USA > Indiana > Miami County > History of Miami County, Indiana : from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 27
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Company A, Twentieth Regiment .- The commissioned of- ficers of this company were: Captains: John Van Valkenburg, July 22, 1861; William B. Reyburn, December 28, 1861; Jonas Hoover, January 16, 1863; John F. Thomas, May 21, 1863; James DeLong, August 1, 1864. First Lieutenants : William B. Reyburn, July 22, 1861; Jonas Hoover, December 28, I861; C. R. Pew, January 16, 1863; James DeLong, April 16, 1863; William Trippeer, August 1, 1863. Second Lieuten- ants: Jonas Hoover, July 22, 1861; Jno. F. Thomas, Decem-
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ber 28, 1861; C. R. Pew, August 30, 1862; James DeLong, January 16, 1863; W. J. Hawk, April II, 1863, and Wallace Richardson, August 1, 1864.
The original enrollment of the company was 98, all of whom were credited to Miami county. The total number of recruits was seventeen, sixteen of whom. were from Miami county. There were eleven died while in the service, four deserted and thirty-six were unaccounted for.
The only regimental officers of the Twentieth, from Miami County, were John Van Valkenburg, who was commissioned as fol- lows: Major, December 28, 1868; Lieutenant-Colonel, February 16, 1862, and Colonel, August 30, 1868; and John F. Thomas, Adjutant, December 21, 1861. The report of the Adjutant-General shows that Col. Van Valkenburg was dishonorably discharged from the service February II, 1863. The charge was that he had writ- ten a letter in which he had expressed a disloyal sentiment. It is claimed, however, by those best acquainted with the facts, that the letter was misinterpreted, and that the language used was intended to convey an entirely different meaning, and that the hasty investi- gation made by the authorities deprived the Union cause of one of its most loyal supporters. The character of a soldier is best known by those who have fought by his side, and be it said to the credit of Col. Van Valkenburg that whatever public opinion may have been, his comrades remember him as a brave, patriotic and loyal soldier.
The Twentieth Regiment was organized at Lafayette in July 1861, but was mustered into the service at Indianapolis on the 22d of said month. The Regiment went to Baltimore and from there sailed to Hatteras Inlet, N. C. While there it was attacked by the enemy's gunboat and forced to retreat. On the 9th of Novem- ber it embarked for Fortress Monroe, where it lay in camp till March 1862, then moved to Newport News where it participated in the engagement between the Merrimac, Cumberland and Congress. On the roth of May it moved to Norfolk and assisted in the capture of that city, after which it joined the Army of the Potomac and Peninsula, and was assigned to Jameson's Brigade. Took part in the battle.of Orchards, sustaining a loss of 144 men and officers in killed, wounded and missing. It covered the retreat of the 3d Corps in the celebrated Seven Days' Fight, participating in all the battles, especially that of Glendale or Frazier's farm, in which the regiment lost heavily. The next engagement in which it took part was that of Manassas Plains, where its first colonel, William L. Brown, was killed. On the 18th of November it took part in the battle of Fredericksburg and aided in saving from capture three Union batteries. On the 30th of April, 1863, it crossed the Rappa- hannock and took part in the battle of Chancellorsville, capturing at
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one time the whole of the Twenty-third Georgia, numbering more than its own men. It then moved with the Army of the Potomac in pursuit of Lee and arrived at Gettysburg in time to participate in the second day's fight. It occupied a position in Sickle's Corps, on the extreme left of the army, where it was very much exposed, and lost Col. Wheeler and 152 men and officers. It took an active part on the third and fourth days and lost heavily. It followed in pur- suit and was again engaged at Manassas Gap; took part in the engagements at Locust Grove and Mine Run, after which it was reorganized at Culpepper.
