USA > Indiana > Daviess County > History of Daviess County, Indiana : Its people, industries and institutions > Part 13
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On the 19th of April, Editor Horrall again gave way to his patriotism in the following pertinent paragraph : "Friends, the national flag, the glorious stars and stripes, which you have so long looked upon with patriotic pride, has been dishonored ! The colors have been struck to the traitors, and what will you? Will you who love the honor of your country stand idly by and see that emblem of our liberty torn asunder? Never! Never !! Never !!! We know that patriotism is at no discount in Indiana, and honestly believe that one hundred thousand can be raised in ten days to fight for the flag, the Union, the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws. And since it ha's come to the worst, since nothing will appease the wrath of the traitors, we say, in God's name, let us, one and all, fight for our flag, our country and our God. We are sadly mistaken if Indiana shall be last in rank ; but we are not mistaken. The war now commenced, every patriot will do his duty; and, if we have traitors in our midst, we very much mistake the feeling of this state, if it will not soon become so hot that it will not hold those who rejoice at the hoisting of the hateful traitor flag."
DAVIESS COUNTY'S PATRIOTIC RESOLUTION.
On the 17th day of April, five days after the Union flag had been lowered at Fort Sumter, a monster mass meeting was held at the court house, attended by the leading men of all political parties. Noah S. Given was the chairman of this most notable gathering, and John Van Trees, secretary. The Saxe band was there and its rendering of patriotic airs added to the enthusiasm, if that were possible. The chairman, in accepting the honor conferred, de- clared himself in favor of putting down the rebellion no matter at what cost of life and treasure. His speech rang loud and true throughout the old court
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house and every word uttered stirred within the hearts of his auditors the resolution to do and dare all for their country. A committee, composed of S. F. Horrall, editor of the Telegraph; W. R. Gardiner (now nestor of the Daviess county bar), John Hyatt, Edward McCrisaken, O. F. Rodarmel and Joseph Peck, appointed by the chair, presented the following resolutions, which met the approbation of practically every one present :
"Whereas, With sorrow and deep regret, we lament the condition of our beloved country, and with feelings of pain we have learned that the flag of our country has been lowered to a hostile foe; therefore be it
"Resolved, That with our utmost energy and power we will sustain the Union, the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and that we will protect, with our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors, the flag of our country from insult, whether from foreign or domestic foe."
Chairman Given was not the only one to declaim in patriotic tone on this occasion. Several short speeches, abounding in expression of love and loyalty and replete with maledictions on all traitors, were received with hearty approval and acclaim. To everyone who would speak, the audience gave willing ear. The people could not get enough of it, so that the meeting adjourned, with the understanding that it should be reconvened on the fol- lowing evening at the same place. All who desired could not secure admit- tance at this second assemblage, which was presided over by J. W. Burton, with S. F. Horrall as secretary. Judge Burton, patriot and eloquent orator, delivered "a brilliant, stirring, fiery speech, incisive with patriotism and logic, and full of searching blows of keen invective." Matthew L. Brett, S. F. Horrall and others also shone in this gathering as loyal citizens and as eloquent mouthpieces for their country, and it should be related, that men and women came from all parts of the country to attend these meetings, showing by voice and action they were with the government heart and soul. Through- out the country, by day and night, union meetings were held at school house or church, and in the county seat and villages men and women blocked the streets, all eager to learn the trend of events and express their views upon what already had taken place.
FIRST COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS.
The people of this community did not expend all their energies in street- corner harangues and mass-meetings. They were too full of eagerness to meet insult and wrong in a substantial way for that. So it came about that on the 18th of April, 1861, through the activity of partisans, over one hun-
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dred men had enrolled for three months' service. This was the first company of volunteers formed in the county, the members of which elected Charles Childs, captain; Richard W. Meredith, first lieutenant, and Alanson Solomon, second lieutenant. On the 19th the organization offered its services, by wire, to the governor, which were immediately accepted, with orders to report at Indianapolis for active service without delay. It is related that "at this time the town of Washington was a sight the oldest inhabitant had never before witnessed. The Saxe horn band was scarcely off duty day or night, but paraded the streets at the head of militia companies, firing the hearts of all with the grand strains of 'Hail Columbia,' 'The Red, White and Blue,' 'Yankee Doodle' and other national airs. In every direction the stars and stripes were flung to the breezes, until the wonder was where all the banners came from. All business, except that of making 'war to the knife and knife to the hilt,' was abandoned. America never before had seen such a popular uprising."
