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SEVENTY-FIFTH INDIANA REGIMENT
FLOYD
Gc 973.74 In2f 1400173
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 1975
DIRECT FROM PHOTOGRAPH BY NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
MAJOR-GENERAL J. J. REYNOLDS, First Colonel of 76th Indiana Infantry Volunteers;
HISTORY
OF THE
SEVENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT OF
INDIANA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS, ITS
ORGANIZATION CAMPAIGNS, AND BATTLES, (1862-65.)
L
BY REV. DAVID BITTLE FLOYD, A. M., (FORMERLY A SERGEANT IN CO. I OF THE REGIMENT.)
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1
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY MAJOR-GENERAL J. J. REYNOLDS, (PROVISIONAL COLONEL OF THE REGIMENT.)
PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR.
PHILADELPHIA : LUTHERAN PUBLICATION SOCIETY. 1893.
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COPYRIGHTED, 1892, BY DAVID B. FLOYD.
1400173
.TO THE MEMORY OF THE HONORED DEAD OF THE SEVENTY-FIFTH INDIANA REGIMENT,
WHOSE LIVES WERE LOST TO PRESERVE THE UNION,
THIS VOLUME IS
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED.
: 1256 N.O. 3823
$ 22.50 5-3-67
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a Brig
CONTENTS.
INTRODUCTION.
PAGE
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CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION - WABASH - INDIANAPOLIS - LOUISVILLE - Two DRUMMER BOYS
II
CHAPTER II.
WITH THE FORTIETH BRIGADE, TWELFTH DIVISION, IN PURSUIT OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL JOHN H. MORGAN AT LEBANON-LEBANON JUNCTION-SHEPHERDSVILLE-SEVENTEENTH AND SEVENTY-SEC- OND INDIANA, AND NINETY-EIGHTH ILLINOIS REGIMENTS, AND EIGH- TEENTH INDIANA BATTERY-RETURN TO LOUISVILLE-ELIZABETH- TOWN MARCH-PURSUIT OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL E. KIRBY SMITH-BOWLING GREEN-SCOTTSVILLE-COLONEL ROBINSON- CASTALIAN SPRINGS-BATTLE OF HARTSVILLE 25
CHAPTER III.
SIX MONTHS' ENCAMPMENT AT MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE-SIXTY- EIGHTH AND ONE HUNDRED AND FIRST INDIANA, AND ONE HUN- DRED AND FIFTH OHIO REGIMENTS AND NINETEENTH INDIANA BATTERY-RECONNAISSANCES TO WOODBURY, LIBERTY, ALEXAN- DRIA, MILTON, CARTHAGE, MCMINNVILLE, ETC 65
CHAPTER IV.
THE TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN-BATTLE OF HOOVER'S GAP-TULLA- HOMA
92
CHAPTER V.
CROSSING THE ELK RIVER-CAMPS WINFORD AND UNIVERSITY PLACE -MOVEMENT ACROSS THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS AND TENNES- SEE RIVER-SCALING LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN-EVACUATION OF CHAT- TANOOGA BY THE ENEMY 109
CHAPTER VI.
BATTLE OF CHICKAMAUGA-PRELIMINARY TO THE BATTLE I25
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6
Contents.
PAGE
CHAPTER VII.
CHICKAMAUGA -- BATTLE OF SEPTEMBER 20TH, 1863 152 CHAPTER VIII.
CHATTANOOGA-SIEGE OF CHATTANOOGA-EIGHTY-SEVENTH INDIANA, SECOND MINNESOTA, NINTH AND THIRTY-FIFTH OHIO REGIMENTS- AFFAIR AT BROWN'S FERRY
197
CHAPTER IX.
BATTLES AROUND CHATTANOOGA-LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN-MISSIONARY RIDGE.
222
CHAPTER X.
PURSUIT OF CONFEDERATES TO RINGGOLD, GA .- REOCCUPANCY OF CHATTANOOGA-RELIEF OF BURNSIDE-DEMONSTRATION ON DAL- TON, GA .- RECONNAISSANCE TOWARDS TUNNEL HILL, GA. . 268
CHAPTER XI.
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN
: 279
CHAPTER XII.
THE SIEGE OF ATLANTA-ITS CAPITULATION
307
CHAPTER XIII.
