USA > Indiana > Shelby County > Chadwick's History of Shelby County, Indiana, Vol. 1 > Part 10
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This meeting had been well advertised : the school-house was full to over- flowing and the audience, like the country at large, greatly excited. The eve- ning was mild, but cloudy and threatening, as was the political aspect of the nation itself, at that date. The meeting was organized at one o'clock sharp. by the election of W. C. E. Wanee as president and William R. Norris, secre- tary, both being citizens of Shelbyville, at a later date. Then, Sugar Creek township probably possessed more debating talent than any other township in the entire county. For many years, at Boggstown, these debates had been
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going on, until all could publically express their views, whether in good English or not. they had their say on all great subjects coming up for solu- tion. Old horny-handed farmers and their sons all joined in the debates. There were then three Democrats to one Republican within Sugar Creek town- ship. The president, or "chairman," appointed Dr. J. W. Smelser and Wil- liam R. Norris as a committee on resolutions. These gentlemen repaired to the outside and to the back end of the old school-house for consultation. Doctor Smelser drew from his pocket a "cut and dried" 'set of resolutions. prepared by himself and a cousin from Kentucky-a Mr. Fullalove- who had been visiting there two weeks, and who desired to take the resolutions to his home in Louisville, Kentucky, and have the same published as the true sentiment of the people in one of the banner inland townships of Indiana. Doctor Smelser returned to the building and read the resolutions and spoke twenty minutes on them. Norris followed in support of the same in an eloquent appeal.
Next the president stood upon his feet and drawing a book from his pocket, proceeded to read in a most excellent manner, a treatise on the "Hor- rors and Terrors of War." This occupied ten minutes or more. These three "clinchers," in favor of the adoption of the resolutions, seemed to indicate that all was a one-sided affair, and that a vote would be unanimous, but a little later Dr. William G. McFadden. a young physician and ardent Republican who lived and practiced near Boggstown, and who afterward became one of the highly honored citizens of Shelbyville, called for the reading of the reso- lution again, which was done by the secretary.
The young doctor took exceptions and made a radical speech against the sentiments contained in the resolutions-especially the latter sections. He favored union, if possible without war, but union at all hazards, even if civil conflict must ensue. He created a profound sensation among those present in the school-house on that eventful occasion. The secretary. Mr. Norris, sprang to his feet and argued strongly in favor of the proposed resolution, on the ground that "God Almighty and nature designed them to be one in- divisible, that as the water of our state flowed to the Mississippi, and the Mis- sissippi to the Gulf-nature herself had pointed out our destiny -- that as for his part, he was born with Southern blood in his veins, that he could never go back to his native state, old Kentucky, that he had lived, as they were all aware, for more than two years quite recently, in the land of border ruffians, Western Missouri, right in the hot-bed of negro slavery. where they all owned slaves- that to his certain knowledge Western Missouri was a perfect nigger's para- dise, that the slaves were well treated, many of them better than they deserved." That from his knowledge of Southern slave-holders, he would much prefer going among them if they did secede and leave the Union, to allying himself to the hypocritical. cunning. crafty, foxy, blue-bellied Yankees of the New
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England states-and a great deal more was added by the secretary in defense of his position.
Doctor Smelser followed with an earnest appeal in behalf of the South, stating that he was posted about the condition in the slave states, and insisted that the "nigger" was a thousand times better off in the care of his good master than in the hands of operators in the North, who overworked and underpaid them there. He would much prefer a home among Southern slave-holders. than among hypocritical Pharisees of New England. the cold-blooded, calcu- lating Yankees, whose only God was money, who first stole the niggers from Africa and sold them in the Southland of our country and who now wanted to free them so that they could get them North to work for them, pay them small wages, when they felt so disposed, and let them wear their old clothes and eat cold victuals, whilst pretending to be their friends. He said they would rather steal a nigger from a comfortable home in the South, than to pay some poor white man good living wages to do their drudgery.
