About Myself
I live in Montgomery County, Indiana, the Wabash Valley region of Central Indiana. I have been a student of the Civil war since I was very young. I have four 19th Century grandfathers that served during the war. William David Lee, 52nd Tennessee Inf. (C.S.) ,wounded at Murfreesboro; Zephaniah H. Crain, 10th Indiana Inf.,lost an eye at Perryville; David Vroman, 15th Ohio Inf.; and Jesse McCracken, 136th Ohio Inf.
My wife also has four 19th Centurty grandfathers who served durig the Civil War. John Carpenter, 120th Indiana Inf.; George D. Smith, 50th Indiana Inf.; Hosea Fitzwater, 7th West Virginia Cavalry,died of disease; and James N. Burch, 36th Georgia Inf. (C.S.), captured Champion Hill and during the Atlanta Campaign. My three sons have a total of eight C.W. grandfathers, seven of whom served as Western Civil War Soldiers.
Why the 40th Indiana? I was raised in the town of Waveland, there were 80+ men that served in two companies of the 40th. I also had two relatives that served in the regiment, Henry M. Alward, Co. H, died in service; and Jonathan Rice, served 3 years in Co. C. Also in Wagner’s Brigade were two other family members, Samuel Moser, served 3 years in Co. G, 15th Indiana Inf. and Jacob Ricketts, who was drafted in September 1864 and placed in Co. D, 57th Indiana Inf., he was engaged in the actions at Franklin and Nashville.
My main focus has always been the study of regiments and actions in the western theatre. I like to read anything about the Army of the Cumberland and the Army of Tennessee (C.S.). I am also a huge fan of the 13th Corps and their actions during the Vicksburg campaign. But, above all I like to study the men and the regiments of Wagner’s Brigade.
I am just trying to have a little fun with this and to share the information that I have collected for several years on the 40th Indiana and Wagner’s Brigade.
Scott R. Busenbark
Anyone with information to share on the 40th Indiana or a regiment in Wagner’s brigade can send it to:
