USA > Indiana > Carroll County > History of Carroll County, Indiana : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 24
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Capt. Andrew Wood came to this county in 1828, with Col. Holt, from Kentucky. His military service was much the same as that in which most of the people of Kentucky were engaged during the period of his residence there. The particular duty performed by him, however, and the length of time he was en- gaged therein, and the arm of the military service with which he was connected, we have not learned.
George T. Wallace, who died in this county some thirty years since, was, in early life, connected with the naval service of the United States off Baltimore Harbor, and subsequently was in the military service during the siege of Baltimore maintained by the British. He was on duty in both arms of the service about fifteen months, and was, at one time, taken prisoner. Being quite young, his service was performed under au assumed name, to avoid the interforence of his guardian. He came West when he !was approaching middle life and settled in this county, at Pitts- burg, about the year 1850, at which place he died a few years later.
Reuben Thayer, a native of New York, and father of the late Rouben Thayer, Jr., Daniel V. and Joshua G. Thayer -- all resi- dents of this county-was a member of one of the New York regiments during the continuance of the war, and was in active service about one year, for which service he afterward received a land warrant from the Government of the United States. Touch- have not now the information in detail at hand. He died many years ago.
Richard Sibbitt, also, for several years prior to his death, which occurred some two or three years since, was a soldier of the
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
war of 1812, having performed such service as a volunteer from one of the frontier States, and, as a partial reward for the service rendered, he received a bounty at the hands of the Government he had assisted in defending.
In addition to the names of the surviving soldiers of the war of 1812 and the military expeditions incidental thereto, given in the preceding statement, there are, or have been, in Carroll County, many others who are entitled to equal recognition, whose names and services cannot well be brought to mind. Some there are, however, who have been classed among soldiers of that war, whose particular service. the time when and the place where the same was performed, we have thus far been unable to glean. . Of the latter class, the names of Moses Colton, father of Cullen W. Colton, George Malcom, Nathaniel Tucker, Bayless G. Butcher, Cornelius Williams, Robert D. Royster and Daniel Baker should be added to complete the list. The few who now remain of those men who shouldered their muskets to defend their country and their homes against the common foe in the days of trial interven ing between the struggle for independence and the close of the war with the Indians within the borders of Indiana, day by day are passing from our midst, and not many years hence the last of the soldiers of 1812 will have passed to the life beyond, and their names engraved on memory if not on history's page.
CHAPTER IL.
THE WAR WITH MEXICO.
PRELIMINARIES TO THE DECLARATION OF WAR BY THE UNITED STATES -- WAR DECLARED-CALL BY THE PRESIDENT FOR TROOPS-RESPONSE BY THE STATE OF INDIANA-COMPANIES AND REGIMENTS FORMED AND MESTERED INTO SERVICE- GREAT ACTIVITY MANIFESTED-RAPID VOLUNTEERING-OFF FOR THE SEAT OF WAR-TERM OF ENLISTMENT-SOME OF THE DETAILS OF SERVICE-EXPERIENCES-RETURN OF THE CARROLL COUNTY VOLUNTEERS-CASUALTIES, ETC .- MUSTER ROLL.
TOR several years prior to the year 1845, Texas having de- elared herself independent of and in no way subject to the Government of Mexico, a state of civil war existed between those two countries-the former to maintain her independence, and the latter to assert hier control over the territory in question. Some- times the current of events seemed to indicate a successful issue of the conflict in favor of one party, and again in favor of the other-in the end the preponderance being in favor of Texan in- dependence. In this crisis, the question of annexing Texas to the United States became a topic of very general speculation in political circles. By one of the political parties of this country it was warmly espoused, while by the other it was opposed with great bitterness. It seemed, indecd, as if there were more polit. ical capital involved in the issue than any real benefit likely to attend the decision for or against either of the belligerent powers. However, by a joint resolution of the two Honses of Congress, ap- proved by the President of the United States on the 2d of March, 1845, it was declared " That Congress doth consent that the territory properly included within and rightfully belonging to the Republic of Texas, may be erected into a new State, to be called the State of Texas, with a republican form of government, to be adopted by the people of; said republic, by deputies in convention assem- bled, with the consent of the existing Government, in order that the same may be admitted as one of the States of this Union."
