DeKalb County, Indiana - Chapter 5: Military History, 1914

Chapter 5: Military History

The county of DeKalb, like all other counties, is justly proud of the heroic part played by her sons in the great drama of the sixties. Enshrined in the hearts of the people, these men who resolutely faced the terrors of the South, risking life, home, health, and everything that was dear to them, in order that a Union might be preserved, truly desen^e more than a few scattering words to their memory. It is true that monuments may be erected, the deeds of the brave sung in immortal verse and ennobled in the national literature, but yet the true memorial, the sanctity of the heart will enfold, and by word of mouth from generation to generation will the courage, fortitude, and sublime self-sacrifice of the "boys in blue" be transmitted in enduring form. History has a purpose: it is to preserve, fairly and justly, the records of the past, so that a guide may be supplied to the thoughts and conceptions of future men and women who live when these white pages have grown sear and yellow with age. Simple statement of fact is far better than fulsome encomium in the narration of the big story of fifty years' ago ; it is by these direct, forceful means, that history will serve its true purpose.

DeKalb county people at the beginning, when the first dark mutterings of war were heard, held different opinions, and so did other parts of the North. There were many who believed that war was needless, and consequently refused to take one side or the other. Others were frankly of the "butter-nut" tinge, but they were in the minority. The big mass of the citizens favored a suppression of the iniquitous South and her dreaded institution of slavery. The twentieth centuiy reader does not know the scope of that word "slavery," that is, the general reader. The true meaning has mercifully been expurgated from the pages of modern literature. We have the term "white slavery" today, and the meaning of the expression brings to us a feeling of loathing and indignation, that a country should have individuals who veritably fight the growth of civilization. The slavery of the South was little better. In the main, different in character, it yet embodied deeds and motives similar to the modern slavery. Rome and the Latin countries had their slavery, and their ideas of that institution are not written in disguised form. So, in America during the later fifties, there was a need, a pressing one, that coercive measui-es be taken to exterminate tlie "terror of the South."

Notwithstanding the various causes that have been attributed to the outbreak of the Civil war, the sole cause was slavery. In reading this deduction, many will disagree, for even at this late day there is incontrovertible argument on each side of the question. Slavery was distinctly out of tune with the times; the attitude of the Southern people was falsely artistocratic ; and the North, with saner customs, resolved itself into a unit. The stirring times that followed the Mexican territory acquisition, the fugitive slave law, the Missouri Compromise, the struggle in congress, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and Lincoln's election to the presidency, cannot be detailed in a work of this scope, but a discussion is worthy as a preface to the part DeKalb county played later.

A greater appreciation of Abraham Lincoln's worth is gained when we comprehend the arena into which he was forced to step in i860. The utter confusion, the threatening war clouds, and the attitude of the people, who spoke silently, "Let's see what you can do," supplied a stern test for the "backwoods la\vyer." The opportunity was provided for him, and his accomplishments are histoiy.

War might have been avoided had the North recognized the slaves upon the same basis as cattle or any other common property, or, on the other hand, had the South reverted to the sentiment of the North, and pronounced slavery an evil. It is evident, however, when the tenor of the day is considered, that these two theories were impossible. The mass of people, of both sides', were eager for the actual conflict ; mob spirit prevailed ; but the greater minds, the leaders, entered the struggle with heavy hearts. Lincoln, Grant, Lee, Jackson, Meade and Longstreet, and other of the great minds of the conflict, were sad with the weight of unjust and useless carnage. The four years' strife, the early success of the Confederate host, the high tide at Gettysburg, and then the slow, merciless pounding of Grant's machine on the depleted Army of Northern Virginia, and the final chapter at Appomattox, cannot be more than mentioned, but this is appropriate and adequate.

The news of Lincoln's nomination by the Republican party for the presidency of the United States was received with great rejoicing in DeKalb, and particularly in Auburn, the county seat. Processions, music and meet- ings were the order of the day, and the people were very enthusiastic and - noisy. Samuel W. Widney and S. B. Ward were the chief orators of the day, and their stirring sentences served to increase the loyalty and patriotism of those assembled.

