It is useless to speak in praise of the ...47th Indiana...They have won laurels on
many fields, and not only their country will praise, but posterity will be proud to claim
kindred with the privates in ranks. They have a history that...their childrens' children
will be proud to read - Brig. Gen. Alvin Hovey (Vicksburg Official Records)
The Forty-Seventh Regiment was organized at Anderson, on the 10th
of October,1862, with James R. Slack as Colonel, the regiment being composed
of companies raised in the Eleventh Congressional District. On
the 13th of December it left Indianapolis for Kentucky and
reached Bardstown on the 21st, where it was assigned to Gen. Wood's brigade of Buell's army. From thence it moved to Camp
Wickliffe, arriving there on the 31st of December, and remained
there until the 14th of February, 1862, when it marched to West
Point, at the mouth of Salt River, and there took transports for
Commerce, Missouri. Arriving there on the 24th of February, it
was assigned to Gen. Pope's army, and marched at once to New Madrid, and there engaged the enemy, being the
first regiment to enter Fort Thompson. Moving on to Riddle's Point it participated in the engagement at that
place between the shore batteries and rebel gunboats. From thence
it moved to Tiptonville, Tennessee, where it remained for nearly
two months.
After the capture of Fort Pillow the regiment was transported to Memphis,
reaching that place on the 30th of June, and remaining there
during the following month, Colonel Slack being in command of the
post. On the 11th of August it had a skirmish with the enemy at
Brown's plantation, Mississippi, losing a few men killed and
wounded. Moving to Helena, Arkansas, the regiment remained there until
March,1863, when it took part in Gen. Quinby's expedition to Yazoo Pass. Returning from
this expedition it joined Grant's army and moved with it to the rear of Vicksburg, engaging in the battles and skirmishes of that campaign. In the
battle of Champion Hills on the 16th of May, it lost one hundred
and forty-three in killed and wounded. Going into the trenches
near the enemy's works at Vicksburg, it remained in them until
the surrender on the 4th of July, being almost constantly engaged
in the siege. After this it marched to Jackson with
Sherman's expedition, and took part in the engagement at that
place.
Returning to Vicksburg it took transports for New Orleans in
August, from whence it moved to Berwick Bay. While in this
portion of Louisiana the Forty-Seventh participated in Bank's expedition through the Teche country,
engaging the enemy at Grand Coteau. It then moved to New Iberia, and while
there in December, 1863, the regiment re-enlisted and left
Algiers on the 9th of February, 1864, for home on veteran
furlough, reaching Indianapolis on the 18th, with four hundred
and sixteen veterans. On the 19th it was present at a
public reception given to veterans of the Twenty-First and
Forty-seventh regiments at Metropolitan Hall in that city; on
which occasion addresses were made by Gov. Morton, Col. Slack and others.
Upon its return to the field the regiment moved with Bank's army
up Red River in the spring of 1864, engaging in the
marches, battles and retreats of that unfortunate
campaign. On the 28th of July it engaged the enemy at Atchafalaya
Bayou, Louisiana, losing several wounded. The regiment was then
stationed at Morganza, at which post it remained on duty for
some time. On the 31st of December, 1864, Colonel James R. Slack was commissioned a Brigadier General,
where upon John A. McLaughlin was promoted Colonel of the regiment. In
February, 1865, it was transported to Dauphin Island, Alabama, near Mobile, and in Canby's campaign against that city the Forty-Seventh took
an active part. After the fall of Mobile it moved to Shreveport,
Louisiana, with Gen. Herron to receive the surrender of Gen. Price
and the army of the Trans-Mississippi Department. At this place
the regiment remained until the 23d of October, 1865, when it was
mustered out of service. Reaching Indianapolis with five hundred
and thirty men and thirty-two officers, it was present on the 1st
of November at a reception given to the regiment in the Capitol
grounds, and was addressed by Gov. Morton, Gen. Slack, and Cols.
Milton S. Robinson and John A. McLaughlin. The next day the
regiment was finally discharged.
source: Indiana
Adjutant General's Report
47th soldiers photos - UPDATED!
Rosters (under construction)
Another link to Co. A
Original Accounts of the 47th
47th Regimental Reports from "The War of the Rebellion" (Official Records)
Battlefield Parks
Mansfield (Sabine Crossroads)
Fort Gaines (Dauphin Island)
A new book on the Battle of Champion Hill, which the 47th had a major part in.I am pleased to have helped with the book.
To read some excerpts, or for more information check out the publishers website:
Champion Hill, Decisive Battle for Vicksburg
Site created April 2000 by K.J. Lindsey
Site updated 25 Sep 2008
