USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 34
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flag is entrusted. The knight who brought back his banner untorn and unsullied by the fierce contest of battle was disowned and rejected by his ladylove. Do not be afraid of soiling this noble flag; if it be blackened by the smoke of battle, the same fair hands will make its folds white again on your return; if it be torn and riddled in the raging strife of the battle- field, not a broken star that shall not shine again, not a tattered stripe that shall not wave as proudly as ever to the breeze. When you come home from fields of battle they want you to bring a rattlesnake flag and present it to them. They want to see the old serpent that is tempting our fair southern Eve to fall again."
The history of this regiment was like that of all the others. They were in some perilous places but at all times covered themselves with glory. In one battle it lost 123 men. At one time during their career they made 339 miles of almost continuous marching. Many of them were without shoes. The covering of their feet had worn entirely off. Fortunately this was in June, and they were able to bind up their feet and get along as best they could.
The first regiment to arrive in Evansville was the 11th which came here in May, 1861, for re-organization as a three-year regiment. It was unexpected and no fitting reception was given to it, but its ranks were rapidly filled up by Evansville volunteers who had previously been unable to enlist. It was first stationed at Paducah during the winter and except slight skirmishes, did little work until the awful fight at Fort Donelson. At Shiloh it also was in a hot place but behaved admirably. Finally towards the close of the war and after the Sheridan campaign, it drifted to Baltimore where it was mustered out July 26, 1865.
The 24th regiment followed the 14th and was organized by Gen. Alvin P. Hovey. Companies C and F of this regiment were nearly all Vander- burg County men. Capt. John F. Grill, who was well known here, served until 1862 and was then appointed major and in 1863 received the rank of lieutenant colonel which he retained until he was mustered out in 1865. The 24th started from Vincennes going direct to St. Louis, where they joined Gen. Fremont's army which was back at Paducah and was at Ft. Donelson and Shiloh. At Shiloh Col. Hovey was made Brigadier Gen- eral for his bravery. In 1865 it had drifted to Barrancas, Florida, and later took part in the movement against Mobile. Of this regiment there were only 310 who returned to Indianapolis on the 4th of August, 1865. They were mustered out in November.
FIRST BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY.
This was known as the battery of Captain John Klauss. He was a very popular German and had no trouble in raising an independent artil- lery company which had been neatly uniformed, perfectly drilled and had taken part in all the parades in Evansville prior to the war. They were
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organized for the front on the 5th of August, 1861, and were mustered in on the 16th. This battery was in many serious conflicts yet it did not suf- fer so much in proportion as did many others. They reached Indianapolis with three officers and 102 men who were mustered out August 22, 1865.
THE 25TH REGIMENT.
The first infantry regiment to go to the front as an Evansville or- ganization was the 25th. While Gen. Hovey was working on the 24th the 25th was being organized here. James C. Veatch, a splendid soldier was directly interested in getting up this regiment. He resided at that time in Rockport but had many interests in Evansville. William H. Morgan was placed in command of this regiment and served until May, 1864, and later Col. James S. Wright assumed command until it was mustered out. It was in this regiment that Col. John W. Foster began his military career as major. He was afterwards promoted to lieutenant colonel and then left the regiment to take command of the 65th. Col. John Rheinlander was also in this regiment as Captain of Company B. He was promoted to ma- jor and then to lieutenant colonel in October, 1862. Col. Rheinlander was a soldier by instinct. He had served in a Kentucky infantry company in the Mexican war, and had been at the battle of Buena Vista. His war record was indeed a splendid one and no man received more honor than he did during his long years of residence here, after the war was over. Aside from being a fine soldier he was a man of most excellent impulses and was universally loved. To know him once, was to be his friend forever.
FIRST CAVALRY, 28TH REGIMENT.
In June, 1861, orders were issued for the organization of a regiment of cavalry, in the counties bordering on the Ohio river and the camps were organized at this city where eight companies were completed and mustered in on the 20th of August. Conrad Baker whose name is so prominently identified with the history of this city, was colonel. The field and staff officers were nearly all from adjoining counties, there being only four be- sides Col. Baker who held positions. John Smith Gavitt whom everybody knew as Smith Gavitt, and who was a brave and intrepid man who had served as sheriff here, was major of the regiment. He was soon after- wards killed at Fredrickstown, Missouri. Patrick Raleigh, the son of one of our oldest citizens, was the first lieutenant and William Baker, known as Billy Baker, was quartermaster. Companies A and B were almost en- tirely of Vanderburg County men. Joel F. Sherwood, father of the Sher- wood boys was promoted from second lieutenant to captain in October, 1861. The death of Smith Gavitt was a great shock to the community and being among the very first of the deaths of the officers or well-known citizens, when his remains were brought here, there was a grand funeral and it was then that they first began to realize what war meant. After-
FULTON SCHOOL BUILDING
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wards when the shot flew thick and fast and dead and wounded lay on many fields and the prisons of the north and south were filled and the hospitals all over the country were crowded with poor fellows who never again could expect to be men in the full meaning of the word, the people began to know of the horrors of war.
THE 32ND REGIMENT.
This was called the First German regiment as it was the first one that was almost exclusively composed of soldiers of German birth or descent. It was organized at Indianapolis by Col. Willich, who had served in the German army in the revolution of 1848. The first company gotten up in Evansville was composed mostly of Turners, with Schnackenburg as cap- tain. This company was armed with rifles. They wore blue blouses, soft hats and dark pants and for a time were detained for the protection of the powder houses here and also the property of citizens. They were also presented with a beautiful flag in front of Mozart hall on First street. The Homeguards turned out in full force. The Jackson artillery, Klauss bat- tery and the companies of Capt. Monk, Capt. Wolflin, Captain Denby and Captain Shanklin. The flag was presented by Miss Pfafflin. German songs were sung and quite a procession was formed which marched all over the city.
THE 35TH REGIMENT.
Bernard F. Mullen or Barney Mullen, as he was known, of Madison, Indiana, was given authority to organize the 25th or Ist Irish regiment. This was mustered in December 11, 1861, with John C. Walker as colonel. About 20 men went from Vanderburg County to Madison to join this regiment. Among the officers James Fitzwilliams, second lieutenant, was the only one from this city. He rose to first lieutenant, then captain and then to major of the regiment. Timothy Dawson, well known here and an old schoolmate of the writer, was first and second lieutenant and later captain of Company H. Michael Gorman was second lieutenant when the two regiments of the 6Ist and the 25th were consolidated. James Gavisk was a second lieutenant. In Company G of this regiment appears the name of William J. Nolan, "not mustered out." This regiment did a great deal of hard fighting and was in the marches, battles, and skir- mishes of the Atlanta campaign in 1864. At Kenesaw mountain it was in a desperate hand-to-hand struggle and it also took part in the fight at Franklin, Tennessee. It remained in Tennessee until June, 1865, and was then sent to Texas and mustered out September 30th, 1865.
THE SIXTH BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY.
This battery was recruited at Evansville and mustered in at Indiana- polis September 7th, 1861, with Fred Behr as captain. He lost his life at
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Shiloh in 1862 and Michael Mueller, who had been first lieutenant was appointed captain and served until he was mustered out. The other officers of this battery were residents of Indianapolis.
42ND REGIMENT.
Of this regiment which was organized October 9th, 1861, Company A was the only one composed entirely of Vanderburg County men. The colonel of this regiment was James G. Jones, a pioneer citizen. Its lieu- tenant colonel was that great statesman and soldier, Charles Denby, who was promoted to be colonel of the 80th regiment. At that time his posi- tion was filled by James M. Shanklin, the oldest son of that beloved pioneer, John Shanklin. Dewitt C. Evans, the oldest son of Gen. Robert Evans was adjutant and James L. Orr, now a respected citizen, was quar- termaster. Dr. John Mageniss was also surgeon in this regiment. Geo. W. Shanklin was quartermaster sergeant. At the time the regiment was or- ganized, the regimental band of 20 pieces under the leadership of that wor- thy citizen, C. C. Genung was mustered in with the regiment but at that time the war department issued an order dispensing with bands and that prevented this band from taking a part with the regiment during its career. In this regiment, Captain Jacob W. Messick, won his epaulets as captain, having entered as sergeant. The late Andrew McCutchan and James W. Vick- ery also served in this regiment.
THE 60TH REGIMENT.
In 1861 Col. Richard Owen, resident of New Harmony, Indiana, who had made a reputation as an excellent commander, and was then lieuten- ant colonel of the 15th regiment, obtained authority to recruit a regiment at Evansville and a partial organization was made in November. While the enlistment was going on, the regiment was ordered to Camp Morton at Indianapolis, to guard confederate prisoners and while on duty there, the organization of the regiment was perfected, the last companies being mustered in in March and April. The only regimental officer from this county was Major Joseph B. Cox, who joined as captain of Company F and was promoted. He was compelled to resign on account of ill health. The late Dr. Madison J. Bray, was surgeon from November 15, 1861, to November 28th, 1862, when he resigned his place which was filled by Dr. W. W. Slaughter. He served until 1864, when Dr. James P. Hunter, also of Evansville, took his place.
8TH BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY.
This battery also contained quite a number of officers and men who were residents of Vanderburg County. It was mustered in at Indianapolis December 13, 1861, with Geo. T. Cochran as captain. William Stolz
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served with this battery until he became a captain of the 7th battery. Ser- geant Frank Burkhart was transferred to the 7th battery. Cor. Thomas McCorkle served also and was mustered out. Bugler Samuel Day was promoted to second lieutenant and was mustered out with it. Milton H. Catlett was also in this battery until he was discharged in 1853 on account of disability.
THE 65TH REGIMENT.
When this regiment was organized the first year of the war had drawn to a close and the great public had begun to realize what war really meant, and that those who so confidently would say, "Oh, we will go out and settle it in a month or two," had no conception of what they were talking about. And right here, let it be said that there never was and never will be another nation on the face of the earth which could furnish two such bands of fighters as did the United States where, for four long years, brother met brother, and friend met friend and fought to the bitter end, exhibiting such deeds of courage as never before were noted in the annals of history, and the reason is plainly to be seen. They were all of the same stock-the good old American stock. No matter from what state they hailed, the blood was in them and they fought to win. It began to be seen that to crush out the South would require a very large force in the field. Calls for additional men began to be made. Even then it was said of the South that it was robbing the grave and the cradle to furnish men to fight the hosts of the North. If this were so at that early date in the war, how much more true it must have been later on. The responses to these calls for more men were very prompt.
The 65th regiment was organized at Princeton and with the exception of one of its companies, was mustered in at Evansville, June 20th, 1862. Its colonel was John W. Foster, the accomplished diplomat who resigned March 10, 1864, because of physical disability, and afterwards entered the service as Colonel of the 136th. William A. Page, known to everyone as Billy Page, was adjutant, until worn out with exposure he resigned in 1865. Company H was commanded by Captain Saunders R. Hornbrook, who held this position throughout its career. For meritorious service he was commissioned major but declined the honor. Samuel H. Leavitt, who taught the high school in the Canal school building, was second lieutenant of Com- pany H. The late Thomas J. Groves was a second lieutenant and the late James D. Parvin commissary sergeant. Sergt. George W. Hill also served in this regiment.
THE FOURTH CAVALRY, SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Many men from Vanderburg County were prominent in this organization. Isaac B. Gray, who was afterwards governor of the state, was colonel. Most of the Evansville people were in Company F, of which John T. De-
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weese was captain. He was promoted major, lieutenant colonel and colonel in rapid succession. Albert C. Rosencranz went out as first lieutenant and rose to the command of the company and was commissioned major of the regiment. Corporal John W. Peck was also in this company.
THE NINETY-FIRST INFANTRY.
Only seven companies of this regiment were raised here, though it was supposed to be recruited from the first congressional district in August, 1862, and its rendezvous was at Evansville. John Mehringer was lieutenant colonel, but it was known to our people as Colonel Butterfield's regiment, as he achieved his rank while serving as major, a rank that he held from its organization. Men from this county were in several of the companies of the regiment but the majority were in Company G, of which William B. Hargrave was captain. Stephen H. S. Cook went out as second lieutenant but resigned the next year.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
This was one of the regiments that was turned over to the command of Brigadier General Alvin P. Hovey. The above regiment was the only one of the six in which there were no Vanderburg County people and there were only a few of them. John M. Simmerman, who enlisted as a private in Company D, was afterwards captain of his company but no other Van- derburg County man received a commission.
THE TENTH CAVALRY, ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIFTH REGIMENT.
This was recruited during the awful winter of 1863 at Vincennes. Very few of its officers were drawn from here. Thomas G. Williamson went out as captain of Company B and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Oliver Babcock, who enlisted as private, was promoted to first lieutenant. This command did not leave the state until May 3rd, 1864. It then went to Ten- nessee and Alabama, where its chief work was in guarding railroads over which supplies were sent to Sherman's army. They had several skirmishes with the forces under Roddy, Wheeler and Forrest and naturally these were bloody, as these three were among the best skirmishers in the southern army. This regiment was on the ill fated steamer Sultana when she blew up in 1865 and lost three officers and 35 men at the time. It also lost 5 men killed and 70 wounded by a railroad collision on the L. & N. The regiment went out with 1054 officers and men and received 46 recruits and returned home with 28 officers and 519 men.
THE ONE HUNDRED DAY MEN.
The winter of 1863 and 1864 had passed and the fights were still going on and with no means, little ammunition and scanty rations, the very flower
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of their people killed, and the cradle and the grave again being robbed, the little band of southern men were still fighting as desperately as ever. It was determined that it was best for all, even for them, that the war be brought speedily to a close. It was thoroughly understood that had different tac- tics been observed the war would have long before been over. The north with untold millions of men and with ammunition and supplies almost in- exhaustible, could have wiped the entire south out of existence but always hoping that the end might soon come, the four years had passed away until it was felt that some decisive step must be taken. It had been hoped that the brilliant victories gained during the previous year would be effective and that peace might be restored by mere power of arms. There was a general consolidation in the north and the governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illi- nois, Iowa and Arkansas offered to raise for the service of the general gov- ernment, a force of volunteers to serve for 100 days and in April, 1864, Governor Morton issued his call for Indiana to furnish her portion. This force was different from regular army volunteers. They were to perform such military services as might be needed in any state in the United States and were to be armed, fed, clothed and paid by the United States. But they were not to receive any bounty. The idea was among others, to let these new men relieve the large number of veterans who were doing garrison and guard duty and allow them to get back to their places at the front, thus put- ting all the green men as guards and allowing the old veterans to get to the post where they could do the most good. Indiana was to send 8 regiments, numbered sonsecutively from 132 to the 139th. The 136th regiment was composed mostly of men from the first district, the Companies A, B, and C being from Vanderburg County and comprising the largest body of citizens who had not yet gone out at any call. It must not be inferred that any of these men had held back on account of lack of patriotism, but as in any other duty, there are sometimes cases of which the world knows nothing, which prevent a man from following his line of duty when he so chooses. The officers of this regiment were as follows:
Col. John W. Foster, lieutenant colonel; William H. Walker, major; Blythe Hynes, quartermaster ; Robert Early, captain of company A; Adolph Pfafflin, first lieutenant; Philip Euler, second lieutenant; Charles Ritter, captain of Company B; William B. Hollingsworth, first lieutenant; Frank M. Thayer, second lieutenant ; Christ. L. Scott, captain Company C; Wil- liam A. Caldwell, first lieutenant; Edward P. Elliott, second lieutenant; Fred. Geiger. At the organization of Company C, William H. Walker was commissioned captain.
So many of these men were well known citizens that this brief state- ment regarding the war would be incomplete without the insertion of their names and the following is a complete list of the enlisted men :
Company A-John Alderton, Ernst Andel, George Brown, William G. Boepple, William Bischman, Leopold Bernheimer, John Berner, George Bambe, George Baisch, Charles Coply, Henry Drier, Frank Dougherty,
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Peter Deal, John Dean, Thomas Doyle, Peter Dam, Thomas Dickerson, Henry Eisler, Michael Eisler, Henry Ehman, William H. Edwards, Stephen Ensner, Albert Enstein, William A. Fritsch, Albert Fisher, George Geissler, Henry C. Green, Henry Gumberts, John Gebing, Henry J. Glein, John M. Gleichman, John Huber, Frederick Hoelscher, Jacob Hirch, Phillip Haumer, Jacob Hahn, August Heinekamp, Louis Hanschilds, Henry Hewig, John Jordan, Rudolph Kehr, Frederick Kercher, George Kissel, August Korse- meyer, Frederick Krohn, Francis Krug, Henry Kruse, Theodore L. Kuhl- man, Louis Kramer, Christian Koehler, George Kinkel, Charles Kretsch- mar, John Linde, Gottlieb Lerch, John H. Lambers, Henry Moellenkamp, John Mosel, Louis Metzner, Gustave Mathias, John McDonough, Rein- hard Orth, John Polhaus, Theodore Pfafflin, Gottlieb Pfisterer, Jacob Rif- fin, Jacob Rickling, John Roepple, Christian Ressler, John L. Straub, Henry Smith, Henry Schmitt, Ernst Schorr, Jacob Schlintenhard, Gottlieb Schieber, Peter Schindler, Charles Schweitzer, Albert Severet, John Straubmiller, Al- bert Schumaker, Charles Schlange, Joseph Schoene, Christian Steinhauer, William F. Schlotter, August Schlange, Frederick Teipel, John Voll, Wil- liam Vierling, John Walter, Charles West, Christian Walter, Peter Wils- bacher, Joseph Witz, Henry F. Wilke, Charles White, Isaac Weiss, Nich- olas Yost, Christian Ziss.
Company B-Henry J. Ashley, Augustus C. Ames, John C. Barnes, James W. Barbour, Adam Beiling, David W. Burns, Judson G. Burtis, Jackson Belford, Benjamin H. Beggs, Samuel W. Blackburn, Henry W. Beppus, Robert H. Blackburn, William Burkhart, John Burrucker, William T. Carney, Martin N. Christ, William Christian, John W. Collins, James Crafts, Adam Conrad, James Corduroy, George B. Davison, Fletcher C. DeBruler, John C. Duvendork, Isaac F. Demerit, Robert Early, George Elsperman, Oliver Evans, James C. Farrow, Joseph Fitzgerald, John Fitz- gerald, Isadore A. Flack, James S. Floyd, George Forsyth, Spencer Glazier, James Gorman, William Grammer, Joseph Gugamus, Christian Herman, J. Blythe Hendricks, William E. Howsley, John T. Hutchinson, Thomas Humphreys, James P. Hynes, Thomas Ingle, William Johnson, John Kat- terbacher, Franz Kirchner, Josiah Kightly, Robert B. Kirkpatrick, Madison B. Kirkpatrick, William H. Kirkpatrick, Isaac H. Kimbly, John Koenig, John Kohl, Leo Kuhn, Adolph Lagant, William B. Lindsey, Marion Lock- wood, Joseph Lyon, Walter M. Lewis, Michael Mackedon, Thornton Males, George F. Mayer, John Munn, James McKinney, Charles Miller, John A. Miller, Herman Miller, Jacob Miller, Henry Morris, John Nester, James C. Byrne, Charles W. Osborne, William E. Quinn, Lewis Raple, John Roeder, Mathew W. Rogers, George J. Reeves, John M. Sampson, Louis Schmitt, Frank S. Schu, John H. Sonntag, Henry Steiper, James Swanson, Jr., James Taylor, George A. Urie, Abram Van Strickland, George Vickery, Samuel W. Wallace, William T. Wade, Frank C. White, Samuel Wyten- bach, John Yocum, Adrian Youngs.
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Company C-Charles H. Allen, William F. Beard, John Bailey, Jacob Bippus, Louis Birtis, Henry Browne, John Burns, William Burroughs, F. Bruce Carson, Albert W. Carpenter, Henry Clark, David Cory, Henry Curry, W. H. Day, John Dick, James E. Eargood, James H. Foster, John F. Foster, Frank France, James B. Gammel, --- - Geiger, Frederick Geiger, Christopher Garst, Jefferson Gilman, Frank Gray, Frederick Guth, Samuel Hays, Jacob Heddrick, John Heilman, George Henninger, Louis Hess, A. B. Hinkle, Henry Huber, John Hopkins, Calvin P. Howard, Benjamin Hubb, Jr., Jacob Hurnell, John Hurly, Heber Ingle, Charles T. Jenkins, Frank M. Kennison, Moses C. Kohn, Joseph P. Kramer, James Larue, Bruce Lechner, John Mayhew, Jr., George F. Mansell, William W. Manning, John Monks, William McDowell, Isaac Miller, Conrad Miller, Allen G. Mills, Henry Myers, Benjamin Newman, George W. Newman, Henry C. New- man, Philip Nester, John O'Brien, Dennis O'Brien, Patrick O'Brien, James H. Philips, Jacob Reerer, William Ryan, John H. Reynolds, Andrew J. Rudisil, William L. Sauer, James M. Scantlin, John Scofield, Charles Sense- mier, Charles Seedrel, John Sheppard, John D. Sheppard, John Sheer, Jo- seph E. Schu, Thomas Shaw, Eson Shaptaugh, John List, Jesse B. Start, George M. Stinson, John M. Stinson, Burnett Taylor, Cornelius Totten, Levi H. Tower, Howard Walker, William Warren, Nicholas Weber, John White, George White, William Wilson, George H. Williams, Nicholas Win- ter, Joseph Winer, Robert F. Woods, William Zast.
The Last Call-In December, 1864, Abraham Lincoln again called on the loyal people of the north for 300,000 volunteers. In response to this, the final call for troops made by the president during the civil war, Indiana sent eleven regiments to the front, among them being the One Hundred and Forty-third, composed of companies from the first congressional district, organized and mustered into service at Indianapolis on the 21st day of Feb- ruary, 1865, with John F. Grill, as colonel. Early in 1861, Col. Grill had gone out as captain of a company in the twenty-fourth, had rendered val- iant and faithful service with that gallant regiment, had won and received advancement to the rank of lieutenant colonel, had just returned to his home from active service, and it was a fitting recognition of his worth that he should command the last regiment that went out composed largely of Van- derburg County men. His commission was dated the 20th day of February, 1865, and he served until mustered out with the regiment. Other regi- mental officers from the county were: Edward P. Elliot, adjutant; Peter Schmock, quartermaster, and Benjamin Davidson, assistant surgeon. The following were the officers of Company A, all residents of Evansville: Jus- tin A. Kellogg, captain; Joseph B. Maghee, Jr., first lieutenant, and George H. Dearing, second lieutenant.
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