USA > Indiana > History of the One hundred and sixty-first regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry > Part 2
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In the present war, to create armies and make soldiers of men in the shortest time is the aim of those in control. Therefore, in order that the highest state of efficiency may be attained, it will be expected of you that you should at once and at all times call forth your best energies, and let it be the effort of each and every one, of whatever station, to have it said of him, "duty well done."
All authority should be exercised with firmness, de- corum and, above all, impartiality, and authority should be respected by implicit obedience and loyal support from subordinates. Let it be the aim of each and every one to labor earnestly to perfect himself in military drill, in- structions and discipline.
It will be necessary, and one of the first cares, to pre- serve health, and as your commanding officer I enjoin upon officers and men to look well to preserving your present physical condition, which is evidenced to be good by reason of your acceptance by the surgeons and mustering officer. Going into a hot climate, as we doubtless will, it will be necessary to the preservation of health to abstain from the use of intoxicating drinks.
Let your aim be at all times to be prepared for duty by presenting yourself in your best physical condition, with- out impairment of body or intellect produced by any article that will weaken or impair. Let your stimulants be a pride in the perfectness of your bodies, and a zeal and
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energy to become the best regiment not only from our own state, but any other state.
It is expected of you, and is due the government which you serve, that we will do nothing that will interfere with all the requirements demanded of us.
2. The letter designations of companies is as follows:
Captain Lee M. Olds, Company A.
Captain Winston Menzies, Company B.
Captain Thomas J. Hudgins, Company C. Captain Charles E. Crosby, Company D.
Captain Louis C. Baird, Company E. Captain William M. Smith, Company F. Captain Albert D. Ogborn, Company G. Captain James M. Gwinn, Company H. Captain William Guthrie, Company I.
Captain Wilford T. Stott, Company K.
Captain James L. Anderson, Company L.
Captain George A. West, Company M.
The relative rank of all commissioned officers of the same grade corresponds to the designation by letter of their companies, those of Company A being senior, and through regular gradation by letter to Company M, it's officers being junior. For instance, the captain, first and second lieu- tenants of Company A will be the seniors in rank in their grade in the regiment, and those of Company M the juniors.
Precedence of non-commissioned officers of the same grade and the same relative positions in a grade will, like- wise, be determined.
For instance, the first, second, third, etc., sergeants of Company A will be senior in rank to the first, second, third, etc., of other companies, but the third sergeant of Company A will not be senior in rank to the second ser- geant of any other company.
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3. The following assignment of companies to battal- ions is hereby announced:
First Battalion, Companies A, E, K, M.
Second Battalion, Companies B, D, F, I. Third Battalion, Companies C, G, H, L.
Lieutenant-Colonel Victor M. Backus, Major Harold C. Megrew and Major Matt. R. Peterson, One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry, are assigned to the command of the First, Second and Third Battalions re- spectively. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
Battalion commanders are authorized to appoint their commissioned and non-commissioned staff officers, with the approval of the regimental commander.
4. On and after the 17th inst., officers' school will be established and held daily, Saturdays and Sundays ex- cepted, from 3:15 P. M. to 4:15 P. M. Officers' call will be sounded at 3:05 P. M., at which time all officers not excused by regimental commander will repair to regimental head- quarters.
5. On and after the 17th inst. non-commissioned of- ficers' school will be held daily from 8:45 A. M. to 9:45 A. M., at such places as company commanders may designate. The instruction of each company will be under the super- vision of company commanders, and all company officers and non-commissioned officers not excused by the regi- mental commander will be required to attend. School call will be sounded at 8:35 A. M.
6. All drills, until further orders, will be squad drills. Battalion commanders will see that this order is strictly en- forced.
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7. The verbal appointment of John R. Brunt, first lieutenant and quartermaster One Hundred and Sixty-first
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Indiana Volunteer Infantry, to be acting ordnance officer of the regiment is hereby made of record.
By order of Colonel Durbin.
OLIVER M. TICHENOR,
Ist Lieut. and Adjutant 161st Ind. Vol. Inf.