EXPEDITION TO GAYLESVILLE, ALABAMA, IN PURSUIT OF THE CONFED-
ERATE ARMY UNDER GENERAL HOOD.
334
CHAPTER XIV.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA, AND CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH, GA . . 342
CHAPTER XV.
CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE CAROLINAS FROM SAVANNAH, GA., TO GOLDSBORO AND RALEIGH, N. C .- BATTLES OF FAYETTEVILLE, BEN- TONVILLE, SMITHFIELD, ETC 363
CHAPTER XVI.
HOMEWARD MARCH VIA RICHMOND AND WASHINGTON-GRAND REVIEW-FROM WASHINGTON TO INDIANAPOLIS-MUSTER OUT, ETC. 386
RECAPITULATION OF THE STRENGTH AND LOSS OF THE REGIMENT . . 400
ROSTER OF THE REGIMENT. 407
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PREFACE.
THIRTY years have come and gone since the Seventy-fifth Regiment of Indiana Volunteers began its long inarches, fre- quent encampments, and bloody battles in the war for the sup- pression of the rebellion. Many of the noble and brave men, who went out with us in defense of a common country, did not return with us. We left them years ago on the hills, by the streams, and in the valleys of the sunny South. Yet by
us they are not forgotten. Their heroic deeds and last rest- ing places are often brought to our minds in fond remem- brance. We, who saw our comrades fall in battle, and die in camps, and famish in prisons, where their bodies were laid in unmarked and uncoffined graves beneath the palmetto and the pine, are ourselves dropping out of ranks in the rapid march of time, and falling down in the stern battle of life.
During the preparation of these chapters on war, the writer has been busy with the duties of preaching the gospel of peace, which may serve as an apology for any defects, that may be found among the facts herein given. If there should be any omissions which detract from any one, or additions that reflect upon any one, such must be corrected by the hand of charity.
Besides the writer's own personal knowledge of the events herein recorded, the following works, bearing more or less upon the subjects treated, were consulted in the preparation of the volume: The Official Records of the War of the Rebel- lion, Official Reports of Adjutant-General Terrell, of Indiana, Van Horne's History of the Army of the Cumberland, Gen- eral Sherman's Memoirs, General Grant's Personal Memoirs, General Turchin's Chickamauga, and the Century Magazine's War Articles.
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S
Preface.
The writer owes his grateful acknowledginents to Com- rades James G. Essington, of Co. D; Mahlon J. Paxon, of Co. F; Capt. Irwin Polson, of Co. C; Capt. David L. Elliott, of Co. E; and Capt. Mahlon H. Floyd, of Co. I, who liad the kindness to loan him their valuable Diaries in the prepara- tion of this book. He is also indebted to Capt. S. C. Kel- logg, U. S. A., late A. D. C. to Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, for furnishing elegant maps of the Campaigns in which the Reg- iment served; to Mrs. Hester A. McGinness, for interesting letters written by her husband, Capt. William McGinness; to Lieut. William S. Stitt, of Co. A; to Capt. Thomas A. Ellis and Serg't Alpheus N. Rood, of Co. B; to Capt. Irwin Polson and Lieut. Jacob Lair, of Co. C; to Major Cyrus J. McCole and James G. Essington, of Co. D; to Capt. David L. Elliott, of Co. E; to Capt. Christopher S. Arthur, of Co. F; to Capt. Joseph T. Smitli, of Co. G; to James C. Favorite, of Co. H; to Capt. Mahlon H. Floyd, of Co. I, and to Serg't William B. Miller, of Co. K, for assistance in preparing the Roster of their respective Companies, and for other very val- uable material furnished by them. He is especially indebted to General J. J. Reynolds for furnishing the introduction; to Capt. Daniel H. Floyd, A. Q. M., U. S. A., and to Capt. J. H. Mauzy, of the Sixty-eighth Indiana, for valuable aid in the preparation of the chapters.
This book is not a history of the war, nor of the army in which the Regiment served; but it is claimed to be a faithful record of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment and of the Regi- ments immediately associated with it. The story of the ser- vice and sacrifice of every man, who belonged to the Seventy- fifth Indiana Regiment, will, in this record, be perpetuated among his children and grandchildren.
The volume is now submitted to those, who are interested in what it relates. If it should prove in some degree bene- ficial to its readers, the writer will feel that he has been com- pensated for his labor.
