USA > Indiana > Huntington County > History of Huntington County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 30
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Men must show by their words and acts where they stand. Those who are for it stand where the patriots of the revolution stood, and maintain the principles fought for and established by them. Those who are against it occupy the position held by the Tories of that period. THEY ARE GUILTY OF TREASON AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS TRAITORS."
This was the sentiment of nearly all the citizens at that time. If any had formerly held those obnoxious ideas of the southern secessionists they were prudently quiet when their upholding them came to be a test of loyalty to their country.
Immediately succeeding the fall of Sumter, came the President's call for 75,000 troops, to aid in putting down the rebellion. In response to this call the people of the county were specially active, and in less than one week, there was a company of over 130 men organized and ready for the front. But the activity in other portions of the State had more than filled the quota for Indiana. A telegram from Lew Wallace, then Adjutant General of the state notified them to keep up their organization as other demands would be likely to follow soon. In less than a week more they were ordered to Indian- apolis. Before leaving, the company completed its organization, by electing the following officers : Captain, H. A. Johnson, of Roanoke; First Lieutenant, Isaac DeLong; Second Lieutenant, Harmon Hendrix; Third Lieutenant, James McCrune. It is stated that fifty of the company measured six feet in height.
Active volunteering continued in all parts of the county. On April 20, at a public meeting held at Roanoke, thirty volunteerd
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HISTORY OF HUNTINGTON COUNTY.
and about $250.00 were subscribed for the benefit of families of volunteers. In Huntington a company of home-guards was organized with E. N. Whitney, Captain, and H. B. Sayler, First Lieutenant. A company of artillery was also formed and its services tendered to the Governor.
The company of Capt. Johnson was the first to enter the active service from this county in the rebellion. It was assigned the position of the Fin Thirteenth Regiment, three years' vol- unteers. Its commissioned officers, with the dates of their com- missions, were as follows: Captain, Henry A. Johnson, April 24, 1861; First Lieutenants, Isaac De Long, April 24, 1861, Harmon H. Hendrix, January 31, 1862; Second Lieutenants, H. H. Hen- drix, April 24, 1861; Samuel M. Zent, January 31, 1862; Bernard Couran, April 20, 1862; William B. Van Antwerp, April 30, 1863. The company entered the service with an enrollment of ninety- seven men, and during its period of service was recruited with eleven, making a total of 108. Of these sixteen died and nine deserted. In its issue of May 1st the Herald said: "The Volunteer Company perfected their organization before leav- ing this place last week by electing the following officers:
* * These gentlemen are well adapted to the positions assigned them. Capt. Johnson has had considerable experience in military matters and is a good tatician. Lieut. De Long was in the army thirteen months during the Mexican war. The offi- cers, as well as the privates, will properly acquit themselves on all occasions." The Huntington Democrat, of the 25th of April, says of this company: "While at the depot awaiting the arrival of the train, a beautiful flag, which had been prepared by the patriotic ladies of this place. was presented to the company, which was received with feelings of deep emotion. When, finally, the time for parting arrived, when husbands took affec- tionate leave of their wives, perhaps for the last time, mothers of their sons, lovers of their sweethearts, there trickled tears from many eyes unused to weeping. The scene seemed to move the most obdurate heart, but, above all rose the sentiment, 'it is for all our country and the honor of our country's flag.' Who can say aught against the brave spirits that have willingly come for- ward at this time, when our flag was insulted and struck down - a flag that was never lowered before to any nation on earth - and have left wives, children, friends and home to raise their stal- wart arms in its defense? What heart is there that does not offer up from its deepest recesses a prayer for the Divine guid- ance and protection of our noble-hearted soldiers, and that they may be returned to their homes and friends covered with glory and unhurt."
