The Confederate blunder that allowed the Union army to succeed was an uncoordinated attack by General Braxton Bragg's Confederate Army of the Tennessee which allowed Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans’s Union Army of the Cumberland to gain the advantage. The Federals were able to hold their own but at a significant cost. The army of Rosecrans men ended up being so battered after this battle they would not campaign for another six months. This conflict was one of the bloodiest of the entire war. More than 3,000 men lay dead in the field, and nearly 16,000 more were wounded. Some of the men injured spent as long as a week in agonizing misery before help was able to reach them. Together the two armies sustained nearly 24,000 casualties, making up almost a third of the 81,000 men involved. As the Army of Tennessee was forced to retreat, they also gave up a huge chunk of Middle Tennessee. The abundant farmlands intended to feed the Confederate soldiers now supplied the Union soldiers instead. The victory of the Union army at this battle also served to provide the desired boost in morale President Lincoln wanted for the nation. The 32nd Indiana Infantry suffered losses of twelve soldiers dead, 40 wounded, and 115 missing after this battle.

The Army of Cumberland (Union) and the Army of the Tennessee (Confederates) fought in Middle Tennessee in a culmination of the Stones River Campaign. The western armies had been in an extended lull since the Battle of Perryville. Even Major General Don Carlos Buell had secured a victory at Perryville, he was unwilling to follow up on it. Lincoln had him replaced by William S. Rosecrans. The Union army won mostly due to multiple tactical miscalculations by the Confederates. Victory was achieved but at a high cost in casualties. The victory was worthy for the morale boost it provided post-defeat at Fredericksburg and for how it reinforced President Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Battle of Stones River (For Journey of the 32nd Indiana)

Classroom

The important locations related to the 32nd Indiana Infantry of the Civil War

When Morton came into office, Indiana was in a state of serious corruption and financial debt. Barely three months into his time in office came the first shots on Fort Sumter in 1861. It wasn't long before he was sending President Lincoln a message that the Hoosiers would rise to the call to serve in the Union Army. Indiana would become the first of the country's western states to send troops to the Union Army and Morton became a strong supporter of Lincoln.Despite the state's dire financial situation, legislation initially funded the organization and outfitting of Indiana's soldiers. However, as the war went on, sympathies for the Union and Confederacy were openly hostile so there was a refusal to pay newly recruited troops. In response, Morton raised funds through friends and associates as well as borrowed funds from Indiana businessmen to keep the troops of Indiana fed, armed, and clothed. Camp Morton, where the troops were organized and trained in Indianapolis was named for him. Prior to the war, the site of Camp Morton served as the state fairgrounds.Come 1865, Morton would suffer from partial paralysis but continued to carry out his duties from a wheelchair. After the war, he would serve in the Senate. After a second bout of paralysis in 1877, he would die. Almost twenty-five years later in 1905, the Union veterans of Indiana wanted to honor Morton for all he did for his state during the Civil War. In the summer of 1907, a 12-foot statue of Morton would be unveiled in front of the Statehouse facing the Indiana War Memorial.

This statue of Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton can be seen outside of the Indiana state capital. His likeness is also on the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, also in downtown Indianapolis. The capital grounds house several markers on this tour. The Morton statue bears mentioning in our tour because its subject was the state governor during the Civil War. He has the unique distinction of being the first Indiana governor to actually be born in the state of Indiana. After the Battle of Fort Sumter in 1861, Morton issued the call for volunteers. Prussian officer August Willich answered the summons and organized the 32nd Indiana made up of German immigrants, also known as the 1st German. There is a certain contentious nature involved with all Civil War monuments due to the iconography depicted. This memorial features the images of Union soldiers on guard and has not been challenged as inappropriate. The monument to Confederate prisoners of war in nearby Garfield Park was not so fortunate. Though Indiana was a Union state, this monument originally was a conciliatory gesture to a former foe. Later association of the monument with the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) tainted the original altruistic intent and caused the monument to be removed in 2020.

