USA > Indiana > Howard County > History of Howard County, Indiana, Vol I > Part 13
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"OLIVER "P. MORTON."
This telegram was received at 10 o'clock a. m. on Friday and at I p. m. over one hundred men got aboard the train for Indianapo- lis and about three hundred followed on Saturday. After an or- ganization was completed at Indianapolis it was learned that Mor- gan had crossed into Ohio. When the Indiana troops were asked if they were willing to follow the rebels into another state every man from Howard responded in the affirmative.
Had the troops been hastened forward immediately the How- ard county boys might have had the honor of helping capture the guerilla chieftain at Hamilton, Ohio, but when they arrived at that place they learned that Morgan had crossed the railroad at Glen- dale only an hour before. They proceeded to Cincinnati and ar- rived at home Friday evening.
BOUNTIES.
As the war progressed calls for more men for the service had been issued; in addition losses by battle, sickness and exposure had to be made good by recruiting new men for the old regiments until the number of men of military age in Howard county had been so depleted that it was no longer possible to secure the number of men wanted by asking for patriot volunteers. Other counties had the same conditions and experience and were hiring men to enlist by paying bounties.
It therefore became necessary for Howard county to do the
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
same else she would lose her own men, who would go elsewhere to enlist, attracted by the bounties being paid.
At a special session in July, 1862, the county commissioners had appropriated five thousand dollars as a bounty to volunteers, and at their regular meeting in September following five thousand dollars more were appropriated.
To raise this fund a tax of twenty cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property was levied. This action was strongly criticised by soldiers in the field, who had gone at the first calls with- out bounty, and were thus taxed for a fund that was to increase the pay of those who had enlisted more than a year afterward, and which, to the amount of their taxes, at least, diminished the pay of the earlier volunteers.
About the same time, for the purpose of determining the quota or equitable share of soldiers to be furnished by each county under the calls for more troops, a census or militia enrollment of the men of military age (between eighteen and forty-five) was made. The first week in September the enrollment of the militia was completed. The enrolling commissioner, Rawson Vaile, with Corydon Rich- mond, examining surgeon; J. W. Cooper, provost marshal, and the eleven deputy commissioners for the townships of the county, met at the clerk's office to decide on applications for exemptions from the draft.
The attendance was large and the examination lasted several days. Seventeen months of war had worked a great change. In the beginning men had been eager to enlist and many young men under eighteen years of age had evaded this requirement and gone into the service ; now men were anxiously seeking to be excused for some disability.
The following table shows the number enrolled in each town-
I2
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MORROW'S HISTORY
ship, the number exempt, the number now in service, and also those conscientiously opposed to bearing arms :
Enrolled Townships. militia.
Number exempt.
Number Number of conscientiously
volunteers. opposed.
Center
323
70
205
. .
Jackson
74
IO
42
I
Harrison
158
I5
76
9
Clay
108
19
44
. .
Taylor
18I
3I
150
6
Ervin
33I
71
73
. .
Monroe
I7I
48
57
56
Union
200
3I
81
. .
Honey Creek.
123
59
50
. .
Howard
182
28
70
I8
Liberty
200
46
54
35
Totals .. . 2,051
428
902
125
This tabular statement shows that at least one-third of How- ard county's military strength was already in the field in September, 1862.
In October, 1864, Center, Harrison and Ervin townships raised enough money by voluntary subscriptions to raise a sufficient sum to hire volunteers to fill their quota and thus escape the draft of that date.
The amount raised by each township was about ten thousand dollars.
BOUNTIES IN 1865.
A meeting was held at James Hall, in Kokomo, on Saturday afternoon, January 7, 1865, and organized by calling Michael
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OF HOWARD COUNTY.
Thompson, of Jackson township, to the chair and appointing A. B. Walker, of Center, secretary.
At this meeting the following resolutions were adopted with slight opposition :
WHEREAS, The President of the United States has called for three hundred thousand more men and has limited the time of rais- ing them by volunteering to the 15th of February next, and
WHEREAS, The governor of Indiana has permission to raise eleven new regiments in this state, and the time for raising the same has been limited to the 7th of February next, and
WHEREAS, The citizens of other counties are moving actively in the matter by paying liberal bounties, by appropriations from their county commissioners, thus securing for themselves the available men who are in their own midst as well as in other localities, thereby rendering it entirely out of the question and impossible for those counties not paying a local bounty to secure any credits whatever, thus leaving all such counties one way only to fill their quotas, and that by draft, and
WHEREAS, It is the opinion and sense of this meeting that it is the surest, most reliable, equitable and expeditious way of raising a fund to pay a local bounty to have our county commissioners make an appropriation. Thus making the burden of this work in which all should be interested fall equally upon all in proportion to the abil- ity of each individual to pay. Therefore, be it
Resolved, By this meeting, that we hereby request our county commissioners to make an appropriation of a sufficient sum of money to pay a local bounty of three hundred dollars to each and every volunteer necessary to fill the quota of this county.
