USA > Indiana > Greene County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 67
USA > Indiana > Sullivan County > History of Greene and Sullivan Counties, State of Indiana > Part 67
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In June, and both before and after, numerous affrays occurred, caused by the wearing and snatching off of butternut breast-pins. In this month, also, the enrollment of the county militia was begun. Nearly all of the enrolling officers received letters threatening their lives, and met with bitter opposition in the discharge of their duties. Mr. Garvin, one of the enrolling officers, was threatened by the snapping of a gun- cap. On the 18th of June, Fletcher Freeman, the enrolling officer of Cass Township, while on his way to work the road, was shot by a con- cealed assassin and instantly killed. He had previously received a threatening letter, but like a brave man as he was, paid no attention to it. This wanton murder is yet said to have been the work of the Sons of Liberty, who planned the crime and carried it into execution. The fune- ral procession of Mr. Freeman was the largest ever in Sullivan up to that time. The crime was denounced by all parties. So great was the
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hostility to the negro, that, in July, when a colored man attempted an outrage on the person of a white girl in the county, all resident colored familes, of which there were many, were notified to leave the county forthwith. Numerous acts similar to the above might be chronicled.
THE SIX MONTHS' COMPANY.
Early in July, 1863, a company of six months' men was raised in the county by Uriah Coulson, R. R. Cluggage and others, and on the 10th the officers were elected as follows: R. R. Cluggage, Captain; Z. H. Peter, First Lieutenant; David Mckinney, Second Lieutenant. The company became F of the One Hundred and Fifteenth Regiment, and was mus- tered in at Indianapolis on the 29th of July, and early in September moved to Kentucky. The sketch of this regiment will be found in the Greene County History. The following is the personal record of Com- pany F: Capt. R. R. Cluggage, mustered out, term expired; Z. H. Peter, First Lieutenant, resigned October, 1863; H. S. Boulds, T. A. Riggs, John McConnell, B. F. Stark, C. S. Asbury, C. T. O'Haver, M. S. Woolen, B. F. Hunter, William Thompson, Lafayette Thompson, Jacob Whitman, James Weir, W. J. Wilks, George Asbury, Preston Ambrose, G. S. Ammerman, E. K. Asbury, S. B. Brewer, G. B. Burton, Thomas Blankingbokes (died in Kentucky, 1863), Marion Barton, William Brood- herd, J. R. Brooks, Peter Boulds, James Baker, Richard Cochran, George Clark, F. M. Case, John Collier, S. T. Clark, Nathaniel Carter, John Dawson, J. R. Dunlap, R. M. Dear, L. F. Daniels, Henry Dille, R. G. Eaton, Ludwick Ernest (died near Cumberland Ford, 1863), Oscar Esterbrook, G. D. Furree, John Flarety, Samuel Gaskin, George Gustin, Hubbard Graff, Monroe Glick, Henry Hill, Barton Hays, W. M. Heck, J. B. Hesselback, H. P. Hill, J. H. Hick, B. Hutson, R. M. Huff, T. S. Houpt, William Harper, Shelby Hollingsworth, Oscar Harrom, G. H. Johnson, William Johnson, Presley Johnson (died at Knoxville, 1863), J. S. Johns, Levi Johnson; Daniel Kester, G. W. Kerns, J. J. Miller, F. M. Miller, B. Mattox, Joseph Milam, Edward Mason, William Mason, J. A. Mason, C. McDaniel, Alva Marts, J. C. Mckinney, G. W. Mckinney, Leander Neff, J. H. Nelson, J. M. Nichols, A. E. Neal, William Oakes, J. E. Osborn, B. F. Owen, J. T. Patton, Henry Parrigo, J. L. Phillips, Thomas Phipps, Wesley Randolph, Peyton Ritchie, David Rush worth. Andrew Rhodes, George Reamer, Joseph Reagan, J. P. Snyder, W. N. Siner, Benjamin Staggs, E. Stark, John Tidd, E. Thompson, J. W. Tur- ner, William Vanpelt, Chales Williams, John Wells.
EVENTS IN THE COUNTY.
