has been cropped and electronically enhanced by Deep Vee Productions