In a few days after this meeting the county commissioners were called together by the auditor, but after a consultation adjourned without taking any action whatever excepting to adjourn until Feb-
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MORROW'S HISTORY
ruary 6th. In the meantime the Governor had extended the time for raising the required number of troops a few days. Large boun- ties were being paid in adjoining counties and our boys were leaving and volunteering elsewhere. The people were becoming thoroughly aroused and alarmed, and on Monday morning, February 6th, the day appointed by the commissioners to meet again in special ses- sion, at a very early hour the people began to flock into Kokomo in great numbers, highly excited over the prospect of a draft. They saw that Howard county would be depopulated and preferred taxa- tion rather than that their farms should lie uncultivated for want of help. A meeting of the people convened at an early hour in James Hall, the largest in the city, and it was crowded to its utmost ca- pacity. Upon a vote being taken only four persons voted against paying a county bounty. The commissioners were present at this meeting and seeing that the people were almost of one mind, at once held a meeting and placed upon record the following order :
It is this day ordered by the commissioners of Howard county, Indiana, that an appropriation of ninety-eight thousand dollars be and the same is hereby made and ordered for the purpose of raising a local bounty of four hundred dollars to each and every volunteer who may enlist in the military service of the United States under the call of the President of the United States for three hundred thousand men, bearing date December 19, 1864.
This appropriation shall be made in county orders, signed and issued by the auditor of said county, and in sums ranging from ten doliars to one hundred dollars each. Said orders to be paid within one year or as soon thereafter as the money to pay the same can be collected for that purpose by taxation. This appropriation to be paid to the several townships in proportion to the number of men required from each township to fill said call. And if the entire quota of said county shall not be filled by volunteers then the num-
18I
OF HOWARD COUNTY.
ber that have volunteered to be apportioned to the several townships in proportion to the number of men required from each.
It is further ordered that the county auditor aforesaid shall issue said orders to regular appointed agents of each and every township of the county, when they shall deposit with the auditor a certificate or receipt that money enough has been collected to cover the amount of the order or orders called for by said township, provided, how- ever, that if volunteers wish to take orders in lieu of money they have that privilege.
It is further ordered that all volunteers obtained from other than Howard county are to be credited to the several townships in proportion to the quotas required. It is further ordered that Ithamer Russell be appointed to receive said fund and disburse the same whenever certificates are presented showing that volunteers have been received and mustered into service and credited to Howard county under this call.
Signed: David Greason, Jerome Brown, John Moulder, County Commissioners.
The following tabular statement shows the amounts expended for local bounties, for relief of soldiers' families and for miscel- laneous military by the county of Howard and the several town- ships :
Bounty. $108,000
Relief. $15,000 10,000
Howard county
Center township
11,000
Clay township
2,870
1,500
Ervin township
24.550
2,065
Harrison township
12,500
1,550
Howard township
550
Honey Creek township
7,000
830
Jackson township
3.000
450
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MORROW'S HISTORY
Liberty township
17,030
700
Monroe township
10,500
1,250
Taylor township
850
Union township
4,915
1,375
Totals
$201,365
$36,120
DRAFTS.
On Monday, October 6, 1862, the first draft took place in this county, under the supervision of Rawson Vaile, commissioner, as follows: Ervin township, 18 men; Liberty township, 5 men ; Clay township, I man ; total, 24 men.
Those who were conscientiously opposed to bearing arms, hav- ing been excused, though able-bodied, from actual military service, were regarded, so far as the draft was concerned, as separate com- munities, and were required to furnish the same per cent. of the whole number of able-bodied men as had been furnished by other citizens of the government. The average number of volunteers and men drafted for actual service was about forty per cent. of the whole number of those not exempt from actual military service.
Consequently the government saw fit to draft forty per cent. of the conscientious ones, and assessed the commutation fee of two hundred dollars each. Their names were placed in a separate box and drawn as follows: Ervin township, 17; Monroe township, 23; Harrison township, 4; Taylor township, 3; Howard township. 8; Liberty township, 14: Union township, 6; Jackson township, I; Honey Creek township. 9: total, 75.
