USA > Indiana > Centennial history and handbook of Indiana : the story of the state from its beginning to the close of the civil war, and a general survey of progress to the present time > Part 21
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Throughout the early fifties, owing to this vexed slavery ghost that would not down, the elements of a new party, not yet crystallized, were segregated under such names as "Free Soilers," "Abolitionists," "Free Democracy," "Barnburners," and the "People's Party," which latter "was the preliminary organization of the republican party" in this State .; Other parties, such as the prohibition and "Know-nothing" or- ganizations were in the field, but the political movement at the times of greatest historical im- port was the one that was feeling its way toward
alignment on the nation's greatest problem, that of slave versus free labor-a problem that in- volved both economics and morals.
These various currents finally merged in the organization that was destined to work out the country's salvation-the republican party, which took definite form at a convention held in Pitts- burgh on the 22d of February, 1856. That year O. P. Morton, as candidate of the "people's party" for governor of Indiana, canvassed the State, and during the campaign, according to his biographer (Foulke, p. 58), he "organized the republican party in Indiana."
The new party rapidly became a power in the land and in the State. This first campaign Mor- ton was beaten by Ashbel P. Willard, a democrat, but four years later, as running mate with Henry S. Lane, he was elected, along with a republican majority in the General Assembly.
The wrangling between the parties during the latter fifties was a discredit to the State. Through their refusal to act together they failed, in the Legislature of 1857, to make an appropriation for the expenses of the State government, and Governor Willard borrowed enough to pay the interest on the public debt, while the State insti- tutions had to be temporarily closed. Also the democrats, by an irregular proceeding, elected Jesse D. Bright and Graham N. Fitch to the United States Senate. The next Legislature, the republicans being then in the ascendency, de- clared the previous irregular proceedings ille- gal and elected Henry S. Lane and William M. McCarty, but the United States Senate, which was democratic, did not recognize these repub- lican contestants.
In a word the irreconcilable antagonism be- tween the free and the slave States which grew more and more bitter as the great issue was re- peatedly forced upon the people, found in Indi- ana full expression.
The Secession Issue and Morton's Stand .- When the brewing storm between the north and south threatened the division of the nation by the secession of the southern States, men found
* This provision stood until 1881, when it was stricken out and an amendment substituted.
William Dudley Foulke's "Life of Morton," one of the best books on the war period in Indiana.
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themselves fronted by an issue not to be shunted off for future solution-an issue sharp and im- mediate, and so far reaching in its consequences that the vast majority were at sea as to what policy ought to be pursued. Ought the rebellions States, resting on the sacred doctrine of State's rights, be allowed to withdraw in peace; or should the preservation of the Union and the nation's future be the paramount consideration ? Leaders were timid, temporizing and uncertain, and there was need of strong men to take the positive and unequivocal stand. Such a man in Indiana was Oliver P. Morton. At a meeting held in the Marion county courthouse on Novem- ber 22, 1860, he delivered a speech which stamped him as the man of the hour and revealed the qualities that were to make him famous as Indi- ana's great "war governor." He was then the newly-elected lieutenant-governor. Henry S. Lane, the governor-elect, who was noted as an orator, also spoke and was, presumably, regarded as the headliner of the occasion, but what he said was, in view of the temper of the times, in- consequential as compared with Morton's ad- dress. There was no shilly-shally in the latter. The speaker stood, first of all, for the right of the nation to preserve its existence and integ- rity, and he analyzed the situation point by point. To grant one State the right to secede at this crisis was to grant the same right to any State at any time, and that meant the dissolution of the nation whenever such States might see fit. To quote :
"The right to secede being conceded, and the way to do it having been shown to be safe and easy, the prestige of the republic gone, the na- tional pride extinguished with the national idea, secession would become the remedy for every State or sectional grievance, real or imaginary, and in a few short years we should witness the total dissolution of that mighty republic which has been the hope and the glory of the world. We must, then, cling to the idea that we are a nation, one and indivisible, and that, al- though subdivided by State lines for local and domestic purposes, we are one people, the citi- zeus of a common country, having like institu- tions and manners, and possessing a common interest in that inheritance of glory so richly pro- vided by our fathers. We must, therefore, do
no act, we must tolerate no act, we must concede no idea or theory that looks to or involves the dis- memberment of the nation."*
This speech, the effect of which, according to Foulke, "was of incalculable effect, not only in the State but over the entire country, was deliv- ered shortly before South Carolina took the first step in actual secession. Exactly in line with the firm stand of Lincoln it foreshadowed the un- wavering support which, as governor of the ' State, he was to extend to the nation's chief ex- ecutive in the trying years to follow, and it re- vealed the strong hand which was to deal with internal difficulties during those times of danger. Fortunately the office of lieutenant-governor was the stepping-stone to the governorship. On the 15th of January Governor Lane was made United States senator, and Morton succeeded to the gubernatorial chair.
