USA > Indiana > A history of the National Guard of Indiana, from the beginning of the militia system in 1787 to the present time, including the services of Indiana troops in the war with Spain > Part 12
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The start to Alum Cave on Tuesday morning, June 5, could not be made until about 9 o'clock, as the partially burned bridge had to be repaired before the heavy military train could pass over it in safety. This delay enabled the
CAPT. CARROLL B. CARR ORD. OFF. I. S. A. P.
MAJOR H. L. HUTSON CHIEF QUARTERMASTER
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detachment of Battery A, of Indianapolis, with the Gatling gun, under command of Captain Curtis, which had been or- dered from Cannellsburg, to reach the main body of troops.
Company M, of Indianapolis, of the Second, was left at the partially burned bridge, to guard it until the military train should return, and Company F, of Brazil, of the First, was left to guard a series of high trestles some distance farther on. The coal cars at Miller's Switch were still burn- ing, so that it was impossible for the military train to pass, and the troops were disembarked there. A heavy guard was detailed and the remainder of the troops started to march to Alum Cave. The formation was in double line, extended order, and reached about three-quarters of a mile on each side of the railroad. Colonel John W. Ebel, of the First, was in command of the right wing, and Colonel James R. Ross, of the Second, of the left wing.
The outer flank of each wing was well advanced, forming a half circle, and thus the march over the rough country was made. Alum Cave was entirely surrounded and the com- munity was brought within the lines. The intervals were contracted, and within this circle of soldiers the deputy sheriffs looked for those for whom they had warrants. But one arrest was made, as all for whom warrants were out had been warned and were in hiding. The one man arrested was later released, as he was not the one wanted, although he bore the same name.
The return march to the train was made with great cau- tion, as it was reported the miners would attempt an am- bush. An advance guard was formed and flankers were sent out on both sides, as the rough nature of the country made it advantageous for an ambush. Before the train was reached, a heavy, cold rain commenced to fall and the troops were drenched when they reached the cars. Fires were made and the train was run back to Farmersburg, the trestle and bridge guards having been taken up. That point was reached about 5 o'clock and a detached post was established there. Companies A, of Vincennes; B, of Terre Haute, and F, of Brazil, of the First, were detailed to remain there, and were placed under the command of Colonel John W. Ebel. This force consisted of 146 officers and men. The balance of the troops returned to Shelburn, which was the headquarters until June 10, and Colonel James R. Ross was placed in com- mand.
Colonel Ebel at once established his post and posted guards. The branch was patrolled as far as Alum Cave and
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the lines were extended along the main track as far as the graveyard. where they met those extended from Shelburn. The night was not to be one of quiet, however, as about one o'clock in the morning some of the sentries fired a few shots at persons who were throwing stones at the train. The firing was heard at Shelburn, and Colonel Ross at once ordered two companies under Major E. P. Thayer, of the Second, to go to the assistance of the Farmersburg post. It was impossible to communicate with Colonel Ebel by telegraph, as the opera- tor at Farmersburg telegraphed the train dispatcher at Ev- ansville that the military train had been fired upon and at- tacked by miners, and then he fled from his post.
This report was repeated to Colonel Ross and the two companies were on their way in twelve minutes. As soon as Major Thayer arrived he opened communication with Colonel Ross, and an engine and three coaches were sent to return his command. The same night several stones were thrown at the train at Shelburn and a number of shots were fired by the sentries. One of the stones struck a member of Battery A, after it had struck the ground, and injured him slightly.
On Wednesday, June 6, Company D, of Indianapolis, of the Second, under command of Captain H. T. Conde, was sent as far south as Carlisle, to escort a coal train through. The men were concealed in the cars so that, if the train should be stopped, they might arrest the parties interfering with the traffic. They remained on the train until it reached Pimento, but it was not interfered with. That night, and on all sub- sequent nights, a strong picket line was posted some distance from the sentries near the train, and there was less annoy- ance from the throwing of coal, bricks or other missiles. During the days scouting parties were sent out in all direc- tions to prevent the congregating of miners in numbers and to distract attention from the civil officers, who were serving warrants. These parties were also instructed to make maps of the country, and some of the sketches submitted showed superior talent. Company A, of the Second, covered the entire country from Shelburn to Sullivan, making the fifteen miles in four hours and a half.
