Atlanta Campaign Letter

Early 1864 letter by Henry "Tip" Lough of the 31st Indiana Infantry. He gives some great personal insight into the campaign. He mentions seeing the 40th and 85th Infantry Regiments, which had members from Montgomery and Parke Counties.

HH Lough,Waveland Independent; Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana,Friday, April 3, 1931

Readers of the Independent will note a letter that HH Lough wrote to his brother, Levi in March 1863. His daughter, Mrs. Frank Gardner, has handed us another dated May 21, 1864, and written from Camp of 31st Indiana Volunteers near Kingston, Georgia on the famous "March to the Sea.

“Dear Brother having a few spare moments for the first time in a long time, I will try to let you know how I am getting along. We left Ooltawah [sic] May 3rd and have been on the march every day since we have just been booting the Rebs through Georgia. We have had no very hard fighting but we have skirmished with them every day. We have only had six killed and twenty wounded in our regt none in our company. We stopped to rest yesterday and I don't know whether we will stay here today or not but we will leave soon for they are sending all the sick to the hospital. I think that if our Army can hold out successful two weeks longer that this War will soon be over for they are getting in a small pen some of their deserters say that they are in great confusion and some say they are only falling back to a better position but they have left two of the strongest positions that our Army ever fronted, that was Buzzard Gap and the hills in front of Rasaka [sic] but then we have a few thousand men too many for them. We can march clear around them and fight them on all sides but that they don't like so they kept moving to the rear all the time. I have come to the conclusion that you have concluded not to write for I have not received a letter from any of you since I have been back. I think it is getting time. I saw the 85th regt a few days ago. They had been in a fight and more of the boys was hurt. They looked pretty hard. They are not guarding railroad now and I don't think they will be soon. The boys of the 40th are well. I never saw the Army in as good spirits as they are now but we are almost worn out marching but anything to get this war put down. Well I believe I have written all I feel like writing at present but will write as soon as I can get in camp again. This leaves me in good health and I hope it may find you the same. So no more but remain as ever your brother. "

H.H. Lough

"The letter is addressed to Bethany, a post office that is now off the map.(W.I.)”

38th Indiana Infantry Regiment

This 38th Indiana Infantry Regiment was raised in New Albany Indiana by Colonel Benjamin Scribner. Most of the compamies were raised from southren Indiana counties. The list of Twenty-two men below were from Montgomery County, Indiana and traveled to New Albany, IN. In Colonel Benjamin Scribners book, " How Soldiers Were Made", he mentions David Patton twice. He stated that "thirteen students from the northern part of our state came down to New Albany, and were mustered in as private soldiers."(p. 208-209) Among them was a man that would become the last Colonel of the 38th Indiana Infantry, David H. Patton. Many of the names below, including Patton, were students at the Waveland Collegiate Institute, in Waveland, Indiana. There are twenty-three men on the 1861 Company "H" rolls that are known to be from Montgomery County. Of the original twenty-three men, eleven would not survive the war. Several other men could not serve out their three year enlistments because of wounds or disease, a sad testament to the hard service the 38th Regiment performed. Also included are four recruits who enlisted in 1864, two of them would die of disease.

The 38th saw major action at Perryville, KY., Stones River, TN., Chickamauga, GA., Chattanooga, TN. and the Atlanta Campagin. It was also involved in Sherma's "March to the Sea" and the march north through the Carolians. It has the honor of being listed as one of "Fox's Fighting 300 Union Regiments" from the Civil War.

