USA > Indiana > A History of Indiana from its exploration to 1922 > Part 24
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With the gradual weeding out of many newspapers during the years, the city is now fortunate in the possession of its three great daily papers. Few fields of endeavor are so highly competitive as that of journalism, and that a newspaper has survived through a consider- able period is proof positive that it does an appreciated public service, that its policies are true to the principles of honor, and that it is not sensational or "yellow." The newspapers of Evansville are clean, and as such are able to do, as they do, enormous good for the public.
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MILITARY
The record of Vanderburgh county in the wars which have en- gaged the attention of the United States is filled with heroic deeds on the field of battle and noble sacrifices on the part of those who were compelled to remain at home. The War of 1812 found the few inhabi- tants of the county eager for military service, and a number of them volunteered with Gen. William Henry Harrison. With his forces they made the arduous journey northward through Indiana to fight the historic battle of Tippecanoe. Others journeyed southward, and en- gaged the British troops at New Orleans with General Jackson.
Mexican War. By the year 1846, the county was well established, and had a sufficient population to warrant its participation in the Mex- ican war as a definite unit. Sentiment ran high at Evansville and throughout the rural districts, and two companies were quickly re- cruited. One hundred men under Captain William Walker left Evans- ville on June 7, 1846 for New Albany, Indiana, where they received transportation to the battle zone. At the battle of Buena Vista this company, and also Company K, Second Indiana Infantry, under Cap- tain Tucker, another Evansville unit, fought with greatest bravery. Captain Walker met a hero's death on the field. At the conclusion of the struggle, the Vanderburgh troops were returned to their homes, a credit to their state and country.
Civil War. The war for the preservation of the Union, in which over three million men were engaged on both sides, endured from April 12, 1861 to April 9, 1865, and in this gigantic conflict Vander- burgh county men played no small part. Lying on the border line between the north and the south, Evansville was in a dangerously ex- posed position, and being so close to the south, with which for decades the warmest sympathy and closest relations had been maintained, there were those among the citizens who viewed with displeasure the open breach between the two sections of the country. However, when it was realized that the flag of the Union was in danger, most of these disaffected men rallied to the northern arms, and did their part that the nation might live.
On April 16, 1861, there appeared in the Evansville Journal a num- ber of articles which showed the spirit of the city : "We publish a large amount of news today that will thrill the community like an electric shock. The glorious old flag of the Union is in danger, and the loyal masses are rising, like the billows of the ocean, to defend it. The same spirit is rife in Evansville. Although there may be work to do right at home, our citizens will be on hand if needed. They yield to none in practical love for the Union.
"Men are, or soon will be, divided into Unionists or Disunionists. Recent events have drawn the line of demarcation plainly. We must
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be for the Union or against it. There is no middle ground. They that are not for the Union are against it.
"It cannot be denied that we have many secession-sympathizers amongst us, and when we hear of the enthusiastic and almost unani- mous expressions of devotion to the Government in other places we feel shame in recording the fact. But the truth may as well be known, so all can make their calculations accordingly. To what extent this feeling prevails we cannot at present know, but a few days will tell the tale."
With the first call for volunteers, it became apparent that the civil- ian population would have to bend every effort toward supplying the soldiers with those articles of clothing and equipment necessary to keep troops in health and high spirit. On April 19th, Mayor Baker received a dispatch from Quartermaster General Thomas A. Morris at Indian- apolis requesting that Evansville might send all the blankets and com- forts she could spare to Indianapolis immediately for the use of the volunteers. Notices were got out by four o'clock, the dispatch not having arrived until noon, and a room provided for the reception of the articles. They soon commenced rolling in with astonishing rapid- ity, and by nine o'clock at night five hundred had been received, a number which was increased by a hundred the next morning. Twelve dry goods boxes of stuff were sent off to Indianapolis.
On the same day, the mechanics of Evansville held a meeting, and resolved to manufacture, man and equip two or more cannon for the defense of the city. The following men were appointed to solicit sub- scriptions from the citizens : John W. Thompson, John J. Hays, Peter V. Applegate, Walter Smith, Charles Schroeder, George Seeman and John L. Reynolds, and another meeting was held on the following evening at the Franklin Engine House to discuss the plans further.
By this time the Crescent City Guards were well advanced in their recruiting, Captain Noah S. Thompson, commanding, and this unit also 'felt the need of equipment. The Journal, which was enthusiasti- cally supporting every measure conceived for aiding the Union cause, carried in its issue of April 20th, the following appeal under the head "Clothe Your Volunteers:" "In other places where volunteer com- panies are raised they are furnished with uniforms by the citizens. Dr. Thompson's company ought to be furnished by our citizens. Who will start the subscription? No time is to be lost. The brave volun- teers who offer to go to defend the American flag ought to be supplied with comfortable clothing." Apparently this appeal was heeded, and two days later it was reported that the women of Evansville were buy- ing Sharpe rifles for the men to carry.
American flags were in great demand. They went up in all parts of the city. One, twenty-nine feet long, was bought and paid for by the teachers and pupils of the Lower School House and flung to the breeze on the building.
As is usual in war times, the unsettled conditions of the municipal government brought about a certain amount of lawlessness. Many of the men of the city were already engaged in military duties, and
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others were working night and day on various plans for the support of the troops. To curb the operations of such offenders against law and decency, a home guard unit, composed of older and reputable citi- zens, was organized to patrol the city. A short time later, on the 22d of April the Frontier Guard was organized to perform such duties in the third and fourth wards and across the canal as the "present crisis requires" and was pledged to place itself at the disposal of the city authorities. The officers of the Frontier Guard were: Captain John A. Haney, First Lieutenant William H. Klusman, Second Lieu- tenant James McKeever, Third Lieutenant Ben Niehaus.
The common council on April 23d adopted a resolution to remain friendly in so far as possible with Henderson, Owensboro and other nearby towns in Kentucky, an act which did much to settle the unrest along the river and permit Evansville to give its undivided attention to the larger war measures.
That there was considerable trouble from disaffected members of the citizenry is evidenced by the fact that soon another home guard unit, called the Night Police of Elliott's Enlargement and Vicinity, was organized on the 24th under Captain George Clinger, First Lieutenant Philip Hoffman and Second Lieutenant Daniel Miller.
The men who had volunteered for regular military service were many of them camped at the Fair Grounds, and on the 27th of April, a number of women met to make arrangements for furnishing them with flannel shirts and other articles.
The county commissioners had by this time voted $15,000 for the defense of the county and city in the expectation that the city would give $5,000. The city authorities delayed voting the money until pub- lic indignation ran high. A public meeting was held on the 27th at the Fourth street market to urge the administration to delay no longer, and under this pressure the money was promptly voted. The mayor was authorized by the council to buy all the powder and lead in the city, and plans for the city's defense went forward. The Branch bank gave $1,000 toward the same cause, the Gas company gave $100, as did Mrs. Octavia Lewis, and other smaller gifts of money were made. The city asked Governor Morton for supplies for the defense of its exposed position, and while the newspapers of cities "up-state" were inclined to think Evansville was too apprehensive of danger, the need for preparedness was indubitably there.
For the first month of war, Ohio river traffic had been undisturbed, but since the river was a highway for carrying supplies of war from the north to the south, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase ordered that all boats be searched for contraband of war by customs officials. The river front promptly became the local seat of war.
In order that Evansville's position and actions might better be understood throughout the state, much of which seemed to be laboring under the opinion that this city was a nest of secessionists, the editor of the Journal printed a fair estimate of the situation here :
"Our patriotism finds vent in practical undertakings. Situated in the extreme south of the state, with our interests and business relations
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almost exclusively in the south, the attack on Fort Sumter, neverthe- less, convinced our people that the time for action had arrived; that sacrifices had to be made; and if they expected to maintain their free institutions, they must rally to the defense of their flag. Fully aware of their exposed situation, and placing no confidence in the ability of the Union men of Kentucky to prevent the traitors in that state from dragging it into the revolution, and investigation disclosed the still more alarming fact that our people were totally unarmed and unpre- pared for a sudden attack. With this condition of things staring them in the face, they had but little time for patriotic display, and they promptly adopted the wiser course of organizing and getting ready for the conflict. Although hundreds of our mechanics have been thrown out of employment, with large families dependent upon them, and our business men have seen their business ruined-still no murmur of complaint do we hear. On the contrary, the cause seems to become dearer to them in proportion to the sacrifices they make in its behalf. Upon no part of the people of the state has the storm burst with such fury as upon laboring and business men of Evansville."
