Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 9

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976

USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 9
USA > Indiana > LaGrange County > Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 9

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The organization of the company was completed in a few days, and in- formation of the fact forwarded to the authorities at Indianapolis. When pub- lic indignation for rebels ran so high as it did then, and a furious and speedy overthrow was anticipated, it was not strange that the most terrific names should be suggested for company titles. In obedience to this prevalent feeling, our first military organization assumed the belligerent cognomen of the "La Grange Tigers." A less ferocious title would have given satisfaction a few months after, without any discredit to true courage and patriotism. "Home Guards," subsequently, under the influence of the declaration of a great party that the war was a failure, was equally significent of public opinion. The first enlistment paper, referred to above, is still carefully preserved. All who signed, did not at that time enter the service, but nearly all did within a few months. The following is a copy of the obligation to which the volunteers, one hundred and two in number, put their signatures :

LA GRANGE, Ind., April 1, 1861.

The undersigned hereby agree to organize themselves into a Volunteer Military Company, in accordance with the statutes of the State of Indiana, and to be at the service and command of the Governor thereof, whenever in his opinion the exigencies of the country demand, for the term of three months from date of reception for duty. They also agree, when the requisite number (84) of signatures for a company have been obtained, to meet, elect their officers, and report for service.

All this enlistment and preparation for the field had been done without any definite arrangement or order from the State authorities. The Governor had called for volunteers to fill the State quota, but there was no assurance that the "Tigers " would be needed to make up the requisite number. Not

Taylor

WOLCOTTVILLE

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

until the 14th of May did the company receive any orders, and then only in an indirect way ; but the boys were eager to go into service, and the intimation that they were needed was accepted as sufficient. The company was en route in an hour or two for Sturgis, where cars were expected to convey them to Indianapolis. Many citizens accompanied them-seeing them off-and they were met by a Stargis company and escorted to town. The officers chosen by the men, in this first military company, were : Captain, William Roy; First Lieutenant, George A. Lane; Second Lieutenant, C. M. Burlingame ; Third Lieutenant, F. A. Spellman ; First Sergeant, J. A. Lamson ; Second Sergeant, J. A. Bevington ; Third Sergeant, Thomas Burnell ; Fourth Sergeant, David Dudley ; First Corporal, John F. Varner ; Second Corporal, James Rheu- bottom ; Third Corporal, J. A. Hoagland ; Ensign, Andrew J. Fair.

Upon reaching Indianapolis, the company found companies and regiments organized in sufficient number to fill Indiana's quota, and the illusive prospect of a ninety days' war then prevailing, no more companies would be received. The men were informed that they could disband and go into other companies if they could find room, or otherwise return home. About thirty joined other companies, and the rest, disheartened, came back. Twenty-one of those who entered the service joined Company B, Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, and all, with one exception, were credited to Boone County. The names of these men were John C. Lamson, Joseph S. Case, Harrison Boyd, Alfred Crawford, William Christ, Joel Crosby, William H. Crosby, Daniel Flynn, Flavius J. George, William P. Hall, Alfred Helper, George M. Helper, Derrick Hodges, Orpheus C. Kenaston, Lewis Randolph, Milton E. Scott, William Wiggles- worth, Henry Wirt, Robert White, William Baxter. Nine others, James Dever, M. Randolph, Franklin Haskins, Jack Springsteed, James Hanson, Charles North, Edwin Barnett, James Cassidy, Michael Campbell, joined other regi- ments. These thirty men have the honor of being the first volunteers to get in the service from this county. Four of those who returned, George A. Lane, C. M. Burlingame, F. A. Spellman and J. W. Vesey, went at once to Michi- gan and enlisted in the Fourth Regiment ; F. A. Spellman was killed in battle.