David H. Patton - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Enlisted as a Corporal, Mustered out as Colonel of the 38th IND., 1865

Joseph E. Sterrett - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Dec. 5, 1861, Enlisted as a private, Mustered out as Second Lieutenant of Company "H"

Samuel W. Sterrett - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Sept, 18, 1861, Killed at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky October 8, 1862

John C. Bush - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Discharged 1863, disability

Alexander Buchanan - Montgomery County Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Died of wounds 1863, no specific date given

Robert H. Canine - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Discharge 1863, disability

William G. Canine - Crawfordsville, Indiana Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Died 1863 of disease

John Cassady - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Wounded Sept. 1, 1864 battle of Jonesboro, Georgia, Died Sept. 2, 1864

William S. Demaree - Montgomery County Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Discharged 1863, disability

Charles E. Fowler - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Killed in Georgia, August 26, 1864, Buried Marietta Georgia National Cemetery

John T. Hanna - Montgomery County Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Died in Kentucky Feb. 13, 1862, disease

Joseph L. Logan - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Mustered out as Corporal Sept. 17, 1864

John L. Martin - Crawfordsville, Indiana Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Veteran, promoted to Captain of Company A

John W. McDaniel - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Killed at battle of Perryville, Kentucky October 8, 1862

John W. Milligan - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Mustered out 1864

Thomas Noon - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Died Nashville, Tennessee September 2, 1863

John W. Randolph - Montgomery County Mustered Oct. 4, 1861, Discharged, date not stated, wounds

-

William J. Richards - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861; Commissioned 2nd Lt., 81st Ind. Inf. Co. "H"

William Riley - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Killed battle of Chickamauga, Georgia Sept. 19, 1863

James M. Steele - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861Mustered out Sept. 12, 1864

Lorenzo D. Stone - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Mustered out Sept. 17, 1864

Columbus W. Veatch - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Died in an explosion on the Steamer Sultana April 27, 1865

James H. Wells - Montgomery County Mustered Sept. 18, 1861, Killed, no date given

Recruits

George Couchland - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Oct. 20, 1864, Mustered out July 15, 1865

Joseph A. Patton - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Jan. 14, 1864, Promoted to the U.S. Colored Troops, declined

Luther H. Patton - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Oct. 20, 1864, Died of disease at Chattanooga Tennessee Feb. 20, 1865

Chauncy Richardson - Waveland, Indiana Mustered Oct. 20, 1864, Died of disease at Beaufort, South Carolina May 5, 1865

From the History of the Thirty-Eighth Indiana Infantry

Colonel David H. Patton

Colonel David H. Patton was born in Flemingsburg, Ky., Nov. 26, 1837, and was mustered into the service of the United States as a Corporal of Company H, Thirty-Eighth Indiana Volunteers, September 18th, 1861.
At the battle of Perryville Ky., he was one of the famous color guard that lost nearly all its numbers, and was himself slightly wounded. He was promoted and mustered as First Lieutenant, same company, June 5th, 1864; Captain Sept. 6, 1864; Lieutenant Colonel, May 5th, 1865, and Colonel, May 26th, 1865.
Colonel Patton, at the time of his enlistment, was a student of medicine. He was of robust constitution, and was one of few who took part in every battle and skirmish in which the regiment was engaged. He was modest and unassuming, devoted to duty, and acted well his part in every position which he was called upon to fill, from Corporal to Colonel.
He was mustered out with the regiment at Indianapolis, July 15th, 1865. On the 25th of September, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Bennett. They have three children: Miss Fannie Ramsay, Miss Alice Patton and Luther Patton.
Colonel Patton served one term as Congressman from a district in northern Indiana, and served as Receiver of United States Land Office from September, 1893, to September, 1897.
He now resides in Woodland, O.T., and is engaged in the cattle business.

Joseph E. Sterrett

Joseph E. Sterrett was born in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1842, and mustered into service as a private in Company H, December 5, 1861; promoted to Third Sergeant, April 1, 1865; regimental Commissary Sergeant, June 1, 1865; and commissioned Second Lieutenant same date. Comrade Sterrett was a veteran and took part in every engagement of the regiment. He was wounded at the battle of Jonesborough, Georgia.
He married Miss Amanda J. Little, May 6, 1869. Their children are Anna V., and Elsie I. Sterrett. Comrade Sterrett is a physician and resides in Logansport, Indiana.

"How Soldiers Were Made" by Colonel Benjamin F. Scribner

http://www.amazon.com/Soldiers-Were-Made-Benjamin-Scribner/dp/1885033141

38th Indiana Regimental History Online

http://www.archive.org/details/historythirtyei00perrgoog