USA > Indiana > LaPorte County > History of La Porte County, Indiana > Part 47
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ANOTHER FATAL TREE.
Seven or eight years after the last incident narrated, that is to say, in January, 1852, another accident occurred in the same town- ship. One of the most enterprising men of the old pioneers, Mr. Whitman Goit, was in the woods getting out ties for the railroad. By some means he was killed by the falling of a tree. His death was lamented by the whole community.
MR. KELLOGG SHEDD.
The community had not settled down hardly from the commotion which the last accident narrated produced until another startled it. On March 5, 1852, as Mr. Kellogg Shedd was hauling saw-logs to the mill, his wagon was tipped over and himself crushed under its weight. He, like Mr. Goit, was highly respected, and his death deeply regretted by all the citizens of Galena township.
THE TOTTERING CANOE.
In New Durham township, in the year 1860, two boys were sail- ing on the mill pond of the Medaris mill. By some means the canoe in which they were sailing was sunk and one of the boys was drowned. The canoe, a boat dug out of the trunk of a tree, is a very tottering one, and easily upset. The place where this accident occurred is now dry land.
STEAM UNCONTROLLED.
Steam unconfined is a harmless substance; confined, 'but under control, it is an obedient and powerful servant; but confined and uncontrolled it becomes a most destructive and irresistible agent. In Kankakee township, at Rolling Prairie, in 1860, Mr. Jesse H. G. Coplin owned a steam grist and saw mill. An explosion ocenrred at this mill in which Thomas Lewis lost his life, Frederick Knight lost an arm, and Mr. Coplin was slightly injured. The powerful agent burst the bonds of its confinement and threw the
517
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
wreck of its bonds in every direction. A cloud of vapor arose; a loud report as if thunder mingled with the crash of falling timbers followed. When the consequent dust and vapor were cleared away, the result was found to be as stated above,-one dead and two wounded.
THE TERRIBLE DEED INDUCED BY WHISKY.
New Durham township, on November 27, 1865, was the scene of a tragic occurrence,-in one sense an accident, in another the most reckless intent. A party of Germans during the day had been husking corn, and were moving along the road with loaded wagons. They were met by James Woods and William Fulton, who were on their way from Westville where they had been drink- ing, and were just in that condition when whisky most inflames the blood and leads its victims to the most desperate ends. Or coming up to the first wagon, Woods ordered it to halt; but no attention was paid to the maudlin command. Fulton then said, " Why don't you shoot?" At this Woods whipped out a revolver and discharged it. However he missed his aim, the ball passing by those on the first wagon and hitting John Lohm, who was on the second wagon. The wound was a mortal one, causing his death in a very short time. This deed could not have been the result of personal enmity, for it is said that they were perfect strangers. Both Woods and Fulton were indicted for the offense; the former was found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the State's prison for life; the latter, of man-slaughter, and sentenced to the State's prison for a term of 13 years.
Whisky, whisky, bane of life. Spring of tumult, source of strife, Could I but half thy curses tell, The wise would wish thee safe in hell.
THE BREATH OF FIRE.
New Durham township was the scene of another accident on the 14th of March, 1869. It is but the old story. He took the gun; he blew his breath of fire into the muzzle, and the deadly missile hurled him from the land of the living. The circumstances of the accident were as follows: Nicholas Aker, a boy of about 15 years of age, together with two younger brothers, was playing with a gun. He blew into the muzzle. By some means the gun was dis- charged and killed him instantly, thus terminating a "play " with a terrible " tragedy."
THE WINGLESS WAS WINGED WITH UNSEEN WINGS.
Feathers are not the only things out of which wings are made. Imparted power may serve such a purpose. The neighborhood of Puddletown, in Wills township, in the year 1871, was the witness
518
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
of an incident like this. A wingless scantling was winged by the imparted power of the saw of a steam saw-mill, and winged its flight on these viewless wings, struck Matthew Feather on the head, penetrated his brain, and killed him instantly.
THE UNTRUSTFUL SHOT-GUN.
In 1874 there was a man living at Bigelow named Frank Kopelsi He had a boy named August, who was about 15 years of age. On November 7, this boy was out shooting ducks. His method of holding his gun seems to have been peculiar, -- he held the muzzle under his arm. In walking along that day, he accidentally struck the lock, exploding the percussion, and discharging the gun. The charge of the gun tore upward through his arm, nearly severing it. from his body. The injury was so great that the boy died in less than an hour.
"I WOULD HASTEN FROM THE WINDY STORM AND TEMPEST."
