USA > Indiana > Henry County > Hazzard's history of Henry county, Indiana, 1822-1906, Volume II > Part 12
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
An unnamed company organized in Prairie Township, August 10, 1846. Jeremiah Veach, Captain; Abraham W. Bouslog, Lieutenant.
Knightstown Grays, Knightstown. September 2, 1846. Solomon McCain, Captain; Gordon Ballard, First Lieutenant; James Tyler, Second Lieutenant.
PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE MEXICAN WAR BY DAVID BEARLEY AND
GEORGE BURTON.
There are three survivors of the Mexican War, now living in Henry County : Norviel Fleming, of Sulphur Springs, and David Bearley and George Burton, of New Castle. Norviel Fleming served in the same company as Captain Woodward . and his personal recollections, so far as they go, are practically covered in Captain Woodward's papers. A condensed- statement of the personal recollections of David Bearley and George Burton follow.
DAVID BEARLEY.
David Bearley was born, August 27, 1829, in Warren County, Ohio, about twenty miles from Cincinnati. His parents moved to the city, when he was about six years old, and there he attended school and received such education as the times afforded. At the age of sixteen, he apprenticed himself to A. M. and T. C.
720
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Days, to learn the trade of a confectioner. Twelve months later, the war between the United States and Mexico was declared and, being full of patriotic spirit, it did not take young Bearley long to make up his mind to enlist. He volunteered June 29, 1846, and was assigned to the First Ohio Infantry.
Mr. Bearley was attached to what was called the First Rifles Company, officered by Captain Ramsey, First Lieutenant Isaac Hosea and Second Lieu- tenant Richard Mason. They went into camp at Camp Washington, near Cin- cinnati, and from there on July 2, breaking camp, they marched to the city wharf and took steamboats for New Orleans, half of the force, on board the "New World," and the other half on the "Alabama." As the vessels swung into midstream, the bands struck up, "The Girl I Left Behind Me," and a great crowd on the wharf responded to the cheers of the volunteers with, "Good bye, boys," "good luck to you." and "God bless you."
A short run down the Ohio River brought them to Louisville, Kentucky, and after passing the falls, the boats rounded to on the Kentucky shore, where all landed to listen to patriotic speeches and the reading of the Declaration of Inde- pendence. Here also all were given an hour to go in swimming and as Mr. Bearley says : "I tell you, it was a great sight to see one thousand people in the water at one time." Once more the journey down the Ohio was resumed and no stops were made until Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was reached. There they received their arms and ammunition and then steamed down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, where they disembarked and were sent to Camp Jackson. The trip from Cincinnati to New Orleans had taken about twelve days. After three or four days at Camp Jackson, they boarded the steamship, "Duke of Orleans," for Mexico. Three stormy days and nights were taken to get to Point Isabel. The troops here went into camp on Brazos Island and after a week's rest took up the line of march for the mouth of the Rio Grande River. After about a week, they marched up that river some twenty miles and went into camp back of the river bluffs. The ground was cleaned for regimental drill, rifle practice and parade purposes, and was called "Camp Belknap." Three weeks were spent here, after which the regiment went to Camargo, on the Tiger River, a tributary of the Rio Grande. Three weeks later they crossed that river and started for Monterey. Passing through a number of important towns, they at last arrived at the famous Walnut Springs, in front of Monterey, Saturday, September 19, 1846. The assault on this strongly fortified city was set for the following Monday.
In his narration of events at this battle, Mr. Bearley says :
"It was in this battle that I received my first 'baptism of fire' and learned something of the realities of war. It was here that the First Ohio Infantry and the First Kentucky Infantry were formed into a brigade under the command of General Thomas L. Hamer, of Ohio, who, while a member of Congress had nominated, for a cadetship at West Point. Ulysses S. Grant. General Hamer died and was buried at Walnut Springs but his remains were afterwards removed to his Ohio home.