The Thirteenth Regiment was one of the four regiments that first entered the service from Indiana, for the term of three years, and was mustered in at Indianapolis, June 19, 1861, with J. C. Sullivan, as Colonel. Early in July, it joined Mcclellan's forces, in Virginia, and on the 11th took part in the battle of Rich
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Mountain. It remained in western Virginia for about one year, and was engaged in a large number of skirmishes, and did much scouting duty, besides engaging in several battles of note. It was under the command of Generals J. J. Reynolds, Landers, Shields, and in May, 1862, joined Gen. McDowell's command. After opposing Gen. Longstreet, at Suffolk, Deserted Farm, and marching over 400 miles, with a loss of two killed, nine- teen wounded and seven prisoners, the regiment reported to Gen. Keyes, at White House, on the Pamunkey, on the 27th of June, 1863. After destroying the railroads north of Richmond, it sailed for Charleston Harbor, and from the 3d of August, was stationed on Foley Island for several months. It took part in the opera- tions against Morris Island, Forts Gregg and Wagner. It was the first regiment to enter Fort Wagner in the assault of Sep- tember 7th. In December a portion of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, and January 1st, 1864, reached Indianapolis on vet- eran furlough. The Thirteenth participated in nearly all the engagements of Butler's army south of Richmond, and was con- spicuous in the engagement at Watha's Junction, on the 7th of May; Chester Station, on the 10th, and a charge on the rebel rifle pits near Foster's Farm, on the 20th, in all of which the loss was about 200. After this it was attached to the army of the Poto- mac and was actively engaged in the battle at Cold Harbor, June 3d, 1864, and around Chickahominy until the 12th. It was at Bermuda Hundred and took part in the operations before Petersburg and Richmond. In November, it was sent to New York, to preserve order at the elections, and on their return joined the expedition against Fort Fisher. In January, 1865, it sailed with the second expedition against Fort Fisher, and in that took an active part. It was also at Wilmington, and at Fort Ander- son. From April 14th to the 20th of July, it was on duty at Goldsboro, N. C. September 5th, it was mustered out, and on the 15th, arrived at Indianapolis with twenty nine officers and 550 enlisted men. In the first organization of the regiment, Hunt- ington was not represented among the regimental officers. Sam- uel M. Zent, of Roanoke, who started out as a private in company F, was chosen Second Lieutenant of that company; was pro- moted First Lieutenant and Captain of Company K. In re-or- ganization as veterans he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and in March, 1865, Brevet Colonel of volunteers, by the President. The only other name from this county that appears among the commissioned officers in the re organization, is that of Thomas C. Gurley, First Lieutenant of Company D.
After the first company had left the county for the war there was not so much activity in volunteering for several weeks. There was a large element in the county that was opposed to the administration of President Lincoln. They were in favor of maintaining the Union unimpaired and were loyal to the flag, but the course pursued by the administration at Washington did not meet with their approval. They advocated a moderate course,
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one of compromise between the two extremes. As illustrating the sentiment ot this faction in politics we give the following from the Huntington Democrat of April 25th, 1861: "We are of that class who opposed to the bitter end a war upon the South believ- ing with Gen. Jackson, that a 'double conflict' would irremedi- ably destro; the Union. We believe now, as we always have believed, that if the administration of Abraham Lincoln had pursued a proper course - had adopted the policy of conciliation and compromise - had advocated and urged the adoption of the Crittenden or Border state plan of settling the difficulties between the North and South, the present evil times would have been averted and the Union saved. But the time for saving the Union is gone, and a horrible internecine war is upon us. While we do not indorse the policy of the Lincoln administration yet we feel bound to support the government RIGHT OR WRONG. It is our duty as loyal citizens to defend and protect it no matter who is presi- dent. We owe allegiance to. the government, not to the president, and the same government that protects and benefits us, we ought by all means to support in time of war when its existence is im- periled. As patriotic citizens, let us respond to the demands of our country. Let us not quibble now about this party or that party, but let us become a unit in defense of the government under which we have enjoyed innumerable blessings. Let us fight for the American flag with no star erased and no stripes removed."
During the early summer meetings were held by all po- litical parties, at which the local leaders took conspicuous parts. At a Democratic convention, held at the court house June 1st, L. P. Milligan and J. R. Coffroth made speeches, and among the resolutions was the following: "Resolved, That we cannot be- lieve that it was ever the intention of the framers of the Consti- tution that it should ever be held together by force. That patriotism and fraternal love were the ligaments by which they hoped to hold it together, and when these fail, and when all ef- forts to compromise the difficulties are exhausted, the only policy to be pursued is a peaceable separation of the opposing elements and a treaty of amity between them as independent nations." At another convention of the same party held on the 10th of August, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, That we have no sympathy with the cause of Secession, and do not believe that in the election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency, Abolition- ist and Sectionalist, as he was known to be, the Confederate States had any just cause to withdraw from the Union. But the fact is too apparent, that all patriotic, moral and sensible men must stand appalled at the unscrupulous perfidy his administra- tion has inaugurated. That perjury and usurpation characterize his public career. That neither written constitutions nor official oaths afford any guaranty against the licentiousness of his ad- ministration, and that in the wanton and palpable violations of the Constitution of the United States; in the suspension of the
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writ of habeas corpus; in depriving citizens of liberty and property without due course of law; in the levying of war by the Presi- dent; in raising an army; in providing and maintaining a navy; in giving a preference in commerce to the parts of one State over another; in the unreasonable search and seizure of persons and papers; in the desecration of houses and homes of citizens; in the subjugation of the press; in the prostiution of the telegraph; in the abridgement of the liberty of speech, and like wrongs and usurpations we have witnessed the overthrow of constitutional liberty in America."
