USA > Indiana > Brown County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 56
USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 56
USA > Indiana > Morgan County > Counties of Morgan, Monroe, and Brown, Indiana. Historical and biographical > Part 56
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A CURIOUS EDITORIAL.
Scarcely any attempt was made during the spring months of 1863 to raise volunteers: The citizens waited and watched. The following article was published as an editorial in the Republican of April 18:
We learn that our old friend, A. Sutherland, sutler to the Fifty-ninth Regiment, was fined $10 and costs in the Common Pleas Court the other day for bringing to this county and harboring a " contraband " picked up somewhere in the South, and who accompanied him home on a visit some weeks since. Good enough for you, Aleck. We have niggers enough here now, and we hope all who violate the laws by bringing them into the State will be compelled to pay the penalty.
RESISTANCE TO MILITARY LAW.
In April, the news of the outbreak in Brown County near Georgetown was received, which led to a public meeting of the citizens at the court house, where a long series of resolutions condemning such treasonable riots was adopted, and where preparations to thoroughly organize the militia company to be in readiness for such an outbreak in Monroe County, should one occur, were made. Francis A. Otwell was elected Captain of the company, and active drilling was begun. About the same time the citizens of Van Buren Township met at Schoolhouse No. 3, and organized a militia company. John Koons was Chairman of the meeting, and W. M. Crossfield, Secretary. In June, the enrollment of men liable to do mili- tary duty was begun in the various townships of the county. The mem- bers of the Enrolling Board for the Third Congressional District were Simeon Stansifer, Provost Marshal; John R. B. Glasscock, Commis- sioner ; Albert G. Collier, Surgeon. In April, 1865, James B. Mulky succeeded Stansifer as Provost Marshal. Col. John McCrea was ap- pointed Provost Marshal for Monroe County in June, 1863. In one por- tion of the county the enrolling officers encountered forcible opposition. On Friday, June 19, an armed force of about eighty men surrounded W. F. Hensley, enrolling officer of Indian Creek Township, while discharging
27
428
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
his duty, and compelled him to give up his enrolling papers, threatening him with death if he revealed the names of any present. Mr. Hensley, however, promptly informed the authorities at Bloomington of what had happened ; and so great was the wrath of the "Butternuts" that his neighbors thought best to place a guard around his person. On the fol- lowing Wednesday, Col. Biddle, with about six hundred members of the Seventy-first Regiment, and a company of the Third Cavalry, arrived at Bloomington, and encamped just north of town. Col. McCrea, with sev- eral assistants and the cavalry company, immediately started for Indian Creek Township, where he arrested about sixteen persons supposed to have been the leaders of the outrage, and recovered the enrolling officer's papers. The persons arrested were sent to Indianapolis to be examined by the United States District Court. No further trouble was encoun- tered. About the 26th of June, a section of the Twenty-third Artillery, embracing two brass 12-pounder guns arrived at Bloomington and en- camped. All this display of force completely checked all further resist- ance to the enrollment or enlistment. Before this, the " Butternuts " had been arming and drilling in one or more portions of the county, but now they were completely subdued.
THE REBEL GEN. MORGAN.
On Monday, the 22d of June, the news was received that the rebel Gen. Morgan, with a large force, had penetrated Indiana from Kentucky, and was advancing upon Paoli, Orange County. All the bells in town were hastily rung, and soon a large crowd of excited citizens assembled at the court house. A company of over one hundred "minutemen" was speedily formed and organized under the command of Capt. I. S. Bus- kirk, and service was tendered the Governor by telegraph. No answer was received until late at night, when it was learned that their services would not be needed. They accordingly disbanded.
NEW CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS.
On the 15th of June came the call of the President for 100,000 six months' men, and immediate steps were taken to raise a company. An enlistment office was opened over Fee's store. Those who were especially active in obtaining volunteers were W. B. Hughes, J. Rutledge, W. C. Smith, Michael Gabbert, H. C. Gabbert and J. H. Miller. By the 31st of July, the company numbered about seventy-five men, when they were ordered to report at Indianapolis, which they did on that day. There they remained until August 15, recruiting in the meantime their ranks from Monroe County to the lawful number of men, when they were mus- tered into the service, and on the same day sent to Kentucky. The men became Company I of the One Hundred and Seventeeth Regiment, six months' men, and were officered as follows : Captain, William B. Hughes ; First Lieutenant, Jechonias Rutledge; Second Lieutenant, James H. Miller.
MORE OF GEN. MORGAN.
The continued threatening character of the news of the invasion of Indiana by Gen. Morgan soon gave a new impetus to the organization of militia companies. The company of Capt. Buskirk was again mus-
429
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
tered, and on the 9th of July left for Mitchell, Ind. A company of cavalry, commanded by Capt. Wylie, left the next day for the same point, and on the same day a militia company of infantry, under Capt. Marion Blair, left for Indianapolis. Another full company left Ellettsville for Indianapolis about the same time. Two other full companies were nearly completed in the vicinity of Bloomington at the same time. At no peri- od during the war did the excitement run higher than at this time. The wildest rumors were circulated, and business of all kinds was almost wholly suspended. The streets of the county seat were alive with mili- tary preparations, and great crowds assembled from the country to learn what was to be done. Within one week, all illusions of danger were dis- pelled. The company of which Marion Blair was Captain was mustered into the service at Indianapolis on the 10th of July, and without leaving that city was mustered out on the 15th of July. The company was D of the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment, minutemen. Barton Acuff was Captain of the company from Ellettsville, which was both mustered in and mustered out on the same days respectively as the company of Capt. Blair. Capt. Acuff's company was G of the One Hundred and Eleventh Regiment, minutemen. The company of militia under Capt. Hughes (which immediately afterward entered the six months' service as above stated) moved to Mitchell, where it became Company A of the One Hun- drel and Twelfth Regiment, minutemen. The company was mustered in July 9, and mustered out July 17. This company saw slight service, as it with its regiment moved to North Vernon, which place it assisted in holding against Gen. Morgan, who approached within a few miles. I. S. Buskirk was Major of this regiment. The One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, minutemen, contained one company from Monroe County, commanded by Capt. Henry L. McCalla. This was Company A, and was mustered in July 11, and mustered out July 16. It saw the same service as the company of Capt. Hughes. It will thus be seen that within about one week Monroe County furnished and sent into the service four full companies, and had three or four other companies organized and ready. The wisdom of the organization of the county militia in 1861 was thus demonstrated. A fine company of militia cavalry was organ- ized in Perry Township (mostly) in September, under the command of Capt. J. E. Mathers. One of the companies referred to above was com- inanded by Capt. David Sheeks.
THE CALL OF OCTOBER, 1863.
The county was again thrown into activity by the call of the Presi- dent of October 17 for 300,000 for the three years' service. The quota of the county was 143 men. Calls for volunteers were made, and enlist- ment offices established at the county seat, and for short periods in sev- eral of the country townships. The officers commissioned to raise recruits were Col. McCrea, Capt. Buskirk and Henry Eller. At first, the vol- unteering was slow, but a war meeting was held at the court house on the 28th of November, and quite a large squad was raised. They were sent into camp of instruction at Columbus. and the recruiting was continued. The company was so nearly completed by the 18th of December that Col. McCrea left for Columbus. On the 14th of January, 1864, the men
430
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
were mustered in at Camp Shanks, near Indianapolis, but recruits con- tinued to be raised in the county to the number of about twenty, who were mustered in January 24, March 2. and a few even in April. The officers of the company were: Isaac S. Buskirk, Captain; James E. Mathers, First Lieutenant; G. P. Bailey, Second Lieutenant. A squad of the men was raised at Ellettsville. The men became Company I of the Tenth Cavalry (One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment). The reg- iment did not leave the State until May, 1864, when it moved to Nash- ville, Tenn. In December, 1863, and January, 1864, about fifteen re- cruits were sent to Company K of the Twenty-first Regiment (First Heavy Artillery), and about ten to the Twenty-second Regiment. A few were sent to the Twenty-seventh also. Sergt. J. Frank Fee recruited about twenty men for Company G of the Thirty-first Regiment during the month of February, 1864. In December, 1863, and January and Feb- ruary, 1864, about fifteen recruits were sent to Company G of the Thirty-eighth Regiment. They were obtained at Ellettsville. About half a dozen men entered Company F of the Eighty-second Regiment. A few entered other regiments.
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN.
Under the call for one hundred days' men in April, 1864, a large war meeting was held at the court house, pursuant to call, on the evening of April 27, to take steps toward raising a company. Gov. Dunning addressed the audience, and explained the nature of the call, and the en- listment roll was circulated and about a dozen names secured. After passing a resolution asking the County Commissioners to offer a bounty of $30 for volunteers, the meeting adjourned. Active measures were continued to increase and complete the company. By the 3d of May, the company, though partly raised in Clay County, was completed, the following being the officers : Jechonias Rutledge, Captain ; A. B. Wheeler, First Lieutenant ; W. R. Kress, Second Lieutenant. About three-fifths of the company was from Monroe County, including the Captain. The men became Company K of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Regi- ment, 100 days' service. They were mustered in at Indianapolis on the 17th of May, and left at once for Tennessee.
THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1864.
During the previous years of the war, no celebrations of this national holiday were held at the county seat. Various country celebrations had occurred, of which no record was kept. Neither at this time were prepa- rations made to soar the eagle to the usual lofty height of American patriotism. An impromptu celebration, or rather picnic, was held at Prof. Wylie's beautiful grove in the southeastern part of town. Rev. J. M. Bishop acted as President of the Day. Prayer was offered by Rev. Covey, and the Declaration of Independence read by J. P. Rankin, Esq. Rev. Levi Hughes delivered a short address, as did Prof. D. E. Hunter. At intervals the national airs were sung by bevics of sweet-faced girls and boys. Their voices were as sweet as new harmony in the cool shade on that hot day. Of course the fire cracker was present. Swings were erected and enjoyed in the afternoon. Thus the great day died.
431
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
THE HEAVY CALL OF JULY, 1864.
The call of the President on the 18th of July, 1864, for 500,000 men for one, two and three years, staggered the county, and at first but little was done in the direction of raising volunteers to fill the quota. On the 6th of August, the Republican published the following table :
'OFFICE PROVOST MARSHAL, THIRD DISTRICT, COLUMBUS, July 29, 1864. Quota of Monroe County under call of July 18, 1864, for 500,000 men :
TOWNSHIPS.
Excess on Former Calls.
Deficit Former Calls.
on Quotaunder the Present Call.
Number to be Furnished.
Bloomington.
87
...
56
...
Bean Blossom
...
15
27
42
Washington.
...
8
17
25
Marion.
...
6
8
14
Benton
7
..
17
10
Richland
38
..
28
...
Van Buren
10
..
19
9
Perry
22
..
33
11
Salt Creek
...
4
15
19
Polk
...
5
12
17
Clear Creek
39
:
34
...
Indian Creek
..
8
21
32
Totals
203
46
287
179
S. STANSIFER,
Captain and Provost Marshal Third District.
From this exhibit it will be seen that, although this call was enor- mous, not a man was required from either of the townships-Bloomington, Richland or Clear Creek. But, in justice to the other townships, this circumstance requires some explanation. During the earlier years of the war, the volunteers were careless in giving their true residence and were usually, or at least quite often, credited to the places where they enlisted, which were usually at the largest towns. For instance, a volunteer from Benton Township would go to Bloomington to join a company that was organizing there, and as that was his post office address he would be credited to Bloomington Township. This accounts to some extent at least for the great excess of men in the townships containing towns where companies were raised.
THE DRAFT OF OCTOBER, 1864.
Time passed, but no concerted effort was made to clear the county of her quota. A few recruits were sent to the old regiments, but no attempt was made to raise a full company of men. The draft was threatened, but the citizens with philosophic indifference folded their arms, and quiet- ly waited events. Perry raised her eleven men, Bean Blossom raised five men, Benton one, Van Buren three; but the other townships from which men were due-Indian Creek, Polk, Salt Creek, Washington and Marion-did not furnish a solitary man. The townships which had an excess of men-Bloomington, Richland and Clear Creek-no doubt fur- nished a very few. Probably twenty-five or thirty men volunteered under the call. The draft came off at Columbus, on the 23d of September, with the following result: Bean Blossom, 37; Washington, 25; Marion,
432
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
14; Benton, 9; Van Buren, 6; Salt Creek, 19; Polk, 17'; Indian Creek, 32; total, 159. Double this number was really drafted to make allowances for those unfit for service. Considerable volunteering was done after this draft took place, and a number of substitutes were fur- nished by those who could not or would not go to war. The drafted men (those who reported at all) and the substitutes were taken first to Colum- bus and afterward to Indianapolis, where they were assigned to the older regiments. The following table, taken from the Adjutant General's Re- ports, was prepared by authority on the 31st of December, 1864, and shows what the county did under the calls of February 1, March 14, and July 18, 1864; and from this it will be seen how many of the drafted men had reported either in person or by substitute up to that time:
TOWNSHIPS.
Quota under call of Feb-
Quota under call of
Quota under call of
July 18, 1864.
First Enrollment.
Total of Quotas and De-
ficiencies.
New Recruits.
Veterans.
Credits by Draft.
Total Credits by Enlist-
ment and Draft.
One year.
Two years.
Three years.
Surplus.
Bloomington.
