History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 29

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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COUNTY SCHOOL EXAMINERS.

Under the new law this office is known as the county superin- tendent. The list, so far as obtainable, is as follows :

James S. Ferris,

Thomas Rogers, Enos Adamson,

S. T. Powell, Wm. M. Watkins, G. W. Hufford, Timothy Wilson,

R. B. Abbott,

H. M. Shockley,

T. B. Redding,

Daniel Newby,

W. R. Wilson.

Isaac Kinley,

Clarkson Davis,

A GOOD OFFICIAL RECORD.

In the list of judges and prosecuting attorneys will be noticed the names of eminent statesmen, governors, financiers and high

322

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

judicial officers. Perhaps no circuit in Indiana has been more ably represented.

The county has been especially fortunate in its choice of officials. On this subject we quote the words of a well-known citizen:

"It would hardly do to insist that Henry County officials have been made of any thing more than 'common clay,' still the records show that with very slight exceptions they have performed their duties to the general satisfaction of their constituents. No charge of malfeasance, peculation, or corruption in office has ever been sustained in court, and perhaps has not been attempted in more than one or two instances. Not a cent has been lost to the county by any defaulting county official and except for 'political effect,' perhaps no such charge has been made in a period of fifty- four years. It is not presumed that they have all been paragons of virtue, but they have generally been sober, discreet men, who knew enough at least to write their names.

"The financial affairs of the county have been so managed that there has scarcely ever been a debt hanging over it, and with the exception of $115,000 for ' soldiers' bounties,' the county has never issued its bonds, and the oldest inhabitant can scarcely remember a time when a 'county order' was not just as good as a check on the best bank."

CHAPTER IV.

HENRY COUNTY IN THE REBELLION.

FIRST CALL FOR TROOPS .- PROMPT RESPONSE FROM HENRY COUNTY. - ENTIRE MILITIA OF THE COUNTY .- ENROLLMENT .- VOLUNTEERS. - FEW DRAFTED MEN .- A NOBLE RECORD .- STATISTICS OF BOUNTY AND RELIEF .-- HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF REGIMENTS IN WHICH HENRY COUNTY SOLDIERS SERVED .- COMPANIES AND COMMIS- SIONED OFFICERS FURNISHED BY THE COUNTY .- "MINUTE MEN " OF 1863.

At half-past four o'clock on the morning of April 12, 1861, Con- federate batteries opened fire upon Fort Sumter. Thirty-four hours later the ruined fortification was in possession of the enemy. The news of this startling and momentous event was spread by telegraph throughout the nation, and everywhere the hearts of the loyal people were fired with patriotic emotion. On reception of the grave tidings of the fall of Sumter, Governor Morton ten- dered President Lincoln 10,000 Indiana troops, and on the 16th issued a proclamation calling for that number of volunteers. The response was prompt and hearty, and one week after the Govern- or's proclamation, 12,000 men were in camp; among them one entire company of Henry County volunteers, consisting of seventy- eight men. This company was mustered into service in the first regiment organized in the State under the Governor's call. A second company, consisting of seventy-five citizens of Henry County, was mustered into the service immediately after. Thus, under President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men, Henry County fur- nished nearly double her quota with the utmost promptitude.

According to the statement of the enrollment commissioners, as completed Sept. 19, 1862, the total militia of Henry County was 3,258. Of this number, 1,263 were volunteers; 493 were ex- empt from military service; and 113 conscientiously opposed to bearing arms. The total number not exempt from service was 2,652. Of the volunteers, 1,088 were already in the service. Under the first and second calls for troops, the number of volunteers was largely in excess of the county's quota. The third call, for 300,000,

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

in August, 1862, found Henry County lacking only 160 men to have a complete quota; this number was speedily raised without a draft. There was likewise no draft in Henry County in 1863, al- though about 350 men were required to fill the quotas under the two calls for troops.

