Clark County, Indiana - Chapter 16: The ^hlitarv History of Clark County - 1844- 1860, 1909

Chapter 16: The ^hlitarv History of Clark County - 1844- 1860

The first uniformed inilitary company of which we have any record, after the twenty-five years of dormancy, from 1819 to 1844, was in Jeffersonville in 1844. It was called the Jeffersonville Blues, and its captain was a man named Charles Hensley. He was one of several brothers, and he had the reputation of being the most popular man in town. This company had for a drill master a refugee from Poland, who lived and died on a farm just this side of Sellersburg. His name and title was Col. J. J. Lehmonoski, and while drilling the men he wore the uniform of a high officer in the Polish army. His historj' is most interesting. Lehmonoski was a colonel of the Polish Lancers, the bodyguard of the great Napoleon, and had participated in two hundred and three battles. He carried fourteen wounds on his person as a result of his sen-ice. He was at tlie sieze of Toulon, at the victor}' of Austerlitz, he fought on the plains of Egypt, and witnessed the ocean of flame which rolled over Moscow. The disaster of Waterloo drew him to the L'nited States in 18 16, and for a while he traveled as an evangelist with the approval and sanction of Lyman Beecher and others. He finally settled in Clark county and died here. Under his instruction the company became very proficient and turned out two or three times each week to parade or drill, and everybody in town was very proud of "our company."

"They were invited to attend an encampment of the Kentucky militia at the old Oakland race course in Louisville, and Colonel Lehmonoski took great delight in preparing them for the contest for some of the prizes to be contested for at the encampment, and of course every citizen of our town was anxious that 'our company' should bring home a trophy of their soldierly qualities and good behavior while in camp. But you can imagine our disappointment on their return home. Some of the officers and men were addicted to the too free indulgence of 'John Barleycorn,' and the report came daily from those of their admirers who visited them that a majority of the company spent a greater part of their time in the guard house charged with the too free use of 'ardent,' and with disorderly conduct.

"One incident I will relate that occurred after they crossed the river. In those days of slavery the negroes had learned from their masters that everybody who lived in that little town across the ri\-er was nothing but 'poor white trash" and that it was a dangerous place for a black face to be seen in, and that if a negro valued his life he had better keep away from it. The owners of slaves, for protection to that old-time property, instilled into the young darkies' minds that we were not only poor white trash, but that we would steal them and sell them to cotton planters down South, and the young darkies believed that as firmly as ever a white child believed in old Santa Claus. The company was handsomely uniformed, well drilled and armed with old flintlock muskets. Their head dress was a tall leather hat or cap. surmounted by a handsome pompon that looked very much like a paint brush. When the company was passing out the streets of Louisville with the drum corps beating that favorite tune, 'The Girl I Left Behind ]Me," every one of the company feeling that all eyes were centered on him, and that he carried the honor and reputation of old Jeff in his knapsack, determined to win laurels and fame for our little city. They were feeling elated at seeing so many people, both black and white, lining the streets to hear the music and look at a company of Hoosier soldiers. You can imagine our mortification when we heard a cry from the little darkies on the sidewalks : 'Look at dem poah white trash from Jefferso\-ille with paint brushes in dar hats." It is needless to relate that no prizes were carried home at the completion of the tour of duty.""

It is a matter of regret that complete rosters of these old militia companies of our early history have been lost, for to them belongs the credit of keeping alive, to a great extent, that spirit which found such eloquent expression here during the War of the Rebellion. The feeling among some misguided and un- American citizens of our present day of belittling our state troops by denunciation as well as a refusal to serve, is not the spirit which prompted such service in those days or in the times that tried men"s hearts during the sixties.

These old militia companies filled a place, no doubt, and although some of them may not ha\e performed any actual service for the state, it lessens their value none.