On the 26th and 27th of October, 1864, a second draft took place at Kokomo for six townships. The following was the result by townships, being double the number of men necessary to fill the
183
OF HOWARD COUNTY.
quota of each: Clay, 18 men ; Honey Creek, 28 men ; Jackson, 22 men; Liberty, 66 men ; Monroe, 68 men ; Union, 78 men. Howard and Taylor were exempt from this draft because they already had more than their quota of men in the field. And Center, Harrison and Ervin, as stated under bounties, raised enough money by sub- scription to hire their quotas filled.
CLOSE OF THE WAR.
On the 9th of April, 1865, overtaken and seeing no hope of escape, General Lee agreed to surrender. On the morning of the Ioth the story of Appomattox reached Howard county and fairly set the people wild with joy. The Tribune of April 13, 1865, said :
"Last Monday was that 'happy day' that the people have been singing about for several years. It was the happiest day that the people of this generation ever experienced. The enthusiasm ex- tended over the entire country and the people everywhere rejoiced.
"Our town was all ablaze on Monday night. Bonfires lighted up the streets ; thousands of burning candles were in the windows. Old and young were on the streets; gentlemen congratulated each other. Old enemies met and buried the past. Ladies sang patriotic songs, and Rev. Mr. Jenkins. Elder Hobbs and others made brief speeches. Everybody felt good, glorious and festive. At a late 'hour the greater number of those on the streets began to move home- ward, feeling just as happy as they well could feel, while many went in out of the cold and kept up their rejoicing until the early hours of the morning. It was indeed a glorious day and evening, made glorious by the brilliant achievements of our gallant army on Sun- day, the 9th of April. Hurrah for the Fourth of July, the 9th of April! Yankee Doodle and Yankee army."
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MORROW'S HISTORY
Before the week ended this greatest rejoicing was turned into the deepest mourning the country ever knew. On the evening of April 14th President Lincoln was assassinated. On the 19th of April, 1865, the day set apart by the government for the funeral ceremonies of this great and good man, the Rev. C. Martindale was selected by the people of this community to preach a befitting and appropriate sermon, which he did in the Methodist Episcopal church in Kokomo, choosing the text : "Clouds and darkness are round about Him, righteousness and judgments are the habitation of His throne."
In his closing remarks he said: "On this memorable occasion we should resolve to live for God and humanity. Let the memory of Lincoln and Washington arouse us to action ; let the blood of the heroes of '76 and '61-64 cry in our ears ; let the dangers and strug- gles of the past teach us lessons of wisdom. Especially let the mur- der of our beloved Chief Magistrate, Abraham Lincoln, arouse us to crush treason and slavery, and to teach us to trust the living God as the Ruler of our great nation. Four years ago Mr. Lincoln left his quiet home in the West to assume the great duties required at his hands, appealing to Heaven for help and asking the prayers of the pious. Assassins sought his life then, but God protected him till his work was done. Now he returns to his boyhood home again ; though fallen, he goes a conqueror. He has freed four mil- lion bondmen and saved a nation, and now, amid sorrows such as were not felt at the death of Washington, he goes to his long, last repose, where the boom of the cannon, the tramp of the armed host. the groan of the bondman or the hand of the assassin shall not dis- turb his repose. Peaceful be his rest, quiet his repose. Softly whisper the winds of the West around the grave of Abraham Lin- coln. the second Washington of America, and the world's great liberator."
185
OF HOWARD COUNTY.
THE WELCOME HOME.
It seemed especially fitting that July 4, 1865. should be cele- brated in a more than ordinarily impressive manner; the war was over, the country was reunited and many of the veterans had re- turned to their homes. It was therefore determined to combine the old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration with a formal welcome home of the brave men who had given it an added meaning.