The regiment crossed the Rapidan with Grant's army, and in May, 1864, took part in the battles of the Wilderness, Todd's Tav- ern, Po River, Spottsylvania, Tallopotanni and Cold Harbor. After this it was consolidated with the Fourteenth and Nineteenth, and was again engaged at Preble's House and Hatcher's Run. In all the engagements on the left from Hatcher's Run to the fall of Richmond the regiment took active part, Its last engagement was that of Clover Hill April 9th 1865. On the 12th of July it was mustered out at Louisville.
Company H, reorganized, contained seventeen men from Miami County with William Trippeer, of Peru, Captain, December 2, 1864, and Edward B. Weist, of Peru, First Lieutenant, May 16, 1865.
Twenty-Ninth Regiment .- Miami county was represented in two companies of the Twenty-Ninth. In Company F Perry Butler was the only representative, and was commissioned Cap- tain May 17, 1864. Company H was represented by twenty- six originally enlisted men and seventeen recruits. The original enrollment of the company was 61, and was recruited with IIO. There were twenty-six who died in the service and eight de- serters. The commissioned officers were: Captains-William W. Shuler, September 10, 1861; Adams S. Loventhal, Novem- ber 12, 1863; Hiram B. Bates, January 1, 1865. First Lieu- tenants-Henry Boyce, September 10, 1861; W. A. Duey, January 20, 1863; Hiram B. Bates, November 21, 1863. Sec- ond Lieutenants-C. Perry Butler, September 10, 1861; John Posey, January 14, 1862; Thomas C. Reese, March I, 1862. The only regimental officer of the Twenty-Ninth from Miami county was C. Perry Butler, March I. 1865.
The Twenty-Ninth was organized at LaPorte and muster- ed into service for three years, on the 27th of August, 1861, with Jno. F. Miller as Colonel. It joined General Rousseau's command at Camp Nevin, Ky., moved to Munfordville, Bowl- ing Green, and later . to the Tennessee River, and participated in the battle of Shiloh on the 7th of April, 1862, was under fire for more than 5 hours and suffered severely. Took an ac-
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tive part in the siege of Corinth. After which it moved with Buell's Army in pursuit of Bragg and returned to Nashville, and with Rosecrans' took part in the battle of Stone River, losing many men and officers. After the occupation of Mur- freesboro the Regiment remained there till May, 1863, when it moved forward with Rosecrans' to Tullahoma and Chattanooga. Also participated in the skirmishes at Lavergne, Triune and Liberty Gap. In the battle of Chickamauga the regiment was engaged both days and lost heavily. In January, 1864, the Regiment re-enlisted as a veteran organization, leaving for home the same month on a veteran furlough. After it returned to the field was engaged in a skirmish at Decatur, Alabama, and Dalton, Georgia.
The Thirty-Ninth .- The two Companies A and M of the Thirty-Ninth were composed largely of Miami county men. The entire original enrollment of Company A, 98 in number, was credited to Miami county. There were 91 recruits, twenty-nine deaths and five lost by desertion. The commissioned officers. were: Captains-Orris Blake, September 2, 1861; Horace S. Foote, May 10, 1864; Albert Downing, January 1, 1865. First Lieutenants-E. V. Peterson, September 2, 1861; Horace Foote, January 5, 1864; P. Blake, May 10, 1864; Nelson Hurst, Janu- ary I, 1875. Second Lieutenants-Horace S. Foote, September 2, 1861; P. Blake, January 5, 1864; Albert Downing, March 6, 1864; Andrew Huffman, January 1, 1865. In Company M there were 100 enlisted men, with fourteen recruits. Eighteen of these died in the service and ten deserted. Twenty of the original enrollment were credited to Miami county. The only commissioned officer from the county was Elhanan V. Peter- son. Date of commission, January 5, 1865. The only regi- mental officer from the county was A. S. Lakin, of Peru, who was commissioned Chaplain, August 28, 1861.
