USA > Indiana > Monroe County > Bloomington > Historic treasures: true tales of deeds with interesting data in the life of Bloomington, Indiana University and Monroe County--written in simple language and about real people, with other important things and illustrations > Part 23
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"Many were the brave deeds wit- nessed that day. A laborer, Carroll by name, picked up a burning bomb as it was rolling down the steps after him, and cooly threw it into the ditch outside and extinguished the smoking fuse; a few moments more and half the garrison would have doubtless been killed by the explosion.
"The halyard of the flagstaff had become so knotted that it prevented the raising of the flag and another laborer named Donohue, mounted to the topmast and repaired it, regardless of the fact that he was the target for every rebel battery. Norman J. Hall, of Detroit, replaced a broken flag- staf at great risk of his life.
"There was 69 soldiers who sur- vived the bombardment (two were killed while firing the national salute at the time the fort was evacuated) beside the laborers, who were really the first volunteers of the war."
FEELING OF PATRIOTIC EMOTION RAN HIGH IN BLOOMINGTON AS COMPANIES WERE FORMED IN 1861
Bugle Was To Be Heard on Every Breeze-Small Boys Organize "Infantry" Company-Drill to Fife and Drum-Ladies Show "Cold-Shoulder" to Huskies in Civilian Clothes-Record of Organization of Companies During First Years of Great Conflict.
In the days that followed the out- break of the civil war, and as time went on, news of the actual war that was going on in our southern states was eagerly watched for, while feel- ing became more and more alert to the natural emotions of patriotism, among the people of Monroe county and Bloomington.
The bugle was heard on every breeze, from all directions. Small boys of Bloomington had organized an "In- fantry" company that was armed with wooden swords, tin-pans, and other weapons of equal celebrity.
It was popular then, to be a volun- teer. It meant a thirst for blood. Ladies smiled like the morning upon the blue uniforms, but gave a frown and cold-shoulder to stalwart forms in civilian garb.
Predict Quick Defeat of Enemy.
Companies of enlisted men drilled almost daily, in Bloomington, and at- tracted large crowds of fond and ad-
miring friends, who saw no escape for the rebel cowards when the field of battle was reached.
Every one predicted that the rebels would be "licked out of their boots in a few months."
We herewith reprint a number of clippings from Bloomington newspa- pers of the perilous times, which will give a reader of the present day a fair idea of how our people felt and acted under the great stress of that awful war. In the issue of the "Re- publican" of July 13, appeared the following editorial:
Capt. Lunderman's Company.
"Another company of volunteers for the United States service left here on Tuesday last for Madison, Ind., where the regiment is to be formed. The company is under the command of Captain Daniel Lunder- man, of this place, who has had con- siderable experience as an officer in the recent war with Mexico, and we
have no doubt he will faithfully at- tend to the interests and welfare of the company while they are under his charge.
"Dr. J. O. Mccullough was elected First Lieutenant and Andrew R. Ra- venscroft, Second Lieutenant, whom, we have no doubt, will be equally faithful to their trust.
"As many of the volunteers were from the surrounding country, a large concourse of people from different parts of the county were present to see them take their departure and to bid their friends farewell.
"The volunteers were escorted to the train by Captain Mulky's- company of infantry, and took their departure amid a deafening salute of musketry. The Bloomington Cornet Band accom- panied them to Madison.
"We learn that Camp Noble, to which they are assigned, is beautifully situated at North Madison, on the Ohio river."
In the same issue, the 13th, also appeared the following:
Grenadiers Organized.
"Recruiting-Peter Kop and several other gentlemen of the place are rais- ing a company of grenadiers for the United States service. They admit no recruits under five feet ten inches, and equally stout and able-bodied.
"We pity the rebel upon whose neck the foot of 'Big Pete' shall come down with a vengeance. There will be no chance for him to even say his pray- ers before his life is crushed out of him.
"Some of the others engaged in raising the company are amon~ our most athletic citizens. Their recruit- ing office, we believe, is at Williams & Sluss' livery stables."
The company under Captain Lun- derman became Company I, of the 22nd Regiment, and was mustered into service on August 15, at Camp Noble. About thirty men of this com- pany were from around White Hall, and the rest from Monroe county. Colonel Jefferson C. Davis was in command of the regiment. On Au- gust 17, the regiment was taken to Missouri, where the boys first saw actual service in the war.
The company raised by Captain Kop and others became Company F of the 27th Regiment and was mus- tered into service for three years, at Camp Morton, Indianapolis, on Sep- tember 12, 1861.