The First Call

When Abraham Lincoln first sent forth his call for seventy-five thousand men, many volunteers from DeKalb county offered their services. However, they were not organized into companies, but those who were accepted for the service were assigned to other commands, and many were thus credited to other counties of the state. The number of men at this period was sufficient for two full companies. The first company to receive a large number of DeKalb men was G, of the Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. People in various parts of the county held celebrations in honor of the men who were leaving to join this company and others. At Waterloo, on July ID, 1861, a very sad incident occurred, which dimmed the ardor of the people.

The Waterloo Tragedy

A cannon belonging to the citizens of Waterloo was being fired in honor of the volunteers belonging to Captain Clark's company who were leaving on the express train at 3 155. Two rounds had been fired, and the third and fatal one was reserved until the departure of the troop train. The gun had been heavily charged, and was wadded with green leather shavings from the tannery, to within a few inches of the muzzle, and as the train pulled out, the gun was discharged. The result was a terrific explosion, bursting the gun to atoms and scattering the fragments of iron in all directions, over houses and tree tops, carrying some pieces a distance of eighty rods.

J. H. Shoemaker, who had assisted in loading the gun and who applied the match, was struck by a piece of iron, and a frightful gash cut in his side, near the lower ribs, and completely severing the spinal column. He died instantly. About to fire the piece, he was heard to remark that "those boys over there," pointing to the crowd at the depot, "said they would not touch it off for five hundred dollars" ; another instant and he was dead.

The first company to be raised in this county entirely, and officered by DeKalb men, was Captain Hawley's, which company entered the Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Some of the best citizens of the county joined this regiment. After the organization, the ladies of Auburn met together and evolved plans for showing their admiration of the men, and decided upon a banner. Accordingly, one was made of silk, and presented it to the company. The men were overjoyed by the tribute, and wrote a letter to the editor of the New Era, to be published. The letter was as follows :

"Editor Era - At a meeting of the DeKalb County Guards, while on duty in company drill, in Camp Allen, the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

"Whereas, The citizens of DeKalb County have, by their energetic efforts, been instrumental in effecting the organization of the DeKalb County Guards, and in contributing to their aid and comfort, in both physical and social wants, therefore be it resolved,

"i. That we tender to the citizens of said county, one and all, who have so contributed to our wants, our heartfelt thanks, as a testimonial on our part for their kind aid and sympathy.

"2. That words fail to give expression to the feelings we experienced on receiving the warm and kind pressure of the hand, in seeing the eyes of our friends dimmed with the tear of regret, and in hearing the fervent 'God bless you,' at our departure from our homes, to join in sustaining the Government from foes without and traitors within.

"3. That the ladies of Auburn are particularly entitled to our thanks for the bountiful collation prepared by them for us on the day of our departure from that place; and we also owe our grateful thanks to those who accompanied to this camp.

"4. That as it would be impossible to specify all the acts of individual kindness which have helped to contribute to our relief, we will only say, with true feeling, that they are all duly appreciated, and will never be forgotten.

"5. That the flag we have received will not be disgraced by any act of ours, but that in its defense we will imperil our lives, and never bring reproach upon the name of DeKalb.

"Two special trains, laden with cannon, powder, balls, shells, etc., have passed here this week. The cannon were of large size, and destined for fortifying the Mississippi Valley. The following is the 'bill of goods': Ten 64-pounders; twenty 32-pounders; 2,467 32-pound balls; 147 64-pound balls; and sixty-four 96-pound balls; and aggregate of 91,840 pounds of shot, shell and ball."

"The instrinsic value of virtue is measured by the effort made to acquire and maintain it. Probably there is no county in the north half of the state where so much opposition of various characters has been met as in this goodly county of ours. From the first many manly and brave hearts have been ready to respond to the call to defend our government. Our citizens have gone forth in twos, fives, tens, twenties and forties to fill up vacant places in other counties and states ; then came one full company. Captain Hawley's, and it, is so written on the pages of histoiy and tablets of many observers.