"Resolved, That we take pride in rendering a cordial support to our government in the exercise of its constitutional functions, without stopping to question their propriety save at the hustings or ballot box, yet our loyalty to our government shall never be prostituted to a sycophantic adulation of a tyrant or a quiet sub- mission to his usurpations."
The same convention refused to adopt a series of resolutions that were presented by Hon. James R. Slack, who had hitherto been an unflinching Democrat. Those are too long for insertion here but they declare that the war was brought on by an aban- donment of the principles and teachings of the Democratic party; that the government had always pursued a course of kindness to all sections of the country and was entitled to the support of every patriot; that there was instituted by the " illegal, unconsti- tutional, outrageous and treasonable conduct of citizens of those rebellious states," and ought to be put down "at every hazzard and by every sacrifice," that in prosecuting the war it was not the intention to interfere with the domestic institutions of any State in the Union. The different resolutions were discussed by Mr. Slack on one side and Mr. Milligan on the other, but the resolutions proposed by Mr. Slack were finally laid on the table. Samuel McCaughey was president and William C. Kocher, sec- retary of that convention.
On the 28th of September a union mass convention was held at the court house, presided over by William Hunter as presi- dent and J. R. Mills, secretary. This convention was called by the Republicans and invitations extended to men of all parties to join it, yet it was practically a thoroughly Republican gather- ing with but few if any Democrats in it. D. O. Daily was the principal speaker. Among the resolutions was the following: "Resolved, That we will sustain the Government in the present war to put down the rebellion and to sustain the supremacy of the constitution of our country; disclaiming all desire to interfere with the domestic institutions of any State, as we are equally opposed to all the enemies of our constitution, be they Rebels, Rebel sympathizers, or Garrisonian Abolitionists."
This was perhaps the most important resolution of the con- vention as related to the absorbing question of the hour, and the stand taken on the slavery question differed but little from the position of the Democrats. Notwithstanding these public reso-
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lutions there was really a wide difference in the sentiments of the two parties upon the proper policy to be pursued toward the seceding states. All over the county during the summer, meet- ings were held by the two parties. Warren and Roanoke were specially provided with public meetings and speeches. At one of these held at Warren, James R. Slack, and Sam F. Winter, the editor of the Huntington Democrat, came to blows. No serious damage resulted although Winter received a slight wound in the side inflicted with a pen-knife in the hands of Slack. From this circumstance the Democrat thereafter called Slack the Penknife General.
It is doubtful if there was a county in the State where per- sonal and party feeling ran stronger than in Huntington during the opening months of the war. Republicans refused to trade with Democrats and vice versa. There were frequent, perhaps imprudent threats and intolerance on both sides. Under such circumstances it would not be surprising if the volunteering went on but slowly. This however, can scarcely be said to have been the case. At Warren, Mt. Etna, Roanoke and Huntington recruit- ing offices were opened, where those who desired to do so, could enlist in behalf of the flag.
In the Thirty-fourth Indiana Regiment, Huntington County was well represented. Two companies were almost exclusively from this county besides a considerable number in other com- panies of the regiment. In Company C the following were the commissioned officers: Captains, David Y. Whiting, September 16. 1861; George W. Jackson, May 21, 1862, and Lewis P. Morrison, October 1, 1863. First Lieutenants, Elmer B. Warner, September 16, 1861; George W. Jackson, April 21, 1862; Peter Mckenzie, May 21, 1863; Lewis P. Morrison, February 3, 1863; Henry Lud- wick, October 1, 1863, and Samuel R. Irwin, July 1, 1865. Second Lieutenants, George W. Jackson, September 16, 1861; Lewis P. Morrison, May 21, 1862; Jefferson Poling, February 3, 1863; John B. Harris, May 1, 1864; Samuel R. Irwin, May 1, 1865, and James Grimes, July 1, 1865. Of these, Lieut. Warner was pro- moted Captain of Company I, Capt. Whiting died May 2, 1862, Capt. Jackson was promoted Colonel of the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment, and Lieut. Poling died July 23, 1863, of wounds. The original enrollment of the company was 98 and the recruits were 25, a total of 123. Of these, 98 were from Hunt- ington County. Twenty-two died in the service and four deserted.
