HISTORICAL NOTES:
This regiment was organized at Fort Wayne and was mustered in Aug. 29, 1862. It left the state the same day for Louisville, where it was placed in position for the defense of the city against Kirby Smith's army. It remained until Oct. 1, when it was assigned to the 17th brigade, Rousseau's division, and accompanied the army in pursuit of Bragg. In the battle of Perryville its brigade formed the right of the division against which the enemy directed his most determined assault, and the loss was consequently great, but the line was held and the regiment received compliments from its commander. Pursuing as far as Crab Orchard, it returned, moving to Nashville, via Lebanon and Turee Springs. On the reorganization of the army in November, the 88th was assigned to the 2nd brigade, 1st division, Army of the Cumberland. It participated in the battle of Stone's river, and was severely engaged while moving with its division to the support of the right at a critical moment, the enemy's seeming victory being met with a leaden hail before which his ranks crumbled. On the evening of Jan. 3, 1863, the brigade drove the enemy from cover in the final charge, carrying his works. The regiment went into camp at Murfreesboro until June 24, when it joined the forward movement and engaged the enemy at Hoover's gap, Tullahoma, Hillsboro and Elk river. Crossing the Cumberland, Sand and Lookout ranges, it was in a heavy engagement at Dug gap, Ga., and was in the movement that resulted in the battle of Chickamauga, its division advancing upon a force of the enemy and taking many prisoners, but was forced back by overwhelming numbers. The corps fought bravely against repeated assaults for two days, and acted as the rear-guard when the army fell back towards Chattanooga. The regiment was with Gen. Hooker in the great "battle above the clouds" on Lookout mountain, and the following day was engaged in the charge on Missionary ridge, being among the first to plant a flag on the works. It was then engaged at Graysville and Ringgold and aided in capturing a battery. It was part of the force that took possession of Tunnel Hill, Ga., in Feb., 1864, and moved with Sherman's army in May, participating at Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kennesaw mountain, Peachtree creek, and the many movements and skirmishes of the campaign which brought the army to the gates of Atlanta in July. It was in the battle of Atlanta, July 22; fought at Utoy creek, and entered the city at the evacuation. It moved in the pursuit of Hood in October, marching 300 miles, and returning Nov. 12, joined the movement for Savannah. It crossed the Savannah river Jan. 26, 1865, and moved into South Carolina, destroying railroad tracks and engaging in various movements. It moved by way of Averasboro, was engaged at Bentonville, and reached Goldsboro Mar. 22. From there it moved to the Cape Fear river, thence to Richmond, and then to Washington, D. C, where it was mustered out June 7. The original strength was 951; gain by recruits, 180; total, 1,131. Loss by death, 208; desertion, 36; unaccounted for, 8.
Excerpted from "The Union Army" by Federal Publishing Company, 1908 - Volume 3 OFFICERS:
Cols., George Humphrey, Cyrus E. Briant;
Lieut. -Cols., Hiram S. Tousley, Cyrus E. Briant, George W. Stough, Lewis J. Blair;
Majs., James C. Bodley, George W. Stough, Lewis J. Blair, Joseph E. Webster, William N. Voris.
ASSIGNMENTS:
Organized at Fort Wayne, Ind., and mustered in August 29, 1862. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., August 29, and duty there until October 1. Attached to 17th Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Ohio, September, 1862. 17th Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st Corps, Army Ohio, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Center 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to April, 1863. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 14th Army Corps, to June, 1865.
SERVICE:
Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-15, 1862. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 16-November 7, and duty there until December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro until June. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee until August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Rossville Gap September 21. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pea Vine Creek and Graysville November 26. Ringgold Gap, Taylor's Ridge, November 27. March to Charleston December 30, 1863, to January 10, 1864. Demonstration on Dalton, Ga., February 22-27, 1864. Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost Gap and Rocky Faced Ridge February 23-25. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1-September 8. Demonstration on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Buzzard's Roost Gap, May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kennesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kennesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, July 18. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Near Red Oak August 30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama September 29-November 3. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Averysboro, N. C., March 16. Battle of Bentonville March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24. Advance on Raleigh April 10-14. Occupation of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Mustered out June 7, 1865.
ROSTERS:
The roster of this unit has the names of 1592 men.
HISTORICAL NOTES: