44th Indiana Volunteer Infantry · Company K · Western Theater
Levi Wallick
Private · Indiana Volunteer Infantry · 3 Years, 10 Months of Service
Regiment
44th Indiana Infantry, Co. K
Rank
Private
First Enlistment
Nov 17, 1861 · Auburn, IN
Reenlisted
Jan 1, 1864 · Chattanooga, TN
Mustered Out
Sep 14, 1865 · Nashville, TN
Born
c.1819–26 · Tuscarawas Co., OH
Physical Description
5′ 7″ · Dark eyes · Dark hair · Occupation: Laborer
Proposed Family Lineage
Levi, son of Philip, son of "Bedford County" Michael, son of Hans Michael and Esther Wallick
A Soldier with a Mysterious Life and Lineage
Levi Wallick is a soldier with a mysterious life and lineage. All we know for certain about Levi is what he did during the four years of the American Civil War. This biography gives a proposed family lineage because there is no positive documentation connecting this Levi to any descendants of Hans Michael Walck/Wallick (1707–1767). But circumstantial evidence gleaned from Levi's war record, together with the genealogical work of Jeff Wallick, make a strong enough case to warrant his inclusion in these Civil War biographies.
When Levi Wallick enlisted in the Union Army in late 1861, he was living in DeKalb County, Indiana, a region where Wallick families were known to have lived for over a decade. One of the families was the clan of "Kansas" Benjamin, who moved his family to DeKalb County in 1850. By 1860 Benjamin's family was living in the little village of Butler, Indiana, a mere eight miles from the settlement of Waterloo, where Levi was living at the time.
Another possible family affiliation that deserves serious consideration is that Levi may have been one of the sons of Philip Wallick (1783–1841). Philip first came to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1813, where he married his wife Elizabeth Showalter, then quickly moved on to settle in northern Coshocton County. Only one descendant from Hans Michael Wallick, out of the hundreds born in the nineteenth century, had the given name Levi — and that person was the first-born son of Philip.
There is one piece of evidence, albeit circumstantial, that gives us good reason to believe he descended from Hans Michael. When Levi enlisted for the second time as a veteran, he listed his place of birth as Tuscarawas County, Ohio. For the past two hundred years every Wallick who was born in Tuscarawas County has descended from Hans Michael Wallick, with no exceptions. This fact alone is cause enough to have Levi included in this account of Wallick soldiers from the American Civil War.
All of the above being said, the only recorded history we have of Levi Wallick's life is during his war years. He served in the Union Army longer than any other Wallick soldier — from November 22, 1861 until September 14, 1865. After Levi's discharge in Nashville, Tennessee, he is lost to history. There is no trace of him after the war in census records and he did not apply for any pensions from the War Department. It is hoped that someday new information may surface about Levi Wallick the civilian and what he did before and after the war.
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First Enlistment · 1861–1863
Levi Wallick with the 44th Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Nov 17, 1861
Levi Wallick enlists in the Union Army at Auburn, IN. He is owed a $100 bounty.
Nov 22, 1861
The 44th Indiana Infantry is mustered into Federal service at Fort Wayne, IN.
Dec 1861
The regiment is posted at Henderson, KY.
Jan 1862
Levi has duty at Calhoun, KY, then moves to northern Tennessee.
Feb 8, 1862
The 44th arrives at Fort Henry on the Tennessee River as reinforcements for General Grant's attack. Admiral Foote's gunboats bombard the Confederate forces and force them to withdraw twelve miles north to Fort Donelson. With the surrender of Fort Henry, central and northern Tennessee and Alabama are open to Union conquest. General Grant leaves the 44th Indiana at Fort Henry while he moves the rest of his army to Fort Donelson.
Feb 13, 1862
Admiral Foote's gunboats attack Fort Donelson but this time are not successful. The Rebel forces return accurate fire from their large siege guns, driving the admiral's gunboats back with heavy casualties. Admiral Foote is wounded in the foot.
Feb 14, 1862
The Confederates try a breakout on the far right of the Union line. At first they succeed but then, for some inexplicable reason, they move back into their earthworks and do not exploit their advantage. Only General Nathan Bedford Forrest and his cavalry troops escape capture. Levi Wallick's regiment is ordered to attack and close the Confederate breakthrough. There is heavy fighting throughout the contest.
Feb 15, 1862
The Union Army assembles a large force to close the Rebel escape route. The 44th Indiana tips the balance of the engagement with an uphill charge near Forge Road. Thirteen thousand Confederates are forced to capitulate and their commanding officer, General Simon Buckner, asks General Grant for terms of surrender. Grant responds: "No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works." This first major victory of the war gives the North its first real hero, U.S. Grant.
