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 4
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Dearborn County organized in May. On the 25th of that month James Dill was elected lieutenant-colonel commanding
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and Samuel Fulton was elected major of the First Battalion and Enoch Smith major of the Second. Four days before, commissions were issued to Captain Justus S. Sertwell, Lieutenant Noyes Canfield, Ensign Daniel Bordman, Lieu- tenant Enoch Blasdell and Ensign Charles Stevens.
Clark County had several changes and on April 5 commis- sions were issued to William Patrick, John McCoy, William Montgomery and James Bigger as captains, John Jenkins, John Herrod, Henry Socles and John Chunn as lieutenants, and to Thomas Jacobs, Joseph Carr, Joseph Bowers and Joseph Stillwell as ensigns. Major John Owens resigned on June 12 and Captain Robert Robertson was promoted to fill the vacancy. Captain John Thompson died and Waller Tay- lor was elected to succeed him. while George Twilley was elected lieutenant and Joseph Stroud ensign. On June 1, Joseph Montgomery was commissioned captain, John Waller lieutenant and Leander Depin ensign in the Second Battalion of the Second Regiment of Knox County. George Wallice, .Tr., was appointed second lieutenant of the Vincennes Dra- goons on September 9, as John McCandless resigned.
County regiments are referred to but three other times in the territorial records. Robert Robertson was commissioned as colonel commanding the Clark County regiment on April 13, 1812, and this commission seems to have been the last so issued. On March 5 previous, a new rifle company was ac- cepted which had been organized in Harrison County. The officers were Captain John Tipton, First Lieutenant Samuel Flanagan, Second Lieutenant Jacob Zenor and Ensign Philip Bell. On March 16, 1812, a commission was issued to Freder- ick Shoults as a captain in Franklin County.
Many other commissions were issued, but under the new order of affairs. The General Assembly created the rank of colonel by a law passed December 19, 1811, but before this was done a report of the strength of the militia was made to the general government. It showed a total strength of 4,160. The population under the census of 1810 was 24,520 and the organization of the militia was thorough. There was one adjutant-general, three quartermasters, three sergeant- majors, three quartermaster-sergeants and four drum and file-majors. In field officers there were eight lieutenant- colonels and sixteen majors. The line consisted of sixty-three captains, 126 lieutenants and ensigns, 193 sergeants, twenty- three musicians and 3,630 of the rank and file. Other officers assigned brought the total to 4,160. The equipment consisted
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NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
of fourteen swords, 130 muskets, 1,109 rifles, thirty fusees, ten bayonets and 1,396 pouches and horns.
The new epoch in the militia of Indiana Territory not only included the change to the system of numbering regi- ments in consecutive order and the departure from the more cumbersome method of denoting them by their counties, but it was the beginning of the terms of active service which characterized the latter portion of the days of the Territory. The system inaugurated during the year grew during the last territorial days and the first days of statehood until an en- rolled and organized militia of over 50,000 members was the result. The year was not important in actual events, but it was marked by the incipient movement of the Indian war which followed during the next few years. Tecumseh had been active in his efforts to unite the tribes against the whites, and his efforts were ably seconded by his brother, the Prophet. General Harrison was empowered by Congress with authority to call out the militia, and in 1811 he marched against the town of the Prophet and totaly defeated the Indians in the battle of Tippecanoe. 49051
Many conferences were held with the Indians previous to the campaign against them, and during 1810, among the confi- dential messengers sent to the Indians by the Governor were Francis Vigo, Toussaint Dubois, Joseph Barron, Pierre La- plante, John Conner, M. Brouillette and William Prince, all of whom were officers in the militia. The last message was sent to them through Captain Walter Wilson, but the British Indian agent encouraged the Indians and the war resulted.
Governor Harrison had called out 250 regular troops under command of Colonel Boyd, about sixty volunteers from Kentucky and 600 of the territorial militia, and with this force of 960 men he moved from Vincennes September 26, 1811, up the Wabash to Ft. Harrison, which he built. When the army arrived before the Prophet's town, encampment was made for the night, but before daybreak the Indians made the attack, which resulted in their overwhelming defeat.