DAVID B. FLOYD.
INTRODUCTION.
TO MY COMRADES OF THE SEVENTY-FIFTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS :
THE author of this history of our Regiment has kindly in- vited me, its first Colonel, to write a few words of introduc- tion. I gladly embrace the opportunity to say how d'ye do and good-bye; for our ranks are gradually thinning out, and many, whose hands I would delight to grasp in comradeship while these words are being written, may have passed away before they can be read.
As time is ordinarily reckoned among men, nearly an en- tire generation has passed since you voluntarily enlisted in the service of your country. This act involved separation, for an indefinite period, from home and relatives and friends, from the affectionate associations of youth and the laudable aspirations of young men at a time of life when the most im- portant steps are usually taken. In short, this act involved a separation from all that men hold dearest on earth.
During the war you followed the flag in camp, on the march, in bivouac, in skirmish, and in battle, in a manner that entitles you to an honorable position among the Regi- ments that, in the grand aggregate, made up more than two millions of men enrolled and organized for the suppression of the rebellion.
The details and incidents of this service, the ups and downs of a soldier's life, from home back to home again, are por- trayed in this volume by one of our number. He took the field as a boy and returned a mature man, having been mean- while part and parcel of the scenes which he describes. The reading of these pages will make us all feel young again.
Since the termination of the war, and as consequent upon
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Introduction.
the questions thereby decided, the progress of our country in material and educational development has gone far beyond any previous period in our history. The former camping grounds of some of our Regiments are now the sites of thriv- ing towns, and busy populations engaged in all manner of peaceful pursuits are made up, in good proportion, of ex- soldiers. May we not, my comrades, without any undue exultation, congratulate ourselves upon these happy results?
When the chapters of this book shall be read aloud by the firesides of veterans, a majority of the listeners will, in many cases, be composed of persons born since the days of 1861-'65. Questions may be propounded by these young people that will trouble the veteran to fully answer.
The magnitude of the civil war was scarcely appreciated by those who participated in it. As a convenient historical point of comparison, the young people may be reminded, that our own state furnished more troops for the civil war than the total number employed on both sides in the ever mem- orable battle of Yorktown.
When the youth asks the veteran why he went to war, his answer is ever ready and easily understood. It was simply that the old flag should not be rent asunder.
Your Comrade,
WASHINGTON, D. C.
J. J. REYNOLDS.
CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION-WABASH-INDIANAPOLIS-LOUISVILLE- TWO DRUMMER BOYS.
(JULY-AUGUST, 1862.)
THE Seventy-fifth Regiment of Indiana Infantry Volun- teers was organized during the latter part of July and the first part of August, 1862, from Companies raised in the Eleventh Congressional District of Indiana. Many of the members, from the Colonels down to the privates, had expe- rienced previous service in the war for the Union. Joseph J. Reynolds had been a Lieutenant in the Fourth U. S. Artillery during the military occupation of Texas in 1846, Colonel of the Tenth Indiana Regiment in 1861, and a Brigadier-General of Volunteers before he became the first Colonel, by provi- sional appointment, of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment. Milton S. Robinson had been the Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forty-seventh Indiana Regiment, and William O'Brien and Cyrus J. McCole had been Captain and First Lieutenant re- spectively in the Twelfth Indiana Regiment before they filled the three highest field offices of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment. Among the line officers of the Regiment, who saw previous service, were Captains David H. Wall, who had been a First Lieutenant in the Thirty-fourth Indiana; Thomas A. Ellis, Mahlon H. Floyd, and Sanford R. Karnes, who served in the Twelfth Indiana; Lieutenants Harry H. Wheeler, who served in the Eighth Indiana; Cora C. Colburn, who served in the Sixthi Indiana, and Henry R. Leonard, Joseph Gwinn, and James A. Starbuck, who served in the Twelfth Indiana; Uriah Todd, who served in an Ohio regiment; and John B. Collins and William L. Philpott, who served in the war with
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
Mexico. Many of the enlisted men of the Regiment, who played an important part in the suppression of the great re- bellion, whose names are too numerous to mention here, had also previously passed through a process of military training. The majority of the men, who comprised the Roster of the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment, left comfortable homes and profitable professions, trades, and lines of business to volunteer their services to the country and flag.
