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 3
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The Vincennes Light Infantry underwent an entire change of officers during the year. On March 25 the resignation of Captain William Prince was accepted and Peter Jones was appointed to succeed him. On July 1, the resignations of Lieutenant Christian Graeter and Ensign Homer Johnson were accepted and Charles Smith was appointed lieutenant and Parmenas Beckes ensign. Two new companies were or- ganized in Knox County, which were assigned to the Second Battalion and which had as officers Captain Jacob Warrick, Lieutenant Hugh McGary and Ensign John Warrick. The second company was accepted August 17 and the officers were Captain Bailey Anderson, Jr., Lieutenant Enoch Berry and Ensign Hiram Maines.
Wharton Rector was appointed a captain in Randolph County on October 5 and ten days later Daniel Sullivan was made an ensign in Knox. The last of the year was marked by the formation of a new county and by active preparations for the approaching war. Harrison County was formed out of Knox and Clark, subject to an act approved October 11.
The preparations for war are indicated by an unsigned and unaddressed letter which is found among the few old territorial papers remaining. It is dated at Vincennes on November 23, 1808, and shows that nearly eight months were required for orders from the general government to reach the Territory. The letter is presumed to have been written by
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Governor Harrison to the lieutenant-colonel commanding one of the regiments, and follows:
"Sir-I received by the last mail instructions from the President of the United States to organize and equip as soon as possible the quota of militia from this country authorized by the law of the United States passed on the 30th of March. 1808.
"By the next mail you will receive a detail of the detachment which is to be drawn from your regiment. But as the President has agreed to receive such volunteer companies as may offer their services, under the provisions of the act of the 24th of February, 1807, in lieu of the draft contemplated by the law of March last, I must request you to make every exertion in your power to induce one or more companies of infantry to offer their services. But if your exertions should be unavailing, recourse must be had to the humiliating expedience of the Draft. Upon the receipt of this letter you will please immediately ap- point a day for the meeting of the commissioned officers of your regiment to consult upon the best mode of effecting the object of this letter. Before the meeting takes place, you will receive more particular in- structions.
"I am, very respectfully, yours."
The Indians at this time, encouraged by the British, were becoming restless and there were grave apprehensions among the people of the Territory. Congress had conferred upon the President the right to call into active service 100,000 men, should he deem it necessary, and preparations for war were well under way. An undated message was sent by Governor Harrison to the Legislative Council and House of Represen- tatives, probably about this time. The message says:
"The information which I have lately received from the Indian country increases the probability that at no very distant period we shall be involved in hostilities with some of the Indian tribes. By the same conveyance I have also received the most explicit opinions that the tribes immediately contignons to us are firmly determined to pre- serve their relations of amity with us. But should the more distant tribes commence a war, there will unquestionably be found amongst those which are generally friendly, individuals who will supply the others with arms and ammunition purchased in our settlements. The laws of the United States will be sufficient to prevent our citizens from furnishing articles of that kind individually to those who are hostile, but no law of the United States exists for preventing them from being obtained from our citizens in the settled country through the medium of neutral tribes; nor do I believe that Congress could legislate on that subject. I therefore recommend to yon gentlemen that a law be passed, empowering the Executive of the Territory, in case of a war between the United States and some of the Indian tribes, or others, to prohibit the sale of arms and ammunition to any neutral tribe or tribes when in his opinion the public safety requires such prohibition. The law might, with propriety, be limited to one year and from thence to the end of the next session of the General Assembly."
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With the beginning of 1809, there was an added interest in the militia, and muster days became days of importance. Many officers who had been commissioned as honorary ap- pointments resigned, and their places were filled with practical fighters. Great carousals marked muster days, and they were long to be remembered. Officers were lavish in their treatment of their men in order to advance political pros- pects, and many scandals grew out of the day.
Those in the more exposed settlements became more alarmed over the prospects of Indian trouble, and petitions for assistance were frequent. In order to meet all calls, the militia was divided into eight classes, which did active duty in turn, and the law prohibited one class from again being called into service until the remaining seven had performed their tours of duty.