The militia was well represented in the campaign. Four companies were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Luke Decker, and other officers from the militia were Major Noah Purcell; Daniel Sullivan, lieutenant and acting adjutant; Wil. liam Reed, sergeant-major; James Smith, quartermaster; and Dr. Edward Scull, surgeon. The militia companies were commanded by Captain Spier Spencer, Captain Frederick
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Guiger, Captain Scott, Captain Jacob Warrick, Captain John Norris, Captain William Hargrove, Captain Wilkins and Captain Walter Wilson. Captain Benjamin Parke com- manded a company of dragoons, and his first lieutenant was Thomas Emerson and his second George Wallace. In Cap- tain Wilson's company the other officers were Lieutenant B. V. Beckes and Ensign Joseph Macomb. After Captain Spen- cer was killed, his company of mounted riflemen was com- manded by Captain Dubois. Colonel Joseph Bartholomew served under Colonel Boyd, of the regular forces, and ren- dered good service.
Governor Harrison, in his report of the battle, says: "Colonel Joseph Bartholomew, a very valuable officer, com- manded, under Colonel Boyd, the militia infantry. He was wounded early in the action and his service lost to me. Lieutenant-Colonel Decker, who commanded the battalion of infantry on the right of the rear line, preserved his com- mand in good order. He was, however, but partially attacked. Several of the militia companies were in no wise inferior to the regulars. Spencer's, Guiger's and Warrick's maintained their posts amid a monstrous carnage; as, indeed, did Robb's, after it was posted on the left flank. Its loss of men (seven- teen killed and wounded) and its keeping its ground are suffi- cient evidence of its firmness. Wilson's and Scott's com- panies charged with the regular troops and proved them- selves worthy of so doing. Norris's company also behaved well. Hargrove's and Wilkins's companies were placed in a situation where they had no opportunity of distinguishing themselves, or I am satisfied they would have done so. This was the case with the squadron of dragoons also. After Major Daviess had received his wound, knowing it to be mortal, I promoted Captain Parke to the majority, than whom there is no better officer. My two aides-de-camp, Majors Hurst and Taylor, afforded me the most essential aid, as well in the action as throughout the campaign."
The loss in the engagement was thirty-seven killed and 151 wounded, and of the latter twenty-five died of their wounds. Among those killed or mortally wounded were Colonel Joseph Hamilton Daviess, Colonel Abraham Owen, Captain W. C. Baen, Captain Jacob Warrick, Captain Spier Spencer, Lieutenant Richard McMahon, Lieutenant Thomas Berry, Colonel Isaac White and Thomas Randolph. Among the wounded were Lieutenant-Coloned Joseph Bartholomew, Lieutenant-Colonel Luke Decker, Dr. Edward Scull, Adjutant
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James Hunter, Lieutenant George P. Peters, Lieutenant George Gooding, Ensign Henry Burchstead, Captain John Norris and Captain Frederick Guiger.
The war of 1812, commenced in June, again called the militia into active duty. An Indian outbreak and attack on a settlement on the Wabash about thirty-five miles above Vin- cennes called out a portion of the militia of Knox County. One company of rangers was authorized by Congress to be raised in Indiana, under the call for 30,000 men. During the spring and summer, block houses were built on the frontier of Indiana, and one at Brookville was commanded by Lieu- tenant Breckenridge, one on Tanners Creek by Captain Blas- dell, and one on Laughrey by Captain James McGuire. The slaughter of "Pigeon Roost settlement," in what is now Scott County, in which twenty-two persons were killed, called into service a portion of the Clark County militia under Major John McCoy and Captain Devault. This was in September, and the latter officer overtook the Indians in their flight and killed one.
. All the campaigns against Indian villages were partici- pated in by Indiana soldiers, but as a territorial organization the militia does not appear. When Governor Harrison as- sumed command of the army in 1812, it was provided that it was to consist of regular troops, rangers and militia from Kentucky and Ohio and 3,000 men from Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some Indiana companies accompanied General Harrison as far as what is now Piqua, Ohio, but the threaten- ing actions of the Indians on the frontier of Indiana caused them to hurry back for the protection of their homes. Many remained with the expedition as individuals, and early in the war companies were raised by Captains Russell, Perry and Modrell, while Captain Beckes raised a company of scouts.
During the winter of 1812-13, Indiana companies par- ticipated in the campaigns against the Indians by Gen- eral Hopkins, and terrible privations and sufferings from the cold weather are recorded. An expedition under Colonel Joseph Bartholomew was sent out in June, 1813, to punish Indians who were hostile and who were lurking in villages on the west fork of the White River.
The war made the progress of the Territory necessarily slow. Governor Harrison resigned in 1812 to take the mili- tary command assigned him, and Thomas Posey, who was appointed Governor to succeed him, did not arrive until May 25. 1813. In the interval John Gibson, Secretary, served as
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acting Governor, and under his administration the capital was removed to Corydon in December of 1812.
