Carroll County, Indiana - Chapter 5, 1882

The Forty'-Sixth Regiment

Organization and Make-Up of the Regiment - Where the Companies were Recruited - Inspection and Muster-In of the Regiment - Its Departure from Logansport - Flag Presentation - In Camp Wickliffe - .Subsequent Movements - At Island No. iO - New Madrid - Riddle's Point- Port Pillow - Champion Hills - Vicksburg - With .Sherman - Charge on the Rebel Works at ,St. Charles - The Red River Expedition - Its Disastrous Consei^uences - In Prison - Prison Life, Etc.

'' I "'HE Forty-sixth Regiment was composed chiefly of volunteers --- recruited in Carroll, Cass, White and Pulaski Counties. From Carroll County there were two full companies, A and C; from Cass, two full companies, B and D, and the major part of Company I. White County furnished one full company, G, and Pulaski County one. Company H, while Companies E and F were composed of men from White and the other counties named. Company K being for the most part from Fulton County. The regiment was organized at Logansport, on the 4th of October, 1861, with Graham N. Fitch as Colonel, and was mustered into service on the 11th of December, 1861, by Lieut. Phelps, of the United States Army. From the date of organization until its dejjarture for the seat of war, the regiment remained in camp at Logansport, on the west side of Eel River_ north of the Wabash. At 0 o'clock on the morning of the 12th (Thiu'sday), the regiment was formed on the parade grounds adjacent to the camp, and, after being inspected by officers of the regular army present, was dedicated to the country's service. It was separate! into companies, remaining in line, when, the order being given, the entire body began to move; passing over the bridge across Eel River, it marched along Market street to Seventh, thence along Seventh and Spencer to Berkley, across the canal to the railroad, and thence to the depot of the Lake Erie, Wabash & St. Louis Railroad, where a special train was in waiting to receive and transport them by way of La Fayette to Indianapolis. About 1 1 o'clock, a fine flag, the contribution of a grateful community, was presented to the regiment as » token of their confidence in the bravery and fortitude of those who were about to peril their lives for the maintenance of the country's honor. It was received on behalf of the regiment with the promise that it would de returned, waving over them, untarnisheil, or wrapped around them as a common winding sheet. From Indianapolis it started for Camp Wickliffe, Kentucky. Reaching that point without delay, it remained there until the 10th of Febv^

Hon. Bernard F. Schermerhorn

Mr. Schermerhorn is of the seventh generation of a family of Hollanders, who found their way to the new world about the year 1620. A part of the family settled in or near Albany, N. Y., and at Schenectady, another portion in New York City, and a third branch in the State of New Jersey. His maternal grandfather, Christopher P. Yates, was a member of the Committee of Safety in Tryon* County, N. Y., during th(: dark days of the Revolutionary struggle. The subject of this sketch was born in Middleburg, Schoharie Co., N. Y., December 13, 1821. While quite young his parents moved to Utica, N. Y., where the family continued to reside until some time during the fall of 1 840.