The premier military company of Daviess county, organized for the Civil War, prepared to start for Indianapolis on Saturday, the 20th of April, and just before it entrained a silk flag, hastily made by the ladies, was pre- sented to the "boys," a short address in this behalf being made by Mrs. P. Cruse. The banner was received by Captain Childs and accepted for the company by Citizen Cook, who eloquently pledged the lives of the recipients to the maintenance of its honor and safe keeping; and the reader may rest in the assurance that all of the people of Washington and a large part of the county were at the depot of the Ohio & Mississippi railroad to see the soldiers off to a war, from which, mayhap, they never were to return. Finally, the "boys" were on board the cars and as the train pulled out the scene was one never to be forgotten. Many of those left behind were in tears. others were shouting their throats into fragments bidding the company goodbye and God- speed, while the band kept in unison with the occasion, as it rendered patriotic selections.
Upon reaching camp at the state capital, Captain Childs' command was assigned to the Sixth Regiment and became Company C; it was mustered into the United States service for the period of three months, April 24, 1861, six days after it was organized. Upon the expiration of its term of service Com- pany C returned home and the regiment went into the three-years service. In September and October, 1861, a company was organized at Washington which became Company E, Sixth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and during its term of service had the following officers: Captains, Charles R. Van Trees and Oscar F. Rodarmel; first lieutenants, Henry C. Hall, Sr.,
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Alanson Solomon, O. F. Rodarmel and Henry E. Van Trees; second lieu- tenants, Alanson Solomon. O. F. Rodarmel and H. E. Van Trees.
THE SIXTHI REGIMENT.
Thomas T. Crittenden was colonel of the Sixth Indiana while in the three-months service. The regiment left camp at Indianapolis on May 30, 1861, fully armed and equipped, and proceeded to West Virginia. On the 2nd of June, Webster, West Virginia, was reached and that night the men marched, in a downpour of rain, to Phillipi, where a battle took place the fol- lowing morning, in which the Sixth was engaged. Returning to Grafton, the regiment was brigaded under General Morris and, marching to Laurel Hill, was in the engagement with Garrett at Carrick's ford on July 12. The latter part of July found the organization back in camp at Indianapolis and on the. 2nd of August it was mustered out of the service. This regiment was re- organized for the three-years service on September 20, 1861, and on the same day Colonel Crittenden took five hundred of the men and moved into Ken- tucky to oppose General Buckner. This portion of the regiment moved from Louisville to Muldraugh's Hill and from there to Nolan creek where, in October, it was strengthened by the arrival of three hundred recruits under Lieutenant-Colonel Prather. Becoming a part of Rosseau's brigade, of Mc- Cook's division, it was marched with Buell's army to Mumfordsville, Wood- sonville and Bowling Green. In March, 1862, the command marched to Nashville and there went into camp, remaining a few weeks, after which time the regiment again was on the march, this time to Savannalı, Tennessee, and thence to Shiloh. On the day of its arrival at Shiloh the regiment performed service in saving one of the Federal batteries from capture and in charging the enemy. After participating in the siege of Corinth the regiment marched with Buell's army through Alabama, to Stevenson, then on after Bragg, arriving in Louisville on the Ist of October. The month of November saw the regiment again back in Tennessee, where later it took part in the battle of Stone's River. In the spring and summer of 1863, the Sixth campaigned in Tennessee and fought in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 20th of September, where Colonel Baldwin was killed. After this sanguinary battle the regiment took part in the engagements at Browns Ferry and Mis- sion Ridge and then marched to the relief of Knoxville, remaining in east Tennessee until the spring of 1864. Taking an active part in the Atlanta campaign, the Sixth fought at Tunnel Hill, Rocky-Face Ridge, Resaca, Buz- zard Roost, Dallas, New Hope, Allatoona Ridge, Kenesaw Mountain, Mari-
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etta and before Atlanta, from the latter place returning to Chattanooga, in August, where the non-veterans were mustered out. Those remaining were transferred to the Sixty-eighth Regiment, and when this organization was mustered out, nineteen men still remaining of the old Sixth were transferred to the Forty-fourth Regiment, which was mustered out of the service on September 14, 1865.
