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 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
General Reynolds had continued his efforts to revive the latent military spirit, and during 1845 several new companies were organized and arms sent to them, but many of the com- panies disbanded without even opening the boxes of guns and other equipment. Nearly all the commissions issued during the year were to fill vacancies in those organizations which had been kept alive by the unusual exertions and interest of their officers. In the District Militia, 2 colonels, 2 lieutenant- colonels, 3 majors, 23 captains, 27 lieutenants and 18 ensigns were commissioned, or a total of 75 officers. In the Independ- ent Militia, 1 lieutenant-colonel, 10 captains, 28 lieutenants
MAJOR F. E. STEVENSON
MAJOR E. J. ROBISON MAJOR J. D. WELLMAN
MAJOR !- R. L. KENNEDY MAJOR G. W. KRIETENSTEIN
MAJOR HARRY L. KRAMER MAJOR FLETCHER M. DURBIN
GOVERNOR MOUNT'S STAFF
81
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
and 11 ensigns, or a total of 50, were commissioned. The en- tire number of commissions issued was 125.
In his report, made at the end of 1845, and dated Novem- ber 29, General Reynolds was greatly discouraged. He said: "It is true, however, that while our system has undergone a gradual paralysis, the martial spirit of the people is not extin- guished, but exhibits itself in the form of a number of ener- getic companies of independent militia, as well as a few regi- ments of district militia, which have survived the general disorganization. It would seem also, if not quite, impossible to revive military discipline, unless some exigency should de- mand an active service. War, with its thrilling incidents, could alone, as we believe, fully accomplish it; and no State in the Union would more fearlessly and promptly respond to even its first notes of preparation than Indiana."
The contingency to which he referred came about within six months in the outbreak of the war with Mexico, and, as he had predicted, Indiana responded nobly. The first invasion of the country by the Mexicans was on April 24, 1846, and Congress was notified on May 11. War was declared two days later and 50,000 volunteers were called for. The notifica- tion was sent to Indiana that three regiments of infantry would be required on May 16, and was received late in the evening of May 21. Governor Whitcomb issued his proclama- tion calling for volunteers the following day, and by June 10, or in eighteen days. the entire thirty companies necessary had reported, and a few days later twenty-two additional com- panies were organized and clamoring to go into active service.
Not a single organization, regiment, brigade or division ex- isted when the call was issued which could be ordered out, and the response was solely from patriotism. "Had our militia been organized at the time," said General Reynolds, "it is evident that the raising of our troops would have been facilitated and hastened by merely calling on the proper offi- cers to order out their respective commands."
There was the greatest ignorance as to the things needed for active service, and orders were issued to give informa- tion which every private in the present organization pos- sesses. One order issued was that dress or parade uniforms were not required in actual service, and "will not be used in this campaign by either officers or men." The uniform recom- mended was, "A cloth or forage cap and a gray mixed or sky blue jeans hunter's frock coat, and pantaloons without straps, is suggested (not required) for neatness and comfort. The coat to reach half down the thigh, double-breasted,
82
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
double row of white military buttons, eagle stamped, or black mould buttons, made to button close around the throat. For non-commissioned officers, same as above, only the sergeants to wear white worsted epaulets on each shoulder and the pants to have white worsted stripes, one and one-half inch wide, down the sides. Corporals to wear epaulets, but not the stripes. The orderly sergeant is distinguished by a red worsted sash on duty."
Those organizations which had other uniforms were per- mitted to wear them, and this order was intended to apply only to those which had to purchase new outfits.
The volunteers were ordered to concentrate at Ft. Wayne, Logansport, Lafayette, Terre Haute, Indianapolis, Centre- ville, Lawrenceburgh, Bedford, Vincennes, Evansville and Rome. New Albany was selected as the point for general con- centration, and the companies were ordered there. General Reynolds went in person to supervise the organization of the regiments, which was accomplished on June 24. Field officers were elected the following day, and the troops were mus- tered into the service by Colonel Churchill, inspector-general of the U. S. A., and Lieutenant Hammond, U. S. A.
The officers were all elected from those who had come in with the companies, and Joseph Lane, colonel of the Second Regiment, was elected a brigadier-general to command the brigade, but the United States officers declared they had no authority to accept an officer of such high rank. Colonel Lane therefore left in command of the regiment, but as soon as the brigade reached Texas he was made brigadier-general and Captain William A. Bowles was elected colonel.
