Clinton County, Indiana - Chapter 8: The War Record, 1913

From Frankfort

The call to arms at the opening of the Civil war found Clinton county,, like the rest of the country, ready for the conflict. The reason for it is obvious. Most men do not grasp abstract questions as readily as they grasp concrete questions. In this fact lies the strength of Mr. Roosevelt's proposition for the recall of judicial decisions on constitutional questions. Eor example. the people of Indiana, when they adopted the constitution of 1851, had no idea that its provision for "a general and uniform system of common schools" prohibited special local school taxes, as the supreme court afterwards held that it did: nor that its general declarations of personal rights prevented prohibition law. a< the supreme court afterwards decided thev did. If these decisions could have been submitted to the people as concrete questions, at any time previous to the Civil war. these decisions would have been reversed promptly.

So w ith, secession. As originally presented, in abstract form, the argument that a state had the right to withdraw peaceably from the Union was very forcible. The right was asserted in Xew England, by the Hartford convention, long before South Carolina asserted it. Hut when Fort Sumter was attacked, the concrete question was presented. "Has anyone the right to fire on the nation's flag, and forcibly appropriate the property of the United States?" Xobody could misunderstand that question. Theory had vanished, and the solemn realitv of what secession involved was forced on

The news of the fall of Fort Sumter flashed over the country on Sunday, April 14, 1861. On the next day, President Lincoln issued his first call for 75,000 militia. This call shows the same conservative and wise policy he had followed from the first, giving no just cause for affront, until sentiment had crystalized and the South had taken the aggressive. He said : "Whereas, the laws of the LMited States have been for some time past, and now are, opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed, in the states of South Carolina. Georgia. Alabama. Florida. Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by law ;

"Now, therefore. I. Abraham Lincoln. President of the United States, in virtue of the power in me vested by the constitution and the laws, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, the militia of the several states of the Union, to the aggregate number of seventy-five thousand, in order to suppress said combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed.

"I appeal to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate, and aid this effort to maintain the honor, the integrity, and the existence of our National Union, and the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs alreadv long enough endured.

"I deem it proper to say that the first service assigned to the forces hereby called forth will probably be to repossess the forts, places and property which have been seized from the Union: and in every event the utmost care will be observed, consistently with the objects aforesaid, to avoid any devastation, any destruction of. or interference with property, or any disturbance of peaceful citizens in any part of the country."

Indiana did not wait for any communication from the War Department. On the same day. April 15. that Lincoln's call was issued, and telegraphed over the country. Governor Morton telegraphed to President Lincoln : "On behalf of the State of Indiana. I tender to you. for the defense of the Nation, and to uphold the authority of the Government, ten thousand men."

On the same dav Governor Morton received a call by telegraph for six regiments. On the same day Adj. Gen. Lew Wallace issued "General Orders No. 1" for the organization of the militia. On April t6. Governor

Morton issued his call for six regiments. At that time Frankfort had no telegraph communication with the outside world, and had to wait till news wras brought in from railroad points, but in the first batch of telegrams received by Governor Morton, and printed in the Indianapolis papers, was this:

"A letter just received from Judge Blake requests me to telegraph you that he has a company organized in Clinton county, which will be ready to move by Monday (April 22) or Tuesday, and that you must be sure to accept it. Of course you will."

Judge John W. Blake had grown up in Clinton county. His father, John Blake, came to Frankfort in 1832. and was one of the oldest and most respected hotel-keepers of the place. John V.'. had been a successful school teacher, a successful surveyor, a successful lawyer, a satisfactory Judge of the Common Pleas Court, a powerful political leader, and he was now entering on a successful military career. That his later years were blighted by a complete surrender to strong drink should not now obscure the merit of his earlier life. The cloud of those years may be credited to whisky, not the nature of the man. He was then the man that Clinton county had known, and had honored by official preferment.

This prompt action secured Clinton county a place in the first regiments sent to the front, for in less than a week from the time of the call over 12.000 men had been tendered, and not only organized companies but scores of volunteers who could not get into companies were pouring into Indianapolis. The Clinton county company was on hand promptly, and was mustered in on April 25, 1861, as Company C of the 10th Indiana regiment, under command of Col. Joseph J. Reynolds, formerly of the regular army. It was camped with other volunteers at Camp Morton, now the location of "Morton Place," Indianapolis, but prior to that time, the State Fair Grounds, and was put into drill immediately.

