History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 92

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664

USA > Indiana > Randolph County > History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships > Part 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He had some mouths before, to wit, December 2 and 14, 1864. commissioned and mustered Captain of Company A, Twentieth Regiment, re-organized and afterward transferred to Company A. We quote from Military History of Randolph County: "His company was part and parcel of that magnificent and tri- umphant army, whose shining platoons marched in files of twelve deep along the broad avenues of Washington City, passing as they did the gorgeous platform upon which were posted the members of the National Administration and the military chief- tains of the hour."

The adventures of Capt. Macy were many, but time fails to recount them. He was mustered out with the regiment July 12, 1865, having served just three days less than four years. Since that time, he has been somewhat prominent in official life- Clerk and Marshal of Union City, Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff of Randolph County, Deputy six or seven years, and Sheriff about three years, serving the public in all faithfully aud well. He is now holding a position at the Federal City, under Commissioner Dudley, of the Pension Office.

Capt. M. attended as a witness the trial of Gen. Fitz John Porter, in 1876, with also two others from Randolph County. Before his marriage, and after the war, he was during several months an active and wide-awake student in connection with Liber College, Jay County, Ind., then under the charge of Rev. E. Tucker, as its President.

The "Macy connection" has been from old a wondrous and powerful company, scattered far and wide throughout the land. They sprang, however from a single root, viz., the famous Thomas Macy, who sailed in an open boat around Cape Cod, and landed upon Nantucket Island in the days of "auld lang syne."

The Macys are now found in Alabama, Carolina, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin and elsewhere also. Their number (known and recorded) a few years ago was 1,276. Massachusetts had the largest share. 703, and Indiana 359, Randolph being able to boast, both in former and present times, of many families of the name, all of whom are upright, respectable and enterpris- ing citizens.

We give the military record of Capt. Macy's promotion, in a connected statement, as follows:

W. W. Macy, mustered June 29, 1861, as Fifth Sergeant: Company C, Ninteenth, 1861; wounded at the battle of South Mountain; promoted First Lieutenant; commissioned March. 1, and mustered April 26, 1863; promoted Captain of Company. I, Twentieth Regiment Indiana re-organized; commisioned Decem- ber, and mustered December 14, 1864; transferred to Company A; mustered out with the regiment July 12, 1865.

R. H. MORGAN.

" After the battle of Pittsburg Landing was a fearful time. For two weeks we were camped in the woods, with almost no equipage; rain nearly all the time; and then came two months in the trenches before Corinth, Miss.

" I was an Abolitionist, and had a "warm side" toward the negroes. When camped at Spring Garden, Ky., two negroes came into camp, wishing to join the army. They had been in camp before, and the master had got an order for their arrest, had pursued and shot at them, and had caught and taken them home. The next night they came again. I told them to hide in the wagons. They did so, and kept hid for 150 miles. The team- sters began to unload, and found the " darkies." "How came you here?" "Lient. Morgan told us to hide here." Next day I was ordered to report to headquartere. "What does Gen. Woods want of me?" "About those negroes, I presume." Hardin, who brought the orders, said to me, " Better send them back. The orders are very strict against harboring slaves, and you may, perhaps, be given over to the State authorities, and the penalty is death for running off negroes." "I cannot do it; you send them back." But he wouldn't, either, and finally ac- knowledged it wrong to do so. A Minnesota regiment was lying across Green River, and I said to the negroes, "Go over there and hire out as cooks, and never speak my name as long as you live." They promised, and left instanter.

"Gen. Asabel Stone was in camp, and he went with me to Gen. Woods' quarters. The General was very bluff, and said, "Send those negroes back." I said, "General, I don't know where they are. and have no control over them. They are free to go where they please. You have no proof that I ever saw thein. If they knew enough to hide themselves 150 miles, they certainly can take care of themselves without my help." I was dismissed, aud left. Gen. Stone talked awhile with Gen. Woods, and I never heard any more of the matter. Before long, the Federal army found enough else to do besides catching negroes. I saw the two twelve months afterward. They were in the same regiment, doing well.

"One day an old negro, seventy years old, rame into camp and said, "I wish to see the General." He was taken to headquar- ters. "General," said he, "I know of a camp of guerrillas. I will guide you there if you wish." A squad was sent, and the whole camp was captured. The old negro stayed with the army, and at length crossed the Ohio River.