It will be noticed by the order of companies herein mentioned that the company from Hammond, commanded by Lee M. Olds, was made the ranking company of the regiment. No body of men worked harder than did the boys and officers of Company A. They were at it early and late and attained very speedily to the degree of excel- lency that characterized their work. Other companies as well were doing most excellent work, but the Mount Ver- non company was perhaps the one that made the Ham- mond boys work hardest for their distinction, and the earnest and pleasant rivalry resulted in a hard choice be- tween them. The four company commanders first mus- tered were called into the presence of Colonel Durbin and the battalion commanders. They were given the prefer- ence of choosing the ranking company themselves or leav- ing the decision to the committee before them. They pre- fered to abide by the decision of the latter, and the choice was accordingly made. At a meeting of all officers the following evening a like method was determined upon for fixing the rank of companies mustered on the 12th and 13th.
The first meeting of officers was held July 13th in the dispensary room of the headquarters building where Major Megrew, Captains Smith and Guthrie were appointed a committee to suggest some out-fitter's establishment for uniforms, etc. There was only one man in those days and his name was Pettibone. Accordingly Mr. Pettibone's agent was busy for weeks fitting (?) the officers out. Patience is a most excellent virture and the officers now
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had the most excellent opportunity for its display. They waited many weary weeks after those gilded coats and striped pants were due, and when they came, -to see those fits! The officers had to do something and not being pro- fane men, they had to laugh; they had a perfect fit of this. To see John R. Brunt poke his long arms through a Kaki that would quicker fit a Lilliputian-short sleeves perhaps intended for evening dress ;- to see Victor M. Backus color up with blood as he tugged to squeeze himself on the inside of his-to see W. T. Durbin lose himself in his-and every one else look ridiculous-to see this would have made Pettibone himself laugh. In fact those were marvelous suits, self-fitting, warranted to fit anybody and lest any one who is in the distance heard the hilarious proceedings that lasted so long into the night of July 25th should form an unfavorable impression of our sobriety let it here be chron- icled that the officers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry were simply trying on the Pet- tibone suits.
At a similiar meeting of officers the next day the colo- nel announced the first officers' school, which met on Mon- day, 18th, in the upstairs of the headquarters building. A few remarks were made by Colonel Durbin in which he designated Major Peterson as instructor. A typical school in which "Tactics " were explained, for which a man was supposed to study his lessons, at which the roll was called and which no officer could absent himself without a legiti- * mate excuse. The officers always knew how to execute the movement in question with their men but could not tell in school just what command they would use to do it with. This was the one peculiar and mysterious feature.
On Tuesday, July 19th, the first issue of clothing was made by the quartermaster and as fast as possible there- after the men were supplied from United States clothing 3
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department. One can easily imagine the change that such change of garments made. The boys did really look taller, but it is doubtful if they looked as much taller as it seemed to them they were. On Wednesday, 20th, the first bat- talion formation was made by Major Megrew, commanding the Second Battalion.
In the evening of the 21st the friends of Lieutenat- Colonel Backus presented him with a sword. Concerning that occasion the following is from the Indianapolis Senti- nel, of the 22nd of July:
The porch of the headquarters at Camp Mount was the scene of a very pleasant gathering last evening on the occasion of the presentation of a sword to Lieutenant- Colonel Backus by a number of his friends in this city. It was filled with the officers of the regiment, and a number of ladies and gentlemen and a crowd of soldiers of the camp were gathered before it.
Mr. Ben Webb and Mr. E. M. Johnson were the chief managers of the ceremony. The presentation speech was made by Mr. J. P. Dunn, who spoke as follows:
"LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BACKUS-We are come to tender to you a token of esteem for the past and a confidence for the future. A third of a century has passed away since the gloomy cloud of civil war lifted from our country, but time has not dimmed the memory of the glorious deeds that were done in that gigantic struggle. With us of Indi- ana and Illinois there is no part in the achievements of that war that is looked upon with higher pride than that borne by Wilder's brigade. The rest of the country does not know as we know the story of that flying swarm of the pio- neers of battle. We have listened with eager earnestness to the account of its brilliant victory at Hoover's gap. We have heard with breathless interest the story of its daring destruction of the supply depot at Decker, and its
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
escape over the hills from the overwhelming Confederate force that came just too late for its protection. We have thrilled with excitement over the description of the un- looked-for attack on Chattanooga when Lilly's guns wak- ened the enemy from a sense of security. We have heard with quickened pulse the account of its stubborn fighting at Chickamauga, at Selma and at Macon. It is a wonderful story of wild raids and desperate chances taken-of riding by night and fighting by day -- for there was little rest where John T. Wilder commanded. And we may well wish it were all recorded in permanent form that those who come after us may know it as we know it. Those who can re- count it are swiftly passing from our sight. It is but a few weeks since they laid to rest that true and tried soldier, John Fleming. But a little later this whole community bowed in sorrow at the announcement of the death of that peerless man-that knight errant in war and peace -- Colonel Eli Lilly. Only this week you buried gallant Bill Bray-as brave a man as ever carried a musket in our army. And I can but think that there must have been great satisfaction to that grizzled veteran in his last days, when he heard how you, his youthful protege, the youngest soldier of the brigade, had given to Indiana the un- precedented honor of tendering the services of a full regi- ment of volunteers before the president's call was received.
" But while we treasure these memories of the past, we rejoice that we have reached new times and new condi- tions. We glory in the knowledge of an united country, and we know that the blood now shed in battle against a foreign foe shall cement the hearts of all sections so that we shall be disunited no more forever. Surely our sol- diers shall march with quickened step and lighter heart be- cause America is all on one side and under one flag. We are one nation and one people.
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"Lieutenant-Colonel Backus, I address you in behalf of your fellow-citizens, your neighbors, your friends. We offer you this sword with unbounded confidence that it will never know dishonor. We know that if its blade shall be reddened it will be with the blood of the enemies of your country, shed in fair and honorable combat. We know that when it flashes in the charge it will be before the eyes of your men. We wish that when you grasp its hilt it shall bear the message to you that our hopes, our kindliest wishes and our prayers are with you and all your comrades who go to uphold the nation's honor. Some of you may not return. The enemy's arms or dread disease may leave you lifeless in the foreign lands. Some of you may return broken with sickness or with wounds. We hope for the best. We trust that God may deal kindly with you. We wish this sword to be with you in remembrance that what- ever may befall you, and all of you, shall be held by us in honor, in esteem and in affection, while we shall live."
Lieutenant-Colonel Backus received the sword with evident emotion and briefly returned thanks to the donors. He said that he was certain that the regiment was the best one that had been sent out to the war. It had the best colonel, the best majors, the best captains and the best men. He was certain that good reports would come from it when it got to the front. When he returned from the the Civil, war thirty-three years ago, he carried a Spencer rifle and he only hoped that this sword would come back with as good a record as that rifle. He would promise one thing, and that was that it should not come back dishon- ored in any event.
On Saturday, July 23d, occurred the first wedding. The Second Batallion, of which the bridegroom was a mem- ber, formed in hollow square in an open space of the grove. Two other companies were also present, and here in the
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
presence of comrades and friends, on nature's soft carpet, and under her beautiful skies, after Colonel Backus had said " I give this woman to be the soldier's bride," the regimental chaplain performed the ceremony that made Sergeant Robert L. Cromer, of Company I, and Miss Pink Allen, of Logansport, man and wife, and the soldiers gave three rousing cheers for the happy couple. On Sunday, July 24, the first regimental parade took place. Visitors were in abundance that day and from the grand stand and from the windows and balcony of the Administration build- ing they watched eleven hundred boys form in one long line of companies that stretched through the oval race track from end to end; it was a big crowd of soldiers and and as Lieutenant-Colonel Backus looked upon it, it seemed to grow bigger with every second; finally he shouted: "Right forward! fours right!" and after a remarkable maneuver got them to pass in review before Colonel Durbin. It was on this day that the adjutant's remarkable riding furnished material for such favorable newspaper comment.
In the meantime international concerns were progress- ing exceeding slow, and while the men were speculating as to the when and where of our departure, public opinion was forming itself into the impression that we were on our first and only camping ground. As soon, however, as tentage was received the regiment was to change quarters, to leave the old barns and pitch a more model camp in the eastern portion of the grounds. This savored of a longer stay but was simply the purpose to improve the time and camp and give the men a little more military experience, even though the tents should stand only for a day, but who knew? Accordingly the camp was laid out, thirteen wells were driven, tents were issued, and on July 29 and 30 the boys took up their beds and walked to the little village of tents
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and in the evening at taps laid themselves down by fives in the little white houses.
The ground was the same as that occupied by the other Indiana regiments, but so orderly and in such system was this camp laid out that favorable comparisons and com- ments were heard by all who visited the regiment while there. It was the idea which later perfected made the One Hundred and Sixty-first camp a "revelation."
On July 3Ist (Sunday) occurred the first muster for pay. "Of all the signing of rolls that was the best one yet," said one man as he finished. On the 2d day of August the 45-caliber, 1884 pattern, Springfield rifles with bayonets were issued. They made the men appear very formidable, and they began at once the practice of the manual of arms; and for several days the boys drilled and speculated on the future, and posed for Treadwell-Shane, who hung the " Father of his Country " out to smile upon the boys, while he made mounted heroes out of them on a card 14 x 20, all for the small sum of $1. 50 each.
Saturday, August 6, at 5:30, the first guard was mounted, in a military fashion, Major Peterson acting as regimental adjutant; Captain Olds was officer of the day, and Lieutenant Reynolds was officer of the guard. The band was in formation, but instrumentless, and two of them accompanied the ceremony with bugles. This has always been an attractive feature; it was interesting that evening because it was new, but later, when executed with such spirited precision, the inspiring music, the inspection of guns, the entire ceremony, from the marching up of each detail to the passing in review before its officers, the act, although somewhat dramatic, was attractive and inter- esting, and impressed thoughtful minds with a world of meaning. In that ceremony one could see the whole his- tory of a war; so much have sentinels to do with battles.
GUARD MOUNT, CAMP COLUMBIA.
---
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Boys, do you remember the brave deed of August 5 ? History would be incomplete without it. It was 2:30 P. M. when you formed yourselves and with determination deeply stamped upon your brows you advanced on head- quarters. Lieutenant-Colonel Backus was not the man you was looking for, and when he asked your purpose you demanded that he bring the colonel out, and the colonel came out of his tent; you remember when came and looked right at you-you know how the colonel could look -- and when he said: " What does this mean ? " your leader swal- lowed the lump that 'rose like lightning in his throat and managed to say: " We want more privileges ?" and the colonel said: "Every man of you to your tents, at once !" In a minute not a man was in sight. You always were obedient.
On August 7 (Sunday) the regiment was called out for parade; Lieutenant-Colonel Backus passed the regiment in review and rode to his place by the side of Colonel Dur- bin. The colonel asked him to form the regiment in line of masses, as he had something to say to them. After complimenting them on their appearance as a regiment he told them of the following order he that day received.
WASHINGTON, D. C., August 7, 1898. Col. Winfield T. Durbin, commanding One Hundred and Sixty- first United States Volunteer Infantry, Camp Mount, Indianapolis, Indiana :
By direction of the secretary of war, you will proceed as soon as practicable with your regiment to Jacksonville, Florida, and report to the commanding general there. Upon receipt of this order you will at once communicate with the chief quartermaster, Chicago, for the necessary transportation, and with the chief commissary, Chicago, for - ten-days' field rations, the necessary travel rations and cof-
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
fee money. The quartermaster general and commissary general have instructed the chief quartermaster and chief commissary as above to provide the transportation rations, and coffee money. Telegraph day of departure to command- ing general of Seventh Corps, also to this office, specifying amount of tentage, kind and calibre of arms and ammuni- tion taken with you. Acknowledge receipt.
By order of the secretary of war.
12:38 P. M.
H. C. CORBIN, Adjutant General.
No one present will forget the demonstration which followed the reading of this order. It meant that the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana was not to go home, but was to share in whatever there was yet to do to accomplish the end for which war was declared. And didn't the boys shout, and didn't they yell, and didn't every hat go up in the air, and didn't the officers do their share of noise- making, and how the people in the grand stand did wonder what the Colonel had said that threw the boys into such a commotion, and then when they were given "fall out" after reaching the company streets, how each company vied with every other in seeing which could make the most noise. After supper breaking the news to mother and other friends was the order until taps, and immediately next morning all loose articles were carefully packed away and preparations made for an immediate departure. Tents were searched and all side arms demanded. The boys had enlisted to fight and couldn't understand this seeming hard- ship, but experience calls it a wise precaution.
Tuesday, the 9th, the paymaster squared every man with the Government, and on Wednesday we would have been marching to the cars had transportation been furnished as per expectation, but all was in readiness the following
..
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day, and I P. M., August II, found the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana marching toward the North street depot, from which point, by contract, the Big Four was to carry us all to Jack-onville. Concerning this day's events the following is taken, in part, from the Indianapolis Journal of the 12th instant:
"The One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment has gone to Jacksonville, leaving Camp Mount deserted except for the two colored companies. There were no drills in camp in the morning, but every soldier was intense with excitement in anticipation of the move to the south, even though none of the troops may ever see the smoke of battle. The offi- cers were instructed to have a man at each corner of every tent at nine o'clock promptly, and at bugle call to draw the ropes and pack tents and equipment at once. As soon as the bugle blew the blast every tent fell over to the north just as if a cyclone had struck camp and swept the field clean. In twenty minutes the tents were down, packed and loaded into wagons to be hauled to the cars near by.
"An early noon mess was ordered, and at one o'clock the ride to Sixteenth street began. The colored compa- nies, which acted as escort to the regiment, came first and were followed by the First Battalion. These were followed by the Second and Third Battalions. The soldiers left the cars at Sixteenth street and marched across to Meridian, where they halted, waiting for Colonel Durbin and staff, who came up a few minutes before three. Governor Mount, his secretary and the When Band were in waiting. At three o'clock the order to ' fall in' was given and the line of march began, the colored men in front, then Gov- ernor Mount, Colonel Durbin and staff. The First, Sec- ond and Third Battalions followed in the order given. Company F carried the flag in the middle of the regiment. The length of the line was six blocks, four abreast. Hun-
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ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FIRST INDIANA.
dreds of people lined the way along the line of march, shouting 'good-bye' to the soldiers. When the flag was carried along the crowd went wild with applause and hats were lifted until it had passed.
In front of the state house the troops were drawn up and passed in review before the governor."
We have always thought of the governor as our friend, and every officer and private felt something of the debt to him for its magnificent beginning under his care and super- vision. Every regiment claimed and received his interest and his attention, and he dealt fairly and impartially with them all, out of concern for the credit they were to reflect upon the State that sent them forth, but the One Hundred and Sixty-first, being the only volunteer regiment, he nec- essarily came into closer touch with its organization. His notable wisdom in the selection of officers and the justice characterizing his every dealing with the regiment, won the admiration of every soldier. Its welfare received his attention in every possible way and the good reputation it afterward sustained was to him a source of deep pleasure. It is a pleasure to here insert the governor's speech which was made to the regiment drawn up before him and which so many of the men far down the narrow street could not hear.
THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.
"Soldiers of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Volunteers-You are to-day bidding good-bye to friends, to home and to your native state. In behalf of this com- monwealth I desire to bid you good-bye and godspeed on your journey. In common with thousands of brave men, you tendered your service upon the first call of the President of the United States for volunteers. You pleaded ear- nestly and with importunity that your service might be accepted. You reflect but the patriotism of tens of thou- sands of other brave men in Indiana who tendered their
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