Capt. Roy remained at Indianapolis a few weeks, assisting in the drilling of the troops assembled, and then returned to this county and commenced the organ- ization of a company for the three years' service. A large number of those who first enlisted rallied around him at once, and the balance necessary for the company were obtained at Ligonier and Goshen. This new company reached Indianapolis July 2, 1861, and was mustered in as Company A of the Twenty-first Indiana Regiment July 20. Those who went into this company from this county were Capt. William Roy; Sergts. Jolin A. Bevington, Har- vey B. Hall, Lewis Apple; Corpls. James R. Rheubottom, Joseph W. Talmage, Alfred Sargeant, George A. Lane; and Privates Alfred E. Charter, Thomas Cole, Benjamin F. Culbertson, Enoch R. Culbertson, Bennice Dryer, Perry

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

O. Everts, Harvey J. Gillette, John Hone, William Harrison, Charles Haskins, Simon Humbert, James Ingram, Jonathan Irish, Thaddeus P. Jackson, Albert N. Johnson, Isaac Knight, Oscar Law, David E. Markham, Luther F. Mason, Leonard N. McLain, Adam W. Meek, James Nash, Harvey Olmstead, William H. Paulius, Enoch Perkins, DeWitt M. Pierce, Andrew J. Ritter, George J. Robbins, Daniel Smith, Peter Smith, Halsey F. Skadden, Edwin R. Temple, George W. Vanormin, William B. Warren, Ira J. Woodworth.

This latter company had hardly gone away before another company was begun. A notice was issued to join in the organization of this by William B. Bingham, July 2. While the company was being recruited, William Dawson. of Indianapolis, who had just returned from the three months' service, came to La Grange, and was invited to take charge of the drilling of the men. At the election of officers he was chosen Captain. This company was quartered toward the last mostly at Lima, whose citizens contributed blankets, clothing, etc., for the comfort of the boys, and also $130, to provide the men with red flannel shirts, with which to march into camp. Donations were also made by citizens of La Grange and elsewhere. The company set out for the Fort Wayne camp on the 13th of September, but before leaving, it was presented with a flag by the patriotic women of Lima. Before presenting the flag, Miss Rebecca Williams made the following address:

Capt. Dawson-In behalf of Lima's patriotic daughters, I present to you, and through you, to our brave volunteers, this glorious banner of liberty, this flag of the free, proud emblem of our National existence and of our National power. To your care it is henceforth entrusted. It will be yours fearlessly to maintain its honor, and with it the honor of our cause and country; to preserve it from insult at the hands of foes and traitors, even, if need be, at the cost of dear life. Fighting beneath its shadow, your courage is to be tested, your valor displayed, your laurels won. And you shall fight, not for yourselves alone, but for the privilege of transmitting to the future generations a Government the noblest, a Constitution the wisest, a Liberty the sweetest, that ever blest a fair land since creation's dawn.

I scarcely need refer you to the story of our past; you know full well the story of American independence ; how, long years ago, through fierce and bloody conflicts, our fathers marched to glorious victory, the Stars and Stripes floating triumphantly over them; how, wrapped in the shining folds of this same beautiful banner, many a Revolutionary hero lies quietly 'neath the daisied sods of a thousand pleasant valleys. The peace so highly prized, so dearly purchased by our ancestors, bestowed by them upon their children, a precious legacy, to be handed down in turn to those who should come after, they fondly trusted might never again be imperiled. Save a few dark clouds across the bright sun, naught for many years has occurred to dim the clear sky of our National prosperity. We have boasted loudly of the strength of our Union, cemented by bonds of love, of peace, and happiness at home; of power and influence abroad. Alas ! that our hands folded so lightly in calm assurance of fair winds and smooth seas, did not, by God's help, sooner seize the helm of our noble ship of state, and with firm grasp guide her 'mid threatening storms and tempests to a quiet harbor. Alas ! that our ears attuned only to music, which plays softest around the hearthstone, from the lips of little children, or in kindly tones of friendship greeting, should be assailed by the distant mutterings of the cannon's thunder, whispers of the dread strife already commenced in our land. You will go forth, erelong, with thousands, to taste the stern realites of life upon the battle-field. Be assured our warmest sympathies and most fervent prayers will always follow you. Live nobly up to every duty, face bravely every danger, look well that the spirit of true patriotism prompts every action, and never, for one moment, let a thought of petty revenge or cruel hatred dwell in

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

year brave hearts. And, in that good time coming, when right and humanity shall triumph, when peace shall once more be restored and secured to us, God grant you may return, an un- broken number, to rejoice with us ever more in the blessings of an eternal liberty.

After an eloquent reply on behalf of the company, by the Rev. B. Far- rand, Mr. F. C. King made an unexpected presentation from the ladies of La Grange, of a Testament to each soldier, and accompanied the gift with these remarks :

Brave Volunteers-As a slight token of your noble spirit, we could not present you a gift more precious in its teachings, or more costly as containing hidden treasures than the Word of God. In it is contained precepts and examples, that will prepare you, not only for good and faithful soldiers of our country, but also of the cross, and as you go forth to fight your country's battles, will teach you to fight the good fight of faith. Read it, love it, and obey its holy teach- ing, and in your own experience may you have it to say :

" This little book I'd rather have Than all the golden gems That in a monarch's coffer shine, Than all their diadems."

The original officers selected by the men were : Captain, William Dawson ; First Lieutenant, Ebenezer R. Barlow ; Second Lieutenant, Thomas Burnell ; Orderly, George Salpaugh. The company was assigned to the Thirtieth Reg- iment, as Company G. The formation of this company had not been com- pleted before another had been begun again, under the leadership of William B. Bingham. On October 17, 1861, this company was ready to start for camp at Fort Wayne, where a large concourse of citizens met at the court house to see them start, and bid them Godspeed. The Standard of that week says : " Capt. Bingham formed his company on Main street and marched them to the Methodist Church, where, in behalf of the company, he thanked the ladies who had so kindly furnished them with many of the necessaries of camp life; and the company joined in three hearty cheers for the fair donors. In return the ladies gave three cheers for the soldiers. We have seldom witnessed a more enthusiastic or spirited occasion. The company was then marched to the south part of town, where wagons were in waiting to convey them on their journey. There was no lack of teams and many more were offered than was necessary. Quite a number of our citizens accompanied them as far as Wright's Corners, where they took dinner, and reported, having been furnished by the citizens of that vil- lage and vicinity with a most bountiful repast, free to all. Five or six volun- teers were enlisted at that place, and Capt. Bingham went into camp with a full company."

The ladies of La Grange presented each of the soldiers, before starting, with a neat and serviceable blue woolen Zouave jacket, trimmed with velvet. On the road to Fort Wayne the company held an election, with the following result : Captain, William B. Bingham ; First Lieutenant, Joseph W. Danseur ; Second Lieutenant, Jacob Newman ; Orderly Sergeant, Hiram F. King. Capt. Bingham returned home the next week for a few days, when a meeting was called at the court house (October 25) for the purpose of presenting him with

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

a sword that had been purchased by the citizens, in demonstration of their high regard, and as an appropriate token of their confidence in him as a soldier. A. B. Kennedy, Esq., made the presentation speech, which was responded to by the Captain, thanking the donors for the elegant and significant present, and pledged his honor that the weapon should never be dishonored whilst in his possession. Patriotic songs were sung and short speeches made by Revs. D. P. Hartman and Cathcart. This company became Company H. of the Forty-fourth Indiana Infantry. No more companies were organ- ized in the county in the year 1861, but numbers of men volunteered from time to time to fill up the ranks of these companies, and other com- mands. Dr. J. H. Rerick enlisted in Capt Dawson's company, but before its muster-in he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Forty-fourth Indi- ana, and commissioned September 12, 1861, and assisted in the organization of that regiment. There was up to this time about three hundred enlist- ments from the county. Such a number called forth suddenly to war, by a Government illy prepared to furnish a vast army, and from communities horror stricken at the idea of bloody strife, could but cause intense anxiety in the homes the volunteers had left. Soldiers' aid societies, especially by the women, sprung up, for supplying the soldiers with bedding, clothing and daintier food. On the 1st of November, 1861, a Ladies' Soldier's Aid Society was regularly organ- ized at La Grange, adopting a Constitution and By-Laws, and the ladies in all the townships were requested to form auxiliary societies. The officers elected at this meeting were : Mrs. John Kromer, President ; Mrs. W. Cathcart, Vice President ; Mrs. Laura Butler, Secretary ; Mrs. C. O. Myers, Treasurer ; a committee consisting of Mrs. John W. Welch, Mrs. Isaac Carpenter, Mrs. Fred Everhart, Miss M. A. H. Menelaus, Miss H. Ford, Miss S. Lougher, and Directresses-Mrs. F. C. King, Mrs. D. P. Hartman, Mrs. A. Ellison.

