USA > Indiana > Whitley County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 9
USA > Indiana > Noble County > Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana : historical and biographical > Part 9
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During the autumn of 1861, some six or seven recruiting officers were posted in the county to secure men for the war. The County Commissioners soon made ample provision for soldiers' families and bounties. Strong, well-attended Union meetings were held from time to time throughout the county, and the able-bodied men were not permitted to sleep under the delusion that no more men would be required. On the 4th of September, 1861, " Popgun " Smith and Charles Case, from Fort Wayne, entertained a vast audience at Columbia City, on the issues of the war. The smaller villages " braced up " in a similar manner, and soon the country schoolhouses were made to echo with the patri- otic speeches, songs and cheers of loyal citizens. Some localities were silent, not daring, perhaps, to avow their real sentiments ; others grimly and senten-
83
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
tiously muttered their maledictions against the Administration and the war. Notwithstanding the growing tendency not to enlist, recruits from the county were constantly entering the service. Many left the county, joining regiments raised in neighboring places. Isaiah B. McDonald, an uncompromising Dem- ocrat, one of the first men, so far as known to volunteer in Whitley County, set an example for his brethren that was worthy of imitation. He went out as Lieutenant of Company E of the Seventeenth Regiment at the first call for troops, and his loyal utterances in frequent letters written home and published caused many a man in Whitley County to halt at the brink of disloyalty and turn back toward the old flag. The following is an extract from one of his letters from Western Virginia :
If some of the peace howlers were here awhile, they would get bravely over their com- plaints. Mr. Lincoln's modification of Fremont's proclamation is well received here by all. This last strike of the President will do more for us than 100,000 soldiers well armed. I say, God bless Old Abe.
Such sentiments, coming from a prominent Democrat, could only have an excellent effect among the Democracy of Whitley County. Capt. Cuppy's company was completed about the middle of October, and Capt. Simonson's a short time before. Capt. Cuppy was from Cleveland Township, where the greater number of his company was enlisted. On the 17th of October, this company were ready to depart. The village, South Whitley, was filled with relatives and friends of the brave boys. A stand was erected, from which the principal citizens said, "God bless you" to the untried soldiers. A splendid dinner had been spread out, free to all, which was often thought of afterward by the boys when half starved down in Dixie. At last, hands were wrung, tears were shed, good-bys were spoken with pale faces and white lips, and the boys marched proudly away to Columbia City, whence they were conveyed by rail to Fort Wayne, the place of rendezvous.
- In response to the Governor's " Appeal to the Patriotic Women of Indiana," the ladies of Columbia City met on Saturday afternoon, October 19, for the purpose of organizing a society to aid in furnishing the Indiana Volunteers with the articles of clothing specified in the call of Gov. Morton. The following preamble and resolutions were adopted, and a society organized to be called the " Whitley County Soldiers' Aid Society:"
WHEREAS, The Governor of the State has appealed to the patriotic women of this State in behalf of the Indiana Volunteers now on the tented field, asking them to aid in furnishing blank- ets, mittens, socks, woolen drawers and shirts for our needy soldiers, therefore
Resolved, That in response to the call of the Governor, we, the ladies of Columbia City and vicinity, do hereby organize ourselves into a society to be called the Whitley County Soldiers' Aid Society.
Resolved, That the officers of this society shall consist of a President, Vice President, Sec- retary, Treasurer and a committee of six members to solicit contributions.
Resolved, That the object of this society shall be to purchase and make such articles of clothing for the soldiers as are enumerated in the Governor's appeal, and solicit contributions from all who can render aid in this sacred cause.
Resolved, That the society meet every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon of each week.
Resolved, That an earnest invitation be extended to the ladies throughout the county to co-operate with us in this holy and patriotic effort.
Resolved, That a membership fee of 25 cents shall be paid by each member for the pur- chase of material for the making of the articles needed.
84
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
The following-named officers were chosen by the society : Mrs. J. L. Collins, President ; Mrs. Samuel Keefer, Vice President ; Mrs. H. D. Wilson, Secretary, and Mrs. A. Y. Hooper, Treasurer. Mrs. John Rhodes, Mrs. N. D. Torbet, Mrs. T. P. Gaylord, Mrs. Wm. Lohman, Mrs. George Stough and Mrs. Leonard, committee to solicit contributions .- Republican, Oct. 22.