Appended to this resolution were certain conditions, which were necessary to be accepted and complied on the part of the people of Texas before said resolution would be of force. One of the important considerations involved in the resolution itself was the determination of boundary lines between the territory of the United States and Mexico. as assumed by Texas, which was origin- ally carved out of Mexican territory.
." Texas, through hier State Convention, accepted the terms of annexation proffered by this Government, on the 4th of July, 1845." In the meantime. the Mexican Government ostablished a military post on the. east side of the Rio Grande River, as a means of maintaining their right to the territory. Subsequently, Gen. Taylor, commanding in the Department of the Sonth, was ordered to report for duty in the immediate vicinity of the post occupied by the Mexican forces, on the opposite side of the river, with instructions to avoid all aggressive measures toward Mexico. while he was expected to occupy, protect and defend the territory of Texas to the extent that it has been occupied by the people of Texas. It is not difficult to understand that, under the circum- stances, pacifie relations could not long exist. They did not. Trespasses were committed, and then, in a very brief period, con- fliets with arms ensued, and the Mexicans being declared the ag- gressors, and the President of the United States, by proclamation dated May 11, 1846, announced that a state of war existed be- tween this country and Mexico. Immediately, Congress author- ized the reception of 50,000 volunteers, one-half to be mustered into service at once, and the other to be used as a reserve. Upon the strength of this authority, the President issued his call accord- ingly, the instrument bearing date May 13, 1846. The Gov- ernors of the several States responded promptly to the call, James Whitcomb, Governor of Indiana, issuing his proclamation to that effect May 23.
Upon the receipt of the news at Delphi, Robert H. Milroy, with the promptness characteristic of him, proceeded to the for- mation of a company of volunteers to participate in the war to be waged against Mexico, pursuant to the declaration of Congress. It required but a day or two to complete the roll. for the citizens of Carroll County were, as they have always been, ready on short notice to obey the eall of their country for soldiers to defend her. The roll being complete, the services of the company were ten- dered to the Governor and accepted. On the 9th of June, 1846, the company left Delphi, and, in due time, arrived at the capital, where they were inspected and formally accepted, according to the regulations. After remaining in camp for a few days, they were transported thence to Edinburg-the point to which the Madison & Indianapolis Railroad was then completed-by wag- ons, and from that point by rail to Madison, and from there to New Albany by steamboat, where the regiments were formed and officers elected. The company from this county was num- bered C, and placed in the First Regiment. It was enrolled June 19, and mustered into service June 20, by Col. Churchill, of the United States Army. The principal regimental officers were:
Colouel-James P. Drake: Lieutenant Colonel. C. C. Nave: Major, Heury S. Lane.
The company officers were as follows:
Captain -- Robert M. Milroy.
First Lieutenant-Andrew. L. Robinson, appointed Aid-de-Camp to Brig. Gen. Lane, July 9.
Second Lientenant-William E. Pearsons, appointed Adjutant of regiment, June 26.
Second Lieutenant-James W. Colvin, was private from enrollment to June 25, then First Sergeant to October 25.
Sergeants-First Sergeant, Henry M. Graham, was Corporal from en- rollment to October 27; Second Sergeant, Alonzo Grout; Third Sergeant, William G. Mullen, was Corporal from enrollment to October 31; Fourth
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
Sergeant, William R. Chapman, was private from curollment to October 31, and Corporal from that time to December ft.
Corporals-First Corporal, Barnabas Busby, was private from enrofl- ment to September 20; Second Corporal, James Cline, was private from enrollment to October 31. absent on furlough from June 5. 1817. to end of term: Third Corporal. Andrew B. Robertson, was private from curoffment to December 17: Fourth Corporal, Jacob Weatherholt, was private from enrollment to December 1. Then absent on Turlough from June 5. 1847. to end of term.
Musicians-Samuel L. Milroy, was private from enrollment to October 12, absent on furlough from June 5, 1847, to end of term: James W. Gra- ham, was private from enrollment to February 16, 1847.