Mar 9–14, 1862
The 44th Indiana moves to Crump's Landing on the Tennessee River.
Mar 16, 1862
Levi Wallick and the 44th Indiana have been organized into General Hurlbut's Division and arrive by steamboat, disembarking at Pittsburg Landing. Hurlbut's Division makes camp at the south of the intersection of the Main Corinth Road and the Hamburg-Savannah Road. Generals Sherman and Grant determine that the plateau at Pittsburg Landing will be an ideal place to train the vast numbers of raw recruits that comprise the Union's western army.
Apr 6, 1862
The Battle of Shiloh: First Day. It is Sunday morning and Levi Wallick's regiment is in a relaxed mode with no expectations of battle. They are positioned far to the rear of General Sherman's frontline troops when they hear the sounds of musket fire and artillery. General Sherman has made his headquarters at Shiloh Methodist Church, a log cabin for worship. It is here that the battle begins and the 44th Indiana is quickly moved to a position north of the Peach Orchard and west of the Hamburg-Savannah Road.
At 10:00 AM General Hurlbut positions the 44th Indiana along a wagon road which runs between the Main Corinth Road and the Hamburg-Savannah Road. This slightly depressed lane that runs through wooded terrain becomes known as the Sunken Road. Levi's unit is on the left and north of the Peach Orchard. Here the fighting is fierce and the Federal Army must repulse repeated Rebel attacks. The bullets fly so thick that the Confederate soldiers refer to the sector as the "Hornets Nest." The fighting rages from late morning to mid-afternoon with heavy casualties on both sides. At 2:30 PM General Hurlbut is forced to withdraw his troops before he is surrounded and captured.
At 10:00 AM General Hurlbut positions the 44th Indiana along a wagon road which runs between the Main Corinth Road and the Hamburg-Savannah Road. This slightly depressed lane that runs through wooded terrain becomes known as the Sunken Road. Levi's unit is on the left and north of the Peach Orchard. Here the fighting is fierce and the Federal Army must repulse repeated Rebel attacks. The bullets fly so thick that the Confederate soldiers refer to the sector as the "Hornets Nest." The fighting rages from late morning to mid-afternoon with heavy casualties on both sides. At 2:30 PM General Hurlbut is forced to withdraw his troops before he is surrounded and captured.
Apr 7, 1862
The Battle of Shiloh: Second Day. The 44th Indiana remains in camp until 11:00 AM when they are summoned to advance and plug a gap in the Union line. About 3:00 PM Levi's brigade commander, General Jacob Lauman, is sent an urgent message to move up the Hamburg-Purdy Road to assist General Gibson's Brigade. Isaiah Wallick of the 49th Ohio is fighting in Gibson's Brigade — it is very possible that both Isaiah and Levi are fighting on the same field at the same time. When the Rebels see the reinforcements advance, they begin to withdraw. The whole Rebel line retreats and the two-day fight ends with the opposing forces basically in the same position as where they started. Combined Federal and Confederate casualties are 5,000 dead and 12,000 wounded — more American casualties than all previous wars combined.
Apr 29–May 30, 1862
The 44th Indiana is part of an advance to Corinth, MS, driving the Confederates out of that vital railroad junction.
May 31–Jun 12, 1862
Pursuit to Booneville, KY.
Jun–Aug 1862
The 44th is part of General Buell's Northern Alabama and Middle Tennessee Campaign.
Aug 21–Sep 26, 1862
Levi Wallick and his regiment march north to Louisville in response to General Bragg's invasion of Kentucky.
Oct 1–7, 1862
The 44th Indiana continues to chase General Bragg and his Confederate forces through Loudon and central Kentucky.
Oct 8, 1862
Battle of Perryville. Levi and William Wallick are in the same corps and arrive in the early afternoon on the day of battle. Confederate forces under General Bragg begin their attack about 2:00 PM, hours behind schedule. The commander of the Union Army, General Don Carlos Buell, can hear very little of the cannon fire due to an acoustical shadow — a mysterious phenomenon caused by terrain where loud noises cannot be heard close by but can be heard miles away. General Buell does not realize he is in a major engagement until 4:00 PM. He fails to engage over half his available force, which includes Levi's and William's regiments. Charles F. Wallick's regiment, the 87th Indiana, is in the northern portion of the battlefield and has their first taste of battle. General Buell is relieved of command after the battle because he lets the Confederate Army escape his grasp.
Oct 22–Nov 7, 1862
The 44th Indiana marches to Nashville, TN.
Nov 8–Dec 26, 1862
Levi and his regiment have duty at Nashville, TN, guarding railroads and Union supplies.
Dec 26–29, 1862
The 44th advances to Murfreesboro, TN.
