32nd Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry was a Union Army

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. It was also known as

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

's "1st German" regiment because its members were mainly of

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

descent. Organized at

Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

, the regiment's first recruits mustered into service on August 24, 1861. From 1861 to 1865, the 32nd Indiana was attached to the first

Army of the Ohio The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union Army, Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863. History 1st Army of the Ohio General Orders No. 97 appointed ...

and the

Army of the Cumberland The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio. History The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creatio ...

, where it served in the Western Theater. The regiment's major engagements included the

Battle of Rowlett's Station The Battle of Rowlett's Station (also known as Battle of Woodsonville or Green River) was a land battle in the American Civil War, fought at the railroad whistle-stop of Rowlett's in Hart County, Kentucky, on December 17, 1861. The outcome was ...

, the

Battle of Shiloh The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the American Civil War fought on April 6–7, 1862. The fighting took place in southwestern Tennessee, which was part of the war's Western Theater of the ...

, and

Battle of Stones River The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Ci ...

during 1861 and 1862. The 32nd Indiana also participated in the Tullahoma Campaign, the Chickamauga Campaign, and the

Chattanooga Campaign The Chattanooga campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, during the American Civil War. Following the defeat of Major general (United States), Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Union Army, Union Army of the C ...

in 1863, and in numerous battles during the Atlanta Campaign in 1864. After its first group of three-year enlisted men mustered out at Indianapolis on September 7, 1864, the remaining troops in the regiment fought at the

Battle of Jonesborough The Battle of Jonesborough (August 31–September 1, 1864) was fought between Union Army forces led by William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate States of America, Confederate forces under William J. Hardee during the Atlanta Campaign in the Am ...

and the

Battle of Lovejoy's Station The Battle of Lovejoy's Station was fought on August 20, 1864, near what is now Lovejoy, Georgia, in Clayton County, Georgia, Clayton County, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The two sides had arrived at something of a stal ...

. A reorganized 32nd Indiana, which included a

battalion A battalion is a military unit, typically consisting of up to one thousand soldiers. A battalion is commanded by a lieutenant colonel and subdivided into several Company (military unit), companies, each typically commanded by a Major (rank), ...

of four companies, was attached to the

Department of Texas The Department of Texas was a military department of the United States Army that existed from 1850 to 1861, and again from 1865 to 1866, from 1870 to 1913 and during the First World War. It was subordinate to the Military Division of the Missouri ...

and served in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

until its remaining men mustered out of service on December 4, 1865.

Organization

Shortly after the

Battle of Fort Sumter The Battle of Fort Sumter (also the Attack on Fort Sumter or the Fall of Fort Sumter) (April 12–13, 1861) was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina, by the South Carolina militia. It ended with the surrender of the ...

in April 1861, Indiana's German community responded to

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

Oliver P. Morton's call for recruits to enlist in the Union Army and urged the governor to establish the state's first German regiment, which became the 32nd Indiana. Governor Morton selected

August Willich August Willich (November 19, 1810 – January 22, 1878), born Johann August Ernst von Willich, was a military officer in the Prussian Army, later enlisting and receiving a commission in the United States Army. Born into Prussian nobility, he form ...

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

, at that time a major of the 9th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Ohio's first German regiment), to organize a new regiment for Indiana. Willich was commissioned as a

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

on August 12, 1861, and arrived in Indianapolis the following day. He established a recruiting headquarters at Union Hall, located at Pennsylvania and Market Streets in Indianapolis, and began the selection process to fill the ranks of his new regiment. Regimental leaders looked for men among the new recruits arriving at Indianapolis's

Camp Morton Camp Morton was a military training ground and a Union prisoner-of-war camp in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the American Civil War. It was named for Indiana governor Oliver Morton. Prior to the war, the site served as the fairgrounds for the ...

who had fighting experience and were in good physical condition. The first 434 men who enlisted in the regiment for three years mustered into service on August 24, 1861. Regimental officers at the time it was organized: *

, colonel *Carl Schmitt, adjutant *Henry Von Tebra, drillmaster

Service

The 32nd Indiana left Indianapolis for

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

in September 1861. In mid-October 1861 the regiment became one of four attached to Brigadier General Richard W. Johnson's 6th Brigade, under Brigadier General

Alexander McDowell McCook Alexander McDowell McCook (April 22, 1831June 12, 1903) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. Early life McCook was born in Columbiana County, Ohio. A Scottish family, the McCooks were prominent ...

's first

. The 32nd Indiana served in the 6th Brigade, Army of the Ohio, to December 1861; the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Ohio, to September 1862; and the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November 1862. The 32nd Indiana was attached to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps,

, from November 1862 to January 1863; and the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1863; and the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October 1864. The regiment posted at

Chattanooga, Tennessee Chattanooga ( ) is a city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Tennessee River and borders Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the south. With a population of 181,099 in 2020, it is Tennessee ...