The brigade embarked for Mexico on July 12, as the gov- ernment was unable to move it before that date, and the organizations were: First Regiment-Colonel, James P. Drake, who had been captain of the Marion Volunteers; lieu- tenant-colonel, Christian C. Nave, who was captain of the Hendricks County Volunteers; major, H. S. Lane, who was captain of the Montgomery Volunteers.
The companies composing the regiment were: Mad An- thony Guards, of Allen County, Captain J. W. McLain; Wayne Guards, of Allen County, Captain D. W. Lewis; Wa- bash Rangers, of Miami County, Captain J. W. Wilson; Cass County Volunteers, Captain S. S. Tipton, who later resigned and was succeeded by Captain S. Lasselle; Wabash Invinci- bles, of Carroll County, Captain R. H. Milroy; Fountain Vol- unteers, of Fountain County, Captain R. M. Evans; Montgom- ery Volunteers, of Montgomery County, Captain J. B. Pow-
83
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
ers, who was succeeded by Captain Allen May; Putnam Blues, of Putnam County, Captain J. H. Roberts; Hendricks County Volunteers, Captain S. C. Crawford, and Marion Volunteers, of Marion County, Captain John McDougal.
Second Regiment-Colonel, Joseph Lane, promoted, and succeeded by Captain Bowles; lieutenant-colonel, William R. Haddon; major, James A. Cravens; Sullivan Volunteers, of Sullivan County, Captain J. W. Briggs; Clay County Volun- teers, Captain J. Osborn; Greene County Volunteers, Captain L. H. Rosseau; Lawrence Greys, of Lawrence County, Captain H. Davis; Hoosier Boys, of Orange County, Captain William A. Bowles, who was later elected colonel and was succeeded by Captain T. B. Kinder; Washington Riflemen, of Washing- ton County, Captain A. Dennis; Posey Guards, of Washing- ton County, Captain N. Kimball; Indiana Riflemen, of Vander- burg County, Captain W. Walker; Spencer Greys, of Floyd County, W. L. Sanderson; Lanesville Legion, of Harrison County, Captain C. Gresham.
Third Regiment-Colonel, James H. Lane; lieutenant- colonel, William M. McCarty; major, Willis A. Gorman. Johnson Guards, of Johnson County, Captain D. Allen; Brown County Blues, Captain J. Taggart; Shelby Riflemen, of Shelby County, Captain V. Conover; Monroe Guards, of Monroe County, Captain J. Sluss; Bartholomew Volunteers, Captain J. S. Boardman; Dearborn Volunteers, Captain George Dunn; Switzerland Riflemen, Captain S. Carter; Washington Guards, of Jefferson County, Captain W. Ford; Madison Rifles, of Jefferson County, Captain T. L. Sullivan; Clark Guards, of Clark County, Captain T. W. Gibson.
The call to arms aroused great interest in military mat- ters, and the legislature considered a bill for the re-organiza- tion of the militia. The bill passed the House and failed to pass the Senate, but the organization of companies proceded under the old laws. No report of the strength of the militia was made, but General Reynolds believed, from his sources of information, that three brigades were organized in the Dis- trict Militia, but only one regiment reported to him. The twenty-two companies which desired to enter active service identified themselves with the Independent Militia, so that during the year of 1846 there were, in that division, 144 new companies, five new regiments and five separate and new bat- talions.
The troops which answered the first call numbered 2,553, and, as they were called for twelve months' service only, many were home when the second call for troops was received. The
84
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
second call was for one regiment only, and was received April 24, having been issued five days before. Governor Whitcomb at once issued his proclamation and preference was given to those companies which had organized to respond to the first call, but had not been mustered in. Some of the companies reported without the required number of men, and so anx- ious were they to get into service that in many instances they were kept by their officers at their own expense until they were filled, as the government declined to furnish subsistence to any that did not meet the requirements. Old Fort Clarke, near Jeffersonville, was selected for the organization of the Fourth Regiment, and General Reynolds again in person supervised the work. The regiment was organized June 16, 1847, and embarked for the front June 27.
