This page last updated July 6, 2003

In the month of October, 1861, General Morton authorized the raising of a regiment in each Congressional district in the State. Jesse I. Alexander of Gosport was commissioned Colonel and the work of recruiting a regiment in this district, the place of rendezvous being at Gosport was begun. This was the only military camp ever established in Owen County. The work of the recruiting went on slowly and it was not until February 11, 1862 that the regiment was mustered into the service.

September 18, 1861, Thomas A. McNaught who had served with distinction in the Mexican War, assisted by James W. Archer and James E. Hyden, recruited a company in Owen County for Col. Alexander's regiment. They succeeded and took their company comprising 104 men into camp at Gosport October 10, 1861. Being the first in the regiment they received the compliment of being placed on the right of the regiment as Company A.

The regiment left Gosport for New Albany, Indiana on the 13th day of February 1862, where it was armed with Enfield rifles and fully equipped. It left New Albany on the 20th and proceded on transports by the way of Cairo to Commerce, MO, where it was the first regiment to report to General Pope for duty with the Army of the Mississippi.On the 25th of February it moved to Benton where it was first placed in a brigade composed of the Thirty Fourth, Forty Third, Forty Sixth and Forty Seventh Regiments together with the 59th under command of Colonel Slack.

On the 7th of April it crossed the Mississippi and marched down to Tiptonville assisting in the capture of many prisoners. From the 24th of April till the 29th of May, the regiment was engaged in nearly all of the skirmishes and reconnoissances and in most of the forts and works during the march to and in the siege of Corinth.

The end of the war found them being sent from Washington to Louisville where on the 17th day of July 1865, it was mustered out of the service after having traveled perhaps more miles than almost any of regiment in the war.

Total Enlisted--158

6 were killed in battle

15 died from disease

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