Condition at Beginning of the War; Mor- ton's Activity .- When, with the assault on Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, the smoldering fires of hostility burst into living flames and the war was on us, Indiana's state of unpreparedness was about as bad as it could be. She had neither money nor munitions, the latter, according to Adjutant-General Terrell's statement, consisting of "perhaps less than five hundred stands of ef- fective first-class small arms, besides eight pieces of weather-worn and dismantled cannon and an unknown number of old flint-lock and altered-to- percussion muskets, the most of which were scat- tered throughout various counties in the hands of private individuals and members of disbanded companies of militia."ยก Also, such militia sys- tem as the State once maintained, had virtually gone to pieces ; the military reputation we had carried over from the Mexican war on account of injurious reports as to the conduct of our sol- diers at Buena Vista, was not good: our credit was not good, and "there was a certain evil re- pute which everywhere hung over the name of 'Iloosier'" (Foulke). Added to all was the strong hostile element within our borders ready to throw every obstacle in the way of an aggres- sive loyal policy. Notwithstanding this discour- aging situation Morton, on the 15th of April,
* For full text see Foulke's "Morton," pp. 87-96.
Adjutant-General Terrell's reports, vol. i-a valuable history of the war period in Indiana.
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and on the heels of the news that Sumter had fallen, telegraphed to the president this message :
To Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States: "On behalf of the State of Indiana I tender to you, or the defense of the nation, and to uphold the author- ty of the government, ten thousand men.
(Signed) "OLIVER P. MORTON, "Governor of Indiana."
The thing that made possible such an offer was the temper of a majority of the people. The Union sentiment was at a white heat and over-
discharged. Indianapolis had been designated as a place of rendezvous, and the State fair grounds, a recently-acquired tract of thirty-six acres, then at the north edge of the city but now far within it and known as "Morton Place," was christened "Camp Morton" and put at the service of the troops. The problem sometimes presented of insufficient volunteers was reversed, the question being to choose out of the many that presented themselves. To quote the adjutant-general's ac-
NOV
Old State House. From Photograph taken April 30, 1865, the day Lincoln's body lay in state.
whelmingly dominated the adverse minority. The firing on Fort Sumter banished all uncertainty from the minds of those who had hitherto wa- vered, and those who had differed before were now one for the preservation of the nation. The forming of companies proceeded at once. The day after the first call for troops there were 500 in camp at Indianapolis, and within three days 2,400, with new arrivals coming by every train. By the seventh day there were 12,000, which was far more than were required. The Indiana quota was fixed at six regiments of infantry or riflemen, making 4,683 officers and men, who were to serve for three months unless sooner
count, the response was as gratifying as it was universal, and left no doubt as to the entire and lasting devotion of Indiana to the fortunes of the Union. . . . The 'old flag' at once became sacred and was proudly displayed in every breeze from the highest peaks of churches, school- houses and private dwellings. The presentation of a stand of national colors by patriotic ladies to each company was rarely omitted, and, when- ever practicable, brass bands were provided to escort them to the general camp" (Terrell). The people generally, among the Unionist element. rallied to the occasion. Volunteers were freely furnished with such supplies as the authorities
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could not at once provide, and in many instances the men were carried free by the railroads ; pri- vate citizens and local authorities contributed money to aid the cause, while banks and capital- ists offered to advance whatever money might be required.