About the same time, a similar society was organized at Huntsville (Lar- will), the officers being Mrs. H. McLallen, President ; Mrs. E. M. Baker, Vice President ; Mrs. D. B. Clugston, Secretary; and Mrs. David Kerr, Treasurer; Mrs. Truman Hunt, Mrs. William Rice, Mrs. J. E. Hayden, Miss Lucinda Carder, Miss Matilda Kerr and Miss Maria Burns, Soliciting Com- mittee. Another was organized at Coesse with the following officers : Mrs. J. Root, President ; Mrs. F. Mossman, Vice President; Mrs. M. J. Swayne, Sec- retary; Mrs. S. Douglas, Treasurer; Mrs. Joseph Mossman, Mrs. Joseph Pierce, Mrs. D. S. Morse, Mrs. Rachel Edger, Mrs. George Omans, Mrs. G. Pettit, Mrs. R. Drew, Mrs. W. Taylor, Miss Barbara Rouch and Mrs. J. H. Clark, Soliciting Committee. $22.25, the receipts of an exhibition, were paid to the Aid Society at Columbia City in October, 1861, by the young ladies of the public school. Another society was organized in Richland Township, the following being the officers: Mrs. W. Goldsmith, President; Mrs. J. Graham, Vice President ; Mrs. N. G. Parret, Secretary ; Mrs. A. F. Marvin, Treasurer ; Mrs. R. Rollins, Miss H. Munger, Mrs. W. Newman, Mrs. D. Kimes, Mrs. G. P. Cullimore and Mrs. W. Rollins, Soliciting Committee.
Similar organizations. with similar laws, were created all over the county, and large quantities of blankets, shirts, socks, drawers, mittens, etc., were boxed up and sent to the boys in the field. Goods of this character and pro- visions to the value of at least $800 were sent out of the county during the war. The effect of all this was realized only by the poor boys who were suffer- ing from wounds or disease in Southern hospitals, or who were undergoing protracted and harassing marches and fatigues in the rebellious States. Many a poor fellow has cried out, "God bless the noble and loyal women of the North !"
After the first few months of excitement had passed away, people settled down, prepared to hear almost anything. The enlistments went on generally under the stimulus of a war meeting, where spread-eagle speeches were delivered, with much eclat, to appreciative and applauding assemblages. Every encourage- ment, in the way of bounty, loyalty and national preservation, was held temptingly out to lure into the service the stalwart sons of noble old Indiana. Capt. Stough had resigned his position and had come home, and, in July, 1862, he began raising another company for the service. About the same time, Capt. Serjeant began the enlistment of a company for the Seventy-fourth Regiment. Enthusiastic meetings were held, in July, at Coesse, Concord, Troy Center, Etna, Thorn Creek Center, Richland Center, Bechtel's Grove, Springfield, Jefferson Center and Columbia City. Mr. Serjeant had been with Taylor in the Mexican War and had the confidence of the citizens, and, as a consequence, his company rapidly filled. These companies were dispatched to the field during the early
85
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
autumn of 1862. An artillery company, previously mentioned, of which Judge Bodley was at first Captain and which had been largely raised in the county, was dispatched to the field, under Capt. Peter Simonson, in about No- vember, 1861. The Indiana Regiments which contained men from Whitley County were the Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Seventeenth, Twenty- ninth, Thirty-fourth, Thirtieth, Thirty-eighth, Forty-second, Forty-fourth, Forty-eighth, Seventy-fourth, Eighty-eighth, One Hundredth, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, One Hundred and Forty-second, One Hundredth and Fifty- second, Fifth Light Artillery, Eighth United States Colored Troops, Four- teenth Light Artillery and the Twenty-third Light Artillery. Other regiments also contained a few men from the county. The writer, by careful count and estimate, has found that "Little Whitley" sent into the war of the rebellion about eight hundred men. Company E of the Seventeenth was commanded by Capt. G. W. Stough. Company E of the Forty-fourth was commanded by Capt. William E. Cuppy. Company B of the Seventy-fourth was commanded by Capt. James E. Serjeant. Company K of the Eigty-eighth was commanded by Capt. James C. Bodley. Company F of the One Hundredth was com- manded by Capt. Abram W. Myers. Company D of the One Hundred and Twenty- ninth was commanded by Capt. Francis M. McDonald. Company G of the One Hundred and Forty-second was commanded by Capt. John H. Slagle. Company I of the One Hundred and Fifty-second was commanded by Capt. John M. Albright. All these officers were from Whitley County. In addition to these, there was the Fifth Light Artillery, commanded by Capt. Peter Simonson, who was shot in battle, and who was succeeded in command by Capt. Alfred Morrison. There must also be mentioned the "Whitley County Legion of Honor," composed of the following companies : Whitley Guards, Albert Webster, Captain, August, 1861; Richland Guards, Isaac N. Compton, Captain, September, 1863; Whitley Artillery, James C. Bodley, Captain, June, 1861. The men composing these guards were afterward re- quired to face the bullets of the Southern Confederacy. Taking into consid- eration the influences brought to bear upon the citizens not to enlist, and even to discourage assistance to continue the war, the reader will be led to think that Whitley County did her full share in suppressing the rebellion. But it must be borne in mind that several drafts were instituted to compel localities to fill their quotas, and great exertions were necessary on the part of recruiting and enlisting officers to fill their companies. The first draft occurred October 6, 1862, and gave the citizens a taste of what was to follow. The following were the officers of the draft : Alexander Hall, Provost Marshal ; James S. Collins, Commissioner ; and Dr. D. G. Linvill, Surgeon. The call for 300,000 men had been made in August, 1862, and as Whitley was considerably behind, or at least that was the understanding, it was thought here that unless some- thing very important was done in the way of filling the required quota, the county must submit to the humiliation of a draft. A fair bounty was imme-
1
86
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
diately offered by the County Commissioners, and this, with the State and Na- tional bounties, besides the regular pay per month, proved almost sufficient to relieve the county. On the 20th of September, 1862, the townships in the county stood subject to draft as follows: Richland, 6; Troy, 9; Washington, 38; Columbia, 18; Jefferson, 34; Union, 5; Smith, 9; Thorn Creek, 34; total, 153.