At the age of sixteen years, he entered the freshman class at Hamilton College, New York, where he spent two years. He then entered Union College as a member of the Junior class, where he finished his collegiate course. His father's family moved to this county and settled in Tippecanoe Township in the year 1840. After spending a number of years upon the farm he chose the profession of law. and at once began the study thereof, reading a portion of the time at home and the remainder in an office in Buffalo, N. Y. He began the practice in Delphi, in 1854, and in the year following formed a law partuership with the late Hon. Hiram Allen, a partnership which continued until the death of Mr. Allen. In 1856, he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature, f nd served one term with credit to his constituency. After this public sen-ii'-e he resumed the law and continued the practice until September, li!61. when he recruited a company for the Forty-sixth Indiana Volune>r Infantry, and was commissioned Captain of Company C. The regiment under command of Col. Graham N. Fitch, after remaining in CHinp at Logansport and Indianapolis sufficient time to become fairly disciplined, was ordered into service in the field. After a brief campaign in Kentucky and Tennetisee, the command was ordered to report at Cairo, to take part in the military operations looking to the opening and possess! m of the Mississippi River. The service was of a varied character, sometimes on the river, and then again executing a rapid movement across the country to attack the enemy in the rear, while the flotillas of Commodores Foote and Davis engaged his strongholds on the great river. Thus Capt. Schermerhorn and his command was engaged in the skirmishes and battles at New Madrid, Riddle's Point and Fort Pillow. His ragiment was the first to occupy the city of Memphis. Thence the com- mand was ordered up White River, in charge of supplies for the forces of Gen. Curtiss, and participated in the storming and subsequent capture of St. Charles. In Jul)' the regiment was ordered into camp at Helena, where it remained until the spring of 1863. By special orders Capt. Schermerhorn spent the winter at his home on recruiting service. He rejoined his regiment at Helena, and the campaign of 1863 was ushered in by the movements looking toward the capture of Vicksburg. His company, commanded in person, was actively engaged in the fighting at Port Gibson and Champion Hills, decisive conflicts which led to the fall of Vicksburg. After the operations at Vicksburg had successfully terminated, Capt. Schermerhorn was rewarded with a promotion to the position of Major of his regiment, the date of his muster being August 25, 1863. After further service on the lower Mississippi and in Louisiana, in January, 1864, he was placed in command of four companies and ordered to Matagorda Bay, on the Texas Coast. About the middle of February he was ordered back to New Orleans, where by order of Gen. Reynolds, he assumed command of the C'jra|i of Distribution, and remained in charge until November 17th v.heu be was ordered to Indianapolis, with a detachment of the Forty -sixth Regiment, to be mustered out. His service closed with being honorably mustered out December 14, 1864.

Returning to Delphi, he resumed the practice of law In a short time, however, he returned to the South, and spent a year in managing a cotton plantation. This speculation proving unprofitable, he returned to Delphi, and resumed the practice of his profession. In October 1867, he was elected Judge of the Carroll Circuit Court. After his term of office expired he again went South and engaged in the lumber trade about three years. Returning to Delphi, he again took up the law and with the exception of three years spent in closing the alfairs of the First National Bank, has continued the practice to this time. In former years he was an active spirit in the enterprise of building the Chicago & Indianapolis Air Line Railway, and had charge of the first survey made of the road. He was married June 22, 1858, to Miss Josephine Case. Two sons, Ingold C. and Reed C. ; and two daughters, Josephine E. and Catherine N., have blessed the union. Maj. Schermerhorn has been an active and earnest member of the Masonic Order for over a quai-ter of a century, and was a charter member of Advance Lodge, No. 220, instituted in this city January 9, 1858. This lodge expiring, he afterward united with Delphi Lodge, No. 516. His family as well as himself, are members or advocates of the Episcopal Church.

ruary, 1862, when it entered on active duty in the field. Subsequently, having joined Gen. Pope's army, it moved to the rear of New Madrid and Island No. 10, participating in the attack upon the former place. With the troops under Gen. Palmer, it went to Kiddle's Point to cut off rebel communication with Island No. 10, and while there put up a battery at night, sustaining itaelf for over an hour against an attack of five rebel gun-boats without baing dislodgred. After considerable maneuvering and necessary delay, the rebel Fort Pillow was captured, and, on the 5th of June, the flags of the Forty-sixth and the Forty-third Regiments floated in triumph over the desecrated walls of that once formidable rebel defense.

From the 6th of June, after the gun-boat fight, until the 14th, the regiment occujiied Memphis, but immediately after, it left that place, and, with gun-boats, went up White River to meet Gen. Curtis, on the 17th charging the rebel works at St. Charles, and, driving the enemy, captured his guns and a large niunber of prisoners. It next moved up the river above Clarendon, and was there re-enforced by the Twenty- fourth. Thirty-fourth and Fortythird Regiments, after which the whole force went up the river to Crockett's Bluff, where it debarked and went across the coimtry, meeting the enemy on the route and driving him back, afterward returning by way of Clarendon, with the fleet, to Helena, and was there assigned to Gen. Hovey's Division. In February, 1863, it went with an expedition under Gen. Ross, up the Yazoo River, participating in the engagements at Fort Pemberton. Returning again, on the 8th of April, to Helena, it started for Milliken's Bend, on the r2th. and took part in the movements against Vicksburg.

