USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 13
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 13
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The following list shows the loss in part sustained by Company E of this regiment during its term of service : James P. Tribble, Ashboro, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., December 22, 1864 ; Thomas J. Hadden, Sr., Brazil, killed at Atlanta, Ga., August 6, 1864 ; James T. Baum, Bowling Green, died at Terre Haute, Ind., March 5, 1864 ; John V. K. Bowling, Terre Haute, died at Washington, D. C., February 27, 1865 ; Benjamin F. Boar, Clay County, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., June 6, 1864; Francis P. Bailey, Terre Haute, died at Chattanooga July 4, 1864 ; Thomas J. Chapman, Staunton, died at Knoxville, Tenn., July 9, 1864 ; Joseph S. Cox, Staunton, killed at Wise Fork, N. C., March 10, 1865; Thomas Deeter, Staunton, died of wounds at Newbern, N. C., March 12, 1865 ; Sylvester Gregor, Center Point, died at Louisville, Ky., February 7, 1865 ; Benjamin F. Harrell, Bowling Green, died at Nashville, Tenn., May 2, 1864; Stephen Jaycox, died at Knoxville, Tenn., July 11, 1864 ; Andrew J. Loyd, Bowling Green, died at Terre Haute, Ind., March 13, 1864; William A. Monce, Bowling Green, died at Nashville, Tenn., January 12, 1865 ; William Monce, Bowling Green, died at home March 3, 1864 ; Daniel Melton, Ashboro, died at Fort- ress Monroe March 16, 1865 ; Reuben E. Overton, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., September 20, 1864 ; John F. Rardin, Clay County, died at Knox- ville, Tenn., June 9, 1864 ; William M. Smith, Staunton, died at Nashville, Tenn., Jannary 30, 1865 ; William L. Siner, Harmony, died at Washington, D. C., February 17, 1865.
COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
This was a one-year regiment, and was organized under a call made in December, 1864, for eleven regiments from the State of Indiana. Company B was recruited entirely in Clay County, and its members were largely en- listed in the vicinity of Bowling Green. Its first Captain was Thomas B. Reeder, of Bowling Green, who was afterward? promoted Major. William H. Boothe and John Hoffa, both of Bowling Green, were afterward succes- sively elected Captains of the company, and both of these gentlemen had formerly served as Lieutenants. James Willigman, of Bowling Green, was Second and First Lieutenant of the company at different times, and Jeptha D. Porter, of Bowling Green, also filled the office of Second Lieutenant. The whole regiment was recruited in the Seventh Congressional District, and was organized at Indianapolis on the 1st day of March, 1865, with William
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
H. Fairbanks as Colonel. Immediately after its organization, it was ordered to the seat of war, and left for Nashville, and was a few weeks afterward sent to Decatur, Ala., in which vicinity it did duty until it was mustered out of the service. While stationed at that place, the regiment received the surrender of the rebel forces commanded by Gens. Roddy and Polk, to- gether with large quantities of arms and munitions of war. On the 18th of Sep- tember it proceeded to Nashville, Tenn., where it was mustered out on the 27th of September, 1865, by reason of the war being ended. It saw less service than many other regiments, but it did the duty assigned it well, and returned home with an honorable record. It arrived at Indianapolis in a few days after its muster-out, with thirty-five officers and 870 men, where it met with a public reception and was addressed by a number of distin- guished men, after which it was finally discharged. The One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment also contained a number of Clay County men in Com- panies A, D, and F, besides Company B, all of whom were from Clay County.
COMPANY D, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
Company D, of this regiment, was composed largely of Clay County men. The regiment was composed of five companies, two of which were recruited in the Seventh Congressional District. The battalion was organ- ized at Indianapolis on the 12th day of April, 1865, with Charles M. Smith as Colonel. On the 27th of April, it left Indianapolis and proceeded to Harper's Ferry, and during its term of service was engaged in the Shenan- doah Valley. On the 4th of August, 1865, it was mustered out of the serv- ice at Winchester, Va., and returned home, arriving at Indianapolis on the 7th, with seventeen officers and 380 men for final discharge. After attend- ing a public reception at the Capitol grounds, it marched to Camp Carring- ton, where it was finally discharged. It was a one-year regiment, but owing to the closing of the war was retained in the service only a little over three months. The regiment lost a number of men in the service.
