This regiment was made up entirely of German Americans (many of whom were not fluent in English). This give the regiment the nickname Indiana 1st German. https://www.cem.va.gov/cem/bloedner_monument.asp#infantry, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/32nd_Indiana_Infantry_Regiment

Thirty~second Infantry INDIANA (3 YEARS) Thirty~second Infantry.Cols., August Willich, Henry Van Trebra Francis Erdelmeyer; Lieut.-Cols., Henry Von Trebra, William Schnackenburg, Francis Erdelmeyer, Jacob Glass, William G. Mank, Hans Blume Majs., William Schnackenburg, Charles Schmitt, Jacob Glass, William G. Mank, Peter Cappell, Hans Blume. This regiment was organized at Indianapolis in 1861, and was fortunate in its choice of a commanding-officer, Col. Willich having been a distinguished officer of the German army. The regiment was mustered in Aug. 24, and left the state in the latter part of September, going to Louisville, thence to New Haven and shortly afterward to Camp Nevin. It moved for Munfordville in December as part of R. W. Johnson's brigade, McCook's division, and was engaged in picket duty on the south side of the Green River. Four companies of the regiment were attacked near Rowlett's Station by Gen. Hindman with 1,100 infantry, 4 pieces of artillery, and a battalion of Texas rangers, but one company forced the attacking party back, while another sustained a similar attack. They were quickly reinforced by the other two companies, and the regiment speedily advanced driving the enemy back. The Texas rangers then charged at several points in succession, but a hollow square was formed which withstood the cavalry and the subsequent infantry charge, the enemy being compelled to leave the field with 33 killed and 50 wounded. The 32nd lost 10 killed, 22 wounded and 8 missing, and was highly complimented in special orders for its gallantry. It was stationed at Bowling Green and Nashville in Feb. 1862, participated in the battle of Shiloh, having 6 killed, 93 wounded and 4 missing, was next in the siege of Corinth, and later moved to Stevenson, Ala., and Nashville. Col. Willich was appointed a brigadier-general on July 17, and was suceeded as colonel by Lieut.-Col. Von Trebra. The regiment marched with Gen. Buell's army to Louisville, joined the pursuit of Bragg through Kentucky then moved for Murfreesboro and participated in the battle of Stone's River losing 12 killed, 40 wounded and 115 missing. It remained at Murfreesboro until June, then moved towards Chattanooga, was engaged at Liberty Gap, took part in the battle of Chickamauga, losing 21 killed, 78 wounded, and 17 missing, and also participated at Missionary Ridge in November. It marched to the relief of Gen. Burnside at Knoxville and remained in that vicinity until the spring of 1864. In the Atlanta campaign it was engaged at Resaca, Allatoona Hills, Dallas Powder Springs, Peachtree Creek, and many minor engagements. After the capture of Atlanta, the non-veterans were mustered out at Indianapolis, Sept. 7, and the recruits were organized into a battalion of four companies, in command of Lieut.-Col. Blume. The battalion accompanied the 4th corps to Tennessee and was left at Chattanooga until June, 1865, when it was sent to Texas with the 4th corps. It was mustered out Dec. 4, 1865. The original strength of the regiment was 899; gain by recruits, 484; reenlistments, 503; total, 1,886. Loss by death, 222; desertion, 171; unaccounted for, 50. The original strength of the battalion was 418, gain by recruits, 256; total, 674; loss by death, 32; desertion, 1, unaccounted for, 11. Source: The Union Army, vol. 3 Shiloh after battle report: Report of Col. August Willich, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry. FIELD OF SHILOH, April 10, 1862. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Thirty-second Indiana Regt. in the battle of the 7th instant: The regiment arrived at 10 a. m. at Pittsburg Landing and marched up the hill, where it received orders from Gen. Grant to start immediately for the field of action. The regiment marched as fast as possible, and having received no special direction, took its course to the heaviest firing. Having arrived at the line of battle, Gen. McCook ordered the regiment to form the reserve of the center of his division, and in case the enemy should throw our lines, to advance and charge bayonet. The regiment took its position about 200 yards in the rear of the second line of battle. About this time, neither party advancing nor retreating, I asked Gen. McCook, I asked Gen. McCook for permission to pass with the regiment to the front and make a bayonet charge, which was granted. The regiment formed into double column to the center, marched up about 200 yards toward the enemy, when he turned and retreated, without stopping to receive the charge; after which the regiment was deployed into line of battle, to give him the benefit of all our rifles. The whole division then advanced for some time. The Thirty-second formed into the double column to the center again, and two companies deployed as skirmishers in advance, until Gen. Beauregard in person brought up his reserve against our forward movement, when, by had management in our squeezed-up position, our skirmishers received fire from regiments behind, right and left, putting them in immense danger, which caused them to retreat in a hasty manner, when they should have retreated slowly and firing, and bringing disorder in the whole regiment for a few moments, forcing the commander to order a retreat into a ravine, where it was formed again in double column to the center, and immediately marched up to charge the enemy once more, supported by only one regiment on its left wing. After having advanced