USA > Indiana > Posey County > History of Posey County, Indiana : from the earliest times to the present, with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc. : together with an extended history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the state of Indiana > Part 39
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
ficers. On the 28th of that same month Col. Hovey was pro- moted a brigadier-general.
THE SIXTIETH REGIMENT.
The next regiment from this State that contained a con- siderable number of men from Posey County was the Sixtieth. Of the regimental officers Col. Richard Owen was from New Harmony; Majs. Wolfgang Hyne was from Stewartsville and Jesse Nash from New Harmony; Adjts. Eugene F. Owen, Horace P. Owen and Henry H. Hitchcock were all from New Harmony. In this regiment Companies B, C, and E were composed, almost entirely, of men from Posey County. Their commissioned officers, with the dates of commission, were as follows: Of Com- pany B, captains, Wolfgang Hyne, November 18, 1861, and Jo- seph B. Noble, December 1, 1862. First lieutenants, Alfred Dale Owen, November 18, 1861; Joseph B. Noble, September 1, 1862; George W. Fairchild, December 1, 1862; Joseph A. Barrett, February 4, 1863; Jacob Haff, August 12, 1863. Second lieuten- ants, William M. Holton, November 18, 1861; George W. Fair- child, September 1, 1862; Joseph A. Barrett, December 1, 1862; James Cobble, February 4, 1863. Of Company C, the captains were: Jesse Nash, November 22, 1861; Richard A. Wilsey, Feb- ruary 19, 1863; Courtland D. Slow, April 15, 1863; Alexander Stallings, September 30, 1863. First lieutenants, Richard A. Wil- sey, November 22, 1861; Courtland D. Slow, February 19, 1863; Alexander Stallings, April 15, 1863; Isaac Wilson, September 30, 1863. Second lieutenants, John O'Neil, November 22, 1861; Courtland D. Slow, November 15, 1862; Alexander Stallings, February 19, 1863. Of Company E there were captains: Henry F. Fitton, November 13, 1861; Walter E. Thrall, July 12, 1863. First lieutenant, Walter E. Thrall, November 13, 1863; Eugene S. Thrall, July 12, 1863. Second lieutenant Phillip L. Cox, February 20, 1862. In Company I, Samuel H. Endicott, of Wadesville, became first lieutenant. The men that formed these three companies were largely from the northern part of the county, and many of the officers were from the vicinities of Wadesville and Stewartsville. They were all organized in November, 1861, but none of the regiment was mustered into the service until the 11th of March of the following year. The companies that were organized
456
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
in November at Evansville were, in February following, ordered to Indianapolis to guard the rebel prisoners at Camp Morton. While there the organization of the regiment was completed.
SKETCH OF THE SIXTIETH.
In June the regiment moved from there to Louisville and thence to Lebanon. After remaining there for a time it moved to Munfordsville. At that place on the 14th of September, seven companies of the regiment were captured with several Indiana regiments by the advance of Bragg's army. Three companies of the Sixtieth were at that time guarding a bridge near Lebanon Junction and were not captured. The captured companies were paroled and went into camp at Indianapolis, where they were soon after joined by the balance of the regiment. In November, 1862, they were exchanged and at once started for Memphis and joined the Army of the Mississippi. January 10, 1863, it took part in the battle at Arkansas Post, losing a number in killed and wounded. In the campaign against Vicksburg it moved from Millikin's Bend on the 14th of April, making rapid and fatiguing marches through swamps, bayous and streams under scorching suns, drenching rains and engaging in five desperate and hard fought battles. At Port Gibson, on the 1st of May, it was among the first to enter the town; at Champion Hills on the 16th, it was in the advance, and at Black River on the 17th, it behaved with. gallantry. In the siege of Vicksburg it took an active part, remaining in the trenches until the surrender on the 4th of July. After this it took part in several skirmishes on its route to Jack- son, where it participated in the siege, losing several in killed and wounded. The regiment then returned to Vicksburg and remained until August, when it was transported to New Orleans and joined Banks' army. November 3d it was engaged in the battle of Grand Corteau Plains and lost a few killed and wounded. Soon after this it joined Banks' expedition up Red River. At the battle of Sabine Cross Roads on the 8th of April, 1864, the Sixtieth was actively engaged and suffered severely in killed, wounded and prisoners. Its next battle was at Carrion Crow Bayou, La., where its loss was heavy in killed and wounded. In the following spring a large part of the regiment was dis- charged at Indianapolis.
