USA > Indiana > Rush County > History of Rush County, Indiana, from the earliest time to the present, with biographical sketches, notes, etc., together with a short history of the Northwest, the Indiana territory, and the State of Indiana > Part 13
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Indiana was among the first to respond to the summons of patri- otism, and register itself on the national roll of honor, even as she was among the first to join in that song of joy which greeted a Re- public made doubly glorious within a century by the dual victory which won liberty for itself, and next bestowed the precious boon upon the colored slave.
The fall of Fort Sumter was a signal for the uprising of the State. The news of the calamity was flashed to Indianapolis on the 14th of April, 1861, and early the next morning the electric wire brought the welcome message to Washington :-
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA, } INDIANAPOLIS, April 15, 1861.
To ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States :- On behalf of the State of Indiana, I tender to you for the defense of the Nation, and to uphold the au- thority of the Government, ten thousand men.
OLIVER P. MORTON, Governor of Indiana.
This may be considered the first official act of Governor Morton, who had just entered on the duties of his exalted position. The State was in an almost helpless condition, and yet the faith of the " War Governor " was prophetic, when, after a short consultation with the members of the Executive Council, he relied on the fidelity of ten thousand men and promised their services to the Protectorate at Washington. This will be more apparent when the military condition of the State at the beginning of 1861 is considered. At that time the armories contained less than five hundred stand of serviceable small arms, eight pieces of canuon which might be use- ful in a museum of antiquities, with sundry weapons which would merely do credit to the aborigines of one hundred years ago. The financial condition of the State was even worse than the military.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA. 149
The sum of $10,368.58 in trust funds was the amount of cash in the hands of the Treasurer, and this was, to all intents and purposes unavailable to meet the emergency, since it could not be devoted to the military requirements of the day. This state of affairs was dispiriting in the extreme, and would doubtless have militated against the ultimate success of any other man than Morton; yet he overleaped every difficulty, nor did the fearful realization of Floyd's treason, discovered during his visit to Washington, damp his indomitable courage and energy, but with rare persistence he urged the claims of his State, and for his exertions was requited with an order for five thousand muskets. The order was not exe- ented until hostilities were actually entered upon, and consequently for some days succeeding the publication of the President's procla- mation the people labored under a feeling of terrible anxiety min- gled with uncertainty, amid the confusion which followed the crim- inal negligence that permitted the disbandment of the magnificent corps d' armee (51,000 men) of 1832 two years later in 1834, Great numbers of the people maintained their equanamity with the result of beholding within a brief space of time every square mile of their State represented by soldiers prepared to fight to the bitter end in defense of cherished institutions, and for the extension of the prin- ciple of human liberty to all States and classes within the limits of the threatened Union. This, their zeal, was not animated by hos- tility to the slave holders of the Southern States, but rather by a fraternal spirit, akin to that which urges the eldest brother to cor- rect the persistent follies of his juniors, and thus load them from crime to the maintenance of family honor; in this correction, to draw them away from all that was crnel, diabolical and inhuman in the Republic, to all that is gentle, holy and sublime therein. Many of the raw troops were not only unimated by a patriotic feeling, but also by that beautiful idealization of the poet, who in his un- conscious Republicanismn, said:
·
" I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earned No: dear as freedom is-and, in my heart's Just estimation, prized above all price- I had much rather be myself the slave, And wear the bonds, than fasten them on him."
Thus animated, it is not a matter for surprise to find the first call to arms issued by the President, and calling for 75,000 men,
.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
answered nobly by the people of Indiana. The quota of troops to be furnished by the State on the first call was 4,683 men for three years' service from April 15, 1860. On the 16th of April, Gov- ernor Morton issued his proclamation calling on all citizens of the State, who had the welfare of the Republic at heart, to organize themselves into six regiments in defense of their rights, and in opposition to the varied acts of rebellion, charged by him against the Southern Confederates. To this end, the Hon. Lewis Wallace, a soldier of the Mexican campaign was appointed Adjutant-General, Col. Thomas A. Morris of the United States Military Academy, Quartermaster-General, and Isaiah Mansur, a merchant of Indian- apolis, Commissary-General. These general officers converted the grounds and buildings of the State Board of Agriculture into a military headquarters, and designated the position Camp Morton, as the beginning of the many honors which were to follow the pop- ular Governor throughout his future career. Now the people, im- bned with confidence in their Government and leaders, rose to the grandeur of American freemen, and with an enthusiasm never equaled hitherto, flocked to the standard of the nation; so that within a few days (19th April) 2,400 men were ranked beneath their regimental banners, until as the official report testifies, the anxious question, passing from mouth to mouth, was, " Which of us will be allowed to go?" It seemed as if Indiana was about to monopolize the honors of the period, and place the 75,000 men demanded of the Union by the President, at his disposition. Even now under the genial sway of guaranteed peace, the features of Indiana's veterans flush with righteous pride when these days-re- membrances of heroic sacrifice-are named, and freemen, still un- born, will read their history only to be blessed and glorified in the possession of such truly, noble progenitors. Nor were the ladies of the State unmindful of their duties. Everywhere they partook of the general enthusiasm, and made it practical so far as in their power, by embroidering and presenting standards and regimental colors, organizing aid and relief societies, and by many other acts of patriotism and humanity inherent in the high nature of woman.