"Diu-ing this campaign, it was in the principal part of the engagement at Port Gibson, and was in the advance brigade at Champion Hills, suffering severely in the latter engagement, losing in killed and wounded one foiuih of the number engaged."' At the siege of Vicksburg, it was in trenches during a period of forty-four days. " On the 5th of July, the regiment started, under Gen. Sherman, after Gen. Joe Johnston's forces at Jackson. After defeating the enemy and driving him away, the regiment retiu-ned to Vicksbiu-g, whence, on the 10th of August, it was transported first to Natchez and next to New Orleans. Here it was transferred to the Department of the Gulf, imder Gen. Banks, and, on the 12th of September, started on the Teche expedition through Louisiana toward Sabine River. The regiment was in the advance at Grand Coteau, and rendered material assistance to Gen. Burbridge at that point." It returned to New Orleans after this expedition, and, on the 2d of January. 1864, re- enlisted as veterans.

Afterward, on the 4th of March, it started on the Red River expedition with Gen. Banks, marching the entire distance of 302 miles to Sabine Cross Roads. At this point, it took part in the battle of Mansfield, on the 8th of April, in the First Brigade, Third Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, losing ten killed, twelve wounded and seventy-seven taken prisoners. For a more complete account of this engagement and the consequences that followed, the reader is referred to the following extracts copied from the published narrative prepared by Col. T. H. Bringhurst and Lieut. Col. A. M. Flory, of this regiment, who were in command during the progress of the action, and necessarily familiar with the details;

"On the morning of the 8th (April, 1864), the sun rose bright in a cloudless sky. ushering in a beaiitiful, but, to the Union army, a disastrous day. At 5 o'clock, the Fom-th Division of the

Thirteenth Army Corps, commanded by Col. Landrima, of the Nineteenth Kentucky, numbering about eighteen hundred men, moved forwai-d to support the cavalry. At 6 o'clock, the Third Division of the Thirteenth Corps, under command of Brig. Gen. R. A. Cameron, numbering, exclusive of train-guards, about twelve himdred, followed. The Thirteenth Corps was imder command of Brig. Gen. Ransom. After this came the supply and ammunition trains of the Thirteenth Corps. The trains of the cavalry were all in front.

"At 7 o'clock. Gen. Emory, with one division of the Nineteenth Corps, moved in rear of the trains of the Thirteenth Corps, who was followed by the whole train of the army, except the portions specified as going before. The remainder of the Nineteenth Corps, which was the bulk of the army, followed imder Maj. Gen. Franklin. The train numbered over six himdred wagons, of which those of the General's staff formed no inconsiderable portion. The road over which this enormous train was to pass was a narrow, tortuous passage, thi'ough a dense pine forest - so narrow in many places, that a single horseman could scarcely pass the moving wagons. The rear guard of the army did not get away from the camp imtil after 12 o'clock.

" About 7 o'clock, the cavalry discovered the enemy, about five thousand strong, strongly posted on a deep bayou, about eight miles fi-om 'Pleasant Hill.' A brisk skirmish ensued - on our side principally with carbines - our cavalry being dismounted, the nature of the ground forbidding the cavalr}' movements, and permitting but a few pieces of artillery to be used. The Fourth Division was at once hurried forward and the enemy was speedily dislodged and driven away. The contest here was brief but fierce. The enemy fell back, slowly and stubbornly contesting the ground, and closely pursued by the cavalry and the small body of the infantry. A running fight was kept up for a distance of eight miles, when, at 2 o'clock, the enemy, after passing a plantation of some six hundred acres, made a determined stand.