About this stage of the meeting. Homer Palmeter, an old man, and a rock-rooted Jackson Democrat, who read the New York Day Book (an ultra. fire-eating Democrat paper), morning, noon and night, took the floor. The old man's soul was absorbed in its very passion in politics, and who, while il- literate, was well posted on the living issues of his day and generation. Among other things he said: "Mr. President, we hear much said about coishun (coercion) in the papers, they'r full of it, both Dimikratic and Rippublican. I say, Mr. President, let's bring it right home to ourselfs. How would you. Mr. President, like to be coished (coerced) ? I know you wouldn't. We all known you wouldn't. Now, if it isn't right to coish ( coerce) a man, it ain't right to coish a state. What's right between man and man is right between states and states. 'Do as you would be done by.' is the golden rule of Holy Writ, laid down by Christ himself, and don't undertake to coish (coerce) our Southern britherin."
Numerous speeches were made later on, but one must not be left un- mentioned in this work, the one delivered by Adam Smith, who distinguished himself later in advocating the theory that the earth stands still and the "sun do move" around it. He had many heated arguments with some of the lighter weight scientific men of his times. Uncle Adam said: "Gentleman, I have been much interested in the discussion of the resolutions, and I for one, am emphatically in favor of their adoption. If it comes to a separation of the states I prefer to go with the Southern nigger drivers all the time, to agoin' with the blue-bellied Yanks. By giddy! Them's my sentiments, gentlemen."
Doctor McFadden was left almost entirely without support-all seemed to have been converted to the pro-slavery cause, by the eloquent learned ap- peals of the various speakers. He arose once more and said: "Gentlemen, the people of New England are not all Abolitionists, and they are not all as bad as
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has been represented. The Yankees were good soldiers in the war of the Revolution, they helped us mightily to achieve our independence. The Revo- lution, you must remember began at Lexington and at Bunker Hill. I for one am not willing to give up. Yankee Doodle. Lexington and Bunker Hill."
Ben Farmbrough, the great trading man of Sugar Creek township, was asked for an expression of his sentiments, and responded as follows, in his own peculiar quaint and dry manner : "Gentlemen, you all know I am not a speech maker. but at such a time as this I think it stands every man in hand to impress his sentiments. I know the Southerners well; I have traded in Ole Kentuck: I have bought stock thar and sold stock thar. Whatever a Kentuckian tells you, you can depend on : he's fair and squar; his word is as good as his bond. I speak what I know : I have et at thar tables. staid at thar houses of niglits, and had lots o' dealin's with 'em. and that's not a more cleverer or a more honorabler set of people on the face of the urth than they ar. As for the blue-bellied Yanks, I've had dealins with them, too; and uve got to watch 'em as well as pray, for prayin' won't do no good : they'll cheat you any chance they git. and make a chance if they don't see one. I tell you the devil will never git his own until he gits the Yanks, and he will be mighty loth to claim 'em: he knows they wouldn't be in hell six months before they elieat him out of his kingdom and set up a government of thur own. No, he'll not take 'em in if he can help it. he'll just shut the door in their face and tell 'em thiro the keyhole, that he don't want 'em. for 'em to go on still lower down, and set up a kingdom of ther own and cheat it out among themselves. If we had the few good Dimmikrats out o' New England. I would say, go to thunder ; we don't want to be associated with you dead-beats and everlasting cheats no longer. I fur one am fur the South. Them's my sentiments."
This speech brought down the house and capped the climax. Next in order the vote on the "resolution" was called for and had. There were but three votes against the passage of the resolution-Doctor McFadden and two whose names are not known to the writer. Mr. Fullalove, mentioned before as being from Louisville, took a copy of the resolutions to his southern home, and they were at once copied in the Louisville papers, with a glowing account of the meeting. The whole proceeding was later copied all over the South and West as an index of the sentiment in Central Indiana, and this was very tmnfair and not the true sentiment of a majority of the people of the Hoosier state. This was at that date Thomas A. Hendricks's home. It was believed abroad that all were of the same political belief, but not so. There is little doubt that the circulation of the resolutions of the Sugar Creek township meet- ing. by the newspaper press from one end of the land to the other, had much to do in stimulating the spirit of real secession and possibly hastened the advent of that long drawn out civil conflict-the Rebellion.
