87th Indiana Infantry · Company C
Corporal Charles F. Wallick
87th Indiana Volunteer Infantry · Sherman's March · Pioneer Corps
Service Record
Family Lineage
Charles, son of Benjamin Jr., son of "Peru" Benjamin, son of Johannes, son of Hans Michael and Esther Wallick
Biography
Charles Fletcher Wallick was one of three brothers from the Benjamin Wallick clan who served in the Federal Army during the American Civil War. He was a younger brother to Captain William Wallick — who became famous by escaping from Libby Prison — and twin brother to John Wesley Wallick, another Civil War volunteer. All three brothers enlisted in Peru, Indiana, with eldest sibling William being the first to join in 1861, followed by Charles in 1862 and John Wesley in 1864. Even their father, Benjamin, was mustered into Federal service for a brief period during the summer of 1863. No other single Wallick family contributed more manpower to the country's war effort than Benjamin Wallick's family.
Benjamin Wallick (1804–1884) was born and raised in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. In 1841 he uprooted his young family and started a new life in Miami County, Indiana, where he built and operated a very successful sawmill on Little Pipe Creek. All three boys worked for their father at one time or another. When Charles returned home from the war he worked briefly for the local railroad but by 1880 was back at his father's mill.
Although the quality is poor, these are the only pictures known to exist of Charles F. Wallick and his twin brother John Wesley.
The 87th Indiana Infantry Regiment was organized in South Bend, Indiana, on August 28, 1862, and mustered into Federal service on August 31st with 945 men. The regiment's first major engagement was at the Battle of Perryville in October 1862. Then on September 19 and 20, 1863, the regiment fought heroically at the Battle of Chickamauga, where over fifty percent of its men became casualties — Charles was one of them, with a bullet wound to his left hand. In May 1864, the regiment chased Confederate General Joseph Johnston through the hills of northern Georgia and eventually helped capture Atlanta. Charles then took part in General Sherman's March to the Sea, bringing the war to the civilians in the heartland of the South.
Charles and his regiment were part of General Sherman's Pioneer Corps, which became legendary in their march through the Carolinas. Comprised of lumbermen from Michigan and rail-splitters from Illinois and Indiana, the Pioneers corduroyed roads, built bridges, and forded rivers — allowing Union forces, with 2,500 wagons and 600 ambulances, to move at the rate of twelve miles a day through the Carolina swamps in the middle of winter, a pace thought to be impossible.
We know a great deal about Charles' wartime experiences because he kept a diary while serving with his regiment. Charles' original diary has been lost with the passing of time, but a partial transcript has survived and can be read at the Miami County Historical Society's Museum in Peru, Indiana. Although his diary is incomplete — the entries for July 3 through December 31, 1864 were not transcribed — it does contain daily entries about his regiment fighting its way through northern Georgia to Atlanta and its march of destruction from Savannah through the Carolinas.
Charles returned home to Peru, Indiana after the war and began working for the railroad. On November 10, 1876, he married Lucy A. Search and the couple had three children. He became an invalid late in life and was moved to the Soldiers Home in Lafayette, Indiana in late December of 1903. He died on March 3, 1904 with Lucy at his side. He is buried in Reyburn Cemetery, Peru, Indiana, near his parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth, and brothers William and John Wesley. His modest headstone reads: Corp'l C. F. Wallick Co. C 87th IND. INF.
A Note on Names
There were two Charles Wallicks who served in the American Civil War — one from Indiana and one from Ohio. The soldier on this page, Charles F. Wallick, served with the 87th Indiana Infantry. The other Charles Wallick (whose comrades called him "Charley") served in the 16th Ohio Infantry. To avoid confusion, in their biographies the Ohio soldier is referred to as Charley and the Indiana soldier as Charles.
Chronology
Charles Wallick with the 87th Indiana
Aug 31, 1862
Mustered into Federal service with the 87th Indiana Infantry at South Bend, Indiana. Regiment begins with 945 men.
Sep 1862
Regiment pursues Confederate General Bragg in Kentucky and helps defend Louisville.
Oct 8, 1862
Battle of Perryville — Charles and the 87th IVI experience their first taste of battle at Perryville, KY. The regiment is hastily marched onto the battlefield at the close of the day to reinforce the Union army, which is in serious trouble. The 87th is the last regiment in their brigade to arrive on the field and nearly cause a catastrophe in their first major engagement. Darkness is falling and the regiment is anxious as they march through woods to go into battle formation behind the 2nd Minnesota. The 87th is anticipating an encounter with the enemy at any moment and seeing dark silhouettes before them, they cock their muskets, ready to fire. The sounds of the hammers being pulled all at once on a few hundred percussion lock plates alerts the Minnesotans. Colonel Judson Bishop of the 2nd Minnesota later said, "A prompt and vigorous introduction of the two regiments by name probably saved us from what would have been a sad misfortune." He added, "We had no experience in the whole war so startling as the cocking of muskets behind us."