The post at Cannellsburg, under Major Rockwood, was the quietest one established, and the only incident that prom- ised to break the monotony was about 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. A few of the disorderly element at Montgomery, about two and a half miles east of the post, compelled the crew of one of the trains to set out on the siding four cars
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of coal. Requests were received from the deputy sheriffs for assistance, but as the main track was not interfered with Major Rockwood declined to take the troops out until morn- ing. The next morning the civil officers took the cars out without opposition of any kind. The post was maintained until Saturday, June 9, when the detachment of Battery A on duty there was ordered to Shelburn, and Company I, of the First, was ordered home to Greencastle, and Company F, of the Fourth, was ordered home to Aurora.
The Shelburn post was the only one to enjoy any excite- ment. On Wednesday night, June 6, two companies were sent three miles south of Shelburn, as it was reported the miners intended to burn bridges, and the following night the train was again stoned, causing the sentinels to fire. The scouting parties were then sent from three to eight miles out during the day, and there was no more trouble from that source.
The people of Shelburn were chagrined that the presence of troops was necessary to prevent violations of the law, and a meeting was held. It was agreed that they would see that the law was upheld, and a committee was appointed to confer with the military authorities. On this guarantee of the citizens Company D, of the First, and one Gattling gun detachment of Battery A were ordered to Farmersburg, and the remainder of the troops was moved to Sulivan on Sunday, June 10.
Colonel Ebel partially suspended camp routine that day and nearly his entire command attended church in the vil- lage. On the following Wednesday he received tents and other equipage and a regular camp was established, which was a great relief.
A reduction of force was commenced on Monday, June 11, at the Shelburn post. On that day Companies E, of Evans- ville, and K, of Princeton, of the First, and D and M, of In- dianapolis, of the Second. and M, of Indianapolis, of the Third. were ordered to their homes. On the following Friday, June 15, Company G, of Jeffersonville, of the First, was or- dered home. Two days later Companies A, of Vincennes, and B, of Terre Haute, of the First, with Colonel Ebel and his staff. were sent home, and the remainder of the troops at Farmersburg were ordered to join the main body at Sullivan and the Farmersburg post was abandoned. On June 20, Com- panies C, of New Albany, and D, of Washington, of the First, were relieved and sent home, and the following day Governor Matthews recalled all troops. Those at that time on duty
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were Company F, of Brazil, of the First; Companies A, of Indianapolis, and C, of Anderson, of the Second, and the two detachments of Battery A. Camp was broken at 10 in the morning and the troops were embarked, but word was re- ceived from Star City that the miners who had gone to work there had been compelled to quit work, and the train was held until the middle of the afternoon under orders of the Circuit Judge. No violence was feared, and the troops started home, each company reaching its home by evening.
The second tour of active duty for the summer was in the northern part of the State and called out many of those companies which had not served in the coal troubles. The great American Railway Union strike caused its greatest outbreak of violence in Chicago, and the traffic on all roads was suspended. The interference with the movement of the mails caused the United States government to send troops to Chicago, and the trouble overflowed into Indiana. The seat of the greatest disturbance in Indiana was at Hammond, and the sheriff of Lake County sent repeated requests for troops. The situation became so threatening that on the morning of July S, 1894, Governor Matthews ordered fifteen companies and a Gatling gun squad to be mobilized at Ham- mond.
Orders were issued to Colonel J. K. Gore, of the Third, and Colonel G. W. Gunder, of the Fourth, to go to Hammond with their commands. General Robbins left Indianapolis at 3:30 with his staff. stores for 750 men and a detachment from Battery A. of Indianapolis. At Tipton, Company F, of El- wood, of the Second, and Company G, of Muncie, of the Fourth, were taken on board. Company L, of Kokomo, and Company B, of Lebanon, of the Second, joined the train at Rochester. Colonel Gunder. of the Fourth, had left Marion at 5 in the afternoon. with Company A, of Marion, of the Fourth, and en route he took up Companies D, of Wabash, and E, of Bluffton, all of the Fourth, and joined the troops with General Robbins at Rochester. At North Judson, Com- pany H, of Knox, of the Second, joined the forces and the train was run to Griffith, ten miles south of Hammond.