In February, March and July, 1864, there were further calls for troops; in all 500,000 were demanded. Henry County's share was 1,185; of this number 939 men were supplied by recruits and ninety-seven veterans re-enlisted, making 1,036 volunteers and leaving only a slight deficiency. Then, for the first time, a draft was had; 170 men were drawn, filling the quota, and giving the county a small excess of men in the service. The call for 300,000 more in December, 1864, was responded to by Henry County with 340 volunteers, almost filling her quota. This time only seventeen men were drafted.

According to the figures above given, the total number of soldiers furnished by Henry County was 3,142. Necessarily many names are counted twice, as a large proportion of the volunteers served during two terms of enlistment. To the everlasting honor of Henry County be it said, from a population of little more than 20,000, this vast number of soldiers was raised for the defense of the Union without resorting to draft but twice, and with less than 200 drafted men, all told! Nothing could speak more eloquently than these figures of the noble patriotism of the people of this county. Besides the troops above named, there were about 500 men of Henry County who enlisted under the Governor's call for militia in the State service against Morgan's rebel raiders.

In the following pages will be found brief accounts of the ser- vices of the regiments in which Henry County soldiers figured most prominently. Besides the regiments hereafter named, there were at least a dozen others in which are to be found the names of some natives of this county. To write an account of the move- ments of all of Henry County's soldiers would be to write almost a complete history of the war. Our aim has been to present what was most notable in their achievements, in a condensed form.

BOUNTY AND RELIEF.

Few counties in the State dealt more liberally with soldiers and soldiers' families than the county of Henry. From the report of the State Adjutant-General we copy the following statement of the

325

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

amount of local bounties and expenditures for the relief of soldiers' families:

BOUNTY.

RELIEF.

BOUNTY.

RELIEF.

Henry County, ..

$133,120.94

$63,263.56

Prairie Tp.

10,600.00

$1,380.74

Wayne Tp ..

20,000.00

1,551.96

Stony CreekTp ..

30,000.00

1,262.93

Franklin Tp.

18,734.00

1,372.15

Spiceland Tp

6,101.95

1,740.49

Dudley Tp

14,857.00

814.20

Jefferson Tp.

12,754 00

1,163.80

Liberty Tp

47,376.40

808.49

Blue River Tp. .

16,617.00

328.12

Henry Tp ..

20,000.00

1,950.44

Greensboro Tp. .

23,000.00

1,051.21

Total.

$386,661.29

$82,178.09

Harrison Tp.

21,000.00

3,290.23

Grand total

$468,839.38

Fall Creek Tp ..

12,500.00

2,199.77

SIXTH REGIMENT-THREE MONTHS' SERVICE.

The Sixth Regiment, one of the six regiments of three months' men, organized under President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men, was organized and mustered into service at Indianapolis on the 25th of April, 1861, with Thomas T. Crittenden as Colonel. Company F, of this regiment, was raised in Henry County. Its commissio ned officers were William C. Moreau, Captain, afterward Captain in the Third Cavalry; Robert Allison, First Lieutenant, afterward Cap- tain in the Thirty-seventh Regiment; John Cole, Second Lieu- tenant.

The regiment left Indianapolis for the scene of action in Vir- ginia on the 30th of May, having previously been fully equipped and clothed. On the 2d of June it arrived at Webster, whence it was marched with other troops the same night, through a drench- ing rain, a distance of fourteen miles. On the next morning it took part, at Philippi, in the first battle of the war. Returning then to Grafton, it was assigned to General Thomas A. Morris's brigade and with it participated in the march to Laurel Hill, and the engagement with the rebels under Garrett at Carrick's Ford on the 12th of July. The same month it returned to Indianapolis, where it was discharged from the service Aug. 2, 1861.

EIGHTH REGIMENT-THREE MONTHS' SERVICE.

