Services Performed by the Invalid Corps – 23rd Regiment

These posts are part of a larger series highlighting the contributions and accomplishments of the Invalid Corps/Veteran Reserve Corps during the Civil War. This post only captures some of the activities of individual regiments. Clearly, this is an area ripe for additional research.

23rd Regiment

Organized January 12, 1864, by consolidation of the 77th, 116th, 117th, 118th, 121st, 125th, 143rd, 155th, 162nd and 191st Companies, 1st Battalion. Mustered out by detachments July 1 to December 5, 1865.

Duty in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Kentucky, and Iowa. Company A has escorted over 500 men for the Army, losing so far as known but 5. Company B has escorted 500 rebel prisoners and over 3,000 recruits, deserters, &c., with no escapes to report. The train from Louisville to Lebanon repeatedly attacked by guerrillas; was successfully defeated by a detachment of this company. The company defeated one band of bushwhackers, killing its leader, Captain Mitchell, wounding several of his followers, and capturing 10 horses, with a loss to the company of 2 men wounded. Twenty-three men of the company routed a band of 48 guerrillas, killing and wounding 23 men and capturing 26 horses. The Indian prisoners at Davenport, Iowa, 500 in number, were guarded by Company 6. The other companies have performed their full share of labor in the ordinary duties of the corps.

Reference:

The War of the Rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate Armies – https://archive.org/details/warrebellionaco17offigoog/page/n578