27th Indiana Regimental History

Civil War - 27th Indiana Volunteer Regimental History
S2425
1864-1926
1 folder 

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Manuscript & Rare Books Division
Indiana State Library

Originally processed by Andrea Bean Hough in 1998
Finding Aid and Envelopes by: Nikki Stoddard Schofield, January 2012

Organizational History:

The 27th Indiana Volunteer Regiment was organized at Indianapolis on August 30, 1861, and mustered into service for three years on September 12, 1861.  Three days later, the 27th went to Washington City.  In October, the Regiment was transferred to Banks’ Army of the Shenandoah.  They spent the winter at Camp Halleck near Frederick City, Maryland.  They marched into Winchester, Virginia on March 9, 1862, after the Confederates evacuated the town.  On May 23, they fought the Battle of Front Royal against the Stonewall Brigade.

Other battles in which the 27th participated were: Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, and Atlanta.  They marched to the sea through Georgia and the Carolinas with General William T. Sherman.  During this famous march, they reached the end of their three years service, when they could muster out.  The men who wanted to continue serving were transferred to the 33rd Regiment, and served until July 21, 1865, when the 33rd was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky.

The 27th formed a veterans’ organization, called the Survivors Association, which met until, at least, 1926.

Source:

Guide to Indiana Civil War Manuscripts by Ann Turner, 1965.

Scope and Content Note:

Seven items are in this collection, with the oldest dated 1864 and the most recent dated 1926.  Two items, a poem and a typed list of veterans, have no date.  Each item has been placed in a separate envelope. 

The August 1864 clothing statement is fragile, has signatures of the soldiers, is certified by Captain Joseph Bulsby, and witnessed by William H. Holloway, Captain, Company I.  The form gives the clothing allowance for five years, as established by the Secretary of War.  After each man’s name, there are numbers between one and three showing how many of that clothing item he received. 

The Roster is a blank book in which veterans are listed with their address and remarks.  There are columns headed with years from 1885 through 1898, and check marks to show attendance at reunions.  Although the book is in poor condition, the entries are legible in ink and pencil.  Pages 1 through 99 list the soldiers alphabetically by company.  Page 102 lists the officers.  Pages 103 through 114 could be a list of veterans who attended reunions.  They are listed by companies.  Page 114 includes the names of women, Mrs. Della Neal, Mrs. A. G. Fulkerson, Miss Frances Casey, Mrs. J. M Bloss and Mrs. G. L. Smith.

Survivor’s Roster, 27th Regiment, is a little booklet published in 1892, which gives the names of veterans still alive at the time.  Page 18 is a chart showing the number of those who were killed or died of wounds, and the number of those who died of disease, accidents or in prison.  

The hand-written minutes of a reunion meeting held in September 1919, written by President E. R. Brown gives the names of the men and women in attendance.  On the last of the five pages, Mr. Brown wrote: “talked of the days of their youth and imagined themselves young again.”

Poem by John G. Wallace entitled “The 27th Indiana” is about the moral men of the 27th.  Mr. Wallace was a veteran of Company E.  At the end of the poem, he lists officers.

Roster of the 27th is typed on six pages, listing the names from Companies A through K, and giving their city and state.  There is no date on this list. 

The most recent item is a circular and envelope posted on December 29, 1926, from the Rich Mountain Post No. 42, Grand Army of the Republic, Lebanon, Indiana.  This printed page recommends William P. McKinsey as Department Commander for the 1927 and 1928 term.  A short biography of William is given, and the document has the printed signatures of 18 men.  The envelope is addressed to Comrade Lewis King, Past Department Commander, G.A.R., Columbus, Indiana, with the return address of William P. McKinsey, Lebanon, Indiana.

Photocopying Policy:

Manuscript materials CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in their entirety. Photocopies and/or digital images cannot exceed 25% of a collection or a folder within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Check with a Manuscript Librarian for other options.

Item Listing

Folder 1.  Seven items each enclosed in a separate envelope.

August 1864 Clothing Statement
1885-1898 Roster (blank book)
1892 Survivor’s Roster booklet
September 1919 Minutes of Reunion Meeting, written by E. R. Brown, President
No date Poem about the moral men of the 27th, by John G. Wallace
No date Roster of the 27th (six typed pages)
December 29, 1926 Rich Mountain Post No. 42, G.A.R., Lebanon, Indiana, circular recommending William P. McKinsey as Department Commander for 1927 and 1928

Collection Information

Size of Collection: 1 folder, 7 items
Collection Dates: 1864-1926
Provenance: Unknown
Access : The collection is open for research use.
Restrictions: None
Reproduction Rights: Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscript and Rare Books Division, Indiana State Library.
Language: Materials are entirely in English
Alternate Formats: None
Related Holdings: None
Notes: None