During the days set apart by the military authorities for the or- ganization of the regiments, the financiers of the State were en- gaged in the reception of munificent grants of money from pri- vate citizens, while the money merchants within and without the State offered large loans to the recognized Legislature without even imposing a condition of payment. This most practical generosity
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
strengthened the hands of the Executive, and within a very few days Indiana had passed the crucial test, recovered some of her military prestige lost in 1834, and so was prepared to vie with the other and wealthier States in making sacrifices for the public welfare.
On the 20th of April, Messrs, I. S. Dobbs and Alvis D. Gall re- ceived their appointments as Medical Inspectors of the Division, while Major T. J. Wood arrived at headquarters from Washington to receive the newly organized regiments into the service of the Union. At the moment this formal proceeding took place, Morton, unable to restrain the patriotic ardor of the people, telegraphed to the capitol that he could place six regiments of infantry at the dis- posal of the General Government within six days, if such a pro- ceeding were acceptable; but in consequence of the wires being ent between the State and Federal capitols, no answer came. Taking advantage of the little doubt which may have had existence in re- gard to future action in the matter and in the absence of general orders, he gave expression to an intention of placing the volunteers in camp, and in his message to the Legislature, who assembled three days later, he clearly laid down the principle of immediate action and strong measures, recommending a uote of $1,000,000 for there- organization of the volunteers, for the purchase of arms and supplies, and for the punishment of treason. The message was received most enthusiastically. The assembly recognized the great points made by the Governor, and not only yielded to them in toto, but also made the following grand appropriations:
General military purposes. $1,000,000
Purchase of arms. .. 500,000
Contingent military expenses. .100,000
Organization and support of militia for twoyears. 140,000
These appropriations, together with the laws enacted during the session of the Assembly, speak for the men of Indiana. The celerity with which these laws were put in force, the diligince and economy exercised by the officers, entrusted with their administration, and that systematic genius, under which all the machinery of Govern- ment seemed to work in harmony,-all, all, tended to make for the State a spring-time of noble deeds, when seeds might be cast along her fertile fields and in the streets of her villages of industry to grow up at once and blossom in the ray of fame, and after to bloom throughout the ages. Within three days after the opening of the extra session of the Legislature (27th April) six new regiments were organized, and commissioned for three monthis' service. These reg-
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
iments, notwithstanding the fact that the first six regiments were already mustered into the general service, were known as "The First Brigade, Indiana Volunteers," and with the simple object of making the way of the future student of a brilliant history clear, were numbered respectively
Sixth Regiment, commanded by Col. T. T. Crittenden.
Seventh
Ebenezer Dumont.
Eighth
W. P. Benton.
Ninth
66
66 R. H. Milroy.
Tenth 66
66
66 T. T. Reynolds.
Eleventh "
66
66
" Lewis Wallace.
.
The idea of these numbers was suggested by the fact that the military representation of Indiana in the Mexican Campaign was one brigade of five regiments, and to observe consecutiveness the regiments comprised in the first division of volunteers were thus numbered, and the entire force placed under Brigadier General T. A. Morris, with the following staff: John Love, Major; Cyrus C. Hines, Aid-de-camp; and J. A. Stein, Assistant Adjutant General. To follow the fortunes of these volunteers through all the vicissi- tudes of war would prove a special work; yet their valor and endnr- ance during their first term of service deserved a notice of even more value than that of the historian, since a commander's opinion has to be taken as the basis upon which the chronicler may expatiate. Therefore the following dispatch, dated from the headquarters of the Army of Occupation, Beverly Camp, W. Virginia, July 21, 1861, must be taken as one of the first evidences of their utility and valor :-
" GOVERNOR O. P. MORTON, Indianapolis, Indiana
GOVERNOR :- I have directed the three months' regiments from Indiana to move to Indianapolis, there to be mustered out and reorganized for three years' service.