"After the battle I was taken with fever and ague, which was further com- plicated with an attack of dropsy. Because of my illness I was confined to camp and under the surgeon's care for about three months, when the regiment was
George Burton
721
IIAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
ordered to Saltillo, as Santa Anna, the Mexican General, was endeavoring to reach and attack that city. When the regiment moved I was sent, with others, on a forced march to the hospital, some distance away. In this hospital I learned some additional facts touching the realities of the life of the soldier. After a few weeks I had so far recovered my health as to warrant rejoining my regiment whch I did at Saltillo. We were at this latter place a week, at the expiration of which time, our regiment was ordered back to Monterey, where we were engaged mostly in performing guard duty and scouting around in that section of Mexico. White so engaged the rumor came to us that the regiment would shortly be placed under orders with instructions to at once return home. This order came after we had been at Monterey for about six weeks and you can imagine with what a joyful shout the welcome news was received. It was not long until we were home- ward bound, but our return route to the Rio Grande was over another than that pursued when we entered Mexico.
"We arrived first at Renoso on the Rio Grande where we took boats awaiting our coming and going down the river came to its mouth where we went into camp for a week, then marched to Brazos Island where we embarked on the 'Duke of Orleans' and after an uneventful, but pleasant trip across the gulf, arrived safe and sound at New Orleans. Here we turned over our arms and equipments to the government. After a week's stay at New Orleans we were all. rounded up, received our pay and were mustered out of the service. At the con- clusion of this final event, and with visions of home filling my mind's eye. I secured passage on a river steamer and in the course of a week or ten days, the journey being a very pleasant one, I landed at Cincinnati and shortly after had the pleasure of meeting and greeting relatives and friends to say nothing of The Girl I Left Behind Me.' "
After his return from the war. Mr. Bearley learned the trade of a chair- maker and followed it for a number of years. On December 24. 1849, he mar- ried Sarah Jane Bell, of Montgomery County, Indiana, with whom he has lived happily ever since. They have had nine children, six boys and three girls, five of whom are now living. After his marriage, he lived for 'about a year in Cin- cinnati and then moved to Cambridge City, Indiana. After a little more than two years, he moved from there to New Castle, where he and his wife have lived for more than fifty years, having arrived there, April 14, 1853.
After the lapse of nearly sixty years, the grizzled veterans of the Mexican War are few in number and soon, very soon, none will be left to answer roll call.
GEORGE BURTON.
George Burton was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, near the city of Madison, October 4. 1824. His parents were Henry and Mary ( Alcorne) Burton, natives of Kentucky, who moved to Indiana about the year 1801. He moved to New Castle after the Mexican War and now resides there at the advanced age of eighty one years.
When the call for volunteers for the Mexican War was made, he enlisted in Company H, 3rd Indiana Infantry, under Captain Voorhis Conover, of Shelby- ville. The Colonel of the regiment was James H. Lane, who afterwards attained fame during the troubles on the Kansas border. The company was recruited in
46
722
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
and around Shelbyville and when organized was sent to New Albany, Indiana, to receive their uniforms, and thence to New Orleans by two boats, the "James Hewitt" and the "Homer." Stopping at Baton Rouge to receive their arms and equipments, they proceeded to New Orleans and went into camp at Camp Jack- son, three or four miles below that city. Several days later, they were taken by vessels to Brazos Island, Texas, near the Gulf coast, and thence overland to the Rio Grande and Camp Belknap, where they remained for sometime, drilling and preparing for active service. Thence they marched to Palo Alto and thence in October to Matamoras on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. Marching to Camargo, they there received mules and wagons for the transportation of regi- mental supplies and after due preparation, started on the forward march to Montery, one hundred and ninety miles away.
On Christmas Eve, 1846, they arrived at Walnut Springs, four miles from Monterey, and on Christmas day, the soldier boys visited that city. Thence they marched to Saltillo, eighty miles from Monterey, reaching there on New Year's day, 1847. There they remained until the arrival of General Wool, who came from New Mexico, after which they moved twenty miles south to Camp Agua, where they tarried until General Santa Anna drove them out to the battle ground of Buena Vista, about four miles from Saltillo.
In his narrative of his experiences in the Mexican War, Mr. Burton says : "At the battle of Buena Vista, the United States forces were under command of General Zachary Taylor and General Wool. The battle, including preliminary fights and skirmishes, lasted from February 20 to 23, inclusive, 1847, and during that time victory hung in the balance.