457
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
CASUALTIES.
Company B started out with 96 men and received dur- ing its service 16 recruits. Of these 25 died and 7 deserted. Those that died were Josiah J. Jones, Thomas B. Almon, Thomas Parker, Robert D. Almon, William T. Anderson, Ezra Bowlus, John W. Caulred, Madison Davis, John A. Fitzgerald, William J. Haines, Lemuel Hoskins, Elijah G. Jones, Martin Knight, Henry W. Miller, Jeremiah Overton, William D. Robinson, Charles H. Smith, Elijah Smith, William Lander, Enoch R. Robb, Joseph Walker, Joseph Williams, William N. Defus, George W. McGarvey and Harmon Bennett. The last five were either killed in battle or died of wounds received in action. Company C's original enrollment was 103 and its recruits were 16; of these 29 died in the service and 2 deserted. Those that died from disease were John F. Campbell, William Allison, Thomas Austin, Thomas Barrett, John Bice, Christopher Blew- zinger, Isaac T. Cox, Thomas Cox, John P. Cox, James Drake, Richard Edwards, Aaron Gorman, William Graham, John Hall, Z. Johnson, Charles B. Larcum, Isaac Murphy, William Russel, William Slow, James L. Stallings, Samuel Stewart, Josiah Will- iams, Samuel Wilsey, Enoch Williams and Turner Taylor. Those who were killed or died of wounds were Henry C. Endicott, William P. Coleman, John Coon and John Murry. Company E started out with 97 men and was recruited with 5. Sixteen of these died and 17 deserted. None of the company were killed or died of wounds. The names of those who died of disease while in the service are as follows: Henry Warren, Henry Baldwin, William Benton, Martin Clark, John Calvin, Providence Calvin, William Jordon, Christopher Longstaff, Frederick Mentle, Frederick Nel- son, Patrick O'Brien, Joseph Peck, Frederick Roser, James Short, Daniel P. Sketers and William H. Wells. Thus we see that by the close of the year 1861, Posey County had more than 800 men in the active volunteer service of the United States. This is a showing that speaks well for the loyalty of its citizens. Many who had at first been opposed to the war were now the most pronounced in favor of maintaining the unity of the Republic, even though fraternal blood should be the price. The war had now assumed a proportion little dreamed of at the start, and yet the vigor of the nation was scarcely aroused.
458
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
AID SOCIETIES.
The people at home took active and early measures for the re- lief of the families of those who had enlisted. Relief and aid so- cieties were organized in various portions of the county. Some of them had for their object the betterment of the soldier's condition in the field. The women gave entertainments and the proceeds were invested in blankets, socks, shirts and whatever else the wants of the soldiers demanded. These were shipped in boxes to the company, and no doubt gladdened many a sad heart of the boys as they bivouacked on cold and starless nights. It was some con- solation to know that at home they were remembered and their solemn sacrifice unforgotten. This prompt action on the part of the people at home was also a stimulus to volunteering. The men knew that their families would be provided for, and they enlisted with more freedom.
A HOSPITAL AT HOME.
At a special session of the county board in April, 1862, an or- der was granted for $500, to Milton Black "for the use of a mil- itary hospital now being established in Mount Vernon, for the care of such wounded and disabled soldiers as may be brought to Mount Vernon." At the same time the governor was requested to use his influence to have a hospital established at Mount Ver- non during the war. The frequency and number of wounded soldiers that landed at Mount Vernon rendered this movement almost necessary in the early part of the war.
