Saturday, September 17, 2016

Part 4 In a Series: Our Civil War Ancestors

Levi Harbaugh
Pvt. 17th Indiana Infantry

photo & text courtesy of LCWRT Members Monty Evans and Holly Jenkins-Evans

Born 1844 - 1899, Harrison County, In.  On June 12, 1861,  at the age of 18, Levi Harbaugh was mustered as a Musician, in  Co. C, 17th IN Infantry for a 3 year enlistment at Indianapolis, Indiana.   The 17th IN was part of Hascall's Brigade, Army of the Ohio, and later in Wilder’s Brigade, Army of the Cumberland.  Wilder’s Mounted Infantry became famous as the Lightning Brigade. Jan 1, 1862, Levi was promoted to Private from Fifer. May 1, 1862, Harbaugh was detailed for artillery service with the 18th Battery IN Lt Artillery ( Eli Lilly’s Battery). Lilly’s battery was attached  to Wilder’s Brigade until November,1863. He participated in the Campaign against Bragg through  October 1862, including the Battle of Perryville and was present for  action at Murfreesboro, the Tullahoma Campaign, Hoover’s Gap, the Chickamauga Campaign, the Bombardment of Chattanooga, and Ringgold, GA. And the Battle of Chickamauga .In Nov. 1863, Levi Harbaugh returned to 17th IN,  and was discharged and mustered out at  Macon GA in June. Harbaugh  returned to Harrison County and became a schoolteacher. He was a  member of Grand Army of the Republic and a delegate from his county to an Indiana State convention on soldiers’ pensions. Eventually, he was a professor of algebra, botany , geography, chemistry and bookkeeping at the United Brethren College in Hartsville, IN as well as Superintendent of Schools in Corydon. He is shown after the war, wearing his Wilder's Brigade medal. 

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