A storm of fearful severity swept over Galena township on the morning of August 15, 1874. Occurring about five o'clock in the morning, the early risers were treated to a sight seldom seen. The heavens were overcast with dark clonds which poured down sheets of monstrous hail, some as large as pigeons' eggs. These sheets of hail were whipped by the most terrible winds. Intermingled with these was the constant glare of the most terrific lightning, which rendered visible the fantastic tossing of the hail by the wind. Then the patter of the falling hail was almost drowned by the crash of falling timber which was giving way before the fierce force on every hand, and both these were almost smothered under the tre- mendous roll of thunder which kept up one continuous roar. The whole scene was terrifically grand.
The storm was a very devastating one. The standing corn was cut to pieces with the sheets of hail; thousands of fruit and forest trees were uprooted and broken; fences were demolished and scat- tered everywhere; houses were unroofed, and barns blown down. "I would hasten from the windy storm and tempest."
CHAPTER XI.
RECORD OF THE REBELLION.
INTRODUCTION.
The wars of the Republic have been glorious, as warriors call glory. They have generally been founded in right, and have uni- formly been successful. The Revolutionary heroes have all glided into the silent house. La Porte county, so far as we have been able to ascertain, has no Revolutionary record. A few of the heroes of the war of 1812-'15 have been residents of the county. Only a very few, if indeed any, now remain. They too have followed the example of the Revolutionary fathers. Of the Mexican soldiers, there is a more considerable number still living, but they likewise are steadily dropping out of the ranks of the living.
While there were no citizens of La Porte county in the wars of the Revolution and of 1812-'15, for the simple reason that it was born too late for that, yet a company was raised in the county and served in the war with Mexico. The Captain of this company was W. W. McCoy; First Lieutenant, Robert Fravel; Second Lieuten- ant, C. W. Lewis; Ensign and Color Bearer, Samuel Mecum. This company numbered 92 men in all, and belonged to the 4th Indiana Regiment. This company took part in that brilliant and memora- ble campaign of General Winfield Scott from Vera Cruz to the memorable city of the Aztecs; and their banner waved over the city of the Angels, La Puebla. The part which it bore in this cam- paign entitle it to the honors of it; and, through the representatives which it had in this company, La Porte county is likewise hon- ored.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
While the county may justly feel proud of the record and honor of her sons in the war with Mexico, where, by their personal brav- ery and courage, they carved ont a monument of imperishable remembrance; yet it is in the war of the Rebellion that its chief military glory and renown lies.
When, on the 12th of April, 1861, the thunders of war which fell upon Fort Sumter and its beleaguered garrison at Charleston, South Carolina, burst upon the impatient nation by the magnetic click of the telegraph, the patriotism of its people was fanned to the highest and they flew to the defense of its threatened institu- tions. To indicate something of the feeling and spirit of the peo- ple, as reflected by its papers, the following extract is taken from
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520
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
the files of the La Porte Herald in its issue of the 20th of April, 1861:
"Like the viper which was warmed to life in the bosom of the countryman and then stung him to death, so the cotton States of the Union have raised the parricidal hand of bloody war against the Government which has long fostered and protected them. History will blush to record the hugeness of the crime. It overtops the ordinary criminality of aggressive, canseless warfare, as Satan exceeded in proportions the other rebel angels.
"He above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower ;. .. . but his face Deep scars of thunder had entrenched, and care Sat on his faded cheek.
" Without a parallel in the history of the world, all other rebell- ions, all other treasons, will dwindle to insignificance before the enormity and wickedness of the present. The loyal States and the general Government have given an example of patience and for- bearance which was fast being regarded as weakness and imbecility. But, thank God, there is a change. The Government still has power. She struggled long to avert a war, but it has been at last forced upon her. Now she will test her power, and she will prove too strong for treason. There are loyal men enough to defend the Union against every foe. The old Jackson spirit still lives and is intensified seven fold. 'The Union must and shall be preserved.' We love the old Union more every day. The star-spangled banner creates sensations never felt before. Men of all parties feel that no other banner shall ever float over us. The cursed rattlesnake banner has no business on American soil, and by the blessing of God it shall be driven back to the hell from which it came. The descend- ants of the pilgrims will never disgrace their ancestry. The clouds will scatter, day will dawn, and out of the thick gloom of the pres- ent, liberty will come forth arrayed in robes of rejoicing, and enter upon new glories, ' heights unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.'
