USA > Indiana > Clay County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 9
USA > Indiana > Owen County > Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana : Historical and biographical. > Part 9
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
of slavery in the Territories, and which would oppose to the bitter end the admission of any new State into the Union under a slave constitution. The Southern people realized that their cause was lost unless the prowess of arms would restore the supremacy that had been lost at the polls. The inauguration of President Lincoln was regarded by the slave-holding States as a sufficient cause for secession, and a general clamor for war went up from the Southern people. The eloquence and influence of such men as Al- exander H. Stephens was not sufficient to stay the tide of rebellion. One by one in quick succession the Southern States passed ordinances of seces- sion. Their Representatives in Congress resigned and returned to their homes to assist in organizing rebellion against the federal Government. Having renounced all allegiance to the Union, they tore down the national flag, and the strange colors of a new confederacy were seen floating over several States of the federal Union. The North was filled with indignation and horror at these proceedings. Hitherto the question of slavery had been only a political one. The advocates of the slave doctrine embraced a large portion of the people even of the Northern States. But when what had be- fore been a question only involving the extension of slavery into the Terri. tories became one involving the right of secession and the dissolution of the Union, when what had been only a political controversy assumed the char- acter of rebellion, a large part of the Northern people before in sympathy with the cause of the Southern States became alienated from them and de- voted themselves to the maintenance of the Union, as a consideration para. mount to all questions of a political or local character. Many, however, in the Northern States adhered to the cause of the South, through peace and war, and were known even in the darkest days of the rebellion as Southern sym- pathizers. The part which this element played during the progress of the war is a part of the local history of every Northern county, and perhaps constitutes a feature of special prominence in the history of Clay County. Some attention will be devoted to this branch of our county war history in the subsequent pages of this narrative.
During the winter following the election of Lincoln, the country was in a state of constant agitation over the prospect of civil war. It was the chief topic of discussion in the newspapers of the day, and at every fireside, and in every cabin home in the land the absorbing theme of thought and conver- sation was the unfortunate situation in which the Nation had become in- volved. If the war should once begin, it was not easy to foresee the end. A dire calamity was believed to be impending. The resourees of both sides were sufficient to maintain a long and desperate struggle. Yet gloomy as were the forebodings of the people, it is probable that but few realized the full magnitude of the crisis, nor anticipated the long years of terror that the Nation was doomed to witness. The winter of 1860-61 was a winter of gloom to all the people of the country, and it was fervently hoped that with the return of spring the cloud of war which shadowed the land would pass away. But such hopes all vanished when in April rebellion was inaugurated
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
by firing upon Fort Sumter. This was the first time in the history of the Republic that an overt act of rebellion had been committed against the authority of the United States. For the first time the Nation was con- fronted with civil war. It is impossible to describe the indignation and mortification with which the news of this first act of rebellion was received throughout the North. The whole country was thoroughly agitated, and the people generally believed that all past differences should be reconciled and the united energies of the Nation should be directed to the single pur- pose of preserving the Union at all hazards.
Clay County shared the general emotion. The people here, as elsewhere, felt that a great outrage had been committed against the dignity of the Na- tion, that the Union was in jeopardy, and the Government in danger of destruction. The firing upon Fort Sumter on the 12th of April, 1861, brought matters to a final crisis. When the President issued his first call for 75,000 troops, our people responded with alacrity, and it was not long until the quota levied upon the State of Indiana was full. In Clay County many presented themselves for enlistment who were refused. As a rule, the young and middle-aged men of the county were eager to get into the army, and every concievable device was employed to accomplish it. At Bowling Green, a company was enlisted and organized, about this time, by W. W. Carter, then a young attorney of that place. The company was all ready to be mustered into the service, when word was sent from headquarters at Indianapolis that Indiana's quota was full, and that no more men would be mustered into the service. Mr. Carter was elected Captain of this company. He went to Indianapolis to receive instructions as to what should be done with the company, and was told that he might disband them, or if the com- pany desired to retain their organization until such time as they might be mustered into the service, under a new call for troops, they might do that He returned home and submitted the question of retaining the organization until such time as they might be mustered in under a new call, to a vote of the company. The proposition was voted down, and the company disbanded without seeing service of any character. This is but one instance illustra. tive of the willingness of the people to take up arms in the national defense.