Great preparations were made to make this a happy day to citi- zen and soldier. At 5 o'clock in the morning a loud report from the cannon on the public square reminded the people that the glorious day had dawned. Soon the city was astir ; some villain had spiked the gun in the night or the exercises would have begun an hour sooner. By 9 o'clock the streets were crowded with people : at 10 o'clock a large procession under command of Colonel Willis Blanche marched to the grove on the east of the city followed by the artil- lery squad and a large concourse of citizens. Colonel Richmond, the chief marshal, called the assemblage to order and introduced the Rev. Martindale, who announced the old familiar hymn, "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" which was sung with much spirit. Mr. Mar- tindale then led in prayer and was followed by a national air by the band : and then the gallant Metsker, of the old Seventy-fifth, stepped forward and in a loud voice read the Declaration of Independence. Eller Hobbs was then introduced to the audience and delivered an eloquent oration. The Tribune of July 6 complimented the ora- tion as being one of the finest ever delivered in the city. Elder Hobbs paid a glowing tribute to the memory of those who had fallen in defense of our liberties ; and to those who had been spared to re- turn he gave cheery welcome and said: "For all the grand results of the past four years, under God, we are indebted to the armies and navies under the Stars and Stripes. The soldiers have suffered
186
MORROW'S HISTORY
much in battle, in loathsome prisons and dreadful marches, but God gave them victory at last." The speaker concluded his address by repeating these lines of welcome, composed by himself :
"Thrice welcome, ye brave boys in blue, With your banners all torn yet true ; Welcome, ye sons of patriot sires- Now rekindle the sacred fires -- From year to year renew the flame, Until fair Columbia's name Shall be in every land revered, And shall on ev'ry sea be feared. Welcome, thrice welcome, all ye braves. This the land of our fathers' graves,
A goodly land by them blood bought, Came to us, unearned, unsought ; But now, bravely thro' freedom's war, You've borne their flag, nor lost a star."
After the address dinner was announced. Baskets of luxuries had been prepared in nearly every home in Howard county, and the committee had tastefully and conveniently arranged the tables, so that all could be accommodated. The soldiers and their families were first given places, and afterwards the citizens. This was a sumptuous repast, and all partook freely, and though hundreds were served, there was enough left for as many more. After dinner the crowd reassembled at the grounds and speeches were made by Judge Linsday and Capt. Milton Garrigus. In the evening there was quite a display of fireworks and the cannon sent its echoes far into the night. All in all, it was a very patriotic and happy celebration.
187
OF HOWARD COUNTY.
MEMORY OF ALL SOLDIERS REVERED.
The former observations upon the citizen soldiers of the War of 1812 and the Mexican war holds good for the citizens who were the soldiers of the Civil war. Our citizens delight to honor their memory; and the honorary service so auspiciously begun on this first Fourth of July after the war has been continued in the Me- morial Day services-a day set apart to decorating the graves of those who have gone out of this life, and recounting again the brave deeds of all who served their country.
In the laying out of Crown Point Cemetery a beautiful circular mound was dedicated to the fallen heroes of our Civil war. In the Kokomo Dispatch the following notice is made: "At a special meeting of the common council on Tuesday evening, June 12, 1883, G. D. Tate introduced a resolution ceding to the county the round plat in Crown Point Cemetery, known as the Cenotaph ground, on condition that a suitable memorial monument be erected thereon which shall record the names of all soldiers who died in the Union service in the Civil war. The county commissioners voted on yes- terday five thousand dollars in equal installments to apply to the purchase of the proposed cenotaph. The proposed cenotaph is to be erected at a cost of not less than ten thousand dollars. It is pro- posed to raise the additional five thousand dollars by private contri- butions. The monument will be an honor to the county, as well as a grateful tribute to the dead who died for the flag. Let the good work go bravely on."
On February 4, 1885, the county commissioners let a contract to Whitehead & Wright, of Indianapolis, to construct a soldiers' monument according to plans submitted by R. F. Carter, of South Rye Gate, Vermont, for $7,450, the work to be completed on or before May 25, 1886. The beautiful monument in the northwest
188
MORROW'S HISTORY
corner of Crown Point is the mute evidence of that work. The con- tract included all the required lettering and yet the condition that the names of all Union soldiers who died in the service should be recorded thereon was not complied with.
Below is such a list, as nearly as can be ascertained, imperfect though it be :
Howard county soldiers were represented in the following regiments: Sixth, Eighth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Twen- tieth, Twenty-first (First Heavy Artillery), Twenty-sixth, Thirty- fourth, Thirty-sixth, Thirty-ninth ( Eighth Cavalry), Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, Fifty-first, Fifty-seventh, Sixtieth, Sixty-third. Sev- enty-third, Seventy-fifth. Seventy-seventh ( Fourth Cavalry), Sev- enty-ninth, Eighty-sixth. Eighty-seventh. Eighty-ninth, Ninetieth (Fifth Cavalry). Ninety-ninth, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth (Eleventh Cavalry). One Hundred and Thirtieth. One Hundred and Thirty-first ( Thirteenth Cavalry). One Hundred and Thirty-fifth, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh, One Hundred and Fortieth. One Hundred and Forty-second, One Hundred and Fifty-third, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth, Twenty-eighth ( Colored), Eighth ( United States Colored), and Seventeenth Battery.
SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE.