Privates-Valerins Armitage. John S. Barngrover, Thornburg Bald- win, Vincent Castor, Riley Colgrove, Charles Chittick, Archibald Chittick, Daniel Carney. Peter O. Carr, Thomas A. Carr, Anthony A. Emily, An- drew A. Ferrier, Turman Gwinn. Lewis Gee, Samuel Gay, John Hanunm. Daniet Hoover, William Judkins, Isaiah Jervis, Obediah Mooney, James Mabbatt, James W. Maxwell, James Miller, Jolm Morgan, Oliver Norris, Nathan Patty, Levi Snyder, Mervin Sherman. James C. Smith. James K. Shirar, Alpha Walter.
DISCHARGED.
Daniel Davis, Second Lientenant, discharged by resignation, at the month of the Rio Grande, Texas, October 20, 1846.
James Chittick, First Sergeant, was discharged ou Surgeon's certificate of disability, at Camargo, Mexico, December 16, 1816.
James HI. Armstrong, Second Sergeant, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at the mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, October 15. 1846.
George M. Erwin. First Corporat, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at the month of Rio Grande, Texas, September 18. 1816.
James HL. Israel, Second Corporal, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at the mouth of Rio Grande, Texas. September 4, 1846.
William Barrett, Third Corporal, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at Malamoras, Mexico, February 10, 1847.
James HI. Barngrover, private, discharged ou Surgeon's certificate of disability, at mouth of Rio Grande. Texas, September 6, 1816.
Hezekiah Bowen, privale, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, October 15, 1846.
Stephen Chittick, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at month of Rio Grande, Texas, October 15, 1846.
John Campbell, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, September 6, 1846.
David Davis, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability. al month of Rio Grande, Texas, October t5. 1846.
Edwin E. Erwin, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at Matamoras, Mexico. November, 1846.
James B. Exders, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of dis- bility, at Matamoras, Mexico, February 22, 1847.
Barney Eidson, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disabil. ity, at Point Isafiel, Texas, October 12, 1816.
James Forgey, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability. at mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, September 6, 1846.
John Fizer, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disahifity, at mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, October 15, 1846.
James Gregory, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disabil- ity, at mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, September 4. 18-16.
Andrew H. Gearhard, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at Camp Belknap. Texas. August 20, 1846.
Sammel A. Gearhard, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at Camp Belknap, Texas. August 20. 1846.
William Hance, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disabil- ity, at Point Isabel, October 12, 1846.
William C. Harrison, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at mouth of Rio Grande, October 15, 1816.
John Hall, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at mouth of Rio Grande, September 6, 1846.
Lewis House, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at mouth of Rio Grande. October 15, 1846.
Pleasant. R. Israel, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at Camargo, December 16, 1846.
Jotm Q. Kions, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disabil- ity, at Matamoras, Mexico. December 2, 1846.
Thomas Landrum, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at Point Isabel, Texas, October 12. 1846.
Isaac Landrum, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disabil- ity, at mouth of Rio Grande, September 20, 1846.
John W. McGreevy, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of dis- ability, at Point Isabel, Texas, October 12. 1846.
Willimn Moore, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disabif. ity at Camargo, Mexico, December 16, 18 ft.
Richard Manary, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at Point Isabel, Texas, October 12. 1816.
Robert D. Palmer, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at Matamoras. Mexico, October 10, 1846.
Hugh Price, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at mouth of Rio Grande, Texas, September 6, 1846.
Spencer Robertson, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of dis- ability, nt mouth of Rio Grande, September 6, 1846.
Andrew J. Sheets, private, discharged ou Surgeon's certificate of disa- bility, at Camp Belknap, August 20. 1846.
W. A. Shultz, private, discharged on Surgeon'scertificate of disability, at Matamoras, Mexico, November 9. 1816.
Thomas J. Taylor, private, discharged on Surgeou's certificale of disa- bility, at month of Rio Grande, Texas, September 6, 1816.
Lewis Yost, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability. at Monterey. March 31. 1842.
Israel Yeager, private, discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disability, at Monterey, Mexico, March 31, 1947.
Jacob Half, private; served From June 20, 1846, as Ward Master; mas- tered by order of Gen. Taylor; discharged on Surgeon's certificate of disa. bility, November 1, 1846.
Michael Bell, private, died at the mouth of Rio Grande, October 12. 18.46.
