USA > Indiana > Wabash County > History of Wabash County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 29
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HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
COLONEL PETTIT'S HOME SERVICES
Colonel Pettit's strength had not been equal to the hardships of active military service, and he was obliged to resign his commission in October, 1862, about two months after the regiment reached Louis- ville. But he had already been a power in the raising of troops and, notwithstanding his delicate health, continued his patriotie labors at home, not only the Seventy-fifth, but the Eighty-ninth and the One Hun- dred and First being largely indebted to him for their very existence. He stanehly upheld the hands of Indiana's great War Governor, Oliver P. Morton, like Judge Pettit a man of frail physique, but iron determina- tion and mighty soul. A man of tender heart and far vision, he also looked into the future, beyond the ravages of men, and saw the hope- less faces of widowed women and orphaned children. At Knightstown, Indiana, in 1863, Judge Pettit was largely instrumental in organizing the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, one of the first institutions of the kind to be founded in the country. This is a monument to kind-heartedness and far-sightedness, and in the Eternal scheme may stand as a brighter mark against his name than if he had led a score of regiments to victory.
HON. CALVIN COWGILL
HIon. Calvin Cowgill, who was appointed the first quartermaster of the Seventy-fifth, was also considered by the state authorities, especially by Governor Morton, as of far more value at home than on the battle- field. At the opening of the war he had already served a term in the Legislature, had been associated with Judge Pettit for seven years in the practice of the law and was one of the prominent men of the state. About a month after reaching Louisville and at the earnest solicitation of Governor Morton, Mr. Cowgill resigned as quartermaster of his regiment and returned to Wabash to act as provost marshal, in which eapacity he served until the close of the war. His subsequent eareer covered a multitude of activities of great importance to eity, county and state, and will be found detailed in other portions of this work.
COMPANY A, EIGHTY-NINTH REGIMENT
In July, 1862, Elias B. Stone recruited a company at Wabash, which became A, of the Eighty-ninth Regiment. On the 13th of August, Charles D. Murray was appointed post commandant, and on the 28th was sworn in as colonel of the full regiment at Indianapolis. Captain Stone resigned in September, 1864, while the regiment was preparing
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for the movement to meet the Confederate invasion of Missouri under Price.
The Eighty-ninth Regiment had seen strenuous service in Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. Its first active operations were in defense of the garrison at Munfordsville, Kentucky, consisting of several Indi- ana regiments, two companies of regulars and a battery of four guns. It was the plan of Bragg, the rebel commander, to reduce the garrison, which was in line of his march toward Louisville and Cincinnati. A brisk engagement followed the refusal of the garrison to surrender, September 14th, but two days afterward the Confederates had received such reinforcements that they were able to completely surround the fort and cut off all retreat. The attack was renewed in force and as preparations were being made for an attack of the garrison from all sides, the final demand for surrender was complied with and the Union troops marched out of the fort with flying colors and beating drums, retaining their arms and property. The men and officers having been paroled marched at the rear of the brigade until they met Buell's army some fifteen miles to the south. Subsequently they went to Branden- burg, on the Ohio River, and thence returned to Indianapolis, where they were granted furloughs awaiting exchange. The total loss of the garrison was thirty-seven killed and wounded, of which number Company A, of the Eighty-ninth lost three killed-Privates Daniel Root, James M. Stoker and William H. Starbuck.
Notice of an exchange of prisoners having been received, the regi- ment reassembled at Indianapolis on the 27th of October, and on the 21st of the following December was assigned to duty at Fort Pick- ering, near Memphis, Tennessee. There it remained until October, 1863, in the discharge of guard and fatigue duty. Several of the men of Company A died during this period-John W. Johnson, in March, 1863; John R. Abshire and Robert B. Dukes, in June, and James Biddle in July of that year. From January to March, 1864, it formed part of an expedition which was marching through Mississippi to Vicksburg, and afterward participated in the campaigns conducted in Louisiana and Texas. The most decisive actions were around Alex- andria. It took part in the Red River expedition under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hervey Craven, and was afterward in the clash with Forrest at Tupelo, Mississippi.
From July until November, 1864, the Eighty-ninth was eonneeted with the campaigns which had Memphis and St. Louis as their bases, and whose purposes were to keep Forrest and Price ont of Northern territory. In November it was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, and in December participated in the battle near that city. During the
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second day's engagement (16th) it lost two killed and fifteen wounded. In March, 1865, it took an active part in the siege of Mobile, including the attack on Spanish Fort, losing two killed and eight wounded, and from that time until its muster-out at Mobile, July 19, 1865, was mostly engaged in patrol and guard duty at various points in Alabama.