"Several slaves from Alabama were hid among the baggage, and they were never found. Strict search was made for one of them. Maj. Smith, a rich slaveholder, Twenty-fourth Kentucky, rode up and down the column and the train, passing many times the very wagon in which he lay hid; but the poor fellow got safe away.

293

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

" At the battle of Perryville, a rebel regiment from North Carolina came into the Union lines. They were splendid look- ing men, and really Union men at heart. They came in cheer- fully, glad that their fighting against the old flag was over."

James B. Ross, Union City, was born iu Holmes County, Ohio, in 1844; enlisted in the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry in the fall of 1861, being mustered in at Wooster, Ohio, Colonel Jolin De Courcey (Colonel in the English Army; absent on three years' leave).

Mr. R. served three years and two months. He was dis- charged (mustered out) at Columbus, Ohio, in October, 1864. The regiment was at the first taking of Cumberland Gap, in the battle of Tazewell, near the Gap, and having been hemmed in by Bragg, escaped by marching through the mountains of Ken- tucky 200 miles to Gwynnettsburg. On the Ohio, up Kanawha to Charleston, down the Ohio to Louisville and to Memphis and Vicksburg, in the terrible repulse at Chickasaw Bluffs, be- hind Vicksburg, losing 270 men; up Arkansas River to Arkansas Post, capturing all its garrison; at Milliken's Bend to help dig "Grant's Canal " The regiment lay in sight as the Union gun- boats came gallantly down past Vicksburg, and, as they steamed along the channel beyond the dreaded batteries on the Vicks- burg bluffs, a happy lot of fellows stood and looked on that glorious sight. The regiment crossed the Mississippi on a bridge of gunboats below Grand Gulf; were in the battles of Magnolia (Port Gibson), Jackson, Raymond, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, and the siege of Vicksburg -- sixty-four days, under fire nearly all that fearful time. They went to New Orleans, Brashear City, Opelousas, Algiers; thence to Texas on the " cold New Year's " day, Indianola, Matagorda Island, New Orleans, up Red River with Banks. In returning, Banks wished to leave the fleet. Some objected. He granted ten days to get them over the rapids. Col. Bailey in ten days did the work; 5,000 men and 500 teams accomplished the exploit, clearing twenty acres of its forest, and digging up a stone quarry. A dam was built, made from tree-tops, up stream, with cross timbers between the butts, the tops weighted down with rocks brought from up the river, on flat-boats. Flat-bosts were anchored at the edges of the dam and fastened by huge iron bolts to the rocks in the bed of the stream. Down the roaring, dashing torrent, through that fearful sluiceway rushed one by one that fleet of monitors and gunboats., bouncing, plunging, almost tumbling as they went, but safely reaching the river below the dam. Those mighty vessels shot through that fearful passage like a feather. They were at Morganza Bend with a train fourteen miles long, to be guarded; were in the Yellow Bayou battle, etc.

Their time was out, and the regiment came home, and were mustered out October, 1864.

Spring of 1865, Mr. Ross was at school at Ashland, Ohio; taught a country school; was Principal, Orville, Ohio, five years, and at Canal Fulton two years; came to Union City in 1875, en- gaging in the law. He has been Justice two years, and Mayor two years. He is a sensible, upright and honorable man.

While Mayor of Union City, he was selected to conduct at Winchester the famous preliminary examination in the Lump- kin-Lewis case, to decide whether Mr. Lewis could have bail. Mr. Ross discharged the delicate and difficult duty with pro- priety and dignity, and proved himself a worthy and competent magistrate. Mr. R. is married, and he has had three children.

Benjamin Simmons was wounded at Thompson's Hill, Miss., May 1, 1862; lay on the battle-field until May 5, and was taken to a large house on the bank of the Mississippi, below Vicksburg.

NOTE-Abram Hoke, of Union City, Ind., worked on that house in 1860. The building contained 600,000 bricks, and cost an immense sum of money, and it was occupied by the United States Government as a hospital. He says,

"I was taken to Grand Gulf May 13; stayed there until June 5. Gov. Morton came with his hospital boat and took us to Evansville. I wae in the City Hospital until July 3, then at Indianapolis until July 7. I was then furloughed home for thirty days; went back for eight or ten days, and was furloughed again, and so on until November. I was then detailed to the Provost Marshal'e office, at Indianapolis, and continued there until the

close of the war, June 30, 1865. I helped arrest Milligan, Horsey, Bowles and Dodd, and Heffron, and to capture the re- volvers, ammunition and powder sent to Indianapolis in the con- spiracy by the Sons of Liberty. We took thirty-four boxes of revolvers and fixed ammunition in the old book-bindery of the Sentinel office. The boxes were three feet by one foot by fourteen inches. The revolvers were seven shooters. The boxes were inarked Sunday school books, on the outside. The plot was dis- covered by the detectives of Gen. Carrington. We took also 104 kegs of powder, in zinc-covered boxes. They had been sent on to Terre Haute, but were found there and brought back to Indian- apolis, and I helped to put them into the magazine.