Company F, of the Eighth (three months) Regiment, was a Henry County organization. Its commissioned officers were: Cap- tain, Frederick Tykle; First Lieutenant, Henry Ray; and Second Lieutenant, Joseph W. Connell. The Eighth Regiment was or- ganized and mustered into service at Indianapolis, April 25, 1861, with William P. Benton, of Richmond, as Colonel. In company with the Tenth Regiment it moved by rail, June 19, to Clarks-

326

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

burg, W. Va., where it remained two days. It then marched thirty miles to Buckhannon, where, according to report, the enemy were encamped. But on arrival at this place, it was found that the rebels had moved on to Rich Mountain. The Eighth and Tenth were assigned to General Rosecrans's brigade, and after remaining a short time in camp at Buckhannon, on the 10th of July the command marched toward Rich Mountain. During the night they ascended the mountain, and on the morning of July 11 participated in the battle of Rich Mountain. After the battle the Eighth encamped at Beverly, where it remained abont two weeks. July 24 the regiment marched for Indianapolis, and was mustered out of service soon after arriving there.

EIGHTH REGIMENT-THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

Company E of this regiment was composed principally of Henry County soldiers. The commissioned officers of the company were as follows : Captains, Frederick Tykle, Benj. F. Elwood, George W. Tarkelson; First Lieutenants, Benj. F. Elwood, Henry Rader, John R. Pearce, Cyrus Van Matre, George W. Tarkelson, William Perry; Second Lieutenants, Milton R. Dangan, Samuel Mitchell, Levi P. Shoemaker.

The regiment was reorganized for the three years' service, on the 20th of August, 1861, and on the 5th of September was mus- tered into service with Wm. P. Benton, Colonel. Moving from Indianapolis by rail Sept. 10, it reached St. Lonis the following day and joined the army which General Fremont was then form- ing. A few days later the regiment marched toward Jefferson City where it arrived Sept. 14. Here it remained encamped for a week, and during the time was assigned to a brigade com- manded by Colonel Jeff. O. Davis of the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteers. On the 22d the regiment moved toward Springfield which was reached in fourteen days. Seven days were consumed in the return march to Otterville. Dec. 17 the regiment marched to Warrensburg and assisted in capturing 1,300 rebels. Returning then to Otterville it remained in camp until Jan. 24, 1862. Then marching for Springfield, it joined the command of General Curtis en-route. Thence marching to Cross Timbers, Ark., it soon after participated in the great battle of Pea Ridge, March 6, 7 and 8. For nearly a month the regiment remained in camp at Cross Timbers, then began a march toward Forsythe, Mo., over Ozark Mountains, down the White River Valley, and across the country

327

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

to Batesville, Ark., camping at Sulphur Rock for nearly two months. Marching thence on the 22d of June, it reached Helena on the 13th of July. This march was an arduous one and the command suffered greatly from a scarcity of provisions, being poorly supplied and marching through a poor country. On the march there were skirmishes along White River and engagement at Cotton Plant. There was also a skirmish at Austin, Miss., in August, while the command was on an expedition from Helena.

On Oct. 8 the Eighth Regiment was placed in the command of General Steele. Proceeding by steamer to Sulphur Hill in the vicinity of St. Louis it marched from that place to Ironton, Oct. 11. From this point it marched and counter-marched through Eastern Missouri until the 5th of March, 1863. The regiment then em- barked upon a steamer to join General Grant's army, which was then being organized at Milliken's Bend, La. Here the Eighth was assigned to Benton's brigade, Carr's division of the Thirteenth Corps, under command of McClernand. The regiment crossed the Mississippi River on the 29th of April, and on the 1st of May took part in engagement at Port Gibson, losing thirty, killed and wounded. Other engagements followed speedily-at Jackson on the 14th, at Champion Hills on the 16th, at Black River Bridge on the 17th. From May 19 until July 4 the regiment was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg. In the assault upon the enemy's works on June 22, the Eighth lost 117 in killed and wounded.

On the 5th of July the regiment marched to Jackson, which, it was found, the rebels had evacuated. It returned to Vicksburg July 24 and there remained until Aug. 20, embarking thence upon a steamer for Carrollton, La. Next followed a campaign under General Banks through the Teche country. Nov. 12 the regiment embarked from Berwick City for Texas, and on the 17th took part in an attack upon a fort, on Mustang Island, which was captured. On the 27th the Eighth took part in the attack and capture of Fort Esperanza, afterward marching to Indianola. At this place, on the 1st of January, 1864, the regiment re-enlisted; 417 out of 515 men were again mustered as veterans. Up to this time the regiment had lost 217 men by death from wounds and disease.