I cannot permit them to return to you without again expressing my high appreciation of the distinguished valor and endurance of the Indiana troops, and my hope that but a short time will elapse before I have the pleasure of knowing that they are again ready for the field. * * * * *
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General, U. S. A.
On the return of the troops to Indianapolis, July 29, Brigadier Morris issued a lengthy, logical and well-deserved congratulatory address, from which one paragraph may be extracted to characterize
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
the whole. After passing a glowing enlogium on their military qualities and on that unexcelled gallantry displayed at Laurel Hill, Phillipi and Carrick's Ford, he says :-
"Soldiers! You have now returned to the friends whose prayers went with you to the field of strife. They welcome you with pride and exultation. Your State and country acknowledge the value of your labors. May your future career be as your past has been,-honorable to yourselves and serviceable to your country."
The six regiments forming Morris' brigade, together with one composed of the surplus volunteers, for whom there was no regi- ment in April, now formed a division of seven regiments, all reor- ganized for three years' service, between the 20th Angnst and 20th September, with the exception of the new or 12th, which was ac- cepted for one year's service from May 11th, under command of Colonel John M. Wallace, and reorganized May 17, 1862, for three years' service under Col. W. H. Link, who, with 172 officers and men, received their mortal wounds during the Richmond (Ken- tucky) engagement, three months after its reorganization.
The 13TH REGIMENT, under Col. Jeremiah Sullivan, was mus- tered into the United States in 1861 and joined Gen. McClellan's command at Rich Mountain on the 10th July. The day following it was present under Gen. Rosencrans and lost eight men killed; three successive days it was engaged under Gen. I. I. Reynolds, and won its laurels at Cheat Mountain summit, where it participated in the decisive victory over Gen. Lee.
The 14TH REGIMENT, organized in 1861 for one year's service, and reorganized on the 7th of June at Terre Haute for three years' ser- vice. Commanded by Col. Kimball and showing a muster roll of 1,134 men, it was one of the finest, as it was the first, three years' regiment organized in the State, with varying fortunes attached to its never ending round of duty from Cheat Mountain, September, 1861, to Morton's Ford in 1864, and during the movement South in May of that year to the last of its labors, the battle of Cold Har- bor.
The 15TH REGIMENT, reorganized at La Fayette 14th June, 1861, under Col. G. D. Wagner, moved on Rich Mountain on the 11th of July in time to participate in the complete rout of the enemy. On the promotion of Col. Wagner, Lieutenant-Col. G. A. Wood became Colonel of the regiment, November, 1862, and during the first days of January, 1863, took a distinguished part in the severe action of Stone River. From this period down to the battle of Mis- sion Ridge it was in a series of destructive engagements, and was,
154
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
after enduring terrible hardships, ordered to Chattanooga, and thenee to Indianapolis, where it was mustered out the 18th June, 1864,-four days after the expiration of its term of service.
The 16TH REGIMENT, organized under Col. P. A. Haekleman at Richmond for one year's service, after participating in many minor military events, was mustered out at Washington, D.C., on the 14th of May, 1862. Col. Hackleman was killed at the battle of Iuka, and Lieutenant-Col. Thomas I. Lucas succeeded to the command. It was reorganized at Indianapolis for three years' service, May 27, 1862, and took a conspicuous part in all the brilliant engagements of the war down to June, 1865, when it was mustered out at New Orleans. The survivors, numbering 365 rank and file, returned to Indianapolis the 10th of July amid the rejoicing of the populace.
The 17TH REGIMENT was mustered into service at Indianapolis the 12th of June, 1861, for three years, under Col. Hascall, who on being promoted Brigadier General in March, 1862, left the Colonelcy to devolve on Lieutenant Colonel John T. Wilder. This regiment participated in the many exploits of Gen. Reynold's army from Green Brier in 1862, to Maeon in 1865, under Gen. Wilson. Returning to Indianapolis the 16th of August, in possession of a brilliant record, the regiment was disbanded.
