USA > Indiana > Johnson County > History of Johnston 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 73
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South Carolina took the first active steps, and passed an ordi- nance of secession December 20, 1860. In this movement she was followed in quick succession by Mississippi, January 9, 1861: Ala- bama and Florida, January II: Georgia, January 19, Louisiana, January 26; Texas, February 1; Virginia. April 17: Arkansas and Tennessee. May 6: North Carolina, May 21. No president ever assumed the high office under such trying circumstances. In Feb- ruary succeeding the inauguration of Lincoln, a peace convention was held at Baltimore. This was attended by representatives from nearly all the states, but it utterly failed in its purpose; excitement was at the greatest tension throughout the country, and the public spirit ran high. Mass meetings were held in all parts of the north.
While the country was in this strained condition, Fort Sumter was fired upon. That deed, more than all others, united the loyal hearts of the North in defense of the national flag that had been fired upon by those in rebellion. They welcomed it perhaps as the only solution of the question, and gladly responded to the call to arms. The news of the fall of Fort Sumter was re- ceived at Indianapolis on Sunday morning the 14th of April. 1861, and at Columbus on the evening of the same day: President Lin- coln issued a call on the 15th for 75,000 troops. This was followed on the 16th by a proclamation from Gov. Morton calling for the six regiments, the quota for Indiana, as fixed by the secretary of war. In this county the wildest enthusiasm was manifested, and the most intense excitement prevailed.
On Monday, April 15th, the people of Franklin held a large and enthusiastic meeting at the court house, to take steps toward organizing a company, and for expressing their sentiments on the stirring deeds of the hour. Samuel P. Oyler was chosen presi- dent, David G. Vawter, vice-president, Joseph P. Gill, and G. W. Allison, secretaries. A committee on resolutions was appointed, .
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consisting of G. W. Branham, Josiah Drake, and G. M. Overstreet. Addresses were made by Mr. Oyler, Dr. Ritchey, Daniel Howe, T. J. Morgan, Bank Byfield, G. W. Grubbs, and Rev. J. Brum- back. Among the resolutions adopted was the following: "Be it resolved by the people of Johnson County, that while we have heretofore deprecated the horrors of civil war, and still do most sincerely regret and deplore the madness and crimes which have participated the country into those horrors, we are firmly and un- alterable attached, as we have always hitherto been, to the Federal Union and its legitimate government; and will employ all wise, just, and necessary means in our power to maintain and sustain both, and to enforce all the laws thereof; and that we unite as one man to repel all treasonable assaults upon the government, its property and citizens in every department of the Union -peace- ably if we can, forcibly if we must." The whole was patriotic and strong in behalf of maintaining the union of the states unimpaired. When volunteers were called for, there was a general rush for the secretary's desk, in order to enroll names. On the next day a meeting of the company was held, and Samuel P. Oyler was chosen captain, Joseph P. Gill, first lieutenant, and William Ellis, second lieutenant.
It is probable that no county in the state was more active during the first week that followed the firing on Fort Sumter, than John- son. The following item from the Herald will give some idea of the unusual excitement: " We were always under the impression that our quiet town was peaceably disposed, and that any other fever but the war fever could find its way here. The events of the last week, however, have somewhat dispelled this illusion, and since our last issue scarcely an hour passes without hearing the martial strains of the fife and drum, and witnessing the parade of some company who have enrolled themselves for the war. Six compa- nies have been formed here, and if every little town will do as well we can send enough men from Indiana alone to protect the capitol and do all the fighting." In the same issue of the paper appears the following list of officers for the various companies: Johnson County Minute Men, George W. Allison, captain; Felix Graham, first lieutenant; Samuel Lambertson, second lieutenant. Home Guards, Company A, W. H. Barnett, captain ; Jacob F. McClellan, first lieutenant ; Simon B. Moore, second lieutenant. Home Guards, Company B, G. W. Branham, captain : J. O. Martin, first lieutenant; W. H. Myers, second lieutenant. Home Guards, Company C, T. W. Woollen, captain; G. M. Overstreet, first lieutenant; C. F. Johnson, second lieutenant.