The Eighth Cavalry (39th) Regiment was organized as an infantry regiment at Indianapolis on the 29th of August, 1861, and left for Kentucky early in September. After camp- ing at several points it marched with Buell's Army into Ten- nessee and took part in the battle of Shiloh, April 7th, 1862, losing two killed and thirty-four wounded. It next participated in the seige of Corinth. After which they moved with Buell's Army into Alabama, through Tennessee into Kentucky and back to Nashville, and there joined Rosecrans' Army and with it participated in the battle of Stone River. In this engage- ment the Regiment suffered severely, losing in killed, wounded and missing three hundred and eighty. In April, 1863, the Regiment was mounted and served as mounted infantry during that year. In June it reinforced the Second Indiana Cavalry
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and participated in the skirmishes at Middleton, Liberty Gap and Winchester, and on the 19th and 20th of September was in the battle of Chickamauga. Authority being given to change the organization from infantry to cavalry, Companies L and M were organized in September and on going to the com- mand in the field the Regiment, on the 15th of October, 1863, organized into the Eighth Cavalry. On the 22nd of February, 1864, the Regiment re-enlisted as a veteran organization, and soon after participated in the Rousseau's raid in Alabama, and McCook's raid around Atlanta. It was next engaged in Kil- patrick's raid in Georgia, and at the battle of Lovejoy Station did effective work. In the campaign against Savannah and through the Carolinas it participated in the battles and skirm- ishes at Waynesboro, Buckhead Church, Browne's Cross Roads, Reynold's Farm, Aiken, Bentonville, Averysboro and Raleigh. The Eighth Cavalry whipped Hamilton's entire force at Morrisville, and thus had the honor of fighting the last bat- tle with the enemy in that State. During its term of service the Regiment lost 9 officers killed in battle, 300 in prisoners, and captured from the enemy 1,500 men, 1,000 stands of arms, three railroad trains, 1,400 horses, fourteen pieces of artillery and four battle flags.
Company B of the Fortieth was made up almost entirely of Miami County men, and was officered as follows: Captains-A. Ewing, November 27, 1861; O. C. Harvey, June 16, 1862; Charles S. Smith, March 1, 1865. First Lieutenants-John C. Bellew, No- vember 27, 1861; Willard Griswold, June 16, 1862; J. C. Brower, July 1, 1864; C. S. Smith, December 4, 1864; N. Y. Buck, March 20, 1865; Franklin Cranor, June 20, 1865. Second Lieutenants- J. C. Thompson, November 27, 1861; O. C. Harvey, March 30, 1862; Albert Olinger, June 16, 1862; Franklin Cranor, June I, 1865; John Debarr, September 1, 1865. In Company I, same regi- ment, Mark Dwire, First Lieutenant; Alfred Warwick, Second Lieutenant, aad two others in the rank of private, were enrolled from this county. Willard Griswold, of Peru, became Adjutant of the regiment July 1, 1864.
The Fortieth Regiment was organized at Lafayette the 30th of December, 1861, and at once proceeded to Bardstown, Ky. In February, 1862, it marched with Buell's Army to Nashville, and thence to Northern Alabama, after which it joined in pursuit of Bragg through Kentucky. The regiment returned to Nashville in November, where it was assigned to the 6th Division of the 14th Army Corps. In December it marched toward Murfreesboro' and participated in the battle of Stone River, losing in killed, wounded and missing eighty-five. It remained at Murfreesboro' for some- time after the battle, and when the army was reorganized it was
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assigned to the command of Major-General Crittenden. The regi- ment next participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, after which it re-enlisted as a veteran organization. The regiment joined the Atlanta campaign, and, under General Howard, took part in all the engagements and skir- mishes of said campaign, and in the battles of Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie River and Peach Tree Creek, took a very conspicuous part. After the occupation of Atlanta the regiment was sent back to Chattanooga, and from there moved to Nashville, and on. the 15th of December participated in that battle. In the following year went to New Orleans and from there to Texas and joined General Sheridan.