"Preliminary to the battle and under order of General Taylor the four rifle companies from the 2nd and 3rd Regiments, Indiana Infantry, were placed on the mountain side, the Sierra Madre, to guard and prevent the Mexicans from out- flanking us. These rifle companies were the right wing and left wing companies of the two regiments and were for the time under command of Major Willis A. Gorman. The 2nd Indiana Regiment was placed at the foot of the mountain under Colonel Bowles. At the right of the 2nd Indiana, the 2nd Kentucky, Colonel Gaines, and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Clay, was placed. Colonel Clay was the favorite son of the famous Henry Clay. Both Gaines and Clay were killed in the battle of the 23rd. The 2nd Illinois Infantry, under Colonel Bissel, was to the right of the 2nd Kentucky. At the right of the 2nd Illinois, in the rear of the mountain pass was the 3rd Indiana under command of Colonel Lane. Four pieces of the Washington Battery occupied the pass and were located right in front of the 3rd Indiana. In the rear and to the left of the regiment was General Taylor and his staff.
"On the evening of the 22nd three of General Santa Anna's staff came through the lines and at the fort of our regiment they were met by one of General Taylor's aids de camp. After saluting, one of the Mexican officers said: 'If. you will surrender you will be treated as prisoners of war. We have ample force to capture you.' This demand being reported to General Taylor he returned his reply, saying : 'I never surrender.' With this reply the Mexican officers returned to Santa Anna. They were gone but a little while until they again put in an appearance. This time they not only made the former demand but added that if
723
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
the proposition was declined the battle would be at once resumed and they would not leave, of us, one alive to tell the tale. This altercation was repeated to General Taylor who directed his aid to say to the Mexicans that 'If they want me worse than I do them they will have to come and take me.' There was no further 'dickering' and shortly after the battle was resumed by about 5,000 of the enemy marching out and making their first attack on the 2nd Indiana. The attack was bravely met by the boys of the 2nd who succeeded in driving the enemy back. assisted very materially by a portion of the Washington Battery. Quickly re- organizing their forces which were further augmented by the Mexican Lancers, the enemy once more advanced to the charge, the Lancers making special on- slaught on the four companies of rifle men stationed on the mountain side while the Mexican infantry centered its charge on the 2nd Indiana, but for the second time the enemy was driven back. The Lancers, during the battle made three distinct attacks on the riflemen as did the Mexican Infantry on the 2nd Indiana, but at each succeeding onslaught they were driven back suffering great loss in killed and wounded.
"On the morning of the 23rd Colonel Jefferson Davis came out with 'six com- panies of Mississippi riflemen, and was ordered by General Taylor, through General Wool, to take them up on the mountain side and relieve the Indiana riflemen who had been so long exposed and who were then without food or drink. While the change was being made the Mexican forces were preparing for another charge. When this was made the Mississippians all fired at once and before they could reload the Lancers were upon them and forced them to retreat down the mountain followed by the Lancers who came to a point in the rear of the 2nd Indiana. Colonel Bowles, two or three times, ordered his men to cease firing and retreat but they refused to do so, and kept on fighting. The Lancers, however, by force of numbers, about five to one, drove the regiment back and following up their advantage, attacked the 2nd Kentucky. It was here that Colonel Gaines and Colonel Clay were killed. The enemy continued its attack. centering finally on the 2nd Illinois, under Colonel Bissel, who succeeded in driving the Mexicans back to the foot of the mountain where they again rallied. During this time, the 3rd Indiana was moving from the extreme right to the . extreme left. About half way across the field Colonel Lane brought the com- mand to a halt and brought us to a front face. At this point the 2nd Kentucky being driven back were rallied. We then moved on to the position assigned. the extreme left, where we shortly after attacked the enemy.
"It was here, probably, that the hardest battle of the conflict took place. We drove the enemy back and into a gorge in the mountains. At this time Colonel Jefferson Davis rode up to our regiment and ordered us to charge the enemy, which order. however, General Lane, pointing his sword to Colonel Davis and then to the Lancers, quickly countermanded.
"At this time the 2nd Indiana and the 3rd Indiana were formed somewhat in the shape of an 'S' and the Lancers attacked the first or upper part, coming to the charge twenty abreast. Their charge was heroically met. the three front ranks being killed to a man and the remainder of the command forced to retreat in an utterly demoralized condition. After this, it was. I might say, a continuous fight for the remainder of the day. We had, in the meantime, regained all of our lost ground.