William Craiger, private, died at Matamoras, Mexico, October 26, 1846. Affred Cox, private, died at Matamoras, Mexico, October 27, 1846. James W. Foster, private, died at Matamoras, Mexico, October 20, 1846. lohn E. Gearhard, private, died at Camp Belknap August 12, 1846. Daniel Isely. private, died at Camp Belknap August 2t, 1846.
Thomas Kennedy, private, died at Matamoras, Mexico, February 4,
Sebastian Orb, private, died at Matamoras, Mexico, January 19. 1847. Jabn Poff, private, died at Camp Befknap. August 25. 1846.
C'estis Richardson, private, died at Matamoras, Mexico. September t 4, 1846.
DESERTED. Rufus Chapin, private, deserted at New Albany, July 4. 1846.
Having served the full term for which they enlisted, the Car- roll County Volunteers, Company C, with the First Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry. were mustered out of service at Now Orleans, La., on the 16th day of June, 1847, by Inspector General S. Churchill, as mustering officer, who certifies to the correctness of the foregoing roll of officers, privates, etc., and attests the same by his signature, and hence may be deemed to be correct in gen- eral and in detail.
The movements of the company, after it had been mustered into service and assigned its position in the regiment, were in unison, generally, with those of the regiment itself. The whole force remained at New Albany abont two weeks, when it took transportation on board steamers for New Orleans, several of the companies taking passage on the steamer Cincinnati. Upon their arrival at that place, the regiment went into camp on the " Old Battle Ground," where Gen. Jackson, on the Sth of Jannary, 1815. defeated the British, the final engagement in hostile atti- tude between the belligerent powers. Three days later, they shipped on board a schooner for passage across the gulf. landing. after a rough voyage of four days, on the Brazos Santiago, a low, sandy and barren island, where there was no vegetation of any kind, and nothing better to drink than brackish water. Remain- ing on that desert place for a short time, the regiment moved its quarters to the month of the Rio Grande, at which place it was stationed for several months, ready to be called into active serv- ice npon short notice.
" Through the indisposition of officers," says a member of the regiment, " the regiment was ordered to the front at Monterey and Saltillo: but, owing to some misunderstanding abont the mattor. after passing through Camargo, Mier and Ciralvo. travel- ing nearly one hundred miles, over a rough, mountainous coun- try, we were met, at a place called the ' Burnt Ranche.' with or- ders from Gen. Taylor, directing us back to Matamoras and the month of the Rio Grande, and retraced our steps accordingly, but with heavy hearts.
" When less than four months of our term of enlistment re- mained, we were once more ordered to Monterey, going by steam- boat to Camargo, and thenee by land to Mier. Ciralvo. Burnt Ranche (where we were turned back before). thenee to Rama, Marine and Walnut Springs, within five miles of Monterey, where we met Gen. Taylor and his command. We remained here until our time had almost expired, and were then ordered home.
" During our stay at this place, we enjoyed some opportunity for hasty inspection of the surrounding country. The place it- self is beautiful, with large springs, and, in the immediate vicin-
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HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY.
ity, groves of fine trees, chief among which were the English wal- nut and the live oak. In sight of our camp, also, was the 'Ca- manclie Saddle,' as it was called, being a mountain nearly two and a half miles high, the space between the two principal spurs of which, in the distance, resembling a saddle.
" Leaving this place, we took up our line of march for Ca- margo, where we took steamboat to the mouth of the river, marching thence, overland, to Brazos Island, where we took ship- ping in the Desdemonia for the mouth of the Mississippi and New Orleans, at which latter place we were mustered out of serv- ice on the 16th day of June, 1847. From New Orleans, we took passage, by singular coincidence, on the steamer Cincinnati -- the same that originally brought us here-on our return trip to the Queen City of the West. From Cincinnati we were transported by canal " to Delphi, having been absent a little more than one year. The reception given upon the return of these soldiers-the first offering by Carroll County on the altar of sacrifice for the maintenance of her country's honor -- was a most joyous one --- not, however, unmingled with sorrow for the loved and lost who came not-whose ashes reposed in a distant land.