The actual declaration of war with Great Britain had made a nation of warriors. A protest against the militia being the only ones to serve was sent to the Governor under date of August 21, 1812. It begins: "We the undersigned wish to shew your Excellency that we are willing to obey any of your calls and to defend our country at any time when called upon in time for us to make ready for to turn out and leave home."
During the war Indiana furnished one general officer, five staff officers, eighteen field officers, five noncommissioned staff officers, sixty-seven captains, 132 subaltern officers, and 410 noncommissioned officers, with fourteen musicians and 2,592 privates.
Many more volunteered for service than the government could accept, and it was out of the question to equip those , who presented themselves. This was soon known, and the later volunteers appeared fully armed and equipped at their own expense. This caused a tremendous revival of military spirit and the militia profited by it. The extraordinary in- crease in the population of the Territory made it a difficult matter to enable the militia to keep pace with the growing population, but it was successfully done and the organization was preserved. It was in 1815 that the great increase com- menced.
In 1814, at the close of the war with Great Britain, a re- port of the militia of the Territory was made which showed an aggregate strength of 5,010. In the commissioned and noncommissioned staffs there was one adjutant-general, eight adjutants, seven quartermasters, five paymasters, four sur. geons, three surgeons' mates, six sergeant-majors, four quar- termaster-sergeants and six drum-majors. The infantry re- port showed seven lieutenant-colonels, eighteen majors, eighty-seven captains, 179 lieutenants and ensigns, 325 ser- geants, seventy musicians and 4,281 rank and file.
It was in the same year and at Corydon on January 3 that the act of general reorganization of the militia was passed. The age limit of those subject to duty, under this act, was from eighteen to 45, and it was also required that on muster and parade days the major and brigadier-generals should "wear a French military hat, blue cloth coat, turned up, with buff or scarlet, with gold epaulettes, white small clothes or buff, also boots and spurs." The commander-in-chief was authorized to appoint two aides-de-camp, to have the rank
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of colonel. It was also provided that the adjutant-general and the quartermaster-general should have the rank of colonel, and the pay of the adjutant-general was fixed at $25 per annum in time of peace and $50 per annum in time of war.
It was provided that sixty men should constitute a com- pany, or, in case of necessity, from forty to eighty, rank and file; two to seven companies should form a battalion; two battalions should constitute a regiment; two to eight regi- ments a brigade, and two to four brigades a division. Officers were required to serve five years. Ferrymen on post roads, ministers who were licensed to preach, and those who had conscientious scruples against military duty were exempted from serving. Musters were appointed for Saturdays in April and September.
The First Brigade was assigned to Knox, Sullivan and Daviess counties; the Second to Gibson, Posey, Warrick, Perry and Pike counties, and these two brigades formed the First Division. The regimental divisions for the First Bri- gade were made at Vincennes and for the Second at the Gibson County courthouse in February, 1817. The Third Bri- gade was made up of Harrison and Clark counties, and the Fourth of Orange, Washington and Jackson counties. These two brigades formed the Second Division, and the regimental divisions were made at Anthony Liver's house for the Third Brigade, and at Salem for the Fourth. The Fifth Brigade was formed of Jefferson, Jennings, Switzerland and Dear- born counties, and the Sixth Brigade of Franklin and Wayne counties. These brigades formed the Third Division, and the regimental division for the Fifth Brigade was made at Switz- erland, and at Connersville for the Sixth.
During this period from 1810 to the beginning of the State government, there were changes among the general officers in consequence of the change of governors and commanders- in-chief. The calling of the militia into service caused many appointments in 1812. On July 12 of that year William Jones was appointed assistant quartermaster for the militia in service and Daniel Sullivan was commissioned adjutant-gen- eral and brigade major to the militia in service. General W. Johnson was appointed judge advocate to the troops in Indi- ana and Captain Benjamin Park and John D. Hay were ap- pointed aides-de-camp, on September 6. To the latter was given the rank of captain. The following day Dr. Robert Alli- son was appointed surgeon's mate to the militia in service, and four days later Ensign Davis Floyd was made deputy
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quartermaster-general for the troops in Indiana. Toussaint Dubois was commissioned as major on September 26, and to him was assigned the command of spies. General W. Johnson was appointed an aide-de-camp to the commander-in-chief on October 3, and he was given the rank of captain, while eight- een days later Charles Smith was commissioned lieutenant and adjutant-general pro tem and brigade major. William Prince was made captain on November 16, but his rank dated from October 16.
