USA > Indiana > The Forty-third Regiment of Indiana Volunteers : an historic sketch of its career and services > Part 3
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What a connundrum is American politics! Three gener- ations ago John Randolph of Roanoke, said, "that what the theatre is to the French, the bull fight or the fandango to the Spaniard, politics is to the great body of the American people." A later authority has said, "that this country would be a very respectable place to live in, were it not for politics and politicians." When the next war comes off, let the powers that be remember to keep out of the ranks
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
of the political swashbucklers of the country, in selecting officers to command our armies.
After the return of the regiment to Little Rock, it re- mained there only long enough to permit affairs to resume some sort of stability. Previous to the march to Camden the great body of the regiment had reenlisted as veterans, and were accordingly entitled to their veteran furlough of 30 days. It reached Indianapolis upon this furlough on the 10th of June, 1864. The regiment was received at the old State House front at Indianapolis by a welcoming address from that friend of all the Indiana regiments-that man who was "par excellence," the soldiers friend, Governor Morton -the most illustrious son born of Indiana soil-he whose fame sank below the horizon, like a summer's sun, and in the full blaze of its splendor. Governor Morton's speech was supplemented by a very pleasing address by Major John H. Farquhar, an ex-member of Congress from the old Lawrenceburg district. The joy of the boys in returning to the soil of old Hoosierdoni, can be better imagined than described. Hardly had the exercises at the State House concluded before Governor Morton informed us that Mor- gan and his men were threatening Louisville, and asked us if we would volunteer to go to Frankfort, Kentucky, near which city it was understood that Morgan's cavalry had been operating. A trip of this kind, the boys thought, would be a picnic, when considered in connection with our Arkansas trampings. It was a step from the ridiculous to the sublime, and although the boys had not seen the loved ones at home, their fathers, their mothers, their sisters, and their sweethearts, they were willing to put it off for a few days longer in hopes that they could meet that roving terror, John Morgan. From Louisville the regiment hastened to Frankfort. On our arrival there we had another reception. This time at the old State House of Kentucky, a speech of
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welcome from Governor Bramlett, a speech much more re- markable for what he did not say, than for what he actually said. The governor was a partially reconstructed Con- federate, with Union tendencies. He gave us to under- stand that he did not believe that we would be able to en- counter the redoubtable Morgan; where he was, or what he was doing, the Governor did not know; if we started after him, we would only be able to smell the battle afar off. As our services were not required, and there appeared to be no chance to cover ourselves all over with glory upon the soil of that state, once denominated as "the dark and bloody ground", we countermarched back to Louisville, expecting orders there as to future movements. Upon our return the advance guard of the regiment had a slight skirmish with a band of guerillas, supposed to be a part of Jesse's guerilla band, near Eminence, Kentucky. It so happened, in the Providence of God, and in the fortunes of war, that this was the last hostile shot heard by the men of the 43d during its military career. Upon our return to Indianapolis after the expiration of our veteran furlough, the regiment was placed on duty at Camp Morton, guarding Confederate prisoners. Three or four times during our stay in Indian- apolis, upon this duty, we received orders from the war de- partment to return to the front. It was the earnest wish of the Colonel commanding the regiment to be relieved of this duty and go to the front, expressing his hostility, however, against a return to Arkansas. The war department in pur- suance of advices from Governor Morton, and General Car- rington, that the presence of the regiment in Indianapolis was imperatively demanded, that the regiment was being recruited, up to the full standard, and that over two- hundred of its tried and trusted soldiers were still prisoners of war at Camp Tyler, Texas, these things operated to re- tain the regiment at Indianapolis. When Hood was making
LIEUTENANT TARVIN C. GROOMS, Company "H."
Attorney, Greencastle. Ind. Aid-de-Camp, Commander in Chief, G. A. R.
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his most disastrous march upon Nashville and was threat- ening that City, it was the earnest hope of some of the offi- cers and men that we would be ordered there, which orders, had they been received, would have permitted us to be present at one of the memorable engagements which mark- ed the close of the war, but it was our fate to remain upon a duty which gave but little opportunity for personal glory, and which would add nothing to the well earned laurels bought with such a price, upon the fields of Arkansas. As it turned out, our services were not required at Nashville, for Hood was gloriously routed ; a rout which it was easy to perceive, sounded the death knell of the Confederacy. After Nashville, and its brilliant Union victory, there was no field left for us. The Confederacy was in the throes of collapse. The columns of Grant on the Potomac, and Sherman on his march to the sea, were too far away ; or- ganizations much nearer at hand were ready to participate in the closing scene.
A short time before our muster out the great body of tlie men captured at Mark's Mills, 164 in number, 11 having died while in prison, and a few having escaped, returned in March, 1865, but they soon realized that there was but little work for them to do. On the 14th of July, 1865, the regiment was mustered out at Indianapolis.
The work of guarding prisoners of war in a camp devoted to that purpose may not be recognized as a very lofty call- ing, but it is a duty which must be discharged by some one, and the men of the 43d discharged this duty to the satis- faction of the military authorities. It is an irksome task, monotonous, with no spice of congeniality in it, the regu- lations requiring that 10 words, language, or conversation should pass between those on guard and the prisoners guarded. It was a dull, heavy drag, the same yesterday, today, and forever, but in doing this duty the men simply
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carried out orders, realizing that no glory awaited them in the task assigned. In the duty assigned them, they simply did their level best. Angels could do no more. The writer knows that many a brave boy of the regiment pined for the excitement of the front, which, with all its dangers and hazards, was to be preferred to the drudgery of a prison camp. The 43d regiment may be said to have had a dual, two fold existence; its first embracing the period from the time it left old Camp Vigo on that October day, 1861, until it returned upon veteran furlough. The hundreds whose names were added to the rolls in the fall of 1864 and the spring of 1865, although they had no taste of real war, they have ever felt that the previous record of the reginient in southern Missouri, on the Mississippi, and in Arkansas, belonged in part to them. They volunteered expecting to go to the front. It was not their fault that they did not go. They did the duty given unto them to do. They did it as soldiers with a full sense of the responsibility devolv- ing upon them, and they are as proud of the fact that they are boys of the old 43d as the original enlistment, which tramp- ed so many weary marches through the swamps of Missouri and Arkansas. The record will show that no regiment which left the state, of the same length of service, and ell- during the same hardships, was marked by fewer desertions than the 43d. Desertion was not popular in the 43d.
NECROLOGY OF THE REGIMENT : Since its muster out of service the relentless reaper, death, has gathered a rich har- vest from among the old veterans. In this harvest he has made no distinction as to rank or service. Three among the field officers have gone to their great reward. Colonel George K. Steele, for more than 20 years has slept among his old neighbors in the cemetery at Rockville; Lieutenant
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
Colonel William L. Farrow, who resigned from the regi- ment in July, 1862, and who re-entered the service as Lieutenant Colonel of the 78th regiment, died in Green- castle some years since. Major Charles W. Moss, a hero of two wars, having also been a gallant soldier in the war with Mexico, was the last among the field officers to depart this life. Adjutant Milton J. Cooper, who served in that capac- ity until the expiration of his three years term of service, died in Greencastle but a few years since. The medical staff of the regiment has suffered greatly. Dr. William C. Smydth, of Worthington, the first regimental surgeon, who was mustered out in May, 1862, has gone to his great re- ward. Drs. Ellis and Gonsalvo C. Smyth, both of Green- castle, both of whom, after the war, attained the highest rank in their profession as medical practitioners, are both dead. In fact of the four Doctors commissioned as surgeons of the regiment all are dead. Dr. Milton D. Darnall having died in September, 1862, at Cairo, Illinois. Among those commissioned as Captains, there have departed this life, since our muster out, Captains James Rose and Warren Harper of Company "A", Captain Samuel Roach of Com- pany "E", Captain Alexander H Gainey of Company "F", Captains William Lane and William C Whitridge of Com- pany "H", and Captains William S. Magill and Wm. Sweeny of Company "K".
We can hardly realize that more than 38 years, years full of stirring events and glorious history, have elapsed since the boys of the 43d doffed the Blue and took up the burden of civil life, ardent and cheerfully. Some of them went west, some north, some south. They entered the pub- lic lands ; they felled the forests; they broke the virgin soil and cropped it, in woodland and upon prairie ; they helped to rear in western solitudes, villages, towns, and cities ; they built railroads, churches, and school houses ;
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they opened mines ; a few entered the alluring arena of modern politics, and got an office, at the hands of political associates ; but the ravages of these 38 years of time are as marked upon the men of the old 43d as the results of the war upon the nation itself. Death has had a busy harvest- ing among the men whose names are to be found upon the rolls of the 43d. Old age, decrepitude and disease have reaped their usual harvest. Of the officers, as well as of the men of the Rank and File, more than half of whom have gone from the scenes and activities of this world, gone from the dull monotone of traffic and toil, to that better land, may we say, with truth:
Their race is run, their work is done ; From morning light to set of sun, They did their duty, brave and true, The glorious 43d, which wore the blue.
Some held their course through rain of lead, Where fell the dying and the dead, And honor was their highest prize, That jewel from the shining skies.
While ages roll, from pole to pole, Each honest heart and lofty soul, Will keep their records clear and bright, As stars that glitter in the night.
While it would afford the writer of this brief and imper- fect sketch much pleasure to refer to the many acts of in- dividual bravery, to the deeds of personal courage and heroism which marked the acts of so many of the officers and men of the regiment, the space alloted for this sketch forbids it, and to select a few would seem to detract from others who were equally deserving. While nearly all were deserving of personal mention it would be injustice to name but a few. May it be the full measure of the personal an- bition of all of us, officers and men alike, when, with par- donable pride, we can say,
"I BELONGED TO THE GALLANT OLD 43D INDIANA."
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
WHERE DID THE BOYS COME FROM?
WELL-most of them came from the "Empire of the Corn field, and the cabbage patch," although the shop, the city, and the village had their representatives.
"Company "A," Captain John C. Major, (subsequently promoted to Major, Lieutenant Colonel, and finally mustered out as Colonel). First Lieutenant David Orman; Second Lieutenant James M. Rose, came from Clay County. Its original organization was at Bowling Green, then the County seat of that county. Captain Major was probably the most' military looking man in the whole regiment. Since the War Col. Major has become a great traveler, has visited most of the countries in Europe, and spent much time in Palestine and the Holy Land. He is also a close student of the principles of Free Masonry. This Company was in Camp Vigo before the creation of the 43d regiment. In its ranks were to be found some of the most promising young men in Clay County. Since its muster out Captains Rose and Harper have died. Captain Harper served as City Clerk of Terre Haute for one term. First Lieutenant Pinckney also has died since the close of the War.
Company "B" came from Putnam County, and was or- ganized at the beautiful village of Bainbridge. This Com- pany was also in Camp Vigo before the organization of the regiment. Francis M. Darnall, a prominent business man of that locality, was Captain. Samuel S. Carrington, now a citizen of Kansas, was First Lieutenant, and Marmaduke H. Darnall, Second Lieutenant. Captain Darnall resigned in May, 1862, and was succeeded by Marmaduke H. Dar- nall, who died from wounds received in the bloody battle
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of Jenkins Ferry, fought April 30th, 1864. Alexander M. Scott, now a prominent banker of Montgomery County, was First Lieutenant of this Company for quite a long period. This company was a splendid body of men, made up of the very flower of the youth of that magnificent agri- cultural region around Bainbridge.
Company "C," was made up from among the sterling youth of Green County, its organization having been effected at Bloomfield. Elijah Edington was Captain of this Company until his muster ont October 20th, 1864. He was succeeded by John W. Cooper, of Greencastle, who re- mained with the Company until mustered out with the re- giment. Captain Cooper is now a prominent and success- ful citizen and business man, a well known Contractor, of Indianapolis. William F. Yeager, who was mustered out as First Lieutenant with the regiment, since the war has been a prominent and progressive farmer near the village of Middletown, in Vigo County. This Company was also in Camp Vigo before the organization of the regiment. Wm. Holman and Joseph A. Burcham, both of whom were Second Lieutenants, promoted from the ranks, have joined the great majority since the close of their military ser- vices.
Company "D" was the only contribution to the ranks of the regiment from Vigo County. It was also in Camp Vigo before the organization of the regiment. It was organized at the village of Hartford, better known as "Pimento", and Wesley W. Norris, (subsequently promoted to major and mustered out as Lieutenant Colonel), was its Captain. John L. Brown was the second Captain of this Company. Three members of this family, to-wit :- John L., William H., and Mathias M. Brown, were officers of this Company. Second Lieutenant William A. Thomas, died during the service. Among the enlisted men of this Company was
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
John Paddock, who lost his leg in battle. He was City Treasurer of Terre Haute for several years, and died some years ago at Wingfield, Kansas, while employed in the office of the State Treasurer.
Company "E" was a product of Sullivan County. Its first officers were Captain Samuel T. Roach, First Lieuten- ant Jackson Stepp and Second Lieutenant Josiah Stanley. Captain Roach has died since his military service. First Lieutenant Stepp, who resigned in May '62, re-entered the service as First Lieutenant in the 71st regiment. He is now an honored citizen of Portland, Oregon. He served one terin as sheriff of Vigo County, after the war, but sub- sequently went to the Pacific coast.
Company "F" came from Lawrence County, and was organized at the village of Springville, in that County. Captain Alexander H. Gainey was its first Captain, and Joseph Lane, a minister of the gospel, was its first Lieuten- ant. Captain Gainey resigned January 20th, 1862, and was succeeded by Lieutenant Joseph Lane. Captain Lane was killed at the battle of Marks Mills, Arkansas, April 25th, 1864. He was the only minister of the gospel among the line officers.
Company "G" came also from Clay County, although a considerable number of the company came from Vigo, and other counties. Chas. W. Moss, subsequently promoted to Major, and who had seen service in the war with Mexico, was its first captain. A biography of Captain Moss will be found elsewhere in this volume. Two of the Lieutenants of this company, Milton Lewis Wyeth and William L. Mar- tin are dead.
Company "H" was organized in Greencastle, Putman County. William Lane was its first Captain ; Alfred Bur- ley its First Lieutenant ; and Moses Grooms Second Lieu- tenant. Two Captains of that Company, Captains William
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Lane and William E. Whitridge have died since the muster out of the regiment, the former at Greencastle. Captain Whitridge was a man of fine business and literary ability. For years after the war he was prominently connected with the newspaper fraternity of Cincinnati. Tarvin C. Grooms, for some time a Lieutenant in this Company, is at this time a prominent lawyer at Greencastle. Putman County, like its neighbor, Clay County, furnished two companies for the regiment, each of them fine bodies of men. One of the most prominent men, in the ranks, in this company, was James A. Gilmore, the regimental joker, the whole regiment being his jokees. Mr. Gilmore has made an inter- esting contribution to this volume.
Company "I" came from Vermillion County. Its first Captain was Samuel J. Hall, of Newport, a prominent and well known farmer of that County. David A. Ranger, who for years after the war, was an honored citizen of Clinton, and who died there, was First Lieutenant, and George W. Shewmaker, Second Lieutenant. Upon the resignation of Captain Hall, January 7th, 1865, Robert B. Sears was pro- moted to the Captaincy. After the war, Captain Sears served with distinction, as a member of the Indiana State Senate. For some years past ex-Senator Sears has been a citizen of Indianapolis and is well known there in business circles. Four former Lieutenants of this company, Ranger, Martin, Shewmaker and Andrews are dead.
Company "K" was the contribution which Parke County made to the ranks of the regiment, it having been organized at Rockville. Its members were of the best blood and bone of "Old Parke." John R. Callender was its first Captain ; William S. Magill, First Lieutenant ; and George H. Han- sel, Second Lieutenant. Captain William S. Magill, who succeeded Captain Callender, died after the war in Texas. George W. Lancaster, who was mustered out with the reg-
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iment as First Lieutenant, is a well known citizen and busi- ness man of Indianapolis, esteemed and respected by all who know him. For some years past he has been the President of the organization of the Regiment, which has been maintained, without interruption since its muster out. Captain Callender has long bourne the reputation of good citizenship in the city of Vincennes. Captain Sweeny, the last captain of the company, is also dead.
THE BATTLE OF "MARKS MILL."
COL. NORRIS'S ACCOUNT OF THIS ENGAGEMENT.
AT this most unfortunate engagement, the only disaster sustained by the 43d regiment in all its career, from the time it heard the first hostile gun, in the front, at New Ma- drid, until its final muster out at Indianapolis, after more than three and one-half years of hard, self-denying service, Major Wesley W. Norris, subsequently promoted to Lieu- tenant Colonel, was in immediate command of the detach- ment of this regiment guarding the cumbersome, unwieldy wagon train, enroute to Pine Bluff. Major Norris gives his account of this engagement in the letter herewith published, which speaks for itself.
Major Norris had been also a soldier in the Mexican War, and was recognized as one of the best equipped officers in the Regiment.
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The most important statement in Major Norris' account of this Engagement is that the brunt of the battle of Marks Mill was bourne by the 43d Regiment. While the entire detachment was captured, (except a few who succeeded in making their escape) the list of mortality in both the 36th Iowa, and the 77th Ohio, fully sustains Major Norris' state- ment, tipon this point.
Rock Rapids, Iowa. July 24th, 1903.
Col. W. E. McLean,
Terre Haute, Indiana.
Dear Col .:- In writing you the account of the disastrous battle of Marks Mill, you must remember that I am seventy years old now, and that this action took place nearly forty years ago, and I have 110 memoranda or data, only writing from memory, so if I make any mistakes in dates and places, please correct themn.
About the 23d of April, 1864, the 43d Indiana, with the 36th Iowa, and the 77th Ohio, a battery of Artillery, and a detachment of Cavalry, and a wagon train of about 350 wagons, under the command of Lieu- tenant Col. Drake of the 36th Iowa, was ordered to march from Cam- den, Ark., on the Washita River, to Pine Bluff, Ark., on the Saline River, the distance between the two rivers being about 35 miles. We were ordered to make the march in two days, if possible, but on the second day we camped about 4 P.M., about 7 or 8 miles from Pine Bluff. This was a great mistake. We should have gone on to Pine Bluff. The 43d marched in the rear, on the second day, and took the front on the evening of the second day's march and morning of the third day.
During the night my pickets, in front, reported to me that some- thing unusual was going on in front, and asked permission to advance and investigate. I got up and went to Col. Drake's tent and awaking him, reported to him about the noise and confusion on our front or flank and asked for orders. He said very positively, "Major, there is no enemy in front; you get scared too easily. Go back and go to bed." I returned to my regiment and cautioned my pickets to be very vigi- lant. In the morning we advanced at sun-up, and, after proceeding a short distance, I found from my scouts, and personal investigation, that a strong force was in my front. Althoughi as yet not a shot had been fired, I halted my command and threw up works, from old timber and rails and parked the battery of artillery, and, while here, Col. Drake
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
came riding up and seemed to be in a terrible passion. He cursed mne roundly and wanted to know why I did not advance. Itold him, in probably as emphatic language as he usel to me, that a strong force of the enemy was in our immediate front. Drake said again, "there is no enemy in front." I said, "Col. Drake, a strong force is in our front, for I have seen them, and know they are there, and you ought to order up the 36th Iowa, and the 77th Ohio, and take position on my right and left." Drake then said, "If I thought there was any danger I would park the wagon trains." I said, "Col , it is too late, you cannot park the trains now; get your men in line for we will have a fight in a few minutes." Col. Drake then said, "Major Norris, I order you to advance your line and feel of the enemy if there is any in the front." Saluting, I said, "All right, Col." Dismounting, I gave my horse to my Orderly and ordered my line to advance.
We had not proceeded 300 feet before we were fired on by the enemy's pickets. We charged and soon struck their line of battle, and I believe now that, if I ha I been supported, we would have cut our way through, but my short line was flanked and I was obliged to fall back to where the battery was posted. For hours we fought there, charging back and forth and finally we were obliged to surrender, but not until about one-third of our gallant 43d lay killed, or wounded.
I never saw Colonel Drake after the action commenced. He was . wounded and captured, with almost the entire force, wagon train in- cluded. I was not supported by the 77th Ohio, or the 36th Iowa.
After capture we were marched to the camp ground of Kirby Smith, on Washita River, from there to Camden as the Rebels reported, for exchange, but we were not exchanged, bat finally landed at Tyler, Texas, where I was held prisoner for eleven months.
W. W. Norris, Major 43.1 Indiana Infantry. Late Lieutenant Col. "
SERGEANT JOHN C. MOSS
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INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
FORTY-NINE DAYS IN THE WILDERNESS. A STORY OF THE CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF FIRST SERGT. JOHN C. MOSS, CO. "G," CAPT. W. E. WHITRIDGE, SERGT. JONATHAN FISK AND PRIVATE JOHN M. JONES, OF CO. "H.," ALL OF THE 43D INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
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