As this regiment went to the front, it consisted of: Colonel, Willis A. Gorman; lieutenant-colonel, Ebenezer Du- mont ; major, William M. McCoy; adjutant, Edward Cole; ser- geant major, Joseph Combs; quartermaster sergeant, T. M. Smith; temporary surgeons, Dr. Brower and Dr. Finley. Company A, Marion Guards, of Grant County, Captain J. M. Wallace; Company B, Gosport Guards, of Owen County, Cap- tain J. I. Alexander; Company C, Dearborn County Guards, Captain W. T. Baldridge; Company D, Marion County Infan- try, Captain E. Lander; Company E, Spencer County Volun- teers, Captain J. W. Crooks; Company F, Columbus Legion, of Bartholomew County, Captain M. Fitzgibbon; Company G, Rough and Ready Guards, of Monroe County; Captain D. Lun- derman; Company H, Fort Harrison Guards, of Vigo County, Captain L. Cochran; Company I, Northern Rangers, of La- porte County, Captain R. Fravel; Company K, Hoosier Boys of Dearborn, Dearborn County, Captain A. L. Mason.
The Fifth and last regiment called for was composed chiefly of those who had seen service, and the War Depart- ment expressed a preference for the veterans. The call was received at Indianapolis August 31, having been issued August 26, and the ten companies reported to the adjutant- general's office by September 23. Two days later General Reynolds went to Madison, which had been selected as the point for organization, but as no arrangement had been made for quarters or subsistence, he did not order the companies in until October 1. The regiment was organized October 22, and the regiment embarked for Vera Cruz on October 31. Many more companies applied than could be accepted, and the mar- tial spirit in the State was so high that several companies of regulars were recruited in the State in addition to the quotas
85
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
called for. With the exception of Company K, which was not full, the entire regiment left together. Company K was left behind to fill its ranks, which was done in a short time, and it then joined the regiment.
The organization of the Fifth Regiment was: Colonel, James H. Lane; lieutenant-colonel, Allen May; major, John M. Myers, adjutant, John M. Lord; surgeon, J. S. Athon; assist- ant surgeon, P. G. Jones; sergeant major, F. P. Bradley ; quar- termaster sergeant, J. Oldshne. Company A, Indiana Guards, of Jefferson County, Captain Hull; Company B, Rough and Ready Guards, of Clarke County, Captain G. Greene; Com- pany C, Covington Guards, of Fountain County, Captain R. M. Evans; Company D, Hancock B'hoys, of Hancock County, Captain J. R. Bracken; Company E, Shelbyville Hards, of Shelby County, Captain S. Mckenzie; Company F, Centre Guards, of Marion County, Captain J. McDougal; Company G, Grabbers No. 2, of Dearborn County, Captain A. C. Gibbs; Company H, Washington Guards, of Grant County, Captain E. G. Cary; Company I, Montgomery Boys, of Montgomery County, Captain M. D. Manson; Company K, Wayne Guards, of Allen County, Captain D. W. Lewis.
As soon as the war was over, the military spirit died out almost as quickly as it had been aroused. While the govern- ment called for but five regiments, enough companies were organized and offered their services to fill eight regiments. It was impossible to maintain a militia under the laws as they existed, and during 1848 but 135 commissions were issued. Laws under which the militia could have been maintained were passed by the House in two sessions, but both times the Senate failed to act on them. By the close of 1850 it was impossible to tell anything about the militia. According to the arms outstanding, of which the State had a record, there were then thirty-three infantry companies, fifteen rifle com- panies and seven troops of cavalry, but no report was made by any of them. The legislature finally realized the situation, and in 1853 a law was passed for the organization of the militia by congressional districts, and in the following Octo- ber an elaborate set of rules for county regiments and bri- gades by congressional districts were adopted. This proved to be without effect, and under date of December 9, 1854, Adjutant-General Tomlinson, writing from Marietta, Georgia, urged the establishment of a professorship of military science at the State University at Bloomington. His suggestion was not adopted.
86
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
Governor Wright called the attention of the legislature to the failure of the laws passed to secure satisfactory re- turns, and said that while thousands of commissions had been issued, not one brigade enumeration had been perfected. The legislature responded by passing an act on February 12, 1855, which provided for the organization of military companies by filing articles of incorporation in the same manner as build- ing, mining and manufacturing companies were organized. The law was practically of no value and merely provided for the organization of the militia in a general way without reg- ulations sufficient to secure any general result. Many of the commissions issued were for the sole purpose of conferring honorary military titles only, and there was no change in the general situation. At the close of 1856 General Tomlinson suggested that a system of bounties be paid, but this was not adopted, and he did not have one return of the strength of the militia, if there was any, although the commissions sent out were numbered by the thousand.
