Statewide County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XII Final Explanation 1893
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Book Title: History Of The 82nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry

CHAPTER XII.
FINAL EXPLANATION.

  In writing the history of the regiment I have confined myself to service
performed without any endeavor to place it above other commands in the army. I
know many touching incidents have escaped my memory. For the safety of the army
much hard service was necessarily performed by all regiments with us, which I
deem unnecessary to say anything about. It is evident that the history would
have been more interesting reading had the movements of the whole army been
given in time of action. Yet I have intended writing the history of the
Eighty-second Indiana without drawing on the whole army to make my history
appear lengthy. On campaigns where strategy of movement was more prominent than
battles, I felt compelled to give the movements of the whole army as there could
be but little of interest to narrate in writing of one regiment. Then again it
would look as though I claimed my regiment did all the work by itself, were I to
say it marched by certain roads, crossed certain rivers, took certain towns,
etc. In fact I find it no small task to write the history of a regiment after
twenty-eight years having elapsed since its muster out from the service. Of
course I could have made it look much better had I deviated from the truth, and
claimed for it more than it ever did. Our losses were not as heavy as some other
regiments; we perhaps never did as hard marching and other duties as others, yet
that is no fault of the rank or file of the command. They served near three
years faithfully and honestly, always at the front, faced the enemy when
ordered, and, with one exception, never gave up a position unless ordered to do
so. At the battle of Chickamauga we were compelled to give back on the morning
of the 20th of September, but took a second position, which proved to be the
"key point," held it until the gallant old Ninth Ohio came to our assistance,
followed soon by other gallant troops, and then held it until the safety of the
army was secured, then gave it up under orders. There was no braver regiment in
the United States service than the Ninth Ohio. Its gallant Colonel, Kammerling,
had no superior in the army for courage and discipline, and the statement made
by them as to the service of the Eighty-second Indiana at the battle of
Chickamauga is sufficient evidence of its staying qualities in time of hottest
conflict with the enemy. Many brave and true regiments were compelled to give
ground on that occasion, but when reformed in a new position met the enemy and
dealt them death and destruction by their courage. I have written our division
commander, and brigade commanders, also several officers of different regiments
brigaded with us, asking them to give their statements of the standing of the
regiment as to performing duties of good soldiers, and herewith present their
statements. Gen. Morton C. Hunter, our brigade commander from September, 1864,
to the close of the war, was the only Colonel the Eighty-second ever had, and of
course he could and would give the regiment a high recommendation, but, deeming
that unnecessary, I rest contented with the statement of others under whom we
served, and with those who served with us. I have endeavored to obtain from the
line officers a statement of killed, wounded and captured, to show what the
regiment suffered in  battle, but have been  unable to receive any reply from
most of them. I know the Adjutant General's report don't show any wounded unless
they died or were discharged from the effect. As the time is now so short
(intending to have the history ready by the time of the G. A. R. Encampment, at
Indianapolis, in September) I am compelled to have the printing done, but am
exceedingly sorry I am unable to give the men credit for wounds and prison
service. The official reports give the regiment credit with about 200 wounded.

There is one thing all soldiers should remember,
  For surely it can never be forgot, 
That it is their first and last duty
  To always vote, and act, just as they shot.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND
Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
ITS ORGANIZATION, CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES.

WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE MEMBERS

BY
ALF. G. HUNTER,
Late Adjutant.

INDIANAPOLIS:
WH. B. BURFORD, PRINTER AND BINDER.
1893.


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