On May 15. 1861. a member of the company wrote to the Crescent from Indianapolis: "We have received Minie rifles in place of the old fashioned ones we formerly had: the supposition is we will receive our new uniforms and equipments and leave for some place on the Ohio river next week. We wish through your paper to thank the Frankfort people for their donation of eggs, which was very welcome, we assure them, and served to make the salt meat and potatoes much better relished." tention to the conditions as to equipment existing at the time. As officially reported, "there were less than five hundred stand of effective first-class small arms in the state, besides eight pieces of weather-worn and dismantled cannon, and an unknown number of old flintlock and altered-to-percussion muskets, the most of which were scattered through various companies in the hands of private individuals and members of disbanded companies of militia." These old muskets had been used by the five Indiana regiments in the Mexican war. In that war. Clinton county had no separate representation, though there were a number who enlisted, mostly from the northeast part of the county, and went out in Company I. Fifth regiment under Capt. Mahlon D. Manson. After the Mexican war, these guns were distributed to the counties, for use of militia companies, which were numerous for three or four years, after which most of the companies disbanded. Clinton county had about 100 of these muskets, which were stored in the old jail on the northeast corner of the public square.

When the Civil war news came to Frankfort, preparations were at once made for a meeting to start enlistment. A stage was improvised by putting some dry goods boxes next to the board fence that used to surround the court house square, on the west side, some twenty feet south of the stile that crossed the fence at the middle of that side. At dusk anvils were fired, which gave the first notice to many of the people in the surrounding country that something was happening. The crowd gathered on the square, and patriotic speeches were made by Judge Blake, fdenry Y. Morrison. Leander McClurg and others. The universal sentiment expressed was that this was no time for politics; the flag had been fired upon, and the honor of the country was at 'take; it was a time for the young men to come to the country's defense. Enlistments were begun, and the recruits were furnished with the old muskets from the jail : then preceded by Stephen Aikens and Thomas J. Armantrout, with fife and drum, they marched about at intervals, attracting others till the quota of seventy-six members was filled, and the company was off for Indianapolis. In the later recruiting the speaker's stand was moved into the southwest corner of the square.

The company elected its own officer' ; Captain. John W. Blake, first lieutenant, Joseph C. Suit; second lieutenant. Samuel H. Shortle : sergeants, Milton W. Newton, Richard H. Mclntire. Thomas J. Upton and Uriah Young; corporals, David F. Allen. Eugene A. Routh. William W. Wilds and Noah T. Catterlin. On May 10, 1861, Colonel Reynolds was made brigadier general, and Maj. Mahlon D. Manson was promoted to colonel of the regiment. On June 19. the 10th regiment and the 8th Indiana left Indianapolis

The national government had not been in condition to equip the troops. On April 19th, Governor Morton issued a call for a special session of the legislature to meet on the 24th; and on May 1. a law was passed directing the Governor to secure arms, equipment and ammunition for twenty thousand men, and appropriating S500.000 for that purpose. Agents were hastened out to buy arms, supplies, cloth for uniforms, and other material. An arsenal was organized under Capt. Herman Sturm, and on April 27, began the manufacture of ammunition. It supplied not only Indiana troops, but others in the West until the Federal government was able to take care of them: and by October. 1861. was employing two hundred and fifty people.

The two Indiana regiments, under Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Morris marched from Parkersburg to Buckhannon. and thence, after a few days to Rich Mountain, camping at its foot on the night of July 10. In the early morning they marched nine miles ov er a narrow bridle path, when they encountered the enemy's pickets, who fired and fell back. The troops then formed behind a hill and charged the enemy's works driving them out and capturing their guns. The combined Union forces then drove the enemy from their position on the mountain. The 10th camped on the battle ground and marched the next day to Beverly, where it camped till July 24, when it wa- ordered to TndiaranolU to he mustered out.

On Mav. 4. t8<H. Pre-idem Lincoln had i--ued his second call for 42.034 volunteers. 22.714 increase of the regular army, and 18.000 seamen, for three year-. Under it. the 10th regiment was reorganized and mustered in on September 18. with Mahlon D. Manson as colonel. The three-months men from Clinton county mostly re-enlisted in it. in Company K, with John W. Blake as captain. Samuel II. Shortle as first lieutenant, and Wm. W. Wilds, second lieutenant. Soon after. Blake was made lieutenant-colonel of the 40th Indiana, whereupon Shortle was made captain, and John W. Hunt first lieutenant. Later Hunt became captain, and Wilds first lieutenant.

Companv C of this regiment was also recruited in Clinton county, with Abram O. Miller as captain. James II. Boyle as first lieutenant, and Andrew Merritt as second lieutenant. At the organization of the regiment. Miller was made major, and Boyle became captain, his place as first lieutenant being filled bv Tames H. McAdams. McAdams was killed at Mill Springs. Ky., January 19. 1862. and Thomas Thompson became first lieutenant. On Tune 20, 1862. Merritt resigned and Jeremiah Batterton was made second lieuten-

The 10th left Indianapolis on September 22, 1861, for Kentucky, and had no fighting until the advance to meet Zollicoffer in January, 1862. On January 19. it took part in the battle of Mills Springs, or Logans' Fields, gaining a reputation by a repulse of one of Zollicoffer's most desperate charges. It joined Buell's march to the Tennessee river: reached Shiloh after the battle; took part in the siege of Corinth: and then joined in the pursuit of Bragg across Kentucky. It was stationed in the region east of Nashville for some months, and then joined in the march of the army of the Cumberland across the Cumberland mountains to Chattanooga, participating in the battle of Chickamauga on September 19th and 20th, 1863. Here its commanding officer. Col. W in. B. Carroll, was killed.