The first company organized in the county was the one com-
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manded by S. P. Oyler. It left for the camp of rendezvous on Monday, April 22, 1861, with 105 men. The preceding Saturday the ladies of Franklin had presented the company with a splendid silk flag. The company was assigned the position of H, in the Seventh Regiment. Capt. Oyler was immediately promoted ma- jor of the regiment. In the company Joseph P. Gill became captain, William B. Ellis, and Welcome B. McLaughlin, first and sec- ond lieutenants. The company had a total enrollment of seventy- four men. The Seventh was one of the three months' regiments that went from Indiana under the president's first call for troops. Its time was mostly spent in western Virginia, and was under the command of Ebenezer Dumont as colonel. It was engaged at Philippi, the first place in which Indiana troops were under fire during the Rebellion. At Corrick's Ford it bore a conspicuous part.
Seventh Regiment, Three Years .- For the sake of convenience the regiments in which Johnson County men were prominent, will from this on be mentioned in the order of their numbers. While this method will often bring regiments in after others that were previously organized, it is yet the best plan of arranging them in a work of this character. The Seventh Regiment was re-organized in the fall of 1861, for the three years' service. In it was one full company from this county. This was F, and for its officers had the following: Captains, Samuel Lambertson, September 1, 1861; Thomas A. Jeffrey, November 1, 1862; first lieutenants, George S. Smith, September 1, 1861; Thomas A. Jeffrey, December 24, 1864: David Holmes, November 1, 1862; William Davis, June 19, 1864; second lieutenants, Thomas Jeffrey, September 1, 1861; James A. Holmes, December 24, 1861; David Holmes, October 26, 1862: William Davis, November 1, 1862. Of these George S. Smith died December 24, 1861, and David Holmes was killed in action June 18, 1864. The company started out with an enrollment of ninety-eight men, and during its entire term of service was re- cruited with thirty-six, making a total of 134. Of this number twenty-nine died in the service. This regiment was commanded by Col. Dumont, and joined the forces in the field in western Vir- ginia, under command of Gen. Reynolds at Cheat Mountain. It was engaged in the battles of Greenbriar, Winchester Heights, Port Republic, Front Royal, Slaughter Mountain, second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Ashby's Gap, Fredericksburg, Chancellors- ville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, Wilderness, Laurel Hill, Po River, North Anna River, Bethesda Church, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and others of minor importance. This long list of hotly contested battles gives some idea of the trying and faithful duty the regiment performed.
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In the Seventeenth Regiment, Company D, Johnson County, furnished nearly all the men. It was one of the very earliest com- panies that left this county for the war, and was mustered into the service early in June, 1861. During its four years of service the following were its officers: Captains-George W. Allison, April 25, 1861; William T. Jones, January 17, 1862; William A. Owens, November 23, 1862. First Lieutenants-Robert S. Kane, May IS, 1861; William A. Owens, January 17, 1862; John J. Howard, November 23, 1862; James N. Wagoner, September 1, 1864. Second Lieutenants- William A. Owens, May 18, 1861: John J. Howard, January 17, 1862; James N. Wagoner, November 23, 1862: Henry Tutewiler, September 1, 1864; Edwin Churchill, November 20, 1864. This regiment was veteranized and continued in the field until the close of the war. Company D started out with ninety-eight men and recruited with eighty-four, a total of 182; seventeen died and twenty-two deserted. This regiment entered the service under the command of Milo S. Hascall, who afterward became a brigadier general. During most of its term it was in the mounted infantry service. It first joined the forces in the front in western Virginia, and was in Kentucky and Tennessee, at the siege of Corinth and in pursuit of Bragg in 1862; was with Rose- crans in Tennessee, and was at Chattanooga in 1863; was in the Atlanta campaign and in the pursuit of Hood in 1864; was in Wil- son's raid through Georgia and Alabama in 1865. It was mustered out of the service at Macon, Ga., August 8, 1865.
The Eighteenth Regiment had one company from Johnson County. This was given the position of I, and its officers were: Captains, Jonathan HI. Williams, July 15, 1861: William T. Stott, July 15, 1863: Henry Lawrence, July 27, 1865: first lieutenants, Charles F. Johnson, July 15, 1861; John Tilson, April 15, 1862; Lewis W. Knobe, July 1, 1863; John Carson, December 1, 1863; Henry Lawrence, December 12, 1864: Edward Ditmars, July 27, 1865; second lieutenants, John Tilson, July 15, 1861; Lewis W. Knox, April 15, 1862; John Carson, March 14, 1863; John W. Ryket, July 27, 1865. This company had ninety-eight men at its organization, and recruited with eleven. Out of this number, nine died and four deserted. The regiment did much active service in Missouri in 1861, in Arkansas and Missouri, in 1862, against Vicksburg, and in Louisiana and Texas, in 1863, in the Shen- andoah Valley in 1864, and in Georgia in 1865. Capt. Will- iams, of Company I, was promoted major, May 23, 1863, and was killed October 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, Va. Two flags belonging to this regiment are deposited in the state archives at Indianapolis. One of them is " worn out, nothing but shreds left;
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staff with cord and fringe." The other has "nothing left but a small part of the blue field with a half dozen stars and a fragment of stripes. Bullet hole through middle of staff; staff spliced to hold it together."
