USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume I > Part 49
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Richmond, Kentucky.
August 30, 1862.
Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi.
December 28-29, 1862.
Arkansas Post, Arkansas
January 11, 1863.
Richmond, Louisiana.
March 30, 1863. .
Port Gibson, Mississippi.
May 1, 1863.
Champion Hills, Mississippi.
May 16, 1863.
Big Black River, Mississippi.
May 17, 1863.
Vicksburg, Mississippi, (General Assault)
. May 22, 1863.
Vicksburg, Mississippi, (Siege of)
May 18 to July 4, 1863.
Jackson, Mississippi, (Siege of)
. July 9-16, 1863.
Matagorda Bay, Texas. . December 29-30, 1863.
Alexandria, Louisiana . May 1-8, 1864.
Fort Blakely, Alabama. April 9, 1865.
COLONEL THOMAS WARREN BENNETT.
Thomas Warren Bennett, Colonel of the 69th Indiana Infantry, and Brevet Brigadier General, U. S. V., was born February 16, 1831, in Union County, Indiana. He was a lively, energetic youth and before the advent of railroads in Indiana, for two years drove a six-horse team between Liberty, Indiana, his home, and Cincinnati, Ohio, hauling produce to the latter city and returning loaded with merchandise. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. In 1850 he entered Asbury (now De Pauw) University, Greencastle, Indiana, and graduated in 1854. In the following year, he began the practice of the law at Liberty. He continued in the practice of his profession until the beginning of the Civil War, when he resigned his seat in the Indiana State Senate, to which he had been elected in 1858, and under the first call of President Lincoln for volunteers recruited and organized a full company which became Company I, 15th Indiana Infantry, three years' service, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Captain, June 14, 1861. On September 9, 1861, he was commissioned Major of the 36th Indiana Infantry, which he joined and with which he did valiant service until deserved promotion made him Colonel of another regiment. He was present at the capture of Nashville, Tennessee; par- ticipated in the Siege of Corinth, Mississippi, and was engaged in all the marches, skirmishes and battles of General Nelson's Division, including the retrograde movement from the Tennessee to the Ohio River and the subsequent pursuit of Bragg, which drove the latter and his forces out of Kentucky.
On October 18, 1862, Major Bennett was commissioned Colonel of the 69th
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Indiana Infantry, and with that afterwards famous regiment, he joined the troops, under General Sherman, in the campaign against Vicksburg. He par- ticipated in the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, and the capture of Arkansas Post, Arkansas, January II, 1863. He rendered conspicuous service in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills and Big Black River and took part in the entire campaign of General Grant, commanding the expedition which opened the way from Milliken's Bend above, to New Carthage, Louisiana, below the city of Vicksburg. For the spirited and successful manner in which this expedition was conducted, Colonel Bennett and his command were highly com- plimented in special orders by General Grant. He was also present at the siege and capture of Vicksburg. After the fall of that place, Colonel Bennett, with his regiment, joined the Army of the Gulf, then under the command of General Banks. With that army he was in the Teche Campaign, the Texas Campaign and the Red River Expedition, during most of the time being in command of a brigade. He was for a time Chief of Staff of the 13th Army Corps and in that position exhibited such fine executive ability, complete knowledge of military re- quirements and such untiring industry, as to win the unstinted praise of the entire corps. He was a brave and daring officer and seemed by nature especially fitted for a soldier's life.
On March 5, 1865, in consideration of "gallant and meritorious service rendered in the field," President Lincoln appointed him a Brevet Brigadier Gen- eral. General Bennett was one of the escort who afterwards accompanied the remains of the martyred President to their place of rest, at Springfield, Illinois.
On January 4, 1865, he was mustered out of the service to take his seat in the Indiana State Senate to which he had been elected, at the preceding election, from the district composed of Union and Fayette Counties. At the close of the war, he resumed the practice of the law at Richmond, Indiana, and in May, 1869, was elected Mayor of that city, serving two years.
In September, 1871, by appointment of President Grant, General Bennett became Territorial Governor of Idaho, the duties of which position he honorably and creditably discharged until December 4, 1875, when he resigned, having been elected as a Republican delegate from that territory to the Forty Fourth Congress. His election, however, was contested and the seat given to S. S. Fenn, Democrat. In 1876 he returned to Richmond and was again elected Mayor of the city, serving four years. The beautiful park and system of roadways of that city date from his administration.