Earl in 1813, on January 14, Lieutenant Daniel Sullivan was commissioned a colonel and appointed adjutant-general. His letter of application was dated at Vincennes, December 26, 1812, and reads :
"Dear Sir-I have been informed that the office of Adjutant-General has been vacated by Colonel Smalls resignation. It is, Sir, with the utmost diffidence that I offer myself as a candidate for that important office, being well assured that there are many better qualified then myself. I have but little hopes of success but should you think proper to confer the appointment on me, rest assured, Sir, that I would en- deavor to deserve the preference that you would give. I am, Sir. with respect and esteem,
"Your Humble Servant, "D. SULLIVAN."
He served only until September 10 following, when Gen- eral W. Johnson was appointed to the office with the rank of colonel. Colonel Johnson's term was short, for on February 24, 1814, Waller Taylor was appointed to the office and given the rank of colonel. He served until September 17 following, when Allen B. Thorn was appointed and served until Indiana passed into statehood.
Nathaniel Claypoole was appointed an aide-de-camp on February 15, 1813, and June 17, 1815, Benjamin Park was ap- pointed first aide-de-camp and Robert A. New second. Both were given the rank of colonel.
The cavalry received much attention in this period, as it was of great use in following the Indians. Joseph Hamilton Daviess was commissioned as major or dragoons on Septem- ber 20, 1811, and subsequently rendered important service. Daviess County was named after him. On the same day commissions were issued to George Hunt as lieutenant- colonel, Smith Hunt as major and to Benson Miner as cap- tain, John Plummer as lieutenant and Baltzer Sybrook as en- sign of a rifle company. It is not given to what regiment they were assigned and none of the officers named appear in the records other than this one time.
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After Major Bartholomew's death, Captain Benjamin Park was promoted and his commission as major of dragoons was issued November 6, 1813. On May 14 of the following year William Prince was appointed a captain in the cavalry. Ten days later William M. Owens was commissioned as sec- ond lieutenant and John Weathers as cornet.
Special companies were organized for active service, but all do not appear in the official records. In 1813, on March 27, Pierre Andre's company of rangers was accepted, and two days later William Dunn's company was accepted. April 5 following, William Hargrove's company was accepted. Pierre Andre was appointed captain of mounted volunteers on July 21, 1815, to serve six months. His other officers were Lieu- tenant Francis Mallet and Ensign Robert Ash. The com- missions of all were dated June 10. The same day a company commanded by Captain Hyacinth Lassell was accepted for six months' service. It was a company of mounted volunteers and the remaining officers were Lieutenant Pierre Laplante and Ensign John Myers. The commissions of the officers dated from June 30.
The First Regiment appears for the first time under that designation on September 22, 1810, when commissions were issued to Captain Benjamin Park, First Lieutenant Thomas Emerson, Second Lieutenant John McCandless and Cornet John Balthus as officers of a troop of horse assigned to the regiment.
The regiment grew from the Knox County regiment and Colonel Ephraim Jordan, of the First Regiment of Knox County, was the first colonel of the First Regiment of Indi- ana. His election as colonel was unanimous. Under date of April 25, 1812, the officers of the First Battalion sent a writ- ten request to the Governor that Ephraim Jordan should be appointed colonel, Thomas Scott lieutenant-colonel, and Wil- son Lagore major of their battalion. The officers of the Second Battalion concurred in the request as to Colonel Jor- dan on May 13, and the commissions of the officers named were issued June 1. Colonel Jordan served until July 7, 1814, when Lieutenant-Colonel Scott succeeded him.
Dr. Edmund Scull was appointed surgeon of the regiment June 4, 1812, and the first major of the First Battalion was Wilson Lagore, commissioned June 1, 1812, who was formerly a captain in the regiment. He served until October 6, 1814, when Captain Benjamin V. Beckes succeeded him. The first major of the Second Battalion was Joseph Ledgerwood, who
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served until September 25, 1812. On that date Captain Wil- liam Bruce was appointed major of the battalion, and he served until October 24, 1814, when Andrew Wilkins was com- missioned. Daniel Connor was commissioned a major on Au- gust 11, 1815, but the records do not state to which battalion he was assigned.
The Vincennes Light Infantry, a noted organization of the early days, was attached to the First Regiment. The line offi- cers and dates of commissions were:
CAPTAINS.
1810-
October 10-Wilson Lagore, to rank from May 6. November 14-William Rodsman and Robert Burge.
1811-
July 22-Francis Boyer.
1812-
May 7-Henry McGee.
August 14-Pierre Andre.
1814-
February 3-Francis Mallet.
April 24-Ambroise Mallet.
September 13-Samuel Hogg and Robert Hay.