THE SIXTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
Volunteering went on throughout the State and nowhere more actively than in this county. The next regiment that contained a company of men from Posey was the Sixty-fifth Indiana Volun- teers. That company was organized in the vicinity of Mount Vernon, and was assigned the position of A. The officers were, captains, Walter G. Hodge, August 11, 1862; John M. Duck- worth, June 24, 1864. First lieutenants, Moses Ashworth, August 11, 1862; John M. Duckworth, January 1, 1864; William Wim- pleberg, June 24, 1864; William P. Finch, April 6, 1865. Second lieutenants, Barney York, August 11, 1862; John M. Duckworth, October 9, 1863; William Wimpleberg, January 1, 1864; William P. Finch, September 1, 1864; Harrison C. Stout, June 1, 1865.
459
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
This company was organized in the first days of August, and the officers' commissions dated the 11th. The 20th it was mustered into the service at Evansville with 97 men, and it was afterward re- cruited with a total of 16 men. Twenty-five were killed and died, and 5 deserted. Those who died were Warren T. Jackson, John W. Perkins, James T. Black, Samuel M. Weare, John Acuff, John T. Bates, Charles Bacon, James Floyd, James Florida, H. B. Gano, Joseph Gilley, John H. Harshberger, W. T. Jones, Romelia Kelley, Willis Overton, Thomas Price, Andrew Stallman, John Trafford, H. B. Wallace, Ephraim Olinger, Charles Vanostren. The killed were Timothy D. Crunk, Lewis Harper and James C. Munsey. Be- sides this company the Sixty-fifth Regiment contained a large number of men, and in several other companies, but no one made up entirely of Posey men. Capt. Hodge was promoted lieuten- ant-colonel the 24th of May, 1864, but his death occurred before he was mustered in as such. William Wimpleberg became adju- tant of the regiment.
SKETCH OF THE SIXTY-FIFTH.
In August a few days after its organization, the regiment en- gaged Adam Johnson's rebel force at Madisonville, Ky., with a slight loss. The companies were distributed' in various portions of Kentucky, where they remained doing guard duty until August, 1863. Before then the regiment had been mounted and joined the cavalry. It was engaged on the 20th of September, 1863, at Zollicoffer, and on the 22d at Blountsville. In the fight at Rhea- town on the 11th of October, Company A, had one man wounded. November 17, it was engaged at Walker's Ford, Tenn. After Longstreet's retreat, it fought at Bean Station with his infantry, December 14, losing 2 killed, 10 wounded and 5 missing. The following day it fought at Powder Spring Gap and at Skaggs' Mill. Being dismounted it joined the army of Sherman then moving on the Atlanta campaign. In that campaign it sustained a loss of 11 killed, 23 wounded and 5 prisoners. After a pursuit of Hood's army and engaging in several other battles and skir- mishes the regiment was mustered out the 22d of June, 1865.
THE DRAFT OF 1862.
. The third call of the Government for troops was issued on
460
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
the 4th of August, 1862. The number asked for was 300,- 000. Indiana already had 93,041 in the service, and to fill her quota under this call it became necessary to resort to a draft. The number yet required from the State was 3,003. Posey County had furnished at that date 1,343 soldiers, more than one- third of the entire militia force of the county, which was then numbered at 2,441, in addition to those already in the service. If Robinson Township had furnished thirty-four more men the county would have escaped the draft which took place on the 6th of October. The officers of the draft in this county were John A. Mann, draft commissioner ; J. M. Templeton, marshal; John Conyngton, surgeon. Soon after the outbreak of the war an act of Congress authorized the payment of $100 in bounty. to all volunteers. This lasted until the middle of July, 1864.
VOLUNTEERS OF 1863 AND 1864.