The new county of Harrison sent in an abject appeal for help. It was signed by thirty-four inhabitants of Driftwood, and reads:
"To his Excelency William Henry Harrison Governor And Com- mander in Chief of Indiana Territory. The Humble petition of the In- habitants of Drift Wood, Harrison County, showeth that Your Petition- ers from their Calamitous situation at the present Crisis are again Con- strained to make application to you as their Protector under god for some Assistance to Enable them to Remain still at their Stations as we have Bore our Burthen (We had hoped through the heat of the day) Al- though attended with almost every difficulty yet We have Retained our stations with firmness Untill the present Without any help from our Government Except six men Who have Rendered all the Service they Could in our situation aided somethimes by Voluntary Militia But from the Appearance of Times in our land and the Many Depredations Com- mitted on us by the Enemy some of which has been lately We shall be Compelled to Remove to some place of More security than here with- out Some Speedy Relief; We therefore Hope With Confidence Your Ex- eleency Will Take our Cause unto your Consideration and Grant us some assistance Py sending to our Aid What Quantity of Men either of Militia or Rangers as you in your Wisdom shall think Expedient for our protection Which Must Most Certainly be the means of Preserving a Great part of the County from being Uninhabited if we stand our Ground Which cannot be the Case Without our Petition is Granted us the Compliance of Which Will Continue us your Loyal Subjects and We Remain in Duty ever Bound to pray, etc."
Harrison County selected John Harbison as major com- mandant on January 13, and on April 11 Joseph Paddock was appointed adjutant of the First Battalion. Two new com- panies were accepted during the year, the first of which was on January 17, when commissions were issued to Captain George Beck, Lieutenant Jac Miller and Ensign John Beck. The second company was received on December 30, and the
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officers commissioned were Captain Michael Smith, Lieuten- ant Jacob Miller and Ensign Frederick Wemard.
On March 7, Majors Bartholomew and Owens, of the Clark County regiment, sent their first recommendations of the year to the Governor. All were acted upon, and two weeks later commissions were issued to Robert Evans, captain. vice James Bland, resigned; Jacob Fouts, captain, vice John An- derson, resigned; John Norris, captain, vice William Prather, promoted; John Thompson, captain, vice Captain Eakins, re- signed. Peter Covert was appointed lieutenant and John Crockett ensign in Captain Evans's company; William Kelly a lieutenant in Captain Fouts's company; Matthias Crum a lieutenant and John McNaught an ensign in Captain Norris's company and John McClintock, Jr., an ensign in Captain Thompson's company. Rezin Redman was made a major on November 29, and the same day Samuel Smock was appointed captain and John Blenard, Squire Hall, James McIntire and Andrew Gelvick, lieutenants.
Dearborn County had many changes in the officers, but the records are not complete, as blank commissions were sent to be filled in by the field officers. On October 21 commissions in blank were sent to Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers for the appointment of one major, four captains, three lieutenants and five ensigns. Previous to this and on March 21, Robert Pratt was appointed a major and James McGuire, who served as county drill master, a captain. On the same day a new company was accepted, of which the officers were Captain James Dill, Lieutenant Chambers Foster and Ensign Thomas Foster. James Howell and William Connell were appointed lieutenants on May 10 and Adam D. Livingston was made an ensign.
Captain Rector, of Randolph County, resigned on Janu- ary 17, and Giles Hull was appointed to succeed him. Joel Combs was also appointed a captain and Josiah Williams a lieutenant in the Knox County regiment and on April 17, Andre was appointed captain and Joseph Ledgerwood an ensign.
By the division of Indiana Territory on March 1, 1809, when Illinois was taken off, the Indiana of practically the same boundaries as it has to-day first commenced. As soon as it was felt that the permanent boundary lines of the State were fixed, there was unusual activity in all lines. Three new counties, Jefferson, Wayne and Franklin, were taken off from Dearborn and Clark. Jefferson was organized November 23, 1810, and Wayne and Franklin were organized four days
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later. The officers were appointed the following month. The war fever rose and military feeling was spurred to a high pitch. The organization of new counties caused many changes in the officers, and during this year appears for the first time a record of regiments of territorial militia consecutively num- bered.
The county regiments flourished for a short time, but gradually they were displaced by the regiments bearing con- secutive numbers as Indiana Territory regiments. Many offi- cers were commissioned during 1810 because of the rapid approach of war with Great Britain and the activity of the Indians. . Andrew Wilkins was commissioned a lieutenant in the Knox County regiment on February 14, and Homer John- son was made adjutant of the First Battalion on April 13. Wabash Township elected as officers, on April 21, Captain David Mills, Lieutenant Samuel Aldridge and Ensign James Duck. They were commissioned on May 2.