COMPANY F, TENTH REGIMENT.
The first company that went from Clay County was Company F, Tenth Regiment Indiana Infantry. This company was raised in Brazil and vicin- ity, and many are yet here who then enlisted. Some were killed, and others died in the service, and many who returned home were impaired in health and, after lingering through years of sickness and suffering, have long since passed away. Of those who survived the perils of the service in sound health, some have gone to distant homes, but perhaps as large a per cent of this company are in the county to-day as of any company that went from here. The company was mustered into the service April 20, 1861, at In- dianapolis. Ezra Olds had been elected Captain ; Demetrius Parsley, First
AB Wheeler
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
Lieutenant; Isaac W. Sanders, Second Lieutenant; and Junius Hunt, Orderly Sergeant.
This having been the first company that went from the county, a good deal of excitement natually attended its departure. The boys were uni- formed in blue jean suits, and, as they marched through town to the depot, the people, unaccustomed to military displays, were enthusiastic in their demonstrations of admiration and cheered them heartily as they went. The company was quartered at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, where they re- mained, undergoing discipline, for over a month. They were then ordered to West Virginia to join Gen. McClellan's command. Many of the com- pany visited Blennerhassett Island on this campaign, the place famous in history as the spot where the conspiracy of Aaron Burr was incubated. To test the mettle of the new troops, they were several times called out by a false alarm. On one occasion, at Clarksburg, W. Va., the report was cir- culated that Gov. Wise was approaching with 40,000 rebel troops, and would shortly attack the Union forces. Company F was put vigorously to work at building fortifications, digging trenches and dragging cannon to the top of the hill. The whole army was kept in a state of violent commotion until it had been sufficiently demonstrated that the new troops were not of that mettle to flinch in the presence of danger, when it was made known that the whole affair was a sham, and that Gov. Wise was not within a hundred miles of the camp. However, the campaign was not all sham, and very little was play. The army soon encountered a number of skirmishes, but the damage to Company F was so light as not to require mention. The army was in the enemy's country, and battle was daily expected. It was not long until the two contending armies met, and the decisive battle of Rich Mountain followed. The Union forces were under command of Gen. Mc- Clellan, and were largely outnumbered by the rebel forces. In this battle, the Tenth Regiment, of which Company F was a part, performed an impor- tant service. They were detailed to deploy as a skirmish-line and bring on the engagement. This the company did, and afterward remained in the thickest of the fight until the battle was over. During the engagement, Gen. M. D. Manson had his knapsack shot away, and the scanty provender which it contained was knocked into nothingness. The Lieutenant Colonel was knocked senseless at the outset of the engagement by concussion of a shell, which exploded near, and was not able to take any further part in the battle. Lieut. I. W. Sanders was shot through the right breast, the ball passing through the lung. He was carried from the field. Afterward he recovered from the wound, and is still living. Shepherd Earnhart was shot through the shin, and the wound taking an unfavorable turn, he died from the effects of it a few weeks afterward. Samuel Yocum was shot through the head and fell upon the field. He was carried to the rear, where an ex- amination of his wound at once revealed the fact that it was fatal. He lingered in an insensible condition for three days when he died. There were other members of Company F wounded in this engagement, and per-
5
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
haps others killed, whose names, at this distance of time, cannot be ob. tained. This was the first active service the company had seen, and it was warm enough to give the men a fair idea of what war is. In a short time after this engagement the time of the company expired, and they were sent to Indianapolis to be discharged. Their way home was a continuous ova- tion. Gov. Pierpont gave them a public entertainment at one point on their route. In Ohio and at every city and town through which they passed they were gorgeously entertained and treated with every mark of gratitude and respect. The company was discharged and its members permitted to return to their homes August 6, 1861, about four months after their enlistment, having served nearly a month longer than the term for which they had en- listed. Immediately after returning home, a large number of Company F re-enlisted in various regiments and served honorably during the remainder of the war.
THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
One of the most historic regiments in which Clay County men served was the Thirty-first. It was reputed to be one of the best disciplined regi- ments in the Western army, and by its unswerving devotion to duty in all the trying vicissitudes of war, it acquired the honorable title of the "Iron Regiment." Among the officers of the army it was understood that the Thirty-first Regiment could be relied on. This regiment was composed largely of men from Clay, large parts of Companies B, C, E, F and H hav- ing been enlisted in this county. The regiment was mustered into the serv- ice at Terre Haute, September 15, 1861, with Charles Cruft, Colonel ; John Osborn, of Bowling Green, Lieutenant Colonel ; and Frederick Arn, a Swedish officer, as Major. Upon the promotion of Col. Cruft, John Osborn became Colonel. Subsequently, John T. Smith, now of Bowling Green, became Major, and was afterward promoted to Colonel. The companies were mostly officered by men from other counties, but Allen T. Rose, of Bowling Green, was elected First Lieutenant of Company B. Soon after its organization, the regiment moved into Kentucky and went into camp at Calhoun, on Green River. The division to which the Thirty-first belonged was ordered to Fort Henry in January, 1862, but found the place evacuated upon its arrival. From that place it was ordered to Fort Donelson, and arrived in time to participate in the engagement on the 13th and 14th, and was present at the surrender on the 15th of February, where 14,000 rebel soldiers surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The thirty-first was actively engaged in this great contest, and lost twelve killed, fifty-two wounded and four missing. The first Clay County man killed in the regiment was in this engagement. His name was James Taylor. Elijah Furguson, also of this county, lost an arm in the battle, and afterward died. Many other of Clay County's men were wounded in the engagement, and some were killed whose names can- not now be ascertained. After this battle, the regiment marched back to Fort Henry, and was thence transported by river to Pittsburg Landing. It fought in the memorable battle of Shiloh, on both days, losing 187 in
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
killed and wounded, out of 401 able-bodied men. From the large propor- tion of the regiment lost in killed and wounded, it will be needless to say that it was engaged in the hottest of the contest. In this battle, the follow- ing Clay County men were killed : James M. Donham, James Cottom, John Low, John Jinks and a number of others. A large number were also wounded, who either died afterward, or were discharged on account of their wounds. Twenty-one were killed and wounded in Company C. The regi- ment lost heavily in officers in this engagement, Maj. Arn having been among the slain, while the gallant Col. Cruft, afterward promoted to Brig- adier General, was severely wounded in three places. After this sanguinary engagement, the Thirty-first was assigned to the Fourth Division of the Army of the Ohio, commanded by Gen. Nelson, and marched toward Corinth. It participated in the siege of that place, and engaged in a large number of severe skirmishes in the vicinity of the besieged city, until its fall, when the siege was raised. In these operations, fighting was of almost daily occurrence, and the regiment lost quite a number of men in killed and wounded. After the fall of Corinth, it moved with Buell's army through Northern Mississippi and Alabama into Tennessee, and was stationed at var- ious places in Middle Tennessee. The regiment finally moved to Louisville, Ky., where it was recruited and re-organized, its ranks having been greatly depleted in the various operations through which it had passed during the ten months previous. Col. Charles Cruft having been appointed a Brigadier General about this time, Lieut. Col. John Osborn was commissioned his suc- cessor.
In September the regiment left Louisville, and started in pursuit of Bragg, driving him out of Kentucky. In this campaign the regiment was- engaged in the battles of Perryville, Danville, Crab Orchard, and was en- gaged in a number of less sanguinary engagements in that part of the coun- try. Having annihilated Bragg, the army was ordered in pursuit of Kirby Smith, but never succeeded in engaging him in regular battle. They had a sharp fight, however, with his rear guard, and captured a large number of his beef cattle, upon which the army subsisted for some time. At Goose Creek, they tore up the large salt works. The army lay for a short time at Wild Cat Mountain, where they encountered a severe snow-storm and the troops suffered incredible hardships. They were exposed to cold and storm of unprecedented severity for that latitude, and in many respects the condition of the army suggested thoughts of Valley Forge, where, nearly a hundred years before, the snows of winter were crimsoned with the blood of their Revolutionary fathers. Shortly after these events, the regiment re- turned with the rest of the command to Nashville.