CAMP PETTIT, AT WABASHI
By the second year of the war, the City of Wabash had become one of the most important recruiting stations in Indiana. In July, 1862, the Seventy-fifth and Eighty-ninth regiments had been organ- ized at Camp Pettit, south of the Wabash River immediately opposite the city, on both sides of the old Somerset Pike. A deep ravine cut down one side of the drill grounds, which occupied the site of the old Indian village ruled by the chief Al-lol-lah. The same spring which so long quenched the thirst of the Indians and early settlers supplied the Union soldiers of Wabash County. After the Civil war was history Camp Pettit became the beautiful private grounds of Hon. Allen W. Smith.
COMPANIES F AND K, 101ST REGIMENT
During the later part of July, B. F. Williams and John S. Hawkins opened a recruiting office at Wabash and by the first week of August the volunteers were sufficient to form a full company. On the 11th Mr. Williams received his commission as captain and Mr. Hawkins as first lieutenant. Three days afterward William Garver, afterward colonel of the One Hundred and First Regiment (of which Captain Williams' company (F) was the nucleus) was appointed post com- mandant at Camp Pettit.
DR. BAZIL B. BENNETT
Dr. Bazil B. Bennett and John M. MeKachan also opened an office and recruited another company (K) from the county, to be incorpo- rated in the regiment. By the middle of August it was full and ready for service. Doctor Bennett was elected its captain, but about a week later, when the regiment was organized, he was promoted major, and the company went into service with Mr. MeKachan as captain. Doctor Bennett resigned as major in January, . 1863, and was commissioned assistant surgeon of the regiment, in which capacity he was mustered out with the command in June, 1865.
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HISTORY OF WABASHI COUNTY
CAPTAIN B. F. WILLIAMS
Captain Williams, of Company F, had been foremost among the Union supporters from the first. Hle had assisted in the raising of Captain Parrish's pioneer company, gone out as one of its sergeants, fought with the best at Rich Mountain, and returned with the three months' men eager to again enter the fray. He had lived in Wabash since he was an infant and he is still spared to his hosts of friends.
Captain Williams received the first of his higher education at Fair- view Academy, Fayette County, having been born in that section of the state in 1830. IIe also attended Butler College, Indianapolis, for a year, studied law under Judge J. D. Conner and in 1859 was graduated from the law department of Butler University. He com- meneed practice at once, but left it and all other civil ambitions to support the U'nion cause.
FIERCE FIGIIT WITH MORGAN'S MEN
The One Hundred and First Regiment, of which Companies F and K formed so noteworthy a part, commenced its service in Ken- tueky, in September, 1862, marching with the command of General McCook in the pursuit of Bragg. For months it was employed in Tennessee, marching and countermarching, guarding railroad bridges and important roads against the incursions of Morgan and other tire- less and bold Confederate leaders. Its most serious engagement with the noted rebel cavalryman was at Milton, in March, 1863. Although the Confederate force of 3,700 men was defeated, the regiment lost forty-three in killed and wounded. It was then commanded by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Doan.
AT CHICKAMAUGA
The regiment formed a portion of the Second Brigade, Fifth Division and Fourteenth Army Corps, commanded by General George HI. Thomas, which bore such a gallant part in the battles of Stone River, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma and Chickamauga. It arrived at the battle- field of Chickamauga on the morning of September 19th and became engaged at once with the enemy, taking position on the right of General Palmer where the battle raged with great fury. On the following day the division to which the regiment was attached was obliged to cut its way through the enemy to protect the Chattanooga road, the One Hun- dred and First and Sixty-eighth Indiana regiments covering the move-
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ment. In the execution of this, the former lost thirteen killed, eighty- five wounded and sixteen missing, a total of 114. After a few days the regiment retired to Chattanooga. Those killed at Chickamauga included Privates Josiah Houser and Gideon King, of Company F', and William HI. Emery and Larkin Sims, of Company K, several of the Wabash County boys afterward dying of wounds at Chattanooga.
WITH SHERMAN'S ARMY
In October the regiment took part in the storming of Mission Ridge, in which it lost thirty-four killed and wounded. At Resaca, Adairs- ville, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Jonesboro, the Wa- bash boys under their brave captains upheld the honor of Indiana troops, and did credit to Sherman's superb army. With the army of invasion and occupation, it entered Atlanta and Savannah, swept through the Carolinas, witnessed the surrender of Johnston, reached Washington May 19, 1865, and was a part of the grand review of the U'nion armies at the national capital. It was mustered out of the service at Louisville, Kentucky, June 24th following, and arrived at Indianapolis on the succeeding day for final discharge.