COMPANY B, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THIRD REGIMENT.
This company was also furnished from Clay County. It elected for its officers Ezra Olds, Captain ; Isaac W. Sawders, First Lieutenant ; and David C. Stunkard, Second Lieutenant, all of whom were from Brazil. The regi- ment enlisted for 100 days, but served for nearly six months. The regiment was mustered into the service at Indianapolis on the 17th day of May, 1864, with Robert V. Hudson, of Terre Haute, Colonel. It left at once for Nash- ville, Tenn., whence, after a short stay, it was ordered to Bowling Green, Ky., where it remained on duty for some weeks. From that place, it went to Bridgeport, Ala., in which place and vicinity it was engaged during the largest part of its term of service, doing guard duty and encountering the enemy in a number of brisk skirmishes. The regiment lost a number of men during its term of service, mostly by sickness. It saw a great deal of hard service, though it was not engaged in much hard fighting.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
OTHER REGIMENTS AND THE DRAFTS.
There were also numbers of Clay County men in the Eleventh Indiana and in the Thirteenth Indiana, as well as many others in other regiments, not credited to the county, and whose names therefore cannot be known after the lapse of so long a period of time. Also the Fourteenth Indiana contained some of the best soldiers that Clay County furnished. In this regiment, a large part of the Bowling Green Band enlisted as musicians. This regiment passed through a number of toilsome campaigns and hard- fought battles. Peter Schaffer, of Poland, who was a member of this regi- ment, was killed at the first battle of Winchester, Va.
We have endeavored in the foregoing narrative to give a brief history of each regiment that contained any considerable number of Clay County men. The county perhaps furnished as many soldiers as any county in the State, in proportion to its population at that time. It appears, from the best authority obtainable, that there were about 2,000 enlistments from Clay County during the progress of the war. The county was generally prompt in meeting the calls for troops, and, with two exceptions, her quotas were filled without resort being had to drafts. The first draft occurred in Octo- ber, 1862. The officers of the draft were Hezekiah Wheeler, Commissioner ; A. P. Boyer, Marshal ; Dr. J. N. Wardlow, Surgeon. October 17, 1863, there was a call for troops, Clay County's quota being 141, which was filled without draft. There were calls made in February, March and July of 1864, the quota for this county, for all three calls, being 679 men. It was met by 418 enlistments, 107 re-enlistments as veterans, and 129 men were drafted, leaving a deficit of 25. There were a number of other calls which were promptly met.
BOUNTIES AND OTHER RELIEF.
The amount of money expended in Clay County for local bounties, re- lief of soldiers' families and miscellaneous military purposes during the war, is shown by the following tabulated statement.
The Commissioners of the county appropriated $85,000, and the several townships made the following appropriations in addition : .
Posey Township.
$5,000
Dick Johnson Township.
3,500
Van Buren Township 4,000
Jackson Township.
Perry Township. 2,000
2,000
Lewis Township.
2,500
Harrison Township.
6,000
Washington Township.
5,000
Cass Township.
1,500
Sugar Ridge Township. 1,200
This makes a grand total of $115,000. In addition to these public donations, a large amount was raised through the instrumentality of chari- table societies, of which one existed, in almost every school district, under the name of Soldiers' Aid Societies.
John Trump
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
While the army of the North was at the front fighting the battles of the nation, it will be remembered that it did not receive the united support of the people whose cause it was endeavoring to maintain. No lines could be drawn which would define the geographical limits of the North and the South. The spirit of secession throughout the nation was like the leaven in the loaf ; it had penetrated the whole mass, and even those sections the most remote from Southern interests and influences were infected with the rebel sentiment. From the very beginning, there was a strong element in the Northern States opposed to the war whose conduct was rather calculated to encourage the rebellion than to suppress it. It may be only charitable to suppose that, at first, a majority of this class opposed the war rather out of humanitarian motives, and to avoid what they believed to be an unwarrant- ed shedding of blood than from any sympathy they may have felt for the cause of the seceded States. Many of this class were doubtless conscien- tious in opposing the war, and were in favor of the Government adopting any plan to put a stop to it. They were willing to let the South secede, and to see the Union dissolved; they were willing to allow the Southern States to return to the Union with or without slavery ; in fine, they were in favor of making any concessions, without regard to the honor and welfare of the nation that would end the war.
The sentiment against this class was very bitter, perhaps unjustifiably so. The war party recognized no middle ground, and would tolerate no excuse for refusing to support the administration in the prosecution of the war. " He who is not for us is against us," was a maxim in those days, and every man opposed to the prosecution of the war was treated as a disloyal subject. In many instances, the arrogance of the war party amounted to persecution. Persons opposed to the war were subject to constant indignity and insult, and surrounded by a social and even religious ostracism, which was calculated to intensify their opposition to the war rather than to win them to its support. The controversy invaded the social system ; was car- ried into the schools ; broke up churches, and engendered bitterness between friends and neighbors, until it seemed the opposing elements only lacked organization to bring them together in martial array. Many of the peace party had lost near relatives in the Union army, and they regarded them as unnecessary sacrifices, which might have been avoided had concili- atory measures been adopted at the outset. After this class had been per- secuted by the war party through a period of years-for what at first was an honest opinion-they had learned to hate the administration so bitterly that anything would have pleased them better than to see it succeed in conquering the rebellious States. This, however, was not the worst class of opponents of the administration. There was, in every Northern State, a large element whose instincts inclined them to sympathize with the South. They were rebels at heart, and hoped from the outset to see the contest ter- minate favorably to the Southern confederacy. They denounced the war as
7
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
a war of invasion and conquest, which was being waged without right, and in violation of every instinct of justice and humanity. They did every- thing in their power to render the war unpopular with the people ; to dis- courage enlistments ; to resist drafts, and to destroy the power and authority of the Government. This class generally, for many years prior to the war, had stood upon the same political platform with the States in rebellion. They had fought many a political campaign side by side with them ; they had contended for the supremacy of the same principles, and voted for the same candidates before the war, and why should they desert them now? They did not. Not that any part of the Northern people had any interest in the struggle in common with the people of the South ; but the tie which bound them together was rather a political one, strengthened by long years of cultivation and growth. It was one of those instances in which devotion to party was stronger than devotion to the country. While the Union army was standing between the country and its enemies, to meet and roll back the advancing tide of rebell- ion, these very men, whose property and homes were being protected, were holding secret meetings, organizing plots and conspiracies against the Govern- ment, and doing all in their power to embarrass the administration in the successful prosecution of the war. In some instances, this disloyal element went to the extent of procuring arms, drilling under cover of secrecy, and in several places in Indiana uprisings of armed insurrection were actually planned, but happily thwarted by the vigilance of the Union authorities before they had been carried far toward execution. The opposition to the administration in most places was organized into what was known as the Knights of the Golden Circle and Sons of Liberty. Clay County was no exception to the general rule, and here this disloyal spirit flourished to its highest extent, and brought forth its accustomed fruits.
WAR MEETINGS.
When it was seen that war was inevitable, the supporters of the cause set to work vigorously to create a sentiment in favor of the Union and to encourage enlistments. War meetings became common. Schoolhouses and churches, court houses and all available buildings were used as places for holding public meetings. One of the first and most noted meetings of this character held in Brazil was in a frame church which stood just south of Main street, in the early part of August, 1861. About that time, the people became thoroughly excited and alarmed over the situation. The war had been in progress for some months ; several battles of more or less impor- tance had been fought, and the sickening details of bloodshed were constantly in the ears of the people. Everybody was anxious to hear the great issues then before the country discussed. The simple announcement of a public meeting was sufficient to draw together a large part of the people of a whole community. On this occasion, the house was literally jammed. Hon. D. E. Williamson, now an attorney at Greencastle, was announced as the speaker." By some means, it so transpired that Hon. D. W. Voorhees, then
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
a member of Congress, was present, and was called upon for a speech. He responded, and charged the entire responsibility for the war upon the Re- publican party. He asserted that the rebellion never would be put down by force of arms, and staked his reputation upon the ultimate failure of the Union cause. His speech created great indignation, and many who had been his former friends and supporters retired from the meeting, determined in the future to pay their allegiance to the party of the administration. Mr. Williamson afterward spoke, and at the conclusion of the meeting a number of recruits were raised. Col. Teter, though at the time a Democrat, was a strong supporter of the Union cause, and made a number of speeches advo- cating the prosecution of the war.
Perhaps the most vigorous local worker in the cause was Maj. W. W. Carter. He canvassed the whole county, accompanied by a martial band, and held war meetings and made speeches in almost every schoolhouse and church in the county. A large meeting of this character was held in 1862 on the farm at Alfred West, south of Staunton, which was attended by the whole neighborhood. It was addressed by Col. Graft Cookerly, of Terre Haute, and Maj. Carter. At the conclusion of the meeting, the usual call for enlistments was made, and a large number responded. Similar meet- ings were held at all the small towns in the county. The large attendance which was always present at such meetings indi cated that the people were wrought up to a high degree of enthusiasm. Enlistments became common, and to see the young men donning the uniform of their country and leaving the farm for the army became a thing of almost daily occurrence. But, in proportion as the enthusiasm of the war party kindled, the opposition in- creased in bitterness. It became almost impossible to hold a public gath- ering of any kind whose tranquility was not disturbed by broils and fights. Even religious gatherings were frequently interrupted by political fights, and many congregations were entirely broken up on account of the political dis- sension that existed among them.
THE BUTTERNUTS.
During the progress of the war, the Northern sympathizers with the rebel cause acquired the appellation of " Butternuts," a term which was probably applied to them on account of the resemblance in color between the butter- nut and the rebel uniform. As many organizations and classes of men had done before them, they afterward adopted the name which had been ap- plied to them by their enemies in derision and contempt, and so far from the name being regarded by them as a reproach, it became their especial pride. The butternut was adopted as the emblem of secession, and pins made of that material were extensively worn to show sympathy for the rebel cause. The wearing of these butternut breastpins became a prolific source of contention, and many riots, in which more or less blood was shed, resulted from the custom. Whenever a war man encountered a Butternut, he felt it his bounden duty to tear the disloyal emblem from his person,
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
which in those times was regarded as the greatest insult that could be in- flicted. One instance is related to have transpired, either in this county, or in the edge of Putnam, where a pin of this kind was torn from the coat of the wearer, in church, during the progress of meeting. The usual riot fol- lowed, to the great annoyance of religious services, if indeed it did not break the meeting up altogether. On one occasion a Democratic County Conven- tion was in progress in the court house at Bowling Green. A number of soldiers happened to be at home, on furlough, at the time, and many citi- zens of war proclivities chanced to be in town during the day. At the close of the convention, the usual catalogue of disloyal resolutions was pre- sented for ratification. They would, doubtless, have been ratified without a dissenting voice had not an outside influence interfered to prevent it. It so transpired that the men of the opposite party got information of what was going on, and many repaired to the court house to witness the proceed- ings. Maj. Carter happened to come in. He was at once called upon by the war men for a speech. He responded in a speech of some length, en- deavoring to illustrate the odiousness of such a proceeding. He denounced the resolutions as treasonable in the rankest degree, and poured out much vituperation upon the heads of the authors of the resolutions. The situ- ation became exceedingly interesting. A warm time was evidently brewing. One by one, the members of the convention began to drop out, and one by one the war men began to come in, until, at the close of Maj. Carter's speech, the meeting had undergone a complete transformation, and instead of being an anti-war convention passing treasonable resolutions, it had become a loyal meeting, raising cheers for the Union.
The most positive demonstration of disloyalty, however, occurred in the early part of July, 1863. About that time, John Morgan, with a rebel force of about 5,000 men, had invaded Indiana. Relying upon assistance from the anti-war element in this State, he hoped to accomplish serious damage to the Union cause here, and perhaps effect the conquest of the State. At that time, the treasonable organizations in this State had reached their most effective development. Large numbers of men are believed to have been armed and under effective discipline. A general insurrection was planned, which was to be carried into execution as soon as Morgan's raid had progressed far enough to insure its success.
In this affair the Butternuts of this vicinity were not behind their brethren in other localities.
