The National tribune., 1885-01-15
The 18th Indiana.

To THE EDITOR: was glad to hear from
the 10Th Ind; but Comrade Chalmers (TRIBUN1
of Nov. 20) was certainly not in that regiment
during its first term of service. He says
The 10Th went to Washington, d. c., and did
guard duty on the Potomac for the first year."
The Hoosiers" responded nobly to the first
call for troops and when the States quota was
full there were two more full regiments almost
ready to take the field. The men were given
the choice of returning home or entering the
service of the State. By o unanimous vote
they decided to remain, and were mustered
into the service of the State for year, as the
18th and 10th Ind. The 18th, after few weeks
hard drilling went into camp on the Ohio
River, Just below Evansville, to watch our Ken
lucky neighbors. In July, on the expiration
of the term of the three months men, the 18th
and 10th were transferred to the United States
service and sent to the field. The 18th did
guard duty on the Potomac, with headquarters
at Sharpsburg, Md, until towards the last of
January, 1862, when it crossed into Virginia.
The 18th was brigaded with the 10th Ind. and
18th Mass, under command of Gen. Abercrom-
bic of Banks's Division. The 10Th Ind. had the
advance up the Shenandoah Valley, through
Martinsburg to Winchester, and was the first
Union regiment to enter that city. We expected
hard fight at Winchester, and approached the
Notifications north of the city in line of battle,
and with skirmishers well out, the 18th Ind. in
advance supported by the 18th Mass. The
works were occupied by few of Ashby's cav
airy, who made their escape southwark. When
the works were passed our Colonel (Link) re-
cejved orders to form on the roadside and allow
the 18th Mass. to pass to the front. COL Link
replied to the officer, that if his men were good
enough to be kept in the front as long as there
was prospect for fight, they were good
enough to have the honor of first entering the
city, and he was going in. Then, turning to
the regiment, he gave the command, -" Form
column by patoons; forward, quick march,"
and away we went up the main street of Win
chester. For his disobedience Col. Link was
promptly placed under arrest, but / believe
nothing came of it but a severe reprimand.
We entered Winchester the 10Th of March, and
camped on the slope west of town. l am not
sure of the date of our breaking camp, but
think it was March 26, when we were put upon
a forced march that took us, through rain and
snow and on short rations, over the mountains,
where we went into camp near Aide. This
was one of the many wild moves of the war,
and sent a sufficient number of BankSs troops
on wild goose chase to enable jackson to
drive him from the Valley. We barely missed
the battle of Winchester, where we should
have been. The 10Th did not return to the
Shenandoah but its term soon expiring it was
sent to Washington and mustered cut May 10,
1862. The regiment during this term was in
no heavy battles, but did a great deal of ardu-
Gus service in the way of hard marching and
outpost duty. 1t was we'll drilled and disci-
plined, and really fine regiment.-D. II. Con-
NER, Co. l. 18th Ind, Livermore, Cal.