Dec 31, 1862
Battle of Stones River: First Day. The 44th is moved to the rear in reserve at the outset of the battle. The Confederates attack early in the morning and quickly rout the far right of the Union Army. Distant cousin Isaiah Wallick's brigade is one of the first engaged — many still eating their breakfast. At mid-morning Levi's division is moved to the Nashville Pike and will become part of a strong defensive line. William Wallick is also at Stones River and his brigade (under General Harker) is deployed adjacent to Levi's (under General Fyffe). Levi's and William's brigades will fight next to each other until William's brigade is outflanked and driven from the field. Levi's brigade remains on the Nashville Pike until sundown.
Jan 1, 1863
The Federal and Confederate armies wait for each other to move or attack. Neither side initiates any offensive action and the first day of 1863 is a day of rest for the armies at Stones River.
Jan 2, 1863
Battle of Stones River: Second Day. The stillness continues into the next morning but at 2:00 PM the Confederates begin an attack on the Union line to the right of Levi's brigade. About 4:00 PM the Rebel army is advancing past the 44th Indiana and the Hoosiers deliver a withering fire into the flank of the passing Confederate brigade. Artillery is then fired into the advancing Rebel troops. The 44th Indiana joins in a counterattack that drives the Confederate forces from the field. Levi's regiment has 8 men killed, 52 wounded, and 25 missing. The Rebels eventually retreat from Murfreesboro, leaving the Union Army in control of middle Tennessee.
Jan–Jun 1863
Duty at Murfreesboro.
Jun 23–Aug 16, 1863
The 44th Indiana is part of General Rosecrans's Tullahoma Campaign — an almost bloodless maneuver that drives the Confederate Army out of middle Tennessee and into Chattanooga in east Tennessee.
Aug 17–Sep 1863
Levi marches over the Cumberland Mountains and moves into northern Georgia with the 44th Indiana.
Sep 19, 1863
Battle of Chickamauga: First Day. Three Wallicks will fight in this biggest battle of the western theater of the Civil War — Levi Wallick, Charles F. Wallick of the 87th Indiana, and Isaiah Wallick of the 49th Ohio. Levi and the 44th Indiana begin the day south of the battlefield at Gordon's Mills. Early in the morning Charles F. Wallick will engage in the opening volleys of the battle at the north end of the battlefield. By 1:00 PM Levi and his brigade are moved up from Gordon's Mills, form a line of battle east of Brotherton Field, and aid in checking a fierce Confederate attack. Around 3:15 PM the 44th is in savage fighting in Brotherton Field and is driven back. Charles F. Wallick's brigade is moved from the left down to the Union center, where Levi has been driven back by the Rebels.
Sep 20, 1863
Battle of Chickamauga: Second Day. At 10:00 AM Levi and the 44th Indiana are ordered to take a position west of Kelly Field. About an hour later they advance north and drive the Confederates up to McDonald House. One of the biggest battlefield blunders of the war is then ordered by the Federal high command — an aide to General Rosecrans sees what appears to be a gap between two brigades and orders two brigades moved out of the Federal line to plug a non-existing gap. By chance the Confederates strike the Union line at that precise sector where the new gap was created, making a huge hole in the Federal line and collapsing the Union defense.
Charles F. Wallick's corps commander, General George Thomas, rallies his men and others — including Levi's regiment — to make a stand on Snodgrass Hill (called Horseshoe Ridge by the Confederates). Levi Wallick and the 44th Indiana are on the far left of the Union line on Snodgrass Hill. At 4:30 PM the Confederates make an all-out attack against Levi and the 44th Indiana. They fight for about an hour and the Confederates sustain heavy losses in their uphill attack against massed Union artillery and infantry. This delaying action by General Thomas earns him the nickname "The Rock of Chickamauga." Levi and the 44th Indiana arrive in Chattanooga in the early morning hours of September 21.
Charles F. Wallick's corps commander, General George Thomas, rallies his men and others — including Levi's regiment — to make a stand on Snodgrass Hill (called Horseshoe Ridge by the Confederates). Levi Wallick and the 44th Indiana are on the far left of the Union line on Snodgrass Hill. At 4:30 PM the Confederates make an all-out attack against Levi and the 44th Indiana. They fight for about an hour and the Confederates sustain heavy losses in their uphill attack against massed Union artillery and infantry. This delaying action by General Thomas earns him the nickname "The Rock of Chickamauga." Levi and the 44th Indiana arrive in Chattanooga in the early morning hours of September 21.