CHAPTER III. THE SOUTHERN REBELLION.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT-THE ISSUE PRESENTED-THE PROCESS -SECESSION-ACTION OF THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PREMISES-BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER-THE DEFENSE OF IT BY MAJ. ANDERSON-WARNING OF THE PRESIDENT-CALL FOR 75,000 MEN TO MAINTAIN THE SUPREMACY OF THE LAWS -- RESPONSE BY THE STATE OF INDIANA-CARROLL COUNTY SENDS HIER QUOTA OF MEN FOR ONE HUNDRED DAYS-RECORD OF COMPANY A OF THE NINTH INDIANA.
L IKE all other convulsive efforts that have culminated in a settlement by the arbitrament of arms, the Southern rebell- ion, so called, was bronght about by the influence of politicians whose aspiratious for public recognition have not been realized according to the measure prescribed by their ambitious desires. The primary causes for revolution have never originated with the masses of the people who have been drawn into its vortex, but with self-constituted leaders, whose efforts to mold public opinion into the adoption of a policy which, while it is the legitimate outgrowth of their own inadequate conceptions of what would best accord with the purposes songht to be accomplished, is detri- mental to the best interests of society and subversive of the rights which a thoroughly developed civilization will always prescribe for the enjoyment of its subjects-equality in the common exer- cise of all the privileges to which an equal inheritance entitles them. The causes, therefore, are not so much the result of the enforcement, as the conception and inauguration of a bad policy. The enforcement necessarily depends upon the consent of the people against whom the bad policy operates. If they tacitly submit, or are induced to do so through the agency of policy manip- ulators, the ill-conceived designs of such leaders, become, for the time being, the accepted authority of the community offected; but, in the end, like the poisonous virus that ramifies the human system, deteriorating its very life blood, imperceptibly at first, but finally breaks forth into a putrid sore which requires all the powers of vitality to overcome. If, on the other hand, the people successfully resist the enforcement of an unwholesome policy,
they become stronger by every such effort to resist oppression, and refuse to accept the guidance of impolitic politicians.
This doctrine is believed to be applicable to the causes that culminated in the passage at arms between the Southern people and the Government to which they owed allegiance. Very early in the history of this country, when the people had declared them- selves to be free and independent of the authority and jurisdiction of Great Britain, an element began to be developed representing the doctrine that individuals, or individual communities, did not owe and should not acknowledge allegiance to any general legis- lative or administrative power in the nature of a government ex- ercising a common jurisdiction over a whole people of which they were constituent parts; but, on the contrary, that there was no. supreme authority outside the individual members of society-in short. that there was no such thing as a common interest, pos- sessed by all equally, in the conduct of affairs for the whole people. This doctrine was distinctly manifested in the confed eration of States, the people of those States acknowledging alle- giance to their States only, notwithstanding it was an accepted proposition that, in some measure at least, all the States and the individuals thereof, had a common interest of sufficient strength to hold the compact together. The experience under this confed- eration was that such a government was insufficient and did not meet the wants nor the anticipations of the people at large. This insufficiency was acknowledged in the call by the people, through their representatives, for a general convention of delegates to be by them elected to form a more perfect government. Delegates were accordingly chosen, such a couvention met and deliberated upon the solution of the problem submitted for their considera- tion, and, in due time, produced the written instrument since known as the "Constitution of the United States of America," to which they prefixed the following: "We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common de- fense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America." In their address to the people after that document had been prepared, the convention made the following statement: "In all our delibera- tions on this subject, we kept steadily in our view that which ap- pears to us the greatest interest of every true American -the con- solidation of our Union -- in which is involved our prosperity, felicity, safety, perhaps our National existence."
Notwithstanding the nature of this instrument and the funda- mental principle upon which it was constructed, the ancient germ of individual or State sovereignty, possessed vitality still, and whenever opportunity offered continned to exhibit itself in multi- farious forms, but most strongly among the Southern people, in their refusal to obey certain laws enacted by the legislative au- thority of the United States, which they claimed were detrimen- tal to their local interests. These laws, therefore, were, as they alleged, null and void as to them, and hence, should be nullified or disregarded, and the act has since been designated by the term "Nullification," and the aiders and abettors therein, "Nullifiers." But the centralized power of the nation was brought to bear upon the issue and the provisions of the laws assumed to be repugnant were literally enforced.
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