The Resolutions: The newspaper published at Shelbyville, in its issue of
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March 7. 1861. contained this article: "The following are the resolutions passed by the Sugar Creek union meeting on the 16th ult. The first and sec- ond resolutions were passed unanimously, and the third by three dissenting voices. The meeting was about equally composed of Democrats and Re- publicans." The resolutions in question read as follows :
"WHEREAS, We do acknowledge and are proud to confess the services of our Congressmen who are stirring and using their united efforts to promote the best interests and safety of the Union, and.
"WHEREAS, We do fully endorse the Crittenden resolutions or any fair and honorable adjustment, that will answer as a basis for the settlement of our National .affairs, that will be honorable and fair to the interests of all portions of our Nation. Therefore,
"Resolved, That we. the citizens of Sugar Creek township, do most earn- estly recommend and request the General Assembly of this state, now in ses- sion, to make application to Congress to call a convention as soon as possible for the purpose of proposing amendments to the constitution of the United States, based on the Crittenden resolutions, or any other fair and honorable policy, that will amicably and forever settle the slavery question between the North and South.
"Resolved, That while we deprecate the precipitate action of the South- ern states, we are opposed to the general government using any means of forc- ible coercion, but believe if proper concessions and compromises are offered by the Northern states with adequate constitutional guarantees, that all these seceding states will readily come back, and a reunion of our glorious Union will be the result.
"Resolved, That if. after all peaceable efforts have been made to keep the several states united in one grand confederacy. they must divide, and we must be cast with one or the other portion, we do of choice prefer to be at- tached to the Southern Confederacy."
No further attempts were made at holding union meetings in Shelby county for some time after this episode, which was given a national-wide cir- culation. The next shot was the firing on Fort Sumpter, which created great consternation in the county, in common with all the Union. At President Lincoln's first call for seventy-five thousand men. no section was more in haste. or responded more loyally. than did the people of Shelby county. Inside a week two full companies were organized and ready for the field. while the enlistment of five others was almost completed. One of these was accepted . by the authorities at Indianapolis and was assigned the position of Company C. in the Seventh Regiment, three months volunteer service. It was mustered into service April 22d, ten days after the first shot had been fired at Fort Sumpter, with John M. Blair as captain : John M. Flynn, first lieutenant, and Jolin C. Maze, second lieutenant.
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The local paper, the Volunteer, of April 25, 1861, said :
On Sabbath afternoon last Johnson's Hall was filled to overflowing with citizens to witness the presentation of the elegant flag (purchased by the pa- triotic ladies of Shelbyville) to the first company of volunteers from this county under the command of Capt. John M. Blair. The ceremonies were of an im- pressive character. Order of exercise : First, prayer, by Rev. Lynch ; sec- ond, song, "America :" third, addresses, by Revs. Montgomery, Smythe, Kent and Lynch ; fourth, presentation of a copy of the Bible to each of the officers, and a copy of the Testament to each volunteer. The Bible and Testaments were presented by the American Bible Society, and a full copy of the Bible would have been given each member had the agency at this place had a suf- ficient supply on hand : fifth, presentation of the flag, Misses Annie Greene. Laurie Sprague and Fannie Robins, in behalf of the lady donors, came for- ward and presented the elegant flag, procured for the occasion as a gratuity of their zeal for the cause in which their country men were about to engage. The presentation address was quite lengthy, but replete with patriotism, and ended with these words :
"In the dark and trying hour, In the breaking forth of power. In the rush of steeds and men, God's right hand will shield thee then."
Let your motto be. "Victory or Death." and may this flag with its stars and stripes never be trailed in the dust, but "long may it wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."
Captain Blair responded :
"To the liberal and patriotic ladies of Shelbyville, allow me, and in be- half of my fellow soldiers, to express our warmest gratitude for this noble banner. Speaking is not the soldier's province. Rather, it is their duty to defend that right. when the voice be raised in behalf of the Union and Con- stitution, but to crush it out when uttered by unworthy men against the Con- stitution and the glorious old banner, which has so often waved over many a hard-fought battle-field, and never yet been struck at half-mast until assailed by the traitorous hands of our fellow countrymen. We accept this noble and generous gift. and with it, the motto suggested by the fair donors, 'Vic- tory or Death.' May we hope that first sentiment shall crown our efforts. But, for me, and I but reiterate the sentiments of my fellow soldiers, death is more preferable than this noble banner should ever be disgraced."