Between the 20th of September and the 6th of October, a sufficient num- ber enlisted to clear all the townships except Thorn Creek, Washington and Jefferson, these townships being behind some twenty-five men. The draft was conducted in the Court House by the above-named officers, amid such severe excitement as to indicate, if anything was done to precipitate events, a success- ful resistance to the draft. There were read out the names of men who violently cursed everything, from Lincoln to the Draft Commissioner, and who swore that they would never enter the ranks to continue the damnable war. There were also read out the names of those who looked like death when they knew they were in for it. Others, of both parties, loyally faced the music, and de- clared they had taken their chances and were ready to go. The drafted men were taken to Indianapolis, where, through the neglect of a number of military " nincompoops," they were compelled to " cabbage," without orders or payment, a large barrel of crackers. This food, with a little water, constituted their only supper. The aforesaid "nincompoops " were summarily cashiered for their neglect and dismissed the service, and payment was made for the barrel of crackers.
This draft, promptly made and executed, proved to the citizens that the Government was in earnest, not trifling, and thereafter all but rebel sympa- thizers exerted themselves to avoid any further conscription. Yet, notwith- standing all efforts, several drafts occurred afterward, under the supervision of Hiram Iddings, Provost Marshal ; William S. Smith, Commissioner. and Ste- phen Morris, Surgeon, draft officers, located at Kendallville, for the Tenth Con- gressional District. The commissions of these officers took effect in May, 1863. Charles W. Hughes was appointed Assistant Provost Marshal for Whitley County. On the 4th of July, 1863, Mr. Hughes attempted the arrest of a deserter whom he met on the street of Columbia City. The deserter resisted, and, escaping, ran out of town, but was pursued by Lieut. Slagle and brought back. The day had been one of great political excitement, and the celebration had been interrupted several times by riots and fights. As soon as it became known on the streets that the deserter had been arrested, a rescue was determined upon, regardless of the consequences. A small body of men had assembled to sustain the arrest, but they were greatly outnumbered. Everybody was excited at the prospect of the impending conflict, and the interest became intense. Women began to cry out and shed tears, and even some men sought the presumably safe fortification of female crinoline. The crowds met, the smaller was swept back and scattered, and the law-breakers rescued their friend
!
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HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
with shouts of joy. This was not done, however, without desperate resistance from the Marshal and his band, and sundry noses were made to flow, and eyes made to assume the hue of Erebus.
Almost every week, news was received that women had met in sanguinary conflict at schoolhouses or cross-roads. Every week or two, the papers contained highly sensational pen portraits of the fights. It was certainly a scene to make the blood of the boldest run cold. The men were not behind in " scrimmages " of this nature. During the entire continuance of the war, scores of terrific fights occurred over hard names and bad blood.