Company G was composed almost wholly of men fro n this county. The officers were: Captains, Robert G. Morrison,
September 16, 1861; William W. Stephenson, September 20, 1863; Benjamin B. Campbell, September 20, 1863. Stephenson and Campbell were not from this county. First Lieutenants, Ed- ward D. Bobbitt, September 16, 1861; George S. Plasterer, Jan- uary 15, 1863; James E. Kelly, April 13, 1865; Second Lieuten- ants, John W. Thompson, September 16, 1863; Byron C. Jones, December 16, 1861; John W. Sewell, March 31, 1862; George S.
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Plasterer, November 21, 1862; Seymour C. Goshorn, January 15, 1863; James E. Kelly, May 1, 1864. Capt. Morrison was pro- moted regulary to the positions of Major, Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel of the regiment; Lieut. Bobbitt was promoted As- sistant Surgeon and Surgeon, and Lieut Jones died at New Madrid, Mo., March 19, 1862. The company was organized with a membership of ninety-nine and twenty recruits; of these 104 were from this county, thirteen having died and ten deserted. In addition to these company I contained thirty-one men from this county, of which David H. Wall, of Warren, became Sec- ond Lieutenant; Company E, three men, Company F, three men, Company I, six men and Company K, one man, making a total of 246 men furnished by Huntington County, for the Thirty- Fourth Regiment. This regiment was organized at Anderson, in September, 1861. During the fall and winter it remained in Ken- tucky. encamping at various points in that State. March 3d, 1862, it arrived at New Madrid, Mo., and was engaged in the siege at that place until the evacuation on the 14th. The follow- ing day it marched to St. Merriweather's Landing, fourteen miles below, where it planted a battery of two thirty-two pounders, which cut off the Rebel retreat from Island No. 10, and was the mans of capturing the whole garrison. It was stationed at Nw Madrid until the 14th, June, assisted in the capture of Fort Pillow. It then went via Memphis on boats up White River as far as Aberdeen, Ark. On the 9th of. July it engaged the enemy and drove them back to Duvall's Bluff. From there it went to Helena, where it remained during the fall and winter of 1862. April 10, 1863, it started on the Vicksburg campaign, in which it took a prominent part. At Port Gibson, May 1st, it captured two field pieces and forty-nine prisoners, losing, in killed and wounded, forty-nine. At Champion Hills, on the 14th, it cap- tured the Forth-Sixth Alabama Regiment, losing seventy-nine killed and wounded. From that time on it was engaged in the siege of Vicksburg until its fall, losing thirteen men in killed and wounded. In the siege of Jackson it lost eight men. After this it moved to New Orleans and remained until September, when it joined Bank's expedition to the Teche country. In De- cember, 1863, 460 of the regiment re-enlisted, and on March 20, 1864, started home on veteran furlough. Returning to the field it was placed on duty until December, 1864, at New Orleans. On the 13th of May, 1865, this regiment fought the last battle of the war at Palmetto Ranche, near the old battle field of Palo Alto. It was a fierce contest, in which the regiment lost eighty-two in killed, wounded and prisoners. The regiment contended against odds of two to one. Companies E and B were captured, the loss to the regiment being eighty-two in killed, wounded and pris- oners. After this the regiment fell back to Brazos Island, whence it moved to Brownsville. From there it moved on the 16th of June 260 miles up the Rio Grande, and were the first Union troops to occupy Ringgold Barracks. Late in July it returned
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to Brownsville, and continued at that place until it was mustered out of service February 3, 1866. It was the last Indiana regi- ment retained in Texas. Arriving at Indianapolis on the 18th with eighteen officers and 346 men under Lieut. Col. Morrison, it was tendered a reception, on the following day, at the Soldiers' Home, when Gov. Baker made the welcoming address.
The next regiment in which Huntington County men were conspicuous was the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteers: The fact that Hon. James R. Slack had been commissioned as the Colonel gave renewed impulse to the volunteering in this county. He was a man so well and favorably known here at his home that men who had before been reluctant to engage in the war now came forward with eagerness. They saw here an opportu- nity for entering the service under the command of one they knew and trusted. His fidelity to the cause of the Union had contributed largely to allay the spirit of opposition that was at first manifested in this locality.