"A council of war was now held by Gen. Banks, at which all the Generals of divisions were present. It was proposed to go into camp, issue rations, and give the Nineteenth and Sixteenth Corps time to come up and be prepared on the next morning to fight the battle which appeared imminent. This wise proposition was overruled, and Gen. Lee was ordered to push the enemy. It was argued that the enemy was not in force in front, but that it was nothing more than the force that had been opposing the expedition for the day or two jjrevious, and that the cavalry, supported by the infantry then up, was sufficient for the work. During this halt, the Third Division had moved up to within four miles of the scene of action. Whilst the consultation was going on, it was ordered to go into camp. It remained at this point about two hours, when Gen. Cameron received orders to move at once to the front. By this time, the battle raged fiu-iously. It was found that the entire rebel force was in position behind hastily constructed works of logs. The cavahy had broken and fell back in disorder. The cavalry train was halted in the road, blocking it up against the advance of artillery, and preventing the mass of retreating horsemen from escaping but through the lines of infantry. The Fom-th Division fought with desperation. The rebel lines were forced, only to give way again before them. It had to oppose the entire rebel army and the struggle was decided by numbers. But eighteen hundi-ed

"The Union lines being comparatively short, the extended lines of the enemy were enabled to close around this small force, and the retreat of a large portion was cut off. The cavalry stampeded, leaving infantry, artillery and train at the mercy of the enemy. The infantry cut thi-ough to find itself again surrounded. The ammunition, after two hours hard fighting, was exhausted, and a surrender was unavoidable.

" Such was the condition of affairs when Gen. Cameron arrived on the ground with the Third Division, numbering not over twelve hundred men. Line of battle was immediately formed with the First Brigade (composed of the Forty -sixth Indiana and five companies of the Twenty-ninth Wisconsin, under Lieut Col. A. M. Flory) on the right, and the Second Brigade (composed of the Twenty-foui'th and Twenty eighth Iowa and the Fifty-sixth Ohio, under Lieut. Col. Raynor) on the left. The position of the division was on the edge of a wood, with the open plantation in front. It was about three-fom'ths of a mile across, with nothing to obstruct the view but an occasional swell of the ground. The width of this open space was more than thrice the length of the front of the Third Division, now the only troops left to confi'ont the enemy.

"The rebels, elated with their late success, came pom-iug over the clearing in successive lines with closely massed columns. They were permitted to come within close musket range, before the Third Division opened upon them. The Union position was such that, concealed behind logs and fences, it could not be accurately ascertained by the rebels, giving an unusually fine opportunity for deliberate and accurate firing. A deadly volley broke forth from the whole line - breaking the rebel ranks, hurling them back in confusion and leaving the ground strewn with their dead and wounded. The rattle of the deadly muskets was unceasing and the rebel slaughter was terrible.

" The rebels advanced again and again, but could not maintain their ground. They were driven back - lines, numbering not less than eight thousand, by this little force of twelve hundred. Another but feebler demonstration was made on the front by a small part of the enemy, whilst the bulk of the force under cover of the woods, on either side, passed around to the flanks and rear of the Union lines. This closed the contest. The Third Division was surrounded. * * * The loss of the Union army in this battle was six hundi-ed killed and wounded and twelve hundred and fifty captured. The loss of the rebels as taken from their official reports, was thirty-one hundred, of whom ten days after one thousand were dead."

" On the morning of the 9th, the day after the battle, the entire capture was assembled and moved forward toward their destination in Texas. No rations whatever were issued to the prisoners. CJhilled, hungry and weary, this band, numbering fifty commissioned officers and twelve hundred men, were goaded forward between two lines of rebel cavalry flushed with a blundering success and devoid of all the principles of manhood and the honor of the soldier, filled with a brutish ferocity, developed and sharpened by their losses and triumph. The most insulting epithets wore heaped upon these defenseless men, these prisoners, and those who, from sickness or exhaustion, reeled in the ranks, were treated only as a slave-driving chivaliy can treat defenseless hiimanitv.

"At 0 o'clock at night, after a march of twenty-four miles, the staggering column was turned into an open field, having had an unbroken fast of two days. About 10 o'clock at night, a small allowance of wood was given the prisoners, a pint of musty, unsifted corn-meal, with a small allowance of salt beef, no salt and one baking-pan to each hundred men. There was no water within a fourth of a mile. Eight or ten men were taken out at a time to fill the canteens, of which a very small number had escaped the notice of the rapacious captors on the battle-field. The entire night was spent in trying to prepare food from the scanty materials at hand - a task almost impossible. * * * After marching and halting in this manner for sixteen days, the point of destination was reached. * * * The Rev. Hamilton Robb, Chaplain of the Forty-sixth Indiana, a man seventy years of age, made this march, a prisoner. He was released by order of Kirby Smith, at Camp Ford, late in June. This officer had also been captured at Champion Hill, on the Vicksburg march, in 1868.