No further calls for troops were made during the year 1862. In June of the following year a call for 100,000 men was issued, and under this Indiana was to raise four regiments. This was done without delay. On the 17th of October, 1863, the Presi- dent issued another call for 300,000 men, increased on the 1st of February to 500,000, and on March 14th to 700,000. Under these calls the quota of Indiana was declared to be 45,529, and 683 was the share of Posey County. These calls were all filled without resorting to a draft. On the 18th of July, 1864, another call for 500,000 men was issued, and Indiana's quota was 25,662. To fill this a draft became necessary. The call for 100 days' men in April, 1864, was promptly met by the county. A bounty was offered by the county of $100 to those who would enlist un- der this call. One hundred men enlisted for 100 days, and the county paid them $10,000.
Under the draft that followed the call of July 18, 1864, 186 men were taken from the county. The total that had now been sent out was in excess 2,200 from Posey County alone, a showing that by no means is unfavorable to the patriotism of the citizens.
MEN FOR THE EIGHTIETH REGIMENT.
The call of August, 1862, gave a new impetus to the volun- teering in Posey County, and another company was soon ready
461
HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
for the field, This was F, of the Eightieth Regiment. It was or- ganized in August and mustered into the service. All of its offi- cers were captains, Russell J. Showers August 27, 1862, and James S. Epperson July 1, 1864; first lieutenants, James S. Ep- person, August 27, 1862; Thomas S. Craig, June 24, 1864; John M. Wolfe, January 17, 1865. Second lieutenants, James H. C. Lowe, August 27, 1862; Alexander R. Smith, January 30, 1863. Capt. Showers was at Resaca May 14, 1864, and Lieut. Craig at the same time. Company F started out with 88 men, and re- ceived 19 recruits. Of these 69 were from this county. Twen- ty were killed and died, and 1 deserted. Of the Eightieth Regiment Charles Denby, of Evansville, was made colonel. Al- fred Dale Owen, of this county, became lieutenant-colonel. At the battle of Perryville, one month after organization, the regi- ment bore a conspicuous part, and lost in killed and wounded 150 officers and men. It remained in Kentucky and Tennessee most of the time until it started on the Atlanta campaign, in which it was engaged in all the important battles. It then pursued Hood's army, and was at the battle of Nashville. On June 22, 1865, the regiment was mustered out.
THE NINETY-FIRST REGIMENT.
In August, 1862, about 200 men from Posey County volun- teered in the Ninety-first Regiment. Company A was made up almost entirely of men from this county, while Company D had 57, and G 38 men, also from the county. Company A was offi- cered as follows: Captains, James M. Carson, August 10, 1862; K. D. Wise, September 12, 1863; John Corbin, June 1, 1864; first lieutenants, K. D. Wise, August 10, 1862; John Corbin, September 10, 1863; Bedford L. Farris, June 1, 1864. Second lieutenants, John Corbin, August 10, 1862; Enoch Snelling, September 12, 1863; Thomas J. Robertson June 1, 1864; Jacob Boucher, November 1, 1864. Capt. Carson was promoted major September 12, 1863; and Lieut. Robertson died August 4, 1864, of wounds received in action. Of Company D Luke A. Burke was made captain at its organization, and served until it was mustered out in June, 1865. The same may be said of First. Lieut. Benjamin A. Williams. Richard Harris, the second lieu- tenant, resigned in May, 1863, and he was succeeded by Josiah
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
L. Barrett, who died, July 31, 1864, of wounds received in action. Joseph A. Leonard was made adjutant of the regiment, Robert Robson and E. V. Mitchell were surgeons. The Ninety-first Regiment was organized at Evansville, and John Mehringer, of Jasper, became the first colonel. Until the winter of 1864 it performed guard duty in Kentucky. February 22, of that year, Company A had a sharp skirmish with 1,200 rebels near Cum- berland Gap. The regiment was with Gen. Schofield at Pine Mountain, and in the campaign around Kenesaw and Lost Moun- tains. It took part in the Atlanta campaign, and then pursued Hood as far as Nashville, and then went into North Carolina. It was discharged in June, 1865.