April 22 the regiment arrived at Indianapolis on a veteran furlough. After remaining in the State a month, it returned to New Orleans. On the 27th of July it embarked for Morganza . Bend. The next day it marched to Atchafalaya and engaged the

328

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

rebels, returning thence to Morganza Bend. Embarking for Wash- ington, D. C., it arrived there Aug. 12. The regiment next marched to Berryville, Va., and was there assigned to the Nineteenth Corps. It participated in the Shenandoah Valley cam paign under General Sheridan, being in the following battles Opequan, Sept. 19; Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22; and Cedar Creek, Oct. 19. Leaving the valley Jan. 6, 1865, the regiment went to Baltimore, and thence by steamer to Savannah, Ga. It remained on duty in Georgia until Aug. 28, 1865, and was then mustered out of service. Sept. 17 the regiment, in command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel John R. Polk, arrived at Indianapolis, with four- teen officers and 245 men. After being publicly received in the capitol grounds, by Govorner Morton, it was finally discharged from service.

NINTH REGIMENT-THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

In this regiment were about a dozen soldiers from Henry County, chiefly drafted men of 1864 or their substitutes. The regiment was organized at La Porte in 1861, and mustered out in September, 1865. Its campaigns in 1864-'65 were against Atlanta, and the pursuit of Hood, 1864; Eastern Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas, 1865.

ELEVENTH REGIMENT -- THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

In the Eleventh Regiment there were upward of twenty Henry County men, chiefly recruits, scattered through various companies. The regiment, first formed as a three months' regiment, was reor- ganized at Indianapolis, Aug. 31, 1861, Lewis Wallace, Colonel. The eleventh was mustered out July 26, 1865. It saw earnest and active warfare, participating in the following campaigns: Three months, Upper Potomac, 1861; Western Kentucky, 1861; Tennes- see and Kentucky, 1862; siege of Corinth, 1862; Tennessee and Arkansas, 1862-'63; against Vicksburg, 1863; Louisiana, 1863-'64; Shenandoah Valley, 1864.

NINTEENTH REGIMENT-THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

In the Nineteenth Regiment, Colonel Solomon Meredith, it is estimated that there were about fifty Henry County men, though upon the rolls they are credited to Wayne and neighboring counties. The regiment was formed and mustered into service at Indianapolis, July 29, 1861. Moving on the 5th of August, it joined the Army of the Potomac at Washington on the 9th. On the 28th of Sep-

329

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

tember it was in the advance at Falls Church, and then went into quarters at Fort Craig, Arlington Heights. March 10, 1862, it moved to Fredericksburg, being with the First Corps, under Gen- eral McDowell. In May it moved to the Shenandoah Valley, thence to Warrenton, where it remained until Aug. 5, then moving to Fredericksburg, and afterward to Spottsylvania C .- H. Reaching Cedar Mountain on the 10th, it remained here until the advance of the rebels compelled the army to fall back. During this retreat the brigade to which the Nineteenth was attached had a severe encounter with Ewell's command, at Gainesville, on the night of Aug. 28, and the Nineteenth lost 187 killed and wounded and thirty-three missing. After the fight at Manassas Junction, Aug. 30, the army moved to Washington and thence to Frederick City. Sept. 14, at South Mountain, the regi- ment lost forty killed and wounded and seven missing. On the 17th it was conspicuous in the fight at Antietam; at beginning of the battle the regiment had about 200 officers and men; at the close, thirty-seven. Until the middle of October it was encamped at Sharpsburg. On the 30th of the month the Potomac was crossed. After being engaged at Fredericksburg, Dec. 12 and 13, in an attempt to assault the rebel works, winter quarters were estab- lished at Belle Plain. The Nineteenth moved across the Rap- pahannock, April 28, 1863, and was busied in Maryland and Virginia until July, without participating in any battles. On the morning of July 1 it reached Gettysburg at the opening of the battle. It was the first infantry force that engaged the enemy and assisted in capturing Archer's brigade (Confederate). In the after- noon it was engaged in resisting the desperate charge of the rebels upon the First and Eleventh corps. Out of 288 men that went into battle, during this day 210 were lost. On the second and third days of the battle the Nineteenth was on Cemetery Hill, not actively engaged.