Oliver P.  Morton Statue

The German immigrants who joined the 32nd Indiana regiment (1st German) from the Civil War would have lived in the neighborhoods surrounding this building and the other Turner Halls in near southside neighborhood of Indianapolis. This facility was built in 1916, though earlier versions of gathering places for the Turners were used in the neighborhood prior to completion. The connection to German culture that is fostered by the Turners was also evident in the 1st German regiment. In the accounts of battles during the Civil War the bravery of the German regiments was noted, and also their commitment to cleanliness. This resulted in a lower death rate due to disease and infections. The physical fitness of the regiment was also noted.The Turner Halls (aka Turnverein) were also used to host community activities and wedding receptions. Gymnastics classes were held at "Turning Schools" to teach young people physical fitness. The Turners were some of the original advocates for physical education in the schools. Because of their core values of liberty and equality, Turners were firmly opposed to slavery and were some of the first to volunteer for the Union Army. About two-thirds of all the Turners in America signed up to be more precise. The military training and discipline they possessed provided leadership for the Army. Some Turners even stood guard during President Abraham Lincoln's inauguration and then later they made up part of the Honor Guard at his funeral.During World War I and II anyone of German descent or German affiliation was suspected of treason. Even though the Turners supported the American military, they still found the need to change their group name to the American Turners to avoid association with the Nazi party. Turners still exist predominantly in cities with large numbers of German immigrants such as Smithon, (Illinois), St. Louis (Missouri), and Milwaukee (Wisconsin) to name a few.

The Turnverein Apartments are located in a building originally built for supporting the activities of German immigrants in Indianapolis who belonged to the Turners Society. The Turners, named for the German word for gymnast, advocated physical fitness and the preservation of German culture. This society still exists today, though many of the member chapters disappeared or renamed during World War I and II because of the suspicion directed towards German immigrants. Above the main entrance of the building can still be seen the title "Turnverein", though other German wording on the building was removed during World War I.In the center of the building was a large open gymnasium area with a proscenium stage for performances. The facilities also included a swimming pool with dressing rooms and showers, club rooms, parlors, a ballroom and a roof garden The building's ballroom and gymnasium were converted into a full-sized penthouse and 50 apartments in 1980.The building was placed on the national register of historical places in 1983.

Turnverein Apartments

The notion
of a state library was first mentioned in the Journal of the Constitutional Convention
in 1816 when the territorial capital was located at Corydon (It would serve as
the state capital from 1816-1825).&nbsp; However,
it was not formally established until the capital moved to Indianapolis in
1825.&nbsp; It was originally established to
assist state legislators with conducting research on various topics and space
was designated for the library in the new statehouse with the Secretary of State
serving as the first librarian. 

The library
eventually outgrew its statehouse home and plans for a new building began in
1929, the same year as the advent of the Great Depression.&nbsp; A 2-cent tax was levied to raise funds for
the new library, the site was purchased in 1931, and an architectural design contest
was created.&nbsp; This contest was won by the
firm of Pierre and Wright and their plans were completed by 1932.&nbsp; Construction began that same year and was
completed two years later.&nbsp; Their design
combined elements of both Neo-classicalism and art deco and called for a simple
and clean exterior.&nbsp; 

Carved into
the limestone exterior are numerous bas-relief figures.&nbsp; The smaller carvings, just above the first-floor
windows, represent the history of the state and the advance of
civilization.&nbsp; Included in this
collection are a Native American, pioneer, an airplane and a designer with instruments.&nbsp; The larger figures, along the Senate Avenue
side, represent the growth and development of the state and include an
explorer, soldier, legislator and an aspiring student.&nbsp; Inside the building is a soaring, 42-foot
vaulted foyer, a grand marble staircase, and a two-story circulation room that
features stained glass, murals, stencil work, and wood paneling and carvings.