January 24, 1864. part of the regiment re-enlisted at Chattanooga, and in the following spring took part in Sherman's advance on Atlanta, and the many memorable engagements of that campaign. On September 8, 1864, General Thomas ordered the members of the 10th to be transferred to the 58th, and with it took part in Sherman's famous ''March to the Sea." The regiment was mustered out at Louisville. Ky.. July 25, 1865.

The Fortieth Indiana was also raised on the President's second call, and organized at Lafayette, on December 30, 1861. Company E of this regiment was recruited in Clinton county with John B. Pence as captain. Jesse D. Cornelison first lieutenant, and W'm. A. T. Holmes second lieutenant. On August 12, Captain Pence resigned, and Lieutenants Cornelison and Holmes were promoted one grade each, while John \V. Aughe was made second lieutenant. Aughe afterwards became captain, and Richard Kolb and Jasper Kolb successively firt lieutenant, after the resignation of Holmes. John Holmes was the last second lieutenant of the company. A number of Clinton county men also joined Company F of this regiment: and of these, Samuel S. Williams became second lieutenant, and later first lieutenant.

Wm. C. Wfilson was the original colonel of this regiment, but resigned March 27, 1862: whereupon Lieut. Col. John W. Blake was made colonel, and served until honorably discharged in March, 1865. The regiment went into instruction camp at Bardstown, Ivy., immediately after organization, and in February, 1862, marched with Buell to Nashville, and then to northern Alabama. During most of the year it was engaged in the pursuit of Bragg, returning to Nashville in November, when it was assigned to the Sixth Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps. In December it marched towards Murfreesboro, and on December 31, and January 1 and 2. was engaged in the

The regiment remained near Murfreesboro for some months, and was reassigned to the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Twenty-first Army Corps, under Major-general Crittenden. It was in the march to Chattanooga, and the battle of Chickamauga on September 19 and 20. 1863. Returning to Chattanooga, it took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge in November, and then went to East Tennessee for the winter. In January, 1864. the regiment re-enlisted at Blain's Cross Roads, Tenn., and soon after received a veteran's furlough.

On May 8, 1864. the Fortieth moved from Cleveland. Tenn., on the Atlanta campaign, as part of the Second Brigade of the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, under Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard. It took part in the battles of Dallas. Kenesaw Mountain and Chattahoochee River. At Peach Tree Creek, it was conspicious in the repulse of Hood's desperate attempt to break through Sherman's lines. After the occupation of Atlanta, it went back to Chattanooga, and thence to Nashville taking part in the battle there on December 15. After the rout of Hood's army, it joined in the pursuit, as far as Huntsville. Ala. It then returned to Nashville, and, in June. 1865, marched to Johnsonville and took transportation to New Orleans. Here it joined the Fourth Corps, and was transferred to Texas, as part of Sheridan's army of occupation. It remained there for some months after the close of hostilities and was mustered out there.

Another regiment organized on the second call was the Forty-fifth Indiana, or Third Cavalry. Company H of this regiment was enlisted at Frankfort with Alfred Gaddis as captain. Joseph M. Douglass as first lieutenant, and Uriah Young second lieutenant. Gaddis was promoted to major on Tune 24, 1864. Douglas resigned May 2, 1862. Young was made first lieutenant May 2, 1862, and captain June 24. 1864. Robert P. Shanklin became second lieutenant May 2. 1862, and first lieutenant June 24, 1864. Daniel White became second lieutenant June 24. 1864.

The regiment was organized piecemeal. The first six companies. A to F, inclusive, were mustered in at Madison. Ind., in August, and sent to the army of the Potomac, under Col. Scott Carter. Companies G to K. inclusive. were organized a couple of months later and sent into Kentucky. Companies L and M were organized at Indianapolis in December. 1862. The companies in the east were called the right wing, and those in the west, the left wing. Companies L and M joined the left wing in East Tennessee in 1863. The two wings were separated for over a vear. Col.