A number of Union meetings were held during the summer and fall. One was held at the court house on the evening of the 21st of August, which was addressed by Hon. William Mitchell, then Member of Congress from the district, and who had witnessed the first Bull Run battle. Rev. C. Cory, of ' Lima, presided at this meeting and J. H. Rerick acted as Secretary, and Joseph B. Wade, A. B. Kennedy and Joseph Cummings as Committee on Resolutions. The resolutions requested the County Commissioners to provide for quartering the troops and to make appropriations for the maintenance of the families of volunteers, that a committee of five be appointed to canvass the county for promoting enlistments, and that Lieut. William Dawson, of Col. Wallace's famous regiment, be requested to remain and aid in raising and drilling a com- pany. The committee appointed to canvass the county were J. B. Wade, Jacob Newman, William Barlow, Hiram Smith and Rev. J. P. Force. The next evening, a similar meeting was held in Lima, at which Rev. C. Cory again presided and J. S. Castle acted as Secretary. The Committee on Resolutions- O. H. Jewett, J. M. Flagg and J. P. Force-reported strong war resolutions

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

and requested the County Commissioners to provide for soldiers' families. A committee, consisting of W. Rawles, J. H. Morrison, N. Stacy, O. H. Jewett. and S. Herbert, was appointed to canvass the northern part of the county.

We wish it were possible to give due credit to all who took an active in- terest in patriotic work at home during the war. The names we have mentioned are those most frequently occurring in the newspapers at that time. It is also impossible to now compute the contributions by the women for the comfort of the soldiers-of blankets, clothing, fruits and hospital stores ; almost as impos- sible as it would be to estimate the value to our country of the effect of these tokens of kind regard upon the weary and disheartened soldier at the front. As a sample of the donations made there were reported by the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society November 28, 1861, besides membership fees and articles manu- factured by the society, two comforts, forty-four pairs of socks, four quilts, four blankets, three sheets, one pair drawers, two pair mittens and forty-two cuts of yarn, and $10 cash. There were other aid societies organized by the women of Lima and Wolcottville. A mass meeting was held at La Grange on Wash- ington's birthday, 1862, in which a long series of resolutions were passed, ex- pressing appreciation of the wisdom and energy of the President, and resolving to ever cherish the memory of the slain on the battle-field and of those perish- ing in the camp or on the mighty ocean, and expressing sympathy for loyal and oppressed citizens within the limits of the Confederate conspiracy.

In July, 1862, under another call for troops, enlistment was commenced in the county for a company for the Seventy-fourth regiment, ordered to be raised in this Congressional district. Dr. Gustav Sites, who had had twelve years' service in the Prussian Army, and Albert D. Fobes, who had been through the West Virginia campaign, in the Eleventh Indiana, were commissioned Sec- ond Lieutenants for the organization of the company. Jo Rawson Webster, a then recent graduate from Wabash College, was the first man to put his name down for the wars in this company, and took a very active part in organizing the company. A war meeting was held at La Grange July 19, presided over by John Kromer, with C. O. Myers, Secretary, and J. B. Wade, A. S. Case and F. P. Griffith, Committee. The meeting was addressed by William Rheubot- tom and J. R. Webster. The resolutions recognized the perils of the country as alarming and pledged every means within reach to aid the Government, and that it was the duty of those who could not peril their lives in the cause to con- tribute every dollar, to yield every sympathy, and to open their hearts fully to every emotion which may commend them to the cause of their suffering country, its defenders and their families. The Commissioners were requested to make appropriations for the payment of bounties and for the necessary ex- penses of the families of soldiers. There was, at that time, some recruiting being done for the Twelfth Cavalry. The meeting recommended that all efforts be concentrated on raising a company for the infantry regiment and that Lieut. Sites proceed at once to raise the company. The following were appointed a