July 18 the regiment crossed the Potomac and on the 1st of August arrived at Rappahannock station. Moving thence to Cul- peper it remained in that vicinity until November and was then engaged in the engagement of Mine Run. From the close of the campaign of the year the regiment was not again in active duty until spring. During the winter of 1864 a portion of the regiment re-enlisted. On the 4th of May it moved with Grant's army across the Rapidan and participated in the series of battles which fol- lowed-including the Wilderness, Laurel Hill, North Anna and

330

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Cold Harbor. The Nineteenth bore a prominent part in the siege of Petersburg. From the crossing of the Rapidan to July 30 the losses of the regiment were: Killed, thirty-six; severely wounded, ninety-four; slightly wounded, seventy-four; missing, sixteen- total, 220. The non-veterans left the regiment early in August, and were soon after mustered out at Indianapolis. The remaining veterans and recruits moved with the " Iron Brigade " to cut the Weldon Railroad below Petersburg, and on Aug. 19 and 21, engaged with the enemy. Sept. 23, 1864, the Seventh and Nine- teenth were consolidated into one-the Nineteenth. Oct. 18, the Nineteenth was consolidated with the Twentieth, which was finally mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 12, 1865.

THIRTIETH REGIMENT.

This was a regiment organized for three years' service, at Fort Wayne, Sept. 24, 1861, with Sion S. Bass as Colonel. In the Thir- tieth, as re-organized in 1864, served a number of Henry County recruits. The mustering out of the non-veterans took place at Atlanta, and while there the veterans and recruits were consolida- ted into a residuary battalion of seven companies Dec. 3, 1864. This battalion was placed in command of Lieutenant-Colonel H. W. Lawton, and with the Fourth Corps moved to Nashville, where it participated in the battle against Hood's forces Dec. 15. After- ward it was engaged in the pursuit of the enemy to Huntsville, Ala., whence it proceeded with the Fourth Corps into East Ten. nessee. The battalion then returned to Nashville, where it remained until June, 1865. It was then transferred to Texas with the Fourth Corps. July 12 the company of the residuary battalion of the Thirty-sixth Regiment, commanded by Captain John P. Swisher, was transferred to the residuary battalion of the Thir- tieth, by order of General Sheridan, forming Company H of the bat- talion. Being ordered to Texas, it made many long marches with Sheridan's army. It was finally mustered out of service Nov. 25, 1865.

THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT-THREE YEARS' SERVICE.

The Thirty-sixth, a gallant regiment, contained over 300 of Henry County's soldiers, as well as the following officers from this county: Colonel, William Grose; Major, Isaac Kinley; Adju- tant, George W. Lennard; Surgeons, Joseph M. Whitesel, Thomas F. Boyse, Benjamin F. Elder; Chaplain, M. P. Armstrong; Cap-