Captain Thompson's Company, the "Crescent City Guards," was presented with a large flag by the women of the city, and a large number of these women organized themselves to furnish uniforms for the men. They appointed a committee, composed of Mrs. A. G. Hub- bell, Mrs. R. C. Jones and Mrs. R. M. Crosby, to raise money with which to buy uniform cloth in Cincinnati. The cloth procured, they measured the men and made the uniforms. In many other ways were the good people of the county contributing to the comforts of the sol- diers, as is witnessed by two letters published in the Journal on May 25 and June 3 respectively.
"Camp Wallace, May 23, 1861.
"Editor Journal,-Sir :- Allow us, through the columns of the Journal, (ever a welcome visitor in our camp) to return our most sincere thanks to the generous and accomplished Mrs. Mary Eaton, of your city, for her most timely present-a large basket of the very best bread, warm from the oven. Timely, because we were about sitting down to our dinner minus bread, owing to some neglect of mistake of our com- missary.
Co. H. 11th Indiana Regiment." "Camp Wallace, May 30, 1861.
"Editor Journal-Allow me, in behalf of the sick soldiers, to express their most hearty thanks to the ladies and gentlemen of Evansville, who have visited and furnished them with the many comforts and deli- cacies that have been so timely and bountifully provided ; such acts of kindness cannot be too highly appreciated and will never be forgotten. Thomas W. Fry,
Surgeon, 11th Regiment Indiana Volunteers"
But that all was not quite peaceful along the Ohio, was shown by a notification from the Surveyor of Customs office at Evansville of
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about the same time, June 6, 1861, in which, through the columns of the Journal, the city was warned in the following manner : "Sir : Per- mit me, in a friendly manner, to notify the citizens of Evansville, that the law will, hereafter, be rigidly enforced against all persons who may be guilty of selling or supplying the enemies of our government with arms, munitions of war, provisions of every kind, or other supplies which can give them aid and comfort.
"I have reliable information that some of our citizens have here- tofore been entirely too careless and imprudent, in making sales of different articles, especially of arms ; some of which have gone directly into the hands of our enemies.
A. L. Robinson, Surveyor of Customs."
On June 24th a large crowd assembled on First street in front of Mozart Hall to witness the presentation of a flag to the Turner Rifle Company, composed largely of Germans, by lady admirers. The flag was presented by Miss Pfafflin, and that evening a ball was given by the Turners.
On July 17th, a picnic dinner at Camp Wallace was given. The camp ground, occupied by the 12th Indiana Regiment, was crowded with citizens of Evansville, who came with overflowing baskets, and at noon they set out an elaborate dinner for the "boys." After dinner a speech was made by John Ingle, Esq., one of the leaders in all civil- ian war work, a much admired citizen, and one who did much toward the successful prosecution of the Union war aims. The dinner and exercises were projected by Mrs. Keen, Mrs. Wells, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Dr. Sawyer.
On August 22, 1861, a relief meeting of the citizens of Evansville was held at Mozart Hall for the purpose of devising a plan of relieving the destitute families of volunteers. The results of the meeting were worthy of those who engaged in it, and indicative of the great truth that the heart of this city beat for the Union. It was a working meet- ing ; no long speeches, no buncomb harrangues, but earnest work. The following gentlemen, from the different wards, were appointed as com- mittees to solicit subscriptions for the relief of the destitute:
First Ward-Charles Babcock, Dr. Hallock, J. S. Hopkins. Second Ward-G. W. McBride, A. Cumberts, John Wymond. Third Ward-C. Decker, J. A. Birkinbush, Samuel Orr. Fourth Ward-William Heilman, E. Q. Smith, John Gerhard. Fifth Ward-A. Reis, Clem Reitz, John Spear.
Sixth Ward-R. Kehr, V. Bisch, Chris. Miller.
Seventh Ward-Arch. Sullivan, Dr. Grumm, H. Jones. Eighth Ward -- J. A. Haney, E. Fenehler, J. H. Roelker. Ninth Ward-P. Hornbrook, J. F. Glover, M. Mentzer. Suburbs-Maj. Robinson, L. Olmsted, G. Wolflin.
