Home / Civil War Genealogy / Indiana / 17th Indiana Infantry
17th Indiana Infantry
Company Unknown
Jacob Vail - Major
VAIL, JACOB GARETSON a little-known figure in military or Indiana history, was born in Indiana, in 1827. Vail enlisted in the 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment on June 13, 1861, as a resident of Princeton, Indiana. He was the captain of Company H as the 17th took part in the (West) Virginia campaign of 1861 and returned ''west'' in November for the balance of the War. Under the command of John Wilder, the regiment reached Shiloh, Tennessee, on April 8, the day after the Confederate defeat. The regiment took part in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and remained active in Tennessee and Kentucky throughout 1862, taking part in the battle at Perryville in October. In February 1863, the 17th and three additional infantry regiments were provided horses and in May received Spencer repeating rifles. This was the evolution of the famous Civil War unit, Wilder''s Lightning Brigade. The 17th distinguished itself at Hoover''s Gap, Tennessee, during the Tullahoma campaign. At Chickamauga, Georgia, the Lightning Brigade fought with distinction in an otherwise ill-advised battle. The mounted infantry was at Chattanooga for the battle of Missionary Ridge in November 1863. Re-enlisting in early 1864, the men purchased new mounts and rode to Georgia for the Atlanta campaign. Vail was promoted to major in April 1864. The 17th was kept busy as they participated in cavalry skirmishes, cut the enemy supply lines, and performed scouting assignments. In November, Jacob Vail became the commanding colonel of the unit. The 17th was re-mounted in December and played a significant role in the Alabama and Georgia raids of 1865. Vail was exemplary as he assumed command of the Lightning Brigade at the battle of Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865. The brigade sustained its reputation of having never been defeated, but it came at a high price, 20 percent casualties in 25 minutes. Colonel Vail was brevetted a brigadier general for long, faithful, and gallant service. Vail and the 17th were mustered out in August at Indianapolis with the lieutenant governor and Brevet General Wilder in attendance. Jacob Vail at some point after the War was a carriage manufacturer and moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he died on October 9, 1884. He was buried at Leavenworth in Mount Muncie Cemetery, in what is now an unmarked grave.
Contact Name: Chadd M. Vail
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/5/2003

Company Unknown
Jacob Vail - Major
VAIL, JACOB GARETSON a little-known figure in military or Indiana history, was born in Indiana, in 1827. Vail enlisted in the 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment on June 13, 1861, as a resident of Princeton, Indiana. He was the captain of Company H as the 17th took part in the (West) Virginia campaign of 1861 and returned ''west'' in November for the balance of the War. Under the command of John Wilder, the regiment reached Shiloh, Tennessee, on April 8, the day after the Confederate defeat. The regiment took part in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and remained active in Tennessee and Kentucky throughout 1862, taking part in the battle at Perryville in October. In February 1863, the 17th and three additional infantry regiments were provided horses and in May received Spencer repeating rifles. This was the evolution of the famous Civil War unit, Wilder''s Lightning Brigade. The 17th distinguished itself at Hoover''s Gap, Tennessee, during the Tullahoma campaign. At Chickamauga, Georgia, the Lightning Brigade fought with distinction in an otherwise ill-advised battle. The mounted infantry was at Chattanooga for the battle of Missionary Ridge in November 1863. Re-enlisting in early 1864, the men purchased new mounts and rode to Georgia for the Atlanta campaign. Vail was promoted to major in April 1864. The 17th was kept busy as they participated in cavalry skirmishes, cut the enemy supply lines, and performed scouting assignments. In November, Jacob Vail became the commanding colonel of the unit. The 17th was re-mounted in December and played a significant role in the Alabama and Georgia raids of 1865. Vail was exemplary as he assumed command of the Lightning Brigade at the battle of Selma, Alabama, on April 2, 1865. The brigade sustained its reputation of having never been defeated, but it came at a high price, 20 percent casualties in 25 minutes. Colonel Vail was brevetted a brigadier general for long, faithful, and gallant service. Vail and the 17th were mustered out in August at Indianapolis with the lieutenant governor and Brevet General Wilder in attendance. Jacob Vail at some point after the War was a carriage manufacturer and moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he died on October 9, 1884. He was buried at Leavenworth in Mount Muncie Cemetery, in what is now an unmarked grave.
Contact Name: Chadd M. Vail
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Date Added: 11/5/2003