Today, the
library is divided into six divisions: talking books and Braille library, genealogy,
the Indiana Collection, rare books and manuscripts, reference and government
services, and library development.&nbsp; In addition
to the over&nbsp;2 million&nbsp;volumes, the library also houses more than 3,500
manuscripts, 1.5 million images, and&nbsp;thousands of&nbsp;maps.&nbsp; Also located within the library is the
headquarters for the Indiana Historical Bureau which was established in 1915 as
the Indiana Historical Commission.&nbsp; It
was initially created to assist in the preparations for the state’s centennial
celebrations. &nbsp;It promotes the education
of Indiana’s history and places new historical markers throughout the state as
well as maintains those already situated.&nbsp;
It also operates a small gift and book shop within the library.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Indiana State Library was established in 1825 shortly after the state capital was moved to Indianapolis and the building that now houses it was completed in 1934.  The Indiana limestone building is the largest library in the state and contains over 2 million volumes within its walls.  It features stained glass windows, oak and walnut paneling, a marble staircase, hand-painted murals and bas-relief sculptures on its exterior.  The building is also home to the Indiana Historical Bureau and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Indiana State Library and Historical Building

The letters are all written by one officer, Henry Seyffert. In his letters, he talks about what he's been experiencing on the front lines as well as inquiring home about what his family and friends were doing for Christmas in one letter. The original letters are no longer available for examination as is archiving protocol for older paper artifacts. The public may look at photocopy versions of the letters. The letters are not the only documentation from the 32nd Indiana that can be seen. This is also the location where the book of pictures of Captain Adolph Metzner drew during the Civil war depicting the various scenes of camp life he was witness to. These sketches were created on a variety of canvases owing to the fact that Metzner did not always have access to paper for his creations and had to depict his drawings on whatever was available (such as cardboard). Metzner had some training in the pharmaceutical field which provided him with the knowledge of how to produce distinct tints for his drawings from the natural sources around him such as berries and bark. After the Battle of Stones River, he was assigned to the position of topographical engineer with the 2nd Divison, Army of the Cumberland where artists' material was more readily available for drawing during his idle hours.

The Indiana Historical Society houses a collection of letters written by members of the 1st German regiment. These letters are written in German and talk about camp life. The advantage of having the letters in German was it was much more difficult to spy on their contents. Similar to the Navajo Wind-talkers of World War II, the German soldiers could openly discuss details with less fear of having their communications intercepted and used maliciously. In addition to the letters, there is a group of reports about the roster of soldiers serving in the regiment and the casualties that occurred both on the battlefield and at camp.

Letters of the 32nd Regiment (1st German) and Documents about 32nd Regiment

The Indiana War Memorial Building was designed by architects Walker and Weeks. They designed it to be the centerpiece of the plaza, aligned with the federal building and public library. Before work on the memorial could begin, however, workers demolished five of the seven buildings on the site to make room for the memorial. Construction finally began in 1926 and on July 4, 1927 General John Pershing laid the memorial’s cornerstone. In 1928, construction slowed due to funding problems and though it was still incomplete, the memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day 1933. The building was finally completed in 1965.The architects based their design of the building on reconstruction renderings of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The memorial building was made of Indiana Limestone and stood 210 feet tall, around 75 feet taller than the original mausoleum. Ionic columnns screen each face above the monument’s raised platform and the roof is a stepped pyramid. Between the columnns are tall windows and a blue light shines from each one.Around the monument building are symbolic figures Courage, Memory, Peace, Victory, Liberty, and Patriotism, designed by Henry Hering. On the south side stands Hering’s nude male bronze sculpture, Pro Patria, meaning “For Country” in Latin. At 24 feet high and 7 tons, it was once the largest bronze sculpture in the United States.Inside the building are three main floors. The top floor houses the Shrine Room. Built to symbolize peace and unity, it was crafted out of materials from all over the world to recognize the many countries of the world that were involved in World War I. The Star of Destiny hangs in the center of the world, made of Swedish Crystal, and below that an American flag. The main floor of the monument building holds administrative offices, exhibit space, and the Pershing Auditorium. All the names of Indiana residents who fought in WWI and those who were killed or missing in action from WWII are listed on this floor. The building also houses a free military museum that portrays Indiana’s veterans throughout history. The Indiana War Memorial also houses a significant collection of battle flags from Indiana's infantry regiments. The 11th, 15th, 17th, and 18th Indiana Infantry regiments all served during the Civil War, some of which were associated with well-known Indiana historical figures Eli Lilly and Lew Wallace. The collection includes as well a flag from the 28th United States colored troops, a regiment that served around Petersburg during the war before being deployed to Corpus Christi, Texas in 1865. Beyond Civil War flags, the Indiana War Memorial also holds flags from Indiana units that served in the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, and World War I. The inscription on the building’s north side reads: “To commemorate the valor and sacrifice of the land, sea and air forces of the United States and all who rendered faithful and loyal service at home and overseas in the World War; to inculcate a true understanding and appreciation of the privileges of American citizenship; to inspire patriotism and respect for the laws to the end that peace may prevail, justice be administered, public order maintained and liberty perpetuated.”