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The plea of President Lincoln that the citizens of the Union organ- ize by states for the purpose of taking care of destitute families of soldiers and sailors, hospital relief, supplying soldiers with necessities and comforts in the field, came at about this time, and resulted in the formation of the Indiana Sanitary Commission. This commission assumed complete control of all civilian war work, and was efficiently organized in all its departments. Each county in the state was or- ganized with local officers as units of the state commission. In Van- derburgh county, men and women were assigned as workers in the various departments to make clothing, hospital supplies, collect sub- scriptions for destitute relief work, and kindred works, and the iden- tity of Vanderburgh county was submerged into that of the State Sani- tary Commission for the rest of the war. It cannot now be certainly determined in what quantities supplies of all kinds and money were raised by the people here, for the supplies were forwarded to Indian- apolis in the main for distribution as the commission saw fit, but there is no doubt that during the four long years through which the clouds of war hovered low over the people, the civilian war workers of Evans- ville and Vanderburgh county did an enormous amount of relief work, and brought cheer and fresh hope into many homes and hearts.
The purely military achievements of Vanderburgh county men have been described in much detail in previous publications, and here it will be merely necessary to give the names of the army units in which men of the county served. The records of the achievements of these various organizations have been preserved elsewhere, and are easy of access.
Men of Vanderburgh county were found in the following units of the Indiana military :
Company E, 14th I. V. I. was the official name of the Crescent City Guards, composed entirely of Evansville men under the command of Captain Noah S. Thompson, and was perhaps the best known unit from the city.
Eleventh Regiment. This regiment was recruited in Evansville and Vanderburgh county, although there were enlistments from near- by counties.
Companies C and F, 24th Indiana, were also recruited here.
First Battery Light Artillery, from this county.
25th Regiment, first under Col. W. H. Morgan and later under Col. James S. Wright, was composed entirely of Vanderburgh county men.
28th Regiment (First Indiana Cavalry). Eight companies of this regiment were from Vanderburgh county. The regiment was under Colonel Conrad Baker, later Governor of Indiana.
32d Regiment. This was a German regiment, and one of its com- panies, originally called the Turner Company of Evansville, was from this city. The regiment was organized at Indianapolis, and did heroic service throughout the war.
35th Regiment, recruited at Madison, Indiana, had about twenty men on its roster from Vanderburgh county.
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6th Battery Light Artillery was from Evansville. Captain Fred Behr was killed at Shiloh and Michael Mueller succeeded to the command.
42d Regiment. Company A was entirely from Vanderburgh county. The colonel of the regiment was James G. Jones, the lieuten- ant-colonel, Charles Denby, later colonel of the 80th Regiment. When he was transferred to the latter regiment, James M. Shanklin took his place with the 42d.
60th Regiment. This unit was partially organized here, and then ordered to Indianapolis before the completion of the recruiting. A few of its officers, including Dr. Madison J. Bray as regimental sur- geon, and many of the men came from Vanderburgh.
8th Battery Light Artillery had a number of officers and men from Evansville and the county.
65th Regiment. All but one company of this unit was mustered into the service at Evansville. Col. John W. Foster was its command- ing officer, and the record of the regiment fills one of the glorious pages in the annals of Indiana's war history.
78th Regiment (4th Cavalry). Company F was composed largely of Vanderburgh county men.
91st Regiment, known as "Col. Butterfield's Regiment," had seven of its companies raised in this county. The majority of the Vander- burgh men enlisted in Company G, but there were scattered enlist- ments in many of the other companies.
ยท 120th Regiment had a very few men from this county and one cap- tain, John M. Shimmerman, who commanded Company D.
125th Regiment (10th Cavalry) was recruited in 1863 at Vin- cennes. Lieutenant-colonel Thomas G. Williamson, a few other offi- cers and some men came from Vanderburgh county.
136th Regiment (100 day men) was composed principally of Van- derburgh county men, many of them well-known citizens, and was under the command of Col. John W. Foster.
Grand Army of the Republic. The Civil war stands unique among the wars of all times as being the only conflict by which both the vic- tor and the conquered were benefitted, and that its memory has been , kept so green has been largely due to the effort of that high and noble organization, the Grand Army of the Republic. Founded in 1866 by Major Benjamin F. Stephenson at Decatur, Illinois, the Grand Army was organized to keep alive in the breasts of its members, and the citizenry at large, those principles of patriotism and liberty for which the war was waged. Farragut Post No. 27, Department of Indiana, was organized at Evansville as one of the earliest of the Grand Army posts to come into existence. It has done inestimable service to the community. It has fostered patriotic impulses in the hearts of the people, and through its many activities has done much toward the uni- fication of the country.