On the 6th of August, the Democracy held a large mass meeting at Sullivan, and adopted a long series of resolutions, asserting the belief that the Conscription Act was unconstitutional, and should be tested in the courts before being enforced, and asserting the belief, also, that the
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Conscription Act, aside from the question of validity, was unjust to the poor as favoring the rich, who could procure substitutes. Over 5,000 people were present, who listened to Voorbees, B. W. Hanna, Col. Cook- erly and Andy Humphreys.
In July and August, 1863, a company of home guards, called the Graysville Guards. was organized under R. H. Crowder, Captain; Addi- son McKee, First Lieutenant; Sherrod Burton, Second Lieutenant. A little later, another company was organized, under J. A. Walls, Captain; Stewart Barnes, First Lieutenant; S. B. Taggart, Second Lieutenant; and still a little later (September) another company was organized at Merom, under B. F. Stover, Captain; T. B. Springer, First Lieutenant; N. G. Buff, Second Lieutenant. In September, another was organized at Carlisle, under David Edmiston, Captain; William Grigg, First Lieutenant; Samuel McCormick, Second Lieutenant. These companies were mustered in as part of the Indiana Legion, and one company at least (the Graysville Guards) was supplied by the State with arms. The legion was organized as a means of home defense, and to prepare com- panies for the field. The Graysville company lost two or three of its muskets in September, by theft, and endeavered to arrest the guilty parties, which led to an encounter where several shots were fired with- out securing the muskets or doing any harm. Early one morning, a squad of soldiers from Terre Haute entered Curry and Fairbanks Town. 1
ships, and arrested two or three deserters. Numerous incendiary fires of grain, hay, barns and residences occurred during the fall months-nsu- ally the property of strong Union men. Numerous refugees from the South, doubtless deserters from the rebel army, over-ran the county, and criminals, bold, cunning and desperate, practiced their unlawful depre- dations under the drowsy eye of the law. Stores, barns, dwellings and persons were robbed, often in open day. It was indeed a reign of terror
RECRUITS, ARRESTS, ETC.
In November and December, 1863, calls were issued for volunteers to clear the county quota under the new requisition. Lieut. Mason, ot Company D, of the Thirty. first Regiment, with office with Sewell Coul- son, called for about thirty recruits for his company. Lieut. Maxwell, of the Fifty-ninth Regiment, also called for recruits. In January, 1864, he took to Indianapolis, from Cass Township, eight or ten deserters, who, by prom ises of freedom from punishment, were induced to return to their respect. ive commands. Capt. W. T. Crawford recruited a squad of men for the Eighty-fifth Regiment. Several prominent men in the southwest part of the county were arrested about this time for harboring a deserter, the arrest causing considerable commotion. By December, 1863, the county quota had been reduced by volunteers to about seventy-five men. War meetings were held at various places to raise men, and the dreaded draft
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was threatened. During the winter of 1863 and 1864, about thirty-five recruits were sent to the Eighty-fifth Regiment, and under the heavy calls of the early part of 1864, about twenty-five recruits were sent to the Twenty-first; about twenty-five to the Thirty-first; about fifteen to the Fifty-ninth; about eight to the One Hundred and Twentieth; three to the Thirteenth Battery, and a few others to other regiments.
ANOTHER COMPANY FOR THE WAR.
Late in 1863, a company was raised for the war from the County Legion, and became G of the Eleventh Cavalry (One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment). About the 1st of May, 1864, the regiment left Indianapolis, moved to Nashville, thence early in June to Northern Alabama, where it guarded railroads, stores, etc., and in October returned to Nashville, where it was mounted. It was then engaged in and around Nashville, and later joined in the pursuit of Hood. going to Gravelly Springs, where it was dismounted and placed on provost duty. It occu- pied various positions in this capacity, but in May, 1865, was trans- ferred to St. Louis, Mo., where it was remounted, and then marched to Rolla, thence to Fort Riley, Kan., early in July. It occupied other points until September, and was then transferred to Fort Leavenworth, where on the 19th of September it was mustered out.