In December, the Thirty-first moved with Crittenden's corps to Murfrees- boro, and there participated in the battle of Stone River, on the 30th and 31st of December, 1862, in which engagement it lost eighty-seven men in killed and wounded. In this engagement the position of the Thirty-first was of the most trying character. It was completely surrounded, and held under a
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
galling fire for two hours after the remainder of the army had been driven back, when Gen. Rousseau advanced to their rescue and opened the way for their retreat. After this battle, the regiment went into camp at Cripple Creek, where it remained guarding a mountain pass until June. It then moved forward with the army to Chattanooga, and on the 19th and 20th of September was engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, losing four killed and sixty-six wounded. After this battle, the regiment went into camp at Bridgeport, Ala. While here, the regiment re-enlisted as a veteran organi- zation on the 1st of January, 1864, and in February proceeded to Indianap- olis on veteran furlough. On returning to the field in March, it was sta- tioned at Ooltewah, Tenn., and when the Atlanta campaign was commenced, . it moved forward with the Fourth Corps, participating in the many skir- mishes and battles that followed. After the capture of Atlanta, the regiment moved northward with its corps, in pursuit of Hood's army, to Pulaski, Tenn., and then fell back upon Nashville. On the 15th of December, 1864, it participated in the battle of Nashville, after which it went as far as Hunts- ville, Ala., in pursuit of the defeated army of Hood. Subsequently, it moved into East Tennessee, and after a brief campaign in that section re- turned to Nashville, where it remained from the latter part of April until the middle of June, 1865. When the Fourth Corps was transferred to New Orleans, it moved with it, reaching that city early in July. Joining Gen. Sheridan's army at New Orleans, it was transported to Texas, and marched into the interior part of the State, forming part of what was known as the " Army of Occupation." It was afterward stationed at Green Lake, Tex. This was about the last active service the regiment saw. It was shortly af- terward sent home, the war having ended, where it was received with more than the customary honors.
The following list comprises the names of a part only of the Clay County boys of this regiment who were killed or died in the service : Elliot Hendrickson, Highland, died at Cripple Creek, Tenn., June 13, 1863 ; John H. Neese, Poland, discharged on account of wounds at Marietta, Ga .; James M. Reynolds, Poland, killed at Stone River December 30, 1862 ; D. W. Yant, Poland, died at Calhoun, Ky., January 12, 1862 ; John T. Close, Bowling Green, killed at Rocky Face Ridge May 11, 1864 ; Alexander S. Sharp, died at Calhoun, Ky., February 15, 1862 ; James M. Donham, Christy's Prairie, killed at Fort Donelson ; Joseph B. Fouts, died at Indianapolis June 5, 1863, of wounds ; Richard M. Moore, Cleve- land, died at Calhoun, Ky., January 13, 1862 ; Charles G. Rector, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps on account of wounds February 17, 1865 ; Will- iam S. Redifer, Cleveland, died at Calhoun, Ky., January 7, 1862 ; John W. Black, Brazil, wounded at Shiloh and not heard from afterward ; William Stout, died January 25, 1863, of wounds received at La Vergne, Tenn .; Will- iam R. Boone, died in Andersonville Prison August 15, 1864 ; Josiah D. Crist, died in Andersonville Prison May 31, 1864 ; David Irwin, died at Louisville November 8, 1862 ; David Johnson, died at Nashville of wounds
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
December 15, 1864 ; Marion Judd, died at Calhoun, Ky., December 18, 1861 ; Henry D. Lehman, killed at Stone River January 2, 1863 ; James B. Letsinger, killed at Chattahoochie River July 7, 1864 ; Nesterd Bowling, died at Calhoun, Ky., February 4, 1863 ; George Firth, died November 14, 1861, at Calhoun, Ky .; Hamilton Hicks, died at Evansville December 1, 1861 ; Elijah A. Parris, died December 20, 1862, at Louisville ; Richard W. Witty, died January 21, 1862, at Calhoun, Ky .; Jacob W. Deakins, drowned in Cumberland River May 21, 1865 ; Joseph McClain, died at Calhoun, Ky., March 12, 1862.
There were a large number of Clay County men in this regiment not credited to the county, many of whom were lost in the service, whose names are not included in the foregoing list, for the reason that they could not be ascertained.
SEVENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, SIXTH INDIANA CAVALRY.