World War. It is impossible to state with certainty the exact num- ber of men who joined the armed forces of the United States during
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FIRST VOLUNTEERS FOR WORLD WAR DRILLING IN FRONT OF COURT HOUSE
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HISTORY OF VANDERBURGH COUNTY
the World war, for, while there were certain definite units composed of Evansville and Vanderburgh county boys, there were a great num- ber of miscellaneous enlistments in the army, navy and marine corps. Voluntary enlistments made in other than local military units were not systematically recorded as were enlistments under the selective draft.
However, in a book entitled "Sons of Men," compiled by Heiman Blatt, formerly of the Evansville public schools, a list of approximately four thousand service men and women from Evansville and the county is given, and it may be assumed that this list is very nearly, if not quite, correct.
Gold Star List. Those men of Vanderburgh county and Evansville who gave their lives in the cause are here recorded : Lloyd C. Acker- man, Ernest Scott Atkinson, John S. Barnes, Orville Brack, Thomas A. Brown, Everett Burdette, Paul Chamier, Dan Cheaney, Clyde Sam- uel Collins, Elwood Digby Colton, John Arthur Crofts, Oscar Dannen- berg, Herman Daum, John Debold, Orville Demick, Isadore Drucker, Wesley Edwards, Russell Fenn, Lester Fisher, Charles Flack, James T. Foley, Walter Henry Folz, Albert Craig Funkhouser, Paul Taylor Funkhouser, Russell Goad, Leo Goelzhauser, William L. Gowers, James Bethel Gresham, Alfred K. Gymer, Elmer S. Harper, Fred Hassler, William J. Hayden, Cleveland Hicks, George A. Hunt, William Allen Jones, Albert T. Kemmerling, George H. Kirker, George Koonce, Walter L. Krusenklaus, Warren E. Labry, Thomas Edwin Land, William Joseph Lappe, Emmanuel O. Leberer, Wilbur W. Linder, Austin Lee Loer, Roy L. Loewenthal, Benjamin Jacob Lueken, Odus E. McFadden, Judson McGrew, Roy McSwane, Wil- bert D. Macer, John C. Martin, Edward E. Mosby, Frederick G. My- ler, Ernest James Osborne, Verner Bretz Parker, Eugene Pate, Ralph C. Patterson, Albert J. Paul, Albert Jackson Perkins, Ora L. Perry, Mason Potts, Frank Powell, Grover C. Reid, Thomas Robson, George John Saner, Frank Schaeffer, Crawford Schofield, Edwar Schwear, Chester E. Schulz, Lee D. Sly, William Orville Steinbrook, Charles F. Stoermer, Charles E. Straker, John Boswell Torian, August Carl Tur- pen, Douglas Viele, Carl Frederick Vogel, Charles Waddle, John Webster, William A. Wells, Emmit White, Donald Williamson, Elijah W. Worsham.
The above list is compiled from the aforementioned "Sons of Men."
James Bethel Gresham, of Evansville, was the first American sol- dier to give his life, and sensible to the honor which this sacrifice sheds upon the city, Evansville has bestowed "Gresham House," a beautiful home at the edge of Garvin park, upon his mother, in memory of and in recognition of her heroic son.
Similar in purposes and aims to the Grand Army of the Republic, the American Legion, an organization of ex-service men in the United States has come into existence. At Evansville, Funkhouser Post, De- partment of Indiana, American Legion, had its inception on January 5, 1919 at a mass meeting in the Memorial Coliseum. At that time Marshal Foch Post, No. 1, World War Veterans of America, was formed, but failing to get a national charter, this organization affili-
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ated with the American Legion on June 13, 1919, with Noble J. John- son as its first commander. Morris Levi had been the commander of the Post as the War Veterans.
Red Cross. With the beginning of the World war, the American Red Cross took immediate steps to do that relief work which would become necessary under the exigencies of war. New chapters of the organization sprang into existence throughout the country almost over night, campaigns for members were made everywhere, and almost the entire civil population was banded together in workable units for the production of garments, hospital supplies, etc.
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