HISTORY OF THE 93RD REGIMENT- INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
Transcribed and Contributed by, Bill Swift
Note: This history was transcribed from the log of the 93rd regiment in the handwriting of its commanding officer, Colonel Dewitt C. Thomas. The original document is in the Indiana State Office Building. It was dated July15, 1865 at Gainesville, Alabama.
There has been a slight paraphrasing of the original document.
The 93rd regiment was organized at Camp Emerson, Ind. under the second call of July, 1862. Lt. Col. George W. Carr of Jackson County, Indiana, commander of the post, was the regiment’s original commander. Colonel Dewitt C. Thomas of Salem, Indiana was placed in command of the regiment after its organization was completed.
The regiment moved by rail Nov. 9, 1862 from Camp Emerson to Cairo, Ill. via Indianapolis, reaching Cairo the 11th. At Indianapolis the arms of the regiment were turned over and Enfield Rifles were issued to the men at Cairo Nov. 12th.
Embarked on Stephen Priest Queen and proceeded to Memphis, Tenn. where the regiment debarked and was organized into a brigade with 72nd Ohio, 93 Ill, 114th Ill, 32nd Wis. Vol. and Co. E 1st Ill Lt. Artillery (known as Waterhouse Battery). Col. R.R. Buckland, 72nd Ohio was placed in command of the brigade.
On Nov. 26th the regiment moved from Memphis with General Sherman’s army to Hurricane Creek on College Hill, Miss. near Oxford, Miss. The 93 Ill. was transferred from the brigade and the brigade was assigned to the 8th Div., 16 A.C., Brig Gen. Roll commanding.
On Dec, 29, 1862 the regiment marched from Hurricane Creek, Miss. to Lafayette, Tenn. via Abbeville and Holly Springs, Miss. and Grand Junction, Tenn. It arrived December 20, 1862 after having recrossed the Tallahatchie River near the RR bridge on the Granada and Jackson RR. Maj. Gen. John E. Smith took command of the division about this time. On January 1, 1863 marched from Lafayette to LaGrange, Tenn. where the regiment remained until the 8th. Capt. Crowe with Companies B,G,H,I,K built a small fort 4 miles east of town which was christened after the captain.
Marched on the 8th to Corinth, Miss. via Vanburen and Rolins, Tenn. and Lundy, Miss. arriving Jan. 14, 1863.
Left Corinth by rail via Jackson for Bundeys Station, Tenn. 5 miles from Memphis, Tenn. arriving Feb. 2 where the regiment was deployed along the R.R. as guards and to build strong forts. While here the 32nd Wis. Vol. was taken from the brigade and 95th Ohio assigned in its stead.
March 13 moved from Bundeys Station to Memphis and on the 14th embarked on steamer J.J. Roe and proceeded down the river to a sand bar in Arkansas 4 miles below Helena where the troops disembarked.
March 26 reembarked on steamer Empress. March 30, 1863 proceeded to Duckport, La. near Vicksburg, Miss. where the troops disembarked. The division was transferred to the 15th A.C. as the 3rd Division. Brig. Gen. J.M. Tuttle was assigned to command the Division and Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman was in command of the 15th A.C. The troops were employed on the 2nd canal which Gen. Grant was digging to open Walnut Bayou with the Miss. River.
May 2 marched from Duckport, La. to Hard Times Landing, La. near Grand Gulf, La. via Walnut & Roundaway Bayou, Richmond Lake, St. Joseph & Carthage, La. The Mississippi River was crossed at Grand Gulf on May 7th.
Marched from Grand Gulf on the 8th via Rock Ford & Raymond, Miss. to Jackson, Miss. Engaged in an artillery duel with the enemy on the 14th before entering the city. In this engagement the regiment lost three (3) killed and seven (7) wounded. This was the first engagement for the regiment.
Tore up the RR on the Vicksburg line the 15th and part of the 16th. On the afternoon of the 16th marched for Vicksburg. Crossed the Big Black river and reached the rear of Vicksburg the evening of the 18th.