, Department of the Cumberland, until November 1864.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', pp. 16 and 27. and After the regiment's three-year men returned to Indiana in August 1864, its remaining soldiers consolidated into the three companies (A, B, and C). In September 1864 they joined with a fourth company of recent recruits (Company D) to form a

. The reorganized 32nd Indiana was attached to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Separate Division, District of the Etowah, Department of the Cumberland, to June 1865, then the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, to August 1865. The 32nd Indiana served in the

until its remaining troops mustered out of service on December 4, 1865.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', p. 46.

Commanders

* Col.

* Lt. Col. Henry von Trebra * Lt. Col. Francis "Frank" Erdelmeyer During July and August 1862, Col. Willich received a promotion and assumed command of the 6th Brigade. The 32nd Indiana remained in Willich's brigade under command of Henry von Trebra, who was promoted to colonel. Francis "Frank" Erdelmeyer assumed command of the regiment after Von Tebra's death.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', p. 27.

Campaigns and battles

From its initial formation in August 1861, the regiment became known as one of Indiana's most highly disciplined regiments because of its infantry maneuvers, which were based on Prussian infantry tactics and bugle calls, and the general good health of its men.''Blood Shed In This War'', pp. 14−16. During 1861 and 1862 the regiment's major engagements included the

, the

Siege of Corinth The siege of Corinth, also known as the first battle of Corinth, was an American Civil War engagement lasting from April 29 to May 30, 1862, in Corinth, Mississippi. A collection of Union forces under the overall command of Major General Henry H ...

, and the

. In 1863 the 32nd Indiana participated in three major campaigns: the Tullahoma Campaign, the Chickamauga Campaign, and the

. In 1864 the regiment joined the Atlanta Campaign and fought in battles at Resaca, Adairsville, New Hope Church,

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, Pickett's Mill, Marietta,

Kennesaw Mountain Kennesaw Mountain is a mountain between Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia in the United States with a summit elevation of . It is the highest point in the core ( urban and suburban) metro Atlanta area, and fifth after further-north exurban count ...

, Peachtree Creek,

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, Jonesborough, and Lovejoy's Station. The 32nd Indiana completed its service in Texas, and mustered out on December 4, 1865.

1861–62

In late September 1861, still 130 men short of a full regiment, the 32nd Indiana was dispatched to

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

, and was assigned to protect the

Louisville and Nashville Railroad The Louisville and Nashville Railroad , commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States. Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of ...

. On October 15 the regiment was ordered to Camp Nevin,

, where it remained until December 9, 1861, protecting workers who were repairing a railroad bridge. The 32nd Indiana experienced its first major action at the

(December 17, 1861), south of

Munfordville, Kentucky Munfordville is a home rule-class city in, and the county seat of, Hart County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,615 at the 2010 U.S. census. History The settlement was once known as "Big Buffalo Crossing". The current name came f ...

. The regiment's service at Rowlett's Station became notable as one of the few occasions during the war when Union infantry successfully defended itself in the open against repeated cavalry assaults from the Confederates.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', p. 18. The 32nd Indiana received national recognition in the newspapers for its stand against Confederate forces. A detachment from the 32nd Indiana (fewer than 500 men) under Lt. Col. Henry von Trebra fought off 1,300 Confederate troops, including men from

Terry's Texas Rangers The 8th Texas Cavalry Regiment (1861–1865), popularly known as Terry's Texas Rangers, was a light cavalry regiment of Texas volunteers for the Confederate States Army assembled by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry in August 1861. Although lesser ...

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the West South Central region of the Southern United States. It borders Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, and Oklahoma ...

infantry, and

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

artillery under Brig. Gen.

Thomas C. Hindman Thomas Carmichael Hindman Jr. (January 28, 1828September 28, 1868) was an American lawyer, politician, and a senior officer of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, he later moved to Mississip ...

. The outmanned 32nd Indiana infantry successfully repelled the charging Confederate cavalry. The 32nd Indiana's casualties from the battle varied, depending on the source, but the final count was 46 (13 killed, 28 wounded, and 5 captured).The regiment's success in battle with so few casualties has been partially attributed to its thorough training during the early months of the war. After the battle, the 32nd Indiana performed garrison duty and helped with construction projects at Munfordville. The 32nd Indiana saw action at

(April 6−7, 1862). On March 16, 1862, the regiment began its march west to join

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was the 18th president of the United States, serving from 1869 to 1877. In 1865, as Commanding General of the United States Army, commanding general, Grant led the Uni ...