Nov 15, 1862
After ten weeks in the field, only 400 men are listed "effective for duty" due to illness and hardship — less than half their enlistment strength.
Dec 31, 1862
Battle of Stones River — part of Charles' division engaged, but Charles and his brigade are near Gallatin, TN, guarding the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.
Jan–Mar 1863
Duty in middle Tennessee. Charles involved in a raid at Columbia, TN, against General Forrest's cavalry.
Jun 23, 1863
Tullahoma Campaign begins — regiment maneuvers through the Cumberland Mountains toward Chattanooga.
Sep 12, 1863
Regiment arrives at Chickamauga Creek — an Indian name meaning "River of Death."
Sep 19–20, 1863
Battle of Chickamauga — the bloodiest battle for the western armies. The 87th begins with 366 men and suffers 192 casualties (52% casualty rate — highest of all 28 Indiana regiments present). Charles is wounded in the left hand by a Rebel ball. The 87th makes a remarkable stand on Horseshoe Ridge alongside the 49th Ohio and 44th Indiana, helping prevent a Federal rout.
Nov 25, 1863
Battle of Missionary Ridge — while Charles recuperates in Chattanooga, his regiment charges up Missionary Ridge and is one of the first to plant its colors on the summit. This is also the battle where distant cousin Isaiah Wallick is mortally wounded by a cannonball.
Dec 25, 1863
Charles rejoins his regiment on Christmas Day after recovering from his hand wound.
Apr 27, 1864
Charles begins his diary. His first entry notes he tried to get a pass to visit brother "Bill" (Captain William Wallick) in Chattanooga but was denied.
May 7, 1864
87th begins its "March to Atlanta." Almost daily skirmishes and engagements with Confederate forces for the next four months.
May 15, 1864
Battle of Resaca — both Charles F. and "Daviess County" Michael Wallick engaged, possibly within a few hundred yards of each other.
Jun 27, 1864
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain — Sherman makes a disastrous frontal assault. The 87th is held in reserve.
Jul 19–20, 1864
Battle of Peach Tree Creek.
Jul 22–Aug 31, 1864
Siege of Atlanta and Battle of Jonesboro. The 87th posted southwest of the city.
Sep 2, 1864
Surrender of Atlanta.
Nov 15–Dec 10, 1864
Sherman's March to the Sea — Charles and the 87th march from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia.
Dec 25, 1864
Christmas Day — Surrender of Savannah.
Feb 1865
Carolinas Campaign begins. The 87th is part of Sherman's Pioneer Corps, corduroying roads and building bridges through the Carolina swamps.
Mar 19–21, 1865
Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina.
Apr 12, 1865
Diary: "We received a dispatch from Grant that Lee had surrendered his whole force to him." (The surrender happened April 9.)
Apr 26, 1865
Confederate General Johnston surrenders to General Sherman at the Bennett House in Durham, NC — the largest Confederate surrender of the Civil War, over 89,000 soldiers.
The Descendants of Hans Michael Wallick in the American Civil War gives a more detailed account of Charles' service between April 1864 – May 1865. The book includes selected entries from his war diary.
May 24, 1865
Grand Review of Sherman's 65,000-man Army of the West in Washington D.C. The 87th marches 12 abreast down Pennsylvania Avenue. Both Charles F. and Hewit Wallick are part of this grand pageant.
Jun 21, 1865
Charles mustered out of Federal service at the State Capitol grounds in Indianapolis. Only 313 of the original 945 members remain — Charles being one of them.
Final Chapter
Obituary & Burial
Family
Comrades-in-Arms
Benjamin Wallick Jr. (Father)
109th Indiana Infantry
William Wallick (Brother)
51st Indiana
John Wesley Wallick (Twin Brother)
138th & 151st Indiana
Wesley Wallick (Uncle)
109th & 138th Indiana
Christopher Wallick (Uncle)
109th Indiana Infantry
Jeremiah Wallick (Cousin)
109th Indiana Infantry
Benjamin Wallick (Cousin)
162nd Ohio
William F.M. Wallick (Cousin)
13th Indiana
Washington Wallick (Cousin)
71st Pennsylvania Infantry