The Indiana War Memorial Building, located in the center of the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, was constructed starting in 1926 as a tribute to the Veterans of World War I. The architects modeled the building after the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. On each side of the monument stand symbolic statues designed by Henry Hering: Courage, Memory, Peace, Victory, Liberty, and Patriotism. 

Indiana War Memorial Building

The Eli Lilly Civil War Museum in its redesigned location within the Indiana War Memorial occupies a gallery on the bottom floor. The expanded space has allowed the curators to display more of the collection including original artifacts. The display includes full-size cannons, and a model setup of a Civil War field hospital. Uniforms for both Confederate and Union officers are modelled by mannequins in glass cases. A tombstone in one case commemorates 1616 Confederate soldiers who died in Indianapolis as prisoners of war.Besides these larger artifacts, there are many displays of smaller personal items such as guns, jewelry (pins), and items used in the camps. A copy of the sheet music for Union patriotic song is displayed in one of the glass cases. Written by Henry C. Work, it is typical of propaganda songs written by both Confederate and Union sympathizers. The words talk about "We'll go down ourselves and teach the rebels something new." Only the front page of the music can be seen with figures clad in Civil War era attire. The illustration shows a determined group of women armed with brooms chasing a group of (presumed) rebels.One of the unique features of the exhibit is the collection of battle flags on display (and even more in storage in the process of being restored to their former glory). As part of the collection, both the national and regimental flags for the 32nd Infantry are included but are unfortunately in unfit shape to be displayed to the public. The staff of the Indiana War Memorial supplied the images of the flags that are part of this entry. Both flags are in poor shape but have been sewn to linen backing in the early 1900s to preserve the remains. The national flag is missing a majority of its original silk except for two portions denoting battle honors from Stone River and Chickamauga, as well as a bottom section of fringe. The regiment flag has retained most of its silk and golden fringe but most of the paint is gone. Before the loss of the paint there was a large painted eagle with a ribbon design beneath it depicting the regiment's number and name.

At the Eli Lilly Civil War Museum, various exhibits show artifacts from the Civil War, notably used by Hoosiers in the conflict. (Hoosiers are people from Indiana) Part of the exhibit includes a film about Hoosiers and their enthusiasm to serve their great nation. In particular, the 19th Indiana Volunteer Infantry was a part of the famous group of regiments collectively known as the Iron Brigade (for their stubborn iron wills). This nickname was coined by General George B. McClellan when he witnessed the brigade advancing forward despite immense fire during the Battle of South Mountain. Despite the worldwide web saying otherwise, this museum is not based at the Soldiers and Sailors monument but instead at the Indiana War Memorial.

Eli Lilly Civil War Museum (For Journey of the 32nd Indiana)

The museum originally opened its doors in 2004 as the Frazier Historical Arms Museum. Since then, more than 700,000 people have visited the museum, and the institution&nbsp;has undergone two different name changes to reflect its expanding focus. Situated in Louisville's "Museum Row" in the late 19th-century "Dorhoefer Builing," the museum includes around 75,000 square feet of exhibits. In addition, there's a 120-seat auditorium and 48-set movie theater. Several other spaces offer various displays for the visitor, and a rooftop garden provides a pleasant "get-away." In addition, the Museum Store offers snacks, souvenirs, and a small eating area.