On July 20, 1858, at Liberty, Union County, Indiana, General Bennett was united in marriage with Anna Casterline, daughter of Dr. Ziba Casterline and Catharine McCloud Elwell, his wife. Dr. Casterline was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he was born, July 20, 1803. He was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and of the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio. His wife, Catharine McCloud Elwell, was born in Morristown, New Jersey, but was taken to Philadelphia when three years old by her parents, and it was there they met and were united in marriage, Feb- ruary 23, 1836, afterwards moving to Liberty, Indiana, where Mrs. Bennett was born. During the Civil War, Dr. Casterline enlisted as Assistant Surgeon of the 84th Indiana Infantry and was mustered into the service of the United States,
432
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY. .
August 15, 1862. He served with the regiment until July 31, 1863, when he resigned on account of ill health. The married life of General Bennett and his wife was a happy one but the union was without issue. He died February 4, 1893, and his remains are buried in Earlham Cemetery, near Richmond. His widow is still living in that city. "
In 1864 General Bennett was a member of the Military Commission which tried the Indiana conspirators, Milligan, Bowles and Horsey, for treason, all of whom were convicted and sentenced to be hung. Through the efforts of Governor Morton, this sentence was afterwards commuted by President Johnson to im- prisonment for life, in the Ohio State Penitentiary, at Columbus. Later, they were released by the Supreme Court of the United States, on habeas corpus pro- ceedings, on the ground that not being in the army or navy, and the State not being in insurrection, they were not amenable to courts-martial.
In 1886 General Bennett was Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of Indiana, and at the time of his death, in 1893, he was one of the commissioners of the State of Indiana for the building of what is universally recognized as one of the finest and most impressive structures of its kind in the world-The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, at Indianapolis.
A brilliant soldier, accomplished jurist, efficient administrator, he figures largely in the annals of Indiana and the Nation.
COLONEL ORAN PERRY.
Colonel Oran Perry enlisted in Company B, 16th Indiana Infantry, at Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana, April 19, 1861, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a private, May 14, 1861. He was appointed Sergeant Major of the regiment May 25, 1861, and was mustered out of the service at Washington, District of Columbia, May 14, 1862, by reason of expiration of term of service.
On July 18, 1862, he was commissioned Adjutant of the 69th Indiana Infantry and on March 13, 1863, was promoted Lieutenant Colonel upon the request of the officers of the regiment, this being, perhaps, the only instance during the war where a subordinate officer was promoted over the heads of his superiors at the request of-the officers themselves. He was appointed Colonel by brevet U. S. V .. by the President, April 26, 1865, on the recommendation of his division com- mander, General Christopher C. Andrews, "For the resolute and courageous manner in which he led his battalion in the charge at Fort Blakely on April 9th, in which he was seriously wounded, for his zeal as an officer and for having a splendid and efficient battalion." He was commissioned Colonel by Governor Morton on April 13, 1865, but was not mustered on account of lack of members of the regiment.
He served with the 16th Indiana in the Army of the Potomac until May. 1862; with the 69th Indiana in Kentucky under General Nelson; with General Sherman in 1862 in the expedition against Vicksburg, via Chickasaw Bayou; and with the Army of the Tennessee under General Grant in all of the movements against Vicksburg. the 69th Indiana being the advance regiment in that great campaign from Milliken's Bend, twenty five miles above Vicksburg to Ion
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Plantation, twenty five miles below. He also served with the Army of the Gulf under General Banks in the Bayou Teche; along the coast of Texas; with the Red River Expedition in 1863; and with General Gordon Granger in Alabama in 1864. He was also with General Canby's army in all the operations resulting in the capture of Mobile, April 9. 1865, the last battle of the war, the same day that General Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia.
He commanded the 69th Indiana for two years and was mustered out with it at Mobile, July 5, 1865. He was engaged in the battles at Richmond, Kentucky, Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, Arkansas Post, Arkansas, Richmond, Louisiana, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Big Black River, the assault and siege on Vicks- burg, the siege of Jackson, all in Mississippi, Alexandria, Louisiana, Fort Blakely, Alabama, and many minor actions. He was wounded in the left leg and taken prisoner at Richmond, Kentucky; in the left arm at Port Gibson; and in the head at Fort Blakely.