Extra Session of the Legislature .- Governor Morton, to meet the exigencies, called a special session of the Legislature, which convened on the 24th of April. By his recommendation it authorized a war loan of $2,000,000, to be ap- plied as follows: For general military purposes, $1,000,000; for the purchase of arms, $500,000; for contingent military expenses, $100,000; for organizing and supporting the militia for two years, $140,000. Laws were also passed to or- ganize the Indiana militia ; to provide for six regi- ments of State troops; to provide for a State paymaster : to authorize counties to appropriate moneys for the protection and maintenance of the families of volunteers, for the purchase of arms and equipments, and for raising and main- taining military companies : to provide for the. punishment of persons guilty of giving material aid and comfort to the enemies of this State or of the United States in time of war (Terrell).
Six First Regiments .- The consecutive num- bering of our regiments dates from the Mexican war. The first five were in that war, and conse- quently the Sixth was the first Indiana regiment to go into the civil war. The six regiments above mentioned, constituting the first Indiana quota, were commanded as follows :
Sixth, Col. Thomas T. Crittenden; Seventh, Col. Ebenezer Dumont ; Eighth, Col. William P. Benton : Ninth, Col. Robert H. Milroy ; Tenth, Col. Joseph J. Reynolds; Eleventh, Col. Lewis Wallace.
These regiments made up the First Brigade of Indiana Volunteers, with Thomas A. Morris as brigadier general. By the 27th of April they were fully organized and after being well armed and equipped they went under General McClel- lan's command in western Virginia. That they acquitted themselves well is testified by a com- minication from General MeClellan to Governor Morton when they returned from their three- months' service. "I have," he wrote, "directed the three months' regiments from Indiana to move to Indianapolis, there to be mustered out and reorganized for three years' service. I
can not permit them to return to you without again expressing my high appreciation of the dis- tinguished valor and endurance of the Indiana troops, and my hope that but a short time will elapse before I have the pleasure of knowing that they are again ready for the field."
The First Brigade was at once reorganized for the three-years' service.
Organization of State Troops; Subsequent Regiments .- The next six Indiana regiments, from the Twelfth to the Seventeenth, inclusive, may be specifically mentioned because their or- ganization serves to illustrate the initiative and forehandedness of Governor Morton. As said above, the response to the first call for troops was far in excess of the quota requested by the federal government, which was less than 5,000 men. Considerably more than that, after the five regiments were formed, were still anxious for the opportunity to enlist, and out of this material Morton, on his own responsibility, and under the power vested in him as commander-in-chief of the militia of the State, formed five other regi- ments, ostensibly for the State's defense, but really in anticipation of a further call when, as bodies already organized and in process of train- ing, they would be acceptable to the United States. To further insure their probable future usefulness the men were enlisted for a year and the governor retained the authority to transfer them to the government service, or to tempo- rarily retire them, if advisable, after they had been sufficiently drilled and disciplined, with the power to recall them to active service when needed. Of these regiments, the Twelfth, Thir- teenth and Seventeenth rendezvoused at Indian- apolis, the Fourteenth at Terre Haute, the Fif- teenth at Lafayette and the Sixteenth at Rich- mond. As a matter of fact these regiments were hardly organized until there was a demand for four of them at the front and they entered serv- ice for three years, while the other two (the Twelfth and Sixteenth) were transferred by the middle of the summer and served out their year in the Army of the Potomac.
A detailed account of the origin and services of Indiana regiments does not come within our scope. Suffice it to say, in this connection, that during the first year at least, the patriotic fervor of the people made recruiting easy, and though the calls came repeatedly as the conflict grew in
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magnitude, the volunteers were in excess of the demand. In 1861 more than fifty infantry regi- ments, besides three of cavalry and twelve of ar- tillery batteries were put in the field and most of these prolonged their services by re-enlistments.
