Brief history of the 84th Indiana Infantry Regiment
 
The 84th Indiana was formed in Richmond, Indiana (Wayne County) and mustered into service on September 3, 1862. Companies F and G were composed of nearly all Henry county volunteers, mostly from Harrison, Henry and Jefferson townships, and a few from Fayette and Wayne counties. (Click here for a roster of Co. G and the fate of each member)

The regiment left for Covington, Kentucky, where it was assigned to defend that city and Cincinnati, Ohio. Through 1862-1863, the regiment saw action in Kentucky and Tennessee. The regiment took part in the Battle of Chickamauga, where it suffered total casualties of 125 killed, wounded, and missing. In February 1864, the 84th Indiana camped at and garrisoned Cleveland, Tennessee, before joining Sherman's campaign against Atlanta in May 1864. After reaching Atlanta, the regiment served in various southern states, including Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina. It camped at Huntsville, Alabama, between January and March 1865. The regiment was mustered out of service in June 1865 at Nashville and then returned to Indianapolis. (From the History of Randolph County, 1882)

The letters of Calvin W. Diggs, Co. A 84th Indiana.
 

Calvin W. Diggs was from Randolph County, Indiana and enlisted in Co. A of the 84th Indiana on August 6, 1862. He served with the unit until being captured during the Battle of Chickamauga. Mr. Diggs spent 14 months in various southern prison camps until being exchanged and rejoining the 84th Indiana in Alabama.

March 28th, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
I am safe and sound as well as I ever was. Our regiment has not been in any fight. I do not think we will have any fight here. We are well prepared for them here, as we have a most splendid fort.
 
April 6th, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
Our camp is in a very fine condition at the present time. It is kept in good order. The streets are swept every morning, and all the trash and dirt removed from in and about the tents. We are not allowed to have any straw nor fodder in our tents any more. I guess likely we will be allowed to have plank. Mother, I got some of the best corn bread yesterday morning before I came off picket that I have had since I left home. I could get no butter to eat it with though. We paid 30 cents for the cake. We can get loaf bread of the Sutler for 15 cents a loaf, quite small loaves however.
 
April 19th, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
I received the very kind letter of the 12th day before yesterday. I was indeed very glad to get it. I should have answered yesterday, but we were all out on duty working on the fortifications, cutting down trees, and throwing up entrenchments. Apples are bought here to sell every day on the train. Some one buys a barrel for about twenty-five dollars, and then retails them out at a rate of 2 for 25 cts. So you see it take about one dollar to get a belly full of apples. We have a kind of one horse bakery here were we can get pies for 20 cts. a piece that I would hardly notice at home. We get little five cent loaves of bread for 15 cts.  
 
April 27th, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
The day I got it (a letter), I was working on the fort and could not write. I have just finished eating my supper. We did not have a bad supper either for soldiers. We had biscuit, meat, rice, and coffee. We draw part of our rations in flour and part in bread. We are getting somewhat tired of hard bread.  
 
April 28th, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
I take pen in hand to write a few lines before going on the fort to work. I thought I would not have to go today. We had some rain last night and our new tents done pretty well. They did let some water through, however.  
 
May 3rd, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
I have just finished eat my breakfast of rice and hard bread. This is the Sabbath, and I do not happen to be on guard, and of course we have no work to do on the Sabbath. I think we should be left here to guard this place, after working on it as we have. I do not care about going any further south this summer. I am not afraid of rebel bullets, but I am afraid of the hot, scorching sun of the south. Two of our boys got in the guard house the other day for taking a plank off a plank fence. I intend to have some plank. If the government won't furnish them, I will.  
 
May 15th, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
I have just drawed from the government a pair of shoes, a pair of pants, and oil cloth, and will get a coat or blouse before long. I lost my oil cloth when we went out to Duck River and consequently had to draw another. We can draw all the clothing we want. We are allowed forty-two dollars and a half for clothing each year. Everything we get is charged to us, and if we draw more than $42.50 worth it is taken out of our wages.
 
May 31st, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
This is a very fine pleasant morning. We all feel better since the rain, as it is getting very warm and dry here. I have been washing my haversack and towels since breakfast. We have inspection every Sabbath morning at 9 o'clock. We have general inspections on the 1st and 3rd Sunday every month. Everything that we have is inspected by our Col. or some field officer. Our clothing must be clean, and haversacks. Our guns must be as fairly glisten with brightness. At a time like this it requires a good deal of work to keep a gun in order. This morning we have inspections. Guns, canteens, and haversacks will be inspected.
 
June 1st, 1863 - Franklin, Tenn.
We have been having quite a rain. That is quite a rain for a short time. When it rains here it pours down in torrents. Saturday during a rainstorm our only tent gone away and left us out in the wet. So we had to take it as we could. We got a good soaking. But after a while it stopped as all the rains do. Then we went to work to reconstruct our demolished dog tent.

Click here to read the full transcripts of Pvt. Diggs letters that cover his entire war exprience.