The left wing went to Camp Wickliffe, Ky., until the movement towards Nashville began, in which they took part. After the battle of Shiloh they went to Corinth, to northern Alabama and eastern Tennessee and through the pursuit of Bragg. Then they were with Rosecrans in the campaigns of the winter of 1862. and of 1863. culminating in the battle of Mission Ridge. The battalion then went into East Tennessee, under command of Lieut. Col. Robert Klein, scouting and skirmishing until the opening of the Atlanta campaign, when it joined Sherman's cavalry and was in all the engagements of that campaign. After that it ''marched through Georgia" with Sherman's cavalry. At Savannah the regiment was consolidated with the Eighth Indiana Cavalry, and was known by that name until mustered out at Lexington, North Carolina, July 20. 1S65.

On July 1, 1862, came Lincoln's call for 300.000 men for three years in response to a petition of the governors of eighteen states, under which Indiana's quota of 21.250 men was promptly filled without a draft. Clinton county furnished Company K of the Seventy-second regiment, with Hiram B. Collins as captain. George \Y. Ross fir-4 lieutenant and James H. Whitcomb, second lieutenant, all commissioned August 22, 1862. The company had lots of fighting and numerous changes of officers. Captain Collins resigned April 21, 1863, re-enlisting as captain in the One Hundred and Fiftyfourth. He was succeeded by Richard H. Mclntire. who was honorably discharged May 26. 1864. George W. Brown followed as captain to the close of the war. Lieutenant Ross resigned November 13. 1862 and was succeeded by Richard H. McIntyre; who was succeeded April 21. 1863, by James \Y. Davis; who was suceeded January 14. 1863. by George W. Brown. Lieutenant Whitcomb resigned December 19. 1862, becoming later, first lieutenant of the Eleventh Cavalry. He was succeeded by John W. Gaskill, who died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., February 20, 18G3 and was succeeded by James W. Davis. Davis was succeeded by Carey M. Layne. who resigned January 23, 1864, and re-enlisted as captain in the One Hundred and Fiftieth. He was succeeded by James T. Quick; and Quick, on July 1, 1864. by Wm. F. Hendrickson.

The Seventy-second regiment was organized on August 16. 1862, wdth Abram O. Miller of Jefferson, as colonel. It left on the following day for Lebanon, Ky., where it remained until it joined Buell's army in the Bragg campaign. It then moved into Tennessee, operating in the vicinity of Castillion Springs, and on January 8, 1863 arrived at Murfreesboro. Here, on the reorganization of the army of the Cumberland, it was ordered mounted, and added to the celebrated Wilder's Brigade of mounted infantry. These were armed with Spencer rifles. The regiment made several scouts from Murfreesboro, and captured enough horses to mount all of its members.

The regiment took part in all the subsequent fighting of that notable brigade beginning at Hoover's Gap. June 24. 1863. On September 12, it met a brigade of General Pegram's command at Rock Springs, Ga., and routed it. After three days' hard fighting at Chickamauga it was sent after Wheeler, and aided in driving him out of Middle Tennessee. It had another sharp fight at Mooresville, Ala., on November 30. On December 31, it was sent to Memphis, and joined to General Sherman's army, with which it went on the Meridian raid. During this it covered the retreat of General Smith from Okalona. It then returned to Memphis, from where it moved to Nashville. and on March 26. 1864. joined the Third Brigade. Second Cavalry Division.

Its next move was to Columbia, and on April 30. started from there on the Atlanta campaign, in which it saw constant active service till the end of August. When Sherman began his march through Georgia, the horses of the Seventy-second were given to Kilpatrick's division, and the regiment returned to Louisville to be remounted. On December 28. it moved to Gravelly Springs. Ala., and joined General Wilson's expedition, in which Selma and Montgomery. Ala., and Columbus and Macon. Ga., were captured with over eight thousand prisoners and large quantities of artillery, small arms and supplies. At Selma, on April 2. 1863. Colonel Miller, then commanding the brigade, was severely wounded. He was later brevetted brigadier-general. After the surrender of Lee the regiment was sent out in detachments to intercept Jeff Davis, and one detachment was in close pursuit when he was taken.

In all this fighting the regiment lost heavily. It started out with 978 men, and lost 431. On June 26, it reached Indianapolis, on its return, with 510 men and 36 officers, and was mustered out there. It was given a royal welcome, with speeches by Lieutenant Governor Baker. General Hovey and others and the men then returned to their homes.

The Eightv-sixth Indiana regiment was recruited in the Eighth Congressional District under the same call of July 1. 1862. It was ordered to rendezvous at Lafayette, and after a short stay at Camp Tippecanoe, was ordered to Indianapolis on September i, where on September 4, it was mustered in at Camp Carrington - which had originally been Camp Chris Miller, and later Camp Murphy, but these were lost sight of in its third name.