The general condition of the militia of Indiana, including that of Clark county, during the period just preceding the ^Mexican war, is described by Adjutant General Reynolds, Xovember 29, 1845. He was greatly discouraged and wrote as follows : "It is true, however, that while our system has undergone a partial paralysis, the martial spirit is not extinct, but exhibits itself in the form of a number of energetic companies of independent militia, as well as a few regiments of district militia which have survived the general disorganization. It would seem also, if not cjuite impossible to revive military discipline, unless some exigency should demand an acti\-e service. War. with its thrilling incidents, could alone, we l^elieve. fully accomplish it : and no state in the L'nion would more fearlessly and promptly respond to even its first notes of preparation than Indiana.

1846, and Indiana was called upon for three regiments of infantry. On May 22d Governor Whitcomb issued his call for the thirty companies required. and by June loth, or in eighteen days, the entire quota had been reported, and twenty-two additional companies were clamoring for admission.

The beginning of the Mexican war found the spirit of Mars strongly manifesting itself throughout the county, but to Charlestown, the county seat, belongs the honor of furnishing the only organizations. Individual enlistments in Kentucky and Indiana regiments were made from various parts of the county, and in Jefifersonville there was quite an enthusiastic movement started to raise a company of volunteer infantry for one of the regiments then forming, but it began and ended in talk. Col. James Keigwin has an account of one of their public meetings in the old market house on Market street, between Spring street and Pearl street, as follows :

"At this time they were trying to recruit the company, and, by the way, I attended all the meetings, as I was big enough to be a Sl^ldier myself. At that time there was but one saloon in the town, kept by one of the best bachelors that ever lived. Charles Cunningham was his name, and his saloon was on Front street, four doors below Spring street. It was in front of this saloon where the drums beat the assembly. All those who were the leaders were fond of their toddies, and whisky at that time being only worth six dollars a barrel, Charley, the saloon keeper, as he was called, being a patriotic lover of his country and anxious to have his own town represented in the war, said that he would give all who volunteered all they wanted to drink free of charge, so you can understand that by the time all the patriotic residents and barefooted boys had assembled in front of the saloon that the promoters of the company would be pretty full and would feel as if they could lick a regiment of 'greasers' by themselves.

"The organizers of the company were Amos Lovering, afterward one of the judges of one of our courts; William Buchanan and Richard Peacely, studying law with Judge Lovering, and John F. Read, who had just graduated from Hanover College. After the party had sampled Charley's whisky to their satisfaction, we were ordered to fall in and march to the market house, where we would have speeches from Read and others. Well, we fell in and marched to the market house, and Read was boosted up on the butcher's block by Peacely and Buchanan, who held to John's legs to steady him. He was making a very patriotic and convincing speech as to our duties to the best government in the world, and how we would lick old Santa Anna and his Mexican horde off of Texas soil, and then he pictured to us the humiliation we would' feel if Jeffersonville failed to have a company in the war. John's father, the old judge, heard the racket in the market house, and as he came near and saw his hopeful in the condition he was. you can imagine his surprise. Just then Peacely and Buchanan discovered the judge's presence and began to pull

John's legs and tell him to close, when John blurted out in one of his sophomoric flights he had brought home from college : 'Yes, my fellow citizens, the government will furnish 3'ou all with plenty of the very best kind of clothes.' The meeting was a failure and it is unnecessary to add that our old town failed to be honored witJT a military company in the war with Mexico."