The afternoon of the 19th took part in an attempt to carry the enemy works by storm. Remained before the enemy until the 22nd June doing picket duty, sharpshooting, etc. Lost three (3) men killed, on (1) officer and thirteen (13) enlisted men wounded.
June 22 marched toward Big Black river and camped on Little Bear Creek
June 23 and remained there throwing up works until the 4th July . The garrison at Vicksburg capitulated on July 4th and Gen. Sherman moved his army towards Jackson. The brigade under Col. McMillen, 95th Ohio, crossed the Big Black river at Messenger Ford on the 6th July, 1863, and skirmised with the enemy, this regiment being engaged.Arrived at Jackson on the 10th July and at once invested the place. On the night of the 16th the enemy evacuated and our forces entered the city on morning of the 17th. Lost here one (1) killed and three (3) wounded. Remained at Jackson taking up RR until the 25th July, at which time a force under Gen. Steele returned from an expedition to Brandon, Miss. The army moved back via Champion Hill, Miss. and this regiment encamped at Markhouse Plantation about 3 miles from Big Black river at Messenger Ford and about 18 miles from Vicksburg.
On Sept. 5 Gen. (formerly Col.) Buckland’s brigade moved to Oak Ridge, Miss. near the Yazoo river and about 18 miles east of Vicksburg. Remained at Oak Ridge, Miss. until the 14th Oct. when the brigade, having been attached to the 17th A.C., started on an expedition under Maj. Gen. Jas. B. McPherson towards Brownsville, Miss. Crossed Big Black River at Messenger Ford the 15th.
This regiment with the rest of the brigade, which on this expedition was commanded by Col. W.L. McMillen, and a brigade under Gen. Matthias made a move to right for the purpose of flanking them.
The morning of Oct. 18, 1863 Gen. McPherson turned his force back for Black River. An artillery duel was kept up an hour or two by our rear as the movement began. This regiment, with the brigade, went into camp at Cownorous Plantation about 7 miles in rear of Vicksburg Oct 25, 1863 where it remained until Nov. 7th, 1863.
Nov. 7 marched to Vicksburg and embarked on steamer Iotan and went to Memphis, Tenn. where the regiment remained doing provost and picket duty until Feb. 6th, 1864 . At that time the brigade, under McMillen who had succeeded Gen. Buckland in command, made an expedition into Mississippi to Senatobia, Wyatts, and Waterford. Returned to Memphis, Tenn. via Germantown on Feb 19th. On this expedition the regiment skirmished with the enemy at Senatobia and Wyatts. Major S.S. Crowe was in command.
The regiment resumed picket duty at Memphis until April 30th, 1864, when Col. McMillen with his brigade made an expedition known as the first Sturgis expedition. The Regiment embarked on cars at Memphis and proceeded to Wolf River near Moscow, Tenn. 40 miles east of Memphis. Crossed the river and marched to Bolivar, Tenn. via Summerville, Tenn. Returned to Memphis via Salem and Spring Grove arriving the 10th of May.
June 1st embarked on cars at Memphis on Gen. Sturgis or Guntown expedition. Debarked at Lafayette 30 miles from Memphis. Marched via Lamar and Salem, Tenn. and Ripley, Miss. to Brices Cross Roads There the cavalry under Gen. Grearson engaged the enemy on the morning of the 10th. About 2 O’clock P.M. Gen. Sturgis succeeded in getting the infantry on the field. The infantry, exhausted with heat and rapid marching, came on the field by regiment. This regiment under Col. Thomas took position on the right and the cavalry was withdrawn. The battle was terrific and lasted about 2 hours when Gen. Sturgis’ forces were driven from the field and a rout began which beggars description. Lost in this battle and retreat one (1) officer killed and five (5) wounded, twelve enlisted men killed and fifty-one (51) wounded, nine (9) officers and one hundred and seventy-five (175) enlisted men captured. Reached Memphis June 12th, 1864 having taken cars at Colliersville, Tenn.