The following is the personal record: Capt. R. H. Crowder, promot- ed Assistant Surgeon and Surgeon; John C. Briggs, Quartermaster; Ad- dison McKee, resigned January, 1865; T. B. Springer, Second Lieuten- ant, First Lieutenant; B. H. Jewell, Commissary Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant; R. A. Weir, Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant; A. W. McIntire, Sergeant, Second Lieutenant; S. B. Cummins, James Parks, W. F. Knotts; B. S. Miles, died in Ala- bama, 1864; M. V. Boicourt; L. D. Day, died in rebel prison; W. B. Daniel; B. R. Houck, died of wounds, 1864; J. S. McKee, J. W. Atkin- son, E. Arnett, Alexander Berrack, J. R. Banks; B. F. Bennett, died in rebel prison; W. R. Blalock; P. P. Borders, died in rebel prison; Will- iam Cunningham; J. M. Cunningham, died at Indianapolis, 1864; Or- ville Collins; John .Clark, died in Indiana, 1865; Thomas Clark; T. T. Comaree, died of wounds, 1864, Abner Coffman, Riley Combast, E. W. Collis, John Dodd; L. D. Dehart, died in Alabama, 1864; Archy Eaton, Daniel Evans, J. J. Feitchner; A. G. Gray, died at Carlisle, 1864; J. A. Graham, Hopkins Giles, James Hunt, B. W. Houck, died in Mississippi, 1865; J. A. Handley, Charles Hart, J. F. Houck, T. W. D. Hutchin- son; E. W. Hannen, died at Jeffersonville, 1865; Henry Hines; John Hamilton, died at Jeffersonville, 1865; L. S. Knotts, A. Kaufman, Jo- seph Lewis, John Little, A. J. McKee, T. A. Mason; Isaac Meloy, died in Andersonville Prison, 1865; Edmund Moore, J. E. Melone, W. F. Par- sons, G. W. Street; J. M. Smith, died in Louisville, 1864; J. A. Starks,
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J. R. Watson, J. T. Watson, John Wilkins; David Wilkins, died in rebel prison; J. R. Willis, Levi Willis, George Wiley, .C. W. Webb. Alfred Williams, J. W. York, died at Gravelly Springs, Ala., 1865; S. V. Brew- er; J. M. Weir, the last two being recruits of the fall of 1864.
AT HOME ON VETERAN FURLOUGH.
In the spring of 1864, the veterans of the Seventeenth, Thirty . first and Fifty-ninth Regiments came home on veteran furlough, and were re- ceived at several places in the county with the pomp and circumstance of glorious war. The friends of the war could not do too much for the boys, who were honored with dinners and dances, toasts and parties. They were feted and praised and stuffed like anacondas with delicacies until their dreams were disturbed with the red havoc of war. As the day appeared for their departure, the citizens of Carlisle tendered the boys in that vicinity a sumptuous farewell dinner, and good advice was given them in public addresses by Dr. Helms, Col. Alexander and Capt. Van Fossen. They left early in March.
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' MEN.
In May, 1864, nearly half a company was raised in the county for the one hundred days' service by N. G. Buff, who became Captain, and J. D. Parvin, who became Second Lieutenant. The remainder of the com- pany was from Knox and Martin Counties, and the First Lieutenant was W. B. Mattingly, of Loogootee. The men were mustered in as Company G, of the One Hundred and Thirty seventh Regiment, on the 26th of May. The following were the Sullivan County men: Captain, Nathaniel G. Buff; Second Lieutenant, James D. Parvin; C. C. Arnett, William Berry, G. W. Buff, M. W. Beardshear, J. H. Burnett, Vigil Burnett, Green Bicknell, S. H. Coats, J. W. Casto, Thomas Cushman, Henry Conrad, Albert Dunlap, David Davis, Gerard Emerson, Charles Hammond, H. F. Harper, Josiah Harris, B. S. Hays, Levi Johnson, J. S. Jennings, Jon- athan Knotts, J. P. Milam, John McIntire, J. C. McReynolds, Allen Mc- Kusey, J. D. Powers, G. H. Pharr, J. M. Pogue, William Sinex, D. M. Shoemaker, H. H. Shidler, Lafayette Thompson, Uriah Vanpelt, died of disease at Tullahoma, Tenn., in August, 1864; J. H. Weir, M. S. Wil- kinson.
CRIME CONTINUED.