In Charlestown men responded to the call with alacrity, and the trouble was with the excess rather than the insufficiency of material. The first and second regiments had no Clark county companies in them, but the third regiment had a company from Charlestown and vicinity. This company was raised by Thomas W. Gibson, of that town, and he took as his lieutenants First Lieutenant Harrison Daily, and Second Lieutenant Daniel L. Fonts. The raising of this company was accompanied with the greatest enthusiasm, and the drum corps and martial music added tn the excitement of the town. This company was to enlist for one year, and the prospect of service in Mexico, and the sights and adventures of such a campaign was more than the young men of the county seat could stand. The men were rapidly enlisted, and when they were not drilling in the court-house yard, they were skirmishing in the bottoms of Pleasant run. They were quartered in the house now known as the Badger house on Main street, near Spring street, and in their "barracks" as the house was called, they remained about a month. The day of departure of this company for the rendezvous at Camp Whitcomb, on the river just below the mouth of Silver creek, was one of intense excitement. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sweethearts and wives, assembled to wish the departing company well. They left Charlestown in wagons, and upon arrival at camp, began an active preparation for the campaign before them. They were mustered into the United States service ninety-four strong, on June 22, 1846, by Col. S. Churchill.

Captain Gibson's company served throughout their term of enlistment with an honorable record. The regiment was engaged in the battle of Buena Vista, and other actions, and upon their return home, found themselves covered with glory. The return of Gibson and his company to Charlestown was the occasion for a great demonstration. A great reception and barbecue was given them in Hammond's woods, and at the present day the trenches still remain where the beef was roasted whole. The citizens were proud of their soldiers, as well they might be.

On April 24, 1847, Governor \\'hitcomb called for one additional regiment to fill the quota required by the President's proclamation of April 19th. His proclamation ends as follows: "And in conformity with the suggestion of the Secretary of War, that a place of rendezvous be appointed on the Ohio river for the several companies as fast as they shall be organized, the ground near or adjacent to 'Old Fort Clark', near Jefifersonville, on the south is hereby designated for that purpose". May 30th the regiment was filled, and from

The companies which were to form this new regiment arrived during the latter part of May and the first part of June, 1847. They reached Jeffersonville in the following order, and upon their arrival encamped just above the whirlpool on the bank of the Ohio, at a point later known as Camp Joe Holt, and not at Fort Steuben, as some authorities state :

These companies, so the muster rolls state, were "called into the service of the United States'" as they arrived. The regiments embarked on steamboats at the wharf, between Spring and Pearl streets, June 28th, and nearly everybody in Clark county was in town that day to witness the departure and wish them a safe return.

Three steamboats lay at the wharf and the martial spirit was in the very air. The steamer "Saladin" carried companies A, B, C and D, under command of Col. Willis A. Gorman. The steamer "Franklin" carried companies E, I and G, under Lieutenant Colonel Dumont, and the steamer "General Hamer" carried companies H, F and K, under Major McCoy.

On the day preceding the embarkation the regiment proceeded from their camp near the Big Eddy to Jeffersonville. and was drawn up in solid column for the purpose of receiving from the ladies of the city a splendid stand of regimental colors. This gift from the fair and patriotic ladies of Jeffersonville was received into hands strong to protect it in every emergency, and by hearts w'arm and ardent to appreciate its value. The adjutant general of Indiana supported the flag, and Capt. Edw-ard Lander, in behalf of the ladies, delivered an eloquent address, which on behalf of the regiment, was responded to by the colonel, \\'illis A. Gorman. One newspaper account ends thus : "A fine band attached to the regiment then struck up 'The Star Spangled Banner' as the troops whirled into open column under the sountl of instrumental harmony that breathed heroic ardor to adventurous deeds", and the regiment proceeded to its camp at Fort Clark.

Baird S History Of Clark Co., Ixd. 1 57

Captain Landers, was the recipient of a splendid flag presented by the ladies of Indianapolis. The presentation took place in front of the old Bowman house, and was the occasion of quite a demonstration of patriotism.

On August 31, 1847, Governor ^M^itcomb issued his proclamation authorizing the raising of the Fifth Regiment. It was to be composed mostly of men who had seen service in Mexico in earlier regiments. This regiment rendezvoused at JMadison, and Clark county was represented by a fine company of men under the command of Capt. George Greene. His lieutenants were Philip J. Roe, first lieutenant ; James ^I. Ross, second lieutenant, and Henry Hensley, additional second lieutenant. Captain Greene at various times was a resident of both Jeffersonville and Charlestown, antl his company, called the "Rough and Ready Guards", was recruited from in and around b(ith places.