" In April, 180-1, these men were almost destitute of clothing. Many of them at capture were robbed of all articles not absolutely necessary to cover their nakedness. They had passed one of the coldest winters known in the country for years in this destitute condition. More than three- fourths of the men had no shoes to their feet for months. In December, they had been marched to Shreveport, a distance of 140 miles, and back again in January, through rain, snow and sleet, and over icy roads, with no shelter at night, on rations of coarse meal and starved beef. Again, in March, they were marched over the same road and back again to Camp Ford, their condition not in the least improved by the lapse of time."

"The prison ifc four miles from Tyler, Smith Co., Tex. It covers an area of about six acres, inclosed by a stockade. A trench or ditch was first dug around the ground selected; in it were placed, on end, oak or pine timbers, fitted close together, and foi-ming a wall about eight feet high. On the outside the earth was banked up so that the guards, whilst on their beats, could see over the whole camp. The location was on an abrupt hillside - a kind of pine and oak barrens. Every shrub and ti'ee was carefully cut down, leaving nothing to protect the prisoners from the di'enching rains, the chilly dews of night, or the scorching rays of the semi-tropical sun. Within this pen the prisoners were turned and mockingly told to 'make yourselves comfortable.' The officers had the rare privilege granted them of going to the woods under guard to cut logs and board timber, which they carried in on their backs, and constructed for themselves huts of shelter. Thus, parties of five and ten going out, in due time, built up cabins, a labor not light, when it is considered that to near forty-eight hundred men, but twenty axes and foiu- or five shovels were allowed. An auger and an old saw made up the complement of available tools. Outside, in the camps of the guards, there seemed to be abundance, but nothing but the assortment named could be procured for the inside.

"The private soldiei-s, with the greatest difficulty, by an armful of brush, brought in one day, and some twigs the next, sought to erect shelters to protect them from the sun. Pm-ties fi-om ten to twenty were successively passed out, under guard, with one or two old axes, and a short time allowed them to procure this class of material; but so great was the clamor and eager rush for the prison-gate by the men, that, in their ill-humor, the officere in charge, for days, would allow none to go out. Hundreds of men dug holes in the hillside, and from two to tour lived in each like wild animals. Each rain soaked through their thin covering of earth and soon made their only abiding-place untenable, even for well-raised swine. Others, with little enterprise, made no efforts to construct any kind of shelter. A very large proportion, owing to the scarcity of tools and the many impediments thrown in their way, were unable, with all their efforts, to get up anything till late in the summer. The men who lived in the caves soon became sick, and death became a freqnent guest in these uimatural abodes. Many of these unfortunate men will he cripples for life from such exposure. * * * To add to the misery of living in such hovels, this was one of the wettest seasons Texas had witnessed for twenty years. During the entire months of May and June and far into July, rain fell almost constantly, not figuratively, but literally, in torrents - floods overhead and cataracts under foot With blankets only, in the proportion of ten men to one - robbed of clothing, in many cases, these unfortunate men were compelled, almost in a state of nakedness, to endure the drenching rains day and night. What though rain should cease, the dark gloom of a cheerless night, like some demon, would spread its impenetrable veil over tha camp, and, exaggerate, if possible, the misery of the suflferers. They do not freeze, but shiver in every muscle. The body does not become numb, but there is an uneasy, unsatisfied craving for warmth that seems worse than a positively colder degree. Men seem to draw within themselves and shiver, as they remember the comforts of home, and would barter for the firesides of home the entire world besides. The ragged, haggard, care-worn men, huddled together in groups, like sheep, as if to kindle a little warmth by contact and move the blood that fast seemed ceasing to flow in their veins. So night after night passed of sleepless wretchedness, with no hope of comfort in coming morn, but the warming influences of day. Many of the prisoners were new recruits on their first campaign and unaccustomed to the exposure of even ordinary camp life. Upon these the trial soon began to tell, and each night witnessed the death of some unfortunate man, breathing out his life in darkness. Lying in the mud, with the rain falling upon him, he becomes insensible to the loud thunder and the vivid lightning, and is beyond the reach of those who had tortured him. No mother near to gently smooth the aching brow; the kind hand of no sister to minister to his wants; no wife, with her deep love watching the spirit's last struggle. Hurried to a near- grave scarcely deep enough to hide the body from the prowling wolf, it is soon forever disposed of."