Colonel Gore received his orders about noon and left Elk- hart at 4:45. With him were Companies C, of Goshen, and E, of Elkhart, of the Third, and he took on board at South Bend, Company F, of that city. and at Laporte, Company L. Com- pany A, of Bremen, and Company D), of Plymouth, of the Third, and Company H, of Warsaw, of the Fourth, joined him at Chrisman, but by reason of confusion in orders by the
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railroad officials, the train did not reach Griffiths until about 3 a. m. General Robbins had held his train until the arrival of Colonel Gore, and his troops, and the combined force num- bered 750 men.
The train was run to Hammond with great care, and that city was reached about 4 a. m.
The troops were debarked, with the exception of the artil- lery. The Gatling gun was placed on a coal car in front of the engine, and the troops marched to the center of the city, accompanied by the train and the Gatling. The streets were vacated, with the exception of a large force of policemen and three companies of United States troops, which were with- drawn to Chicago as soon as the Indiana troops reached the scene.
The troops were at once posted so as to protect the de- pots, bridges and all other exposed places, and a camp was established on a triangular piece of sandy ground at the in- tersection of the railroads. Colonel G. W. Gunder, being the ranking colonel, was placed in command and the camp was named in his honor. Nearly all the men were engaged in the tiresome work of guard duty all the time. The only disturb- ance was on the night of July 11th, when the strikers burned a bridge of the Monon road over the Calumet river and one company was sent there to prevent further depredations. On that day trains were moved from Chicago and guard duty was required day and night.
There were outbreaks at Whiting and East Chicago, and Company F, of South Bend, of the Third, and Company B, of Lebanon, of the Second, were sent there under command of Major Feasor. Major Feasor was relieved July 13 by Major E. P. Thayer, of the Second, and on the evening of that day Company F, of Elwood, of the Second, was added to the force, having been moved from Roby. These troops assisted in the arrest of three men who were posting notices on the railroad property in violation of the injunction. Captain Skinner, of Company B, of Lebanon, of the Second, took com- mand of the post on July 17, but the following day Major W. I. Kiger, of the Fourth, was sent there with Company H. of Warsaw, of the Fourth, and Company B. of Ft. Wayne.
There was a change of troops on the 17th. The com- panies ordered to Hammond to relieve those on duty were Company G, of Covington, and I, of Crawfordsville, of the Second; B. of Decatur, of the Fourth; B, of Ft. Wayne; G ,of Rochester ; H, of Angola, and K, of Auburn, of the Third, and a section of Battery E, of Ft. Wayne. As soon as these com-
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panies reported, eleven were ordered home. Colonel Gunder was relieved of command and ordered home the same day, and Colonel Gore, of the Third, assumed command, while Major S. A. Bowman took command of the Third Regiment. Colonel Gore was in command but two days when Company E, of Elkhart, of the Third, was ordered home, and the Colonel accompanied it.
There was some little excitement at Whiting on the 19th. Company H, of Warsaw, of the Fourth, which had been on duty there, was ordered home, and late in the afternoon Major Kiger learned that the Standard Oil Company would pay about $21,000 that evening and that trouble might fol- low. He asked for reinforcements and Company K, of Au- burn, of the Third, was sent to him and arrived about dark. During the night the strikers cut the air-brakes on a cattle train which was passing through Whiting, and also pulled the coupling pins. The troops were called out and the com- panies were deployed up and down the tracks, one on each side of the train. Under this guard the train was started, and as soon as it had left the yards, squads of skirmishers were sent through the railroad yards and thirteen men were placed under arrest. Ten of them were tramps who had been stealing a ride, but two of them were identified as those who were pulling coupling pins. They were turned over to the United States authorities and sent to Hammond under arrest.
The heat was severe and scores of the men were over- come. On July 20, General Robbins was overcome and was compelled to return to Indianapolis. Major Bowman took command temporarily, and Colonel H. B. Smith, of the Sec- ond, was ordered to Hammond to take command of the force. When he reached Hammond the troops there were Compa- nies I, of Crawfordsville, and G, of Covington, of the Second; G, of Rochester, H, of Angola, and I, of Waterloo, of the Third; E, of Bluffton, of the Fourth, and Battery E, of Ft. Wayne; or a total of 288 men. Company L, of Kokomo, of the Second. was at East Chicago, and Companies B, of Ft. Wayne, and K, of Auburn, of the Third, at Whiting.