Of this regiment Companies G, H and a part of I, were recruited in Clinton county. 1 he captains of Company G, successively, were John Seager of Jefferson, resigned December 28, 1862; Xelson R. Smith of Frankfort, dismissed July 25, 1863. and Littleton \ . Ream of Michigantown, mustered out with regiment. I he first lieutenants were Samuel Douglas of Frankfort, resigned July 25. 1863; Loren G. Cowdrey of Michigantown, honorably discharged for wounds December 9, 1864, and Theodore Hesser of Frankfort, mustered out with regiment. The second lieutenants were Xelson R. Smith and Littleton \ . Ream, both promoted to captain, and John Snyder, mustered out with regiment. The captains of Company H were Milton Bell of Michigantown, resigned January 10. 1863; Carson I*. Rodman of Lebanon, resigned September 14. 1864: Matthew Mclnery of Delphi, mustered out with regiment. The first lieutenants were James B. Xewton of Frankfort, resigned January 22. 1863; Uriah Thomas of Burgett's Corners, resigned June 22, 1863; David Ft. Olive of Lebanon, mustered out with regiment. The second lieutenants were Uriah Thomas, promoted to first lieutenant; Tin. J. Xees of Middle Fork, resigned July 17, 1863 : John M. Cast of Frankfort, mustered out with regiment. The captains of Company I were Win. C. Lambert of Stockwell, dismissed by court martial, June 18, 1863, and James R. Carnahan of Dayton, mustered out with regiment. The first lieutenants were John Gilliland of Linden, returned to Fiftv-first Illinois Volunteers, as a deserter by court martial and Thos. H. P>. McCain of Thorntown, mustered out with regiment. The second lieutenants were James T. Doster of Colfax, died December 19, 1863. and Henrv M older of Rossville, mustered out with regiment.

Orville S. Hamilton of Lebanon, who went out as colonel of the regiment, a brave man, but lacking military training was mustered out January 13, 1863, for incompetency. He was succeeded by George F. Dick of Attica, who was brevetted brigadier-general, and mustered out with the regiment. Wm. S. Harker, an old time Alethodist preacher and school teacher of Frankfort, went out as chaplain of the regiment, but resigned May 3, 1863. He was succeeded by Daniel Kempton. also of Clinton county. Samuel H. Thompson of Kirks Cross Roads, became second lieutenant of Company A, and was mustered out with the regiment.

When the Eighty-sixth was mustered in, Kirby Smith was marching on Cincinnati, and Bragg on Louisville. The regiment was hurried to Cincinnati, to help Lewr Wallace in the defense of that place. It arrived on September 7. and was posted on the hills back of Covington. On September 20, danger being averted there, it went to Louisville by steamboat, and joined in the pursuit of Bragg, until it reached Nashville on November 26. It had very little fighting - a small skirmish with John Morgan's men - until it received its real baptism of fire and blood at Stone River. But it had lost nearly two-thirds of its men by disease, disabilitv and death, and entered the fight on December 31. with only 368 effective men. Of these it lost 41 killed and mortally wounded, 54 wounded, and 101 captured. The captured were taken to Libby Prison, but fortunately were soon exchanged.

After a six-months stay at Murfreesboro, the Eighty-sixth marched to Chattanooga, and was actively engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, September 19th and 20th. In the reorganization of the army the regiment went to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, and with it, was in the battle of Lookout Mountain. It was in the storming partv at Mission Ridge. The regiment passed the winter of 1863-4 scouting in East Tennessee; and in May moved with Sherman's army on the Atlanta campaign. It was actively engaged at Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Adairsville, Kingston, Pickets Mills - where Col. Dick was severely wounded - Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochee River. Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta. Jonesboro and Love joys.

The Fourth Corps was then placed in command of Gen. Thomas, and moved north, the Eightv-sixth taking part in the battle of Franklin, November 30th, and of Nashville. December 15th and 16th. It then operated in East Tennessee, and about Nashville, until mustered out at Nashville on June 6. 1865. It reached Indianapolis on June 7th. and had a public welcome, w ith speeches by Governor Morton. General Wagner and others.

One other company was raised in Clinton County in the summer of 1862, which became Company I, of the One Hundredth Indiana. The officers, commissioned Septemlier 12, 1862. were Captain James N. Sims, who resigned on August 20, 1863, on account of failing health; First Lieutenant Janies M. Harland. who was killed at Mission Ridge, November 25, 1963; Second Lieutenant Thomas C. Dalby, promoted Captain. Dalby was made colonel of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment early in 1865; and Noah T. Catterlin. who had been made first lieutenant after Harland. succeeded as captain of the company. James M. Gentry was commissioned first lieutenant April 1. 1865. The regiment rendezvoused at Fort Wayne, and was mustered into service September 10. 1862, with Sanford T. Stoughton as colonel. Win. Id. Ghere, of Clinton County was commissioned adjutant of this regiment June 15, 1863.

