Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment:
On January 3, 1862, the 40th Indiana was in transit to Bardstown, KY to begin training in the Union Army.
Background - 10th Indiana in Western Virginia
The 10th Indiana passed through Cincinnati on June 19th, and by the 23rd was combined with other Union forces at Clarksburg, VA (now WV), about 20 miles southwest of Morgantown. General McClellan intended to move toward the Kanahwa River and Charleston with an eye toward relieving the Union resistance in East Tennessee. However, there were Confederate forces that were currently gathering to his southeast near Beverly and Huttonsville, and would have to be confronted first.
One week later, on the 30th, the 10th Indiana's Brigade, under General Rosecrans, had moved forward and occupied Buckahnnon which is about 15 miles SSE of Clarksburg. They remained in Buckhannon until July 7th, and then moved about 10 miles to the east near the bridge on the Middle Fork River. This position was about 8 miles from Rich Mountain, where Union generals believed the main Confederate force to be.
On July 11, General Rosecrans, on orders from General McClellan, initiated his plan for dislodging the force on Rich Mountain; the intent was to capture the enemy position from the rear. A Unionist informant led the Union regiments on an eight hour march (starting at 5 AM) through the woods to the rear of the Confederate position on Rich Mountain. Once the position was reached, 10th Indiana was in the lead, and on cresting a hill was fired on by pickets; one 10th soldier was killed and another gravely wounded.
Advancing further, they met the main Rebel force and the battle began in earnest; heavy firing and a further advance caused the enemy to yield and the position was taken. The Battle of Rich Mountain was now over and the Union occupied the battlefield and the nearby town of Beverly.
Link: War Operation, see Volume 2, Chapter 9, pp. 193-221
The 10th Indiana had 4 men killed and 5 wounded at Rich Mountain. John's company (Company "A") had one killed and one wounded. The 10th would see no more major actions and their 90-day enlistment was up on August 2nd. On August 3rd, the 10th Indiana was re-constituted as a 3-year regiment. Many of the volunteers from the initial 10th rejoined for a 3-year enlistment. John Baer chose not to join the new 10th, and returned home. We can't be sure why; perhaps he was not sure he wanted to continue, he might have already heard of the new regiment being formed back home and decide to enlist there, or he may have wanted to return to Indiana for the harvest. The 10th Indiana 3-year regiment was re-organized and mustered back into service on September 13.
Link: Report of the Adjutant General: 10th Regiment - 3 Months Service, pg 50
Ten days later, on July 21, the initial large battle in the East began. It was known as the Battle of Manassas or the Battle of Bull Run (later known as First Manassas or First Bull Run due to a second battle fought at the same location). Union forces were routed so badly that in the North it became known as "The Great Skedaddle". There was great fear for the safety of Washington, D. C. as it was not well defended and perhaps even open to invasion. These dire circumstances, in combination with General McClellan's acclaim for the victories in Western Virginia, led to McClellan being promoted to the head of the main army in the east (Army of the Potomac) on the 26th, and his moving to Washington. McClellan was later to assume control of all Union armies, and retain direct control of the eastern army.
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