12th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry



HISTORICAL NOTES:
The One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Indiana Regiment (12th Indiana Cavalry, was organized at Kendallville, in the winter of 1863, and was mustered in March 1, 1864. It left the state May 6 for Nashville, Tenn., where it was equipped, although six companies only were mounted. The mounted portion was sent overland to Huntsville, Ala., May 29, in command of Lieut. -Col. Reed, while the unmounted portion was moved by rail in command of Col. Anderson. The regiment was assigned to railroad defense duty from Decatur to Paint Rock, Ala., the dismounted companies being assigned to the special work of defense and the erection of blockhouses, under the command of Maj. Blake. The mounted companies, actively engaged in ridding the country of guerrillas, were in many skirmishes and minor engagements, losing quite a number in killed and wounded.

On Feb. 11, 1865, the regiment started for New Orleans, but disembarked at Vicksburg. Being newly mounted and armed, it continued its trip, reaching New Orleans, March 12, and proceeded to Mobile, where it participated in the operations, against Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely, part of the regiment acting as escort to Maj. -Gen. Canby, the remainder being engaged in running a courier line into Florida. On April 17th, it moved in a cavalry raid of over 800 miles through Alabama and Georgia, thence to Columbus, Miss., which place was reached May 20. It was highly complimented by Gen. Grierson for its gallantry and military discipline.

The regiment was mustered out Nov. 10, 1865. Its original strength was 1,261; gain by recruits, 96; total, 1,357. Loss by death, 168; desertions 54; unaccounted for, 7. Dyer states that the Regiment lost during service 16 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 154 Enlisted men by disease. Total 171. OFFICERS:
Colonel
  • Edward Anderson
    Lieut. Colonel
  • Alfred Reed
    Majors:
  • Orris Blake
  • Josiah B. Cobb
  • William H. Calkin
  • Willys G. Beck
    •  ASSIGNMENTS:
    Organized at Kendallville, Ind., and Michigan City, Ind., December 10, 1863, to April 28, 1864. Left State for Nashville, Tenn., May 6, 1864. Attached to District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to September, 1864, Tullahoma, Tenn.; defenses of Nashville & Chattanooga R. R., Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 7th Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to February, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Military Division West Mississippi, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to May, 1865. Dept. of Mississippi to November, 1865. SERVICE:
    Duty at Nashville, Tenn., until May 29, 1864. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., May 29, and duty there and guarding Railroad from Decatur to Paint Rock, Ala. Headquarters at Huntsville and Brownsborough until September 15. Action at Big Cove Valley June 27. Near Vienna July 8. Scout in Clear Springs and Sink Springs Valleys July 18-21 (Detachment). Flint River, Ala., July 25. Paint Rock Station July 30. Moore's Hill August 11. Operations in Madison County August 12-14. Near Lynchburg September 29 (Detachment). Repulse of Buford's attack on Huntsville September 30-October 1 and October 18 (Cos. "C," "D" and "H"). Regiment moved to Tullahoma, Tenn., September 15, and duty there until November 26. Siege of Decatur, Ala., October 26-29 (Detachment). Near Maysville, Ala., and near New Market, Ala., November 17 (Detachment). Moved to Murfreesboro, Tenn., November 26. Overall's Creek December 4. Siege of Murfreesboro December 5-12. Wilkinson's Pike December 7. Paint Rock Bridge, Ala., December 7 (Detachment). Murfreesboro December 13-14. Near Murfreesboro December 15 (Detachment). Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and duty there until February, 1865. Action at Hillsboro, Ala., December 29, 1864 (Detachment). Near Leighton, Ala., December 30 (Detachment). Moved to Vicksburg, Miss.; thence to New Orleans, La., and to Mobile Bay, Ala., February 11-March 22. Campaign against Mobile and its defenses March 22-April 12. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 9. Grierson's Raid through Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi April 17-May 20. Duty at Columbus, Miss., until July. At Grenada and Austin, Miss., until November. Mustered out at Vicksburg, Miss., November 10, 1865. ROSTERS:
    The roster of this unit has the names of 2042 men.

  • Company A - La Porte, Boone, St. Joseph, and Porter counties
  • Company B - DeKalb, Noble, La Grange, and Steuben counties
  • Company C - Noble, Steuben, La Grange, and DeKalb counties
  • Company D - Elkhart County
  • Company E - Marshall County
  • Company F - Cass, Jasper, White, and La Porte counties
  • Company G - Lake and La Porte counties
  • Company H - St. Joseph and Marshall counties
  • Company I - La Grange, Kosciusko, Noble, Whitley, Allen, Elkhart, and DeKalb counties
  • Company K - White, Pulaski, Jasper, and Newton counties
  • Company L - Miami County
  • Company M - Miami, Porter, La Porte, and La Grange counties
    • BIBLIOGRAPHY:


    REFERENCES:

    REF: Dyer, Frederick H., A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion
    The Union Army - The Federal Publishing Company.




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