Oliver P. Morton, the great "War Governor" of our State, at President Lincoln's call, July 2d, 1862, for 300,000 three- years' men, when the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment re- sponded, commissioned men in many counties of the State, with the rank of Second Lieutenant, to organize Companies. Several men who became officers in our Regiment had been thus previously commissioned. As a rule, those, who were largely instrumental in recruiting the respective Companies, became the original officers of the Regiment.
The most active and prominent men, who raised the Seventy-fifth Indiana Regiment, were General Joseph J. Reynolds, of Lafayette; the Hon. John U. Pettit, of Wabash; and Captain William O'Brien, of Noblesville.
As fully organized, the Regiment comprised the following field and line officers, with the non-commissioned officers of the Companies:
Colonels, Joseph J. Reynolds (provisional) and John U. Pettit; Lieutenant-Colonel, William O'Brien; Major, Cyrus J. McCole; Adjutant, James C. Medsker; Quartermaster, Calvin Cowgill; Chaplain, Orville B. Boyden; Surgeon, Christopher S. Arthur; Assistant-Surgeons, James B. White and Robert H. Buck.
The following are the organizations of the Companies:
"A" Company was recruited from all parts of Wabash county by Samuel Steele and others. On the 12th of July, the organization was completed in the City of Wabash by the election of Samuel Steele to the captaincy; Harry H. Wheeler and William H. Wilson were elected First and Second
13
of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Lieutenants; George F. Dutton was made Orderly Sergeant; Isaac N. McMillen, David Park, Eli Royer, and John W. Ply, became Sergeants; and Levi Rerrick, Henry James, Jesse W. Smith, Adolph Pairan, John W. Oliver, John Cassey, John Squires, and John Ohmart, were the Corporals. As the City of Wabash was to be the camp of rendezvous for the Regiment, this Company at once went into canıp here.
"B" Company was raised in the counties of Tipton and Clinton. From the former, Isaac H. Montgomery, Noah W. Parker, Wesley King, and Wesley Gates, recruited a number of men in Cicero township, and George L. Shaw was instru- inental in organizing a party of inen who came from Madison township. Thomas A. Ellis, John N. and Stanley Cooper, James and William J. Barnett, recruited the men from Jeffer- son township in Tipton, and Honey Creek township in Clin-
ton county. These different squads came together August 18th, at the town of Tipton, and organized into a Company by the election of Isaac H. Montgomery, as Captain; George L. Shaw, as First Lieutenant, and Noah W. Parker, as Second Lieutenant; Wesley Gates became Orderly Sergeant; Jefferson Montgomery, Wesley King, Thomas A. Ellis, Francis Coy, were the Sergeants; the Corporals were William A. Bouse, Duzan C. Evans, Willianı Simmons, Jolın P. Wagaman, James A. Frazier, Nelson J. Justice, Alpheus N. Rood, and Benj. J. Allen.
"C" Company was composed of men from Howard county, whom Francis M. Bryant, James C. Medsker, Daniel D. Downs, and Irwin Polson organized into a Company. The organization was effected at Kokomo about the middle of July by the election of Francis M. Bryant, Captain; James C. Medsker, First Lieutenant, and Daniel D. Downs, Second Lieutenant. James C. Medsker became the Adjutant of the Regiment on the 21st of August, at Indianapolis, and Irwin Polson was elected Second Lieutenant, vice D. D. Downs, promoted to First Lieutenant. The non-commissioned offi- cers were Orderly Sergeant, Samuel W. Payne; Sergeants,
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
Irwin Polson, Jacob Lair, Abraham Payton, Samuel R. Mc- Clure; and Corporals, Samuel O. Smith, James Oldham, Arland O. D. Kelley, Thomas P. Henderson, Hayden H. Rayborn, Walter Scott Reeder, Edward Arnett, and Mark Cox.
"D" Company was raised entirely by Cyrus J. McCole, who subsequently became the Major of the Regiment. This Company was from Hamilton county, principally from No- blesville township. The election of officers, at which time the organization of the Company was completed, was held on the 29th day of July. Cyrus J. McCole, John H. Butler, and John Bauchert were elected Captain, First and Second Lieu- tenant, in the order named. The non-commissioned officers consisted of Cincinnatus B. Williams, Orderly Sergeant; William A. Wainwright, Anthony M. Conklin, Marion W. Essington, and John Lutz, Sergeants; William H. William- son, Adam Miesse, Elisha Mills, William E. Hardy, Richard J. Burns, Ananias Thompson, John R. Leonard, and Lewis I). Pickerell, Corporals.