As the war progressed with fluctuating for- tunes, alternate reverses and successes, combined with other influences, affected volunteering here as elsewhere. Here as elsewhere, there was some drafting when, in emergencies of the conflict, large quotas were demanded, but the figures of Adjutant-General Terrell show that while cer- tain of the townships in the State fell short in 1 1
fought in every seceding State, except Florida, and in every other State that was invaded. "Three Indiana regiments took part in the first battle of the war, and an Indianian was the first to yield up his life, on the battlefield, for the Union. . The last battle of the war was fought by Indiana troops; the last gun fired at the enemy was by an Indianian, and the last Union soldier killed in battle was John J. Will- iams, of Company B, Thirty-fourth Indiana Reg- iment" (W. H. Smith).
The Hundred-Days' Troops .- Eight regi- ments of Indiana infantry (132d to 139th, in-
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MORTON
A-306
Morton Monument on State House Grounds.
their quota of volunteers, the others were in ex- cess, and the State as a whole, at the close of the war had offered an excess.
Altogether Indiana contributed to the war a larger proportion of her population of the mili- tary age than any other State, except Delaware (J. P. Dunn), the grand total, after deducting 11,718 re-enlistments, being 197,649. Of these 24,416 were killed or died of diseases, and 13,779 were "unaccounted for" (Terrell). There were 151 infantry regiments,* fourteen cavalry regi- ments, twenty-seven artillery companies, and va- rious miscellaneous organizations (adjutant-gen- eral's statistics). During the service they were, as one writer affirms, more widely distributed than the soldiers of any other State and they
clusive) organized in 1864, and known as the "Hundred-Day" men, because their enlistment was for that period, were somewhat distinctive in their origin. Campaigns on a huge scale against Atlanta and Richmond were intended, and the demand for men exceeded the response. Both Grant and Sherman were urging more sup- port, but the country had been drained by re- peated calls. In this contingency the governors of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, led, it is claimed, by Morton, met in conference and devised a plan for raising volunteers on short enlistment who might aid the proposed campaigns by guarding railroads, depots, and fortifications in the rear of the armies, or doing similar serv- ice, thus relieving disciplined troops who could be used at the front. By arduous effort Morton succeeded in raising 7.415 men, and these served
* The first infantry regiment formed was the 6th and the last the 156th.
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11 Tennessee and Alabama by releasing veterans for duty on the firing line. thus materially strengthening the army in the Atlanta campaign.
The Indiana Legion .- What was known as the "Indiana Legion" was the active militia or- gamzed within the State for internal defense. Our proximity to Kentucky which, even if not a sereding State, pronused to be troublesome terri- tory, warranted a fear of invasion-which fear, as we shall see, was justified. Moreover, the dangers within from the disaffected element, that made its presence known before the war was very far advanced, rendered imperative a home mili- tary force under the command of the governor.
The State militia, though an institution of long standing, had become decadent, but an act of May 11. 1861, re-established it, dividing it into two classes-the sedentary and the active. The first consisted of "all white male persons subject to bear arms under the constitution of Indiana, and who do not belong to the active militia." The latter was made up of volunteers between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, and was organized into nine brigades, though this repre- sented an uncertain number of men, as the or- ganization of companies in many localities was incomplete and impermanent. The southern counties, particularly those along the Ohio river, had greatest need for efficient defensive or- ganization, while those in the north, having less need, were correspondingly slack. As this im- plies, the brigades as units represented different groups of contiguous counties. The history of the Legion seems to be largely a history of the southern regiments, which protected the interior from the guerrillas of Kentucky much as the old frontier farther north had, in an earlier day, guarded the river counties from Indian forays. Many companies that were organized in the northern sections were not even supplied with arms and paid little attention to military drilling. The "sedentary" militia was never called upon. Indeed, the Legion as a whole in its inequalities, corresponding to the degree of stress, illustrate strikingly what had been illustrated before- namely, that our people have so little taste and aptitude for militarism that only dire emergency can arouse them to it. But the times also proved that when once thoroughly roused the military zeal burned fiercely. One service of the Legion where best organized was as a training school
and a feeder to the quotas that went to the front as Indiana responded to the numerous calls from the government.
Invasions of the State; Johnson and Hines. -In the course of the war there were three raids into Indiana that might be called invasions of the State, though the first two were little more than forays.