's Union Army at Pittsburgh Landing on the

Tennessee River The Tennessee River is a long river located in the Southern United States, southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. Flowing through the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky, it begins at the confluence of Fren ...

, but destroyed bridges along the route slowed its progress. On April 6, 1862, the 32nd Indiana heard artillery fire in the distance and quickly prepared for the march to the battlefield, arriving on the eastern shore of the river, opposite Pittsburgh Landing, to witness the aftermath of the day's fighting. On April 7, the regiment crossed the river to join McCook's division on the battlefield. During the second day of battle, Col. Willich displayed his leadership abilities when his troops became unsteady under heavy fire. After ordering the 32nd Indiana to assemble in a double column facing the enemy, Willich took up a position on horseback in the front of the formation, with his back to the enemy, and drilled his men until they regained their composure. Once the 32nd Indiana had recovered its stability, it advanced with the 77th Pennsylvania to prevent the Confederates from attacking the Union line. The 32nd Indiana suffered 119 casualties, including 19 dead, at Shiloh.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', p. 31. In the months following Shiloh, the 32nd Indiana took part in the advance on Confederate troops at

Corinth, Mississippi Corinth is a city in and the county seat of Alcorn County, Mississippi, Alcorn County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 14,622 at the 2020 census. Its ZIP codes are 38834 and 38835. It lies on the state line with Tennessee. His ...

; the

(April 29–May 30); and

Don Carlos Buell Don Carlos Buell (March 23, 1818November 19, 1898) was a United States Army officer who fought in the Seminole War, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War. Buell led Union armies in two major Civil War battles— Shiloh and Pe ...

's campaign in northern

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

and middle

Tennessee Tennessee (, ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Kentucky to the north, Virginia to the northeast, North Carolina t ...

(June to August 1862). In early October 1862 the regiment pursued

Braxton Bragg Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was an American army Officer (armed forces), officer during the Second Seminole War and Mexican–American War and Confederate General officers in the Confederate States Army, general in th ...

's Confederate troops into

(October 1–15), before marching to

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

, where they remained until December 26, 1862. The regiment took part in the advance on

Murfreesboro, Tennessee Murfreesboro is a city in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Its population was 165,430 according to the 2023 census estimate, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010 United States census, 2010. Murfreesboro i ...

(December 26–30).

1863–64

The 32nd Indiana fought at the

(December 30–31, 1862, and January 1–3, 1863). The regiment estimated its casualties at 12 men killed, 40 wounded, and 115 captured. Confederates took the prisoners to

Libby Prison Libby Prison was a Confederate States of America, Confederate prison at Richmond, Virginia, during the American Civil War. In 1862 it was designated to hold officer prisoners from the Union Army, taking in numbers from the nearby Seven Days battl ...

Richmond, Virginia Richmond ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. Incorporated in 1742, Richmond has been an independent city (United States), independent city since 1871. ...

, where they remained until their release as part of prisoner exchanges over the next four months. In the meantime, the 32nd Indiana remained at Murfreesboro. During 1863 the regiment took part in the Tullahoma Campaign (June 22–July 7), including the Battle of Liberty Gap (June 22–24 and June 24–27), and the Chickamauga Campaign (August 16–September 22), including the

Battle of Chickamauga The Battle of Chickamauga, fought on September 18–20, 1863, between the United States Army and Confederate States Army, Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a U.S. Army offensive, the Chickamauga Campaign, in southe ...

(September 19–20). The regiment's casualties at Chickamauga were 21 dead, 81 wounded, and 20 missing. The 32nd Indiana also participated in the

(September 24–November 23), including the fighting at Orchard Knob (November 23–24) and the

Battle of Missionary Ridge The Battle of Missionary Ridge, also known as the Battle of Chattanooga, was fought on November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union Army, Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on ...

(November 25). The regiment remained in eastern

until April 1864. In May 1864 the 32nd Indiana joined

William T. Sherman William is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era. It is ...

’s Atlanta Campaign (May 1–September 8, 1864) and fought at the

Battle of Rocky Face Ridge The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge was fought May 7–13, 1864, in Whitfield County, Georgia, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union army was led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and the Confederate army by Gen ...

(May 8–13); the

Battle of Resaca The Battle of Resaca, from May 13 to 15, 1864, formed part of the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War, when a Union force under William Tecumseh Sherman engaged the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by Joseph E. Johnston. The battle ...

(May 14–15); the

Battle of Adairsville The Battle of Adairsville Hood, pp.46—52 was a part of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on May 17, 1864, just northeast of Rome, Georgia. The brief engagement was a Confederate delaying action that allowed Gener ...