The Twenty-seventh Regiment had two companies, in which Johnson County men were conspicuous. One of these, C, is credited entirely to this county, although some of them were from Morgan County. Company G had a considerable number of men from this county. but they are all credited to Morgan County. The commissioned officers in Company C from this county, were Isaac D. Collier, John Forelander and Oliver P. Ferguson, all of Edinburg, first lieutenants. The latter two were promoted from the second lieutenancy. In Company G. John R. Fesler, of Frank- lin, was the first captain, and became lieutenant colonel of the regi- ment. Squire O. Garrett, of Trafalgar, was first lieutenant. Com- pany C had a total of ninety-nine men, of whom it lost twenty-six by death, and six by desertion. In Company G there were IIO men, twenty died and one deserted. The Twenty-seventh was mustered into the service September 12, 1861, and the remainder of the year was passed in Maryland. It was in the Shenandoah Valley, eastern Virginia and Maryland in 1862, and was at the Rappahannock. in Maryland, Pennslyvania and Tennessee in 1863; in Tennessee and the Atlanta campaign in 1864. Of the regi- ment's colors a national flag and a blue regimental flag, both much worn, are preserved at Indianapolis.
The Third Cavalry, Forty-fifth Regiment, had one full company of men from this county. It was assigned the position of G, and had for its officers the following: Captains, Felix W. Gra- ham, George F. Herriott and William J. Lucas. First Lieu- tenants, George F. Herriott, William J. Lucas and Daniel Callahan. Second Lieutenants, John S. Kephart, William J. Lucas and Daniel Callahan. The company started out with seventy-six men, and was recruited with thirty-seven. Thirteen died and sixteen de- serted. Company G was placed in the left wing of the Third Cavalry, and in the year 1861 served in Kentucky, in 1862 was in Tennessee and Kentucky, in 1863 m Rosecrans' campaign in Tenn- essee. in 1864 was in the Atlanta campaign, and in Sherman's march to the sea.
The Seventieth Regiment contained a large quota of men from Johnson County. Besides Company I, which was composed al- most exclusively of men from this county, there was a good repre- sentation in several other companies. Of the regimental officers, George W. Allison became quartermaster, and William A. Webb, assistant surgeon. In Company F, George W. Grubb was first
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lieutenant, and early in January, 1865, was promoted major of the Forty-second Regiment. United States Colored Troops. The offi- cers of Company I, were: Captains. William H. Fisher and John W. Thornburgh; first lieutenants, Thomas J. Morgan and S. Wes- ley Martin; second lieutenants, Stephen W. Dungan, S. W. Mar- tin, John E. Clelland and Joseph M. Tilson. Of the ninety-nine men originally enrolled in this company, all but eleven were from this county, as were most of the twenty-nine recruits. The company lost nineteen by death. It was mustered into the service early in August, 1862, and during the remainder of that year and all of 1863, it did duty in Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1864, it was engaged in the Atlanta campaign, and went with Sherman to the sea. In 1865 it marched up through the Carolinas. The reg- iment was commanded by Benjamin Harrison, as colonel, and took part in some hotly contested battles, and performed much arduous duty.
The Seventy-ninth Regiment had one company that was raised in Johnson County. It had for its officers some of the county's leading men. They were: Captains, Samuel P. Oyler, William B. Ellis, Daniel W. Howe, and Edwin M. Byrkitt; first lieutenants, Daniel W. Howe, Thomas C. Bachelor, William II. Huntsinger; second lieutenants, James B. Bell, George C. Whitlock, Thomas C. Bachelor. S. P. Oyler was promoted lieutenant colonel of the regiment, and Lieut. Bachelor was honorably discharged in October, 1864. on account of wounds. In the adjutant general's report the privates of this company were not credited to any county, but it is more than likely most, if not all of them, were from this county. The total enrollment was ninety-five men, of whom twenty-six died and one deserted. It was mustered into the service August 14, 1862. The regiment during that year was engaged in Kentucky and Tennessee in the pursuit of Bragg and the relief of Chattanooga. In 1863-4, it was in East Tennessee, and in 1864, was conspicuous in the Atlanta campaign and pursuit of Hood. Its service in 1865, was mostly confined to Tennessee. It was con- stantly in active service, never having been assigned to garrison duty. The regiment is credited with the capture of eighteen pieces of artillery and over 1,000 prisoners.