The condition of affairs in Whitley County was announced to the District Provost Marshal at Kendallville, who, thereupon, resolved that he would arrest the three or four deserters who were lurking in the county. Accordingly, on the 17th of July, 1863, the District Marshal, in command of about seventy- five men-soldiers-from Kendallville, entered the county from the north, arresting a deserter in Thorn Creek Township, thence moving to Larwill, where another deserter was taken, thence to Columbia City, arriving there about 8 o'clock in the morning. The deserter there was soon found and arrested, and the three taken to the Tremont House, handcuffed and closely guarded. [News, July 21, 1863.] This paper stated that the cause of the last man's arrest was not because he had deserted ; but because he rescued, as above stated, on Inde- pendence Day, the deserter who had been arrested by Marshal Hughes. The statement of the paper is probably correct. As soon as it became known that a body of troops was in town, and that arrests were being made, hundreds of people appeared on the streets to see what was transpiring. Excitement ran to mountainous heights when it was discovered that all efforts would fail to
prevent the arrests. The soldiers breakfasted, and, in the meantime, it became apparent on the streets that trouble would ensue. The military body, with the deserters in charge, had no sooner reached the street (Van Buren) than it was surrounded by a shouting mob, which heaped insult upon insult upon the soldiers, until the latter were compelled to chastise a few with swords and bayonets. During this conflict, two prominent citizens were arrested, one for disloyal expressions and unwarranted interference with the arrests that were being made by the soldiers ; the other, for resisting the arrest of his friend, who was a rela- tive. During the arrest of these two, it became necessary to resort to stern meas- ures. The commanding officer of the detachment of soldiers drew his revolver and fired three or four shots, one or two of which took effect in the person of one of the citizens under arrest, both of whom, when the soldiers moved, were taken some distance into the country with the rest of the prisoners, where, after a parley with the officers, they were released; but the deserters were retained, and, after a few months, the one arrested at Columbia City for resisting the arrest of a deserter returned to Columbia City, and was given a public ovation by his friends.
Disturbances much of a similar character were afterward enacted in the
88
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
county. This was the condition of public feeling and action during the entire war. The drafts of 1863 and 1864 came on, and many were thus called into service.
The following was the condition of the quotas of the different townships of Whitley County under the call of July 18, 1864 :
Excess.
Deficit.
Quota.
To furnish.
Smith Township.
Thorn Creek Township
20
...
39
19
Ætna Township.
6
...
9
3
Troy Township.
...
2
38
40
Richland Township.
...
...
29
29
Columbia Township
52
...
78
26
Union Township.
33
..
...
Jefferson Township.
...
2
27
29
Washington Township.
...
1
33
34
Cleveland Township.
37
...
36
...
Total
148
8
349
211
A draft was ordered for this call of 500,000 men, but was postponed until December, 1864, at which time another call for 300,000 men was issued. The citizens well knew that, unless the county exerted itself wonderfully, the quota of Whitley County under these two calls, as shown in the two tables-a total of 418 men-would have to be filled by draft. The quota of Whitley County under the last call of the President, in December, 1864, for 300,000 men, was 207. The quotas of the different townships were :
Smith Township.
31
Thorn Creek Township.
17
Ætna Township
5
Troy Township
40
Richland Township
32
Columbia Township.
16
Union
4
Jefferson
24
Washington
27
Cleveland
11
Total. 207
The citizens resolved to fill the quotas, if such a thing were possible. The County Commissioners met and raised the county bounty to $450, and then the inducements held out took the following excellent shape :
The quota of Whitley County is not quite full yet, and, unless the men come forward and enlist, the draft will certainly come off at no distant day. Drafted men get no bounties. Volun- teers receive the following for one year's service :
Regular Government bounty $100 00
County bounty
450 00
Township bounty. 100 00
Monthly pay for one year.
192 00
Clothing, not less than.
150 00
Rations-lowest rate of boarding.
200 00
...
3
28
31
32
Men.
Total for one year's service. $1,192 00
COLUMBIA CITY.
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HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
This is a good chance to make a little money. For one year's service you get $1,192, of which amount $583-nearly one-half-is paid in advance, in shining greenbacks at that, before departing for the tented field. Recruiting offices have been opened at the Tremont House, in this city, and at the American House, in Springfield, this county .- News, last of February 1865.
These inducements were too much for the boys, who volunteered rapidly from all quarters. Soon it became apparent that, even if Whitley County did not quite fill its quota, no draft would be held.
The following table shows what the county paid during the war as bounty and relief fund :
County, City or Township.
Bounty. $105,900
Relief. $13,883
Whitley County
Cleveland Township
2,750
500
Richland Township
11,072
304
Troy Township.
5,000
300
Washington Township
2,200
200
Columbia Township
6,020
500
Thorn Creek Township
2,250
200
Jefferson Township.
1,500
200
Union Township
1,126
260
Smith Township
4,719
200
Etna Township.
