January 3, 1862 - Friday - 160 years ago today

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.

January 2, 1862 - Thursday - 160 years ago today

 Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment:  

On January 2, 1862, the 40th Indiana was in transit to Bardstown, KY to begin training in the Union Army.

Background - Entering Service - John Baer 

John Baer, on initially volunteering, had joined the 90 day regiment that was formed as the 10th Indiana (10th Indiana was also later reconstituted as a 3-year regiment, similar to the 40th Indiana).  John had answered the initial call for 75,000 Union volunteers on April 27th, and the volunteers from Indiana had made up 6 full regiments, numbered 7th to 12th.  The 10th Indiana remained in Indiana until early June, and then was ordered to western Virginia (the area that would later become West Virginia).

This area was a hotbed of activity in this early part of the war.  General George McClellan was leading the Union army into western Virginia and consolidating his gains there due to the favorable sentiment toward the Union in the area.  An initial victory at Philippi (the swiftness of the Confederate retreat resulted in this being referred to as the "Philippi Races") had been trumpeted in the papers and made McClellan the first Northern general to achieve fame in the war.  McClellan continued to push southeast into Virginia.

January 1, 1862 - Wednesday - 160 years ago today

Our second subject, John F. Skinner Jr.'s great grandfather, is John Alexander Baer.  On January 1, 1862, John Baer was in transit to the state of Kentucky, where the Civil War was heating up quickly.  He was in a new regiment, the 40th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was formed from volunteers in the area surrounding Lafayette, and had enlisted for three years.  

For the next few days, there will be some background posts to  describe some of the events for John up to the start of 1862.

Background - Early Years - John A. Baer

John Baer was born in Missouri.  John's mother died when he was only four years old, and he was left an orphan several years later when his father died also.  John then came to Indiana and worked on farms in Tippecanoe County.  We know little else of his childhood.  He later makes mention in his diary of attending the church at Wild Cat, which was one of the first churches started after the founding of Tippecanoe County.

John, like everyone else, was no doubt watching with growing concern as secession took hold in the South.  A few deep South states seceded initially, and then soon after the inauguration of President Lincoln, the more northerly states in the South also seceded. With the attack and siege of Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor, war fever then came to the North, and President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers.  John Baer, then 20 years old,  volunteered immediately and was assigned to a 90 day regiment, the 10th Indiana.