October 6-James Jenkins.
October 24-Ashbury Alexander.
1815-
January 21-Charles Polk.
August 11-Thomas Shepard, Thomas Black, William Perry, William Purcell, General W. Johnston, infantry; Benjamin Park. cavalry. October 21-Ovid Hunt, Jesse Hadden, Barnet Hollingsworth and Abraham Roadarmell.
1816-
August 7-Samuel Coleman.
LIEUTENANTS.
1810- October 10-Robert Buntin, Jr., and Jonathan Purcell, Jr. November 14-Alexander Little and James Myers.
1811-
July 22-Ambrose Mallet.
1812~
May 16-George R. C. Sullivan.
August 18-Hyacinth Laselle.
September 25-William Wallice.
1814-
February 3-Laurient Bruellet and Jesse Hadden.
April 24-Lewis Denoyen.
September 13-William Gamble, Abraham Roadarmell and John Stringer.
October 24-Robert Brenton.
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1815-
January 21-Samuel Chambers, Pierre Broulett, vice L. Broulett, re- signed.
August 11-Joseph Thomas, Smith Hansbury, James Braudy, Elisha Keller, John Culberson and James Jordan.
October 21-William Baker, Jacob Pancake, John Moor.
1816-
August 7-Andrew Brooks.
ENSIGNS.
1810- October 10 -- Henry McGee. November 14-William Reddick, William Pitt, Elijah Wright.
1811-
July 22-Lewis Denoyer.
1812-
May 16-John Moore.
August 18-Francois Mallet.
September 25-Ephraim Thompson.
1813-
March 16-John Walton.
1814-
February 3-Pierre Bruellet, James Lisman, John Flint, William Collins and Samuel Chambers.
April 24-Pierre Gamlin.
September 13-James Jordan, Friend Spears, Jeremiah Gregory and John Bush.
October 24-James Walker and Thomas Stone.
1815-
January 21-William Watson and Francois Creley.
August 11-Andrew Westfall, Abijah Thomas, John Fielding, Brice McWelcher. Alexander West, John Rcel and Melchel Richerville. October 21-John Bradford, John Keina, Charles Mitchell."
1816-
August 7-James Cunningham.
The Second Regiment was originally the Clark County regiment and as such it was under the command of Colonel Robert Robertson. It was one of the most complete regi- ments in the service, and included many special organizations, one of which was the only artillery company mentioned in the territorial records.
Colonel Robertson resigned his commission on account of indisposition, and Major Joseph Bartholomew was elected to succeed him and was commissioned colonel October 21, 1811. He seems to have served until March 30, 1814, when Joel Combs was commissioned colonel. Rezen Redman was lieutenant-colonel and was commissioned as such June 10, 1813.
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The first major of the regiment who appears was William Montgomery, to whom the commission was issued April 4, 1812, and eleven days later, John McCoy was commissioned major. Josiah Eaken became major of the First Battalion on May 2, 1814.
The staff appointments were made September 19, 1811, and Joseph Brown was appointed adjutant, Joseph Clark quartermaster and Chapman Deneslow sergeant-major. A general request from the officers that a muster master be appointed was complied with in the appointment, on October 30, 1811, of Isaac Shelby. He was also made inspector.
The cavalry was a well organized and important branch of the Second Regiment. The first reference to this branch is on September 19, 1811, when commissions were issued to John Thompson as first lieutenant, Henry Botorff as second lieu- tenant and Mordecai Swainey as cornet of a troop of horse. A volunteer mounted rifle company was received into the regiment on August 22, 1812, of which the officers were Cap- tain John B. Pittman, First Lieutenant Henry Giles, Second Lieutenant John Owens and Ensign Davis Floyd. On Sept. 22. 1815, Alexander Buckner was commissioned a captain of dragoons, John Weathers a first lieutenant and Samuel Mc- Campbell cornet. The organization was completed on Janu- ary 25, 1816, when John Coons was appointed a lieutenant. John Gibson was made captain and Edward Norris and Isaac Scribner ensigns.
Rifle companies were numerous. On September 6, 1813, Joseph Stilwell was commissioned a first lieutenant, James Robinson a second lieutenant, and Absalom Carr an ensign in one company. September 22, 1815, was a day for commissions in these organizations. Absalom Carr had risen to a lieu- tenantcy and was so commissioned that day, while John Denny was made ensign. The same day Daniel Peyton was commissioned captain, James Weir a lieutenant and James Blizard an ensign of another rifle company. On June 1, 1816, John Carr was commissioned as captain of a rifle company.
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