Bloomington's Zouaves.
Late in August and September, 1861, a company of Zouaves was or- ganized at Bloomington. Early in July, the ladies of Bloomington gath- ered a large box of blankets, towels and other useful artices, and sent them to the company of Captain Lun- derman, at Madison.
In September and October, Captain Isaac S. Dains, Lieutenants Samuel A. Harrah, Albert Adams and others recruited Company D, of the 5th Regi- ment, in Monroe and Owen counties. The regiment was organized at Sey- mour, Ind., on October 25, and left for New Albany, marching through the country, and obtaining a large number of recruits as it went. On December 25, this regiment moved to Bardstown, Ky., where it went into
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camp of instruction. The following, concerning this company was pub- lish in the "Republican" of the 14th of September:
"Off for the War."
"Captain I. S. Dain's company left here for Camp Morton, Indianapolis, on Thursday last. This company was raised mostly in this and Owen coun- ties-a number of them being from the vicinity of White Hall.
"While they were waiting for the train, a beautiful flag was presented to the company from the ladies of White Hall. Governor Dunning, on behalf of the ladies, made a suitable address on the presentation of the flag, which was responded to by Cap- tain Dains in a short address and by three cheers by the soldiers for their beautiful flag.
"This makes the seventh company which has been raised principally in this county, and left here for the war. One or two other companies are now raising. Monroe county will be fully represented in the contest."
Ellettsville's Company.
The company of Captain Secrest was raised almost wholly in the vi- cinity of Ellettsville, during the months of August and September, by Captain James Secrest and Lieuten- ants G. K. Perry and James McCor- mick.
When this company left Ellettsville, they were given a fine dinner, at the conclusion of which a fine banner was presented them with appropriate re- marks, to which the captain feelingly responded.
It must not be understood that the seven companies above mentioned were the only ones then in service which contained men from Monroe
county. About half a dozen men had left the northern part of the county for Indianapolis at the earliest stages of the war, and had succeeded in get- ting into the 12th regiment in the three months' service, though they were credited to other counties. So far as is now known, these were the only men from the county in the three months' service during the war.
Men from Monroe.
In the 11th Reigment saw Chap- lain H. B. Hibben, from Monroe coun- ty; in the 21st Regiment, which after- wards became the First Heavy Artil- lery, were about ten men from the county; four members of the Regi- mental band were credited to Bloom- ington. A small squad from the north- ern part of the county entered the 23rd Regiment and were credited to Morgan county.
Taking into consideration these facts, and also the fact that several of the companies mentioned above were only partly from Monroe county, it may be safely concluded that by the middle of September, 1861, the county had furnished as many as six full companies. This was a splendid showing.
Cavalry Companv.
The cavalry company recruited by Captain Nutt contained only about fifteen men from Monroe county, the remainder being obtained mostly from Brazil and Delphi, Ind. The Monroe boys left about the middle of Septem- ber for Indianapolis, where they were joined by recruits from other places and completed the organization which became Company K, Second Cavalry (41st Regiment), and was mustered in on December 24. Jephtha M. El- lington, of Ellettsville, became captain of this company.
MONROE COUNTY ORGANIZES TEN COMPANIES OF MILITIA BY STATE ORDER, IN 1861- CAPT. KELLEY LOSES LIFE
Loyal Mass Meetings Held-Judge Hughes Makes Great Speech for Union- Wallace Hight Takes Brass Cannon Made in Bloomington Foundry Into Service-New Companies Formed-County's Showing Good in First Years of Rebellion.
In the month of September, 1861, the authorities of the State of Indiana ordered that in each county of the state a thorough organization of the militia should be effected, and the Governor appointed James B. Mulkey as Colonel of the Monroe County Mili- tia, with instructions to proceed at once with the organization of a regiment.
Ten Companies During War.
Under these orders, ten militia com- panies were organized in Monroe county, during the civil war, as follows:
The Hoosier Grays, Morton C. Hun- ter, captain, organized in the fall of 1861; the Ellettsville Clippers, Barton Acuff, captain, organized in the fall of 1861; the Monroe Zouaves, Daniel Shrader, captain, organized in the fall of 1861; the Richland Mountaineers, B. W. Rice, captain, organized in the
fall of 1861; the Hoosier Guards, H. T. Campbell, captain, organized in 1862; the Harrodsburg Guards, John M. Anderson, captain, organized in the fall of 1861; the Richland Ran- gers, John Wylie, captain, organized during the summer of 1863; the Hughes Guards, James Mathers, captain, organized in the fall of 1863 the Monroe Guards, Isaac S. Buskirk, captain, organized in the fal of 1863; the Bean Blossom Rangers, Thomas M. Gaskin, captain, organized in the fall of 1863.