Companies E and F were almost wholly from Huntington County, and in addition to these, there was a large representation in some of the other companies in the regiment. In Company E the commissioned officers were: Captains, Jacob Wintrode, Oc- tober 10, 1861; Benjamin W. Payton, March 1, 1865. First Lieu- tenants, John Swaidner, October 10, 1861; Sherman L. Bullard, July 27, 1863; Benjamin W. Payton, January 1, 1865; Sylvester W. Snodgrass, March 1, 1865. Second Lieutenants, Elijah Snow- den, October 10, 1861; Sherman L. Bullard, November 18, 1862; Jacob W. Hart, July 27, 1863; Benjamin W. Payton, March 1, 1864; Samuel W. Stirk, July 1, 1865. Jacob W. Hart was pro- moted First Lieutenant in Ninety-third Colored Regiment. This company started out with an enrollment of ninety-eight and was recruited with forty-six, a total of 144, of which 121 were from this county. Thirty-nine died in the service and four deserted. This company was composed of men residing in the vicinity of Roanoke and Andrews, at each of which places efforts had been made to raise a full company. The portions of each company were finally consolidated into this one.
Company F was raised at Huntington, and was officered as fol- lows: Captains, Sextus H. Shearer, October 10, 1861; Jefferson F. Slusser, February 1, 1865; First Lieutenants, Silas S. Hall, Oc- tober 10, 1861; Aurilius S. Purviance, May 18, 1862; James A. Johnson, February 7, 1863; Daniel G. Beaver, March 1, 1864; Jef- ferson F. Slusser, January 9, 1865; John Whitestine, February 1, 1865; Second Lieutenants, Aurelius S. Purviance, October 10, 1861; James A. Johnston, May 18, 1862; Daniel G. Beaver, February 7, 1863; Jefferson F. Slusser, March 1, 1864; Jeremiah De Chant, Feb- ruary 18, 1865; Asa Whitestine, July 1, 1865. Capt. Shearer was promoted Major and Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. Lieut. Johnston died February 14, 1864. The company started out with ninety-nine men, and afterwards received forty recruits. Thirty-four died and seven deserted. In the Adjutant General's
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report for the State this entire company, including recruits, was credited to Orange County." The reason for this is not now known, but by some it is supposed that this was brought about by those who had an eye to coming drafts. If Huntington County was not actually credited with these 139 men, as it should have been, it accounts for any rigor with which the drafts may have fallen upon the county, Besides the officers already given, the following in the Forty-seventh were from this county: Eli Ar- nold, First Lieutenant Company A; William Woodbeck and John Auspach, Second Lieutenants Company G; George H. Brinker- hoff, First Lieutenant Company H. The regimental officers from this county were James R. Slack, Colonel, promoted Brigadier General December 31, 1864; Sextus H. Shearer, Major and Lieu- tenant Colonel; James R. Mills, Assistant Surgeon, died at Hel- ena, Ark., February 8, 1863. In addition to all these, Company G contained eighteen privates from this county, and Company H, forty, making a total of 318 privates in the regiment out of 1,276, almost one-fourth of the whole.
The following account of the regiment's movements in the field is taken from the report of the Adjutant General: "The Forty- seventh Regiment was organized at Anderson, on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1861, with James R. Slack as Colonel, the regiment being composea of companies raised in the Eleventh Congressional Dis- trict. On the 13th of December it left Indianapolis for Kentucky, and reached Bardstown on the 21st, where it was assigned to Gen. Wood's brigade of Buell's army. From thence it moved to Camp Wickliffe, arriving there on the 31st of December, and remained there until February 14, 1862, when it marched to West Point at the mouth of Salt River, and there took transports for Commerce, Missouri. Arriving there on the 24th of February, it was assigned to Gen. Pope's army and marched at once to New Madrid, and there engaged the enemy, being the first regiment to enter Fort Thompson. Moving to Riddle's Point it participated in the engagement at that place between the shore batteries and Rebel gun-boats. Thence it moved to Tiptonville, Tenn., where it remained for nearly two months. After the capture of Fort Pillow the regiment was transported to Memphis, reaching that place on the 30th of June, and remaining there during the follow- ing month, Col. Slack being in command of the post. On the 11th of August it had a skirmish with the enemy at Brown's plantation, Mississippi, losing a few men in killed and wounded. Moving to Helena, Arkansas, the regiment remained there until March, 1863, when it took part in Gen. Quimby's expedition to Yazoo Pass. Returning from this it joined Grant's army and moved with it to the rear of Vicksburg, engaging in the battles and skirmishes of that campaign. In the battle of Champion Hills, May 16, it lost 143 in killed and wounded. Going into the trenches near the enemy's works at Vicksburg, it remained in them until the surrender July 4th, being almost constantly engaged in the siege. After this it marched to Jackson with Sheridan, and took
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