Company C, during its three months' service in the war was free from casualties of any serious importance, with the exception of the death of private Joseph G. Scott, who died while on his way home. Company E, of the Sixth, enlisted for three years, was not so fortunate, as it lost several men, both by disease and death in battle. Wayne Alford died of disease at Corinth, in June, 1862 ; Isaac Alexander, disease, at Knoxville, in April, 1864; Abram W. Carnahan died in Andersonville prison, in August, 1864; Benton McCafferty was wounded at Mission Ridge; Lafayette Alford died at home, of disease, in May, 1862; John Azbell died at Chattanooga of wounds, in November, 1864; Josiah Farley was killed at Mission Ridge in November, 1863; Josiah Graham was killed at Chickamauga, in September, 1863; Napoleon Hubard was killed at Mission Ridge; John Hill died of disease at Woodsonville, Kentucky, in February, 1862; John Killion died of disease at Woodsonville; James Lambert died of disease at Iuka, in June, 1862; Joshua McLuin died of disease at Nashville, in January, 1863; Charles Palmer was killed at Chickamauga, in September, 1863; William H. Wilson died of disease at Louisville, in April, 1863: Aaron Hunter, a recruit, was killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862; Robert Warner, recruit, died of disease at Louisville, in 1862; Lieut. Alanson Solomon died of exposure at his home in Washing- ton, Indiana, in May, 1862.
THERE WERE SOME "COPPERHEADS" HERE.
A very large majority of the Democratic party in the North was opposed to secession and gave its support to the Union cause, but there were some men within that party's ranks who were traitors. Among these were statesmen, able lawyers, capitalists and a contingent made up of the riff-raff of society. Some of the spokesmen for the Confederacy, by reason of violence of speech or reprehensible acts, were caught red-handed and deported into the rebel lines, where they belonged. The less important, though more brazen and blatant ones, kept up a continual yelping at home, until the patience of their neighbors reached a limit and the "copperheads" were squelched. There was a sprinkling of this class of citizens in Daviess county, who early began to
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show their colors, as the following article, taken from the Telegraph's issue of April 19, 1861, shows: "We have a few secessionists, it appears, in our town, who seem to glory that the flag of our country has been torn from Fort Sumter, and the Federal troops been obliged to surrender. In the days of Christ, there was one whose heart was so damnably corrupt that, for thirty pieces of silver, he betrayed his Master. In the Revolution there were those who fought under the enemy's flag ; therefore, it is not astonishing to us that we find some who are willing to join an army of traitors. If they prefer to do so let them go; God knows we are better off without than with them." A flag pole, one hundred feet in height, with Old Glory floating from its top- most point, was early erected in Washington. The flag, so proudly waving in the breeze, called forth sentiments of loyalty and love for the Union from the many and irritated a few disloyal ones to utterances that often placed their lives in danger. To the west, a short distance from the county seat, was Maysville, to which place a man named Rice journeyed from Washing- ton and cut the flag rope. While in the act of desecrating the flag he was arrested and fined by Justice Cloud. His arrest was fortunate, for had it not occurred the infuriated citizens of Maysville, most probably, would have made short work of him.
LINCOLN CALLS FOR MORE MEN.
The government and its advisers were not long in reaching the conclu- sion that the acts of the Southern rebels meant more than a three-months' application of the rod to the recalcitrants, and in July, 1862, the call for five hundred thousand men to put down the rebellion went forth over the land and met with instant response. Nelson M. Bolton at once led the movement for recruiting a company of volunteers at Washington and before the end of July, had named sufficient men, who enlisted, to form Company D, Twenty- fourth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The officers of this organiza- tion, during the war were: Nelson M. Bolton and Samuel F. -, cap- tains ; Jacob Covert, S. M. Smith, Henry H. Hyatt, first lieutenants; S. M. Smith and Henry H. Hyatt, second lieutenants. Company K, of the same regiment, had for its captain, Thomas Johnson, of Washington, and T. M. Gibson, second lieutenant. When the regiment was re-organized, Samuel M. Smith became captain of Company C, and Anthony Johnson, second lieu- tenant, with Henry H. Hyatt, adjutant of the regiment ; W. S. Waller, second lieutenant of Company E.
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HISTORY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTII (SIXTH) REGIMENT.
With Alvin P. Hovey as colonel, the Sixth Regiment was mustered into United States service at Vincennes, July 3, 1861. It moved to St. Louis on the 19th of August and thence into the interior of Missouri; there re- maining until February, 1862, when it was sent to assist in the reduction of Fort Donelson, but arrived there too late.