About this time, movements were set in operation for the organization of a rebel auxiliary force, to be drawn from the northern part of this county and from the Raccoon regions of Parke County. A place of rendezvous was established in Van Buren Township, on the farm of John Trump. Re- cruits came pouring in from all points of the compass, and soon a force, es- timated at 500 armed men, was collected. In this place they remained for about two days, concealing as far as possible their movements. The Union people got information of the remarkable gathering, however, and prepara-
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
tions for resistance were begun without delay. It was understood that the force was to advance upon Brazil and take possession of the place. They had gone so far as to have made arrangements for hay and corn for their horses, when they should establish their quarters in Brazil. The blood of the Union people began to boil at these proceeding and they determined to oppose the movement even though bloodshed should result. Great excite- ment existed, and it was feared that the affair would not only result in the loss of life, but that in the riot and confusion which should follow a conflict, the town would be set on fire, and a general destruction of property would result.
At this time there were two companies of soldiers, of limited experience in actual warfare, in Brazil, and these, together with such other forces as could be improvised for the occasion, were all that could be mustered for the defense of the town. The two companies were the Home Guards, com- manded by Capt. Carney, and the Brazil Guards, commanded by Capt. Olds. Both companies were armed with regulation guns provided by the Govern- ment.
The Union forces having got information of the intended movements of the attacking force, put themselves in readiness to repel them. It was ascer- tained that upon a certain day the attack upon the town was to be made. Word was sent to Gov. Morton, who at once dispatched Gen. Streight to come here and take command of affairs. The attacking forces were separat- ed into two divisions. The Eastern division, consisting of about 300 men, were to come in from the East, and the Western division were to make the attack on the west of the town, both divisions acting simultaneously.
The Union force was arranged to resist both divisions as best it might. The Home Guards, numbering about 100 men, were to encounter the Eastern division, and the Brazil Guards, with a force of citizens, were to meet the Western division. Gen. Streight arrived on the morning of the contemplated attack, and proceeded without delay, accompanied by D. C. Stunkard, to meet and parley with the Eastern division, and if possible to persuade and intimidate them from their purpose. He advanced to their lines and began to parley with them. A gun was drawn upon him, but the General coolly remarked that he had had whole regiments of guns pointed at him, and went on with his speech. He advised them not to attempt to come into Brazil, for if they did they would be met by a resolute resistance, and bloodshed would inevitably result. It appears his warnings had the de- sired effect. At any rate, the insurrectionists dispersed and were seen no more. Returning to town, the General, accompanied by Eli Hendrix, re- paired to the camp of the Western division, and held a similar parley with them, which had a similar result. The exact object that the movement was designed to accomplish has never been entirely understood. Many believe that, acting in concert with other organizations of a similar character throughout the State, the purpose was to march to meet and form a junct- ure with John Morgan, and assist in turning the State over to the rebels.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Others are of the opinion that the movement had no definite purpose at all, but was simply gotten up as a demonstration of hostility to the war, to dis- play the power of the opposition and to intimidate the Union authorities. Be that as it may, the movement had comparatively a harmless termination, and, from the readiness with which it yielded to opposition, it may reasonably be presumed that nothing really serious was contemplated.
But notwithstanding these dissensions, the return of peace was hailed with almost universal joy. After long years of conflict in the field, with contention and anxiety at home, it seemed as if the climax in the great con- test had been reached and passed. The end of the war seemed to be ap- proaching. The hopes of the people were almost daily refreshed with the news of victory, and it seemed that a few more months would restore peace to the long-distracted nation, with a Union more effectual and enduring, and a constitution more fully consecrated to Liberty. And so it proved to be. The seceded States felt that their cause was lost, the spirit of the rebellion was effectually broken, and the armies reluctantly laid down their arms and re- turned to their allegiance to the Union. Soon the long absent ones, emaciated by exposure and sickness, tanned by southern suns and begrimed by the dust and smoke of battle, began to return, and were once more restored to their friends and families. But though many years have rolled over since the last gun of the rebellion was fired and its last sword surrendered at Appomattox, time has not yet obliterated from the minds of men the mem- ory of that mighty contest, nor worn from the face of society the marks of its avenging blows.
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