56
22
56
335
134
143
32
175
...
175
41
Bean Blossom
24
10
27
163
61
18
43
61
61
Washington.
16
6
17
99
39
18
22
40
25
1
14
1
Marion
8
3
8
50
19
10
12
22
27
5
3
Benton
16
6
17
104
39
32
1
40
10
30
1
Richland.
27
11
28
169
66
57
26
83
83
17
Van Buren.
19
8
19
115
46
45
1
46
8
38
Perry.
31
12
33
198
76
86
1
87
10
1
76
11
Salt Creek
14
6
15
93
3.
20
19
39
23
16
4
Polk
12
5
12
71
29
12
17
29
17
12
Clear Creek
32
13
31
188
76
54
30
I
84
84
8
Indian Creek
22
9
24
142
55
54
1
55
23
Totals.
277
111
287 1727
675
549
135
77
761
142
2
617
86
.
From this it will be seen that by the 31st of December, 1864, each township had furnished her quota, either as recruits, substitutes or con- scripts, and that the county as a whole, by reason of eight townships having furnished a surplus, was ahead of all calls (except the late call of December 19, 1864) to the number of 86 men.
THE LAST CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS.
The call of December 19, 1864 (the last of the war), for 300,000 men for one, two and three years, again aroused the citizens into a reason- able degree of activity. The county paper published an urgent editorial with large offers of bounty, and called upon all to assist in filling the quota required. About the middle of January, 1865, the Deputy Provost Marshal, Ira Browning, called meetings in each township to cor- rect the enrollment lists. Early in January, Capt. S. W. Bonsall opened an enlistment office for veteran recruits for the First Veteran Army Corps, offering Government bounties of $400, $500 and $600, for one, two and three years respectively. His offer of $1,143 bounty for one year was tempting, and when large offers of local bounty were made the
Credits
by Volun- tary En- listments.
ruary 1, 1864.
March 14, 1864.
. .
7
433
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
recruits began to appear. The County Board appropriated $500 for each volunteer under the call. Townships began to offer several hundred dollars bounty. Men felt encouraged to enlist, for it was known that the rebellion was tottering on the verge of the "last ditch." Maj. James B. Mulky was appointed general recruiting officer for the Third District, with headquarters at Columbus. He called for a company from Monroe. The county quota was 161 men. Lieuts. N. E. Mathers and J. F. Douglas began recruiting men about the middle of January. John T. Eller, James H. Miller, Ren C. Smith and others, also enlisted men. Within a comparatively short space of time nearly a full company was secured, the remainder, to the number of about fifteen, being raised mostly in Brown County. These men became Company E of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment, one year's service, with the following officers : John F. Douglas, Captain ; James H. Miller, First Lieutenant ; Ren C. Smith, Second Lietenant. This company was mustered in at Indianapolis on the 4th and 5th of February, and on the 18th left with its regiment for Nashville, Tenn. About half of Company I of the same regiment was raised in Monroe County immediately after the other boys had left. They were mustered in February 3, 4, 6 and 9. The officers of this company were John P. Cravens (of Madison), Captain ; Newton E. Mathers (of Bloomington), First Lieutenant ; William M. Crossfield (of Smithville), Second Lieutenant. The other half of this company came from Madison. On the 18th of February Capt. Douglas, of Company E, was promoted to the Lieutenant Colonelcy of the regiment, and on the same day John T. Eller, of Monroe County, was commissioned Quarter- master. The subjoined exhibit taken from the Adjutant General's Re- port was made out on the 14th of April, 1865, at which time all efforts to raise troops were abandoned :
TOWNSHIPS.
Quota under Call of De-
Surplus December 19, 1864.
Total of Quotas and Defi-
ciencies.
New Recruits.
Credits by Drafts.
Total Credits by Enlist- ments and Draft.
One Year.
Deficiency.
Excess.
Bloomington
286
8
8
Bean Blossom ..
122
12
12
12
12
12
Washington
56
18
18
17
17
17
1
Marion.
23
9
9
10
10
10
1
Benton
64
10
10
10
10
10
Richland.
143
1
2
2
2
3
Van Buren
130
24
24
22
22
22
2
Perry ..
183
19
19
19
19
19
Salt Creek
42
12
12
12
12
12
Polk ...
31
11
11
10
1
11
11
Clear Creek.
176
14
14
14
14
14
Indian Creek
109
32
32
33
33
33
1
Totals
1,375
161
y
161
161
1
162
162
3
13
Second Enrollment.
cember 19, 1864.