"E" Company was recruited from Huntington and Wells counties-principally from the former. Governor Morton had previously made Jacob S. Goshorn, a Second Lieutenant for the purpose. The men were generally from the towns of Huntington and Warren, and the townships of Clear Creek, Rock Creek, Union, Salamonie and Jefferson, in Huntington county. J. S. Goshorn recruited the men from the town of Huntington and the northern part of the county; David H. Wall and George W. Goode raised the 11u111- ber coming from the town of Warren and the southeast part of the county, and from Wells county. The Company was organized August Ist, in the town of Warren. David H. Wall, George W. Goode, and Jacob S. Goshorn, in the order named, were elected Captain, First and Second Lieutenants. The non-commissioned officers consisted of David L. Elliott, Orderly Sergeant; Abner D. Frame, Henry Wolfe, Enos Allman and Robert B. Beatty, Sergeants;
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
Kilbourne F. Way, George W. Hallman, James Hixon, David M. Pugh, John Braden, William M. Irwin, Vestal C. Shaw and Harvey Nevins, Corporals.
"F" Company was recruited from Jay county. Abraham C. Rush was commissioned a Second Lieutenant to raise the Company. The most of the inen in the Company, however, were recruited by Christopher S. Arthur. John S. Stanton was also instrumental in securing men for the Company. The Company was organized on the 31st day of July by the election of Christopher S. Arthur as Captain, John S. Stan- ton and Abraham C. Rush as First and Second Lieutenants, respectively. Captain C. S. Arthur became the Surgeon of the Regiment. The non-commissioned officers were Orderly Sergeant, Jesse T. Underwood; Sergeants, Guisbert W. McGriff, Joseph Lewis, John Hardy, Jr. and Oliver H. P. Hammitt; Corporals, Henry V. Walling, Henry Getz, John P. Boyd, David Henry, Solomon Dehuff, James Stewart, William Arbrough and Charles E. Bennett. "F" was the first Company to arrive at Wabash for the organization of the Regiment. No preparations for the accommodation of the men had yet been made, and they were quartered in the old Fair grounds, until other arrangements were made, and the arrival of other Companies.
"G" Company was raised in Madison county, principally from the townships of Pipe Creek, Boone and Lafayette. Josephr T. Smith was commissioned a Second Lieutenant by Governor Morton to raise the Company. He had associated with him in this work, John B. Frazer, William L. Philpott, John W. Chamness, Samuel H. Carr, George M. Overshiner and William J. Hilligoss. On the 28th of July, the Company was organized at Quincy (Elwood,) by the election of Joseph T. Smith, Captain, Jolın B. Frazer, First Lieutenant, and William L. Philpott, Second Lieutenant. This Company had but one Captain during the entire service. The non-com- missioned officers consisted of Orderly Sergeant, Samuel H. Carr; Sergeants, William J. Hilligoss, George M. Over-
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
shiner, Joel W. McMahan and John W. Chamness; Cor- porals, Stephen Metcalf, Ransome D. Boyden, George N. Hilligoss, Daniel H. Clymer, James Reeder, James E. Powell, Luther C. Harman and Abner W. Ross.
"H" Company was recruited in Huntington county from the townships of Jackson, Union, Huntington and Dallas. William O. Jones, William McGinness and John B. Collins were instrumental in raising the Company. On August 6th, at Wabash, these men were made Captain, First and Second Lieutenants, in the order in which their names here appear. The non-commissioned officers of the Company were the following: Orderly Sergeant, William M. Wilkerson; Ser- geants, William Riley, Edmund B. Hays, Abner A. Kelsey, Atchison Smith; Corporals, Sylvester Strock, Peter Mulrine, John Kincade, George W. Iler, John Bunnel, Jonathan L. Wilkerson, Hayman Klingel and Doctor F. Fultz.
CAPTAIN MAHLON H. FLOYD.
