Freelance Historian

William Utalhofen ( – 1864):

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Enlisted June 7, 1861 as a private in the 14th Indiana Infantry (the “Gallant Fourteenth.”) The 14th was the first Indiana regiment to enlisted for three years. The 14th, along with the 4th Ohio, 8th Ohio, and 7th West Virginia were known as the “Gibraltar Brigade” for their heroism at the Sunken Road in the battle of Antietam.

Since Utalhofen was a private, he would have been in the front lines with his regiment as they fought in nearly every major battle of the Eastern Theater: Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. From the official history:

It was in reserve at South Mountain but at Antietam its
division was the only one that never gave way during the
battle, its brigade being called the “Gibraltar.” The 14th
fought for 4 hours within 60 yards of the enemy’s line and
lost 31 killed and 150 wounded. It moved to Harper’s Ferry
and Warrenton, thence to Falmouth, where it remained until
Dec. 11. Its brigade led the attack on the works at
Fredericksburg, but could not advance beyond a certain point,
the enemy being too strongly intrenched.

The regiment then encamped at Falmouth until April 28, 1863.
It was in reserve at Chancellorsville during May 1-2, but on
the 3rd with its brigade charged and drove the enemy from the
ground lost by the 11th corps the previous day, but was forced
back by an overwhelming force, losing 7 killed, 50 wounded and
2 missing.

It was in the battle of Gettysburg, charging the enemy’s
advance, saving Ricketts’ battery, driving the enemy down the
hill and capturing all the field officers, the colors, and
most of the men of the 21st N. C. infantry on the evening of
the second day’s battle. The following day its division bore
the brunt of the desperate attack on the left of the cemetery
and the regiment lost 123 in killed and wounded.

During the second day of the battle of the Wilderness (May 6, 1864,) the 14th took the brunt of Longstreet’s counterattack. Utalhofen was missing after the battle. His body was never found. He did not turn up as a prisoner of war, and is officially listed as “missing, presumed dead.”