"Now two more companies are being formed, already in camp. Captain. Merrill's and Captain Park's. The latter is too favorably known in this county to add to his character by further notice here; it commends itself; but the former is not so well known. But he has recommendations from those who are acquainted and qualified to judge, which command a favorable consideration. He has been a military man for a number of years, and was once elected captain of Company A, Toledo Guards, which post he resigned when he came among us.

"Patriots, will you at once heed the call, and within four days fill up these companies? You may still be further called upon to place more men in the field. The prompt response to the calls already made upon you is a sure guarantee that your patriotism is equal to the demand. These com-

"Newville is thus the banner township. The voters of that town number one hundred and seventy, and forty of them are volunteers in the government service. What township speaks for the banner next?

The New Era of ]\Iarch, 1861, just before the breaking out of hostilities, prints the following, which shows plainly the position of the peace advocates:

"Coercion stands boldly out in the inaugural, and coercion carried into efifect will no doubt lead to war. The Southern Confederacy has thirty thousand troops encamped in the field ready to resist coercion. Virginia and Kentucky declare that if the President sends an army South to take the forts, and compel submission to the law^s, that they will join the seceded states and resist such coercion; and the remainder of the border slave states would in all probability do the same, and then we will have war, but Mr. Lincoln would not be to blame; he is bound by his official oath to sustain the Constitution and execute the laws, and we would not give a straw for a President who does not regard the sacred obligations of his oath, and who will not do his duty. If we get into trouble, simply by the chief magistrate discharging his duty, the fault will not attach to him, but to those Republican and secession members of Congress who, in defiance of the will of the people, refuse to vote for compromises that would have given peace to the country."

"What we most wish is the present and future sacred observance of the Constitution. We are strong enough to maintain the Union and the Constitution, too. What is past cannot be remedied, and we need not stop at present to discuss. We are in the midst of war - a war begun by reckless rebels at Charleston. The President had lawful power to call out troops to serve until thirty days after the meeting of Congress. He did so, and we urged the enlistment of troops. The capital was in danger, and its capture by the Confederates would ha\e curtailed on us e\erlasting disgrace and incalculable evils.

"Since then other acts have been done by the Executive, which we could not approve. But let them pass, and let us look at matters as they now stand. Congress has authorized the raising of troops, and the capital is probably at this moment in greater danger than ever before. What" is to be done? Why, troops must be raised at once for its defense and for the preservation of the Union. We hold it to be the duty of every loyal citizen to do all in his power to aid the speedy enlistment of troops, and accordingly we have exerted all our influence to this end, although bitterly denounced therefor by some misguided friend. But at the same time that we would do all in our power to increase our power to meet the present exigency - and while we invoke all patriotic young men who can possibly leave home to enlist at once in some of the regiments now recruiting, and to rush to the rescue of our country's flag, we also would extend the olive branch with one hand, while keeping the sword firmly grasped in the other."

Thus, the newspaper seemed to have an indefinite opinion of affairs in general. From the tone of their editorials printed above, one is lead to believe that they were against war, but afraid to say so. When the struggle was on in full force it thus spoke :

"Our nation is now passing its fiery ordeal. It will come from the contest a power among the nations, or it will sink to a disunited conglommeration of petty states. Nothing so vital to every citizen can be conceived as the decision of the question. Have we a government? Shall we maintain it despite domestic dissension and foreign intervention? To fail would be to sink millions of property as well as to cover the face of each patriot with chagrin, and to ruin the hope of a government like ours ever becoming permanent.

"But we know no such word as fail. Sooner than this, the loyal states would see twice five hundred thousand more brave men spring to the aid of the gallant army who are now winning laurels upon the field, and who are fast regaining our soil from the grasp of the traitors."

"It is truly gratifying to know that this county can show so proud a record - prouder than any other county of its size and population in the state - in the cause of the government. Her page in the history of this revolution will shine bright among the brighest, her name live forever. When the present companies forming under the late calls go into camp, which they will have done before this item reaches our readers, DeKalb county will have sent out six full companies, and enough men have gone out of the county and enlisted to number at least two more, making in all eight companies, or eight hundred and eight men. The fact is, the people of little DeKalb are a union, a loyal people. They desire to see the rebellion put down, the Constitution preserved and the glorious old Union restored. For this purpose they are sacrificing their lives and their means, and for this object they will toil, if necessary, to the bitter end."

Mass Meetings

For the first few years of the war, enthusiasm did not abate in DeKalb county, and frequent meetings were held, resulting in added enlistments and more interest in the success of the Union. Even in the fateful year of 1863, when the gray host seemed to have the upper hand and the cause of the Union lost, the people of the county maintained their hearty spirit, and the meetings increased in number, every village and town in the county proclaiming their loyalty, holding assemblies in school houses, churches and residences, anywhere that the people might congregate and conduct a celebration.

On February 20, 1863, at the Methodist church in Auburn, a meeting was held. The meeting was called to order by Rev. S. \Y. Widney, and Capt. L. J. Blair, of the Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was chosen president ; Capt. F. F. Smith, of the United States Navy, was selected as secretary, and the following were named as vice-presidents : Capt. Cyrus Hawley, Corp. J. McMillen, and Lieut. James McKay, of the Thirtieth Indiana ; Solomon Belong, R. Lockwood, L. Hoodlemire, I. Ditmars, J. Hoffman, and J. Link of the Forty-fourth Indiana ; C. Carr, of the Forty-eighth Indiana; A. McClellan, of the Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and William Fisher, of the Seventeenth Michigan. Dr. J. N. Chamberlain, Rev. Widney, and John McCune were appointed as a committee on resolutions, and while they were forming a report, W. S. Smith, of Fort Wayne, addressed the audience in stirring words. The cominittee brought in a series of resolutions commending the action of the government in using every available means of suppressing the seceding states, and expressed themselves as willing to make every sacrifice to maintain the armies in the field, praising the boys of the state of Indiana, mourning the ones whose live.s had been sacrificed on the field of battle, and thanking those at home who gave up their loved ones for the cause. These resolutions were published in the Chicago Tribune, Indiana State Journal, and the Waterloo Press. They were also adopted verbatim by subsequent meetings in the county. Democrats joined with Republicans in supporting the party of the North, and there was but one party, the Union.

The citizens of Concord township held a meeting at Spencerville, to take into consideration the state of the country and to express their opinions. George Barney was in the chair, and John F. Coburn was chosen secretary. (7)

John P. Widney, Newton Thomas and Newton Arkew were named as a committee to draw up a set of resolutions, which they did, while Robert Johnson addressed the crowd. The resolutions drawn up, favored each state and neighborhood as well should define their exact position, that the Union should be maintained at any cost, that if necessary every citizen would offer his life in battle, and repudiating the right of seccession. After the proceedings, a roll of minute-men was presented, and the people called upon to enlist in their country's cause.

At Auburn, Marquis L. Rhodes, using his little red brick store on the southeast corner of Main and Ninth streets, opened a recruiting office. He succeeded in raising a full company and was chosen captain himself. They were mustered in as Company A, One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and on September lo, 1862, left Fort Wayne for Memphis, Tennessee. With this regiment went Rev. Charles A. Munn, as chaplain, and David J. S warts as assistant surgeon. The former resigned on August 10, 1863, and the latter served until his command was mustered from the service. During its service. Company A had five captains, namely : Captain Rhodes, Ezra D. Hartman, Lucius Barney, John H. Moore, and Eli J. Sherlock. Moore died of wounds received in the Atlanta campaign.