It went on a short and futile expedition into Mississippi, and was employed during the winter guarding the Memphis Sc Charleston Railroad. June 10. 1 863 . it left to join Grant in the siege of Vicksburg: and after its surrender, it went with Sherman to the siege and capture of Jackson. At this time, the regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. Albert Heath, and was part of the hirst Brigade. First Division. Sixteenth Army Corps. From Tackson. it marched to Big Black River, and camped there through the summer.

From there it marched to Vicksburg. September 28. and took transports to Memphis, and was attached to the Fourth Division. Fifteenth Army Corps. The Division marched rapidly across the country to Bridgeport, Alabama, thence over Sandstone Mountain and down Lookout Valiev to Trenton, Georgia. It succeeded in turning the (lank of Bragg's army, and by a rapid march reached Chattanooga on November 23. It took part in the assault on Mission Ridge, losing 132. killed and wounded. Lieut. Col. Heath was severelv wounded in this action, and Mai. R. M. Johnson assumed command of the regiment. The next morning it joined in the pursuit of Bragg's army, going as far as Graysville. The column then moved to Knoxville to relieve Gen. Burnside, after which the division returned to Scottsboro, Alabama. and encamped there till May t. 1864.

In May. the regiment marched with Sherman on the Atlanta campaign, taking part in the battles of Dalton, Snake Creek Gap. Resaca. Dallas. New Hope Church. Big Shanty. Kenesaw Mountain. Xickajack Creek. Chattahoochee River, Decatur. Atlanta. Cedar Bluffs. Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station. On October 3. the regiment marched with its corps in pursuit of Hood, drove him across the Tennessee Riser, and then returned to camp at Atlanta. On November 14. it moved with the army in the "march to the sea." being assigned to the Second Brigade. First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps.

The regiment, with its brigade, was engaged in the desperate fight at Griswoldsville. on Nov. 22. where a superior force of the enemy was repulsed with heavv loss, it came before Savannah Dec. to, and entered the city on Dec. 23.

From there the corps went by steamer to Beaufort. S. C.. and thence through the Carolinas, capturing successively Branchville. Columbia, Georgetown. Cheraw, and defeating the enemy in the severe battle of Bentonville. It then moved to Goldsboro, which it reached March 26. 1863. having marched 1300 miles and fought 17 battles since leaving Chattanooga in May 1864. It remained at Goldboro until April 10. and then moved with the army to Raleigh, where it remained until the surrender of Johnston's army. It then marched by way of Richmond to Washington, arriving there May 20, and was mustered out there June 9, 1865.

The One Hundredth, in its term of service, marched 4.000 miles; was engaged in 25 battles; and was employed in skirmishing nearly one-third of the time it was in the field, it went out with 937 men, and returned with 618 for muster out. including recruits. It lost in killed and died of wounds, 89; discharged for disability from wounds or otherwise, 225 ; died of disease, 150; total casualities, 464. On June 14. 1S65, it had a public reception at Indianapolis, with addresses by Gov. Morton and others, and then its members returned to private life.

There were no drafts in Indiana until 1SO4. the quotas being filled bv voluntary enlistments. These had been so free that the enrollment of men of military age in 1804 showed only 1776 in Clinton County subject to draft. The official records show that 843 men w ere asked of Clinton County in 1864; that 725 were furnished by enlistment and 128 by draft, making a total of 853, or ten more than the quota. R. P. Davidson was Draft Commissioner for the county ; Enos Hoover Marshall, and Z. B. Gentry, Surgeon. In December 1863, the county commissioners had voted $1000 for distribution "among the wives, families, w idows and children of all such as are in the service of the United States that are needy, or that may be in the service while this donation remains unexpended,". At the same session, the board was petitioned to offer a bounty to each volunteer; but refused on the ground that the burden would be unequal, the enlistments being less free in some townships than in others.

When the last call was made, in Dec. 1864. there was renewed pressure for bouties. but at the January session the board refused them again on financial grounds. In February a sort of indignation meeting was held in the courthouse, and the commissioners were informed plainly and publicly that they were public servant', and that if the people wanted bounties it was. their duty to give them. The board then agreed to issue bonds to volunteers, $100 a year for four years, i. e. payable in one, two, three, and four years. Each payment was witnessed by two bonds for 823. and one for S50. This made a ready market for the bonds at par. and also a nice plum for the county auditor, who discovered that lie was entitled to a fee from the county for each bond signed.

The board appointed a committee to superintend the procuring of volunteers. and payment of bounty. John Earner was chairman and the other members were Eli Armantrout. Dr. T. B. Cox. Geo. L. Kempt', and Thomas M. Major of Jackson Township: Moses Jacoby of Ross Township; M. L Martin of Warren Township; John I. Clark of Owen Township: John \V. Bacon of Johnson Township; and Abraham Hollcraft of Kirklin Township.