June 22 moved by rail to Moscow, Tenn. From Moscow marched to Pontotoc, Miss. via LaGrange, Tenn. Davis Mills, and Ripley, Miss. Marched from Pontotoc to Harrisburg, Miss. arriving the 14th under Gen. Mower, Comdg.. Division, and Gen. A.J... Smith, Cmdg. U.S. forces. The enemy attacked the rear of the column on leaving Pontotoc. Skirmishing continued with the rear flanks all day. On the 15th the enemy, under S.D. Lee, attacked us in position and were repulsed with great loss. On the 16th began the march back, this regiment bringing up the rear of the infantry with the 9th Ill. Cavalry regiment in our rear. The enemy pressed the cavalry constantly.
About 6 miles from Tupelo the enemy pressed the cavalry regiment back, whereupon Gen. Mower charged them with this regiment, the 72nd and 95th Ohio and 114th Ill. Infantry and drove them from the field. Reached Memphis 23rd July, 1864.
July 29th, 1864 moved from Memphis by rail to Moscow, Tenn. Marched from Moscow to Tallahatchie river via Lagrange, Tenn., Davis Mills, Holly Springs and Waterford, Miss. Crossed the river on driftwood on the evening of August 8th under a light fire from the enemy. Next day advanced and drove the enemy from the field. We remained at this place skirmishing every day with the enemy until the army arrived. Marched to Oxford, Miss. and returned to Memphis Aug. 29, 1864.
Sept. 2 embarked on transports and proceeded down the Mississippi river and up White River to Dewarrs Bluff, Ark. and Stony Point, Greenville and Jackson, Mo. arriving October 4, 1864.
October 6, 1864 embarked on transports and proceeded to Jefferson City, Mo. arriving Oct 15th. On the 16th embarked on cars and proceeded to Altonville, Mo. where the regiment debarked and marched via Sedalia, Georgetown, and Independence, Mo. to Little Santa Fe, Kans. From Little Santa Fe via Harrisonville, Pleasant Hill, Warrensburg, Sedalia, Jefferson City, West Plains, Union, Gray Summit to St. Louis, Mo. arriving on the 14th of Nov. 1864.
Embarked on transports at St. Louis Nov.23, 1864 and proceeded to Nashville, Tenn. (Gen. McArthur comdg. Division) where the regiment camped until the 15th Dec. fortifying and doing picket duty.
Dec. 15 moved against the enemy then investing the city. This regiment, with its brigade, took an active part in the battles of the 15th and 16th. On the 15th the regiment participated in two distinct charges against the enemy works. On the 16th it was one of the first line regiments of McMillen’s Brigade which carried by storm the salient point of the enemy’s works.
After these battles outside of Nashville, the regiment pursued the enemy to the Tennessee River, marching via Columbia, Franklin and Clifton, Tenn. and arriving January 2, 1865.
Embarked on transports and proceeded to Eastport, Miss. where the regiment went into winter quarters. It remained until Feb. 6, 1865 when it embarked on transports and proceeded to Dauphin Island, Ala. arriving March 5, 1865. Remained at Dauphin Island until March 19, 1865.
Embarked on transports and proceeded up Fish River, debarking on the 20th at Danby’s Mills. Marched from Danby’s Mills March 25. Arrived before Spanish Fort, Ala. March 27th and at once invested the enemy’s works. This regiment was posted in the front lines and threw up works. It remained until the morning of the 9th of April, the enemy having evacuated the night before.
Marched to Fort Blakely 9 miles north on Blakely River. The place was invested by Gen. Steele whose forces carried the works by storm the afternoon of the 9th, capturing men and material.
April 13th marched toward Montgomery, Ala. via Burnt Corn and Greenville, Miss. arriving 20th April. The troops remained until 10th May when Gen. McArthur marched his division for Selma, Ala. on the Alabama River, arriving on the14th.
Embarked on cars 17th and proceeded to Gainsville, Ala. via Meridian where the Regt. Headquarters are now established.
The 10 companies of this regiment have served together as a regiment at this present post. Companies A, F, G, H, and I are stationed at other points in this and adjoining counties.
Since leaving Madison, Ind. the regiment has traveled by rail 1060 miles, by river 3972 miles, and on foot 2400 miles making a total of 7432 miles.
Copyright (c) 2000 by Bill Swift
All Rights Reserved