After this the newly volunteered company sat down to a sumptuous banquet given by order of the City Council.
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THE SECOND COMPANY ORGANIZED.
April 22, 1861, the second company of volunteers was organized in Shelby county, by the election of T. A. McFarland, captain : D. T. Sleeth, first lieutenant and Robert Connor, second lieutenant. The time for this company to recruit was April 17th. Enthusiastic resolutions were passed and forty new names were added to the roll of volunteers. Viter giving three rousing cheers for Governor Hicks, of Maryland, and three times three for the "Stars and Stripes," the meeting was adjourned. On the 22d of that month the company had filled its quota and had taken on the name of "Shelby Guard of Honor." An invitation was then sent forth inviting the "Freeport Rovers, " the "Brandy- wine Invincibles," the "Home Guard," at St. Paul, and all other military com- panies in Shelby county to meet at Shelbyville and thus muster the military forces of the entire county. Colonels MeKenzie. Shank, and Captains Colescott and MeGuire were asked to assist in the drilling and mustering.
SWORD PRESENTATION.
Among the many happy incidents at Shelbyville during the Civil war pe- riod may here be mentioned the presenting of a beautiful sword. revolver, sash and belt, to Capt. James E. McGuire, of Company F. Fifty-first Regiment. It occurred November 23. 1861-first year of the war-and was graciously and tenderly presented, with a patriotic, sentimental speech delivered by Eden H. Davis, the same being too lengthy for the purpose now at hand. It was touchingly responded to on the part of the gallant captain, in words as follows:
"Mr. Davis: On receiving at your hands this splendid sword, sash and re- volver which have been purchased with funds voluntarily contributed by my personal friends, and by you presented to me. permit me to say that I thank you most heartily for the favor you thus confer upon me, and allow me to add, that during my eight years' residence in old Shelby county, I have al- ways been surrounded by friends who are firm and true and tried. I will not boast that I intend to perform great deeds in the future. If I survive this war I do not expect to emerge from it wearing such laurels as crowned the Father of my country, I simply expect in my humble way to faithfully and honestly perform those duties assigned me, and when it becomes necessary in the performance of my duty, to buckle on this sword and girt about me this sash, sweet memories of those who have presented them will flash through my brain and nerve my arm for the conflict. Should it be my lot to fall in battle I could ask no more than just such friends would place me in the silent tomb, where I will wake no more to the voice of my commander until God shall call and angels muster the long line of resurrection. Hoping that this black cloud of war that now obscures the star of our country's destiny will
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soon be dissipated, and the bright wing of peace once more hover over a united and happy people, the Ship of State riding securely at anchor in a tranquil harbor. the stars and stripes waving over every hill-top and valley on the con- tinent. the soldier restored to the bosom of his family and friends, peace and prosperity reign supremely over our whole broad land. the bonds of the Union made so strong that an occasion for presenting a sword to defend it may never occur again. I bid you adieu."
THE MORGAN RAIDERS -- GUERILLAS.
Perhaps no event connected with the Civil war created so much conster- nation and excitement as did the Morgan raid, during the month of July. 1863. when Confederate Gen. John H. Morgan invaded Indiana, crossing the Ohio river at Corydon and at once began his terrible raid across the state. He went through Washington county, took in Vernon in Jennings county. and directed his force toward Lawrenceburg. He was finally captured with his daring. fool-hardy band of four thousand men.
Upon the receipt of the news that Morgan and his men had reached In- diana soil, the people of this state generally believed the Confederates had concluded to directly attack and destroy the state, kill its people and continue in the work of rebellion.
In Shelbyville the excitement was fully equal. if not greater than at other points. Steps were taken to repel. and if possible capture this noted. daring Rebel leader with his outlaw gang. The Mayor of Shelbyville at that date was James E. McGuire. He assimned the leadership and issued the fol- lowing proclamation :
PROCLAMATION.
