Civil War Union Army Officer. He served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 68th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in as the regiment's commanding officer on August 19, 1862. He was killed during the September 19-20, 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, while in command of the Army of the Cumberland's Second Brigade, 4th Division, XIV Army Corps. He was riding a horse during the battle, but was making a conspicuous target for Confederate sharp shooters. His men begged him repeatedly to get off the horse as balls were flying past him. Reluctantly, Colonel King dismounted, only to be shot in the head and instantly killed. The regiment was soon ordered to advance, so, rather than leaving the slain hero behind, they strapped him the top of a caisson belonging to the 19th Indiana Battery and charged through a Rebel force. His body was the only one taken off the field that day by the regiment, the rest of the dead had to be left behind. He was next buried in a cemetery in a nearby town. In January, 1864, his body was exhumed and taken to Dayton, Ohio. His body lay in state at the Court house for two days and was guarded by the "Dayton Light Guard." On January 31st, his remains were escorted, by the Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Militia, to Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, and he was buried with full military honors. The funeral was believed to be the "most impressive and the largest ever before held in Dayton" up to that time.
Civil War Union Army Officer. He served during the Civil War as Colonel and commander of the 68th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being mustered in as the regiment's commanding officer on August 19, 1862. He was killed during the September 19-20, 1863 Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, while in command of the Army of the Cumberland's Second Brigade, 4th Division, XIV Army Corps. He was riding a horse during the battle, but was making a conspicuous target for Confederate sharp shooters. His men begged him repeatedly to get off the horse as balls were flying past him. Reluctantly, Colonel King dismounted, only to be shot in the head and instantly killed. The regiment was soon ordered to advance, so, rather than leaving the slain hero behind, they strapped him the top of a caisson belonging to the 19th Indiana Battery and charged through a Rebel force. His body was the only one taken off the field that day by the regiment, the rest of the dead had to be left behind. He was next buried in a cemetery in a nearby town. In January, 1864, his body was exhumed and taken to Dayton, Ohio. His body lay in state at the Court house for two days and was guarded by the "Dayton Light Guard." On January 31st, his remains were escorted, by the Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Militia, to Woodland Cemetery in Dayton, and he was buried with full military honors. The funeral was believed to be the "most impressive and the largest ever before held in Dayton" up to that time.
Bio by: Eric Lowman
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