Sgt. Major George W. Gore
On August 15, 1862, George Gore enlisted at Orland, Indiana, in Company B of the 100th Indiana Infantry, being organized at Fort Wayne. He was made the First Sgt. of Company B. After sorties through Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, the regiment embarked on transports and joined General Grant in the siege of Vicksburg. After Vicksburg surrendered, the 100th moved with Sherman's army on Jackson, where they were engaged for five days until the Confederates evacuated the city.
In October, 1863, the division rapid marched to Lookout Mountain, Georgia, and engaged General Bragg's army, where they succeeded in turning the enemy's left flank, and drove them from position. On November 23, the column moved toward Chattanooga and on the 25th attacked the Confederate stronghold on Mission Ridge. The Regiment and its Division gained the crest of the hill and held the position throughout heavy artillery shelling and repeated assaults by the enemy. The fight lasted from 10 o'clock in the morning until dark. Masses of the enemy were thrown at them in an all out attempt to dislodge their Division, which enabled General Thomas to break through the un-reinforced enemy center. In this battle, the 100th Indiana lost one hundred and thirty-two killed and wounded. Included in the wounded were their commander, Colonel Heath, and Sgt. George Gore. He sustained a facial wound by a musket ball which passed through part of his face, which fortunately was not serious, as he was discharged from the hospital the same day.
On June 25, 1864, Sgt. George Gore was promoted to Sgt. Major and transferred to the field staff. Many more battles and skirmishes were fought in and around Georgia.
The 100th Indiana was the principal Union unit involved in the only major engagement of Sherman’s Army during the march to the sea. It was the battle of Griswoldville, GA.
Brig. Gen. Charles Walcutt was ordered to make a demonstration, with the six infantry regiments and one battery that comprised his brigade, toward Macon to ascertain the disposition of enemy troops in that direction. He set out on the morning of November 22, 1864 and after a short march he ran into some of Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry and drove them beyond Griswoldville. Having accomplished his mission, Walcutt retired to a position at Duncan’s Farm and fortified it with logs and rails to meet an expected Rebel attack force composed of three brigades of Georgia State Militia. The Georgia Militia had been ordered from Macon to Augusta, thinking the latter was Sherman’s next objective, and accidentally collided with Walcutt’s force. The Union force withstood three determined charges before receiving reinforcements of one regiment of infantry and two regiments of cavalry. The Rebels did not attack again and soon retired. Although out numbering them 2 to 1, the Georgian militia lost 650 men to the Union's 62. General Johnston surrendered his army on April 26, 1865.
The 100th marched in the Grand Review in Washington on May 24, and were mustered out July 8.
The 100th Indiana during its term of service had marched 4000 miles, been engaged in 25 battles and hundreds of skirmishes resulting in total casualties of 464.
George married later that year, Mary Newell. They had two daughters. George and Mary were not happy together, and George considered divorce, but when she became sick with tuberculosis, he remained and took care of her. When she died he married Louise Lemon. After his second marriage, Mrs. Newell, Mary's mother, bought a new farm and invited George and his new wife and family to move in to live with her. They stayed for a while and decided they would rather be on their own.
George applied for a pension in 1915, and was granted $30. He died on January 12, 1916.
George Gore was six feet tall, with medium complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. He lived and farmed at locations in Amherst, Elyria, Ashtable County, Cleveland, and Median County, Ohio.
Sources:
Pension records
Barbara Goodwin
Service history(s) of 100th Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Shermin's March, History Channel broadcast 22Apr2007
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