for some time in this formation the regiment was deployed in line of battle, made a charge with the bayonet, and succeeded, after short and heavy firing, to check the enemy's advance till re-enforcements came up, which, supported by batteries, fell on both flanks of the enemy, when the whole of our force advanced again and threw the enemy back finally; the Thirty-second Regt., making his last advance, with four companies deployed as skirmishers, and double column to the center following. Then the regiment advanced on the line of the enemy's retreat for over a mile, where the complete exhaustion of the men obliged me to give them some rest. Here I received orders to rejoin the division near the Landing, but not succeeding in finding the Sixth Brigade, the regiment bivouacked in an open field, coming up with the brigade the next morning. I cannot but mention honorably the gallant and skillful conduct of my lieutenant-colonel, Von Trebra, particularly in leading the skirmishers; of my major, Schnackenberg, in commanding the left wing of the skirmishers and in forming the regiment when it was thrown into confusion by the fire from our own regiments; and of my adjutant, Lieut. Schmitt, for the coolness and activity with which he supported me in every way and manner; also of all the company officers, without a single exception, for their courage and skill in performing their respective duties, and of the non-commissioned officers and men, with a very few single exceptions, for their bravery and coolness in the hottest fire. As a proof of the latter I will mention that when, during the last charge, they fired at too great a distance, I stopped the firing and practiced them in the manual of arms, which they executed as if on the parade ground, and then reopened deliberate and effective fire. It was a very unhappy accident for the regiment that the ambulances had been left behind at Savannah and that I was ordered so rapidly to the scene of action that my surgeon could not follow, which obliged me to weaken my command considerably by having the wounded carried to the hospitals by their comrades. Lieut.'s Cappell and Borck, against whom I had to prefer charges, behaved so gallantly, that the whole regiment would feel gratified if those charges could be withdrawn. I also feel bound to express my thanks to the chaplain of the regiment, Dr. Fischer, who is also a skillful surgeon, rendering most effective services, and without whose assistance our distinguished surgeon, Jeancon, would not have been able to procure the wounded all the help they needed. I inclose a list of the killed and wounded.* Of those reported slightly wounded, 21, after having their wounds dressed, returned to the regiment, to do such service as they were able to do. I have the honor to remain, your most obedient servant, A. WILLICH, Col., Cmdg. Thirty-second Regt. Col. GIBSON, Cmdg. Sixth Brigade. Source: Official Records: Series I. Vol. 10. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 10 Stone's River after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. Frank Erdelmeyer, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. THIRTY-SECOND INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, Camp near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 7, 1863. SIR: I respectfully submit to you the official report of the part taken by the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers in the late battle at Murfreesborough and in the events of the days preceding. The regiment left camp, near Mill Creek, on the morning of December 26, 1862, and marched to Nolensville. On the 27th, the regiment advanced to Triune. On the 28th, having the advance guard of the brigade, participated in a reconnaissance toward Shelbyville. On the 29th, we left Triune, crossing over to within 4 miles of Murfreesborough. On the 30th, the battle having commenced, the regiment moved up to the road and performed picket duty on the right flank of the extreme right of the army corps. On the morning of the 31st, firing having been heard on our left, Lieut. S. Green, of the staff of Gen. A. Willich, ordered me to draw in the pickets and move up to the brigade. Before I was able to assemble seven companies of my command and form them in line, facing toward the center, I observed the enemy's columns advancing and firing. At the same time a great portion of our battery, guns, caissons, and battery teams, together with a dense mass of infantry, in disorder, came rushing toward us, and, breaking through the regiment, forced our men to give way and fall back. The confusion and panic having then become general, I was unable to reassemble the regiment until we had retreated along the creek for nearly three-quarters of a mile, when we succeeded in rallying about 200 of our men. I would respectfully state that Lieut. Belding, of Capt. Goodspeed's battery, retreated with me with one gun, and, by firing several times on the enemy, checked their flanking columns. We then moved toward the center of the engagement, firing on the enemy's cavalry at different times, and met at a rise of the ground the rest of the division, where Col. Wallace, of the Fifteenth Ohio, directed me to fall in line with his regiment. The enemy advancing at that time, we fought there for more than an hour, and, being relieved by fresh troops, fell back and joined the brigade. In the afternoon of January 1 we moved to a strip of wood on the right of the first hospital on the Nashville road, and remained there during the night, picketing. On the 2d we moved with the brigade as reserve to the center of the right wing. Toward 5 o'clock the brigade was ordered to charge on the enemy on the left of our center. While the regiment