At present he is the Quartermaster General of Indiana.
28
434
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF GEORGE BRENNEMAN.
PRINCIPAL MUSICIAN, 69TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. INDIANA VOLUNTEERS ; MANUFACTURER AND FARMER.
For three quarters of a century, the name of Brenneman has been a familiar one in New Castle and throughout Henry County. Jacob Brenneman, the head of the family in this community, was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania, February 1, 1809. He was early apprenticed to learn the trade of turner and cabinet maker. In 1825, having learned his trade, he removed from Pennsylvania to Henry County, Indiana, where he settled at New Castle and continued to reside until his death, which occurred October 3, 1885. He was buried in South Mound Cemetery, of which association he was a charter member.
On March 2, 1837, he was united in marriage with Margaret M. Branson, daughter of Owen and Hannah Branson, of Wayne County, Indiana, where she was born, January 14, 1822. Soon after the marriage, she came to New Castle with her husband, where, surviving the toils and privations of pioneer life, she lived to share his success and to enjoy the improved situation of their children. This most estimable woman died May 6, 1881, and her remains lie buried beside her husband in South Mound Cemetery.
Shortly after his arrival in New Castle, Mr. Brenneman became acquainted with Adam Beam, who, like Mr. Brenneman, was a new comer and a cabinet maker, as well. The acquaintance ripened into friendship and the two finally formed a partnership in their trade under the firm name of Brenneman and Beam. This partnership continued without interruption until the death, by accident, of Mr. Beam, April 17, 1871. This remarkable firm carried on the business of cabinet making and undertaking for a period of nearly forty years, during which time they never had a single disagreement. The name of Brenneman and Beam was a familiar one and commanded as much credit and respect as that of any partnership that ever existed in Henry County. Many specimens of their handiwork exist, which are proudly cherished by the fortunate possessors. After the death of Mr. Beam, the business was continued by Mr. Brenneman, with other partners, until his retirement from active pursuits, in 1880.
Personally, Mr. Brenneman was a quiet, unobtrusive man, a good listener, but possessed of a great fund of quiet humor. He was a progressive citizen and took a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and prosperity of New Castle. He served for several terms as a member of the town council and in conjunction with other citizens secured the building of the railroad from Richmond to New Castle. In politics he was a Whig until the disruption of that party, when he became a Republican, of which party he became an active sup- porter. In all matters of business, whether for himself or others, he was a careful and economical administrator, and dying, left behind a name and record of which any family might be proud.
To the union of Jacob Brenneman and Margaret M. (Branson) Brenneman were born five children, namely : Daniel W .; George; Lavinia, now Mrs. Thomas W. Gough, of Maroa, Macon County, Illinois; Eli, and Henrietta. now Mrs. Henry L. Hernly, of New Castle.
George Bresse erec
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
GEORGE BRENNEMAN.
The second son, George Brenneman, the subject of this sketch, was born at New Castle, Indiana, November 21, 1842, and with the exception of about a year and a half spent at Middletown, Indiana, and five years, during which he lived in Iowa, New Castle has always been his home. In his early youth, he learned the trade of his father and followed it for several years. He afterwards learned the trade of a shoemaker and was following that trade at Middletown at the breaking out of the Civil War.
In 1862 he was active in the raising and organizing of what afterwards be- came Company H, 69th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Musician, August 19, 1862. He served with his company and regiment from its organization until his muster out, July 5, 1865, without absence for a single day, and actively participated in all its marches, skirmishes and battles, from Richmond, Kentucky, August 30, 1862, to Fort Blakely, Alabama, April 9, 1865. At Champion Hills, Mississippi, May 16, 1863, he was wounded but not severely enough to interfere with the performance of active service. His faithfulness to duty and bravery .in action brought him deserved promotion to the non-commissioned staff of the regiment of which, at his muster out, he was Principal Musician (Drum Major).
At the close of the war, Mr. Brenneman returned to Middletown where, on November 21, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miranda Davis, daughter of David and Elizabeth Davis, old settlers and respected citizens of Fall Creek Township. Henry County, where she was born, November 19, 1846. Soon after their marriage, himself and wife moved to New Castle, where he went into the shoe business. In 1867, he moved to Iowa and settled on a farm in Decatur County, that State, where he remained about five years. In the Fall of 1871, Mr. Brenneman returned to New Castle where he has continued to reside ever since. Here he first engaged in the manufacture of furniture with his father and others. He afterwards followed the same line of business alone. In 1890, he turned his attention to farming and stock raising in which he has been signally successful.