Howard county's "roll of honor" is as follows: Thirteenth Infantry-William H. Bates, died at Indianapolis, July 14. 1861 : Thomas Bogue, killed at Allegheny. December 13. 1861: John Burns, died June 6, 1862, of wounds received at Allegheny ; Fran- cis M. Hardesty, died at Cheat Mountain Pass. September 3. 1861 : Daniel Helms, died at Suffolk. Virginia. November 3. 1862: Mark Helms, killed at Winchester. March 23. 1862; Jonathan Hocksted- ler. killed at Winchester. March 23. 1862: William Honner, died
189
OF HOWARD COUNTY.
at Folly Island, January 26, 1864; Eleazor Jones, died at Cheat Mountain Pass, September 19, 1861 ; William Rader, killed at Win- chester, March 23, 1862; William Riffle, killed at Rich Mountain, July 11, 1861 ; George L. J. Ring, died at Beaufort, South Carolina, October 4. 1863; Benjamin Seward, killed at Foster's Farm, May 20, 1864; William Shirley, died February 19, 1862, of wounds received at Allegheny ; John M. Simpson, died June 7, 1864, of wounds received at Cold Harbor.
Thirty-Fourth Infantry-John Brown, died at Nelson Bar- racks, Kentucky, February 22, 1862 ; Henry Brown, died at Buffalo, Kentucky, February 11, 1866; Adam Ferrell, died at Vicksburg, July 26, 1863; William Albertson, died at St. Louis, July 22, 1863 ; George Burns, died at Louisville, Kentucky, March 20, 1862; Theo- dore P. Butcher, died while on furlough, May 16, 1862 ; John Hale, died at Buffalo, Kentucky, February II, 1862; Silas A. Hoover, died at Louisville, Kentucky, February 26, 1862; William J. John- son, died at St. Louis, Missouri, February 12, 1863 ; William Linvill,. killed at Champion Hill, May 16, 1863: Tobias M. Overholser, killed at Champion Hill, May 16, 1863 ; David Proud, died at Nel- son Barracks, Kentucky, February 15, 1862; Thomas S. Terrell, died July 26, 1863, at Memphis, Tennessee ; Hiram Van Horn, died at St. Louis, Missouri, October 13, 1862; Thomas P. Winterode, died at New Orleans, September 30, 1864.
Thirty-Ninth Regiment (Eighth Cavalry)-William R. Phil- lips, killed at Shiloh, April 7, 1862; Stephen D. Butler, killed at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863 : Jacob Brown, died in prison at Florence, South Carolina, January 20, 1865 ; Elijah F. Colter, killed at Fairburn, Georgia, August 19, 1862 ; Henry B. Colter, killed at Cannelton, Georgia, September 10, 1864: Benjamin C. Davis, died September 5, 1864, of wounds ; James P. Davis, died at Louisville, Kentucky, December 31, 1861 ; Herrick Hoback, died of wounds,
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MORROW'S HISTORY
April 14, 1862; Milton Jones, died of wounds, September 9, 1863, at Stone River; Fauzy Julien, died January 23, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River ; Thomas F. Julien, died at Nashville, Ten- nessee, September 14, 1862 ; William H. Linder, died April 27, 1862, of wounds received at Shiloh ; George Mckinsey, died at Nashville, July 1I, 1864; Nicholas Mulvaney died at Savanna, Ga., March 16, 1865; Erwin W. Richardson, killed at Pulaski, September 27, 1864; Richard J. Ricks died at Louisville, Dec. 4. 1864; Charles Robertson, died at Nashville, September 5, 1863; John W. Shilling, died of wounds received at Stone River; William Stanley, died January 9, 1863, of wounds received at Stone River; Uriah Snyder, died at home, May 5, 1864; Ausborn E. Thompson, died at Louisville, February 28, 1862; Henry H. Thornburg, died at Hub- bard's Cove, August 31, 1862 ; William F. Tyler, died at Nashville, September 22, 1864: Jeremiah Washburne, killed by bushwhackers, September 14, 1863; Nathaniel F. Whitaker, died at Murfreesboro, June 16, 1863 : Samuel P. Witherow, died at Louisville, Kentucky, January 19, 1862.
Fortieth Infantry-John M. Baly, died at Jeffersonville. Indi- ana, January 7, 1865; William Burt, died at Camp Irving, Texas, August 14, 1865 ; Levi Ellis, died at Huntsville, Alabama, February 21, 1865; Louis W. Jones, died at Nashville, December 16, 1864; Joel Law, died January 23, 1865 ; Henry A. Pickering, died at Nash- ville, March 24, 1865; Samuel Scales, died at Louisville, February 18, 1865; William Smith, died of wounds at Nashville, December 1, 1864.
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