THE TENTH CAVALRY.
Under the call of October, 1863, two more companies were raised in this county for the Tenth Cavalry, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment. These were A and K. Company A had for its captains, Sylvanus Milner, November 19, 1863, and Thomas Claiborn, May 1, 1865. First lieutenants, Thomas Claiborn, November 19, 1863; William F. Dixon, May 1, 1865; James H. Chaffin, June 1, 1865. Second lieutenants, William F. Dixon, November 19, 1863; James H. Chaffin, May 1, 1865; James K. Vint, August 20, 1865. Capt. Milner was promoted major May 1, 1865. The officers of Company K were captains, Dewitt C. James, January 11, 1864; William H. Whitworth, June 1, 1865. First lieutenants, Alexander G.Twigg, January 11, 1864; Jenkin T. Hugo, June 1,' 1865. Second lieutenant, Leonidas L. Walker, January 11, 1864: Edward A. Pitts, August 20, 1865. Capt. James was promoted major, June 1, 1865. Before them W. H. Whitworth had been adjutant of the regiment. Lieut. Twigg was promoted captain of Company C, and was lost on the steamer "Sultana," April 28, 1865. Company A's total enrollment was 97 men, and all but 13 were from Posey County. During its term of service it lost 21 in killed and by desease, while 5 deserted. Of the 101 men of Company K, all were from this county except 22; 13 died and 11 deserted. The Tenth Cavalry Regiment of Indi- ana saw some hard service. It was organized at Vincennes in the fall and winter of 1863, with Thomas N. Pace, of Rockport, colonel, but it did not leave the State until May following. In
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
the vicinity of Nashville it engaged Hood's forces and was in sev- eral other battles with an aggregate loss of 3 field officers, 12 killed, 48 wounded and 75 prisoners. On the other hand the regiment in these several engagements captured from the enemy 4 stands of colors and 300 men and officers with their arms. In the following winter it succeeded in capturing 10 pieces of artil- lery and 150 officers and men, and a supply train consisting of 150 wagons and 500 mules. The regiment was mustered out at Vicksburg in August, 1865, and a little later was discharged at Indianapolis.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
The last full company organized in Posey County was G, in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment. This was the company of 100 day men, before spoken of. Joseph Moore was captain, Ebe W. Murray, first lieutenant, and James J. Parrett, second lieutenant. All efforts to raise troops in Indiana for the war was abandoned April 14, 1865. Up to that date Posey Coun- ty had by draft, voluntary enlistment and otherwise, been cred- ited with having furnished a grand total of over 3,000 men. This is a showing of which its citizens may well be proud, and no one can truthfully say that "old Posey" did not bear her full share of the burdens of war. In this estimate every man, of course, has been counted as often as he enlisted. It must not be supposed that these men were all in the field at once, for they were not. Many of the men were enlisted twice and some of them three times, and they were counted for each enlistment.
BOUNTY AND RELIEF.
The bounty and substitute money spent by the county and its citizens was large. The relief fund too was larger than most counties. A table of these as expended in the various townships is here given.
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
TOWNSHIPS.
BOUNTY.
RELIEF.
MISCEL- LANEOUS.
Posey County.
$10,000 00
$5,178
Black Township.
41,486 00
$6,474 20
Lynn Township.
13,538 00
1,264 71
Point Township
1,490 00
678 20
Harmony Township
20,940 25
3,262 10
Robb Township.
24,907 80
1,465 00
Marrs Township.
31,478 20
2,266 40
Robinson Township.
25,523 00
1,672 80
Smith Township
1,662 00
762 84
Bethel Township.
3,326 25
576 39
Center Township.
13,910 00
962 20
All the townships.
15,000 00
Totals.
$203,202 60
$34,384 84
$5,178
This makes a grand total of $242,766.14 expended by the county on account of the civil war.