To the union of George Brenneman and Miranda (Davis) Brenneman were born three children, the first dying in infancy. Their daughter, Blanche, is now Mrs. Carl E. Sumack, of Muncie, Indiana, and their daughter, Georgia, is now Mrs. Howard Sim, of New Castle.
George Brenneman's life spans a period which marks the greatest advance of mankind in mechanical achievement and he has been an intelligent observer of the same. One of the extraordinary incidents of his life was the prediction and description, to him, of the present telephone system by an itinerant fortune teller and mind reader, in 1868-9, while Mr. Brenneman was living in Iowa. The vagrant prophet declared that the time would come when Mr. Brenneman could talk from his Iowa home with friends in Indiana quite as well as if they were face to face. At that time he was voted a crank and visionary but Mr. Brenne- man has seen the prediction become an accomplished fact.
George Brenneman has always been a strong Republican in politics and has always taken an active interest in the progress and well being of his native county. He is a fine type of the conservative citizen and has won for himself an honored place in the community, by his industry, intelligence and public spirit.
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
DANIEL W. BRENNEMAN.
Daniel W. Brenneman, the elder brother of George, was born, March 6, 1839, at New Castle, where he grew to manhood. He was unable, because of physical disability, to go to the front in the Civil War, but he was an ardent supporter of the National Government and active at home in recruiting for the cause, taking care of the families of soldiers in the field, forwarding sanitary supplies and in other ways alleviating the sufferings and hardships of the war .. He saw brief service in the State, during the Morgan Raid, when he was a private in Company A, Hoth Indiana Infantry. In 1866, he moved to Decatur, Macon County, Illinois, where he became a well known, prosperous and respected citizen. He died October 29, 1904, and was buried at Decatur.
ELI BRENNEMAN.
Eli Brenneman, the younger brother of George, was born December 1, 1846, at New Castle, where he grew to manhood. At the beginning of the Civil War, he was too young to enter the army but in 1864, upon the organization of the 140th Indiana Infantry, he enlisted in Company H, of that regiment and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Musician, September 27, 1864. He participated in the marches, skirmishes and battles of that regiment until his muster out, July 1I, 1865. He returned to New Castle after the war but later joined his elder brother, Daniel W., at Decatur, Illinois, where, after a prosperous. and honorable life, he died, November 4, 1899, and where his remains are now buried. Daniel W. and Eli Brenneman, after their removal to Illinois, became joint owners of the Lincoln farm on the Sangamon River, the early home of the martyred President, and they continued to own the same for about ten years, after which it was sold.
ISAAC DAVIS.
Isaac Davis, a brother of Mrs. George Brenneman, was also a soldier of the Civil War. He enlisted from Middletown in Company H, 69th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as Corporal, August 19, 1862. He died of disease at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, May II, 1863, and was buried there. His remains have since been re-interred in the National Cemetery at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
C.C. Shedron
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF CHARLES CAMPBELL SHEDRON.
LIEUTENANT, COMPANY H, 69TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, INDIANA VOLUNTEERS; MERCHANT TAILOR AND FARMER.
Charles Campbell Shedron, a gallant ex-soldier of the Civil War, was born in St. Thomas, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1836. He was the son of a soldier, his father having served with honor in the War of 1812-15, in which his shoulder was crushed, permanently disabling him. Jacob and Sarah ( Martin) Shedron, the parents of Lieutenant Shedron, were both natives of New York State, but lived for some years after their marriage in Pennsylvania. On November 1, 1847, the family moved to Indiana and settled at Middletown, Henry County, where at the age of sixty six years, the father died. He is buried in Painter Cemetery, near that place. The mother lived to be ninety two years of age and died at the home of her son, William Shedron, brother of the subject of this sketch, then and now a resident of Camden, Carroll County, Indiana.