Every one of the companies thus or- ganized under the State order, saw active service during the terible war of 1861-1864, as they each afterward enlisted in the United States service.
Loyal Mass Meeting Held.
On October 12, 1861, a large Union mass meeting was held at the court-
house in Bloomington, to consider the state of the country at that time.
The first speaker on the program was the honorable Paris C. Dunning, who delivered an address of great power and loyalty. He spoke eloquent- ly in favor of pushing the war with all the energy of the North, and favored measures of greater activity and ef- fectivenes in securing volunteers. His remarks were roundly applauded.
The second speaker was Judge James Hughes, whose remarks took on a bitterly sarcastic trend. His language ran in a caustic vein, cut- ting like a sword at the heart of the rebellion.
Judge Hughes's spendid eloquence, effectiveimagery, fierce satire and impetuous logic seemed to carry his audience before him like a torrent. As he delivered thrust after thrust of wit and irony, and pungent mockery, he was frequently interrupted with outbursts of cheering.
His speech was conceded at the time to have been the best Union speech ever delivered in Bloomington. The sense of loyalty expressed in the meeing was very decidedly marked, and had an effect upon all who were present.
Brass Canon Made Here.
About the date of November 1, 1861, Walace Hight, who had super- intended the manufacture of a canon at the Seward Foundry, in Blooming- ton, left for Indianapolis with the piece of ordnance, drawn by six heavy horses.
The gun was a six-pounder, made of burnished brass, and was an excellent specimen of workmanship and design. Hight, and his squad of Bloomington boys were later attached to the Ninth Battery.
Recriuting Let Up.
About this time, the attenion of the loyal people was especially directed to the movement of the armies, and to the wants of the boys in the fields and hospitals, and the comfort of soldiers: families at home more than to the enlistment of fresh men.
Late in October, however, Dr. J. G. McPheeters, surgeon in the 23rd regi- ment, came to Bloomington, on a fur- lough, and enlisted a few men for his regiment. Outside of this, not much was done in recruiting of Monroe county men, until the following Febru- ary, 1862, when William McCullough began recruiting men for the 53rd Regiment, and Lieutenant Francis Ot- well opened an enlistment office at Fee's store in Bloomington for re- cruits for the 27th Regiment, in which Captain Kop's company was en- listed. He obtained about fifteen men at this time.
During the months of November and December, 1861, and January and February, 1862, Captain Thomas T. Graves and Lieutenants Alexander Jones and John Pillips recruited about two-thirds of a company for the 59th Regiment, which rendez- voused at Gosport, beginning in Oc- tober, 1861.
About the middle of February, 1862, the regiment went South over the New Albany railroad for the seat of war in Kentucky. This company be- come Company I, of the 59th Regi-
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ment, under Captain Graves, and was mustered into service February 11, 1862. Jesse I. Alexander, of Gosport, was Colonel of this regiment.
Sent Money Home.
During the later part of March, 1862, M. P. Burns recruited six or eight men for the 61st Regiment, which was located at Tere Haute. Early in April of that year Lieuten- ant Johnson, of Captain Lunderman's company of the 22nd Regiment, opened a recruiting office in Bloomington.
In May, 1862, members of Captain Kelley's company, the 14th Regiment, sent $2,000 home to their friends in Monroe county.
Captain Kelley's Body Returned.
About this time, in May, 1862, Bloomington and Monroe county peo- ple were cast into a spell of gloom by the actual bringing home to them of one of their own gallant soldiers, who had given his life in the cause of the Union.
The body of Captain Kelley-cap- tain of the first company of Monroe county's volunteers to see active ser- vice in the great war of rebellion, and the first to be reurned to his home as an example of the greatest sacra- fice a man can offer-was returned to Bloomington, and buried.
Captain Kelley was mortally wound- ed in the hotly contested battle of Winchester, and after lingering for several weeks in Cincinnati, where his faithful wife had taken him for medi- cal treatment, had finally died from his . wounds.
The death of Captain Kelley cast a gloom of sorrow over the whole community, which could only be felt and is beyond our power of de- scription.
During the spring months of 1862, the columns of the "Republican" were full of letters from Bloomington and Monroe county men who were in the army, and while some were rather dry, many were extermely interesting and told strange stories of the battle fields and camp life. One of these letters, we herewith reprint from the old Bloomington newspaper mentioned above: the battle referred to was that of Pittsburg landing:
Capt. McCalla's Letter.
"33rd Regiment, "Indiana Volunteers, "Pittsburg, Tenn., April 8, 1862.
"Dear Brother-This is Tuesday, and I take this chance to tell vou that an awful battle has been fought, com- mencing on Sunday morning at 7:30 o'clock, and lasing until night, and continued again Monday.
"Grimes and I are safe. The com- pany did nobly. The 31st will now get its due meed of praise, I think.
"We lost Orderly Sergeant James F. Fullbright and Rolley Franklin, both shot in the head; and seven of our boys were wounded, three of them severely: Joseph Lucas, in the hand, severely: Joseph Lucas, in the hand, Serrell, in chin, slightly; John Camp- bell, in the hand; Joseph Woolery, in the hip, severely; Wesley Polley, in the shoulder; Joseph Gaither, in the face, the ball entering the bridge of
his nose and coming out under the ear, cutting the tip of the ear.
"Many more were grazed. I had a bullet through the top of my hat. John McPhetridge had his leg grazed, and Grimes was scratched on the knee. We will feel the loss of Fullbright. He was the bravest man in the regi- ment-so modest, and so faithful. We buried our old companions with the honors of war, and marked their graves with neat head-boards.
"I met Brother Sam on the field of battle for the first time since he was in the service. Thompson's battery, with which Hight and other Blooming- ton boys are connected, were in the fight all Monday. They fired 1,200 shots. Our regiment (belonging to Hurlburt's brigade) fired forty rounds in one place, repulsed two attacks on the center. Grimes and I furnished our men with thirty rounds more as they were lying down, and these were all expended by night.
"The carnage was frightful. David Iseminger (formerly of Bloomington), captain in an Iowa regiment, was killed. Our major, Frederick Arn, was killed: our Colonel was wounded in two places, Adjutant Rose was wounded; Captain Harvey was killed, and other officers were wounded, all of our regiment.
"Joe Roddy bore the colors through all the two days' fight, onward, never faltering, the foremost in the advance,
the hindmost in the retreat. The field of battle covers almost six miles.
"The day of battle was my first out-doors service for three weeks, having been sick ever since we canie to this place.
"HENRY." New Companies Formed.
In May, 1862, the 54th Regiment was organized, and a company was raised in Monroe county by Captain Daniel Shrader and Lieuenants W. J. Allen and I. S. Buskirk, which be- came Company A of this regiment when mustered in at Indianapolis, as three months' service for Camp Mor- ton, and in August was transferred to Kentucky, where it stayed until the time of its service expired. This regi- ment was afterward reorganized and mustered in for one year service, but contained no company from Monroe county. Captain Shrader entered the regiment, however as a Major and was afterward promoted to Lieuten- ant-Colonel.
On June 11, 1862, James B. Mulkey, of Bloomington, was commissioned Major of the 55th Regiment, three month's service. Frank A. Rose, of Bloomington, was commissioned Adju- tant of this regiment. These regi- ments were organized especially for guard duty at Camp Morton, where a large number of rebel prisoners were confined.
DRAFT ORDERED FOR STATE OF INDIANA OCTO- BER 6, 1862-MONROE COUNTY CLEARED BY HER MEN IN FILLING QUOTA
September 19 Found County Lacking But Few-By Date Set All But One Man of Needed Number Made Up-Salt Creek Township Man Only Person Drafted in County at Time.
When the government found itself sorely pressed for men to feed the gaping, ever eating jaws of war, and the quota of many townships, espe- cially in the rural district were slow in making, it was decided to make a draft and conscript men where the volunteers were lacking.
Monroe county and Bloomington were working hard to avoid just such a thing coming to pass, as the loyal citizens felt that such an act would be a disgrace to their name, in the fact that such measures were nec- essary.
The first draft had been announced to take place in the state on Septem- ber 15, 1862; but at the last moment, to give all counties behind abundant opportunity to redeem themselves, the date of conscription was moved up to October 6, 1862, at which time it oc- curred throughout all Indiana.
The draft commissioner appointed for Monroe county was Ira Browning; the marshal, W. J. Alexander, and the examining surgeon was J. D. Maxwell. On September 19, 1862, the following facts were reported by the enrolling commissioner for the county of Mon- roe to the Adjutant-General of Indiana:
Total militia, 1,828; total volun-
teers, 1,039; total exempts, 298; total conscientiously opposed to bearing arms, 3; total volunteers in service, 840; total subject to draft, 1,527.