In the summer of 1862, the Seventy-first Regiment was organized at Camp Dick Thompson, Terre Haute. Company D of this regiment was composed of Clay County men. The regiment was mustered into the serv- ice on the 18th of July, and was officered by Lieut. Col. Melville D. Top- ping, of Terre Haute, and Maj. William Conkling, of Greencastle. At the time of being mustered into the service, the regiment had no full Colonel. Company D elected the following as its officers : D. A. Conover, of Bowling Green, Captain ; Edward A. Thompson, of Bowling Green, First Lieutenant ; Thomas Cullen, of the same place, Second Lieutenant ; T. M. Robertson, Orderly Sergeant. The regiment left Indianapolis July 18, 1862, for Rich- mond, Ky. On the evening of the 29th of August, only eleven days after the regiment had been mustered into the service and placed in the command of Gen. M. D. Manson, they encountered the advance of the invading army, under command of E. Kirby Smith, with a rebel force of about 36,000 men, at a point about six miles from Richmond, Ky. Some sharp skirmishing ensued, in which Company D participated, but without serious damage. The company assisted in taking one piece of artillery. The skirmish line of the enemy was finally driven back after considerable brisk firing.
On the morning of the 30th of August, the Union forces, numbering about 6,000, under command of Gen. M. D. Manson, encountered the entire rebel army, numbering 36,000, under Gen. Smith, and the decisive battle of Richmond ensued. This was one of the most hotly contested engagements in the entire war, considering the number of troops engaged on the Union side. Owing to the vastly superior number of the rebels, the Union forces were finally overpowered and driven from position to position, until, after a whole day's fighting, they were completely surrounded by the superior num- ber of the rebels, and most of the command were captured about dark some four miles from Richmond. The Seventy-first Regiment was in the hottest of the contest, and sustained herself nobly. In this battle, Company D lost a number in killed and wounded. The meagerness and inaccuracy of
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.
the official reports will prevent our giving all who were lost in this fight in killed, wounded and missing. Many were wounded of whom the official records give no account. Lieut. Col. Melville D. Topping and Maj. William Conkling are known to have been killed. Sergt. Samuel N. Rule, of Staun- ton, received a frightful wound in the bowels, from a shell or cannon ball, and died the same day in the field hospital. John Inman was found to be missing, and, having never been heard from, is supposed to have been killed. John D. Walker, of Washington Township, was wounded ; Gotleib C. Haug, of Poland, Cass Township, received a gunshot wound in the hip, which crippled him for life ; Henry Markert, of Jackson Township, and Benjamin L. Tribble, of Poscy Township, were also reported among the wounded. Many others were wounded, and perhaps others killed, of whom the reports give no account. Thomas Cullen, Second Lieutenant of Company D, was also wounded on the head by a saber stroke, but the injury was not of a serious character. The company was completely surrounded about dark, and while making a desperate effort to cut their way out were mostly made prisoners of war. Some few escaped, but only a few. The prisoners were treated with humanity by their captors, and provided with comfortable quarters and rations. The Seventy-first Regiment was quartered in the court house square, where they were kept for about three days. At the end of that time, they were paroled and turned out to make their way back to the Union lines as best they could. Most of them traveled to the Ohio River on foot, where transportation was furnished them to Indianapolis. They returned home in September, 1862. Although the members of the regiment had gone to their respective homes, the organization was retained, and a call was shortly made for them to re-assemble at Camp Dick Thomp- son, Terre Haute. Here they remained till December, 1862, when they were exchanged as prisoners and again permitted, under the laws of war, to take the field. The regiment, 500 strong, was at once ordered to Mul- draugh's Hill, Ky., and sent to guard a railroad bridge, under Lieut. Col. C. C. Matson. While in camp at Terre Haute. Biddle had been appointed Colonel of the regiment ; C. C. Matson, of Greencastle, Lieutenant Colonel, and W. W. Carter, of Clay County, Major. While guarding the railroad bridge, John Morgan came along with 4,000 rebel forces, and after a light skirmish, the whole command was again captured. They were paroled and sent back to Indianapolis, where the regiment spent the winter in the bar- racks. About this time Thomas Cullen resigned as Second Lieutenant, and Orderly T. M. Robertson succeeded him.
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