"Dodd escaped; Heffron turned State's evidence, and Milligan, Horsey and Bowles were tried by military commission and sentenced to be hung, but at the last moment were reprieved by President Johnson, and their sentence was at length revoked by the United States Court on the ground that a military commis- sion had not the right to try them outside of the military lines.

"Comrade Long and myself broke in the book-case containing the books for the ritual, etc., for the Golden Circle, in Heffron's office, and there were three or four bushels of them, and we turned them over to the Provost Marshal. There was also a plot at the same time (by the secret lodges of the Sons of Liberty) to capture the Government, release the rebel prisoners in Camp Morton and turn the State in favor of the rebel cause; but the whole conspiracy, extending by kindred lodges far and wide throughout the West, was found out in time, and checkmated. These revolvers, etc., were brought to the State under a false pretense of being Sunday school books, and they were to be dis. tributed to the members of the Golden Circle through the State, arrangements having been perfected for the purpose."

Benjamin Simmons was permanently disabled by the wound he had received, and he draws a pension from the United States Government.

[For still further reminiscences, see biographies elsewhere.]

Gen. Asahel Stone, Commissary General. Isaiah Mansur was appointed April 15, 1861. The troops were pouring by thousands into camp, fresh from home, and had to be fed. He did his best, but the men were not easily satisfied. He was "in- vestigated," and the committee reported. The Senate did noth- ing, but the House demanded Gen. M.'s removal; whereupon he gladly resigned. He had done his best; and, what is more, had paid nearly all the bills from his own money; but the boys were " notional," and he thankfully "got out of their way " May 29, 1861.

On the same day, Hon. Asahel Stone, State Senator from Ran- dolph County, was appointed to the place. He entered upon his duties at once, and with general satisfaction . The economy of his administration is set forth by the fact that during the time from May 29, 1861, to September 1, 1862, 728,000 rations were issued and his whole expenses, including salary, clerks, office rent, etc., amounted to only $94, 159. 16, averaging about 12 cents per ration.

October, 1862, Gen. S. was appointed Quartermaster General, which position he accepted and the duties of which he discharged until the' close of the war, as will be hereafter related at some length.

Although Gen. Stone did no service upon the field, and had no command of troops at the front or otherwise, yet his duties were of great importance, and required a high degree of patriot- ism, activity and skill, all of which he showed in a most satis- factory manner through his entire term of office.

State Quartermaster General .- Col. Thomas A. Morris was appointed April 16, 1861. Col. Morris was commissioned Brig adier General April 29, 1861, and on the same day, April 20. 1861, John H. Vajen, Esq., was chosen in his place, and filled the position with remarkable success.

May 30, 1862, Mr. Vajen resigned, and John C. New, Esq., succeeded him. He resigned, and October 15, 1862, Hon. Asahel Stone was appointed to the position. No mere description can tell his duties. He was an "officer of all work," a kind of "military breskwater," snd right nobly did he stand up to the work required at his hands.

294

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

When he took charge of the bakery at Camp Morton, the capacity was 6,000 to 7,000 loaves daily. It was soon enlarged to 11,000 or 12,000, and afterward still more than that. The profit to the State proved to be $157,000; $100,000 of this amount was expended for buildings, Soldiers' Home, bread to soldiers' families, etc, and about $57,000 was a clear saving to the Government, not having been expended in the service in any manner. His additional duties-establishing and maintaining the Soldiers' Home, the Ladies' Home, etc., etc., were discharged with like fidelity and success.

Gov. Morton, in his message to the Legislature January 11, 1867, thus alludes to the services of Gen. Stone:

" His department has been a large cumbrous machine, but it has been managed with great fidelity, ability and success, for which he is well entitled to the thanks of the State. His posi- tion has been one of great labor and responsibility, and its duties have been performed to my entire satisfaction." Such a com- mendation from such a source is surely enough.