The organization of the Second Regiment of Knox County caused many changes and promotions. On May 5 Ephraim Jordon was appointed lieutenant-colonel and assigned to the command of the First Regiment, while Noah Purcell was made major of the First Battalion and Joseph Ledgerwood major of the Second Battalion. Luke Decker was appointed a lieu- tenant-colonel and was assigned to the Second Regiment be- cause of his residence. His predecessor was Colonel Vigo. David Robb was appointed major of the First Battalion of the Second Regiment and George Claypoole major of the Second Battalion. The officers of a new company in the Second Battalion were Captain William Hargrove, Lieuten- ant William Barker and Ensign Isaac Flenner. Many other commissions were issued in this regiment.
An election was held in Wabash Township on May 12, at which Hugh McGary was elected captain by a majority of forty votes, Thomas Wagner a lieutenant by thirty-two votes and Peter Whitesides ensign by a majority of eighteen votes. There is a confusion of records as to this company, and the names appear as above in one return. A second return of the election on file is signed by James Crow as poll keeper, and states that the election was held May 29 at the home of Jeremiah Rust, in Wabash Township, and that votes were cast by fifty-nine privates. The officers elected under this return were Captain Hugh McGary, Lieutenant Thomas Wag- ner and Ensign Henry Whetstone. Commissions under this election were issued June 16 following to Captain Hugh Mc-
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Gary, Lieutenant James Waggoner and Ensign Thomas Whetstone.
Ohio Township elected officers on May 26 at the house of Adam Young. Those elected were Captain Julius Elmer Wig- gins, Lieutenant Enoch Berry and Ensign Berry Cantwell, who were commissioned on June 16. This company was at- tached to the Second Regiment and had seventy-four privates. Another company of this regiment was formed in Ohio Town- ship and the officers elected May 25 at the house of George Toben were Captain Samuel Conner, Lieutenant Daniel Ryan and Ensign John Crawford. This company had a membership of twenty-five. The company which had been commanded by Major Robb elected officers June 9 at the house of James Robb and chose Captain Henry J. Mills, Lieutenant John Kirk and Ensign Thomas Neely. They were commissioned June 16 and were assigned to the Second Regiment. Other officers commissioned the same day were Capt. Daniel Comer, Lieutenant James Carr Veale, Jr., and Ensign Wal- lace, in the First Regiment; and later in the same regiment Captain Andrew Wilkins, Lieutenant Charles Polke and En- signs Wililam Lemmon, Samuel Me Clure and John Scott. All other officers in Knox were commissioned in June. Cap- tain Thomas Levens and Captain - - Lisman were given commissions on June 18 and were assigned to the Second Battalion of the First Regiment. Three days later Captain Peter Jones, Lieutenant Conrad Crum, Lieutenant Charles Smith, Ensign Isaac Plough and Ensign Par Beckes were commissioned. The following day Pierre Bonnault was ap- pointed a captain and William Dapron an ensign in the First Battalion of the First Regiment and three days later Nathan- iel Robbins was appointed captain and James McCutcheon an ensign. The last appointments for the year in this county were on June 27, when William Carlton was commissioned a lieutenant and Thomas Allsup an ensign in the Second Bat. talion.
Harrison County made several changes. Under date of April 14, Lientenant-Colonel Harbison sent his list of changes to Governor Harrison. They were all accepted, and under date of April 21 Hiram Westfall was made captain, vice John Smith, resigned; Hugh Shaw, lieutenant, vice James Harbeson, resigned; Ruben Wright, lieutenant, vice William Pennington, resigned; Jonathan Keller, lieutenant, vice Thomas Cunningham, resigned; Robert Beverly, lieutenant, vice James Hickman, resigned; William Erwin, ensign, vice John Hickman, resigned; William McIntire, ensign, vice Jon-
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athan Keller, promoted. On May 23, Spier Spencer was com- missioned as captain, George F. Pope as lieutenant and Bev- erly Hurst as ensign, while on June 12 John Beck was com- missioned a lieutenant and George House an ensign.
During the fall there was some confusion regarding the officers of the Harrison County regiment. There are two certificates of election on file, both attested by William Rod- man and George Beck, but neither agrees with the record of commissions issued by the Governor. One certificate, ver- batim, is:
"Indina Terittory Hareson County.
