“I Held a seperate inspection for the 12th Indiana by request of Major Baldwin, then commanding it, I left nothing unnoticed. The Major explained the regiment had been poorly handled by the other field officers and required a thoruugh overhauling. I found that the regiment consisted of a splendid set of young men, but they had been allowed to lapse into bad discipline; however my pointed report of their condition had teh desired effect and the regiment became one of the best in the brigade.
- C.D. Miller; September 9th 1864 outside of Atlanta, GA (excerpt from: "The Struggle for the life of the Republic" Charles Dana Miller)
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“One of the worst federal opponents was Col. Edward "Kill ’Em All" Anderson, commander of the 12th Indiana, occupant regiment in Huntsville. Mary Jane Chadick, a well known Huntsville diarist during the WBTS, wrote on one of Col. Andersons actions on August 21, 1864 "A trial is going on in town today. Colonel Anderson, who commands at Brownsboro, has been having innocent citizens shot like dogs. A young man named Davis was carried before him las week and asked to take the oath. He said he could not take it. Then they asked, if he was to go into the army, which one would he go into. He replied he had his old mother and her family to take care of and could not go into either army, but, of course, if he was forced to go, being A Southern man, his preference would be on that side. Anderson replied: "I’ll fix you. You shall not go into either!""He was then kept until the next morning, when Col. Anderson gave him a pass to go home, and then sent out a squad of men with orders to kill him. He begged hard for one half-hour to go home and see his mother. He was shot in 14 places…"
* From “Hard Times – The Civil war in Huntsville And North Alabama 1861-1865” by Charles Rice
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Apparently the youngest Union soldier in the war enlisted at 9 years, six months, and six days. He served throughout the entire war. His name was Tom Hubler and he was with the 12th Indiana Infantry. Thomas L. F. Hubler the Captain's youngest child, was not quite 10 years old when he was mustered into the service as Drummer. He, however, stood the service well and was one of the most expert drummers in the army of the Potomac. On being discharged 19th May 1862 he returned home, and again enlisted in the 12th Regiment when reorganized for three years service, and was with it in all of its marches and battles to the close of the war. He can justly claim the honor of being the youngest veteran in the Army; most of those claiming that distinction having been older at the date of enlistment, than Tommy was when discharged. He learned the printing business after the war. Tommy was born at Ft. Wayne, Ind. Oct. 9th 1851.
More on Thomas Hubler: http://books.google.com/books?
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16 year old regular soldier nicknamed 'Babe" : E. B. Ramsby http://74.125.47.132/search?q=
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Jacob Vanscoy Letters, 1863 http://dlc.lib.utk.edu/f/fa/
"Tell father and mother and all the boys to meet me in heaven."
Pvt. Jacob Vanscoy, Twelfth Indiana, to his brother, Pvt. James Vanscoy, just before his death from a bullet wound to the chest, in the battle for Tunnel Hill, TN, November 25, 1863.
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Freemasons in the 12th Indiana:
Another known Freemason was Col. William Link, Fort Wayne, Ind., commander of the 12th Indiana Volunteers, who was mortally wounded.
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George R. Smith papers, 1852–1863.SC 1899. 7 folders. No collection guide available. Described in Pumroy and Brockman, Guide to Manuscript Collections of the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana State Library, A-339. Smith was a farmer near Rome City, Noble County, Indiana, and a soldier with the 12th Indiana Regiment during the Civil War. Included in this collection are letters that Smith wrote to his wife, Margaret, during the Civil War as well as letters she wrote to him describing home life during the war. http://74.125.47.132/search?q=
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Website mentioning the Veterans Reunion of the Twelfth in 1908:
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12th Indiana was nicknamed the “Pet Lambs” at one point in the war:
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“This was a very hard campaign. It was winter. We only took what clothes we had on, one blanket and rubber, and 100 rounds of ammunition to the man. We took a very scanty supply of provisions, having to hunt our living from the country, while marching 30 and 40 miles a day, and often tearing up railroad half the night. We had to keep up fires some nights and lie so close to them that many of the men had their blankets burned and spoiled, and some of them their clothing also. I have known men to march 30 or 40 miles and not have a bite to eat at night. One morning after having marched about 35 miles and tearing up railroad half the night, I was sick and couldn't march. I had vomited everything from the stomach and knew I would feel better in a little while. The captain wanted the doctor to take me in the ambulance. "No, no, no room. He will have to be left behind." He had the ambulance full of his own old traps. The major let me ride his horse for a few hours, when I felt better I walked the rest of the day. Some neighbor boys in the * 12th Indiana* were left behind and when we came back that way they were hanging up to the trees.
Illionois Private - John Marshall Alley
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Near Tallahatchie River in Mississippi: Excerpt from a diary:
“15th - Marched to the river through a severe rain storm and camped near the bridge in the timber.
16th - Remained in camp.
17th - Cos. "B" & "G" moved down to the bridge & camped by the side of the R.R. On the 18th commenced framing of some light breastworks around our camp to protect us from guerillas.
19th - Friday finished our works. Co. G left us to join Co. D & H two miles up the R. R. leaving us alone. Co. K was ½ mile above and the 12th Ind. Inf. occupying the works ½ mile below, built by Pierce & from which he had been driven by Grant.
20th - Saturday fourteen Guerillas made a descent on the 27th Hosp. which was only guarded by a few men from Co. I. They captured 12 men.. all of whom were paroled the same day & returned the next. At 9 a.m. we saw the smoke of Holly Springs burning which had been captured by Van Dorn. It [is] expected that he was moving down the road to burn the bridge and breastworks we were guarding. The 4 Cos. nearest the bridge under Maj Howard were got ready for action, the *12th Ind.* was in line & the 114 Ill. coming up from Abbeyville formed with them behind the works at the bridge. At 1 p.m. the troops from Oxford began to come up on the cars to form in the field 1 mile above us. By 4 p.m. it was ascertained that Van Dorn was going toward Grand Junction, which set us at rest. At 11 p.m. a Brig of Cavalry came from Oxford on a forced march and followed by the advance of the army under Grant. All night & all day Sunday 21st All Sunday night & Monday the column was passing crossing the river close to our camp. Tuesday the army was camped between us & Holly Springs. It was said to number 80,000 men. From this this time until Monday 29th remained in camp. Done some foraging as the capture of Holly Springs left us without rations.
Monday 29th at dark received orders to be ready to move by rail on Tuesday. The troops below us had all (except two Regt of Cavalry) gone toward Memphis leaving the 12th Ind & the 27th Ia to hold the bridge until the cotton & surplus at Abbeyville could be taken to Holly Springs. “
From: “History of the Services of Co. "B" 27th Iowa Inf. from its organization to Muster out August 8th 1865” - Judge John Bauercamper
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A Hoosier's perspective of Sherman's march to the sea 75th Indiana :
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Pvt. Elijah Crane - Woodworker / Sawmill Worker - http://74.125.47.132/search?q=
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Cprl. Joe King (Jon Harris’ reserved impression!)
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