Account of the operations of Gen. Asahel Stone, Commissary General and Quartermaster General of the State of Indiana, during most of the war of 1861:

For some months (May, 1861, to September, 1862), Gen. Stone was Commissary General, providing supplies and feeding the soldiers at Indianapolis, and perhaps elsewhere. This de- partment of business was transferred to the General Government, and his occupation in that respect was at an end. Gov. Morton, however, was convinced that the State of Indiana must not lose sight of her soldiers in the field, and that she must continue to care for them in every possible way. Gen. Stone had long been employed in rendering all possible aid to the soldiers in the field, some account of which is here given.

September 14, 1861, at 11:30 o'clock A. M., Gov. Morton directed Gen. Stone to get ready to start at 12: 45 o'clock P. M. of the same day, to Western Virginia, to look after the wants and needs of our troops there, dreadful reports of their destitution and sufferings reaching his ears daily. At that time the Seventh, Ninth. Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Indi- ana Regiments, and Capt. Bracken's Cavalry were near Cheat Mountain. Two agents had been sent before, but they had achieved but litte success. At the appointed time, one and a quarter hours after his notification, Gen. Stone was on the train. with full authority and instructions from Gov. Morton. Sun day, September 15, was partly spent at Columbus, Ohio; but during the day he left on a train made up to carry the Thirty- second Ohio, and a company of Ohio cavalry.

They arrived next day at Wheeling, and at Webster at 4 o'clock A. M. next morning, having to walk the streets there till daylight.

September 18, he left Webster on horseback with Lieut. Col. (since Maj. Gen.) Beattie, of the Third Ohio, for the army, sixty or seventy miles south. They arrived at Elkwater Camp, under command of Gen. Reynolds, of Indiana, at 1 o'clock P. M. Sep. teinber 9, he set out with a proper guard to the summit of Cheat Mountain, accompanied by Gen. Reynolds. This was the most advanced post. At his request, the men who were able were paraded in the middle of the road for inspection. Then was fully realized the sad fact than not half the fearful truth had been told of the destitute condition of these men. They were in rags, many without shoes or hats, and very few had over- coats, and none had blankets, the latter having been used in patching their clothes; and all this in that chilly, rugged, mountainous region, with rain almost every day. The only wonder is that any were able for duty. There was great neglect some where, for the Government had abundant supplies, and Gen. Stone's business was to find those supplies and have them sent on to the troops forthwith. He immediately returned to Indian- apolis with the following memorandum: "The Thirteenth wants everything; the Fourteenth everything but 205 overcoats; the Fifteenth everything but overcoats; the Seventeenth wants every- thing; the cavalry wants boots, coats, gloves, rubber blankets, some haversacks and canteens; and all need caps with oilcloth coverings, and woulen blankets." He arrived at Indianapolis September 24. On the 27, he left again for West Virginia. with

full power to take the needed articles from Government stores wherever he could find them, whether large or small quantities.

He examined at Wheeling, Grafton, Clarksburg, Webster, and at all the smaller posts, as also at nearly all the places in Western Virginia, north of the Kanawha River, where there were or had been military stores, and returned to Indianapolis three times before succeeding. October 18, he saw again some of the regiments, viz., the Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth, on dress parade, much improved in appearance and comfort, since large supplies had reached them before that time, while yet many more had not yet come to hand,

October 23, while he was with the army, a large lot arrived amid cheers and general rejoicing, which were instantly distrib- uted to the men, to their intense delight.

October 25, he started for the last time for Indianapolis, feeling that a good work had been done for our soldiers; and Gov. Morton had the pleasure to learn very shortly that the In- diana soldiers in West Virginia had been well supplied with everything needed, and that all were comfortable.