During his boyhood, Charles C. Shedron obtained his education in the schools of Middletown, New Castle and Knightstown. In 1849, at the age of thirteen, he was apprenticed, for a term of four years, to the late Jacob Mowrer, of New Castle, to learn the tailor trade. During this apprenticeship, he received no specific sum as wages, but was given six months' schooling and, at the end of the four years of his apprenticeship, a good suit of clothes. After finishing his trade, he at once started in business for himself at Knightstown, where he con- tinued until 1860, when he returned to Middletown and opened a merchant tailor- ing shop there. At this time, his trade was to him a means rather than au end, for young Shedron had determined to become a physician, and about this time, he began the study of medicine under Dr. Roland T. Summers, a prominent physician of Middletown and continued that study until his enlistment in the army.
In the Summer of 1862, Mr. Shedron energetically assisted in the recruiting and organizing of Company H, 69th Indiana Infantry, and was mustered into the service of the United States, as a Sergeant of the company, August 19, 1862. Frederick Hoover, of Middletown, was Captain of this company until his resig- nation, January 22, 1863, when he was succeeded by David S. Yount, also of Middletown. The insistent demand for troops, owing to Bragg's threatening movements in Kentucky, led the authorities to reluctantly send to the front this regiment, as yet undrilled and only partly equipped, and on August 30, 1862, at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, near the entire regiment was captured by the Confederates under General Kirby Smith. The regiment was at once paroled and sent to Camp Wayne, Richmond, Indiana, to await exchange, which was ac- complished in September. This inauspicious beginning of its career was later redeemed by the gallant regiment on many a stricken field. Re-organized and thoroughly drilled and equipped, the 69th left Camp Wayne to take part in the investment of Vicksburg. Sergeant Shedron was in the thick of the fighting at Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi ; Arkansas Post, Arkansas; James' Plantation, Louisiana, and Grand Gulf. Mississippi. The Confederates, being at last driven into Vicksburg. the siege of that stronghold began. For gallant and meritorious service in the face of the enemy, Sergeant Shedrou was
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HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
commissioned Second Lieutenant of his company, January 23, 1863, and was mustered in as such, March 21, 1863. Shortly afterwards he was made Ordnance Officer of the Ninth Division and attached to the staff of General Peter J. Oster- haus and, under that eminent soldier, he continued to serve until the fall of Vicksburg. General Osterhaus was a distinguished German officer and soldier who became a prominent figure in the American Civil War and, prior to its close, reached the full rank of Major General, U. S. V. He was, indeed, as great a figure in that war as was La Fayette in the War of the Revolution, and to have been a member of his staff is a distinguished honor of which any soldier may be proud. At the close of the war, General Osterhaus returned to his native land, where he remained until 1904, when he returned to the United States, with the intention of making this country his home, during his remaining days.
After the surrender of Vicksburg and while with the Ninth Division, at Big Black River Bridge, Mississippi, Lieutenant Shedron was taken sick. He was furloughed home for thirty days but, at the end of that time, being still unable to return to duty, the furlough was extended another thirty days. He then reported at Indianapolis and was ordered by the surgeon to return home for twenty days. Tired of inaction, at the end of ten days, he reported with his regiment at New Iberia, in the Bayou Teche country, Louisiana. As a soldier and officer, Lieutenant Shedron was ever happiest in the performance of duty. After his return to the regiment, he was sent to New Orleans and thence to Indianola, on Matagorda Bay, Texas, where, being regarded as a discreet and reliable officer, he was engaged on court martial duty. He then served with the forces, covering General Banks' retreat from Shreveport, Louisiana, and was next ordered to Alexandria, in the same State, where dams were building to liberate a number of gunboats that had been tied up at that point.
At Morganza, Mississippi, the regiment was in camp until December, 1864, and participated in various expeditions sent out from that place. On January 23. 1865, the 69th regiment was consolidated into a battalion of four companies, of which Lieutenant Colonel Oran Perry was the commanding officer, and on the 3Ist of that month, the battalion embarked on a steamer for Barrancas, Florida. and from there, on March 14th, went to Pensacola. On March 20th, it moved through Florida and Southern Alabama, reaching the rear of Fort Blakely, 011 Mobile Bay, April Ist. It was here, during the assault on that fort, April 9th. that Lieutenant Shedron was wounded. Detailed to guard the prisoners from Fort Blakely to Ship Island, the battalion afterwards went to Selma, Alabama, and thence to Mobile, where it was assigned to duty: While at Mobile, Lieu- tenant Shedron served as Aid de Camp on the staff of-General Smith. He was mustered out of service, July 5, 1865.
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