The Fifth Regiment embarked on steamboats at Camp Reynolds, Madison, on November i, 1847, ''"'I arrived at JeiTersonville the same day. The steamers "\\'ave", "Xe Plus Ultra", and "PhcEuix", carried them to Xew Orleans, arriving there on the 6th. Their sen-ice after arriving at Vera Cruz was equal to that of the other regiments, and upon their return home the Clark county soldiers were received with great demonstrations and were the heroes of the day.

Capt. Lemuel Ford, of Charlestown, recruited a company of United States Dragoons for the regular service from in and around that town, and with this troop performed valiant service in Mexico. He was brevetted major October 19, 1847, for gallant and meritorious conduct in the affair at Atlixco, and the ser\qce both he and his company of Clark county men gave was of the highest class.

Capt. John S. Simonson, of Charlestown, who was in the regular army, raised a company of mounted dragoons in and around Charlestown for service in Mexico, and besides the many creditable reports from him and his company while in the land of the "Greasers," he was l)revetted major September 13, 1847. f'^r gallant and meritorious conduct in the battle of Chapultepec.

In Captain Gibson's Company I. of the Third Regiment, was a sergeant named Jefferson C. Davis. He got his commission of second lieutenant after meritorious service - remained in the regular army after the war with IMexico - was in Fort Sumpter with Major Anderson when the war of the Rebellion opened with this "strange contest between seventy men and seven thousand". He rose to be brigadier general of volunteers and during this war was brevetted major, lieutenant-colonel, colonel, brigadier general and major general, for gallant and meritorious services.

Louisville Legion, and they served faithfully with their command during the war. These four Jeffersonville men were Benjamin P. Fuller, Simeon P. Bell, James A. Thompson and Francis M. Scliell. They were all privates in Company A, First Regiment of Kentucky Foot Volunteers, known as the Louisville Legion. They were mustered in May 17, 1846, at the old race track on the Seventh street road, in Louisville, and were all mustered out at the New Orleans barracks May 17, 1847, with the exception of Francis M. Schell, who was discharged for disability at Camargo, Me.xico, August 27, 1846.

The interest in things Mexican seems to have pervaded the whole county, for a great demonstration was projected when it was learned that Presidentelect Gen. Zachary Taylor was to pass through Louisville on his way to Washington. On Monday, February 5, 1849, the mayor of Jeffersonville, William F. Cullom, offered the following resolution, and it was unanimously adopted :

"Resolved, By the Mayor and Common Council of the city of Jeffersonville, that in consideration of the service rendered to his country by Gen. Zachary Ta3'lor, President-elect of the United States, and in consideration of the exalted station to which he has been called to occupy by his fellow citizens, that he be invited to visit our city on his way to ^^'ashington, and partake of our hospitality".

The general saw fit to accept our invitation and visited Jeft'ersonville in February, 1849, and was received with a great demonstration of enthusiasm. The reception ceremonies were held in the small Presbyterian church on Market street, between Spring and Pearl streets, where he delivered a speech. This building still remains one of the old landmarks of the city, being occupied now by the German Reformed congregation as a place of worship.

After the regiments returned home from Mexico we would suppose that the ardor of some of the young soldiers would have prompted them to place Clark county in a better position than she was at the beginning of the war, but they seemed to have had all the military they desired in their campaign against the land of the Montezumas. There was, however, a company of young lads in Jeffersonville in the year 1853 or '54, with James Schell as captain, and they were uniformed and equipped. Their chief duty, so far as hearsay tells us (and that is our only authority) was to drill very often for the edification of their friends. Joseph Reign was color bearer, but of the other members we can find nothing.

From this time on until the period of the War of the Rebellion we find Clark county like the rest of the state, without much enthusiasm concerning things military.