At this date, September 19, 1862, Monroe county lacked just twenty-two men of having enough enrollments to fill the quota called for, as follows, by townships:
Benton township lacked 1; Salt Creek, 4; Polk, 12; Clear Creek, 3; Indian Creek, 2.
This number was reduced to one man by October 6, and this deficiency was in Salt Creek township. A man was drafted there, and in a few min- utes after the draft was made, a vol- unteer was reported from that town- ship, and accepted, thus clearing the record of Monroe county from the draft of October, 1862.
In September, Captain Daniel Shra- der, who had taken one company into the three-months' service of 1862, the same being Co. A, 54th Regiment, was commissioned to raise another com- pany for the same regiment, reor- ganized for one year's service. For some reason, he did not continue, but was soon appointed Major (mentioned elsewhere by the writer) of this 54th Regiment.
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CALL FOR 300,000 MEN ISSUED JULY 1, 1862
What at first was believed would be a short and quick job for the United States Government, the whip- ping of the rebels of the Southland, began to look like a gigantic task. President Lincoln found that his first call for men, while responded to lib- erally, was inadequate to carry the armies of the North to a success- ful termination of the terrible con- flict in the first year's struggles.
On July 1, 1862, President Lincoln called for 300,000 additional volun- teers, and the quota of Indiana was fixed at eleven regiments. The fol- lowing is a clipping from the Bloom- ington "Republican" of July 12, 1862:
"More Troops Wanted."
"It will be seen by reference to another part of the paper that eleven more regiments are to be raised in our state in addition to those already forming, one from each Congressional District.
"This, in our district, will be about 125 men from each county, as an average.
"We trust that old Monroe will promptly furnish her quota, as she has done on all former calls. She has
now nine companies in the service, besides a number of persons scat- tered in companies made up else- where-infantry, cavalry and artil- lery.
"Now that harvest is past and our young men more at leisure, we think that there will be no difficulty in raising this additional quota of troops in Monroe county.
"The regiment for this district will rendezvous at Madison, and we notice that in some of the adjoining counties companies are already forming to fill up the regiment. Let not Monroe be behind."
But the beginning of the actual work of enlistment was delayed. The paper came out in stirring appeals to sustain the honor of the county by voluntary enlistments, threatening 'that the draft would be resorted to soon if the quota was not filled.
Influential citizens of the county began to stir themselves, recruiting officers appeared, and soon war meet- ings were held with a frequency and intensity unknown in the history of the county.
Late in July, Lieutenant F. Otwell was commissioned to recruit a com- pany for the 67th Regiment, and opened offices in Bloomington. Cap- tain Charles, of the 18th Regiment,
came home to recruit his company. Lieutenant W. J. Allen, of the 20th Battery, called for recruits. James L. Winfrey, of Bloomington, was also commissioned to raise a company for the 93rd Regiment, which was being rendezvoused at Madison. Lieutenant Otwell and others raised about twenty men, who become Company B, of the 67th Regiment, with Samuel Denny, of Madison as captain.
Hunter Raises Company.
An entire company was raised by Morton C. Hunter, for the 82nd Regi- ment, of which he became colonel, with the assistance of Paul E. Slocum, Alfred G. Hunter, Samuel McWillie, John McKinney, Samuel Guy, and others.
This company became Company F, 82nd Regiment, with Samuel McWil- lie, captain; John McKinney, first lieutenant; Samuel Guy, second lieu- tenant. The men were mustered into service on August 30, 1862, at Madi- son.
A portion of Company I, 82nd Regi- ment was raised in Monroe county by William F. Neill, who became the captain. There were probably not more than ten men in the company from Monroe county, although Neill was assisted in recruiting by Lieu- tenant H. E. Lundy and others.
Monroe Furnishes Officers.
There were more regimental officers in the 82nd from Monroe county than in any other regiment: Colonel Hun- ter, Major, and afterward Lieutenant- Colonel Slocum, Adjutants A. G. Hun- ter and M. E. Bunger; Quartermaster, J. C. Allenworth; Chaplain, M. M. Campbell; Surgeon, W. H. Lemon; Assistant Surgeons, W. B. Harris and R. H. Campbell. On September 1, 1862, the regiment moved to Louis- ville, Ky.
About thirty men of Company F, of the 93rd Regiment, were recruited by J. L. Winfrey and others, and were inustered in at Madison from August 15 to August 23, 1862.
These efforts on the part of the recruiting officers and the more prominent and loyal citizens of Mon- roe county and Bloomington came within a close figure of relieving the county from the draft.
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