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
"I" Company was raised in Hamilton county, principally by Mahlon H. Floyd, who had been commissioned by Gov- ernor Morton, as Second Lieutenant, for the purpose. "War meetings" were held in the northern, southern and eastern parts of the county. Thomas J. Peed and James W. Richardson recruited quite large squads of men in the vicinity of Strawtown and Clarksville. Nehemiah Brooks obtained some men for the Company at Walpole. The men came from the townships of Wayne, White River, Fall Creek and Jack- son1. On the 5th day of August the Company was organized at Noblesville, by the election of Mahlon H. Floyd, Thomas J. Peed and James W. Richardson, as Captain, First and Second Lieutenants in the order named. Though he received a commission as Major, Captain Floyd remained with his Company to the close of the war. The non-commissioned offi- cers were Henry R. Leonard, Orderly Sergeant; Cora C. Col- burn, William Lee Granger, Nehemiah Brooks, and Thomas A. Rambo, Sergeants; Joseph Gwinn, John W. Richardson, David B. Floyd, Jacob Lennington, Edward Good, John Sperry, Edward Wood and William Reynolds, Corporals.
"K" Company was recruited from Wells and Blackford counties, by Sanford R. Karnes, James A. Starbuck, Uriah Todd, William B. Miller and John Ryan. The Company was organized, August 8th, at Bluffton, by the election of Sanford R. Karnes, as Captain, and James A. Starbuck as First Lieutenant. The election of a Second Lieutenant was deferred until the Company arrived at Wabash. The vacancy was there filled on the 10th, by placing Uriah Todd in the position. This Company had only one Captain and one First Lieutenant during its term of service. The non-com- missioned officers comprised the following: Benjamin F. Wiley, Orderly Sergeant; Jacob V. Kenagy, John Ryan, Samuel Buckmaster, Jolın T. Cartwright, Sergeants; Levi R. Routh, William B. Miller, Levi Keagle, Charles Mority, Calvin W. Beardsley, James W. Spake, Francis N. Kellogg and Adam Haines, Corporals.
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History of the Seventy-fifth Regiment
As soon as the organization of the respective Companies was completed, they proceeded to Wabash, where they were organized into the Regiment. The camp of rendezvous embraced four or five acres of timbered ground on the side of a hill, which gradually descended to beautiful springs at the bottom. It was a half mile south of Wabash, on the south bank of the river, along the turnpike leading to Mount Vernon. It was owned at the time by Mr. Allen W. Smith.
By August 10th, all the Companies had arrived. March- ing orders came on the morning of the 18th. The Regiment was to proceed to Indianapolis for inuster into the United States service. The bustle of preparation was mingled with the farewell of loved ones. Long before the hour of departure, the men sang patriotic songs of joyfulness. About seven o'clock the Regiment marched to the depot, where box-cars were waiting to convey us to the place of muster. An im- mense crowd gathered to see us off .. When we were "all aboard," passing out of the depot, we were greeted with shouts of good cheer by the assembled citizens.
Our route to the State Capital was via Peru and Indian- apolis Railway, through Howard, Tipton and Hamilton counties, which furnished Companies B, C, D, and I, of the Regiment, and of course, inany of the men of these Com- panies passed through their homes, which they had left only a few days before.
The eagerness on the part of the citizens along the route "to greet and welcome the boys," who were on their way to the seat of war, was unprecedented. At every home-how- ever humble-the windows and housetops were decorated with the flag of the Nation. Relatives, friends and ac- quaintances laid aside the duties of the day, and resorted to the towns and depots along the way. They were deter- mined to give the defenders of their homes and firesides, a good send-off. Men, women and children by the thousands congregated at Kokomo, Tipton, and Noblesville with bas-
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of Indiana Infantry Volunteers.
kets of provisions, with which they fed the soldiers. In some instances, mementos were presented to the men, who carried them to the Southern camps and battle-fields, and a few of these mementos found their way into Southern prisons.
There was a peculiar vein of sadness running through all this joy. Aged parents, with tearful eyes, bending over their young sons, and bidding them, with a "God bless you,"' go into the tented field to expose their lives for their country, was a peculiarly sad expression of attachment for both the sons and the Nation. Many of these "boys in blue" for the last time looked cheerily into the eyes, grasped the hands, and impressed the kiss of affection upon the cheeks of parents, wives, sisters and sweethearts. The scene, however, was a cloud in the midst of sunshine, which soon disappeared.
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