"thair was an election held at George brocks on the Last Sauterday in july in the year 1810 and John Beck Capt .- James Mairs Lieutenant Elijah Wright Ensign and was elected by a large mejority."
The other certificate reads:
"Indania Tery. Herrison County. thare was an a Lection Held at Quila Rogers on the sixth of October 1810 thare was elected Robert Burgh Capt. Isack Holman Leftnant and William Reddick insine all by a merigity."
While the names of all these officers appear in other organizations, it is not probable that the organizations were ever accepted with the officers indicated in the certificates. The next record of commissions to Harrison County officers is under date of September 27, when Thomas Ferry was ap- pointed captain, and October 2, when Michael Smith was commissioned captain to rank as such from March 10, 1810. The following day the resignation of Beverly Hurst as ensign was accepted and Samuel Flanahan was appointed to succeed him.
The field officers of the regiment were elected at Corydon on October 13. The opposing candidates for lieutenant- colonel commanding were Spier Shields and Joseph Paddock, the latter winning by fourteen votes to Spencer's ten. For major of the First Battalion, Paul French and James Shields were opposing candidates, but French was elected by sixteen votes to nine for Shields. Captain George Beck was unani- mously elected major of the Second Battalion. They were commissioned on November 14, and the same date John Beck was commissioned a captain. James Shields was appointed lieutenant and adjutant of the First Battalion, First Regi- ment, two days later.
Dearborn County was not inactive during the year. Justus S. Sentwell was commissioned a lieutenant and Noyes Can- field an ensign on July 30. The next commissions were issued
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August 22, but there seems to have been some dispute regard- ing the election. Under date of August 9, James Dill sent to to Governor Harrison two returns, at the request of Major Robert Piatt. He states in his letter that one of the returns appears to be regular and he presumed would entitle those having received the highest number of votes to receive com- missions. The officers he names under this return are Cap- tain James McGuire, Lieutenant James Allen and Ensign John Payne. They were commissioned August 22. There is no record of the returns for the other officers, and Colonel Dill's letter says: "As to the other returns, I have nothing to say. Major Piatt wishes you to do as you think proper respecting it, he having no information on the subject but that is contained in the return itself."
A company of riflemen was also organized in Dearborn County, and the official notification of the organization as sent to Major Piatt at Lawrenceburg, bears the date of July 30 and was written at the "Main fork of the White River." The letter reads:
"Sor; Sometime in february last Lieut. Col. Chambers give me orders to raise a companie of Rifele men I meed the attempt and succeeded in the Sam and Has at the Present tinie about 70 men enrolled in said companie together with drum fife and collors and a number of said companie in uniform and agreeable to the orders of Major Jonson we held an Election on the 21 day of April Last and the following men were duly Elected as offersors of said compnie,
Joseph Washenton Morrison Capton
Jerremiaha Conney Lieutenant Lirmond Bessey Insighn
Major Jonston Present at the Said Election and we med due Return to Mr. Jonston, Hoping he in a short time would obtain the Commishenes for us, but we have never got Them yet and I hop you will see to the Governor sonserning the Sam and indeavor to obtain the commishenes as soon as possable.
"Sir we have Held Sevrell musters and ouer men Seemes to do verry well and prides mutch in being in a rifel company they are all young men from the age of 18 and under the age of 28 years as the law directs etc.
"Sir I belive the militia offersors of this battalion would be better if the field offersors would order them to Busness soon and hold a Generell muster this fall. Sir I hop you will send me an answer as soon as this Letter comes to hand and let me know what will be don in the above bisness and also send me the Laws of this Terratorey."
This communication was manifestly forwarded to head- quarters, as on August 22 commissions were issued to Captain Joseph Washington Morrison, Lieutenant Jeremiah Corley and Ensign Lirmond Bessey. Clark County received a new
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company into its regiment on October 10, of which James McFarland was captain, Booth Thomas lieutenant and James Gaddass ensign.
By this time muster days had become such great occasions for drinking and carousing that the General Assembly was forced to stop it. An amendment to the law was passed on December 10, 1810, which forbid officers from treating their men with "ardent spirits or strong water" on muster days, and which prohibited the sale of intoxicating liquors within two miles of the mustering place except as it might apply to tavern or inn keepers whose place of business was within the limit. This law also exempted Quakers from serving in the militia and repealed the clause in the existing law by which a "cheap uniform" was required.
