Copywright USGenNet Inc., 2005,
                                      All Rights Reserved
                                     U.S. Data Repository 

              Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page:
                            <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>          





                               Sketch of the Sixteenth Regiment


The Sixteenth Regiment reorganized May 27, 1862, was mustered in August 19,  1862,  with  Col.
T.J. Lucas in command, and on that day left for Kentucky to assist in repelling  Kirby  Smith.
August 30 it fought at Richmond Ky., losing the  appalling  number  of  200  men  killed  and
wounded and 600 prisoners. The prisoners  were  paroled  and  sent  to  Indianapolis,  and  were
exchanged November 1. November 20 it moved to Cairo, thence to Memphis, and  December  1  down
the river on the Vicksburg campaign, marching on the way sixty-five miles in thirty-six hours,
cutting the Texas & Shreveport Railroad at Dallas, swimming two bayous, destroying  ten  miles
of railroad, and burning $1,000,000 worth of rebel cotton.  January  1,  1863,  it  fought  at
Chickasaw Bayou, and January 10 reached Arkansas Post and skirmished with the  enemy.  On  the
following day it fought there gallantly, losing seventy-seven men killed and wounded, and  was
the first to plant its colors on the fort. Later in January it worked on the canal at  Young's
Point. April 14 it moved from Milliken's Bend to Smith's plantation; thence moved to  Perkin's
plantation, thence to Hard Times Landing; thence moved below Grand Gulf and encamped. April 30
it moved to Bruinsburg; thence moved toward Fort Gibson. May 1 it engaged the  enemy  late  in
the day, and May 2 moved into Fort Gibson. May 16 it skirmished  near  Edward's  Station,  and
later fought at Black River Bridge. May 19 it entered the trenches before Vicksburg. May 22 it
was hotly engaged for nearly ten continuous hours, often within a  few  feet  of  the  enemy's
works. During the siege it lost sixty men killed and wounded. It participated in  the  Jackson
movement then returned to Vicksburg, then moved to  New  Orleans  where  it  was  mounted.  It
guarded numerous points,  joined  the  expedition  in  October  up  Bayou  Teche,  skirmishing
continually until January 2, 1864, then returned to New Orleans.  It  was  then  refitted  and
remounted, and then moved with Gen. Banks up Red River, participating in  this  expedition  in
sixteen engagements. It then did outpost duty  until  mustered  out  June  30,  1865.  It  was
transferred to the Thirteenth Indiana Calvary early in 1865. Indianapolis was reached July 10.
The recruits with unexpired terms were transferred to the Thirteenth Calvary.