The prisoners captured at Mansfield were for eight months tortured in the stockade prisons at Camp Ford and Camp Groce, some account of which has already been given. The remainder of the regiment for a considerable period were actively engaged. It arrived at Monganza, on the Mississippi, on the 22d of May, 1864. On the 11th of June, it left on veteran furlough for Indiana. Subsequently, it performed some other field duty in Kentucky. Remaining in garrison at Lexington imtil September, it then proceeded to Louisville, where it was mustered out of service on the 4th of September, 1865, and finally discharged at Indianapolis September 6.

First Lieutenants - William A. Pigman, promoted Captain; James M. Watts, promoted Adjutant; James V. Braugh. promoted Captain; Jonathan Moore, mustered out with regiment.

Second Lieutenants - James M. Watts, promoted First Lieutenant; James V. Braugh, promoted First Lieutenant; William A. Andrews, died May 22, 1863, of wounds; Jonathan Moore, promoted First Lieutenant; Levi C. Le Sourd; mustered out with regiment.

Corporals - Amos M. Ballard, discharged May 30, 18B2; Francis Thayer, mustered out December 1, 1864; William H. Padget. died May 3, 1863, of wounds received at Port Gibson; Lewis Carter, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1885, as Sergeant; Jonathan Moore, promoted Second Lieutenant; Francis H. Baum, discharged May 19, 1862, disability; Michael Duncan, mustered out December 1, 1864; .James T. Franklin, veteran, mustered out September 4. 1865, as Sergeant Major.

mustered out September 4, 1865. William T. Davidson, discharged May 30, 1862; disability. Robert W. Davidson, died at Pittsburg, Ind., May 15, 1863. Silas Davis, killed at Champion Hills, May 18, 1863.

killed at Sabine Cross Roads April 8, 1864. red out December 1, 1864. uraed February 7, 1863; disability. 1 1 out December 1, 1864. used December 20, 1863; disability. ..ut December 1, 1864. (i at Carrion Crow Bayou; mustered out De-

Captains - Bernard F. Schemerhorn, promoted Major ; Andrew B. Robertson, resigned July 28, 1863; John G. Troxell, discharged December 28, 1864, term expired; Joseph Henderson, mustered out with regiment.

First Lieutenants - Anthony Garrett, resigned April 26, 1862; Andrew B. Robertson, promoted Captain; John G. Troxell, promoted Captain; Williain D. Schnepp, honorably discharged September 14, 1864; Joseph Henderson, promoted Captain; William Baconie, mustered out August 1, 1865, as Sergeant; Daniel Harner, mustered out as First Sergeant with regiment.

Second I,;, iih iiiiii , ,\iiilrew B. Robertson, promoted First Lieutenant; Jciln < I ; -milted First Lieutenant; William D. Schnepp, promoteil li ' William Bacome, promoted First Lieutenant;

George .b.'.l Ml ll.l.ii;i, .\ik,. December 1. 186 Abel Crane, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. David Cripe. killed at Magnolia Church.

About the nilcMle of the pigbteentli century, foui or nve brothers, bearing the family name of Beck, cam inun Germany and settled about Harper's Ferry, V a. George Byck. born at Harper's Feny \\\ r,!ie last quarter of the same century, was a son of one of these brothers, and the giaiulJ.iuiri wf the subject of this biographical sketch. Jacob Beck, father of Dr. Beck, was bom in the Kishakoquillas Valley, Mifflin Co., Penn., lu the month of January, 1800. On the niatemai side, his (Dr. Beck's) grandmother, -Peggy (Robison) Smith, was a native of Philadelphia, Penn. - the Kobison family having come direct from Scotland a few years before her birth, Peggy Robison (who died in 1874, at the advanced age of nlnety-fiye years), when eighteen years of age, carried in winter the United States mall on horseback, from Fort Mifflin, on the Juniata River, over the mountain to a fort at BeUonte, Center County. This region, at that day, being infested with robbers, Indians, and wild animals. Mary (Smith) Beck, mother of Dr. Beck, was born in Lewlston, Mifflin Co., Penn., in 1804. She Is yet living, in La Fayette, Ind., in her seventy-eighth year, a hale and active woman.

E. W. H. Beck is, therefore, of German-Scotch descent; and was born on the I8th of January, 1822, in Lewiston, Mifflin Co., Penn. In September, 1834, his father left Lewlston andemigratedoverlandtoPickaway, Ohio, where he remained three years and six months In the occupation of a farmer. He subsequently lived six months in Covmgton, in Miami County, and on the lOth of October, 1838, moved to Indiana, and locating in "White County, built a hotel the follovring year in the town of Monticello, and began its operation. The subject of this sketch, during his fli-st eighteen months in Indiana, occupied the time in farm work, hunting and dealing in skins and furs. In 1840, in his nineteenth year, he assisted in steering the first flat-boat, loaded with flour and bacon, out of Monticello, on the Tippecanoe River, and down the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans. In the absence of Miller Kentland, the superintendent, during most of the trip, he (Beck) had complete control of the boat, and at that city he negotiated alone the sale of the entire cargo. ReLurujng home in May, after a trip to Chicago on a four-horse wagon loaded with wheat, in August- 1840, he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Brearly, of Monticello. In the winter of 1842-43, he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. The succeeding fall (1843). he started to Philadelphia to attend lectures, but his supply of money failed him, he stopped at Lewiston, Penn., and passed the winter there, reading in the offlce of Dr. Gulbertson. Returuing to Monticello in 1845, In May of that yeai", he came to Delphi, Carroll County, and. ;i:^<^oririt«^i1 with Dr. Samuel Grimes, began the practice of his profession. At the heginniufi nf r)i. Mi'>;ican war, he assisted Robert Melroy and "William F. Persona in raising the '.'unipiiin iiini reported second to the Governor of Indiana. Unable to go at that time, becaust/ uf ili. a'.^.-dfe of Dr. Grimes, four weeks later, in August, he joined the com- 5 Grande River, and was commissioned Assistant Sergeant of Volunteers. Acting in that capacity until Januai-y lo, follow- " ' c applicants, he was one of two chosen to act as Assistat Matamoras, Mex., to which position he was imme- Jaiiuajy until October, he had charge of two wards in the hospital. "While here, the first ease of yellow fever that appeared m the city, was in one of his wards. Fearing that dreaded malady,, and the regiment with which he had gone out having returned home some months before, early in October he resigned, and came back to Delphi- A few weeks later, having saved sufficient money, he went East, entered the Medical University of New York, and was graduated from that institution in March. 1848. receiving the degree of M. D. May 1, 1848, ne again entered upon the practice of his profession at Delphi, in full partnership with Dr. Grimes. March 4, 1850, with others, he crossed the plains with an ox-team, and after practicing medicine to Delphi In the spring of 1861, and has remained here profession.

J- Larrey G., Genevieve J., Frances L and "Walter M. Mrs. Beck is a woman of mark -rf characteristics. Almost completely denied educational advantagpg. hi the company of edu cated men and women, she maintains herself with dignity and ease! Of fine conversation;;; power, she is generaUy the life of the party of which she is a member. A bitter enemy of whisky and toljaccoj alone or in the crusade, on the rostrum, in the drunkard's home and ?^£'^i'i*^^^ saloon,3he has. all her lifetime, consistently and courageously fought these evils. Inheriting a splendid physique, personal daring, and great powers of enduiauce, when in th^ cause of right she hesftates at no undertaking. Possessing determination, she has the courage to speak her conviction. At the same time, a woman of almost perfect domestic habits, she has always exhibited the deepest love for home and home ties