There was no trouble, and the work of reducing the force was commenced the next day. Company L, of Kokomo, of the Second, was ordered home first, and Company G, of Cov- ington, of the Second, was ordered to East Chicago. On July 24, Companies B. of Ft. Wayne, and G, of Rochester, of the Third. were sent home, and three days later Company I, of Crawfordsville, was ordered home. Orders were issued on
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Saturday morning, July 28, that the remainder of the troops should be sent home, and camp was broken and the tents packed. About noon orders were received to hold the troops at Hammond, but all had left except Company K, of Auburn, of the Third, and Battery E, of Ft. Wayne. These organiza- tions were held until Monday and were quartered in the coaches, as the tents had been packed.
The long strike by coal miners in 1897 did not result in a call for troops, although the troops were prepared to re- spond promptly. The exchange of prisoners between the the State Prison at Michigan City and the Reformatory at Jeffersonville on April 12, 1897, caused a detail of one officer and twenty-eight men to be made from Company D, of In- dianapolis, of the Second, and Company C, of New Albany, of the First, to guard the trains. The exchange was made without trouble and these were the only calls made on the military during the year.
The war with Spain called all out and is fully treated elsewhere. No other calls have been made which resulted in calling the troops out, although different companies have been notified to be in readiness to go. During 1899 there were three such instances. On April 13 theatened trouble by plate-glass workers at Alexandria caused warnings to be issued to the separate companies at Terre Haute, Frankfort and Indianapolis, and again, on July 26, when trouble was threatened between strikers and non-union colored miners near Evansville, the companies at Terre Haute, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Vincennes, Evansville, New Albany and Mad- ison, and Battery A were cautioned to be in readiness to re- spond, but the trouble was averted. The Indianapolis com- pany and Battery A were ordered to Peru on August 9 to protect a prisoner threatened with lynching, but before they left their armories a message was received stating that the danger was passed. A special train had been provided to take the troops there, but it was not needed.
CHAPTER V.
STAFF ORGANIZATION AND SIGNAL WORK.
The commander-in-chief of the Guard, by virtue of the constitution, is the Governor, and his personal representa- tive, so far as the Guard is concerned, is the Adjutant-Gen- eral. The Governor also appoints a military staff, the mem- bers of which are given ranks ranging from brigadier-gen- eral to major. These titles are to a large extent honorary, and, with few exceptions, carry no duties with them. Many of those appointed by Governor Mount have been retained by the present Governor.
Governor Winfield T. Durbin of Anderson, the present commander-in-chief, is a veteran of two wars and has always been deeply interested in military affairs. He enlisted in the One-hundred-and-Thirty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a private, June 5, 1864, and served until September 29 of the same year. He was appointed by Governor Mount commis- sary-general on his staff, with the rank of colonel, and was designated as paymaster when the Indiana troops were mo- bilized at the outbreak of the war with Spain. The extraor- dinary ability he displayed in paying off the men quickly, satisfactorily and without ostentation of any kind attracted the attention of the Governor, and when the One-hundred- and-Sixty-first Regiment was organized in response to the second call, Colonel Durbin was given command of it. He was mustered into United States service July 15, 1898. He served with his regiment until it was mustered out of serv- ice April 30, 1899, when he returned to his home in Anderson. He was elected Governor in November, 1900, and was inaugu- rated Jannary 14, 1901.
John R. Ward. of Monticello, adjutant-general with the rank of brigadier-general, is probably the youngest man who ever held that office. He was appointed on the twenty-ninth anniversary of his birth, April 1, 1901. His previous experi- ence was as second lieutenant of Company I, of Monticello, which served in Colonel Durbin's regiment through the war with Spain.
Brigadier-General Robert S. Foster, of Indianapolis, quar- termaster general, is a veteran of the civil war. He entered
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ADJT .- GEN. JOHN R. WARD MONTICELLO AS SECOND LIEUTENANT, 161ST I. V I
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the service as captain of Company A, Eleventh Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry, April 17. 1861. and was mustered into United States service April 25, 1861. He resigned on July 3 following, and the next day was appointed major of the Thir- teenth Indiana. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel Octo- ber 25, 1861, colonel on April 30, 1862, and brigadier-general of the United States Volunteers June 12, 1863. He was ap- pointed brevet major-general March 31, 1865, and as such was mustered out of the service. During the strikes of 1877 Gen- eral Foster was captain of Company H of the volunteer regi- ment raised in Indianapolis for State service. He was ap- pointed Quartermaster-General by Governor Durbin and as- sumed the duties of his office April 1, 1901.