An affiliate of the Smithsonian, the Frazier History Museum offers exhibits that interpret both local and world history. The museum's collection spans over a thousand years of world history, with exhibits and that include armor and weapons from around the world, one of the largest collections of toy soldiers in America, exhibits that interpret the history of bourbon production, interactive family exhibitions that allow guests to experience the Lewis and Clark expedition, and local artifacts related to Kentucky history such as Daniel Boone's family Bible. 

Frazier History Museum

The mason who carved out the monument was Private August Bloedner, one of the survivors of the 32nd Infantry. Prior to emigrating to the United States, August Bloedner was a carpenter and stonecutter by profession. Bloedner carved the upper part of the monument from St, Genevieve limestone, a variety of Indiana limestone that is soft, porous, and therefore not used for sculpture/building purposes anymore. The lower part of the monument, or the base, is made of Indiana or Bedford limestone. This additional Bedford limestone base was a contribution made by the Louisville German community when the Blodner monument was installed. Without this base the monument was intended to lay flat on the ground like a tomestone.Come the 1950s the monument was breaking down and when the early 2000s hit about 50% of the monument's original inscriptions were lost. A temporary protective structure was built over the monument to prevent total loss.In order to preserve the remaining monument, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs National Cemetery Administration had it moved to an indoor storage facility at the University of Louisville in December 2008. There the monument was received professional conservation including cleaning, repairing spalled surfaces, removal of failed patches, and installing new patch repairs. The monument was remounted for future display in a museum setting, and to allow it to be seen by future generations. Even after conservation the monument was deemed too fragile to be returned to an outdoor setting. Today it currently resides in the Frazier Museum in downtown Louisville among numerous other Civil War artifacts.With the movement of the monument and the remains to the cemetery in Louisville, KY there were also additional markers installed for the soldiers changing the meaning of the monument. With these additional headstones, the monument went from being a collective headstone for the multiple soldiers and their remains to a moment commemorating their sacrifices.

The Bloedner Monument is the oldest known memorial from the Civil War still in existence. With the Civil War costing so many lives, it is obvious that there would be a desire to honor those sacrificed lives. The 32nd Indiana Infantry monument honors the soldiers it is named after, the men of the 32nd who were all of German American backgrounds. The monument was carved in January 1862 and originally located on the battlefield where the Battle of Rowlett's Station took place near Munfordville, KY. Five years later in 1867, the monument would be moved to the Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, KY along with the remains of eleven of the thirteen soldiers whose names were engraved on the monument. The two soldiers whose bodies do not rest at Cave Hill Cemetery are buried in Cincinnati, Ohio at the Price Hill and Spring grove Cemeteries respectively.The main body of the monument was made of St. Genevieve porous limestone. This limestone was known for being easy to carve but not built for the outdoors. The limestone of the monument began eroding over the years, resulting in over 50% of the original inscription disappearing by the early 2000s. Consequently, the monument was moved to the University of Louisville where it was restored, and its inscription recovered. The monument is now a part of the collection of the Frazier History Museum in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

August Bloedner Monument (32nd Indiana Monument)

In its genesis, the cemetery was part of an old farm owned
by the Johnson family of Louisville. The farm was named Cave Hill for the cave
located on the property. The cave provided a good source of spring water and
was a prime location for its stone quarries. At the time, the Louisville and
Frankfort Railroads were going to run through the land. Years passed, and the
railroad never did come through. A brick house on the property that the Johnson
family built, was turned into the City Pest House. The Pest House was a home
for people whom had contagious diseases. In 1846, a cemetery element was to be
added to the property. The board of commissioners selected an engineer whom had
hands on experience with a cemetery concept that had its roots in Europe. Mr.
Edmund Frances Lee convinced the board to utilize everything on the grounds of
the farm. Roads would naturally follow the lay of the land, ponds could be
formed from the basins throughout the area and trees could be planted. The
garden setting would provide not only a beautiful backdrop for the graves, but
would also celebrate nature as well as life. Exotic trees, monumental art and
sculptures of granite and marble blanket the old farm.