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

tains, William D. Wiles (Company A), Lewis C. Freeman (Com- panies F and A), Pyrrhus Woodward (Company C), John C. Livsey (Company C), Hugh Mullen (Company C), Isaac Kinley (Company D-afterward Major), D. W. Chambers (Company D), Charles R. Case (Company E), M. P. Armstrong (Company K), Milton Peden (Company K); First Lieutenants, Lewis C. Free- man (Company A-promoted Captain), George W. Lennard (Com- pany A-afterward Captain), Robert B. Carr (Company A), Joseph W. Connell (Company C), John E. Holland (Company C), Mahlon Hendricks (Company C), Hugh Mullen (Company C- afterward Captain), Samuel V. Templin (Company C), James M. Pence (Company C), D. W. Chambers (Company D-afterward Captain), Wm. H. Fenstress (Company D), Albert W. Saint (Company D), Milton Peden (Company K-afterward Captain), Charles M. Davis (Company K); Second-Lieutenants, Nathan H. Wiles (Company A), Robert .B. Carr (Company A-promoted), John E. Holland (Company C-promoted), John C. Livsey (Com- pany C-promoted), John Wayman (Company C), Robert S. Swaim (Company D), Wm. H. Fenstress (Company D-promoted), William Butler (Company D), Charles R. Case (Company E- promoted), Jonathan Ross (Company K).

Companies A, C, D and K were Henry County organizations. The several companies were organized into a regiment at Rich- mond, Ind., Sept. 16, 1861, with William Grose as Colonel, and soon after departed for the field. In the fall and winter the regi- ment served with the Army of the Ohio until February, 1862, when it arrived at Nashville. The Thirty-sixth moved toward the Ten- nessee River in March and arrived upon the field of Shiloh in time to take part in that great battle. In the engagement it lost nine killed, thirty-eight wounded, one missing. After the battle the regiment encamped upon the battle-field and there remained until the army moved on toward Corinth. The Thirty-sixth moved with the rest of the army and took part in the siege until Corinth was evacuated. Then moving eastward into the northern part of Ala- bama, it accompanied Buell's army to Nashville. When Buell followed the Confederates to Louisville, the Thirty-sixth marched with his army and participated in the ensuing pursuit of Bragg through the interior of Kentucky. The command then returned to Nashville, and entering camp remained in action till Rose- crans's army removed toward Murfreesboro. The Thirty-sixth marched with this army and took an active part in the battle of

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.

Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862, and Jan. 1 and 2, 1863. In this en- gagement it lost twenty-four killed, ninety wounded, eighteen miss- ing-total, 132. Early in the fight Major Kinley was severely wounded and the command devolved upon Captain Woodward, who says, "Not a man of the Thirty-sixth flinched during the eight long hours that it assisted in maintaining the position against the furious assaults of the enemy."

Until May the regiment lay encamped at Murfreesboro. It then moved to Cripple Creek and there encamped until the Chatta- nooga campaign was entered upon in June. In this campaign the Thirty-sixth marched with Palmer's division. The regiment par- ticipated in the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, and during the engagement lost fourteen killed, 110 wounded and thir- teen missing-total, 137. Among the killed and severely wounded were several officers of the regiment. George Shirk, Colonel Grose's Orderly, was mortally wounded while carrying the brig- ade battle flag. The regiment was also engaged at Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain.

After the battle the regiment returned to Chattanooga and thence moved to Whiteside and Tyner's Station, Tenn. While at the latter place a small portion of the regiment re-enlisted in De- cember, 1863, and February, 1864, and soon after visited Indiana on veteran furloughs. In March the regiment encamped at Blue Spring, Tenn., where it remained until the opening of the Atlanta campaign.

Early in May the Thirty-sixth moved with Sherman's army toward Atlanta, and throughout that celebrated campaign partici- pated in the movements, engagements and skirmishes of the army. Aug. 13, 1864, in compliance with the orders of General Thomas, the non-veterans of this regiment left for Indianapolis, where they were mustered out of service. A residuary battalion was then formed out of the few remaining veterans and recruits. This bat- talion, of one company, was commanded by Captain John P. Swisher. After the occupation of Atlanta the company, with the Fourth Corps, moved forward, pursuing Hood's army into North- ern Alabama, then to Nashville, where it engaged the enemy Dec. 15. Then followed a pursuit of the retreating rebels as far as Huntsville, Ala. Thence marching to Chattanooga it encamped there until June, 1865. The battalion was then transferred to New Orleans. July 12, 1865, by order of General Sheridan, it was trans- ferred to the residuary battalion of the Thirtieth Regiment, and

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History of Henry County, Indiana, Part 29

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996