Jacob Dudenhoeffer

  General Notes:

Jacob Dudenhoefer served in the 32nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry regiment (the German regiment) during the civil war under General Sherman. He was killed at Missionary Ridge in November, 1863.

THIRTY-SECOND INDIANA REGIMENT

"The Thirty-Second (or First German) Regiment was organized at Indianapolis, through the exertions of August Willich, (a distinguished officer of the German Revolution of 1848,) who was mustered in with the regiment as its Colonel on the 24th of August, 1861. In the later part of September it proceeded to Madison, Indiana, and from thence to Louisville, Kentucky. Early in October it marched to New Haven, Kentucky, where it remained in camp a short time and then moved to camp Nevin where it remained until the 9th of December. As part of General R. W. Johnson’s brigade of McCook’s division, the regiment moved forward to Munfordsville, and there encamped. The duty of picketing the south side of the Green river and protecting the working parties engaged in repairing the railroad bridge, was assigned to the Thirty-Second. While engaged in this duty on the 17th of December, four companies were attacked near Rowlett’s Station by Gen. Hindman, with a force of eleven hundred infantry, four pieces of artillery and a battalion of Texas Rangers, under Col. Terry. One company advanced and drove back the attacking party until the infantry supports were discovered, when it fell back slowly, the enemy’s lines advancing upon it. Another company to the left was attacked at the same time, but more feebly. In the meantime the two other companies hastened up, and the remainder of the regiment crossed to the south side of the river on a bridge constructed the day before by the pontoniers of the Thirty-Second. Lieut. Col. Von Treba assuming the command, advanced this portion of the regiment on the run to the scene of the conflict, and soon joined the other companies. Forming the regiment in the line of battle, he advanced it steadily and drove the enemy back. The cavalry charged first the skirmish line and next the protecting companies, and again on the right wing. At this juncture the regiment formed a hollow square, upon which the Rangers threw themselves, to be driven back severely punished, losing their leader. An infantry charge was then made against the invincible square, which was also repulsed. After this the whole force of the enemy retired, leaving the regiment in possession of the field. The enemy’s loss was thirty-three killed and fifty wounded, while that of the regiment was ten killed, twenty-two wounded and eight missing. For its gallantry on this occasion the regiment was highly complemented in special orders by Gen. Buell and Gov. Morton, and the name “Rowlett’s Station,” directed to be placed on the regimental colors.

"In February, 1862, the regiment moved forward to Bowling Green, and thence to Nashville, where it rested for a brief period, and then marched to the field of Shiloh, where it participated in the battle on the 7th of April. In this engagement its loss was six killed, ninety-three wounded and four missing. In the siege of Corinth which followed, the regiment was engaged for many days, and had eight wounded. The Thirty-Second, after the evacuation of Corinth moved eastward with Buell’s army as far as Stevenson, Alabama, and then proceeded to Nashville, Tennessee. On the 17th of July, Col. Willich was appointed a Brigadier General, and soon after Lieut. Col. Henry Von Trebra was commissioned Colonel. In September the regiment marched with Buell’s army in its retreat to Louisville, and took part in the pursuit Bragg through Kentucky. Returning to Nashville in November, it went into camp for over a month, and then proceeded with the army toward Murfreesboro. On the 21st of December, 1862, and the 1st and 2nd of January, 1863, it was engaged in the battle of Stone River, losing twelve killed, forty wounded, and one hundred and fifteen missing. After this engagement the Thirty-Second remained at Murfreesboro until June, when it moved forward with Rosecrans’ army toward Chattanooga, engaging on the march, in a severe skirmish at Liberty Gap, on the 24th of June. On the 19th and 20th of September it participated in the battle of Chicamauga, losing twenty-one killed, seventy-eight wounded and seventeen missing. After the battle it fell back to Chattanooga, where it remained until the battle of Missionary Ridge was fought, on the 25th of November, in which it bore an honorable part."

The Thirty-Second then joined Sherman’s march to the sea, returned to Chattanooga, where it remained until the end of the war.


FROM COMPTON'S ENCYCLOPEDIA:

Battle of Chattanooga

The North won three of the most important battles of the Civil War in 1863. Two of these Union victories occurred in early July in Gettysburg, Pa., and, after a long siege, in Vicksburg, Miss. In the fall the third crucial engagement was staged in the area around Chattanooga, Tenn. (See also Gettysburg, Battle of.)

The campaign began on Sept. 19, 1863. General Rosecrans' Union army at Chickamauga, Ga., was routed by General Bragg's Confederates. Rosecrans fell back to Chattanooga. Bragg occupied Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Confederate troops then cut off the Union army from its supply base at Bridgeport, Ala., downstream on the Tennessee River.

To aid the trapped Federals the government sent reinforcements to Chattanooga General Sherman with an army from Vicksburg and General Hooker with 15,000 men from Virginia. General Grant was put in supreme command. He immediately replaced Rosecrans with Gen. George H. Thomas.

On October 27 and 28 Grant's command cleared the Tennessee River of Confederates west of Lookout Mountain. This reopened the road to Bridgeport. East of the city Union troops seized Orchard Knob on November 23. The next day Grant sent Hooker to attack Lookout Mountain. This seemed foolhardy because the mountain sides were steep and choked with vegetation. In addition, a thick fog had gathered, giving the conflict the name "battle above the clouds."

Hooker attacked vigorously. He had about 9,000 men against a defending force of less than 2,000. By afternoon the lower slopes had been taken. Bragg then abandoned Lookout Mountain to meet a new threat on his right flank Sherman was attacking Gen. William J. Hardee at the north end of Missionary Ridge.

Sherman was stopped and Hooker prevented from joining in the attack on Gen. John C. Breckinridge. By the afternoon of November 25 the Union offensive had stalled completely. To help Sherman's attack from the north, Grant ordered Thomas to capture a line of rifle pits at the western foot of the ridge. Thomas' men won their objective. Then, instead of halting as ordered, they continued the attack up to the top of the ridge. The surprised Union generals could only follow, and the equally surprised Confederates on the crest broke ranks and fled. Soon Bragg's entire army was in headlong flight to the south. This victory gave the North control of the railroads centered in Chattanooga. The South now had only one east-west route through Atlanta. During the series of battles the Union army, which consisted of some 56,000 men, suffered 5,815 casualties. The Confederates, with about 41,000 men, lost 6,687 killed, wounded, or missing.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Military, 1863, Union Army.