advanced in line of battle toward Stone's River, Gen. Palmer rode up and ordered me to move the regiment by the right flank into a strip of wood on our right, occupied by the enemy. On approaching said wood I received their fire and threw out my skirmishers to cover my advance. We then charged and drove them back to the edge of the hill, where the heavy firing commenced, the enemy contesting every inch of ground. My skirmishers, advancing on the right and left, unexpectedly found themselves within 15 yards of the enemy, lying below the crest of the hill. At that time a regiment came up to our support on the right. They fired one volley and fell back in disorder. A second regiment [Thirty-first Indiana] came up in fine style, and at the right moment assisted us in driving the enemy from his position, causing him to retreat precipitately and in great disorder across Stone's River. It having grown night for nearly two hours, it was impossible to gain more advantages or better results of the fight, keeping our position until relieved by Gen. Palmer's pickets, after which we returned to camp. The casualties of December 31 amount to 2 killed, 13 wounded, and 115 missing; of January 2,10 killed, 27 wounded, and none missing. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK ERDELMEYER, Lieut.-Col., Comdg. Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers Col. W. H. GIBSON, Cmdg. First Brigade. Source: Official Records PAGE 312-29 KY., MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW. VA. [CHAP. XXXII. [Series I. Vol. 20. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 29.] Chickamagua after battle report: Report of Lieut.-Col. Frank Erdelmeyer, Thirty-second Indiana Infantry. HDQRS. THIRTY-SECOND REGT. INDIANA VOLS. Chattanooga, Tenn., September 27, 1863. GEN.: I have the honor to report to you the part which the Thirty-second Indiana Volunteers took in the battle of Chickamauga Creek. The regiment marched at the head of the brigade on Saturday, the 19th instant, from the right wing of the army toward its left wing; reached the scene of action at 10 a. m. The regiment advanced with skirmishers in the front and soon was wholly engaged. Our right flank being exposed by our advanced position, could not proceed any farther until the evil was remedied. We then, in connection with the other regiments of your brigade, charged the enemy and drove him from his position, taking 2 pieces of artillery and 3 caissons and many prisoners; also recaptured the men's baggage of the Thirty-third Ohio Regt. Having been relieved by the second line of brigade, we remained quiet until nightfall, when our line was fiercely attacked and repulsed. We slowly fell back, keeping a well-directed fire upon the enemy. Night having come on, we ceased firing and slowly returned from the field to the bivouac of the division. Our loss on this day was heavy, especially in wounded, of which 4 were commissioned officers. On the morning of the 20th of September the regiment, with the brigade, was in reserve position, and was ordered to engage the could do no more than stand at ease and repulse on e attack which was made against it, most of the time nothing but a few sharpshooters being in our front. As the enemy's attack upon the left wing of the army was becoming desperate, the Thirty-second Indiana marched to the support. We formed a line toward the left flank of the original line of battle, and, in connection with collections of men from different regiments, charged on the advancing lines of the enemy, and drove them under continual fire over a mile. Passing over the field, we found the dead body of Gen. Walker, commanding a division of the so-called Confederate army, also a colonel von Zinken, of the First [Twentieth] Louisiana, and a great many officers killed during this fight. I would also claim a rebel flag, which was passed over by our men during the engagement, and picked up by some stragglers in the rear of my regiment. We returned from this charge, and again returned to a reserve position on the road and in the rear of Gen. Reynolds' division. There remained quiet until about 5 p. m., exposed, however, to the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters. At this time the enemy, being invited by the withdrawal of Gen. Reynolds' division, recommenced throwing shells upon us and over us in such a manner as to make our position not maintainable; we therefore changed front and fell back across the road. Hardly in position, the left wing of the army commenced falling aback, and after the most of the troops were gone and the enemy had taken possession of the breastworks in our front, we fell back through the woods, taking possession of a hill in the rear of the woods, covering the Chattanooga road, and then followed the brigade as rear guard of the army. The total loss of my regiment during the two days was 21 killed, 81 wounded, and 20 missing, supposed to be partly killed or wounded. The above includes 1 captain killed, and 1 captain and 3 lieutenants wounded. Before closing this, my report, I cannot abstain from mentioning that my full praise and most sincere thanks are due to all my officers and men for their promptness in obeying my orders, as well as of the courage displayed during the whole of the battle and under such trying circumstances. I have the honor to remain, general, your obedient servant, FRANK ERDELMEYER, Lieut.-Col., Comdg. 32d Indiana Volunteers. Brig. Gen. A. WILLICH, Comdg. First Brigade.

Source: Official Records CHAP. XLII.] THE CHICKAMAUGA CAMPAIGN. PAGE 546-50 [Series I. Vol. 30. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 50.]

Indiana 32nd Infantry (Union)

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