Company A
William Jackson Land - Private
Residence Greensburg IN; Enlisted and mustered on 6/12/1861 as a Private into Company A 17th Indiana Infantry / 26th Indiana Light Artillery. He was Mustered Out on 5/22/1864. I believe he then: Re-enlisted and mustered on 2/1/1865 as a Private into 'D' Co. Indiana 144th Infantry. He was Mustered Out on 8/5/1865. William died in Crawford County, Missouri, November 30, 1919
Contact Name: Glenn Land
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Date Added: 5/20/2019

Company A
Benjamin Oglesby - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Jon Taylor
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Date Added: 11/25/2006

Company B
William Marion Flinn - 1st Sergeant
No comments
Contact Name: Chuck
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Contact Homepage: hillreynolds@cox.net
Date Added: 12/5/2007

Company B
Clay Leaming - Sergeant
Clay LEAMING, b. 1840, Tippecanoe Co., IN; d. 1915. Son of George LEAMING and Juliette MALLORY.
Contact Name: Gregory Leaming
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Date Added: 3/8/2005

Company C
Marshall Land - 1st Sergeant
17th Indiana Infantry. He so much loved his commanding General that he named his son (my grandfather) after him, Milo Haskell Land. My middle name is Milo. He is buried in Branchville, Indiana. His son and my mother are also buried there
Contact Name: Ed Elmgren
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Date Added: 5/24/2007

Company D
George W. Allison - Captain
resigned from Co. D in January of 1862 and reenlisted with Co S. 70th Indiana Infantry in July of 1862 as Lieutentant
Contact Name: scott brockelman
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Date Added: 11/28/2005

Company D
william glass - Private
No comments
Contact Name: lance stevens
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Date Added: 4/28/2011

Company D
Iren Clemens Gotsch - Private
Iren Gotsch Residence Olean IN; Enlisted on 6/12/1861 as a Private. On 6/12/1861 he mustered into 'D' Co. IN 17th Infantry He died of wounds on 12/24/1863 at Cleveland, TN Iren Clemens Gotsch, a Saxon immigrant, served in Indiana's 17th volunteer infantry was wounded at Cleveland, Tennessee, the day after Thanksgiving in 1863 in a skirmish as was helping destroy Confederate railroad tracks and died on Christmas Eve at Chattanooga from those wounds.
Contact Name: Tim Schalk
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Date Added: 10/28/2008

Company D
Samuel H Johnson - Private
Samuel was killed in action 7,Oct.1863 Farmington,TN. burial location unknown
Contact Name: John M Bowyer
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Date Added: 10/16/2013

Company D
William T. Johnson - Corporal
William T. Johnson mustured in as a musician 12,June 1861 Co.D 17th Reg.Indiana Infantry.Post office at enlistment was Franklin,Indiana.Mustured out 20,June 1864 at Columbia,Tennessee.POW taken abt.12,Nov.1862 paroled at Lebanon,Tennessee.Promoted 1,July 1863 Corporal.He died 7,Sept.1929 buried at Acton Cem. Marion Co.Acton,Indiana
Contact Name: John Bowyer
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Date Added: 8/15/2008

Company D
George A. McCaslin - Corporal
Also in the 137th IN Inf Rgt (100 Days) later. Died 1926.
Contact Name: Mark Anderson
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Date Added: 12/30/2009

Company E
John Henderson Appleton - Private
[3 x great grandfather] Enlisted 27 Aug 1862 at Columbia City, IN and mustered into service at Indianapolis on 3 Sep 1862. The 17th Indiana was attached to Col. John T. Wilder's Brigade (1st Brigade, 4th Division, 14th Army Corps). While at Murfreesboro, TN in Feb 1863 the Brigade was mounted served the most of the remainder of their service as 'mounted infantry.' In May they were equipped with the new Spencer Repeating Rifles and subsequently received the moniker of 'Wilder's Lightning Brigade.' Appleton was honorably discharged at Nashville, TN on 22 Jun 1865. Member of the George W. Stough Post No. 181, GAR of Columbia City.
Contact Name: Tad D. Campbell
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Contact Homepage: http://home.earthlink.net/~tadcamp
Date Added: 8/24/2005

Company E
George Thomas Roley - Private
Indiana 17th Infantry Regiment, Company E Light Artillery Wounded in the Battle at Cleveland Tennessee on 27 Nov 1863 died at home Feb 1864
Contact Name: Kathleen Weems
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Date Added: 6/20/2016