Fellow Citizens of Shelby County :- You are all aware that John Morgan, with his guerilla band of from six to eight thousand men. is invading our state. putting to death our citizens, applying the torch to our towns, our railroad bridges, mills and newly gathered crops : horses, mules, beef cattle, wagons, farming implements, every- thing that can be of use to our citizens is destroyed wherever he goes. He is at this time marching in the direction of our county : he may, however, change his course, but of this we are not certain. And in order to foil his designs upon this place, I call upon the citizens of Shelby county to bring forthwith to this city all rifles. shot guns, and other arms that they may be in possession of. to be formed into companies and squads for the purpose of ambushing. bushwhacking and harassing him in front, until the organized troops in the rear overtake him.
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I call upon others who have no arms to come in with axes, spades and picks, to be formed into working squads for the purpose of build- ing stackades and barricading the approaches and be ready to fall timber, forming abattis to prevent his approach if we should ascer- tain definitely that he is marching upon this point.
Come in, fellow citizens, without delay, and let us unite in solid body and beat back this Rebel invader in a manner so terrible and decisive as to render it their last attempt upon the state of Indiana. (SIGNED.)
JAMES E. MCGUIRE, July 13, 1863. Mayor of Shelbyville.
A meeting was called at the Mayor's office and the work of organizing companies was begun at once. "The Daily Republican," of a later date, said :
"Our meeting was then adjourned. When we arrived at the public square it was literally jammed with people, men, women and children all dis- cussing the grave situation, and each one had his own plan of operations. All was confusion. No man would stand still long enough to hear the other's plan. The present whereabouts of John Morgan was what the cooler-headed ones wanted to know. We inquired by telegraph of Indianapolis, but received no reliable information. Parties began recruiting a company of infantry and others, among them, E. B. Amsden was the leader, commenced recruiting a company of cavalry, all to be armed with such guns as could best be obtained in city or country. The Amsden party had the best argument. They would say: 'What do you want to go in the infantry for. Morgan's men are mounted and none but mounted men can follow him,' which was true.
"The next morning recruiting was resumed with great vigor. Country people came streaming from all directions and by 9 o'clock the city was literal- ly filled with people anxiously inquiring the news. It had been learned that Morgan had passed through Salem, the county seat of Washington county, taking many valuable horses, and compelling Mr. DePauw, the banker, to give Morgan five thousand dollars, and that he had marched out and would strike either Vernon or Seymour. Excitement now ran high and the people were very earnest. but much perplexed to known what to do. Another effort was made to hold a meeting at the Mayor's office, but all was to no avail, you might as well have called upon the clouds to come and hover over and give shelter to those on the public square exposed to the rays of that burning hot July day.
"One of the details of infantry being posted near George Senour's field across the river, about 10 o'clock at night. the squad concluded that pickets ought to have some whiskey : so a purse was made up and one of their num- ber appointed a committee to come into the city and get the 'commissary sup- plies.' The farmers having heard of the cavalry and how they were seizing
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horses that were brought to town for the use of new recruits, hitched their horses along the fences north of the river. This committee of one on his way over to procure the needed whiskey. discovered the horses and went back and told his comrades that Morgan had already arrived in Shelbyville : that they had dismounted and thousands of horses were hitched along the fences and that the men had gone on in on foot. Whereupon the guards fired their guns and started on a run for the city, not taking time to climb the embankment and cross the railroad bridge, but waded the river wherever they came to it. All that night men and women stayed upon the public square anxious as to their welfare. Morning came and with it the news that our troops had a skir- mish with some of Morgan's men, near Lawrenceburg. but that Morgan had made his escape, and was marching in the direction of Harrison. Ohio. Then came a general hand-shaking and expressions of great joy on every hand. Hundreds visited the Rebel prisoners in jail. The last duties our cavalry per- formed was to escort the Rebel prisoners to the train and deliver them to the proper authorities. Our troops were disbanded and peace and quiet reigned once more in Shelbyville."
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