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

committee to assist him: J. K. Morrow, J. B. Wade, William Rheubottom, H. Crocker and A. S. Case. The County Commissioners, a few days after, made an appropriation of $25 to each volunteer, and $1.50 per week for the wife and 75 cents for each child of the married men who might enlist until their muster-in. An enthusiastic war meeting was held at South Milford August 14, at which L. D. McGown presided and J. S. Rowe was Secretary. The meeting was ad- dressed by William Rheubottom, J. Z. Gower and Francis Henry. The latter urged the enlistment of men and favored the drafting of a million of men, if necessary, to put down the rebellion and restore peace on a constitutional basis. This meeting recommended that the county give the same bounty to cavalry volunteers as to infantry. In consequence of this agitation, the La Grange Standard of August 18, 1862, was enabled to announce : "One hundred and twenty-two cheers and a tiger for Old La Grange. La Grange has her company now full and it will start to-day for the rendezvous at Fort Wayne. Last Thursday she sent seventeen men to join the cavalry company at the same place, making in all one hundred and twenty-two men! From Friday morning to Wednesday evening-five working days-eighty men were enrolled and sworn in. The entire number, with two exceptions, were recruited in eleven days. We call that doing well." And indeed it was. The officers chosen by the men for their company were-Captain, Jo Rawson Webster; First Lieuten- ant, W. D. Wildman; Orderly Sergeant, James H. Bigelow. The departure of this company was described as a very affecting scene. At an early hour the volunteers and their friends poured into town by hundreds, and at 9 o'clock the streets were thronged with men, women and children, all with eager, anxious faces, and many indeed were the tears shed. "The heaving breast, the quiver- ing lip and starting tear of brave men and stout hearts as the last fond embrace was given to the wife and children of the men who had voluntarily consented to sever for a season all the endearing ties and comforts of home for the hard- ships of the tented field showed that, severe as the sacrifice might be, yet they dared to do their duty when their country was in danger and required their assistance." A large number of citizens went with the soldiers as far as Wol- cottville, where a grand picnic dinner had been prepared. It should not be forgotten that during the war there was no railroad through the county and all the companies which had their rendezvous at Fort Wayne had to march there on foot or be transported by wagon. The above company, when reaching Fort Wayne, was made Company G of the Eighty-eighth Regiment.

The same paper in which the exultant announcement of raising of the above company was made contained the proclamation of the President calling for 300,000 more troops, and the rather startling announcement that in this State a draft would be required to raise the men, and a commendation of that as the only just and equitable method of raising the required quota. "The county has done nobly in raising volunteers, but a continuance of that course cannot be carried on without doing great injustice to a certain class upon whose

HISTORY OF LA GRANGE COUNTY.

shoulders a part of the burden must be forced, if they will not carry it will- ingly. No more volunteering in La Grange ! Let there be a draft as soon as possible !" Such comments as this only stirred up the volunteering spirit the more, and Harley Crocker at once stepped forward and called for volunteers for another company, and active work for this at once set in.

The machinery for drafting was at once put in motion. Timothy Fields, of Ontario, was appointed Draft Commissioner : E. P. Spellman, Provost Mar- shal, and Dr. E. G. White, Medical Examiner, for the county. About the same time, recruiting officers for the Thirtieth and Forty-fourth Regiments were in the county selecting recruits for those regiments. With all these, the people were fairly aroused. A Union County Convention was held September 3, presided over by William S. Prentiss, in which it was resolved to "uphold the Government in the use of every means which God and the Constitution have placed within our reach to exterminate rebels and the rebellion, and in favor of the confiscation of all property of all rebels, North as well as South." There was about this time a spicy correspondence between four then promi- nent lawyers in the county about enlisting, though it is hardly proper to detail here. The State Commissioner, on September 22, 1862, notified the County Commissioners that the following numbers would have to be drafted from the townships named, unless made up at once by volunteers : Clear- spring, 8; Milford, 7; Eden, 9; Van Buren, 22; total, 46. Thirty-one were subsequently drafted, twelve of whom procured substitutes. The most of these men went into the Thirtieth Regiment.

Capt. Crocker's company was soon filled, and on the 27th of September, the day of their departure, were treated by the women of La Grange to a bountiful dinner, on the grounds of A. S. Case, now a portion of the public square. No company left for camp without some token of respect by the patriotic women of the county. For this last company also, the young ladies of La Grange arranged a "hop," which was well attended, and when the boys reached South Milford, the women of that neighborhood had spread a picnic dinner for them. The officers chosen by the men in this company were : Cap- tain, Harley Crocker ; First Lieutenant, John K. Morrow ; Second Lieutenant, James W. Boyd. The company was assigned to the One Hundredth Infantry, as Company C. Of this regiment, Robert Parrett, a prominent lawyer of the county, was appointed Major. Dr. D. W. Rupert, of Lexington, was ap- pointed Assistant Surgeon of the Thirtieth, on January 1. He was an excel- lent physician and as a man highly esteemed by his regiment and a large circle of acquaintances in the county. He died at Nashville, Tenn., October 2, 1862. Dr. James Miller, of La Grange, was appointed to succeed him Octo- ber 10.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Counties of LaGrange and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical, Part 9

Author: F.A. Battey & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 976

Author: F.A. Battey & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 976