The 18TH REGIMENT, under Colonel Thomas Pattison, was organ- ized at Indianapolis, and mustered into service on the 16th of August, 1861. Under Gen. Pope it gained some distinction at Blackwater, and succeeded in retaining a reputation made there, by its gallantry at Pea Ridge, February, 1862, down to the moment when it planted the regimental flag on the arsenal of Augusta, Georgia, where it was disbanded August 28, 1865.
The 19TH REGIMENT, mustered into three years' service at the State capital July 29, 1861, was ordered to join the army of the Potomac, and reported its arrival at Washington, August 9. Two days later it took part in the battle of Lewinsville, under Colonel Solomon Meredith. Occupying Falls Church in September, 1861, it continued to maintain a most enviable place of honor on the military roll until its consolidation with the 20th Regiment, October, 1864, under Colonel William Orr, formerly its Lieutenant Colonel.
The 20TH REGIMENT of La Fayette was organized in July, 1861, mustered into three years' service at Indianapolis on the 22d of the same month, and reached the front at Cockeysville, Maryland, twelve days later. Throughout all its brilliant actions from Hat- teras Bank, on the 4th of October, to Clover Hill, 9th of April, 1865,
155
HISTORY OF INDIANA.
including the saving of the United States ship Congress, at New- port News, it added daily some new name to its escutcheon. This regiment was mustered out at Louisville in July, 1865, and return- ing to Indianapolis was welcomed by the great war Governor of their State.
The 21ST REGIMENT was mustered into service under Colonel I. W. McMillan, July 24, 1861, and reported at the front the third day of August. It was the first regiment to enter New Orleans. The fortunes of this regiment were as varied as its services, so that its name and fame, grown from the blood shed by its members, are destined to live and flourish. In December, 1863, the regiment was reorganized, and on the 19th February, 1864, many of its veterans returned to their State, where Morton received them with that spirit of proud gratitude which he was capable of showing to those who deserve honor for honors won.
The 22D REGIMENT, under Colonel Jeff. C. Davis, left Indian- apolis the 15th of August, and was attached to Fremont's Corps at St. Louis on the 17th. From the day it moved to the support of Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, to the last victory, won under General Sherman at Bentonville, on the 19th of March, 1865, it gained a high military reputation. After the fall of Johnston's southern army, this regiment was mustered ont, and arrived at Indianapolis on the 16th June.
The 23D BATTALION, commanded by Colonel W. L. Sanderson, was mustered in at New Albany, the 29th July, 1861, and moved to the front early in August. From its unfortunate marine ex- periences before Fort Henry to Bentonville it won unusual honors, and after its disbandment at Louisville, returned to Indianapolis July 24, 1865, where Governor Morton and General Sherman reviewed and complimented the gallant survivors.
The 24TH BATTALION, under Colonel Alvin P. Hovey, was mustered at Vincennes the 31st of July, 1861. Proceeding imme- diately to the front it joined Fremont's command, and participated under many Generals in important affairs during the war. Three hundred and ten men and officers returned to their State in August, 1865, and were received with marked honors by the people and Executive.
The 25TH REGIMENT, of Evansville mustered into service there for three years under Col. J. C. Veatch, arrived at St. Louis on the 26th of August, 1861. During the war this regiment was present at 18 battles and skirmishes, sustaining therein a loss of 352 men
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
and officers. Mustered out at Louisville, July 17, 1865, it returned to Indianapolis on the 21st amid universal rejoicing.
The 26TH BATTALION, under W. M. Wheatley, left Indianapolis for the front the 7th of September, 1861, and after a brilliant cam- paign under Fremont, Grant, Heron and Smith, may be said to disband the 18th of September, 1865, when the non-veterans and recruits were reviewed by Morton at the State capital.
The 27th REGIMENT, under Col. Silas Colgrove, moved from Indianapolis to Washington City, September 15th, 1861, and in October was allied to Gen. Banks' army. From Winchester Heights, the 9th of March 1862, through all the affairs of General Sherman's campaign, it acted a gallant and faithful part, and was disbanded immediately after returning to their State.
The 2STII OR 1ST CAVALRY was mustered into service at Evans- ville on the 20th of August, 1861, under Col. Conrad Baker. From the skirmishi at Ironton, on the 12th of September, wherein three companies under Col. Gavin captured a position held by a few rebels, to the battle of the Wilderness, the First Cavalry per- formed prodigies of valor. In June and July, 1865, the troops were inustered ont at Indianapolis.