The Fifth Cavalry, Ninetieth Regiment, was the next that had a company of men from Johnson County. This was F, and its officers were: Captains, Felix W. Graham, Ruell B. Loomis and Joseph Harmon; first lieutenants, Ruell B. Loomis, William H. McLaughlin and John Green: second lieutenants, W. H. Mc- Laughlin, John E. Green and John S. Kephart. Captain Graham rose to the rank of colonel, and Josiah MI. Wishard, of Greenwood,
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became surgeon. The company started out with 100 men, was recuited with forty-two, lost fourteen by death and ten by de- sertion. In October, 1862, Company F was sent to Carrolton, Ky., and the regiment was distributed along the Ohio River,, where the winter of 1862-63 was spent. In April, the regiment was again united. During the rest of 1863 it was in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was in the pursuit of Morgan. In the year 1864 it joined the movement against Atlanta, and took part in Gen. Stoneman's raid in Georgia. It was in Kentucky and Tennessee in 1865, and was mustered out of the service in June of that year.
The Indiana Legion was an extensive organization throughout the state, for the purpose of home defense in case of need. It served another purpose, however, that proved more useful than as home guards. It was the medium through which many good soldiers were brought into the service, that, perhaps, would not otherwise so readily have entered the active service of the United States. The drilling, too, was useful in preparing men to a con- siderable extent for the evolutions that were required in actual war. In other words it was a training school where men learned the rudiments of knowledge in war that so soon enabled them to per- form in the face of the enemy like trained veterans. Johnson County had several of these companies in the Legion, and the ros- ter of the officers reveals the names of many who led companies to the field of battle.
Opinion in 1863 .- The sentiment that had been gaining ground against the prosecution of the war, probably attained its highest in the summer of 1863. This, however, was not a sentiment in favor of rebellion, but in favor of conciliation, and was willing to continue the existence of slavery. The emancipation proclamation, to those who held such views, was a dangerous and unwarranted proceed- ing. To them it seemed the government was waging a war of subjugation and for the abolition of slavery. "Such a course they were heartily opposed to, and from these causes alone were opposed to the further prosecution of the war. They were equally opposed to the breaking up of the Union. A conservative or middle course was what they proposed to follow, but it is doubtful if such a plan could have succeeded at that time. President Lincoln took the smaller horn of the dilemma, and wisely concluded that it was better to destroy slavery than the Union. The Indiana legislature of 1863, passed a resolution declaring in favor of calling a national peace convention, and requested the people of Indiana to send representatives to a state convention that should appoint delegates to a national assembly. This gave the opportunity for the various counties to express their sentiments upon the war question.
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The Morgan Raid .- In July, 1863, there occurred an affair that created more excitement in Southern Indiana than any other period has known. This was the raid of the confederate general, John H. Morgan, through the southeastern portions of the state into Ohio. He crossed the Ohio River. at Corydon, this state, and began his short raid that spread more terror among the inhabitants than any other occurrence of the kind during the war. He pro- ceeded northward to Paoli, in Orange County, then to Salem, the county seat of Washington County. From that place his next town of importance was Vernon, in Jennings County, whence he directed his course toward Lawrenceburg. When the news arrived that Morgan had invaded Indiana soil, there was not a town in the south central part of the state in which the people did not conclude they were the direct object of attack. Consternation spread with alarming rapidity. Johnson County organized a regiment to assist in repelling the invaders. There were six companies, comprising nearly 400 men, most of whom belonged to the Legion.
Other Regiments .- Besides those already mentioned there were many other regiments in which Johnson County was represented. In the summer of IS64. there were several regiments tendered by the governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. for a period of 100 days. These were to be used in doing guard duty along the border, and thereby enable the veteran troops to take the field for active service during that time. It was hoped that this movement would advance the Union cause to more speedy success. In the One Hundred and Thirty-second Regiment, which was organized for the 100 days' service, there was one company from this county. This was G, and had for its officers, H. II. Luyster, Simeon Frazier, and Henry Byers. The One Hundred and Forty- eighth Regiment had a considerable portion of men from this county. The Twelfth Battery Light Artillery, also had some men from Johnson County.