500
100
Whitley County Total
$143,037
$16,647
Total Bounty and Relief
$159,684
The regiments from Indiana which contained the greatest number of men from Whitley County were the Eleventh, Seventeenth, Forty-fourth, Seventy- fourth, Eighty-eighth, One Hundredth, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth, One Hundred and Forty-second, One Hundred and Fifty second, and the Fifth Light Artillery. The Eleventh Regiment fought at Forts Heiman, Henry and Donelson ; at Shiloh ; siege of Corinth; Yazoo Pass Expedition; the Vicksburg movement; the siege of Vicksburg; battle of Winchester; and battle of Fisher's Hill, besides many other smaller engagements. The Seventeenth Regiment fought at Greenbrier, siege of Corinth, battle with Gen. Forrest, skirmish with Bragg. February, 1863, the regiment was mounted and supplied with Spencer rifles ; desperate battle at Hoover's Gap; Manchester ; Cowan ; Dalton; near Ringgold ; numerous small skirmishes; Chickamauga ; Thompson's Cove ; McMinnville ; Shelbyville; Farmington ; battle with Kelley's Brigade; skir- mished constantly on the Atlanta campaign ; Pumpkin Vine Church ; Big Shanty ; Belle Plain Road; Kenesaw Mountain ; Marietta; Chattahoochee River; Stone Mountain ; Flat Rock ; New Hope Church ; Rome; Coosaville ; Leesburg ; Goshen and pursuit of Hood; then followed the " Wilson raid," in which the Seventeenth took a prominent part; Bogue's Creek; assault on Selma; Tobesoffkee Creek ; numerous hot skirmishes ; Rocky Creek bridge ; captured, without aid, Macon, Ga., with one Major General, three Brigadier Generals, 3,000 prisoners, 60 pieces of artillery, 3,000 small arms, etc., etc. The Union troops numbered 451 men. Here the regiment was mustered out of service. The loss of the regiment during the Wilson raid, from March 22d
E
92
HISTORY OF WHITLEY COUNTY.
to May 1st, was twenty-one killed and ninety-four wounded. Up to this time, the Seventeenth Regiment had marched over 4,000 miles; captured over 5,000 prisoners, together with 6,000 stands of arms; 70 pieces of artillery ; 11 stands of colors, and more than 3,000 horses and mules. This was done with the total loss of 3 officers and 66 men killed, and 13 officers and 126 men wounded. The Mumfordsville affair was engaged in in 1862 by a detachment of the regiment. The Seventeenth was one of the most active regiments in the war from any State.
The Forty-fourth Regiment, the latter part of October, 1861, went to Indianapolis, and, in December, to Henderson, Ky. In February, 1862, it was ordered to Forts Henry and Donelson, where it suffered severely in killed and wounded. It went to Pittsburg Landing, and was in both days' battle of Shiloh, where it lost the appalling number of thirty-three killed and one hun- dred and seventy seven wounded. It was at Corinth and at Boonville. It pursued Bragg northward, reaching Louisville, Ky., on the 26th of September. It fought at Perryville and at Russell Hill. In less than three months and a half, the regiment had marched on an average ten miles per day, without tents. It had suffered terribly on the long marches. The regiment was at Stone River, suffering eight killed, fifty-two wounded and twenty-five missing. It was present at Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. In these two battles, the loss was eighty-two killed, wounded and missing. While at Chattanooga, the boys " veteranized " and went home on a visit. It returned to Chattanooga in the spring of 1864, and did provost duty there until September, 1865, when it was mustered out of service. The regiment, during its term of service, lost 350 in killed and wounded, and 58 by disease. Recruits after this from the Forty-fourth served in the closing scenes of the war.
In August, 1862, the Seventy-fourth Regiment, less two companies, left Indianapolis for Louisville, Ky. It went to Bowling Green and then to Louis- ville. It participated in the pursuit of Bragg. In November, it reached Gallatin, and in December it was joined by Companies C and K. These two companies had had a severe fight with Bragg's army, and were captured, paroled, and in November, 1862, were exchanged and then joined their regi- ment. The regiment fought Gen. Morgan. It occupied Gallatin in January, 1863, then Lavergne, then to Triune, where it arrived in June. It moved in the campaign against Tullahoma, skirmished the enemy at Hoover's Gap, and in August, participated in the campaign against Chattanooga. In September, it skirmished at Dug Gap, Ga. It was one of the first regiments engaged at Chickamauga, and with the Tenth Regiment was the last to leave the field. The regiment was with that old hero, Gen. Thomas, and lost 20 killed, 129 wounded, and 11 missing. The Seventy-fourth was constantly skirmishing at the siege of Chattanooga. It was at Mission Ridge in November, losing eighteen killed and wounded. It followed the enemy to Ringgold, Ga., and then returned. It was at Buzzard's Roost, February, 1864, but returned to
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