The 29TH BATTALION of La Porte, under Col. J. F. Miller, left on the 5th of October, 1861, and reaching Camp Nevin, Kentucky, on the 9th, was allied to Rosseau's Brigade, serving with MeCook's division at Shiloh, with Buell's army in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, with Rosenerans at Murfreesboro, at Decatur, Alabama, and at Dalton, Georgia. The Twenty-ninth won many laurels, and had its Colonel promoted to the rank of Brigadier General. This officer was succeeded in the command by Lieutenant-Col. D. M. Dunn.
The 30TH REGIMENT of Fort Wayne, under Col. Sion S. Bass, proceeded to the front via Indianapolis, and joined General Rosseau at Camp Nevin on the 9th of October, 1861. At Shiloh, Col. Bass received a mortal wonnd, and died a few days later at Paducah, leaving the Colonelcy to devolve npon Lieutenant-Col. J. B. Dodge. In October 1865, it formed a battalion of General Sheri- dan's army of observation in Texas.
The 31st REGIMENT, organized at Terre Haute, under Col. Charles Cruft, in September 1861, was mustered in, and left in a few days for Kentucky. Present at the reduction of Fort Donelson on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of February, 1862, its list of killed and wounded proves its desperate fighting qualities. The organization
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
was subjected to many changes, but in all its phases maintained a fair fame won on many battle fields. Like the former regiment, it passed into Gen. Sheridan's Army of Observation, and held the district of Green Lake, Texas.
The 32D REGIMENT OF GERMAN INFANTRY, under Col. August Willich, organized at Indianapolis, mustered on the 24th of August, 1861, served with distinction throughout the campaign Col. Willich was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and Lieut .- Col. Henry Von Trebra commissioned to act, under whose com- mand the regiment passed into General Sheridan's Army, hold- ing the post of Salado Creek, until the withdrawal of the corps of observation in Texas.
The 33D REGIMENT of Indianapolis possesses a military history of no small proportions. The mere facts that it was mustered in under Col. John Coburn, the 16th of September, won a series of distinctions throughout the war district and was mustered out at Lonisville, July 21, 1865, taken with its name as one of the most powerful regiments engaged in the war, are sufficient here.
The 34TH BATTALION, organized at Anderson on the 16th Sep- tember, 1861, under Col. Ashbury Steele, appeared among the in- vesting battalions before New Madrid on the 30th of March, 1862. From the distinguished part it took in that siege, down to the 13th of May, 1865, when at Palmetto Ranche, near Palo Alto, it fought for hours against fearful odds the last battle of the war for the Union. Afterwards it marched 250 miles up the Rio Grande, and was the first regiment to reoccupy the position, so long in Southern hands, of Ringold barracks. In 1865 it garrisoned Bea- consville as part of the Army of Observation.
The 35TH OR FIRST IRISH REGIMENT, was organized at Indian- apolis, and mustered into service on the 11th of December, 1861, under Col. John C. Walker. At Nashville, on the 22d of May, 1862, it was joined by the organized portion of the Sixty-first or Second Irish Regiment, and unassigned recruits. Col. Mullen now became Lieut .- Colonel of the 35th, and shortly after, its Colonel. From the pursuit of Gen. Bragg through Kentucky and the affair at Perryville on the Stli of October, 1862, to the terrible hand to hand combat at Kenesaw mountain, on the night of the 20th of June, 1864, and again from the conclusion of the Atlanta campaign to September, 1865, with Gen. Sheridan's army, when it was mus- tered out, it won for itself a name of reckless daring and unsur- passed gallantry.
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
The 36TH REGIMENT, of Richmond, Ind., under Col. William Grose, mustered into service for three years on the 16th of Sep- tember, 1861, went immediately to the front, and shared the for- tunes of the Army of the Ohio until the 27th of February, 1862, when a forward movement led to its presence on the battle-field of Shiloh. Following up the honors won at Shiloh, it participated in some of the most important actions of the war, and was, in October, 1865, transferred to Gen. Sheridan's army. Col. Grose was pro- moted in 1864 to the position of Brigadier-General, and the Colonelcy devolved on Oliver H. P. Carey, formerly Lient .- Colonel of the regiment.
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