On the 18th of July, 1862, Adam R. John- son, a citizen of Kentucky, who had been terror- izing Union sympathizers in this State, crossed the Ohio river with about thirty men to the town of Newburg in Warrick county, some fifteen miles above Evansville. The citizens were taken by surprise, the place was pillaged, considerable plunder was sent across the river, and after re- maining a few hours the marauders returned to the Kentucky shore. They were aided in this exploit by rebel sympathizers living in Newburg, and two of these were afterward killed by their outraged fellow townsmen. As a result of this freebooting expedition a good-sized militia force from Indiana, by the initiative of Governor Mor- ton, invaded Kentucky to clear the country of guerrilla bands that were harassing Kentucky Unionists and threatening our borders.
On the 17th of June, 1863, Capt. Thomas H. Hines, with sixty-two men, crossed the river at a point eighteen miles above Cannelton. This "invasion" might be called a horse-stealing raid, and it was not lacking in humorous features. With a monumental audacity he represented to the Hoosiers that his little force was a detach- ment from the army of General Boyle, the Union commander of the District of Kentucky, and that he was in search of deserters. Incidentally he needed better horses, and he took his pick from the countryside at liberal prices, giving vouchers for the same upon the federal quartermaster at Indianapolis. This, presumably, was better than the risk of having to fight for them, but the ruse did not work long, and by the second day the alarm spread through the adjacent counties and the local companies of the Indiana Legion were soon on the trail. Hines marched northward through three counties to a point about seven miles northwest of Paoli, in Orange county ; thence he turned cast into Washington county and made southward again toward the Ohio river, deeming it high time to be getting home. Meanwhile one body of militia was following the
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marauders ; another, apprised of their move- ments, cut across from the west to intercept them at the Ohio ford, and an armed steamboat pushed up the river to prevent the escape across. As a result they were closed in on at the fording place at Blue River Island, about three miles above Leavenworth, and the entire force captured with the exception of four or five who were killed and drowned and three who escaped, one of the latter being Captain Hines himself.
The Morgan Raid .- The raid of John Mor- gan was the one invasion of the war which is famous in our annals. It was on a much larger scale than the visitation of Hines. The size of the invading force is not agreed upon, but it probably was not less than 2,500 men. The object of the leader was to create a diversion that should be of aid to the southern army in Tennessee, and he counted on the rallying of the disaffected population to his support. Had the plan carried the whole State would have been in imminent peril. It was a bold dash that threat- ened disaster or promised brilliant success to the executor, but, as the sequel showed, the risk was far greater than he had counted on.
Morgan was a dashing, reckless leader, whose mounted command, composed of men after his own heart, had already cut a romantic figure in other campaigns. His spectacular invasion of Indiana was contrary to the orders of his su- perior officer. General Bragg. On the 7th of July, 1863, he appeared at Brandenberg, Ky., a town on the Ohio, opposite Harrison county, and two miles above Maukport, Ind. Here he cap- tured two steamboats, and in the face of opposi- tion from the Indiana shore and from river craft he transferred his troop. The opposition melted away and Morgan struck northward, heading first for Corydon, where a showing of raw mili- tia, hastily got together, put up a brisk fight in which twelve men lost their lives and thirty-five were wounded, most of these being the invaders. The odds, however, were overwhelmingly against the defenders, and after acquitting themselves thus gallantly they surrendered to the number of 345. Then followed an orgy of looting. Stores were raided ; levies of money were laid on the three flouring mills of the town under penalty of burning if refused; the county treasury was robbed of its money ; private houses were pil- laged and the women compelled to prepare meals
for the unwelcome visitors. Also, not less than five hundred fresh horses were gathered up in the vicinity and appropriated as the spoils of war.
From Corydon, Morgan, leaving his wounded men behind him, proceeded still northward to- ward Salem, Washington county, dividing his force so as to better sweep the country and strike the railroads and telegraph lines. The entire troop reached Salem on the morning of July 10, and after a skirmish with "minute men" took possession of the town. Here the depredations were worse than at Corydon. The railroad tracks were torn up, the depot and bridges burned and pillage ran riot. Basil W. Duke, one of the raiders, thus writes of it :
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