Charles E. Wilson, of Lafayette, military secretary with the rank of colonel, was first appointed to that position by Governor Mount at the beginning of his term. The position combines the duties of secretary to the Governor and mili- tary secretary, and during the organization of the Indiana troops for the war with Spain Col. Wilson was of great as- sistance. He was reappointed by Governor Durbin.
Captain William E. English was born on the old English homestead, near Lexington, Scott County, Indiana, No- vember 3. 1851, and is the only son of the late Hon. William H. English, former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, ex-Member of Congress, candi- date for Vice President in 1880, author of "The Conquest of the Northwest" and "History of Indiana," and one of the ablest men Indiana has produced. A handsome bronze statute has been erected in his honor at English, Indi- ana, which was named for him, as was also English Avenue, in the city of Indianapolis. Captain English's grandfather, Hon. Elisha G. English, was also long a prominent citizen of Indiana and was appointed by President Buchanan United States Marshal for that. State and was for some twenty years a member of the Indiana Legislature, serving in both House and Senate. Through his father on the maternal side Captain English is directly descended from the celebrated Jost Hite, who brought the first colony to Virginia that settled west of the Blue Ridge mountains, locating on a grant of land of over 100,000 acres made to him by King George II of England. Capt. English's great-grandfather, Lieutenant Philip Eastin, was an officer in the Fourth Virginia Regiment of the Conti- nental line and served during the entire Revolutionary War. His great-great-grandfather, Captain Charles Smith, was an
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officer under Colonel George Washington in the French-Eng- lish Colonial War and was wounded at the battle of Great Meadows, and his great-great-great-grandfather, Colonel John Hite, was a Colonial officer and a member of the first Board of Justices of Frederick County, Virginia, after independence was declared. Captain English removed with his parents to Indianapolis at an early age and received his rudimentary education in that city. Having decided to take up the law as a profession, he entered the law department of the Northwestern Christian University, and upon graduat- ing therefrom formed a partnership with Hon. John R. Wil- son, under the firm title of English & Wilson. After five years thus spent he retired from the firm in order to devote particular attention to the magnificent structure known as English's Opera House Block, which he had erected a short time before. At the end of six years he arranged his affairs for a lengthy foreign tour and traveled abroad for some three years, visiting every country in Europe, from Norway to Greece, and various portions of Asia Minor, North Africa, Canada, Mexico, Cuba and South America. During his tour he wrote a series of letters which appeared in the Indianap- olis paper, and attracted general attention, evidencing marked literary ability. His letters from the Holy Land, North Africa, Turkey and Egypt were widely and favorably commented upon. Captain English is one of the prominent members of the Masonic fraternity in Indiana and his "His- tory of Early Masonry" in that State, published in 1895, was highly endorsed by his Masonic brethren. He has taken a total of forty-three Masonic degrees of various kinds and has served as President of the Masonic Relief Board of Indi- anapolis, Representative of the Grand Lodges of New York and Tennessee for Indiana, Grand Lecturer, Grand Marshal, Grand Junior and Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, Worshipful Master of Center Lodge No. 23 F. and A. Masons, High Priest of Indianapolis Chapter No. 5 Royal Arch Masons, Illustrious Master of Indianapolis Council No. 2 Royal and Select Masters, Sword Bearer of Raper Com- mandery No. 1 Knights Templar, Noble of Murat Temple of the Mystic Shrine and is a Thirty-second degree member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Captain English is also connected with various other societies and organizations and is Past Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent Order of Elks for the United States, ex-President of the Indianapolis Commercial Club, ex-President of the Indianapolis Hendricks Club, ex-President of the Indianapolis Board of Park Com-
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missioners, President of the Indiana Society Sons of the American Revolution, Vice-President of the Indiana His- torical Society, Vice-President Indiana Humane So- ciety, besides being a member of the National Society of Colonial Wars, Huguenot Society of America, Holland Soci- ety of Chicago, National Civic Federation, National League of American Sportsmen, Western Writers' Association, Indiana Forestry Association, Indianapolis Bar Association, Indianapolis Board of Trade, Indianapolis German House, New York Lambs Club, New York Knickerbocker Athletic Club, and the Indianapolis University Club, Columbia Club, Marion Club, Country Club, Canoe Club, Aquatic Club, etc. Captain English has been made an honorary member of two labor unions, "The Musicians' Protective Association" and "The National Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes," in recognition of his various services to the cause of labor as represented by the Indianapolis branches of these organiza- tions.
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