" -The land Is never lost that has a son to right her, And here are troops of sons, and loyal ones. Strong in her children should a mother be : Shall ours be helpless, that has sons like us ?"
With feelings like these gushing forth from every heart as they did, especially from Republicans and Donglas Democrats, it is no wonder that her able-bodied sons sprang to arms and interposed " fortune, life, and sacred honor " in defense of America's sacred patrimony. Thousands heard the call, and hundreds suffered the accidents of war, and even dared to die that the country might live. In these defenders of liberty and freedom are the county's patriot- ism and philanthropy symbolized.
In the fierce arbitrament of the sword which followed the bom- bardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, La Porte county was not
521
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
wanting in her patriotism; and her rich fields and . thriving shops emptied themselves of their sons to swell the grand array of free- dom. Following is the assignment of these warriors in the army of the Union.
WHERE THEY WERE FOUND.
It would be quite worthy to give a full list of the names of the men who found a place in the army of the Union, together with the history of each man; but space forbids anything like this. Below is given the assignment of La Porte county's men in the army; for a more complete history of each individual man, refer- ence must be made to the Report of Adjutant General W. H. H. Terrell.
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HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
TABLE OF ORGANIZATIONS CONTAINING LA PORTE COUNTY MEN.
No. Reg't.
Arm of Service.
Term of Service.
No. Men.
No. Officers.
9th
Infantry
Three Months
144
9
9th
Infantry .
Three Years
229
27
11th
Infantry.
Three Years
4
. .
13th
Infantry .
Three Years
3
. .
15th
Infantry
Three Years.
117
9
17th
Infantry .
Three Years
25
1
20th
Infantry
Three Years.
122
10
21st
Infantry .
Three Years.
8
. .
23d
Infantry.
Three Years.
1
. .
27th
Infantry.
Three Years.
1
1
29th
Infantry .
Three Years.
198
25
30th
Infantry
Three Years.
1
·
32d
Infantry.
Three Years.
3
3
33d
Infantry
Three Years.
7
1
34th
Infantry .
Three Years.
106
14
38th
Infantry.
Three Years
11
. .
42d
Infantry .
Three Years.
2
.
45th
3d Cavalry
Three Years
1
1
48th
Infantry .
Three Years.
59
10
58th
Infantry
Three Years.
22
·
59th
Infantry.
Three Years.
15
1
73d
Infantry .
Three Years
193
14
74th
Infantry .
Three Years
1
77th
4th Cavalry.
Three Years
81
5
83d
Infantry .
Three Years.
246
18
90th
5th Cavalry
Three Years
4
1
99th
Infantry .
Three Years
1
.
119th
7th Cavalry
Three Years.
1
·
127th
12th Cavalry
Three Years.
169
10
129th
Infantry .
Three Years
2
138th
Infantry.
100 Days.
164
143d
Infantry
One Year.
1
151st
Infantry .
One Year.
119
155th
Infantry
One Year ..
130
5
3d
Artillery.
Three Years.
1
·
4th
Artillery.
Three Years.
85
5
5th
Artillery.
Three Years.
34
2
13th
Artillery.
Three Years.
4
1
14th
Artillery
Three Years.
2
.
21st
Artillery.
Three Years.
23
2
23d
Artillery
Three Years
1
. .
Total
. .
Infantry
Three Months
144
9
16
...
100 Days.
164
6
66
.
.
All Terms
2207
174
Cavalry.
Three Years
188
17
Artillery
Three Years.
150
10
All Terms.
2545
191
1st U. S. Vet. Vol. Engineers
Three Years.
4
. .
U. S. Colored Troops ..
Three Ye S.
11
. .
Grand Total in the service from the County.
| 2560 | 191
2
101st
Infantry.
Three Years.
3
3
126th
11th Cavalry.
Three Years
98
7
128th
Infantry
Three Years.
16
87th
Infantry.
Three Years
1
35th
Infantry .
Three Years
80
44th
Infantry .
Three Years.
6
6 :0:00 · 8
One Year
250
13
..
Three Years.
1649
146
...
...
...
All Arms.
523
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
To make the list complete, to the above must be added 65 minute men who belonged to Company B, 109th Regiment, which will make the grand total of men furnished by the county to the army 2,625 men, minus a few whose names are repeated by being dis- charged and re-enlisting in some other organization; and yet this may be offset by those of the county who belonged to other than Indiana regiments. This certainly speaks well for the patriotism of the citizens of La Porte county in the hour of her country's peril.
WHERE THEY MET THE ENEMY.