721
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
"On the morning of the 24th, sometime before daylight, Colonel Lane ordered Captain Conover to bring in one of our abandoned caissons which had been left on the field during the heavy fighting of the 2nd Indiana. After daylight, looking about to see the situation it was discovered that Santa Anna's camp was deserted and that lying around and about were a good many dead and wounded soldiers. Seeing this and making further investigation we discovered the Mexican Infantry going over the top of the mountain. The victory was won and the battle of Buena \'ista, became, from that day and time famous among the annals of war.
"I was engaged in but the one battle. It was fierce and strong while it lasted and the memory of it, in very many respects, is, after a lapse of nearly sixty years, as clear to my mind as if it had occurred but yesterday.
"General Taylor, after the war, became the twelfth President of the United States. I saw him often during the war. He was a plain man, quite unassuming. short in stature, but a brave, intrepid soldier. It was, however, his fame as a hero of the Mexican War, rather than his fitness for the position, which made him the chief magistrate of the nation.
"Jefferson Davis, who had command of the Mississippi Rifles, was, during the Civil War, President of the Southern Confederacy. His history has been written and no words can add to or detract from his name and whatever of fame he may have achieved."
In the roster of Company A, 30th Indiana Infantry, (re-organized), pub- lished elsewhere in this History, and again on page 717, is set out the highly creditable part this Mexican War veteran took in the Civil War.
THE MEXICAN WAR.
RECAPITULATION.
Assistant Surgeon
I
Second Lieutenant.
1
First Sergeant.
1
Sergeant
2
Corporal
2
Privates
32
Total
DEDUCTIONS.
Soldiers from other counties or states who moved to Henry County after the war .. 6 Duplication of names by reason of promotions or transfers. 4 10
Total of soldiers from Henry County in the Mexican War
CHAPTER XXXV.
ROLL OF HONOR.
ROSTER OF HENRY COUNTY SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WHO WERE KILLED OR DIED OF WOUNDS OR DISEASE BEFORE DISCHARGE FROM THE SERVICE-RECAPITU- LATION-NATIONAL CEMETERIES.
The following is a list of soldiers and sailors of the Civil War. and other wars, from Henry County, who were killed or died of wounds received in battle, before discharge from the army; also those who died of disease before discharge, giving in each instance. the place of first burial and the present place of interment, so far as the same can be ascertained.
The total actual loss thus shown is four hundred and seventy six. To this should be added an estimated number equal to twenty five per cent. thereof, or one hundred and nineteen, for those who have died, after discharge, from wounds incurred .in battle and disease contracted while in the army, of whom there is 10 record. Practically all of this great mortality. comes from the Civil War. as will be shown in the recapitulation following the roll of honor.
From the table of National Cemeteries, at the end of this chapter, it will be seen that, since the Civil War, the Government has made extraordinary efforts to gather the scattered remains of its dead soldiers and sailors for appropriate re- interment. If there is a National Cemetery located at the place where the soldier died and was buried, it is comparatively easy to locate his place of re-interment, for it is certain that, if his remains have not after the first interment been removed to his home in the North, and they are not found among the known dead in that particular cemetery, then they are there among the unknown.
The difficulty in gathering reliable data has been when the re-interment was in a National Cemetery, at a point distant from and bearing no similarity in name to the place of first interment. For example the dead from the battlefields of Perryville and Richmond, Kentucky, have all been moved to the National Ceme- tery at Camp Nelson, Jessamine County, Kentucky. The dead from the battle- fields of the Atlanta Campaign, from a point about fifty miles distant from Chat- tanooga. Tennessee, to and around Atlanta, Georgia, have all been gathered into a National Cemetery at Marietta, Georgia. At Vicksburg, Mississippi, the National Cemetery contains the dead, not only from Vicksburg proper, but from Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Jackson, Big Black River. Milliken's Bend. Young's Point, Arkansas Post and other points in that vicinity. From Chicka- mauga's bloody field, the dead have all been removed to Chattanooga National Cemetery. From Franklin and other points in Central Tennessee, the dead have been gathered and deposited in the National Cemetery, most convenient, either
726
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Nashville or Stone's River (Murfreesboro). The author might proceed to set out with particularity the different National Cemeteries, containing the dead gathered from other and distant points, but it is sufficient to say that in every instance, where a soldier is noted as having been re-interred in a National Cemetery, which bears no relation in name or location to the place of first burial. it has been ascertained by correspondence with the War Department at Wash- ington. District of Columbia, or from other sources of official information, that the dead have been moved from the place of first burial to that stated in this Roll of Honor. After exhausting every avenue of investigation, however, it has been found impossible to locate a number of Henry County soldiers, in any National Cemetery. Presumably their remains have been re-interred in some National Cemetery of which there is no record obtainable. In such cases the entry in this Roll of Honor is as follows: "No record of removal. Remains probably re- interred in some National Cemetery. Unknown list."