Company F
Joseph Rodgers - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Jane
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 6/20/2014

Company G
Jacob Brenneman - Private
Deserted 30 October 1862
Contact Name: Nancy Regan
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/4/2007

Company G
Michael Beem Lockman - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Mark Anderson
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Date Added: 11/17/2007

Company G
Judson Lee Mann - Private
Enlisted as a Private on 12 June 1861.
Mustered out on 8 August 1865 at Macon, GA.
Contact Name: Eric Stone
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Date Added: 5/16/2010

Company G
Thomas J. Smith - Private
On March 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Ind., V. I., with which regiment he served until mustered out at Macon, Ga., August 8, 1865. He participated in all the battles of the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and was also under Gen. Wilson on the expedition to liberate the prisoners at Andersonville. Died after 1884.
Contact Name: Mark Anderson
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Date Added: 1/1/2010

Company G
Frank(Francis) Marion VanPelt - 1st Lieutenant
I have many of his papers companies papers.
Contact Name: Bradford Douglas
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Date Added: 7/27/2007

Company H
Edward S. Hulburt - Corporal
No comments
Contact Name: Frank C. White
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 7/7/2005

Company H
John B MasseyRank Unknown
No comments
Contact Name: Jessica Massey
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Date Added: 4/20/2006

Company H
James McGowen - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Carole O'Dell
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 11/17/2012

Company H
Samuel Adams Reavis - Corporal
No comments
Contact Name: Patricia Banks
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Date Added: 11/6/2012

Company I
William Absolum Cannaday - Private
Any information would be appreciated.
Contact Name: Ina Cannaday
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 8/4/2006

Company I
Francis Plew - Private
Francis fought through all the campaigns with John T.Wilder's lightning brigade in the western theater of operations. He was a cousin of my great great great grandfather Daniel Plew who served in the 3rd Indiana Cavalry.
Contact Name: Paul D. Wingerter
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Date Added: 2/5/2008

Company K
Allen D. Jones - 1st Sergeant
Allen D. Jones was one of five brothers who served in the Army from Bunker Hill, Indiana. Allen's obit gives his rank as 'First Duty Sgt.'and his battle record as: Wilson's Brigade,Cheat Mountian,Green Briar,Stone River,Mission Ridge,Chicamauga,Hoover's Gap,Cleavland and Shilo. He died in 1907.
Contact Name: Jack Jones
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Date Added: 9/24/2009

Company K
Newton Jones - Private
Newton Jones was the oldest of five brothers from Bunker Hill, Indiana who served in the Civil War.
He died of illness at Bowling Green, Kentucky September 1862. His Service record indicates he served at Cheat Mountian. He left a widow and four children.Buried at the National Cemetery at Madison, Tenn.
Contact Name: Jack Jones
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 9/24/2009

Company K
George W. Knasel - Private
I am trying to find out as much informatiom about this man as possible. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Contact Name: Marvin N. Knasel
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/30/2009

Company K
George Knasel - Private
I would like any information concerning this individual. I am currently with the Ohio Valley Civil War Associaiton, representing the 1st Ohio Light Artillery Battery C.
Thank you for any help.
Contact Name: Marvin N. Knasel
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 1/13/2012

Company K
Milton McGrew - Private
Transfered from Co E 15th Indiana on 5/3/8164. Mustered out 8/8/1865 at Macon, GA
Contact Name: Fred Rose
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 2/1/2005

Company K
Milton McGrew - Private
Transfered from Co E 15th Indiana on 5/3/8164. Mustered out 8/8/1865 at Macon, GA
Contact Name: Fred Rose
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Date Added: 2/1/2005

Company K
Jacob V. Sutton - Private
No comments
Contact Name: Jordan Sutton
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Date Added: 3/31/2008

Company Field & Staff
Henry C Jordan - Lt. Colonel
He recruited a company from Corydon, Harrison Co.IN. He was commissioned as a Captain in the 17th IN. Volunteer Infantry on
29,April 1861 for three years service.
21,March 1862 promoted to Major
23,Nov.1863 promoted to Lt.Col.
Mustered out 1,July 1864
After returning to Indiana Gov.Morton Commissioned Henry Jordan
as a Brig.General in the State Militia commanding 6th Reg. the Ohio River area
using Corydon,Indiana as Headquarters.
Contact Name: John M. Bowyer
Contact Email: Show Email
Date Added: 4/30/2009

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