Sep 21–Nov 7, 1863
The 44th Indiana is trapped in Chattanooga, TN, with the Confederate army occupying the hills that encircle the town. Supplies are very low with soldiers on half, even quarter rations at times. It is from this period, when the Union army is nearly starving, that a little vignette concerning Levi appears in their regimental history, The Forty-Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry - History of its service in the War of the Rebellion, written in 1880 by Dr. John Rerick. The account reads:
Levi Wallack, Co. K, an eccentric and well-known character, was noted for the size of his haversack, it being about three times as large as others' and always well filled. But he was not partial, and balanced it by carrying on the other side a triple supply of ammunition, which he dealt out fearlessly to the enemy whenever opportunity offered. He did not know fear, and as little of discipline, unless he was inclined that way at the time. In the skirmish on Missionary Ridge he fired thirty-one rounds, and at every shot was heard to mutter, "There, dem you, take that." One night while on picket, he ascertained that there were some cattle within the Rebel picket lines. The old haversack was sadly depleted then, so down he dropped on the ground and stealthily stole his way to the cattle, faced them for the Union lines, and started them on the run. The Rebels sent the bullets whizzing after him, but when they ascertained that he had escaped, and come out with fifteen head of cattle, they joined the Union boys in a cheer over the exploit. Wallack was granted the privilege of killing three of the cattle for the benefit of himself and his regiment.
Nov 8, 1863
The 44th is assigned to provost (security) duty at the town of Chattanooga, TN. This duty takes them out of their previous brigades and gives them light duty since they have fulfilled their three-year enlistment and are about to be mustered out of service. The regiments from their old brigade will be involved in the famous charge up Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. If the regiment had not been given provost duty, Levi would more than likely have been alongside Isaiah Wallick's brigade as they charged up Missionary Ridge — during that charge Isaiah was mortally wounded and died two days later in an army hospital.
Nov 6, 1863
Levi has decided to reenlist as a veteran soldier in the 44th Indiana. The U.S. Government is desperate for men to extend their commitment. For reenlisting, Levi is promised a $400 bounty (payable at the whim of the government) and a thirty-day furlough home to Indiana. Levi begins his furlough on this date.
Nov 22, 1863
Three years to the day from their mustering-in at Fort Wayne, IN, the soldiers who did not reenlist are mustered out of Federal service, free to return home. Levi and the others who did reenlist as veteran volunteers have been on furlough.
Second Enlistment · 1864–1865
Veteran Soldier — Provost Duty at Chattanooga
Dec 6, 1863
Levi returns to the 44th Indiana but is either sick or immediately gets sick. Within ten days of his return he is admitted to a hospital for unknown reasons. The record does not show when he is discharged from the hospital.
Jan 1, 1864
Levi officially signs his reenlistment papers as a veteran soldier. He will spend the rest of the war in and around Chattanooga, TN — a vital Union supply center and a lifeline to General Sherman's Army for the next year as it moves through Tennessee and Georgia.
Jan 9, 1864
A description of Levi is recorded in the company roll and it is noted that he is owed $340 by the U.S. Government. For reenlisting he has been paid $60 of a $400 bounty — four times the money he received on his first enlistment. By the first of the year it appears that some of Levi's pay is to be withheld as reimbursement for passage home on his furlough; the cost for transportation from Nashville, TN to Louisville, KY is $3.80.
Feb–Sep 1864
The 44th is on provost duty at Chattanooga, TN.
Sep 28–Oct 2, 1864
Levi and the 44th are sent to Tullahoma, TN, for an unspecified service. Tullahoma is an important railroad junction in south-central Tennessee.
Oct 15–Dec 1864
The regiment returns to Chattanooga and continues to have light duty in security.
Jan–Sep 1865
Little is known about the activities of Levi and his regiment during their last nine months of service in the vicinity of Chattanooga. As exciting and eventful as their first enlistment was, their second enlistment appears to be quite uneventful with no major engagements — to the great delight of the veterans. The 44th Indiana moves to Nashville and ends their enlistment there with little fanfare or drama.
Sep 14, 1865
Levi and the 44th Indiana are mustered out of Federal service in Nashville, TN. There is a notation concerning Levi in the company roll stating: "Retained under General Order 101, one rifled musket and accoutrements: price, $6.00." In almost four years of service with the 44th Indiana, 4 officers and 76 enlisted men have been killed or mortally wounded. An additional 9 officers and 220 enlisted men have died of disease.
Regimental Records
The 44th Indiana Infantry — Compiled Service Cards
Levi Wallick's paper trail is lost after September 14, 1865, when he is discharged from the 44th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He is mentioned in an 1866 estate document, but that is the only record to cite his name once he exits from the army. No one knows when Levi died or where he is buried, or what he did after the war. After 1866 he is lost to history. The record of Levi Wallick as a soldier is rich with information, placing him in specific places at exact points in time. What a contrast to what we know about Levi Wallick, the civilian.
Comrades-in-Arms · No siblings or 1st cousins