Fifty-first .- The commissioned officers of Company C, Fifty- first, were: Captains-Francis .M. Constant, October 11, 1861; William Wallick, June 30, 1863; Avery B. Charpie, December 15, 1864. First Lieutenants-Joseph Y. Ballou, October II, 1861; A. G. Murray, June 30, 1863; John C. Young, February 6, 1865. Second Lieutenants-William Wallick, October 18, 1861; Jasper N. Brown, June 30, 1863; A. B. Charpie, November 23, 1864; Louis P. Holman, May 1, 1865. Sixty-one of the ninety-two enlisted men, and eight of the fifty-six recruits were credited to Miami County. William Morehead, of Peru, was assistant surgeon of the regiment. It was organized at Indianapolis on the IIth of October, 1861, and was mustered in December 14, with Abel D. Streight as Colonel. The regiment joined Buell in Kentucky and marched into Tennessee where it participated in the siege of Cor- inth, and after the evacuation marched to Stevenson, Ala. It next joined Buell in pursuit of Bragg through Kentucky, and in Decem- ber, 1864, returned to Nashville, where it joined Rosecrans' army and participated in the battle of Stone River, losing in killed, wounded and missing forty-nine men. After the engagement at Stone River it left on the Streight expedition. This was a provisional brigade organized by Col. Streight and consisted of the Fifty-first and Sev- enty-third Indiana, Third Ohio and Eightieth Illinois, with two cav- alry companies and two pieces of artillery. The expedition pro- ceeded to Rome, Georgia, via Palmyra, Fort Henry and Eastport, Miss., where they purposed making a raid on the rear of Bragg's army. The expedition reached the base of Sand Mountains on the 29th of April, where a battle ensued with Forrest's cavalry, which resulted disastrously to the latter. . On the Ist of May another fight took place at Crooked Creek, in which the enemy was repulsed, and again defeated at Blunt's Farm. The command pushed for- ward with the hopes of capturing Rome, but on the 3d of May was overtaken near Gaylesville, Ala., by General Forrest and com- pelled to surrender. The whole force was consigned to a rebel prison, but after some time the enlisted men were paroled for ex-
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- change. On the 9th of February Colonel Streight escaped from Libby Prison by means of a tunnel. In November, 1863, the regi- ment was exchanged and at once returned to the field. In Febru- ary, 1864, a portion of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans. The 14th of December the non-veterans were mustered out of service. On the 15th of December it participated in the battle of Nashville. In the following year the regiment moved to New Orleans and thence to Texas.
Eighty-seventh .- During its term of service Company C of the Eighty-seventh was officered as follows: Captains-Henry Calkins, August 9, 1862, and Milo D. Ellis, May 3, 1863. First Lieuten- ants-Milo D. Ellis, August 9, 1862; Burr Russell, May 3, 1883; John Demuth, December 1, 1883, and Irwin Hutchinson, August 23, 1884. Second Lieutenants-I. H. Cockran, August 9, 1882; Burr Russell, February 14, 1883; Elisha Brown, May 3, 1883, and William H. Reyburn, May 1, 1885. The com- pany as it was mustered was composed exclusively of Miami county men-92 in number. There were twenty-four died in the service and three deserted. In Company H there was one commissioned officer from Miami County-James S. Duret, Sec- ond Lieutenant.