Located within Cave Hill is Cave Hill National Cemetery. It
is divided up into six sections on the northwest corner of Cave Hill. In 1861
the need for a cemetery grew when the Army was trying to bury the remains of
Union soldiers whom were scattered up and down the Ohio River Valley. That
year, the city of Louisville donated land for their eternal resting places.
What started out as a little over half an acre, now spans four acres within the
nearly 300 acre cemetery. This particular cemetery is home to the oldest Civil
War Memorial in Kentucky and perhaps the U.S. The Bloedner Monument is dedicated
to the thirteen soldiers from the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Regime (also known as the 1st German Regime.) The soldiers perished
at the Unions victory at Rowlett’s Station, KY. The monument is named after its
creator August Bloedner. Bloedner had served with the 13th Regime as
well. Made of limestone, it has a German and English inscription that honors
his fellow soldiers. In 2008 the monument was moved off the property to be
restored and brought back in 2010. The Cave Hill National Cemetery also
contains the graves of thirty seven Confederate graves as well as the Unknown
Soldiers Monument.

To be buried in this Victorian cemetery showed that one came
from wealth and prestige. Judges, lawyers, baronesses and generals have their
interment here. Beautiful large monuments can be seen throughout the cemetery’s
beautiful landscape. A sculpture of a weeping female titled “Sorrow” can be
found. A Pegasus statue up on a grave stone, a bronze statue of a young girl
swinging and a ballerina pointing to the sky are just a few of the hundreds of
breathtaking memorials seen. Cave Hill is also the eternal home for Mohammad
Ali, KFC’s Colonel Harland Sanders and highest ranking officer during the
American Revolutionary War, George Rogers Clark. 

When one things of a cemetery, they think of death, gloom,
sadness and heartbreak. Cave Hill Cemetery has the ability to have one change
their perspectives upon driving through its gates. While the cemetery does
indeed honor death, it celebrates life on so many forms. Through its beautiful
monuments, to its sprawling hills, canopies of trees and swans floating on
ponds, the cemetery captures the essence of the circle of life. Cave Hill
commemorates life as well as death.&nbsp;

Located in the original Highlands area of Louisville, KY is a cemetery that is an eternal resting place for famous figures as well as natives of the city and people from around the world. Spanning almost three hundred acres, Cave Hill Cemetery not only houses gravesites, but is home to wild life, trees, and exotic plants. Cave Hill Cemetery is Louisville’s only arboretum. Starting out as farm land, it involved into one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the state as well as the nation.

Cave Hill Cemetery

When it came time for the National Cemetery Association to create the 32nd Indiana successor monument there were many factors in play. There was a desire to represent the successor monument as a modern piece on its own terms, but there was also a desire to invoke a strong visual connection to the original. The NCA would end up reviewing three different candidates for the job before finally commissioning the stone carver Nicolas Benson of The John Stevens Stonne from Newport, RI.Benson was a third-generation master carver with previous experience with creating inscriptions of the Martin Luther King Jr and World War II memorials. The replacement monument was based on a 1955 photograph of the original and an 1871 Louisville Anzeiger Newspaper article on the monument (written in German of course). Despite the successor being made from a more durable variety of Indiana limestone, it is the same size and form as the original while sporting the same German inscription as it. Unlike the original, it sports an English translation of the original text on the back. The back of the original monument lay flat on the ground as a gravestone. After the move to Cave Hill, the stone was set upright to serve also as a memorial.This English translation was vetted through the Goethe-Institut in Washington DC. The Goethe-Institut is a non-profit German culture center whose linguists cross-examined the Anzeiger article. Through their cross-examination, it was possible to create the most accurate translation of the original inscription possible. Despite being installed in September 2011, it wouldn't be until December of that year for it to be properly dedicated to honor the almost 150-year anniversary of the Battle of Rowlett's Station.