During the summer and fall of 1864, crime again ran riot over the county. Many horses were stolen and many houses burst open and robbed of money and other valuables. In June, the Paymaster's train on the E. & T. H. Railroad was thrown from the track a short distance south of Sullivan in broad daylight, and robbed of $300. In July, a squad of soldiers and a number of young men in Fairbanks Township got into an altercation at a picnic, when one of the latter was killed by one of the former. A large organized gang of law-breakers connected
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with similar bands in other counties overran the county, and a detective from abroad joined them to learn of their haunts and methods, and to break them up. Finally, in September, a descent was made upon them and twelve or fifteen were arrested at one time, though in different places, when lo! it was found that among the number were several well-known residents of the county. Others were arrested afterward, and all were con- fined in the county jail, but in November broke out, or as many suppose, were let out and escaped. During the autumn, on several occasions, squads of soldiers entered the county, often in the night, and arrested citizens charged with the offense of harboring conscripts. This created much excitement, and in some casos the soldiers were forcibly opposed, but they usually succeeded in carrying their orders into effect.
THE SOLDIERS, POLITICS, ETC.
During the political campaign of the year, the most intense enthusi- asm prevailed. Enormous mass-meetings were held especially by the Democraey, and among their speakers were Voorhees, Cookerly, Mack, Smith, Humphreys, Hanna, Caulfield et al. Gov. Joe Wright spoke at Republican meetings. The campaign was very bitter and left a lasting impression. All political and war matters became quieter when the elections were over, and when it was found that the course of the ad- ministration of Mr. Lincoln and of Gov. Morton was endorsed by aug- mented majorities, in all the Northern States. In the early part of De- cember, 1864, two companies of United troops under Capt. O'Neill and one company of Monroe County Home Guards came to the county, but when it was found they were well received by all parties, which was con- trary to expectation, one company of United States troops and the com- pany of Home Guards returned whence they came, leaving the other company of United States troops encamped in the court house and court yard. The company was present to arrest deserters in the county, to see that drafted men reported, to see that the excise laws were observed, and to keep order generally. On Christmas Day the soldiers were given a fine dinner by the citizens of the county seat and vicinity, including those who had been the bitterest in opposing the continuance of the war. Turkey, chicken, puddings, pies, delicious cake, luscious onstard, ravish- ing jams and jellies, etc., etc., without limit in cost or quantity, were spread before the men of war, by those, in some cases, who a few weeks before had denounced them.
In December, another raid was made on the haunts of criminals, one place being Phelps' Ferry on the Wabash, where thirteen of the outlaws were secreted, all of whom were captured. One who fired and severely .wounded a soldier was in turn shot and mortally wounded. Since the lamented death of Fletcher Freeman, efforts had been made to discover : the murderer, and arrests were made from time to time on suspicion,
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without being able to fix the guilt on any one. On the 20th of Decem- ber, the company of soldiers occupying the court house returned to Terre Haute.
SUNDRY ITEMS OF INTEREST-THE DRAFT.
In July, 1864, Lieut. Col. Neff, of the Thirty-first Regiment, who had been kilfed in battle near Atlanta, was buried at Sullivan with mili- tary honore, by a squad of soldiers under Capt. Walls. No attempt to hold a celebration at Sullivan of the 4th of July was made, but a pleasant picnic south of town was enjoyed. Under the heavy calls of the spring and summer of 1864, the county made sorry progress in enlisting volun - teers. The call in July for 500,000 men staggered the county, and the indications were that the requisition would not be honored with volunteers. The Democrat said, referring to the call in the district: "We have no idea it will be honored." So the indications were that a heavy draft would be the consequence. During the months of August and September, only a comparatively few volunteers left the county. Early in October, the draft took place at Terre Haute with the following result :. Fairbanks, 32; Turman, 37; Jackson, 31; Cass. 20; Jefferson, 36; Gill, 32. The result in the other townships cannot be given. It is said that Hamilton furnished her quota. A few days before this draft, when it was certain it would occur, many volunteered to secure the bounty of $600, and even after the draft many conscripts enlisted, as that privilege was extended to them. Im- mediately after this draft, a petition was circulated and largely signed, asking the County Board to appropriate from the county treasury a bounty for drafted men, whereupon the Commissioners ordered an election held throughout the county to decide the matter, with the following result: Jackson, 53 for, 126 against; Curry, 204 for. 43 against; Fairbanks, 178 for, 5 against; Turman, 147 for, 75 against: Hamilton, 190 for, 263 against; Cass, 7 for, 119 against; Jefferson, 17 for. 199 against; Haddon, 213 for, 147 against; Gill, 213 for, 77 against; total. 1,222 for and 1,045 against. Accordingly the County Board ordered at first $75,000 worth of county bonds sold, afterward increased to $$3.400, being $300 for each man necessary to clear the county quota. Besides this, heavy local boun- ties were offered. In December, a heavy supplemental draft was held to supply the deficiency caused by the non-appearance of numbers of drafted men. Siz were drafted in Cass, 13 in Jefferson, 19 in Gill, 17 in Jack- son, 22 in Curry and 17 in Turman. The other townships had furnished their quotas, either of drafted. volunteers or substitutes. Eight men joined the Twelfth Regiment; 6 the Eleventh; 4 the Ninth; 9 the Thir- teenth; 6 the Sixteenth; 14 the Seventeenth: 50 the Twenty-first; 6 the Twenty-ninth; 30 the Forty-third: 40 the Fifty -seventh; 15 the Fifty- ninth; and a few others joined other regiments. These men were mustered in in December 1864, under the call of July.