Movements of Eigthty-Seventh .- After its organization at South Bend, August 28th, 1862, it moved to Indianapolis and was mustered in on the 3Ist, with Kline G. Shryock, as Col- onel. It left for Kentucky on the day of muster and was as- signed to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, and with it took part in Buell's campaign in Kentucky, and participated in the engagements at Springfield and Perry- ville. After the Kentucky campaign it moved into Tennessee, and in March, 1883, was engaged in a skirmish with General Forrest at Chapel Hill. In June it moved with the Army of the Cumberland and engaged in campaigns against Tullahoma. It returned to Tennessee in the Fall and took an active part in the battle of Chickamauga, and in November was in the front line in the storming of Mission Ridge. In February it engaged the enemy at Buzzard Roost and proceeded to Ringgold where it went into camp. It was next engaged in the Atlanta cam- paign and participated in all the principal battles and skirmishes, confronting the enemy at Rocky Face, Resacca, Cassville, Dal- las, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek and before Atlanta. From Atlanta it went in pursuit of Hood through Northern Georgia, but soon returned to Atlanta. The Regiment left Atlanta about the middle of November, and after a long march, with one or two minor engagements, it reached the defenses of Savanah on the 10th of December and participated in the siege. It was in the campaign of the Carolinas and from Raleigh went to Wash-
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ington City with Sherman's Army where it was mustered out of the service.
The Ninety-Ninth .- In the Ninety-Ninth regiment which was raised from the Ninth Congressional District, there were two companies of Miami county men. The first company, which was assigned to the position of G, was organized late in the summer of 1862, and under the command of Josiah Farrar, Cap- tain, left for the place of rendezvous. Stopping at Logansport they were there given a reception and banquetted by the patri- otic people of the city. The second company, which was com- manded by Capt. William V. Powell, left for the camp early in the fall, and in the organization of the regiment was given the posi- tion of I.
Company D during its term of service was officered as follows: Captains: Josiah Farrar, August 19, 1862, and George W. Norris, May 1, 1865. First Lieutenants: John Clifton, August 19, 1862; George W. Norris, August 22, 1863, and John Harvey, May 1, 1865. Second Lieutenants : J. H. Ham- lin, August 19, 1862; G. W. Norris, January 1, 1863, and Jacob D. Smith, May 1, 1865.
Company I had the following named commissioned officers: Captains: William V. Powell, October 10, 1862, and Ira B. Myers, May 2, 1865. First Lieutenants: Ira B. Myers, Octo- ber 10, 1862, and L. U. Powell, June 1, 1865. Second Lieu- tenants: James B. McGonigal, October 10, 1862, and John C. Parks, May 1, 1865.
The regimental officers of the Ninety-Ninth from Miami county were: Josiah Farrar, Colonel, May 1, 1865. Lieuten- ant Colonels: Josiah Farrar, May- 1, 1865, and William V. Powell, May 2, 1865; William V. Powell, Major, May 1, 1865. The Ninety-Ninth Regiment was organized in the Ninth Con- gressional District, and mustered into the service October 21, I862, with Alexander Fowler Colonel. The Regiment left in November for Memphis, Tennessee, and with the Sixteenth Army Corps took part in the Tallahatchie campaign. In May, 1863, it sailed down the Mississippi River and joined in the be- seiging forces of General Grant in the rear of Vicksburg; thence to Jackson, Mississippi, and with Sherman's Army participated in the siege at that place. The Regiment in the latter part of September marched to Memphis and from thence to Chatta- nooga, where it at once took possession of Indian Hill, the east extremity of Mission Ridge, and with tin plates as intrench- ing tools, improvised a full line of defense, and on the 25th participated in the battle. After the battle of ·Mission Ridge the Regiment moved east for the purpose of cutting com- munications between Bragg and Longstreet and relieve Burnside,
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then beseiged at Knoxville. The Regiment accomplished this dreary march, almost entirely destitute of clothing, blankets and shoes, and without regular rations or supplies of any kind, and marched through mud and over rocks and compelled Longstreet to raise the seige. It marched with Sherman's Army to Atlanta, and under the gallant McPherson was engaged in every skirmish, battle or assault in which the army took part. The Ninety-Ninth was engaged every day in the skirmishes from the 3rd of Au- gust to the 15th. Leaving Atlanta it marched with Sherman to the sea, and on the march was engaged in skirmishes at Cannou- chee and Ogeechee Rivers. On the 15th of December the Regi- ment took part in the charge upon Fort McAllister, which, after a desperate hand to hand struggle, its garrison surrendered and opened Sherman's communications with the sea. From Savannah the Regiment marched with Sherman through the Carolinas on to Washington City where it was mustered out with Col. Farrar in command. The Ninety-Ninth left for the field with 900 and re- turned with 425 men and officers. It marched during its term of service more than 4,000 miles.