In consulting the list of National Cemeteries, it must be borne in mind that the number of dead, reported in the respective cemeteries, is continually increasing. but not to a marked degree, from the fact that it is the right of any person, who ever served in the army or navy of the United States, though not in that service at the time of death, to be buried in a National Cemetery, at the expense of the Government, if he so requests before death or, if his family so request, after his death.
The list of cemeteries, as published by the Government, was made up before the Spanish-American War. Consequently the cemeteries, nearest to Spanish- American War camps and hospitals, have had additions from that cause. Again the cemeteries, contiguous to regular stations, forts, arsenals or general hospitals for United States troops, have received a gradual increase from those sources. The greater number of interments, however, is of the gathered remains of dead soldiers and sailors, made immediately after the establishment of the National Cemeteries, and the list may be considered approximately correct.
At Andersonville, Georgia, Danville, Virginia, and perhaps all other points in the South, where Confederate prisons were maintained during the Civil War. for the confinement of captured Federals, there has been no re-interment. the location and arrangements of the National Cemeteries being made to conform with the place of original interment.
This Roll of Honor contains, not only the names and places of burial of soldiers and sailors from Henry County, who lost their lives in the Civil War, but also of all Henry County soldiers and sailors, who died in the service, during the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection; also of soldiers of the regular army who died in the service.
Where an asterisk, thus *, precedes a name, it indicates that the dead soldier. though serving in a distinctively Henry County organization in the Civil War. was not a resident of the county, at the time of his enlistment.
Isaac Abernathy, Company K, 37th Indiana Infantry. Killed at Stone's River, Ten- nessee, December 31, 1862. Buried on the battlefield. Re-interred in Stone's River (Mur- freesboro) National Cemetery. Unknown list.
James Alexander, Company K. 36th Indiana Infantry. Died April 29, 1862, account of wounds at Shiloh. Tennessee, April 7, 1862. Buried on the battlefield. Re-interred in Shiloh National Cemetery. Unknown list.
727
HAZZARD'S HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
James W. Alexander, Company E, 8th Indiana Infantry (3 years). Killed at Cedar Creek, Virginia, October 19, 1864, Buried on the battlefield. Re-interred in Winchester National Cemetery. Unknown list.
Amos H. Allee, Company E, 9th Indiana Cavalry. Died at Vicksburg, Mississippi, May 14. 1865. Buried there. Re-interred in Vicksburg National Cemetery. Section L, Grave, No. 6,183.
John W. Allee, Company F. 84th Indiana Infantry. Killed at Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 23, 1864. Buried on the battlefield. Re-interred in Marietta National Cem- etery. Section I, Grave, No. 9,403.
Reuben W. Allen, Company D. 36th Indiana Infantry. Died at Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, February 22, 1863. Buried there. Re-interred in Hicksite Cemetery, Greensboro, Indiana.
Albert Armstrong, Company B, 130th Indiana Infantry. Died at Anderson, Indiana, January 10, 1864. Buried in Old Cemetery, Anderson, Indiana.
*Riley Bailey, Company K, 36th Indiana Infantry. Died at Murfreesboro. Ten- nessee, May 4, 1863. Buried there. Re-interred in Stone's River ( Murfreesboro) National Cemetery. Section C, Grave, No. 1,282.
*Franklin Bails, Company E, 9th Indiana Cavalry. Died at Indianapolis, Indiana. February 11, 1864. Buried there. Re-interred in Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana. Military Plat, Grave, No. 535.
Thomas J. Ball, Company 1, 69th Indiana Infantry. Died at Milliken's Bend, Louisi- ana, June 2, 1863. Buried there. Re-interred in Vicksburg National Cemetery. Section E, Grave, No. 1,795.
James H. Ballard, Company K, 40th Indiana Infantry. Died at Huntsville, Alabama, March 18, 1865. Buried there. Re-interred in Chattanooga National Cemetery. Grave. No. 9.606.
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.