CAPTAIN WILLIAMS AT HOME
Through all these battles, campaigns and marches, in victory and defeat, Captain Williams, whose cheery and inspiring presence is still with us, performed a sturdy and unflinching part. Returning to Wabash, where he had virtually passed his life, he at once resumed the practice of law which had been so rudely interrupted, and also became an active republican leader. A broad and careful reader, a ready speaker, possessed of an engaging personality, Captain Williams soon came into publie as well as professional favor. For years no local, district or state delegation of the republican party was considered com- plete without Captain Williams. He is publie spirited and practical, faithful and efficient-these qualities being especially demonstrated during his service as auditor of the county from 1890 to 1898.
The interests of the soldiers who marched under the Union colors have always been uppermost with Captain Williams. He was one of the charter members of Encampment Post No. 1, organized at Wabash in 1866, and the predecessor of James II. Emmett Post No. 6. Perhaps his most signal service for the Civil war veterans and the City of Wabash was his effective work which led to the erection of Memorial Hall.
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HISTORY OF WABASH COUNTY
MEMORIAL HALL, WABASH
At first the tax payers favored the erection of a soldier's memorial monument, but both Captain Iless, who was then in the Legislature, and Captain Williams, who was county auditor, wished to see a build- ing erected which would serve both as a fitting memorial to Union pat- riotism and a beautiful public building creditable to the city and its people. After much hard work and continuous persuasion directed
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MEMORIAL HALL
chiefly at the Board of County Commissioners, the old soldiers had the satisfaction of witnessing the levy of a tax of $25,000 for the erection of a Memoria! HIall instead of a simple stone shaft. Captain Williams was largely instrumental in proenring the present noble site, the grounds being purchased at a cost of $10,000, and was one of the happiest men in Wabash when the fine structure, which he had done so much to create,.
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was formally dedicated in October, 1899. The original legislative act authorizing the purchase of a site was passed April 11, 1885.
On the foregrounds which form the site of the hall is a beautiful memorial to the first victim of the Civil war from Wabash County, James II. Emmett. The hall itself stands on a noble eminence over- looking the business and industrial centers of the city. It is a graceful and substantial structure of Bedford sandstone, two stories high over a lofty basement. The Memorial Hall represents the second structure of the kind in the United States. The assembly room located on the first floor is one of the finest apartments of the kind in the state. The same may be said of the Grand Army room above. Opposite the as- sembly room is the office of the city superintendent of schools, and adjoining is the museum and headquarters of the County Historical Society. The basement which is cemented and stretches under the entire building is a favorite place for suppers, dinners and headquar- ters for the old soldiers, who gather there daily, smoke and spin their army yarns. Memorial Hall provides every comfort for the Civil war veteran, and is a splendid tribute to the Union cause represented by such men as Captain Williams and Captain IIess.
LAST WABASH COUNTY INFANTRY
Returning to the straight road of the Civil war record, as relates to the sending forth of Union men from Wabash County, the next infantry regiment after the One Hundred and First in which any considerable quota of the rank and file was drawn from Wabash County was the One Hundred and Fifty-third. It was organized under Gov- ernor Morton's call during the first part of 1865, providing for five Indiana regiments. Companies A and F, with a portion of B, were recruited in Wabash County. The regiment was organized at India- napolis March 1, 1865, with Oliver II. P. Carey as colonel. Dr. Laugh- lin O'Neal, of Wabash County, was regimental surgeon. John L. Scott . was captain of Company A and Avery B. Williams, of Company F. The regiment was assigned to duty at Taylor Barracks, Louisville, but saw no active service except unimportant guerrilla warfare, and the companies from Wabash County did not have that excitement. The regiment was mustered out of service on the 4th of September, 1865.
FOURTEENTH INDIANA ARTILLERY
Wabash County furnished some fine material to the Indiana artil- lery service. During the winter of 1861-62 the Fourteenth Battery of
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HISTORY OF WABASII COUNTY
Light Artillery was recruited mainly in the counties of Wabash, IIun- tington. Miami and Fayette by Meredith HI. Kidd, who had been practicing law in Wabash for four years after having been a California gold Inumter of varied experience.
MAJOR M. H. KIDD
In the year preceding the outbreak of the Civil war Major Kidd had been elected prosecuting attorney of the circuit embracing Wabash County, but left his office and his practice for the front as captain of the battery which he organized. Ilis command was sent into practice camp at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, early in 1862, but in April, immediately after the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, was ordered to report there to General Halleck. By him it was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee and took part in the siege of Corinth. It was then ordered to Jackson, Tennessee, and remained there until the spring of 1863. In that winter Captain Kidd received a commission as major of the Eleventh Indiana Cavalry, and joined his regiment at Indianap- olis in the spring. He remained with that branch of the service dur- ing the remainder of the war, engaged in operations against Forrest and the Indians of the Western plains.
Major Kidd returned to Wabash in the fall of 1865, published the Plain Dealer for ten years, and from 1867 to 1871 was engaged in various duties in the Far West as major in the cavalry service of the regular army. Major Kidd also acquired some influence in politics, but is best known for his military record.
CAPTAIN FRANK W. MORSE
Frank W. Morse went out as first lieutenant of the Fourteenth Indiana Battery and succeeded Major Kidd as its captain in the winter of 1864. Ile had had a business and clerical training at Wabash during his residence there of seven years preceding the breaking out of the Civil war, but like hundreds of other young men of similar peaceful experience showed from the first military grit and skill. It was after the battery had returned to Memphis, after its successful raid and destruction of Confederate railroads in Mississippi, that he assumed command of the Fourteenth. Ile aided Thomas in demoraliz- ing Hood, and during the winter of 1864-65 served as chief of artillery on the staff of Brigadier-General Moore. The hardest engagements in which his battery participated were during the thirteen days' siege of Spanish Fort, seven miles east of Mobile on the bay. There was des-
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perate fighting throughout nearly all that period, in which Captain Morse's battery took a conspicuous part. The fort surrendered on the 8th of April, 1865.
After the reduction of Mobile the army took up its march for Montgomery, Alabama. While at Greenville a messenger brought the news of Lee's surrender, and there was an immediate celebration which, in noise, exceeded the tumult of battle. The command went into camp at Montgomery, where, at his own request, Captain Morse was relieved of his command in July, 1865, the entire battery being finally mustered out and discharged at Indianapolis, August 28, 1865.
Captain Morse spent over a year at Indianapolis after the war, being engaged in compiling reports and making records of Indiana regiments which had served in the Civil war. In 1867 he returned to Wabash and became associated with the First National Bank, being appointed its cashier in 1872. In 1901, with Howard HI. Atkinson and John II. Bireley (so long cashier of the Citizen's Bank), he organized the Farmers and Merchants Bank, which became a national institution in the following year. Of the latter Captain Morse is vice president, and to see him quietly and busily engaged at his desk it is hard to real- ize the passing of the many years since he was as faithfully and indus- triously employed in directing the guns of the Fourteenth Battery.
EMMETT POST No. 6, G. A. R.
Soon after the war the Grand Army of the Republic was born, its members to consist of soldiers and sailors of the United States Army, Navy or Marine Corps who had served between April 12, 1861, and April 9, 1865, and been honorably discharged. On the 1st of Sep- tember, 1866, Encampment Post No. 1 was organized in the City of Wabash, with Gen. Charles S. Parrish as commander and John M. MeKahan as adjutant. Fifty members were enrolled, and that num- ber had been increased to 112 within the coming two years. The last meeting of the post was held March 4, 1868, although the cause for its discontinuance does not appear of record or within the memory of the veterans now living.
In the spring of 1880 most of the old members of the first post re- united and named their organization in honor of James II. Emmett, but it did not take its present form as James H. Emmett Post No. 6 until June 18, 1883, when forty-three of the old soldiers met at Union Hall, City of Wabash, and organized under that name. Representatives were present from the posts at Peru, Andrews and Fort Wayne. Allen II. Dougall, of Fort Wayne, was present as chief mustering offi-
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cer. Before the meeting was held at which officers were elected, twelve recruits had been added, so that the total original membership numbered fifty-five. In pursuance of a motion that only men who had served as privates on the battlefield should be eligible to election, the following were chosen as the first officers of the post : A. F. Spaulding, post com- mander; C. C. Mikesell, Jr., vice post commander; William Hazen, adjutant ; Edward Harter, quartermaster; A. J. Smith, surgeon; Rev. Ira J. Chase, chaplain.
