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A.O. Bachman

A.O. Bachman

Federal (USV)

Lieutenant Colonel

Alois O. Bachman, Jr.

(1839 - 1862)

Home State: Indiana

Education: Hanover College, Kentucky Military Institute

Branch of Service: Infantry

Unit: 19th Indiana Infantry

Before Antietam

He attended Hanover College (1856-58) studying the law, then the Kentucky Military Institute at Frankfort, KY. He organized the Madison City Greys, a local militia unit, in 1858. They became Company K, 6th Indiana Infantry (3 months) in April 1861, he was commissioned their Captain on 19 April 1861, and mustered out with them in July. He enrolled in the 19th Indiana Infantry (for three years) on 29 July 1861 and was commissioned Major on 2 August. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel to date from 3 February 1862.

On the Campaign

He relieved Colonel Meredith in command of the 19th Indiana Infantry, part of the famous 4th 'Black Hat' Brigade of the 1st Division, I Corps. The Brigade was the spearhead of the initial I Corps attack down the Hagerstown Pike against the Confederate Left early on the 17th. He was mortally wounded leading a charge the morning of the 17th and died the same day.

After the War

GAR Post 26 in Madison, IN was named for him.

References & notes

Basic service information from the Indiana Adjutant General1. Details from a State historical marker on him in Madison, IN. His gravesite is on Findagrave. His picture from a photograph in the collection of the Indiana State Library. Thanks to Steve Magnusen for the pointer to the marker, prompting improvements to this page.

More on the Web

See an excellent post about Bachman and his Regiment at Antietam from Phil Spaugy on Buckeyes, Blackhats and the boys of '61.

Birth

1839; Madison, IN

Death

09/17/1862; Sharpsburg, MD; burial in Springdale Cemetery, Madison, Jefferson County, IN

Notes

1   State of Indiana, Adjutant General's Office, and William H.H. Terrell, Adjutant General, Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, 8 volumes, Indianapolis: (various) State Printers, 1865-1869, Vol. 2, pp. 6, 168  [AotW citation 16666]