Mr. Farrar, under whose command the regiment was mustered out, was one of three of the Miami County Volunteers who rose to the position of Colonel. While holding a Lieutenant Colonel com- mission he was much of the time in command of the regiment and on different occasions commanded a brigade. His promotions were always a reward of merit, he having filled every position to which he was called with distinguished ability.
Morgan's Raid .- In July, 1863, a division of rebel troops under the command of General John H. Morgan, crossed the Ohio at Brandenburg and proceeded northward into Indiana. All the available regular troops had been sent to General Boyle, at that time commanding the District of Kentucky, which thus left Indiana seemingly at the mercy of the "raiders." Governor Morton, having the utmost confidence in the patriotism of the people of his State, addressed a dispatch to the various portions of the State, requesting that companies be organized and imme- diately sent to Indianapolis. The citizens of Miami County, with their characteristic patriotism, organized two companies, and one in less than forty-eight hours, were en route to the Capital. Both companies were assigned to the One Hundred and Ninth Regiment Minute Men. The first was mustered in July 10 and was assigned to the position of F, and was officered as follows: Captain, Wm. B. Reyburn; First Lieutenant, Jonas Hoover, and Second Lieutenant, W. F. M. Wallick. The enrollment of the Company was ninety-five. All were mustered out on the 17th of same month except three, who deserted. Company D was mustered in on the IIth of July, and consisted of sixty-five en-
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listed men, and with the following commissioned officers: Cap- tain, Joseph Y. Ballou; First Lieutenant, Joun C. Bellew, and Second Lieutenant, Ira B. Stevens. The company was mustered out with regiment on the 17th of July. The One Hundred and Ninth Regiment was composed wholly of minute men. The regiment was organized on the Ioth of July, 1863, with John R. Mahan as Colonel, and contained an aggregate of 709 rank and file. It left Indianapolis by rail on the 13th, arriving at Hamilton, Ohio, the next morning .. Thence it proceeded to Cincinnati, when the emergency being past, the regiment re- turned to Indianapolis, and on the 17th of July was mustered out.
Public Sentiment in 1863-4 .- In the latter days of the war opinion was divided as to the best means of suppressing the rebellion. Many were in favor of prosecuting the war, while others were in favor of conciliatory measures. Those who favored the latter gave expression to their feelings through the resolution in the Senate, which body declared "that it was the imperative duty of the Chief Executive of the Nation to proclaim, and we, therefore, and in the name of the people of Indiana, demand the establishment, as soon as prac- ticable, of an armistice to the end that a convention of all the States may be held for the adjustment of our national difficulties." They called upon Congress to use their power to provide for such a convention, but in the event that Congress should fail, declared further, " that we hereby, in the name of the people of Indiana, invite all States to meet delegates from Indiana at Nashville, Tenn., June 1, 1863." This expression was indorsed by the Democracy of many counties in Indiana, and while the party was not unanimous in its support of this policy, there were many in Miami County who believed such a course would restore the Union and save much suffering and bloodshed. The Democracy of this as well as other counties of the State, was opposed to the war policy of the Administration, and did not hesitate to express their disapproval either on the stump or . through the press. In response to this freedom of expression, Brig .- Gen. Hascall, Commander of the District of Indiana, issued an order, known as "Order No. 9," in which he declares that editors of newspapers and public speakers whc oppose the war policy of the Administration are as much opposed to the government and therefore liable to arrest. This order was published April 25, 1863, and during the time it was in effect caused much excitement and bitter feeling. It was considered by many to be unconstitutional, believing that the right of the people to criticize all public acts is inherent. The Democrats of Miami County met in convention soon after «this
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