On the 5th of October, 1861, Dr. Beck was commissioned a Surgeon in the Third Cavalry Regiment. Indiana Volunteers, holding the position about ten months, when he was promoted three years' service, Dr. Beck took part in ten important battles : South Mountain and An - tietam, Md. ; Fredncksburg, Chancellorsvllle, Beveriy Ford, Upperville, Second " - Wilderness, and Spottsylvania, Va. ; and Gettysburg, Penn. : in thirtv-one ene, *..;.^ * t Antletam, he had a horse shot under li" f surgeons had done, he heroically resolved to remain with the sufferii ! apnsoner by Lee's incomingforces. Immediately, with two Assistant^urgeons' " ~" ----- Provost Marshal

stratagem, which, when the Provost Marsha! ille or Libby. Laboring almost night and day on ng of the 4th of July, his imprisonment ended b> igh a non-combatant, the pai-t he played in thi- rection of barricades across the streets - evidences that Lee was beaten, was the act of retreating, and was covering his retogi-ade movement. Assured of these facts a careful examination, he ran into a private nouse, picked up a white bolster-slip, and iviu'.; this before him, ran up Baltimore street toward the Union line to give notice of the turv "s action. As sharpshooters covered the street, and had orders to Tteep it clear, this t^ ;i danperuus task ; but he accomplished It in safety, gave his inf<..rm;iLion to Gen. How- TVT >^'-'*^"*"^"-" to push forward his r - . :. , l.M.k tire, iind capture 5.000 men of Lee's rear guard. There CViTit;r««s.siona; Record at "Washington, shortly after the batt It gallantry on that occasion. In a strictly professional wuv Shortly after the general order issued by the Surgeon Gent wounds when resections could be made, and further ordering ioiLs views of the day and age. Becoming skeptical and materialistic in thought, and independent in belief, about 1854, he began the investigation of the phenomena known as spiritual, and reading everything published on the subject pro and om, he became a firm believer in the harmonical philosophy, and in spirit commimion, under fixed laws and condi -

Lill In surgery, acquired m surgical practice in the county. Is sense of right and honor is rather than impose what might appear . _ . _ fellowman. Toward his family, he is the embodiment of generosity

Company

Captains - David Howell, resigned February 5. 1863; re-entered as Captain in Seventy-fourth Regiment; Bernard B. Daily, resigned July 36, 1863 ; John Sliaffer, discliarged J\ily 19, 1865, as Sergeant ; Michael Rader. mtistered out with regiment.

Silas Atchison, discharged August 35, 1862. William Barr, died at New Madrid April. 1862. Henry E. Berry, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. William Butler, killed at Champion Hills May 16, 1863. James Campbell, mustered out December 1, 1864. Tilman A. Camden, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. William Cateby, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps December I 13. James S. Colemaii, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. Joseph S. Collins, discharged September 3, 1863; disability. John Compton, died at Bardstown, Ky., January 38, 1863. David Connell, died at Milliken's Bend June 13, 1864. Riley Cook, discharged in 1863. John Cook, discharged April 13, 1862. Abraham Cox, died at Halena, Ark., October 34, 1863.

Alexander Hogelan, transferred to Veteran Reserve Corp, 1863. Levi Hoover, died in hospital, April 3, 1863. Samuel Keller, discharged November 13, 1862, for disability. William H. Knettle, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. Thomas J. Kuhn, discharged September 4, 1863, for disability. William Mathers, veteran, mustered out September 4. 1865. Samuel W. McCrary, discharged May 19, 1863; disability. Henry Millard, died at Helena, Ark., December 1, 1862. James Moran, died at Indianapolis June 14, 1863. Thomas Nace, killed at Champion Hills May 16, 1863. William F. Nace, mustered out December 1, 1864. William Noble, died at Helena, Ark., 1863. David Fletcher, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. Henry C. Pruett, discharged September 11. 1862; disability. William J. Ridinger. died at Memphis August 11, 1862. Francis M. Shaffer, veteran, mustered out September 4. 1865. as poral.

Unassigned Recruits

Elza E. Armstrong, discharged June 14, 1863, for disability. Charles Baum, mustered out December 1, 1864. Milton M. Gosley, veteran, mustered out September 4. 1865. Henry Itkins, veteran, mustered out September 4, 1865. Nathaniel Nicholas, mustered out December 1, 1864. William Nicholas, discharged March 10, 1863; disability. Robert Stogdell, discharged October 10, 1863, for wounds received at Port Gibson.