The probabilities of civil war caused a slight revival of in- terest in things military, and here and there during 1859 and 1860 a few companies were organized. All of them had but a brief existence, and in many cases no detailed reports were made. The aggregate strength of such companies during the entire two years was not 500 men. This was the condition of the Indiana militia when the civil war seemed a certainty.
The actual outbreak of the war found the State without any preparations to meet the emergency. Governor Lane, in his message to the Legislature in 1861, referred to the import- ance of a well organized and thoroughly drilled militia in the then existing conditions of national affairs, and he promised to concur in any measure that might be devised toward that end. He called attention to the "present very defective militia laws of the State," and a bill was drawn which passed the House, but failed to pass the Senate.
When the war actually commenced, Indiana had no militia that was organized. There were less than 500 stands of effect- Ive first-class small arms in the State and eight pieces of weather-worn and dismantled cannon. An unknown number of old flint-lock and altered to percussion muskets were scat- tered through the counties, and were in the hands of former 'members of the disbanded militia. Under authority of jan act of March 5, 1861, Governor Morton took steps to secure a re- turn of these, but they were of no value except for drill pur- poses.
87
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
On February 11. 1861, there was but $10,368.58 in the State treasury, and the most of this was in trust funds. Governor Morton tried to secure arms, and on March, 1861, he secured an order for 5,000 muskets, but as the armories were depleted the order could not be filled.
He called the legislature in special session April 24, 1861, and on May 11 the law reorganizing the Legion was passed. At that time there was no organization to speak of, and in the following November, Morton C. Hunter, of Bloomington, was placed in command of the Fifth Brigade district, and Richard W. Thompson, of Terre Haute, of the Sixth Brigade district. The organization of the legion was assigned to John Love, of Indianapolis, who was appointed major-general on September 10, 1861. General Love was actively assisted by John L. Mansfield, of Madison, who was first commissioned brigadier-general commanding the Third Brigade of the First Division, and later succeeded General Love. The First Divi- sion consisted of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Ninth Brigades, and was commanded by General Mansfield. The Second Division, which was commanded by Major-General James Hughes, of Bloomington, was composed of the First, Second, Seventh and Eighth Brigades. The total strength of the legion was 697 companies.
The First Division contained 347 companies. The Third Brigade was composed of the Ninth Regiment, of Jefferson County, with 12 companies; the Ninth Regiment, of Jennings County, with 15 companies; the Tenth Regiment, of Switzer- land county, with 16 companies; four companies of Barthol- omew county; the Johnson County Regiment of 14 companies the Hendricks County Regiment of 11 companies; the Morgan County Regiment of 11 companies; the City of Indianapolis Regiment of 16 companies; the Marion County Regiment of 10 companies; ten separate companies of Marion County; the Boone County Regiment of 15 companies, and the 13 compa- nies of Hamilton County, or 147 in all.
The Fourth Brigade was commanded by General Alexan- der C. Downey, of Rising Sun, and consisted of the Eleventh Regiment, of Ohio County, of 5 companies; the Twelfth Regi- ment, of Dearborn County, of 13 companies; 4 companies from Ripley County; 7 companies of Decatur County; 2 companies of Union County; 5 companies of Fayette County; 6 compa- nies of Rush county; 7 companies of Shelby County, and the Franklin County Regiment of 9 companies, or 58 in all.
The Fifth Brigade consisted of the Wayne County Battal- ion of 6 companies; the Hancock County Battalion of 9 com-
88
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
panies; the Delaware County Regiment of 16 companies; the Randolph County Battalion of 11 companies; 5 companies of Henry County; 11 companies of Madison County; 10 compa- nies of Jay County, and 6 companies of Grant County, or 74 in all.
The Sixth Brigade consisted of the Howard County Regi- ment of 13 companies ; 6 companies of Clinton County; 9 com- panies of Carroll County; 5 companies of Cass County; 4 com- panies of Miami County; 2 companies of Wabash County, and 4 companies of Fulton County, or 43 companies in all.
The Ninth Brigade consisted of 1 company of Allen County, 3 companies of DeKalb County, 6 companies of Hunt- ington County, 1 company of Kosciusko County, 1 company of Lagrange County, 5 companies of Noble County, 2 companies of Steuben County, 2 companies of Wells County, and 3 com- panies of Whitley County, or 24 in all.