They were instructed to credit recruits from the county to the townships in which they resided, but to get as many recruits as possible from outside the county, and pro rate them to the townships. 'F h i s committee served but a short time, and was then succeded in it'' duties by the regular township officials.

The count}' was represented in two regiments raised in 1865. About two-thirds of Company C of the One Hundred and Fiftieth regiment were from Clinton county, and Thos. C. Ualby was lieutenant-colonel, John \V. Hunt, quartermaster in the same regiment. David T. Price of Clinton went in as second lieutenant of Company C and was soon made first lieutenant. The regiment w as organized at Indianapolis March 9. 1865, with Marsh B. Taylor as colonel. It started on March 13th for Harper's Ferry, and was engaged during the summer in guard duty at Stevenson Station and Jordan's Springs. It was mustered out on August 5th. and was included in the reception to returning troops at Indianapolis on August 11th.

Company F and most of Company E of the One Hundred and Fiftyfourth Indiana were from Clinton county. Hiram B. Collins was captain of Companv F, Jere M. Palmer first lieutenant and Solomon S. Burgess second lieutenant. Abijah J. Huff and Joseph Callaway were the lieutenants in Company E. The regiment was organized at Indianapolis. April 20, 1865, with Frank Wilcox as colonel. It left Indianapolis on April 28th for Parkersburg. W. Ya.. and moved into the Shenandoah Valley. It did guard duty at Stevenson Station and on Opequan Creek during the summer and was mustered out on August It was included in the public reception at the capitol grounds in Indianapolis on August 8th.

On December 13. 1862. a Soldier's Relief Meeting was held at Franklin. and on motion of Col. Catterlin the following relief committee was appointed by Chairman John M. Cowan: Jackson township, X. T. Catterlin. Eli Spencer, Isaac Cook, Win. Gaskill and Elihu Buntin: Washington township. John Gamble; Sugar Creek township, H. I. Eockridge ; Michigan township. B. F. Douglas; Kirklan township. Abraham Hollcraft; Johnson township. J. W. Bacon: Madison township. Tames M. Davis; Owen township. Samuel Belknap ; Warren township, Cicero Sims ; Perry township, Wm. Blacker: Ross township. Xoah Gaddis. On motion the committee was instructed to "proceed to our friends in the arm}' when it thought expedient" ; and the county commissioners were requested to "make the necessary appropriations to defray all expenses." A committee was appointed to wait on the commissioners: patriotic speeches were made: and the relief committee was ordered to meet on December 23 for permanent organization.

tary Committee of Clinton County, Indiana, for the relief of the sick or wounded soldiers now in the United States Army from said county." It adopted a constitution, and elected N. T. Catterlin, president; Wm. Gaskill, vice president; Eli Spencer, treasurer, and I. X. Annantrout, secretary. As the county commissioners had failed to respond, the auditor was requested to call them in special session on December 31, and the committee adjourned to that date. On December 31 the committee was informed that the commissioners declined to make any appropriation, whereupon it was resolved : "That a copy of the decision of the Board of County Commissioners in regard to the relief of sick or wounded soldiers be sent to each of the captains of companies from this county to be read at the head of each of such companies." The committee then resolved that members who visited the soldiers be allowed only actual expenses; that the proceedings be published in the Crescent: and adjourned subject to call - but it was never called thereafter.

There were military organizations in Clinton county besides those above named. A new militia law was passed May n, 1861, establishing "The Indiana Legion." chiefly for defensive purposes, and all companies desiring arms and equipment from the state were required to organize under it. On May 24, 1861. the Crescent said: "Clinton county should have at least four companies, which would constitute a battalion under the law. Frankfort is already raising one, and Michigantown one. Can not Rossville and Jefferson do likewise."

Four companies were organized in Clinton county during the summer. The first was the Clinton Rifles, of Frankfort: captain, James B. Xewton: first liutenant. John B. Pence: second lieutenant, Jesse D. Cornelion. Second, the Johnson Township Union Rifles, of Burgetts Corners: captain. Joshua K. Harland : first lieutenant. Geo. \V. Bowers: second lieutenant, Lemmuel H. Stroup. Third, the Ellsworth Guards, of Brants Cross Roads: captain, Frederick Roush: first lieutenant, Wallace F. Price; second lieutenant, Henry C. Fudge. Fourth, the Kirklin Invincibles, of Kirklin; captain, Tipton C. Buckley; first li'eutenant, James T. Stephenson (died), Charles IT. Bickley: second lieutenant. Samuel Harding. There were two other companies of the Indiana Legion organized in 1863. First, the Union Guards, of Colfax; captain, Milton B. Waugh; first lieutenant, Samuel Bewsey: second lieutenant. John Bash. Second, the Union Rifles, of Burgetts Corners: captain. Morgan M. Dick: first lieutenant, James Mellott: second lieutenant, Isaac Dick.

invasion." As organized bodies the only service seen by them was during Morgan's raid, and a few excitements in the southern part of the state; but a number of their members enlisted in the regular way, and saw service at the front.