EFFORTS TO FILL THE COUNTY QUOTAS.
The call of December, 1864, for 300,000 men roused the county
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again, though it was found difficult to secure volunteers, yet easier than under the July call, as the elections had practically pledged the country to crush the rebellion; and those disposed to be disloyal saw it was wiser to enlist, as it began to be discerned through the gloom that the North would be triumphant. Late in December, a large meeting was held at the court house, to devise means to clear the quotas. Other meetings were held in nearly all the townships to raise local bounties, and here and there " substitute clubs " were formed, each member of which was assessed a certain amount, to be used in procuring substitutes for such members of the clubs as should be drafted. Hamilton Township at first offered a bounty of $300, but afterward increased it to $350, to equal that offered in Haddon and other townships. By the 25th of January, 1865, Hamilton Township, under the December call, had raised twenty- six men, and by the 1st of February had forty-two men. Gill Township paid at first $300 bounty, but afterward raised it. On the lot of Febru- ary, the following number of men was due from each township: Haddon, 45; Gill, 18; Turman, 32; Curry, 17; Fairbanks, 23; Cass, 10; Jeffer- son, 37; Jackson, 6; and Hamilton had a surplus of 12. Prior to Feb- ruary 23, 1865, Fairbanks had paid $7,000 for township bounty. In April, another draft occurred, ten in Curry, six in Jackson, the others not being published. The men raised in January and February were mustered into the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment. Those raised after that, including the drafted of April, 1865, were not mus- tered, as the war ended, and the enlistments were abandoned about the 14th of April.
RECRUITS.
The following men were in Company A: Ruel Booker, Milton Coul- ton, Leroy Hanley, M. Hamilton, Squire Headly, John Headly, Thomas Headly, Fleming Jones, Robert Linder, William Nelson, N. Powell, S. R. Ridge, Wilson Ross, James Stewart, D. D. Titrick; and the following in Company D: T. A. Hughes, W. O. Pinkston, Jesse Pinkston, E, S. Wharton; and the following in Company E: Aaron Brewer, T. W. Bell, J. M. Critchfield, Samuel Farr; and the following in Company G: Jon- athan Hart, M. B. Arnett, W. O. Kimble, J. J. . Loudermilk, W. O. White, G. C. Youngman, Joseph Elliott, Philip Solomon, Andrew Als- man, W. H. Atkinson, P. G. Atkinson, J. M. Burnett, Virgil Burnett, J. S. Burnett, S. L. Bennett, G. W. Buck, R. M. Crawford, Uriah Doug- las, Jonathan Graham, G. W. Hopewell, J. B. Hopewell, George Houts, Lewis Hamilton, Abe Kaufman, Perry Kaufman, E. D. C. Knots, J. T. Lisman, Richard Meloney, Allen McBride, Levi Miles, I. H. Mckinney, William Mckinley, James Mckinley, Daniel Purcell, L. C. Rose, G. Reynolds, W. Roundtree, S. M. Rolph, W. H. Short, F. B. Smith, H. D. Stratton, G. A. Smith, Noble Scott, J. T. Willis, Luke A. Walters, M. F. Willis; and the following in other companies: Hiram Adams, J.