CHAPTER II.
INDIAN ATTACKS AND THE WAR OF 1812.
The year 1811 marks the practical passing of regiments as distinguished by their counties. One or two commissions were issued in 1812, but 1810 marked the beginning of the new system and it was well developed during 1811.
William McFarland was unanimously elected major of the First Battalion, First Regiment, of Jefferson County, on November 17, 1810, but when the return of the election was made attention was called to the fact that the new battalion was wholly within the limits of the new county which was expected to be formed at the next session of the General Assembly and of which the county seat was to be Madison. The commission was issued January 1, but a more perfect organization of the militia of Jefferson County early in 1811 resulted in McFarland being elected to a higher position. Under date of November 23, Major Barthalameaw sent notice that in the early spring David Hilless was elected a captain, Richard Tolbot a lieutenant and Enoch McCarty and Jesse Gray ensigns in the First Battalion, First Regiment, of Jef- ferson County. They were commissioned January 1, 1811. Commissions were issued March 7 to Elisha Golway, James Arbuckle, Samuel Carr and Perry Green Magner as captains, and to Lewis Goley, Williss Stucker, James Robb, John Francis Siebenthal, John Fields, Samuel Alexander and Wil- liam Dolson as ensigns. On February 23 William McFarland was unanimously elected lieutenant-colonel commanding, and he was commissioned on March 15. Samuel Smock and David Helms were elected majors and a new company was estab- lished in the lower part of the county, of which the officers were Captain Thomas McIntire, Lieutenant Josiah Blanking- ship and Ensign George Nevill. They were commissioned the same day. The promotion of Captain Smock caused a vacancy in his company, which was filled May 1 by the election of Captain Benjamin Miller, Lieutenant William Sullivan and Ensign William McClelland. William Watson was elected lieutenant in Captain Vawter's company and William Vawter and George Craig were commissioned captains May 28.
BRIG .- GEN. R. S. FOSTER INDIANAPOLIS. QUARTER-MASTER GENERAL
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Harrison County experienced some trouble in its regiment during the year. George T. Pope resigned his commission as first lieutenant of a rifle company and Richard McMahon was appointed to succeed him. On June 5, Lieutenant McMahon wrote to Governor Harrison from Corydon as follows:
"I expect you will not be a little surprised at a second application for a commition for me as first lieutenant of the Corydon Rifle Company. I am well apriesed, Sir, of the many perplexities and difficultyes you have to incaunter respectin the Militia of your Relm, and verry sorry that I should be one to trouble you. I was last spring provokt to distroy my commition under a determination never to bear a nother but finding myself imposed on by a mallitious lyor who indeavoerd to distroy the friendship existing between me and a man who I thought my best friend. the difference being settled to the satisfaction of both partys and being strongly soliscyted by the Company generally to continue to serve them, I thought I would be out of my duty as a man who wishes to sirve his Cuntrey to refuse. I feel myself under a constraint to beg your Excellenceys pardon and do hope for forgiveness as to a further explanation I hope to be able to give you full sattisfaction on our first pirsonall interview.
"Your most obedient and humble sirvent,
"RICHARD McMAHON."
The plea was effective, for the commission was issued June 20, and the same day George Pope was appointed second lieu- tenant.
The rifle company declined to give Captain Spencer up. Lieutenant-Colonel Paddock reported the condition of affairs to the Governor. Captain Spencer was elected a field officer of the regiment and resigned his captaincy, but when the election for a new captain was over, it was found he had been again chosen, and he continued to fill the two offices. Thomas Berry was appointed a captain March 26 and a new company was received, of which the officers were Captain Hiram Boone, Lieutenant George Wooster and Ensign George McIntosh. Captain Rodman moved from the terri- tory and Henry Duval was elected to succeed him, while Charles Bushey was elected to the command of the company formerly commanded by Captain Michael Smith. Two new companies which were accepted had as officers Captain Zach- ariah Lindley. Lieutenant James Macvay and Ensign Charles Battey; and Captain Andrew House, Lieutenant John Goldsby and Ensign John Carter. At this time there were five companies in the First Battalion, exclusive of the rifle company, and permission was asked to raise two more com- panies and an additional rifle company.
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