Bounty and Relief .- In order to stimulate volunteering, the United States government authorized the payment of bounties early in the war to those who should enlist for the term of three years. In the first year of the war this amount was fixed at $100. Orders from the war department at various times authorized the payment of additional sums ranging as high as $400, according to the nature and term of service. The inequalities of bounties created great dissatisfaction, but it was claimed by the authorities that the exig- encies of the times demanded it and could not be avoided. An additional inducement was offered in the way of a land war- rant for forty-acres of public land to each soldier receiving an honorable discharge. This, taken with the amount of the bounty,
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which was considered about the value of a mule, brought about that famous and popular phrase, "forty acres and a mule," and doubtless had much to do with the successful volunteering which characterized the war. Besides the national bounties, large and often extravagant sums were paid by many of the counties. These had the effect to lighten the drafts, but at the same time increased the taxes. The latter, however, cut but little figure in the question. People would not put a price on the Union, and no matter what was required to preserve it, that requirement was always met. In Johnson County this spirit was fully maintained, and the board of commissioners at different times met the popular demand by offering bounties.
Another important item came under the head of Relief. This included whatever sums were paid to support the families of those who had enlisted and were absent in the field of battle, and also the supplies forwarded to the soldiers themselves. A few months' experience showed how much the government lacked of being prepared for supplying an army with the necessary comforts re- quired by a soldier. Immediately after the opening of the war there was a Soldiers' Aid Society formed in Franklin by the lead- ing ladies of the town. The work which those noble-hearted women did went far toward relieving the wants of the soldiers. Scarcely a week passed without a shipment to the front of mittens, socks, blankets and such other articles as a soldier would likely need to withstand the extremities of the seasons. These contribu- tions were purely personal, and the women of the whole county were requested to bring in whatever could be properly spared. In this way many dollars were spent in the soldiers' behalf which are not included in the following amount of bounty and relief which was paid by this county: bounty, $220,000: relief, $15,000. Men Furnished for the War .- The various calls made by the president for troops during the Rebellion were as follows:
First call, 75,000. three months' service, April 15, 1861. Second call, 42,034 men, three years' service, May 3, 1861. Third call, 300,000 men, nine months' service, August 4, 1862. Fourth call, 100.000 men, six months' service, June 15, 1863. Fifth call, 300,000 men, three years' service, October 17, 1863. Sixth call, 500,000 men, three years' service, February 1. 1864. Seventh call, 200,000 men, three years service, March 15, 1864. Eighth call, 500,000 men, one, two or three years' service, July IS, 1864.
Ninth call, 300,000 men, one, two or three years' service, De- cember 19, 1864.
These calls aggregate more than 2,300,000 men, and give some
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idea of the magnitude of the Civil War in the United States. It will be interesting to know what part of this immense army was furnished by Johnson County. The first enrollment of the militia in Indiana after the commencement of the war was made Septem- ter 19, 1862. The total militia force of the county was 2,545, of which 294 were exempt from bearing arms, leaving 2.251 sub- ject to draft. The county was at that date credited with having furnished 1,010 volunteers, of which 945 were then in the service. It was under this enrollment that the first draft in Indiana occurred, October 6, 1862, to supply the number required by the call of Aug- ust 4th. The quota of Johnson County under that draft was 156 men, apportioned among these townships: Union 33, Nineveh 19, Blue River 4, Hensley 27, Clark 3, Pleasant 9, White River 61. The draft officers were: James Ritchey, commissioner; Leon Ritchey, marshal: P. W. Payne, surgeon.
The call of October 17, 1863, demanded of Johnson County IQI men, which number was furnished without resorting to a draft. Under the calls of February Ist, March 15th and July ISth, 1864, the total quota for the county was 920 men, to offset which it was credited with So5 new recruits, HIS veterans, making 923, or 3 more than were required. The president's last call for troops, December 19, 1864, asked this county for 282 men. Against this number the county was credited with 201 new recruits, 3 vet- erans and 82 by draft, making in all 286. This was the condition of the account with Johnson County on the 14th of April, 1865, at which time all efforts to raise troops were abandoned. It shows a balance in favor of the county. The draft under this last call was made upon the basis of the third enrollment of the state, or second under the enrollment act of congress. That enrollment showed the county to have had a militia force of 2,001. These figures show that the county furnished 2,392 men for the war, or 391 more than the number last reported as its total militia force. This need not imply that there were that number of separate men from this county in the war, for there were not. A considerable number of the men enlisted twice, and some three times, and they were counted for each enlistment. It is probable that 300 will include the number of those who were thus recounted. Thus it will be seen that Johnson County alone furnished enough men to make more than two full regiments, a considerable army in itself.
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