The post has continued to flourish from that day to the present, although the unfailing laws of nature are slowly but surely reducing its membership. Mr. Spaulding has served several terms as commander, General Parrish and Captain Williams have been honored, as well as Captain Iless, and other old and popular soldiers have assisted to keep the camp fires bright for the good old boys in blue who are still march- ing cheerfully and bravely on. The post commanders, others than those mentioned have been W. W. Woods, Daniel Jackson, J. Parmen- ter, John B. Tyer, Naaman MeNamee, Train C. MeClure, W. M. Ilen- ley, Samuel Sholty, T. R. Brady and E. G. Burgett.
Emmett Post No. 6 of the present has a membership of about 100, with the following officers: II. II. Wheeler, post commander; William F. Lyons, senior vice commander; Naaman MeNamee, junior vice com- mander; J. P. Noftsger, adjutant; A. F. Ebbinghouse, quartermaster, and A. F. Baker, chaplain.
Woman's Relief Corps No. 8, an auxiliary of the post, is a fine, busy organization of the widows, wives and daughters of the veterans.
COMPANY D, SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
The younger men of Wabash County responded as promptly to their country's call, in 1898, as did the Union men of 1861. The part they took in the Spanish-American war was not exciting; but the main point. was that the young men of 1898 were just as ready for any required sacrifiee as those of 1861.
Early in the morning of April 26, 1898, in response to the call for volunteers issued by President MeKinley, Company D of the Fourth Indiana Infantry, was ordered to Indianapolis for service in the war with Spain.
On May 12th, this company with the regiment was mustered into the United States service as Company D, One Hundred and Sixtieth In- diana Volunteer Infantry and left for Chickamauga Park, Georgia, on May 16th. On July 28th this regiment received orders to proceed at
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once to Porto Rico, but on their arrival at Newport News, Virginia, the order was countermanded, as the Peace Protocol had been signed.
After several weeks of living in "pup" tents the regiment was ordered to Lexington, Kentucky, where they camped until November 9th ; then ordered to Columbus, Georgia. On January 15, 1899, the One Hun- dred and Sixtieth was ordered to proceed, in three seetions, to Mantanzas, Cuba, by way of Charleston, South Carolina, where the regiment was reunited on January 27th. They remained in Cuba until March 27th, when they were ordered to Savannah, Georgia, to prepare for muster- out. They arrived in Savannah on March 29th, and were mustered out and discharged on April 25th, 1899, having been in the service exactly one year.
Company D was commanded by Capt. John R. Wimmer, First Lieut. Arthur G. Reed, Second Lieut. Arthur Sayre, Third Lieut. Sayre was succeeded by Sergt. John G. Mills, when he resigned.
The non-commissioned officers of this company were: First sergeant, Andy C. Gardner; quartermaster sergeant, Andrew Pearson ; sergeants, Abner Owen, Frank Malott, Frank Murphy; Corporals, Ross Little, Frank Owens, Amos Palmer, Edward Vigus, Frank H. Henley, Franeis Seymour, John Mills, George Stuart, Clarence II. LaSelle, Fred C. Martin, James O. Porter, William Rogers, William Sommers, Howard Stewart, Lawrence Sullivan, Gilbert Williams.
While the One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment failed to see any active service they were willing and anxious to take their part in the service of the country and were retained in the service as long as any volunteer regiment.
Company D was composed of young men from all walks of life, com- ing from Wabash and vicinity, and while there were many cases of serious illness, no deaths occurred while in service.
CHAPTER XVII
NOBLE TOWNSHIP
THE TOWNSHIP LAID OFF-FIRST OFFICERS-CUT DOWN TO PRESENT AREA -DRAINAGE AND SOIL-INDIAN MILL AND ITS MILLERS -- THE KINT- NERS AND THE CREEK-MCCLURE, FIRST FAMILY MAN-FIRST STORE KEEPER, MCCLURE, JR .- GOVERNMENT BLACKSMITH WILSON-ARRIVAL OF DAVID BURR-KELLER BROTHERS AND KELLER CREEK-TRACTS WITHIN THE ORIGINAL WABASH-TOWN LAID OUT -- THE WHEELERS -THE KELLER SETTLEMENT-OTHER SETTLERS OF THE EARLY '305- FIRST NATIVE OF WABASH TOWN-EARLY SCHOOLS-IMPROVEMENTS IN THE '508-SCHOOLS OF THE PRESENT-WHITE'S MANUAL LABOR INSTI- TUTE-JOSIAH WHITE-FOUNDED IN 1852-EDUCATION OF INDIAN CHILDREN-CARE OF THE COUNTY WARDS-BRIGHIT PRESENT AND FUTURE.
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