434
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
By comparing this table with the one given above, there would at first seem to be some ambiguity, but when it is recollected that the one above was prepared on the 31st of December, 1864, twelve days after the call for volunteers of December 19, 1864, upon which the last table is based, the matter becomes clearer. In other words, the second table above includes twelve days covered by the last table. A few recruits were fur- nished for the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment during the month of March. The draft had been fixed for the 6th of January, and had been postponed until the 15th of February, and was then again postponed until the latter part of March. In the mean time, recruiting was slowly continuing under the call of Lieut. Eller. The county did not quite escape the draft, however, which took place in Polk and Salt Creek Townships during the last week in March. Four or five men only were drafted, one of whom entered the service, as will be seen by the above table.
SUMMARY OF TROOPS FURNISHED.
On the 19th of September, 1862, the county was credited with hav- ing furnished 1,039 volunteers for the war. Under the six months' call of 1863, she furnished a full company-say 100 men. The quota under the October call of 1863 was 143 men, and under the four calls of 1864 was 277, 111, 287 and 161 men respectively. As all these quotas were filled by the county, a close estimate may be made of the number of men sent into the army during the war. At the close of the war, the county had a surplus of ten men to her credit. Taking the sum of 1,039, 100, 143, 277, 111, 287, 161 and 10, gives a grand total of 2,128 men, equal to over two full regiments. As the total enrollment of county militia in 1861 was 1,727, it will be seen how thoroughly the strength of the county was exhausted. Of course each man has been counted above as often as he enlisted. This estimate does not include the four compa- nies that were mustered in for the Morgan campaign-say 400 men. As they were actually in the service they should properly be included in the above estimate, thus raising the number of troops to 2,528. "Old Mon- roe" may well be proud of this showing.
MISCELLANEOUS INCIDENTS.
There was considerable disloyalty manifested publicly throughout the county during the war, of which it is better now to write but little. The subject cannot be very well wholly escaped. When the rebellious States seceded, they claimed that they were doing as they had a right to do under the Constitution. That they really acted in good faith in this par- particular can no longer be doubted. They were protecting the institu- tion of slavery, which had been their chief source of wealth and revenue since the formation of the Government. That slavery, of itself, was a great wrong. has nothing to do with what the South considered her right under the Constitution. The South believed in State sovereignty, in nullification and in slavery. She thought the Union could be broken by any State whose sovereign rights were trampled upon. But it is doubtful, even with this opinion, if she would have seceded had she not felt that slavery would otherwise receive its death blow. With these thoughts, is it any wonder that she seceded? The North took an opposite position
-
435
HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY.
on all these particulars, and was, of course, as we now know, right. The point is : Did the South act in good faith? If she did, her mistake can be overlooked. It was true of Monroe County that, as many of the cit- izens had come from the South, and had friends and relatives there, a strong sympathy was felt for the old home. During the winter of 1860- 61, as the Southern States seceded, many of the most prominent and intelligent citizens publicly expressed their gratification, and when the news was received that Fort Sumter had been captured, openly rejoiced at the event. And they were honest in what they did-believed that they were right. As stated elsewhere, one man declared in a public meet- ing that if he fought at all it would be on the Southern side. As the summer and fall of 1861 passed, savage fights occurred in town and county over political opinion, and even women were thus involved. On one occasion, a man who reviled the North was knocked down with a heavy stick on the streets of Bloomington. On another, a man who had called the Union soldiers hard names and had cheered for Jeff Davis was compelled to leave town in short measure to keep from being hung by a crowd of excited men who had hastily gathered. In some portions of the county, the other side held the balance of power, and if any man spoke too bitterly against the South he was speedily silenced. Several places were dubbed " Secessia," so strong was the Southern sentiment. The worst year was 1863. That was the darkest for the Union cause. Many brave hearts despaired of a restoration of the Union. On the contrary, the opposite element was bold, audacious and outspoken. The enlistment of men was openly discouraged, and secret treasonable organi- zations held nightly orgies and massed and drilled their forces prepara - tory for- - -what? Letters were written by citizens of the county to - boys in the field urging them to desert, and promising them secretion and protection from arrest. Several of these letters were published in full in the Republican, verbatim et literatim. In the early part of 1863, sev- eral disloyal public meetings were held at the county seat, which did a great deal to discourage enlistment, but the effect was soon counteracted by several large Union meetings that were held soon afterward. As a further means to encourage loyalty, there was organized in March, 1863, by the Union citizens of Monroe and Brown Counties, the National Union Association of Monroe and Brown Counties. The following were two planks of its declaration of principles :
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