Rumors were constantly coming of the deplorable condition of Indiana soldiers in hospitals in Missouri, and especially in St. Louis. Wherefore, on November 4, 1861, Gen. S., with full power and authority, and instructions from Gov. Morton, left Indianapolis for St. Louis. At that point there were fifteen or twenty hospitals. He visited them all, and found out the condi- tion of Indiana soldiers there. Many were very sick, and great numbers died; bui, he discovered that by far the greatest num- ber were really despondent and homesick; and that what they needed was a furlough of thirty or sixty days to see wife and babies, and that with that they would come out all right and re- turn in good spirits; and he told Gov. Morton so, and asked for all his influence to accomplish that result. The request was cheer- fully granted, and with that and by the generous aid and co-opera- tion of Gen. Curtis, who was a very kind and humane officer, he got an order that he might pass through the hospitals, and that who- ever he should select for the purpose should be furloughed home without delay. This was surely an extensive and remarkable order, and its execution was much hindered and obstructed by some of the Surgeons, and by Gen. Curtis' Adjutant, Their opposition caused, however, only some delay. Many of the orders to the surgeons to prepare the men to leave with rations. etc., and all furloughs and transportation orders Gen. Stone had himself to prepare ready for signature, because that officer would do nothing only as he was obliged to do. and even that very un- kindly and ungraciously. The General's plan was to go through a hospital with the Surgeon (and many of them performed the duty gladly, while some did not), take down the names of those who needed to be furloughed, with company, regiment and resi- dence, and the same night fill up their furloughe, get them signed the next morning, and have the men sent home forthwith. In this way by November 22, he had obtained furloughs for over five hundred men. He found the men at Pilot Knob in good condition, under Col. (afterward Gov.) Baker. November 26, he left St. Louis for Syracuse, Tipton, Otterville aud Sedalia, find- ing the Eighth, Eighteenth, Twenty-second and Twenty-fifth In- diana. The vayious churches, schoolhouses, etc., were taken for hospitals. He visited the hospitals frequently and did all he could for the soldiers in them. The regiments were paid at that time, and, by request of the officers and men of those regiments, Gen. S. brought to Indianapolis for the Eighth, Eighteenth, Twenty-second, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth Indiana on the 18th of December, 1861, about $18,000, and ex- pressed it according to directions, into various parts of the State.

SECOND VISIT TO MISSOURI.

During the latter part of January, 1862, he visited the army again, in Western Missouri, and brought home for the Eighth, Twenty-fourth and Twenty-sixth Regiments and Frybarger's Battery, $15,484.60. The last of March, 1862, he left Indian- apolis for Pea Ridge, Arkansas? His mission was to do the soldiers all the good he could, and bring home such sums of money from the army as our men might wish to send. He went from Indianapolis by rail to St. Louis, and so to Rolla, Mo., and

295

HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY.

thence to Springfield and Pea Ridge by a wagon road, traveling more than two hundred miles of mud road, and on horseback. All along this dreary road he found worn-out, sick and wounded soldiers, with a furlough, but no money, many of them lying by the wayside or sheltered from the storm in some old shed or worthless outbuilding, helpless and penniless. These he for- warded by the numerous Government wagons going back empty from the army at the front to Rolla for supplies. Several hos. pitals were at Springfield, and many sick and wounded men, all of whom he visited and assisted as far as was in his power, fur- loughing many of them to their homes.

At Bentonville, five or six miles from the battle-field of Pea Ridge, Ark., almost every house and the court house were used as hospitals, and he found there great numbers of wounded men, and some sick.

The main army was located near the battle-ground of the Pea Ridge fight. While he was there, the soldiers received payment of their dues, and the Eighth, Eighteenth and Twenty- second Regiments of infantry, and Klauss' Battery sent home by him $58,049.55.

PITTSBURG LANDING.

On the 26th of April, 1862, he started for Pittsburg Land- ing, via Louisville, to care for the sick and wounded there. At Jeffersonville, he found 160 wounded men, just arrived; but the ladies of that city had them in charge, and they were doing well, being located in a large hall. April 28, 1862, he hired the steamer W. W. Crawford at $200 per day, they to furnish the hands, and he the provisions and the fuel, for the transportation of the sick and wounded from the Shiloh battle. The same day, they took on board those wounded soldiers and landed them at New Albany, where were fine hospital accommodations. Taking a supply of stores, and stopping on the way at Smithfield, Padu- cah, Fort Henry and Savannah, to visit the hospitals there, the steamer reached Pittsburg Landing May 2, 1862, at 5 P. M. That boat was the first State supply boat that had arrived after the battle. The same evening, four other State boats arrived, all trying to be first. Cincinnati had furnished, with great pomp, a fine steamer, the Glendale, with splendid apportion- ments. Among other things, she had on board a large calliope, and, knowing that she was ahead of the others last mentioned, and thinking she was the earliest steamer to arrive at this battle- field, and that Gov. Morton was beaten for once, the evening be- ing fine and still, the music from the steam calliope could be heard for miles on the placid river.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Randolph County, Indiana with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers : to which are appended maps of its several townships, Part 92

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman Number of Pages: 664

Author: Tucker, Ebenezer
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : A.L. Klingman
Number of Pages: 664