When Abraham Lincoln, in his proclamation, said, "I want 75,- 000 men to set in the defense of freedom," the 9th Indiana Volun- teers arose at once and said, "Take me, take me." They were taken, and sent into West Virginia where they participated in a brilliant little campaign, and met the enemy at Philippi, Laurel Hill and Charrick's Ford, and proved themselves of worthy blood. In these initial struggles and trials of strength La Porte county was represented by her men, and not withont honor.
But this struggle was not to be a breakfast spell as some supposed, but it was to be one of desperation and endurance. This three months' campaign demonstrated this to the satisfaction of both contending parties. Hence, they began to make the preparations necessary for a successful issue. President Lincoln had already called for 300,000 more men, and the nation flew to arms. These were being enlisted when the 9th returned from its short three months' campaign. They had tasted of it enough to fire them still more with patriotism, and away they went to the war for three years.
It will be impossible to trace the course of events so as to give the history of La Porte county's part in the struggle which followed this short campaign in full. But the history of La Porte county will be imperfect without some detail of these things. For this reason, a few of the prominent places where it was represented on the field has been selected, to which brief attention is called. The county was mostly represented in the army in the West. The regiments in which it had a representation in the East were the 13th, 20th, 27th, 45th and 155th. Those representing it in the various corps and divisions in the army in the West were the 9th, 11th, 15th, 17th, 21st, 23d, 27th, 29th, 30th, 32d, 33d, 34th, 35th, 38th, 42d, 44th, 48th, 58th, 59th, 73d, 77th, 83d, 87th, 90th, 99th, 101st, 119th, 126th, 127th, 128th, 129th, 138th, 143d, 151st, 3d Bat., 4th Bat., 5th Bat., 13th Bat., 14th Bat., 21st Bat., 23d Bat.
CHANCELLORSVILLE AND GETTYSBURG.
In the East, the service which the regiments in which the county was represented was as honorable and glorious as any ren- dered during the war. This may especially be said of the 20th
524
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Regiment. On many of the hotly-contested battle-fields of the East it was engaged, and always with honor. On the 30th of April, 1863, it was engaged in the battle of Chancellorsville, and captured the whole of the 23d Georgia Regiment, numbering more men than its own. It was in the great battle of Gettysburg, from the 2d to the 4th of July, 1863, and participated in the pursuit of General Lee into Virginia, overtaking, attacking and defeating his forces at Manassas Gap. After this it was engaged in all the opera- tions of General Grant around Richmond and Petersburg, which culminated in the final overthrow and surrender of General Lee's army. Its last engagement was at Clover Hill, Virginia, on the 9th of April, 1865.
SHILOH.
After snecess began to crown the efforts of the Union forces in the West, at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, the movements of the forces brought them together again at Pittsburg Landing, on the Tennessee river, or as it is usually called, Shiloh, on the 6th of April, 1862. The rebel forces determined to retrieve some of their reverses, and attack the Union army at this place with the greatest. vigor and determination. The result was that one of the greatest battles of the war in its consequences was fought. It continued for two days. The first day it was all the Union forces could do to withstand the onslaughts of the enemy, and many lost their lives. On the second day they repelled the charges of the rebels, and themselves took the offensive, defeating them with great loss. It was a signal victory for the Union. La Porte county was repre- sented by numerous regiments in this battle, but those having the largest number of men were the 9th, 15th and 29th. The victory of Shiloh is largely attributable to these regiments.
STONE RIVER.
The remainder of the campaign of 1862 was quite active in the West. The rebel Generals were on the alert. This year witnessed the invasion of Kentucky by General Bragg, and General Kirby Smith, who penetrated nearly to Louisville and Cincinnati. They were, however, driven back into Tennessee, whither they were fol- lowed by the Union forces, through Nashville and on to Murfrees- boro. On the 31st of December, 1862, these forces found themselves in front of one another again, on the eve of another great struggle for the mastery, at Stone river. For three days, December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863, neither force could compel a victory ; but at the expiration of that time the Confederates were defeated with terrific loss,-a loss of nearly 15,000 men,-the Union loss being but about half so much. In this battle, La Porte county was represented, besides regiments which had a less number of her men, by the 9th, 15th, 35th, 42d and 73d Regiments of Infantry, and by the 4th and 5th Batteries of Light Artillery.
525
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
VICKSBURG.
