Following in the 31st Indiana's Footsteps
(Page 2, Camp Calhoun & Ft. Donelson)

Camp Calhoun, Kentucky and Cemetery:

Let's now travel south to Calhoun, Kentucky. Calhoun is where 10,000 to 15,000 Union troops were eventually stationed under Thomas Leonidas Crittenden from November of 1861 through part of February, 1862.  Approximately 64 soldiers from the 31st Indiana Volunteer Infantry died at Camp Calhoun and many were buried here.

The cemetery had been neglected for years.  Thanks to the late Don Wilson and the Sons of Confederate Veterans (Forrest's-Orphans Camp 1744 SCV) and other groups who cleaned up the cemetery grounds and obtained grave stones for those who died here.  It is now a nice memorial cemetery .  The Cemetery was dedicated May 17, 2008.  For more information on this Memorial Cemetery, please visit this website: Camp Calhoun Dedication.  The Memorial Cemetery is located at 3rd and Poplar Streets.

THE SOLDIERS MEMORIALIZED ON THIS HALLOWED GROUND NOW SLEEP
INDIANA
31st Indiana
42nd Indiana
43rd Indiana
44th Indiana
77th Indiana Cavalry
6th Indiana Light Artillery

Kentucky
3rd Kentucky
11th Kentucky
12th Kentucky
17th Kentucky
25th Kentucky
26th Kentucky
17th Kentucky Light Artillery
11th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
12th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
35th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
48th Kentucky Mounted Infantry
Kentucky Capital Guards
Green River Battalion Guards

PENNSYLVANIA
9th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Just down the hill from the Cemetery is a Kentucky Historical Marker at 2nd and Poplar. Nathan Bedford Forrest discovered the large concentration of Union Soldiers in November of 1861 and reported this information.  The 31st Indiana was not involved in the disastrous defeat at Sacramento, Ky just a few miles south of here.  Note: The middle initial of Thomas Crittenden is listed incorrectly as "C." instead of "L."

Front Side

Back Side

On the opposite side of the street from the above Historical marker is the house where Thomas L. Crittenden had his Headquarters while in Calhoun, KY.  Below are two pictures of the house as it looks now, located at 2nd and Poplar Streets.

T. L. Crittenden's Headquarters:
Looking SE

T. L. Crittenden's Headquarters:
Looking NW

T. L. Crittenden's Headquarters:
Looking N.  Recent photo with large tree removed.

Fort Donelson:

Fort Donelson was the first battle the 31st Indiana participated in. The battle began on February 14, 1862 and ended with the Unconditional Surrender of the Confederate troops on the 16th.

There is only one Position Marker Tablet directly related to the 31st Indiana at Fort Donelson. Fort Donelson does not have many monuments or markers. This tablet is located outside the park on the south side at the intersection of Wynn Ferry Rd and Sandy Rd.

 

U.S.A.
Brigadier General Lew Wallace's Division
Colonel Charles Cruft's Brigade

ON FEBRUARY 15, 1862. AFTER WITHDRAWING FROM THE FIRST POSITION FARTHER EAST, THIS BRIGADE OCCUPIED AND SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED A SECOND LINE ALONG THIS RIDGE ABOUT ONE MILE SOUTHEAST FROM THIS POINT AND FRUSTRATED A CONFEDERATE ATTEMPT TO TURN THE RIGHT FLANK. AFTER THEIR INEFFECTUAL ATTACK, THE CONFEDERATES RETIRED TO A RIDGE ABOUT ONE-HALF MILE FARTHER SOUTH. THIS THREW THE CONFEDERATE FORCE TO THE RIGHT AND REAR OF CRUFT'S BRIGADE AND ENDANGERED THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS IN REAR. UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH GENERAL WALLACE, CRUFT''S BRIGADE WITHDREW AND OCCUPIED A POSITION ALONG THE WOODED RIDGE JUST NORTH OF THE HOSPITAL BUILDINGS WITH A VIEW OF PROTECTING THEM. IN THAT POSITION, ABOUT A MILE SOUTH OF THIS POINT THE BRIGADE RESTED FOR SOME TIME AFTER HAVING BEEN HOTLY ENGAGED WITH THE CONFEDERATES AT INTERVALS FOR MORE THAN THREE HOURS..
AT 3P.M. GENERAL GRANT ORDERED AN ATTACK AGAINST THE CONFEDERATE LEFT WHILE GENERAL SMITH'S DIVISION ATTACKED THE RIGHT. COLONEL MORGAN L. SMITHS'S BRIGADE FORMED AT THE HEAD OF THE ATTACK. CRUFT'S BRIGADE IN SUPPORT FORMED ON THE RIGHT OF THE LINE EXCEPT THE 44TH INDIANA, AND FIVE COMPANIES OF THE 31ST INDIANA. WHICH WENT INTO ACTION ON THE EXTREME LEFT OF MORGAN L. SMITH'S BRIGADE. CHARGING UP THE HILL IN A LINE ALMOST AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE MAIN ATTACK, CRUFT'S BRIGADE STRUCK THE CONFEDERATE FORCE. UNDER COLONEL DRAKE IN THE FLANK AND, AFTER A SHARP AND DESPERATE FIGHT, CARRIED THE HILL IN CONJUNCTION WITH MORGAN L. SMITH'S BRIGADE. PURSUING THE RETREATING CONFEDERATES TO THE OPEN GROUND IN FRONT OF THE INTRENCHMENTS, CRUFTS BRIGADE RECEIVED ORDERS TO FALL BACK TO THE HILL JUST TAKEN WHERE HIS TROOPS WENT INTO CAMP FOR THE NIGHT.

  
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This site was written by:
Dennis Hutchinson

I am interested in anything connected with the 31st Indiana Vol. Infantry, or if you have any questions please feel free to contact me by E-Mail.

I am especially interested in photos of soldiers from the 31st Indiana in their wartime clothing.  I am also interested in any letters, diaries, or biographical information on 31st Indiana soldiers

Contact: 31st Indiana

Copyright © 1998 - 2018 by Dennis Hutchinson. All Rights Reserved. This site may be freely linked to, but not duplicated in any fashion except by the author's consent. When permission is given, this copyright statement must remain with the document.

Last Update July, 2018

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