USA > Indiana > Vanderburgh County > Evansville > History of the city of Evansville and Vanderburg County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 35
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The work of this last regiment was very brief, the war being virtually at a close when they were mustered in. The general feeling seemed to be that they were not to be exposed to the vicissitudes of either battlefield or camps in the far south but with the showing made by their rapid response
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to the call for soldiers, would convince the south, already disheartened, that it was useless to longer attempt to fight against such overwhelming odds. The regiment left Indianapolis February 24, 1865, and went directly to Nashville, Tennessee. From thence it moved to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where it did guard duty until May 13, when it went to Tullahoma. Next it moved, on the 26th of June, to Nashville, and then went to Clarksville, Tennessee, where three companies were detached and sent to do garrison duty at Fort Donelson. Orders were received for mustering it out of serv- ice and the regiment was once more brought together and marched to Nash- ville where it was mustered out on the 17th of October, 1865. On coming back to Indiana it went direct to Indianapolis where it was publicly received at the state-house grove by a large body of the citizens and it was here that the members of the regiment received their final discharge.
In again speaking of the part Indiana took in the war, I wish to call at- tention to the fact that more men wished to join from this state than could be accommodated. There were many captains who organized companies and failed to get them into the Indiana troops, so were compelled to enlist their men in other states. In 1861 some of the newspapers announced that In- diana was not allowed to furnish her proper proportion of the troops needed. It is because of this fact that it is hard to tell just how many Vanderburg County men really enlisted, because the credit of their enlistment went to other localities and therefore an Indiana record could not well be made. There are many cases where men volunteered and did honorable service which were entitled to the credit of the present generation, but because of the failure on the part of the mustering officer to make a record of their responses, they did not appear in the records of Vanderburg County sol- diers. Still in nearly all histories of the war their names appear and that they do not appear as Vanderburg County soldiers is simply a blow to our county pride and no reflection on their patriotism.
THE INDIANA LEGION.
At the time of the breaking out of the war, the militia of this state had not been thoroughly organized for some thirty years. At various times there would be spasmodic attempts to get them together and for a time there would be musterings and parades but the martial spirit would die out only to be taken up again when there was a popular call for the same. But at the beginning of the war, the legislature in special session at once provided for a thorough reorganization of the state militia. At that time while Major General John Love was commander-in-chief of the legion, the only general officer from Vanderburg County was Blythe Hynes, who was afterwards provost marshal and later major of the 136th regiment. The Vanderburg County militia went in the second regiment, first brigade, second division of the legion. Carl Schmitt was major. General James E. Blythe, a well known lawyer of this city, rose to the rank of brigadier general and died dur-
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ing service. The staff officers were: William H. Walker, major and in- spector; Thomas E. Garvin, major and judge advocate; Victor Bisch, major and paymaster ; Martin Klauss, major and chief of artillery ; Cyrus K. Drew, captain and aide-de-camp; William E. Hollingsworth served as lieutenant colonel. Henry C. Gwathmey also as lieutenant colonel; Morris S. Johnson, major ; John Sonntag, adjutant; Charles S. Wells, quartermaster; Robert Early, quartermaster ; Joseph P. Elliot, quartermaster ; August Ellis, Albert Rimroth and Charles Edelman were in the artillery. In the artillery in 1861 were W. H. Chandler, captain; F. W. Cook, first lieutenant and captain ; John Nurre, first lieutenant; George H. Stockwell, second lieutenant. In the old Evansville Rifles in 1861 William E. French was captain ; C. H. But- terfield, first lieutenant; I. Haas, second lieutenant. In fact, almost every young man in the city and even some of the older ones, who were almost incapable of bearing arms, were in this legion and served their time during the war, while a great number entered the regular army and rose to high positions as noted elsewhere. As fast as companies could be organized, they were supplied with arms and accoutrements and they drilled frequently and with such success, that in a few months they were almost equal in their knowledge of military tactics as the soldiers of the regular army. It is a fact that during the entire war there never was a guerrilla attack on the city of Evansville and simply for the reason that there was always at all times, day or night, a body of at least 1,000 men who could be in line and ready for action within half an hour from the sound of the alarm. While Buckner was at Bowling Green and Russelville, there were frequent demonstrations made in this direction and at one time General Buckner sent a force to destroy the lock at Spottsville, but a regiment from here quickly marched there, accompanied by a detail of artillery under Colonel Hollingsworth and they produced such an impression that the enemy did not dare attack them. At times there were scouting parties gotten up who went into various parts of Kentucky up and down the Ohio river looking into the position of the con- federates and they were of great service in imparting their news to the regular army. The city was kept guarded at all times and no body of con- federates could approach from any direction without an alarm being given. Our sister city of Henderson was even threatened as it had only a small command of Union troops, but in several instances details were sent there who so aided them that Henderson never suffered. The greatest alarm occasioned here was when Adam Johnson raided Newburg in July, 1862. Word was brought here that a large band of Kentucky guerillas were sacking the little town. The danger signal was given and in less than an hour 1,000 men were under arms. Two steamers, the Eugene and the Courier were rapidly filled and proceeded to Newburgh but they found nothing except the boat in which the guerillas crossed and recrossed again into Kentucky and this was discarded. Again in September five companies went to Owensboro to repel an attack. In 1863 in July at the time of the John Morgan raid, there was great excitement here and every company in the county rallied
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with full ranks and went into camp until it was found that the alarm was false. At one time a part of the legion joined with General Hovey and went over into Kentucky to Morganfield and routed the troops of Johnson and Seipert. These latter troops had planned an invasion into southern Indiana but were put to flight. The John Morgan raid of which so much has been written, was intended to break up railroad communication and prepare for the capture of Louisville and Cincinnati by General Buckner. His raid did a great amount of damage. He levied large sums of money, took good horses and by his rapid movements created terror all along the border. Col. J. M. Shackleford was stationed in Kentucky at that time and kept up an almost daily fight with guerillas, who swarmed over that country. His work was so effective that he was made a brigadier genral and placed in command of the first brigade. The capture of John Morgan's forces by General Shackleford is a well-known matter of history. He followed Morgan with such rapidity that it was impossible for the leader to get back to the south. In one case the chase lasted 57 miles and at its conclusion, by a flank movement, Mor- gan's retreat was cut off. He took refuge on an immense bluff near Keizer creek. A flag was sent up demanding an unconditional surrender of Morgan and his band. A personal interview with General Shackleford was asked and at its conclusion the entire force surrendered. It was supposed that Morgan himself was with them but he had escaped and fled to the south. There were some 1,300 men with their horses and arms captured on this occasion. On learning that Morgan had escaped, General Shackleford kept after him and finally caught him on the New Lisbon road. Morgan claimed that he had already surrendered to a militia officer but General Shackelford said that he had followed him for 30 days and nights and demanded his surrender to him. This was done and Morgan was delivered over to Major General Burnside at Cincinnati. In spite of the fact that Indiana had been so prompt in furnishing soldiers and had even furnished more than her quota, when the draft was made August 4, 1862, for 300,000 it was claimed that Indiana was short. The shortage was very small and it soon afterwards became known that there was no shortage but that as stated, the state had furnished more than her quota. The governor and leading citizens deplored the fact that a draft on Indiana had been called for, for it was looked on as a mark of disgrace. As a matter of fact, when the draft was ordered, even despite the fact that many Vanderburg County men enlisted in other states, there was a deficiency of only 81 men-certainly a very small short- age. Of this Armstrong had 19, Scott 19 and German Township 43. In 1864 when the 500,000-men call was made, the county was asked to furnish 1,353 men. Much to the surprise of those who asked it, it was found that we already had to our credit, 1,206 new volunteer recruits, 63 veterans re- enlisted and 97 draft men, thus making the surplus of 13 over what were needed. In 1865 all efforts to raise troops was abandoned and at that date the county was charged with a quota of 318 men and was credited with 323 men, thus showing a surplus of five.
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AS TO BOUNTIES.
During the war and just afterwards there was a great deal of talk about bounties and marvelous tales were told of men who were too cow- ardly to answer the call to arms and who were willing to pay enormous sums to substitutes. These reports were as a rule, greatly exaggerated. There were at that time, men of absolutely no character who made a good thing out of the war, as "Bounty Jumpers." These men would go to a citi- zen and agree with him to enlist in his name, accepting therefor a certain sum as a bounty. They would get the money and then go and enlist all right and possibly hang around headquarters for a day or two, when they would suddenly disappear and as the country at that time was filled with refugees, the riff-raff of the army and all sorts of tough characters, one can easily imagine how hard it would be to trace these men up, so it was no unusual thing for a "Bounty Jumper" to obtain half a dozen bounties, for instance in the lower part of this state and then jump into Ohio or any other nearby state and go over the same thing. Thousands of these men were never caught, but as these ill-gotten gains were soon squandered in dissipation, about the only sufferer, was the man who paid for the substi- tute. As a matter of fact, the bounties paid by the United States were from $100 to $200 which sums increased as the war advanced. At first they were not needed at all, as the quota of each state was filled without any question. Then small bounties were paid for the purpose of helping the families of volunteers. Still later, large sums were offered but were offered by the counties. The families of the first volunteers were never at any time in any distress. Our people took good care of them. The first large meeting was at Mozart hall, in August, 1861, when arrangements were made to extend aid to these families of volunteers no matter how long the war should last. At this meeting John S. Hopkins, William T. Page, Rudolph Kehr, William Heilman, Anthony Reis, Charles Babcock, Philip Hornbrook, Dr. Hallock, and many other prominent citizens took part and appointed committees who immediately went to work. Of course at this time they had no idea that a bloody war of four years would continue. One of the first public responses to this meeting was in November, 1863, when the farmers of the entire county seemed to come in. They formed in an immense procession with bands of music and they had all sorts of wagons filled with wood and every product of the farms. There was plenty to burn and plenty to eat for every one. The air was full of patriotism. Speeches were made by Judge Will- iam F. Parrett and Captain William Reavis and a great supper was served to the farmers by Mrs. Dr. Walker, Mrs. Mayor Baker, Mrs. Bob Early, Miss Victoria Cody, who afterward married William R. Baker, and many others. In this procession alone, there were 130 wagon loads of wood. Even after the close of the war the county still continued to look after the families of all volunteers and no one can estimate the immense amount of money and goods that were freely given. Soldiers' widows and orphans
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were particularly cared for. None of them suffered. It is said that at a rough estimate, Vanderburg County gave at least $250,000 to its suffering people before the United States began giving pensions. As to pensions, cer- tainly no one now living can say that the United States has not done its duty. In fact, it has done its duty a thousand times over and the only mistake has been that in many cases, soldiers who bore the brunt of battle and suffered and were afterwards incapacitated for work, received only small bounties, while others who never received a scratch and hardly knew what the war meant, except as they read about it in the newspapers, received larger pen- sions. And in some cases when the claims were put in of late years, they have received back pensions which ran through a time when they were ab- solutely able-bodied and fit to work and had not in any way or shape, been hurt by their short term of service. It is this fact that has made so many who have groaned under taxation, a little bitter against the whole pension system. Yet, after all when we think of the great number of men who served and the difficulty in a great many cases, of arriving at just how much they suffered by the war, the pension officials can hardly be blamed for what they have done. Yet as a nation we cannot be too grateful to those who re- sponded to the country's call in its hour of need and we cannot as thinking men and honest men, fail to condemn the fact that thousands of unscrupu- lous fellows have used the giving of the undeserved pensions to further their own selfish interests.
MILITIA COMPANIES.
And so the great war ended, and the veterans, those who were still left, came back to their homes only too willing to take up the occupations that had been their's before the time of the country's peril. In the north and the south it was the same, except that we knew nothing of the wasted farms, the desolate homes of which in some cases only one or two lone chimneys marked what once had been the family home, which was the lot of so much of the once fair south. But to them it was a reversal of the old pioneer days, for they had to begin over again, with no money, no stock and noth- ing but their hands with which to carve out a livelihood, while that of the north had continued to prosper and vast fortunes had been made by un- scrupulous people who had used the war as a vehicle for making money. But it is safe to say that all were glad that it was over. But the military spirit did not entirely die out and the younger generation who had grown into young manhood during the war, thirsted for their share of military glory and in 1876 the Evansville Light Guards were organized with these esteemed veterans : Captain Charles Meyerhoff, Lientenant August Leich, and Lieutenant William Warren, as their officers. The late A. J. Mc- Cutchan became a captain and Philip C. Halbrook a second lieutenant of the company. But in the year 1883 the company was abandoned. In 1877, however, The Evansville Rifles was organized under the state militia law, with William M. Blakey, captain, Jacob Messick first lieutenant and Henry
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Hammersley second lieutenant. These were succeeded in turn by George A. Cuningham captain, Edgar Garvin first lieutenant and Harry Stinson second lieutenant. This organization took many prizes at competitive drills. On October, 1887, the Evansville Light Infantry company-First Regiment Indiana Legion was mustered into the state service. Its officers were W. D. Ewing, president, W. H. Caldwell, vice president, S. P. Gillett, treasurer, F. M. Gilbert, secretary, J. T. Groves, manager, and Charles H. McCarer, captain. The Evansville Rifles was also organized at the same time and commanded by Captain Henry Horster, First Lieutenant H. P. Cornick, and Second Lieutenant Julius Blum.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
The Grand Army of the Republic is the last outgrowth of all these troublous times. It was not instituted until long after the war when peace reigned, but it was composed exclusively of the survivors of the war. The pride of Evansville is Farragut Post, No. 27, Department of Indiana, which was organized June 24, 1881. In its ranks are men who have served in all branches of the army and in all parts of the country. Many of them were officers high in command and many were statesmen of national repute. But in this post they met on common ground and save for the military re- spect due to the officials who held office at the time being, the private and the general stood side by side in their parades. They instituted memorial day which will last until the last hero is laid away under the sod and even then I think that though there be not one left to march, the day will still be observed and the graves of the dead heroes will be decorated so long as this country will exist. This post has been boundless in charity and it is safe to say that while it exists, no needy one in any way affilliated with it, will ever feel want, and it deserves credit for trying to bring back harmony between the north and south. The reunion of the Blue and the Gray in 1887 was held under the auspices of this post and was not only one of the greatest events in the history of Evansville, but of the entire country, it being the most successful practical effort of its kind known to the people of this nation. In the beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery lie many of those who wore the gray and who died for what they thought was right. But the same tender hands that place flowers over the mounds that cover all that is left of our own dead, do not pass them by, but with the same tender love, place their offerings over their graves.
This post has two auxiliary branches, the Woman's Relief Corps and the Sons of Veterans. The former was instituted in 1885. During the writing of this work, another memorial day has come and gone and the author here introduces a well-written description of the exercises of the day, from the pen of Mr. E. B. Sisson.
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ONLY A HANDFUL
BY F. M. GILBERT
Sadly each year comes the story, Of the war that is past and gone, Of the banners, some flying in glory, And some that went down, forlorn. Of the men who had been as brothers, Till they met in the awful fight,
Now, but a handful-the others Have sunk into endless night.
Sadly love scatters her flowers On the graves that are side by side Useless, to bring back those hours, When men saw their duty, and died. Each knows his own heart, not another's, And he does what he thinks is right, But there's only a handful-the others Have sunk into endless night.
Oh, slowly and sadly the story Goes out with the lengthening years, Till battle fields, trampled and gory, Are all washed away by our tears. And the heroes! 'Again they are brothers, All broken and gray through Time's flight, Alas, but a handful-the others Have sunk into endless night.
THOUSANDS DO SOLDIERS HONOR-CITY TURNS OUT ON IDEAL DAY TO WITNESS PARADE AND BESTREW GRAVES-APPLAUD VETERANS IN LINE-ROLL CALL AT OAK HILL A MORE IMPRESSIVE, SOLEMN EVENT THAN EVER- MARTIAL CITY OF THE DEAD HAS 168 MOUNDS WHERE VALIANT HEROES SLEEP.
Another memorial day has passed and out in Oak Hill and Locust Hill cemeteries thousands of bouquets of flowers bear witness to the tribute paid by comrades and relatives to the valor of those veterans of the civil war who have answered the last roll call and those who have laid down their lives for the stars and stripes in the Spanish-American war.
More than 20,000 people were present at Oak Hill in the afternoon yes- noon yesterday and listened to the services which were held under the auspices of Farragut Post No. 27, G. A. R. More than 2,000 were present
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at Locust Hill in the morning and it is estimated that 10,000 witnessed the parade of the old soldiers as they marched up Main street.
BUSINESS HOUSES CLOSED.
Nearly every business house in Evansville was closed yesterday that the employes might join the holiday crowds and do honor to those veterans of the civil and Spanish-American wars who have gone to their reward.
From early morning until mid afternoon crowds thronged the streets and waited for the parade of the soldiers. Every car available by the street car company was put in commission, and it was with the greatest difficulty that the crowds were handled. Crowds of people rushed to Oak Hill ceme- tery hours before the services at that place were to begin, and it was almost dark when the last of them were able to get cars back to the city.
More than fifty large baskets of flowers had been donated, and after a bunch had been laid at the head of each of the graves many baskets of roses, sweetpeas, mignonettes and vines were distributed broadcast between the lines of head stones.
CROWDS VISIT LOCUST HILL.
More than 2,000 people were present at the service held at 9 o'clock yesterday morning at Locust Hill cemetery and participated in the decora- tion of the graves of the old veterans. The crowds began gathering in the cemetery soon after 7 o'clock, and when the members of the G. A. R. and those who accompanied them arrived, hundreds of graves were found to have already been decorated by those unable to be present at the ceremony, or who went early in order to avoid the jam of the crowds in the street cars.
At the Locust Hill cemetery D. H. Ortmeyer delivered the oration of the day. Following a selection a medley of national airs by Warren's band, the services were begun with the recitation of the opening service from the ritual of the G. A. R., by S. V. Commander Green B. Fields when a prayer was offered by Rev. M. W. Sunderman. This was followed by a recita- tion of Lincoln's address delivered at Gettysburg, after which there was an- other selection by the band. The oration by D. H. Ortmeyer was then de- livered, which was enthusiastically received by the audience. Then followed the decoration of the graves by the members of the G. A. R., after which taps was blown by the post bugler, Philip Klein. The services were closed with a benediction by Sunderman.
ADDRESS BY DR. GAISER.
Rev. Gaiser's oration. at Oak Hill was enthusiastically received by the audience, and many an old soldier's hand shook and his eyes burned brighter
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as memories of pains and hardships and memories of the noise of battle crowded upon him with the reminiscences of the speaker.
Rev. Gaiser, in his oration, proclaimed the slavery question as the chief issue of the war between the states. He told of the bitterness that arose be- tween the people of the North and the people of the South; how when the fires of the revolution burned low the Mason and Dixon line was estab- lished; and when, following the secession of eleven of the southern states and blood had been shed, the great constitutional questions were submitted to the god of war.
He told of the strange flag that was thrown to the breeze in which domi- nated the stars and bars. He told of how the boys in blue beneath Old Glory and the boys in gray had met eye to eye, foot to foot, steel to steel, facing triumph and defeat, until the final rifting of the war clouds and the god of war had forever declared for the stars and stripes.
He pictured the possible conditions had Old Glory gone down in defeat ; how the Ohio would be as the Rhine of Germany, how Sunset park would now be a fort, while across the river the guns of the Confederacy would be trained on Evansville and the United States. He pictured war after war as the possible result of the United States refusing a treaty with terms of ex- tradition, for runaway slaves, and the hundreds of thousands of lives that would have been sacrificed had not the northern army established this as a free country.
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