The Second Division contained 351 companies. The First Brigade had two commanders in its history-General An- drew Lewis, of Princeton, and General James E. Blythe, of Evansville. The brigade was composed of the First Regi- ment, of Posey County, of 17 companies; the Second Regi- ment, of Vanderburg County, of 28 companies; the Second Battalion, of Vanderburg County, of 10 companies; the Third Regiment, of Warrick and Gibson Counties, of 15 companies; the Fourth Regiment, of Spencer County, of 14 companies; the Grandview Battalion of 10 companies; 8 companies of Gibson County; 4 companies of Dubois County; 8 companies of Pike County; 11 companies of Daviess County ; 4 companies of Greene County, and 4 companies of Sullivan County, or 133 in all.
The Second Brigade also had two commanders-General James Hughes, of Bloomington, and General Henry Jordan, of Corydon. It was composed of the Fifth Regiment, of Perry County, of 19 companies; the Sixth Regiment, of Harrison County, of 14 companies; the Seventh Regiment, of Floyd County, of 16 companies; the Eighth Regiment, of Clark and Scott counties, of 12 companies; 5 companies of Scott county; the Crawford County Regiment of 10 companies; the Monroe County Regiment of 10 companies; the Lawrence County Reg- iment of 12 companies; the Orange County Regiment of 7 companies ; 7 companies of Washington County; 8 companies of Jackson County; two companies of Brown County, and 1 company of Owen County, or 123 in all.
The Seventh Brigade was composed of the Vigo County Regiment of 23 companies; the Parke County Regiment of 19
89
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
companies; the Montgomery County Regiment of 12 com- panies; 4 companies of Clay County; 11 companies of Putnam County ; 3 companies of Vermillion County; 6 companies of Fountain County; 5 companies of Tippecanoe County, and 2 companies of Warren County, or 85 in all.
The Eighth Brigade consisted of 1 company of White County; 1 company of Jasper county; 1 company of Pulaski County; 3 companies of Marshall County; 3 companies of St. Joseph County, and 1 company of Laporte County, or 10 in all.
The personnel of the Legion was constantly changing on account of the members entering the United States service, and it was the great training school for the volunteer army. Governor Morton appreciated its value in this particular, and on October 16, 1862, an encampment of the officers was or- dered for Indianapolis. Nearly four hundred officers on that date began a two weeks' tour of inspection under officers of the regular army. Two regiments were organized and the work was both theoretical and practical.
The Legion was frequently called into active service, and there was scarcely a time during the war that some portion of it was not on duty, either guarding the southern border, suppressing internal troubles or aiding Kentucky. Portions of it were called out on July 18, 1862, when the Second and Third Regiments were ordered into active service on account of the raid on Newburg. The threatened attack on Evans- ville, the Kirby Smith raid, the two Morgan raids, and the Adam Johnson raid in 1864, gave many of the members a slight taste of actual warfare. Internal troubles resulting from secret organizations and resistance to drafts also caused many calls.
The raid by General Morgan in July, 1863, caused great alarm throughout the State, and Governor Morton called for volunteers. Within forty-eight hours 65,000 men responded and thirteen regiments and one battery were organized. The regiments were in service for a week, and were numbered from the 102d to the 114th, inclusive. The 102d, 103d and 108th were composed exclusively of the Legion, while four Legion companies were in 104th, seven in the 105th, and one each in the 107 and the 112th. The other companies consisted of "Minute Men." Altogether, over 50,000 members of the Le- 'gion were called into active service for periods of ten to thirty days, and over 800. companies were enrolled in the Legion.
The magnificent response by Indiana to the call for volun- teers is well known, and the part the soldiers of the State took in that great struggle is the most glorious page in the
90
NATIONAL GUARD OF INDIANA.
State's history. Indiana sent a total of 208,367 men to the front. Of this number 129 regiments of infantry included 175,776; 13 regiments of cavalry, 21,605; 1 regiment of heavy artillery and 26 batteries of light artillery, 10,986. The terms of service were: three years, 165,617; one year, 21,642; nine months, 742; six months, 4,082; one hundred days, 7,415; three months, 6,308; sixty days, 587; and thirty days, 1,874.
The tremendous amount of work in the Adjutant-General's office in looking after the records of those who had served during the war and the defective militia laws, combined to cause a delay in a thorough organization of the militia during the years immediately following the war. Companies were organized as independent bodies and were incorporated, while the State furnished arms. Adjutant-General John C. Green- walt assumed the duties of his office on April 1, 1870, and on the last day of the year he submitted the first report after the close of the war. Neither of his predecessors had made reports, and his report covered only that period in which he had been in charge.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.