Even after the original 32nd Indiana went through massive restoration at the University of Louisville over a time span of about two years, it was still deemed unfit for outdoor display. The original would take up residence at the Frazier History Museum indefinitely. Regardless there was still a desire to honor the soldiers of the 32nd Indiana Infantry buried at the Cave Hill National Cemetery. For this purpose, the National Cemetery Association commissioned a successor moment to be installed at the location of the original. The task of creating a successor monument to the original 32nd Indiana was not an easy one.

32nd Indiana Monument (Replica)

During the December of 1861, General Thomas Hindman of the Confederate Army came over from Bowling Green with the goal of assessing the strength of the opposing Union Army currently holding up in Munfordville. Hindman was convinced that if the Confederates could gain occupation of the high ground there then the Union would surely retreat northward. Come December 17th, Hindman's Brigade would occupy the heights to try and establish control over the area. At the heights, however, they were met with the German immigrants of the 32nd Indiana Infantry who fended them off with Old World military tactics. These Old-World military tactics were based around the military ways of the Prussian army as Colonel Willich, the leader of the regiment, had served as a high-ranking officer in the Prussian army in his younger days. The Confederates were caught off guard and were unsure how to combat the infantry tactics utilized.The victory at Rowlett's Station prevented an early end to the war and the dissolution of the Union. The 32nd Indiana Infantry had ten soldiers killed, 22 wounded and eight missing after this battle. After the conclusion of the battle, Colonel Willich leads a graveside service for the ten men who had lost their lives in the battle. Rowlett's Station was the first location of the Bloedner Monument which served as a gravestone for these men.The location of the battle has only a historical marker, as pictured below.

The 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry is best well known for the Battle of Rowlett's Station. 32nd Indiana Infantry (Union) fought against the Terry's Texas Rangers, 8th Texas, Cavalry, and 1st Arkansas Battalion (Confederates) at the railroad whistle-stop (an unimportant town on the railroad) of Rowlett's. The victory was not conclusive. The battle should have been a curb-stomp victory for the Confederates as they held the advantage of numbers against the 32nd Indiana. Due to the fighting prowess of the 32nd, they were able to outwit their opponents. The 1st German was known for their expert military maneuvers which were taught by their Prussian command, August Willich. The Union Army managed to retain their objective: a railroad bridge across the Green River.

Battle of Rowlett's Station (For Journey of the 32nd Indiana)

This battle is also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing because of its proximity to the aforementioned location. By winning this battle the Union troops were able to penetrate the Confederate interior. The crushing defeat that the South was dealt at Shiloh put to rest any hopes the Confederacy had of blocking the Union's advance into Mississippi. It also doomed the Confederate military initiative into the West. This battle also cost the Confederates the life of their commander General Albert Sidney Johnston which caused Confederate morale to spiral down fast. This loss of morale was even felt by the Confederacy's president Jefferson Davis who had held Johnston in high esteem and could not find a suitable replacement for the general.Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant would find himself being vilified by the press for being caught unprepared on Pittsburg Landing on April 6 with critics demanding his dismissal from his position. His actions would be defended by President Lincoln who regarded his general's efforts highly. Regardless of who won that day, both sides realized the magnitude of this conflict was going to be longer and bloodier than they had ever anticipated. The 32nd Indiana Infantry had six soldiers die, 93 injured, and four go missing after this battle.

Armies of the Tennessee &amp; Ohio (Union) and the Army of the Mississippi (Confederates) fought at a church between Shiloh and Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. The Confederates were attempting to overwhelm the Army of the Tennessee before they could regroup. The Union victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in February 1862 had put the Confederacy on edge. Confederate General Johnston withdrew from Kentucky and consolidated his forces to mount an attack that would start this battle. The Union army would end up winning but they would have more casualties than the Confederates making this the bloodiest conflict in the war thus far.

Journey of the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Battle of Stones River (For Journey of the 32nd Indiana)

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources