USA > Indiana > Warrick County > Warrick and its prominent people : a history of Warrick County, Indiana from the time of its organization and settlement, with biographical sketches of some of its prominent people of the past and present > Part 4
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Tracing down the proceedings of the different sessions of court we find that on May 23, 1814, Daniel Grass was recommended to the Governor to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Bailey Anderson as Associate Judge. Mr. Anderson's reasons for resigning are unknown. His successor was one of the most influential pioneer citizens, and afterwards figured quite promin- ently in local politics.
On the 27th day of March, 1815, the first circuit court of War- rick county was convened at the residence of Daniel Rhoades, in Anderson township, with Judge Isaac Blackford on the bench. The session was uninteresting and very little business was trans-
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acted other than the grand jury returning a few indictments of minor importance.
For two years the different sessions of court had now been held alternatively at the cabins of a few of the settlers. These places were incommodious and attended by numerous disadvan- tages. The county needed a court house and the people began to demand one. Therefore, at the next term of court, August 15, 1815, it was ordered that a court house be built at Darling- ton, and the following contract describing the plans and terms
for the erection of the same was let to Daniel Deckrow, the low- est bidder : "Twenty by twenty feet square, of well hewn logs, not less than one foot thick, to be one story and a half high, the upper story to be six feet high. Three windows, large enough to receive eighteen lights sash, two floors, one staircase, bar, jury box and judges' bench, two doors, shingle roof, and one parti- tion above, with a door through the same, two windows above of the same size as the windows below, completing the same with locks, bolts and hinges, and in a workman like manner on or be- fore the first day of March, 1816." This building cost the coun- ty $290.
On April 10, 1817, Joseph Arnold, Isaac B. Wright and Jos. Robinson, the first board of commissioners of Warrick coun- ty, met at the court house in Darlington. Their first business was to order the election of justices of the peace in the different townships.
The writer has in his possession the docket of James McCulla, Justice of the Peace of Boon township, during 1822-3. The volume consists of about 150 sheets of old style paper, legal cap size, bound in deer skin. It has suffered severely from old age, yet most of the writing in it is perfectly legible. Among the many curious cases in this docket is one dated December 21, 1822, where John Welch brings suit against Ephraim Young-
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blood to recover twelve and one half cents. However, the most ludicrous feature of the case is that it was decided in favor of the defendant, and the court ordered the plaintiff to pay costs. Another noteworthy case recorded in the old docket is one dated September 13, 1823, which reads : " Ratliff Boon vs. Joseph De- Forest -- debt 75 cents." The verdict was rendered in favor of the plaintiff.
Among the justices of the peace in Warrick county sixty years ago was a large corpulent man, called Squire Shane, who had gained considerable local notoriety as an adjuster of grievances. Illustrative of his ability to effectually convince the litigants in his court the following is related :
"A man named Rice lost a cow one spring, and discovered her several weeks afterwards in the enclosure of a neighbor named Bond, about eight miles distant. Rice demanded the animal, but Bond declared that he purchased the cow and would not give her up. Consulting an attorney in regard to the matter Rice was directed to procure a writ of replevin from Squire Shane and endeavor to recover his property through the process- es of the law, which he did. Shane was somewhat illiterate, but extremely tenacious of his honor, and was egotistic enough to believe that he could mete out "equal and exact justice." In due time the constable returned the writ, and a trial followed. The plaintiff proved beyond cavil that the cow belonged to him, and the court rendered a decision accordingly. The defendant was ordered to surrender the property and pay costs. It would probably be proper to state just here that after the cow had left Rice's possession, and before legal proceedings were instituted for her recovery, she had given birth to a calf. After announc- ing his decision Justice Shane commenced entering judgment on his docket, and Bond complacently remarked to a friendly by- stander, in hearing of His Honor, that "There was nothing said
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in the trial about the calf, and I'll be d-d if I give it up." Upon hearing this rebellious remark Squire Shane coolly dropped his pen, arose from his seat and walking deliberately up to Bond, fastened the iron grip of his left hand upon his throat, and said in a very determined manner, "Give up that calf or I'll choke h-1 out of you." Bond, badly frightened, promptly, though rather incoherently replied, "I will ! Squire, I will !" Squire Shane was a man not to be trifled with, and he would have either choked those words or the life out of that man."
WARRICK IN THE WAR.
At the beginning of the war in 1861 Warrick county was one of the foremost in responding to the call for soldiers to put down the rebellion, and " being a border county, the danger and ex- citement were consequently great. Those who did not, or could not, in consequence of old age or other infirmities, participate in the trials and dangers of the camp and field, were unable to do more than to protect and subsist themselves and the wives and families of those who did." However, further than being badly fright- ened by Col. John Morgan's guerrillas, Warrick county suffered no serious intrusion from the enemy.
Many of the soldiers from Warrick county belonged to com- panies organized in other parts of the State, but of the volunteer companies composed almost wholly of soldiers from this county we are enabled to present the following accounts of their respec- tive movements :
COMPANY E, 120TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
Company E went into camp at Vincennes in February and was mustered into the service about the first of March, 1864. The following named persons were elected the officers of the company :
Captain -- Thos. J. Downs.
First Lieutentant -- Wm. Helder.
Second Lieutenant-James Dailey.
Orderly Sergeant-Daniel W. Brown.
It then went to Indianapolis and after remaining there a few days went by way of Jeffersonville to Louisville and thence to Park Barracks, about three miles from the city, where it remained 6
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a short time and then went to Nashville about the first of April. As the regiment left the depot it became very dark, and by the time we reached a suitable place to camp a heavy rain was fall- ing. Some put up no tents at all, but wrapped their blankets about them and laid down on the damp earth to rest their weary bodies. The company remained in camp but a short time until orders were received to go to Charleston, Tennessee, on the Hi- wasa river. This march lasted several days and it almost wore " the boys" out. On the march through Tennessee the soldiers threw away considerable clothing and blankets to lessen their burdens. From Charleston the company went into the campaign which resulted in the taking of Atlanta, Georgia. They then went into camp at Decatur, Georgia, about ten miles from At- lanta, and from there they moved to Altoona, but were too late to participate in the heavy skirmish which took place at that point. The regiment next started in pursuit of General Hood, following to Dalton, Georgia, where it took the cars for Nashville and from Nashville went to Pulaski, Tennessee. There it took the back track to Lynnville, Tennessee; thence to Columbia, in the same State, where we stopped a few days, during which time details from our own company were engaged in some heavy skirmishing with the enemy. During a skirmish one morning. Jacob Rheinhart, of our company, was killed. We fell back to Spring Hill, Tennessee, where the right wing of our regiment, including our company, was engaged in a heavy skirmish. From there we moved to Franklin, Tennessee, after night, and were engaged in the battle at that place from 4:30 o'clock until II o'clock at night, after which we went to Nashville, this time with General Hood in our rear, where we were engaged in battle two days. We then went to Franklin again in pursuit of the en- emy, and from there to Columbia, where we waited several days for orders. Orders came to move to Clifton, Tennessee,
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and there we embarked on board a steamer for Cincinnati, and from there we went to Washington, D. C., where we again awaited orders, which came at last. We then took passage for Morehead, N. C., and from there we proceeded up the country to Newburn, thence to where we were engaged in considerable of a battle near Kinston, N. C. From there we proceeded to Goldsboro, and on up the road to Raleigh, the capitol. Then we took up our line of march for Greensboro, where General Joe E. Johnson was in camp, and where he finally surrendered. We stayed here but a short time when orders came to proceed to Charlotte, which we did by rail. We were stationed there a month or so and were then ordered back to Greensboro, where we remained at least two months. Then we returned to Raleigh, where we staid nearly all winter, and it was here that we received orders to repair to the capitol of our State to be mustered out of the service.
COMPANY I, 25TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS.
Campany I, of the 25th Indiana Volunteer Regiment, was or- ganized in Newburgh, Indiana, on the 8th day of July, 1861, and went into Camp Vanderburgh the next day. It was mus- tered into the United States service by Major Wood, on the 9th day of August, 1861, and was transferred, with the regiment, to St. Louis, where we remained in camp for instruction about one month. While in St. Louis the captain resigned, and James S. Marks was elected to fill his place. We then moved to Jefferson City, Missouri, remaining there but a few days. We were then ordered to relieve the garrison at Lexington, Missouri, but on ar- riving at Georgetown we learned that the Fort had surrendered. We remained in camp about Georgetown and Otterville until the movement against Springfield, Missouri. We joined the main army at that place, and started upon the return march the next day. We participated in the capture of the Blackwater prison-
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ers, and were assigned the duty of guarding them to St. Louis. Here the first lieutenant of the company resigned and Robert Brodie was appointed to fill the vacancy. About the middle of January, 1862, we were transferred to Grant's army at Cairo, Illinois, and embarked up the Tennessee river to Fort Henry. We lead the first assault on the works at Fort Donaldson and after its fall marched to Shiloh and participated in the two days' fight- ing. In this battle three of our men, John Ingle, John Taylor and James Connell were killed, while three others, Jacob Rash, John Rance and A. J. Goad, received fatal wounds. First Lieutenant Robertson was slightly wounded and Second Ser- geant West, severely. After the battle the captain and first lieu- tenant resigned, and second lieutenant J. P. Johnson was pro- moted to the captaincy, J. S. Robertson, first lieutenant, and H. C. West, second lieutenant. We were in the seige of Corinth, Mississippi, and after its evacuation we marched to Holly Springs, Mississippi, thence to Lagrange and Memphis, Tennessee, where we were kept on provost duty for eight months. We joined General Grant's movement against Vicksburg by way of Canton and Jackson. Our regiment was left at Davis' Mills, twenty-five miles from Holly Springs, to hold the railroad and keep open communication with the army. While here we were attacked by Van Dorn with 5,000 men, whom we repulsed with heavy loss, without losing a single man ourselves. We again marched to Bolivar, Tennessee. While at Bolivar the rebels, under Price and Van Dorn, attacked our forces at Corinth, and they were put to flight. The forces at Bolivar, under Generals Hulburt and Veatch, were sent in pursuit of the Confederates. They over- took and again routed them on the Hatchie river, about sixty miles from Bolivar, Tennessee. Being now cleared of Confed- erates we were ordered to Memphis, where we embarked on steamers for Vicksburg, Mississippi. Arriving at Vicksburg
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we started immediately on the march for Meridian, Mississippi. On our return the company re-enlisted at Canton, Mississippi, on the 18th of February, 1864, and came home on a fifty days' fur- lough in March, 1864. The regiment again re-organized below Evansville and embarked on the steamer Armada for Cairo, Il- linois, where we were ordered to Nashville, Tennessee, from whence we were sent to Decatur, Alabama, and there we re- mained until the first of August, 1864, when we joined the army in front of Atlanta. After the capture of Atlanta, Captain John- son resigned and First Lieutenant Robertson was appointed to fill the vacancy. We took part in the battle at Jonesboro, Geor- gia, and the chase after Hood, and fought at Snake Creek Gap, and we went with Sherman to the sea. At Bentonville, South Carolina, John Fritenberg was killed. Captain Robertson re- signed and was succeeded by W. F. Martin, and Peter Saber- cool was made first lieutenant. We marched through North and South Carolina, and Virginia to Washington, D. C., and were then sent to Louisville, Kentucky, were we were mustered out. The company lost during the service sixty-six men, killed, wound- ed and died of disease. - From Edwin Adams' History of War- rick County.
COMPANY I, 53D INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY.
The original organization of this company consisted of seven- ty-two enlisted men, two musicians, eight corporals, five ser- geants and three commissioned officers-a total of ninety men. During the term of service in the field one hundred and one ad- ditional recruits were assigned to the company to fill up the places in the ranks made vacant by death, discharge and desertion. The total number of men who were identified with the company during our term of service was one hundred and ninety one. The company was recruited in the fall and winter of 1861-2 for Col. Wm. Jones' 62d regiment, but owing to a failure to recruit
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a full regiment the 62d was consolidated with the 53d, W. Q. Gresham, receiving the position of colonel and Wm. Jones the lieutenant colonel's.
The organization of the company was as follows :
WM. S. LANGFORD, Capt. BEN J. FULLER, Ist. Lieut
DAVID WHITE, 2d. Lieut. S. M. DAVIS, Ist. Serg t.
CHAS. DILLINGHAM. 2d Serg't. WM GERHART, 3d. Se
NATH. MATHEWS, 4th Serg't. G. P. WILLIAMS, 5th Serg't
The following named persons, all of Boonville, were corporals of the company :
Samuel A. Stroud, Israel Mills, Phillip Nonweiler, S. F. Mc- Laughlin, B. F. Small, Moses Shaul, J. S. Lowe and S. G. Clut- ter.
Albert Rowe and Wesley Wilson were the musicians.
Our first camp was near Rockport, on a Mr. Jeff Snider's farm. It was known as "Camp Reynolds." The barracks were of our own build, made from logs, cut in an adjacent wood, put up, covered, chinked and daubed in old pioneer style by the members of the company. The winter up to the latter part of February, 1862, was spent in this camp recruiting and drilling preparatory to entering the field. About the 20th of February, 1862, we were ordered aboard the steamer John T. McCombs for Camp Noble, near New Albany, for consolidation, final mus ter and completion of our regimental organization. Company B of the 62d was assigned the position of Company I, 53d. Af- ter leaving New Albany on the 24th we went to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, to guard the prisoners from Fort Donaldson, where we staid about one month. We went from there to St. Louis on the railroad, and from St. Louis to Savannah, Tennessee, on the Tennessee river, at which place we arrived about the last of March and remained about one month. We were at this point when the battle of Shiloh was fought-in hearing of the battle all
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Warrick in the War.
day Sunday and Monday. General Grant's headquarters were at this point, together with considerable government stores, which our regiment was left to guard. Wm. Horger died at this place June 20th. Nothing of special interest occurred during our stay at Savannah. Peter Collins was detailed as a clerk at General Grant's headquarters. Several of the boys took French leave, among the number some of our non-commissioned officers, and visited Pittsburgh Landing. The consequence was the non- commissioned officers were reduced to ranks and the privates put on extra duty from Savannah. We went to Pittsburgh Landing, arriving at night. Peter Barth, in stepping from our boat to an- other, missed his footing and fell between the boats. Having his knapsack and cartridge box on he sunk at once and was drowned. Our regiment was now assigned to General Veatch's brigade, in General Hulburt's division. We at once joined the army in the advance on Corinth. At a camp known as "Pea Ridge," Nathan Sutton died. All the month of May was spent in the advance on Corinth. Governor Morton visited the Indiana troops during the month, inquiring after the welfare and needs of the men. He was hailed everywhere with cheers that awoke the " sleeping Johnnies." On the night of May 29th Captain Langford came through the company and ordered every man to sleep with his clothing and cartridge box on and his gun by his side, as in the morning 5, 000 Indians were going to charge our works and that we might expect bloody work when they came, but it seemed that the Captain was more alarmed than the men. The Indians did not come. Next morning, May 30th, our last advance was made, works thrown up and a general sharp skirmish kept up all day. Just as our works were finished a deer came bounding out of the rebel lines through our picket hne, jumped the breast works and lit among the men in the line. He was soon killed and furnished a dainty morsel for a hungry
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soldier. At night the Confederates evacuated the stronghold, and on the 2d of June we marched through the town of Corinth and started in the direction of Memphis. James Sims died June 20th at Corinth. We camped a few days ten miles west of Corinth, where we received our first pay, in greenbacks, gold and silver. Our march was continued west to Grand Junction, where we went in camp one mile south of the town. At this camp William Marts died. From here we went 10 Holly Springs, and returning spent our Fourth of July in the town. We went from there to La- grange and camped at a place called the Sand Hill, west of town on Wolf river. We made another march to Holly Springs, dis- tant eighteen miles, in search of Chalmers, " the guerrilla chief." Our next march was to Memphis, where we arrived some time during the last of July, so ragged that it was almost a breach of common decency to march through the city in daylight. We camped first five miles below the city on the bluff opposite Pres- ident Island. At this camp Lieutenant Ben Fuller left us on ac- count of sickness, and he resigned soon after. Lieutenant David White had been transferred to General Veatch's staff; Captain Wm. S. Langford was the only officer in command. We drew clothing, changed our camp and started out on a scouting expe- dition to Noncomah creek, on the Hernando road. We made several other reconnoisances from Memphis. About the first of September we were ordered to Bolivar. Tenn., at which place we remained until October 4th, when we were ordered to march in the direction of Corinth to intercept Price, who was retreating before General Grant. October 5th, we met the enemy and fought a battle at Davis' bridge, on the Hatchie river. Company I lost in this engagement two killed and five wounded. James Moore was struck in the legs by a grape shot and died in a few minutes. Solomon Severs was shot through the heart and killed instantly. Captain Langford, Nathan Matthews, John
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Hotchkiss, Norman Taylor and Hiram Ellis were wounded, but all recovered. The Confederates were driven back with a loss of their wagon train, a battery of artillery and 1,000 stands of arms. On the 7th we started on our return for Bolivar, where we remained in camp until about the Ist of November, when we started south through Lagrange, Holly Springs, Waterford and Oxford to Coffeeville, Miss., where we remained but a short time until we returned to Waterford station, at which place we re- mained about two weeks. Our Christmas was spent at this place, and a dreary Christmas it was. Our supplies had been destroyed by Van Dorn and we were compelled to live off the country. Salt was not to be found in that part of Dixie, so we scraped up the salt that had been in the salt-beef and pork bar- rels and thrown away on our trip down, to season the cow peas that now constituted the principal article of diet with us. We also got a little meal which was ground from corn obtained in the country. About the end of the first week in Janu- ary, 1863, we again started north, passed through Holly Springs and Moscow. We made two or three trips between Moscow and Lafayette, and finally went to Collierville, where we guarded the railroad until the middle of March.