The regiment was hotly engaged at Shiloh, losing, among many others, Major Gerber. It was at the siege of Corinth and then went to Memphis. The month of July found the Sixth at Helena, Arkansas, where it wintered, in the meantime engaging in several expeditions. In the spring of 1863 the regiment was in Hovey's division, in the Vicksburg campaign, fighting at Port Gibson, Champion's Hill and elsewhere, distinguishing itself at Chani- pion's Hill by a terrific charge on the enemy. After the fall of Vicksburg, the Twenty-fourth went to New Orleans, and, during the fall of 1863, was at New Iberia and Algiers, close by. It was veteranized in January, 1864, and was given a furlough home. In December it was consolidated with the Sixty-seventh Regiment under its old name and, in January, 1865, moved to Florida, in April participating in the investment of Mobile. It then moved to Selma, Alabama, and soon thereafter transferred to Galveston, Texas. The regiment again was transferred, in July, 1865, by being or- ganized as a battalion with five companies. The other companies were mus- tered out, their terms having expired. The casualties of the regiment were : Captain S. M. Smith, wounded at Shiloh and Champion's Hill; James P. Cruse, died of disease after reaching home, January, 1862; Milton Jackson, died of disease at St. Louis; Asbury D. Alexander, died of disease at St. Louis, in January, 1865; John Balthus, died of disease in 1861; William Bradbury, died of disease in 1862, at Jefferson City, Missouri; William Brown, died at St. Louis, in November, 1862; William Edwards, died of disease in 1862 at Helena, Arkansas; Jackson Edwards, killed at Magnolia Hills; William Graham, killed in May, 1863, at Champion's Hill; Thomas Hardin, died of disease at home in 1862; Peter Hawkins, died of disease at home in 1862; George Hawkins, died of disease at Tipton, Missouri, in 1862; George Messer died of disease at Tipton, Missouri, in December, 1861; John Montgomery, died at Vicksburg, in July 1863; Harvey Peck, accidentally killed at Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, in April, 1863; Henry Rhodes, died at Helena, Arkansas, in September, 1862; Francis A. Shepard, died of wounds, in May, 1863; James Tisdal, died of disease at St. Louis,
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in 1862; Daniel Fee, a recruit, died in May, 1864, at New Orleans; W. S. Helms, recruit, died in May, 1865; James Mallory, recruit, died in Louisiana in 1864; Enoch Nash, recruit, died in Louisiana in 1864; E. M. Thomas, recruit, died in Louisiana in 1864.
COMPANIES B AND E, TWENTY-SEVENTH INFANTRY.
In July, 1861, a company was organized at Raglesville and in August, of the same year, one at Washington, both being assigned to the Twenty- seventh Regiment. Company B, of Raglesville, was officered during the war as follows: Captains, Jackson L. Moore, William E. Davis and John W. Thornburgh; first lieutenants, J. N. Thornburgh, W. S. Davis and Thomas W. Casey; second lieutenants; Thomas W. Casey, J. W. Thorn- burgh and William Hubbard. The officers of Company E were: George W. Burgh, George L. Fesler and James Stevens, captains; John A. Cassidy, James Stevens and Bethuel Clark, first lieutenants ; James Stevens and George W. Roddick, second lieutenants. In 1862 George W. Burge was made a major of the Twenty-seventh.
The Twenty-seventh Regiment was mustered into the service of "Uncle Sam" at Indianapolis, September 12, 1861, and then entrained for Washington City, at which point it was transferred to Banks' army of the Shenandoah, passing the winter near Frederick City, Maryland. In March the regiment took position across the Potomac; pursued Jackson's army, after the battle of Winchester Heights, and on May 12, fought at Front Royal. On the 25th of May it fought gallantly at Winchester, its brigade (Gordon's) withstand- ing the assaults of twenty-eight Confederate regiments for three and one- half hours, repulsing them. But the odds were too great, so that the Federal forces were compelled to fall back into the town, where, in the streets, the fight was hotly continued. The retreat was continued and the regiment re- crossed the Potomac on May 26. The regiment fought at Cedar Mountain, in August, and at Antietam lost heavily on September 17. Until the follow- ing year the Twenty-seventh did guard duty, after which it participated in the battle of Chancellorsville, fighting bravely, but losing heavily. Moving north in pursuit of Lee's army, it gave a splendid account of itself in re- sisting the headlong charges of the enemy and was the loser of many men. In September the regiment was transferred to the west, with the Twelfth Corps, and, during the fall and winter of 1863-4, was assigned to the Twen- tieth Corps, and was stationed at Tullahoma. Returning from a furlough, after part of the regiment had veteranized, the regiment fought at Resaca
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May 15, 1864, defeating the Thirty-second and Thirty-eighth Alabama regi- ments and taking one hundred prisoners, including the colonel and the battle flag of the Thirty-eighth Alabama. The regiment then participated in the Atlanta campaign. The non-veterans were mustered out in November, 1864, and those remaining were transferred to the Seventieth Regiment and served throughout the Carolina campaign, at the end of which they were transferred to the Thirty-third Regiment. The final muster-out took place at Louisville, Kentucky, July 21, 1865.