The campaign of 1863, inaugurated by the striking off the limbs of 4,000,000 slaves the shackles of their bondage by the proclamation of President Lincoln, which took effect on the first day of this year, and which was seconded by the great victory of Stone river on the 2d of January, was one of great activity, with varied successes, of course, but with substantial progress in the end of the Union cause. This year witnessed the great victories of Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, of Helena, Arkansas, and of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the 4th of July, by the first of which the Confederates were driven back into Virginia with disastrous defeat, and by the latter of which the great artery of commerce, the Mississippi river, was opened from its source to its month, and every Rebel obstruction upon it was removed. In this latter victory, the county was represented by the 48th Regiment, besides others which had a less number of her men.
CHICKAMAUGA.
While the operations were going on at Vicksburg, the campaign in the West elsewhere was just as active and ardnous. Rosencrans was pushing down from Stone river, over the mountains, into the very heart of the Confederacy, until September found him at Chat- tanooga. The Confederate officials became alarmed at his progress, and determined to beat him back. They massed their forces against him at Chickamauga, and on the 19th and 20th of September a most terrific battle was fought, in which General Rosencrans was compelled to fall back to Chattanooga. In this battle the county was represented by the 9th, 29th, 35th. 42d, 77th, 87th, Regiments (the 77th being Cavalry) Infantry, and by the 4th, 5th and 21st Batteries of Light Artillery .
LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN.
After the battle of Chickamauga, General Rosencrans and his army was cooped up in Chattanooga. In the meantime General Grant was made the Chief Commander of the armies of the West; and he hastened in person to the relief of the beleaguered army in Chattanooga, ordering at the same time the Army of the Tennessee, consisting of the 15th, 16th and 17th Army Corps, from Vicksburg, under General Sherman, to his aid; and having sent to him from the East the 12th Army Corps, under General Hooker also. His course was entirely defensive until these forces had arrived, which took until November 22d. On the following day, November 23d, Gen- eral Hooker, with selected forces, fought the renowned battle above the clouds on Lookout Mountain, in which the Rebels were driven from that stronghold. In this splendid engagement the county was represented by the 9th, and 42d Regiments of Infantry, and by the 4th Battery of Light Artillery.
34
526
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
MISSION RIDGE.
After the successful battle on Lookout Mountain, General Grant spent the next day in arranging his forces for a trial of strength with General Bragg, who occupied the heights of Mission Ridge around Chattanooga. On the 25th of November, the important and successful battle of Mission Ridge was fought, in which the forces of General Bragg were completely routed and defeated. In this engagement the county was represented by the following regi- ments: the 9th, 15th, 35th, 42d and 87th Infantry; and by the 4th, and 21st Batteries of Light Artillery.
ATLANTA CAMPAIGN.
During the winter which followed this campaign, extensive preparations were made for the one which would follow. In the West, a movement was projected which would pierce the very vitals of the Confederacy. This campaign was given to General Sher- man, and it has become known in the military history of the country as the " Atlantic Campaign." The representation of the county in this extensive series of battles was made by the 9th, 15th, 42d, 48th and 87th Regiments of Infantry; by the 12th, (77th) Cavalry, and by the 5th Battery of Artillery. At all of the engagements these organizations rendered valuable service in secur- ing the final victory which let the army into Atlanta. They carried the old flag at Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Chattahoochee river, and in the battles around Atlanta from the 20th of July to the battles of Jonesboro, the 1st of September, which opened the city to Federal occupation.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA.
After the successful issue of the " Atlanta campaign," General Sherman projected another, which is now known as "the march to the sea." In this, the county's chief representatives were the 42d, 48th and 87th Regiments of Infantry. The success of this march opened up the weakness of the Confederacy and paved the way to its collapse, which occurred in the April following.
NASHVILLE.
But while this marchi was being made, the vigilant, daring and aggressive rebel General Hood was making desperate efforts to re- occupy Tennessee, and pressed the Union forces back as far as Nashville. Here, on the 15th of December, 1864, General Hood encountered another disastrons defeat, which scattered his forces, and stopped all aggressive movements on his part. La Porte county was represented in the honors of this great victory by the 9th and 35th Regiments of Infantry, and by the 21st Battery of Light Artillery.
527
HISTORY OF LA PORTE COUNTY.
Of those who were in the service from the county, as reported in General Terrell's Reports, 86 were killed in battle, or were so badly wounded that they soon died; 31 were wounded so badly as to be discharged on account of them, and 187 died in the camps or hospitals from disease or accidents. These were the casualties, except those who were less severely wounded and those who were so afflicted with discase from the exposures of the camp that they are no better. More than ten per cent. of those who went from the county lost their lives outright,-273.
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