Company C, 29th
Indiana Volunteer Infantry

George Culbertson Dorland, b. 23 Mar 1844 and d. 20 Jan 1893, served in
the Union Army during the Civil War.  He enlisted in Company C, 29th
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, at the young age of 17, becoming
Quartermaster Sergeant of the regiment, the one who kept track of
supplies and inventories for the unit.  He participated in the battles
of Shiloh, LaVergne, Chickamauga, Stone River, Liberty Gap, and Seige of
Corinth and all other battles in which his regiment was engaged.  The
most important events of his military history, as he wrote himself, were
the facts that he was never ill, was never severely wounded, was never
in the hospital and was always ready for his rations.  His comrades say
of him that he was a brave and faithful soldier, He was discharged from
the army, December 2, 1865 by reason of the expiration of the war. (From
Weekly Herald, LaPorte, Indiana, January 26, 1893)  Our family has a
photograph of him sitting with his unit on top of Lookout Mountain where
U.S. Grant a famous photograph taken.
On the 27th of November 1863, he was discharged at Bridgeport, Alabama,
and on the following day re-enlisted with the same regiment that he
remained with until he was discharged at the end of the war.
According to family history, “his introduction to General Grant was
rather peculiar.  He was driving a mule team, and on meeting the General
and his party, tried to urge his team out of the General’s way, but was
thrown off in front of the great commander and threw mud in his face.
His first acquaintance with General Thomas was in serving coffee and
beans to the ‘Rock of Chickamauga,’ and being brought favorably to the
notice of this gallant leader, he formed an interesting acquaintance on
the march to one of those ‘Hell holes,’ known as war prisons, one of the
prisoners stepped on the heel of another arousing his ire.  A fight
ensued to the great enjoyment of the guards, and our subject with two
companions, taking advantage of the general excitement, escaped in the
thicket.”  (Pictoral and Biographical Record of LaPorte, Porter, Lake
and Starke Counties, Indiana, 1894)
Though he indicated he was never severely wounded, at the battle of
Stone River, a cannon exploded and destroyed one of his ears and left
him hearing-impaired.  “His presence of mind is well illustrated by the
following incident: While riding along one day, he found two rebels by
the roadside each armed with muskets.  Reaching for his saddle
equipments as though for a pistol, he told them to throw up their
hands.  Involuntarily they did so.  He secured their muskets, took off
the caps and marched them to camp.  They were much chagrined when they
learned that he was unarmed and said ‘it was a d-----d Yankee trick.’
Mr. Dorland was a thorough soldier, and was ready for a foraging

expedition as for more dangerous service.  He could always be found in
the thickets of the fight and had many narrow escapes.  At one time, his
canteen was shot out of his hand, another time a bullet went through his
hat, again a bullet struck him the back, but his life was saved by the
tin plate which was a necessary part of the soldier’s outfit.  Still
another time he was shot in the ankle.  At one time, when on picket
duty, he had an amusing experience.  He saw moving in the breeze what
appeared to be a man.  He challenged, and on receiving no response,
fired twice.  Investigating, he found two bullets in a stump on each
side of which were tall mullon stalks. “.”  (Pictoral and Biographical
Record of LaPorte, Porter, Lake and Starke Counties, Indiana, 1894)


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(© 1998 Joyce Loer Jones)