The casualties in Company B follow: William Hubbard, wounded and discharged in December, 1863; Ira C. Brashears, discharged in June, 1863, with loss of right arm; Elisha Guthrie, killed in July, 1863; Stephen Board- man, died of disease in November, 1863; Alonzo C. Burgher, died at Darnes- town in November, 1861; W. J. Flinn, died at New Hope Church, Georgia, in May, 1864; W. R. Carson, killed at Cedar Mountain; Joshua Gough, died at Philadelphia in May, 1862; Willis Hubbard, died at Belle Isle; William Hanna, died at Chattanooga, in June, 1864; G. W. Herrondon, died in Sep- tember, 1864; Anderson Dickert, killed at Resaca in May, 1864; John Cor- rell, died at Chattanooga in July, 1864; W. B. Matthews, killed at Chancel- lorsville in May, 1863; George W. Stout, died at Atlanta in August, 1864; Pierson Wagley, died at Darnestown, Maryland, December, 1861.
Casualties in Company E: William C. Boyd, died in Libby prison ; Jo- seph Carrall, killed at Chancellorsville in May, 1863; James M. Chapman, killed at Gettysburg in July, 1863; Thomas W. Hill, killed at Cedar Moun- tain; Patrick Curley, died at home in November, 1862; Lewis Clark, died at Alexandria, Virginia, in December, 1863; B. T. Gregory, died at home in December, 1862; Thomas Gregory, killed at Dallas, Georgia, in May, 1864 ;. William Gaines, died at Frederick City, Maryland, in December, 1861 ; James Herinshaw, died at Williamsport, Maryland, in December, 1862; G. W. Honey, died at Atlanta, Georgia, in August, 1864; Henry Huskes, died at. Washington, in September, 1862; John Jones, died of wounds at Alexan- dria, Virginia, in 1862; John R. Kellar, killed at Dallas, Georgia, in May, 1864; Thomas Layton, died in January, 1862; Nathan Logan, killed at An- tietam in September, 1862; James Lashley, died in June, 1864; Philip Ross, killed at Cedar Mountain in August, 1862; Daniel S. Sparks, killed at Cedar Mountain; Franklin Smith, killed at Antietam; John J. Williams, died at Darnestown, Maryland, in 1861; John Weber, killed at Peach Tree Creek, in August, 1864; W. H. Wilson, killed at Gettysburg in July, 1863.
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COMPANY G, FORTY-SECOND REGIMENT.
Eli McCarty, Isaac W. McCormack, S. F. Horrall and others organized a company for the Forty-second Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in September, 1861, which was familiarly known as McCarty's Company. On the 27th of September the men entrained for Evansville and upon arrival there went into camp, and were designated as Company G, of the Forty-sec- ond. It had for its officers, during the war, Eli McCarty, Isaac W. McCor- mack, Spillard F. Horrall and Joshua A. Palmer, captains; I. W. McCor- mack, S. F. Horrall, J. A. Palmer and W. H. Faris, first lieutenants; S. F. Horrall, J. A. Palmer, W. H. Faris and William A. Myers, second lieuten- ants. When the war was drawing to a close, J. G. Stubblefield became adju- tant and Rev. Henry O. Chapman, chaplain of the regiment; and Harrison Peachee, captain of Company D. The regiment was organized at Evans- ville, with James G. Jones as colonel, and early in October found its way to Henderson, Kentucky, thence to Calhoun, Owensboro and, on the 25th of February, 1862, Nashville, Tennessee. The regiment then moved into the interior of the state and then to Huntsville, Alabama, where it remained. until the latter part of September. It went with Buell's army and pursued Braxton Bragg and participated in the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, losing one hundred and sixty-six in killed, wounded and missing. Returning to Nashville, the regiment later took part in the battle of Stone's River, losing seventeen killed and eighty-seven wounded. It remained in camp near Mur- freesboro until June 24, then moved with Rosecrans' army to Tullahoma, thence to Chattanooga and, on September 19 and 20, fought at Chickamauga, losing eight killed and eighty-five wounded and missing. The regiment as- sisted in the storming of Lookout Mountain and fought at Mission Ridge, losing forty-three killed and wounded. It was veteranized on January I, 1864, and then was furloughed home. Returning, the unit joined General Sherman at Chattanooga, and on May 7, started on the Atlanta campaign, in which it sustained a loss of one hundred and three men and officers, killed and wounded. After the fall of Atlanta it pursued Hood's battered army to Kingston, Rome, Resaca, thence to Gaylesville, Alabama, and then re- turned to Atlanta. It was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea and participated in the Carolina campaign, losing ten men, killed and wounded, at Bentonville.
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