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A. Canady, F. N. McCrocklin, J. C. Pierce, Isaac Patten, Perry Brown, J. N. Bennett, Samuel Dodd, J. M. Hayden, T. . A. Mckinney, G. W. Mckinney, W. W. Wilson, James Wells, T. J. Bostick, J. E. Burnett, James Hopewell, H. T. Mattox. Company G was officered by the fol- lowing men from Sullivan County: J. D. Parvin, Captain; J. H. Weir, First Lieutenant; W. F. Murphey, Second Lieutenant. This regiment took the field in Tennessee early in March, 1865, and soon afterward moved to Decatur, Ala, in which vicinity it did duty until mustered out. It received the surrender of the rebel forces under Gens. Roddy and Polk. On the 27th of September it was mustered out at Nashville.
MINGLED JOY AND SORROW.
Early in April came the news of the surrender of Gen. Lee, and the sure prospect of peace created universal joy. In more than one place in the county public meetings were held to mingle congratulations over the welcome news. The joy was yet ascendant when the news was received of the assassination of President Lincoln. A few seemed pleased at the crime, and so expressed themselves, but the majority of all parties de- nounced the deed and hoped that speedy death would be meted out to the murderer. The Democrat of April 20, said:
" Whatever opinion we may have entertained of Mr. Lincoln's policy in managing the affairs of the nation with respect to the great rebell- ion, we cannot regard the manner of his removal with any other than feelings of the utmost horror. It is not Abraham Lincoln alone, but in him the President of the nation. It has been our boast that in this country we can change our rulers and the entire policy of the Govern- ment by the peaceful means of the ballot box, and the calmness and un- ruffled quiet with which the people witnessed such great changes, was a marvel to Europeans. This assassination is a blow at our beautiful sys- tem of free government, which must be condemned and execrated by all who love their country. The death of President Lincoln we regard as an especial calamity at this particular juncture of our affairs. We had come to regard Mr. Lincoln as kindly disposed toward the erring and misguid- ed people of the South, who, wasted and almost exhausted with four years of a hopeless struggle, . were about ready to accept such amnesty 88 was indicated he would be likely to offer. He had no personal wrongs to re- drees, no feelings of revenge to gratify-indeed, he is represented as be- ing eminently kind-hearted and forgiving. We wish we could say the same of his successor."
Immediately after the sorrowful news was received, appropriate me- morial ceremonies were held in several of the churches, and resolutions pascal, extolling the virtues of the eminent dead, and denouncing in cutting words the awful deed. The paper said: " The effect on our com- munity was plainly visible; it cast a gloom on every countenance, and a feeling of depression on every heart."
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TOTAL NUMBER OF MEN FURNISHED:
On the 19th of September, 1862, the county was credited with having furnished 1,098 volunteers, of whom 1,067 were then in the service. Using this as a basis, the approximate number of men furnished by the county to quell the rebellion can be ascertained. Under the call of June, 1863, for six months' men, the county quota was not less than sixty men. Under the October call, 1863, the county quota was 167 men; under the February call, 1864, was 321 men; under the March call, 1864, was 128 men; under the July call, 1864, was 368 men, and under the last call of the war, December, 1864, was 239 men. The county filled her quotas in 1863, and under the calls of 1864, by the 31st of December, was credited with 771 men, volunteers, conscripts and substitutes. On the 14th of April, 1865, when all attempts to raise troops in the State were abandoned, the county was credited with having fur- nished under the call of December, 1864, a total of 217 men, and at this time there was a county deficiency of twenty-two men. From this it will be seen that the total credits of the county during war were the sum of 1,098, 60, 167, 771 and 217, from which sum the deficiency of twenty- two men must be deducted. This gives a total credit of 2,291 men. This is a good showing, but it must be observed that each man has been count- ed as often as he entered the service, which in some instances was as high as three times; and it must be further observed that under the last call of the war and perhaps others, all men who enlisted for three years, were equivalent (so counted), to three times as many men for one year. But Sullivan County, notwithstanding the hard name it received, did better than some counties of greater pretended loyalty. She did well the first two years, but fell off the closing years of the war, though the drafts brought out the troops.
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