At Collierville we were again paid off. Steven Vincent died here of small-pox. From here we went to Memphis. We next embarked on transports for Vicksburg to join in the seige and battles around that place. We landed at Young's Point, marched across the point, got on board the boats below and went to Grand Gulf; but Grant was too far on the road to Jackson to catch up with him. We returned to Young's Point and went up the Ya- zoo river to Haine's Bluffs. From there we went to the extreme southern part of the line investing the city, where we took our position and held it until the final surrender July 4, 1863. Im- mediately after the fall of Vicksburg our company went with the 7
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expedition to Jackson, Miss., which place was evacuated by the Confederates on the night of July 16. We returned again to Vicksburg, where we remained but a few days until we were or- dered to Natchez, Miss. The balance of the summer and fall were spent at this place. On several occasions Company I was sent out scouting in pursuit of guerillas and cotton burners. Wc went on an expedition to Louisiana, a distance of sixty miles, captured Fort Beauregard, on Washitaw river, destroyed it, and returned. Our camp at Natchez was first on Mr. North's farm, a short distance from the town, but we soon removed to the bluff in Juniper Park. Uncle John McDaniel died at Natchez. This was the most beautiful camp we oc- cupied during the war. We were again paid off here. Sev- eral members of Company I were detailed to guard prisoners to New Orleans. At the mouth of Red river the boat was fired into by a 12 gun rebel battery. The boat was disabled, but was rescued by the U. S. gunboats before the Confederates could des- troy it. From Natchez we again went to Vicksburg and camped eleven miles east, at what was known as Camp Hebron In the early part of 1864 we joined Sherman's expedition to Jackson and Meridi in. During this expedition and after our return to Camp Hebron thirty-five of the original ninety re-enlisted and were granted a thirty days' furlough and started north for God's country. While on the boat we were again paid off. At the ex- piration of our furlough we reported to New Albany ; from there by steamer to Cairo, Illinois; thence to Paducah, where we waited two or three days for all our fleet to come up. While lying at Paducah, Albert Rowe, our drummer, got into a difficulty with a drunken man who was imposing on him, when Albert drew his revolver and shot him twice, not dangerously, however. From here we went to Clifton on the Tennessee river, where we disembarked and started overland to join Sherman's army, then
.
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advancing from Chattanooga. Our line of march was through Pulaski, Huntsville, Decatur, Rome and Cartersville, to Ack- worth, where we joined the army and went on the line at Big Shanty, Georgia, (the place where General Mitchell's scouts stole the locomotives from the Confederacy and attempted the breaking up of their communication) when sharp and earnest work commenced. After driving the Confederates from their temporary line at Big Shanty, their next stand was at Kenesaw mountain. Our position was just to the left of the Chattanooga and Atlanta R. R. A constant skirmish and artillery fire was kept up by both sides until the morning of June 27th, when Gen eral Sherman ordered a general assault along the whole line, but in our front only the picket line advanced. Company I was on picket that morning when the brigade commander sent orders to Lieut. David White, who was in command of the Company, to deploy his Company and charge the mountain at ten o'clock. All on the line knew the terrible consequences of such an order, but like true soldiers, when the order was given, " Attention, Company ! as skirmishers, to the right and left deploy. Forward, double quick, march !" they bounded from their hiding places, formed in line almost like magic and away through the broom sage and small sassafras, across the railroad track, over a rail fence almost to the rebel picket line, when the order was given to " Halt ! and lie down." On looking the field over after the evacuation it seemed almost impossible that any man could make that charge and live. This was truly a day of sorrow for Com- pany I and many tender hearts here in Indiana were made to bleed over the fearful consequence of that bloody days' work. Company I jumped from the skirmish pits on the reception of the order to advance with thirty-two men and two commissioned offi- cers. Of that number eighteen came back unhurt. Lieut. David White, one of the most promising young officers in the regiment,
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