The impression should not be formed, from the record of the relief committee above, that Clinton county was niggardly in its financial policy in connection with the war. The actual expenditures of the county and townships for bounties and relief, as

In the Spanish-American war, Clinton county surpassed its Civil war record tor promptness. While the trouble was brewing, preliminaries for the organization of a company were made by David F. Allen, Harrold M. Kramer and Harry Richeson, and arrangements were made to get it into the Second regiment of the National Guard, on the supposition that the National Guard would be ?ent out before any volunteer regiments. The company organization had the company to report at the State Fair Grounds at Indianapolis; but. in anticipation of a sudden call, it had been arranged that if word came, the tire bells would be rung to call the men together.

On receipt of the telegram, the three leaders mentioned were quickly out of bed. and the tire alarm was sounded; also the "Clover Leaf Cannon'' was tired - this was purely a home-made weapon, made of the axle of an old Clover Leaf engine, which was bored out at the shops at Frankfort. The men soon assembled, and at 6 a. m. took a Monon train to Indianapolis, disembarking at the Fair Grounds at 7 :30. There was nobody there, and the gates were locked; so the company climbed the fence and took possession, and opened the war - the first on the grounds. Later in the day Indianapolis and Sheridan companies came in. The Clinton county company organized there with Allen as captain; Kramer, first lieutenant, and Richeson, second lieutenant and was mustered in as Company C, Second regiment of the National Guard, Harry B. Smith, of Indianapolis, colonel.

On May 10th, the company was mustered into the United States service as Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At this time there was a physical examination bv United States surgeons, and (12)

Lieutenant Richeson was rejected. W. F. Van Arsdel was made second lieutenant in his place. The regiment left on May 16, and arrived at Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga., May i Sth. It camped there until August 25, when it was sent to Knoxville: and from there on, September 12, to Camp Mount. Indianapolis. On September 17 the regiment was given a thirty days' furlough; and on November 4 mustered out. It was in the Division that had been picked for the Porto Rican expedition, but General Poland, commanding the Division, took sick, and died at Asheville, X. C., and another Division was then selected.

But after the close of the Spanish war, the Philippines remained to be cared for, and here was a chance for military service. On September 11, 1S99. Capt. David F. Allen started on a special train, with 200 men from Clinton and adjoining counties, for Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, to enlist for the Philippine service. The War Department had changed the old system of neighborhood organization, as not conducive to discipline: but Allen insisted on having a company of the boys he had brought, and finally succeeded in getting it. It went in as Company I. Thirty-eighth United States Volunteers, and it was the only company that went in on that basis. Most of its members were Clinton county boys, but the two lieutenants, Morris and Ellis, were not. Those of the Allen party not included in this company mostly enlisted elsewhere, and saw varied service. A number of Clinton county boys were with the troops sent to China in the Boxer troubles.

The Thirty-eighth Volunteers left St. Louis for San Francisco on October 21, and embarked for the Philippines on November 21. on two ships. Company I went on the steamship "Duke of Fife.'' Most of the regimental officers went on the steamship "St. Paul." They arrived at Manilla on December 26. and were actively engaged until they started on the return trip to the United States, in May, 1901. One member of the regiment, not on the rolls, was a fox terrier named "Wink," which was taken along by Harvey Freas. and became a sort of regimental mascot. It lived through the campaign and came back with the company.

As a matter of history it may be added that Clinton county's record in the Civil war was not due to any especial devotion to the negro. Prior to the Civil war there were two lines of "the Underground Railway" that were near Clinton county, but not through it. One was from Indianapolis to Westfield, and on through Russiaville to Logansport. The other was from Terre Haute by way of Crawfordsville and Darlington, to Lafayette. During the war many negro refugees came into Indiana, and there was quite a settlement of them about Thorntown, from where they gradually spread out to neighboring territory, a number locating at Frankfort. Towards the close of the war Frankfort became much excited over a scandal involving a negro and a white woman, and a crowd collected to "clean out the niggers.'' For a while there was danger of a riot, if not a lynching, but a few cooler heads prevailed, and as a compromise it was agreed to "pack them up, and take them back to Thorntown where they belonged." Wagons were secured, farmers from near the town giving assistance, and the colored colony was simply loaded up, hauled to Thorntow n, and dumped there. The only negro allowed to remain was an old barber, who was accorded this privilege on the demand of Henry V. Morrison, and for a number of years he and his family were the only ones in the place. But gradually the feeling abated, and others moved in, the negroes themselves exercising a supervision of the character of colored immigrants: and the colored population of Clinton county is now a very orderly and reputable factor of the community.