But this bloody tragedy of the nation was at last ended. Thousands of America's brave sons had laid down their lives upon the field of battle in defence of the principles that seemed to them ought to prevail. The great question of National or State sover- eignty had been settled by the stern arbitration of war. What- ever may have been the plausibility of the arguments upon which the doctrine of secession was based there is now little doubt that they were fallacious and that the issue was brought to a happy termination although the trial was conducted through fraternal blood.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BLACK TOWNSHIP.
ELIJAH ALLDREDGE, a native of the county in which he now resides, was born June 17, 1820, and is one in a family of six children born to Henry and Marian (Self) Alldredge. His early days were passed on his father's farm, in Black Township, and in going to school, and after attaining his majority he began the battle of life for himself. In June, 1840, the nuptials of his marriage with Rebecca Duckworth were celebrated. She is a daughter of Thomas and Catharine Duckworth, and was born in Posey County April 7, 1821. To their marriage these children were born: Marshal, Sarah, Sylvester, Alphonso and Winfield, deceased; and Mary, Victoria, Della, Sally and Elijah, living. In 1845 or 1846 Mr. Alldredge purchased 120 acres of heavy timber land. He cleared it all but about five acres. His politi- cal views are Democratic, and he and wife are members of the General Baptist Church.
ALANSON ALLYN is the son of Abijah and Catharine (Hooper) Allyn, who were the parents of fourteen children. They were born in New York, the father in 1794, and the mother in 1799. They came to Posey County at a very early period, and settled near Farmersville, where they followed the life of farmers. The father died in 1874, and the mother in 1853. Of this parentage was born our subject February 22, 1829. He re- mained at home aiding his father on the farm until he was twen- ty-one years old, when he went to California, where he operated a gold mine of his own for some time and succeeded fairly well. He then returned home, married, and began his career as a tiller of the soil, and now owns 220 acres of fine land, well im-
.
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HISTORY OF POSEY COUNTY.
proved. April 17, 1856, he took for his helpmate through life Mary E. Chalier, to whom were born eleven children, nine now living: Josephine, Matilda, Anson, Taphenas, Emanuel, Cora. Bertha, Stella and Ezbon. Mrs. Allyn's father was a native of France, and her mother of England. They came to Posey Coun- ty about 1839. Mr. Allyn is a member of the Masonic fraterni- ty, and politically has always been a Republican. He is quite a prominent man of the county, and is considered an enterprising and successful farmer.
DANIEL O. BARKER, attorney at law, Mount Vernon, Ind., and native of Posey County, was born July 31, 1853. His parents were Hiram and Elizabeth A. (Fitzgerald) Barker, who were natives respectively of Gibson and Posey Counties. The father, who is a practical farmer and stock raiser of Gibson County, resided in Posey County during 1851-53, and then re- turned to Gibson, where he has since made his home. Our sub- ject secured a collegiate education, attending the State Univer- sity at Bloomington, and graduated from the law department in June, 1875. He then practiced his profession about one year in Princeton, with Judge William M. Land. In 1877 he removed to McPherson County, Kas., where he remained practicing his profession until March, 1885, when, against the solicitation of his many friends at the bar and in the county, he relinquished his large and remunerative practice, and returned to his native State, where he is now engaged in practicing before the courts. In 1876 he was united in matrimony to Alice B. Doss. They have three children: Mabel D., Roscoe U. and Loyett. Mr. Barker is a warm Democrat in politics, but has never aspired to office, having refused to run for various offices of note while in Kansas, such as State senator and congressman. He is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree.
RICHARD BARTER, SR. Of those early settlers of Posey County, Ind., whose subsequent career was, in a high degree, crowned with financial and social success, was, Richard Barter, Sr. He was born on May 14, 1797, at a village named Houl, in Devonshire, England, where his parents resided and where his father, John Barter, was the village blacksmith. His mother's maiden name was Mary Foote. She was the daughter of an English surgeon and, in that land of titles and snobbery, where
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