(May 17); the advance on Dallas (May 22–25); in battles around New Hope Church,

, and Allatoona Hills (May 25–June 5); and at the

Battle of Pickett's Mill The Battle of Pickett's Mill (May 27, 1864) was fought in Paulding County, Georgia, between Union (American Civil War), Union forces under Major general (United States), Major General William Tecumseh Sherman and Confederate States of America, ...

(May 27). The 32nd Indiana also fought at the

Battle of Marietta A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

(June 10–July 2), the

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was fought on June 27, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The most significant frontal assault launched by Union Army, Union Major general (United States), Major General William T. Sherman ...

(June 27), and the

Battle of Peachtree Creek The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia on July 20, 1864, as part of the Atlanta Campaign in the American Civil War. It was the first major attack by Lieutenant General, Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood since taking comma ...

(July 19–20), before taking part in the

Battle of Atlanta The Battle of Atlanta took place during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War on July 22, 1864, just southeast of Atlanta, Georgia. Continuing their summer campaign to seize the important rail and supply hub of Atlanta, Union forces ...

(July 22–August 25, 1864). On August 2, 1864, the regiment's three-year enlisted men were ordered to Indiana, where they were scheduled to muster out of service. En route to Indianapolis these soldiers took part in an expedition from

Mount Vernon, Indiana Mount Vernon is a city in and the county seat of Posey County, Indiana, United States. Located in the state's far southwestern corner, within of both the southernmost or westernmost points, it is the westernmost city in the state. The southernm ...

, into Kentucky, (August 16–22, 1864) that included skirmishes at White Oak Springs (August 17), Gouger's Lake (August 18), and Smith's Mills (August 19). They mustered out of service at Indianapolis on September 7, 1864.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', p. 45.

After consolidation

About 285 men whose mustering into service dated after 1862 remained in the 32nd Indiana and consolidated into a battalion garrisoned at

. The reorganized 32nd Indiana took part in the

(August 31–September 1, 1864) and the

(September 2–6, 1864). In mid-June 1865, new orders moved the 32nd Indiana to

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

, and in July 1865 to

, where it served at Green Lake and

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

, before its remaining soldiers mustered out of service on December 4, 1865.

Casualties

Of the 905 original members of the 32nd Indiana who left Indianapolis in 1861, 281 returned three years later to muster out of service; 89 men were mustered out "

in absentia ''In Absentia'' is the seventh studio album by British progressive rock band Porcupine Tree, first released on 24 September 2002. The album marked several changes for the band, with it being the first with new drummer Gavin Harrison and the f ...

." The total number of casualties reported for the regiment is 278, which includes 7 officers and 174 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 96 enlisted men who died from disease.

Tributes

August Bloedner Christian Friedrich August Bloedner was a Saxe-Altenburg-born carpenter from Cincinnati, who served with the 32nd Regiment Indiana Infantry during the American Civil War. He built the 32nd Indiana Monument. Biography August Bloedner was born ...

, a private in the 32nd Indiana from

, to commemorate his comrades who died at the

in December 1861. Dedicated in 1862, the

32nd Indiana Monument The 32nd Indiana Monument, also known as the August Bloedner Monument, honors the Union soldiers of the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, also known as Indiana's "1st German" regiment, who died in the Battle of Rowlett's Station on De ...

is generally considered to be the oldest surviving

monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, historical ...

of the

. It was installed in the

Frazier History Museum The Frazier History Museum, previously known as the Frazier Historical Arms Museum and the Frazier International History Museum, is a Kentucky history museum located on Museum Row in the West Main District of downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Foun ...

lobby, Louisville, Kentucky, in August 2010. Adolph G. Metzner, a German-born pharmacist who immigrated to the United States in 1856 and served in the 32nd Indiana from August 1861 to September 1864, made numerous sketches and drawings during his wartime service with the regiment. His illustrations, which were published in ''Blood Shed in This War'', provide a visual record of the 32nd Indiana’s camp life and battle experiences as well as his impressions of the people, places, and major events the regiment encountered during the war.Peake, ''Blood Shed In This War'', pp. 2–3.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * {{cite web , last =Quigley , first =Mike , title =August Willich in the Civil War , publisher = Civil War Interactive , url = http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/ArticleWillich.htm , access-date =2015-08-13 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060627201440/http://www.civilwarinteractive.com/ArticleWillich.htm , archive-date = 2006-06-27 * Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. (1889). "Willich, August". ''Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography''. New York: D. Appleton.

External links

Papers at the Terry's Texas Rangers website
Units and formations of the Union army from Indiana 1861 establishments in Indiana Military units and formations established in 1861 Military units and formations disestablished in 1865 German-American culture in Indiana