Not until the last two years of the war was the draft resorted to in this county. Enlistments had fallen short of the quotas demanded at that time, and the draft was necessary, but taken in good spirit by the people, despite the hardship wrought in many families. The following quotation from the New Era of August, 1863, portrays one of the drafting scenes, and shows the humorous side :

"Late Tuesday was the day appointed by the militia enrolling commissioner for this county 'to hear and determine the excuses of persons claiming to be exempt from military duty.' The morning opened out brightly, and at an early hour in the day the debilitated came pouring into town in wagons, on horse-back, and by every conceivable mode of conveyance, until the streets were literally packed with the lame, the halt and the blind. To the eye of the stranger, it would seem that the government had located a military hospital at this point, and that the battle-scarred veterans of the present crisis had come here to receive the care and attention due the brave soldier of the bloody field. The sight was painful to behold, and the most hardened wretch could not do otherwise than blow his nose and weep. We passed more than one philanthropic 'cuss' on the street that day, with eyes swollen from excessive weeping, and out from beneath whose coat there plainly protuded the neck of a bottle. It would not have taken long to have recruited men enough for the Crutch Brigade out of the crowd, and officered the same b}' Old Age and General Debility. The 'menagerie' will be continued on next Monday."

Wilmington, Stafford and Newville townships were never brought under the draft, as they always furnished their full quotas when demanded. Troy township had eight men drafted: Franklin, twenty-two; Richland, forty-one; Union, two; Jackson, twelve; Butler, eight; Concord, one; Smithfield, twenty-five; and Fairfield, thirty, making a total for DeKalb county, of one hundred and forty-nine.

Big Celebration

In June of the year 1865, most of the veterans of the regiments and batteries, who were from DeKalb county, returned home, and a big celebration was held in the town of Auburn. Feasting, a monster parade, and speech-making occupied the day. This was a gala day for people and soldiers alike, and precluded the joyful and successful reunions held afterward in the county.

Official Report

On October 6, 1862 the number of volunteers credited to DeKalb county was seven hundred and fifty-eight. Under the call of October 17, 1863, the quota of the county was one hundred and fifty-five, which was filled by recruiting. Under the calls of 1864, there were sixty veterans and six hundred new recruits credited to the county, and fifty-four men were drafted, making a total of seven hundred and fourteen, a greater number of whom were three years' men. The last call of December 19, 1864 supplied sixtythree enlistments and one hundred and seventy-two conscripts, or two hundred and thirty-five men, for periods of one and two years. A summary of the preceding, making no allowance for reenlistments, credits this county with a total of eighteen hundred and sixty-two men.

Bounty And Relief

The county of DeKalb not only sent her sons to the field in the war for the Union, but those who remained at home did not forget their share in the struggle. Necessities and little luxuries were sent to the men of the army, in order that the hardships might be mitigated slightly. Women met in clubs and formed plans for procuring foods, hospital supplies, clothing, shoes, and every article necessary. Many a housewife's needle was busy during the four years, that a son or husband might be eased and comforted. Meetings were held in public, fairs and festivals were held, entertainments, and private donations, all the profits going into a common fund for the relief of the soldiers. The families at home who were dependent upon some brave fellow in the field were also supplied with necessities, and not a one was allowed to suffer during those trying times. The total amount subscribed for bounty in DeKalb was $139,250; the amount for relief was $24,481.63 ; making a total of $163,731.63.

Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Company A and Company E of this regiment were represented in DeKalb county by James Brownlee and David Culver in the fonner company and John W. Butcher, David H. Renner and Orin Stansbro. These men served until the later years of the war, with the exception of Brownlee, who died; and Culver, who deserted.

Eleventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Three men from D.eKalb, John B. Knight, Elijah Rhodes, and Hiram Zimmerman, were in Company E of this regiment. Robert Lock was a member of Company A of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry.

Thirteenth Indian.A Volunteer Infantry

Company A of this regiment had the following men from DeKalb: Benjamin Alton, Alvin D. Beggs, Frederick D. Carr, Edward Casebeer, Daniel M. Faunce, Benjamin Hamilton, Harvey D. Hathaway, Benjamin Hoyt, George H. Huffman, Nathan Johnson, Thomas Johnson, died May 27, 1865, from wounds received at Fort Fisher; Isaac N. Snively, and James Stafford. Company B had Henry Hull, William Noles. Isaiah Overhalzer,

Daniel Reisner, Gilbert Rodensbaugh, Israel Shearer and James L. Stewart. Company C had Oscar Smith, Charles Tousley and Nathan Wyatt. Company D had Frederick Horney; George C. Ferguson was killed by an explosion at Fort Fisher. Others in this regiment were Luther St. Clair, Frederick Craw, George Inghum. This regiment saw much hard service in the war, and the ranks were thinned many times bv Confederate bullets. The regiment campaigned mostly in the South.

Nineteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

The following men served in Company G of this regiment : Charles K. Baxter, Johnston D. Curd, Elias Fisk, Warren Fisk, Alvin Serry, Michael Shirts and Moses Smith. Baxter was mustered in as first sergeant, commissioned second lieutenant, and afterward lieutenant. The last five men named were afterward transferred to the Twentieth Indiana.

Twentieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Ithamar Hague, William L. Balsch, John A. Burn was captured at the Wilderness, Benjamin Turner, and those mentioned as being transferred from the Nineteenth. This regiment took part in all of the engagements on the left of the Army of the Potomac, from Hatcher's Run to the fall of Richmond, and took part in all the battles up to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Its last engagement with the enemy was at Clover Hill on April 9, 1865.

Twenty-First Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Company A had upon its roll the following men from DeKalb county: David Smith, Caspar Altenburg, Isaiah Baughman, Lewis Brown, James K. Culbertson, James Draggoo, Owen Dixon, George Hay, John Jones, John W. Jones, Osborn Knight, John C. Reed and Burton Smith. Company M had Daniel W. and Isaac L. Altenburg. John T. Rush was unassigned. This regiment was with Buell in the South, took part in the siege of Corinth, and otherwise campaigned in the southern territory.

Twenty-Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry T02 Dekalb County, Indiana

house, Henry Snook, William C, Sweeney. David Smith belonged to Company H. Nathan Watson and Jeremiah Walker joined Company I. Ed. A. Stone was a member of Company K.

The Twenty-ninth was organized at Laporte, Indiana, for the three years' service. As a member of General Rousseau's brigade the regiment was assigned McCook's division, in Buell's army, and marched to the Tennessee river. At Shiloh the regiment suffered heavily. The men were in the siege of Corinth, pursued Bragg through Kentucky into Tennessee, participated in the battle of Stone's River, Tullahoma. At Chickamauga the regiment was a part of the Second brigade, under Col. Joseph B. Dodge. At Chickamauga the regiment took an active part and bore her share of the tremendous losses. After this battle the regiment was sent to Alabama, where it remained until 1864, when it veteranized and returned to Indiana on furlough. After the return to service, Decatur, Alabama, was the first battle, next Dalton, Georgia, and on December 2, 1865, was mustered from the service at Marietta, Georgia.

Company H of this regiment was composed almost wholly of DeKalb county men, and was captained by Cyrus Hawley. W. W. Griswold was commissioned first lieutenant, then captain, transferred to Company C, Residuary Battalion, commissioned major on December 3, 1864, colonel One Hundred and Fifty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry on March 9, 1865. Joshua Eberly was mustered in as first sergeant and reached the rank of first lieutenant, and was killed at Chickamauga. Leander F. Welden was mustered in as sergeant and reached the rank of major. Job C. Smith, Joseph McKay, Jeremiah D. Likens were second lieutenants during the service. Perry Hodges was sergeant and discharged for disability. Cyrus C. Hodges, William H. Phelps, Lorenzo D. Conner, Philip Noel, William Miller, Henry M. Stoner, John C. Whysong, Martin V. Snyder were corporals. Other members of the company follow : William Feagler was captured at Chickamauga; James F. Johnson. Joseph S. Murry, Da^'id S. Arthur, Caspar Altenburg, Isaiah Baughman, Peter Barnhart died from wounds at Stone River, William H. H. Beard, Adna Brown, Florence Buchanan, Henry Bolinger, George Baltsley, Israel Church, George Cole, Alvin Collar, Zephania B. Culbertson. William Connaway, William Crusan, Abel Crusan, William H. Cox, Mathew Crooks. Ebenezer Delong, Charles Delong, Lester Dilno. Colvert J. Drury. John N. Eberly, Robert Feagler, Leslie

The Thirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized at Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the three years' service. With McCook's division in Buell's army, the regiment fought bravely at Shiloh, where it lost its colonel, Bass; siege of Corinth, the pursuit of Bragg into Tennessee, was with Rosecran's army in the movement from Nashville to Murfreesboro, battle of Tullahoma, and as a part of the Second brigade, participated in the sanguinary conflict at Chickamauga. In the battle of Chickamauga this regiment came on to the field about noon of September 19, 1863, and went into action first at the Brock field east of the Brotherton house, and was engaged all afternoon in assisting in driving the enemy the distance of about a mile east of where they first went into action, and was there on the afternoon and again in the night fight with Dodge's brigade, on the Alexander and Reed's Bridge road immediately south of the Winfrey field line. After the battle of Chickamauga and the return of the army to Chattanooga, the regiment remaine''d at different stations in Tennessee, and a portion of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans at Blue Springs, that state, in January, 1864. The non-veterans remained at Blue Springs until April, 1864, the veterans having returned to the field, the entire regiment rejoining the Army of the Cumberland under command of Major-General George H. Thomas, and took part in the following battles : Catoosa Springs, Tunnel Hill, Buzzard Roost, Oostenaula River, Kingston, Pumpkin Vine Creek, New Hope Chul-ch, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, and Lovejoy's

I04 Dekalb County, Indiana

Station. After the fall of Atlanta the non-veterans were sent home to Indiana and mustered out, while the veterans and recruits were attached to the Fourth Army Corps and engaged in the battles of Columbia, Spring Hill and Franklin. The regiment fought Hood at Nashville, joined in the pursuit of him, and after the surrender at Appomattox was a part of the army of occupation which was sent to Texas.

Thirty-Fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

James Abel, Uriah Blue, John Bloomfield, Isaac Farver, Israel Horn, Henry M. Horner, Joseph Koch, Richard Kester, Daniel S. Kimes, Henry J. Kline, John Leighty, William Monroe, David A. Miller, Judson S. Miller, Byron Woodcock, and Jacob Yarnell were members of Company C of this regiment. This regiment campaigned through the South about the same as the Thirtieth. The regiment was in the battle of Chickamauga. and sustained unusually heavy losses. At Kenesaw Mountain later, the regiment again underwent a baptism of fire, and a hand-to-hand conflict with the enemy. Many others gave up their lives here, including Major John P. Dufficy.

Thirty-Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

In Company D of this regiment were the following men from DeKalb county: George H. Burns, Jacob Brown, John Bruner, William Bryan, James C. Carrell, James C. Delong, Alex. Fountain, Noah Miller and Alexander Shanks. In Company E were Robert Cochran, George Delano, Daniel F. Hammond, Joseph Hose, Solomon Hose, Elijah Imhoff. Thomas J. Jones, Adolphus G. Jones, Stephen Larkens, Joseph Pennick, Frank B. Sandy, Henrv J. Sandy, Silas W. Sinclair. In Company F were Henry Crooks. Alonzo Concklin, Erastus Finney, Flenry' Milleman, Francis M. Stout, John Freeman, John W. Wood.

The Thirty-eighth was mustered into the three years" service at New Albany, Indiana, on September i8, 1861, with Benjamin F. Scribner, of New Albany, as colonel. The regiment was assigned with Buell's division, and campaigned through Kentucky and Tennessee in pursuit of Bragg and his Confederates. In the battle of Perryville the regiment took a conspicuous part, and lost twenty-seven men, besides those wounded and made prisoners.

killed and wounded. The regiment was at Hoover's Gap and also at Chickamauga, where it took part in the engagement at Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. In Decemher. 1863, many of the men veteranized, and returned to Indiana on veteran furloughs. At the opening of the Atlanta campaign. May 7, 1864, this regiment marched with Sherman's army, and was engaged in all of the skirmishes and battles of the campaign, namelv : Buzzard Roost, Snake Creek Gap, New Hope Church or Pickett's Mills. Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Charrahoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station, and entered Atlanta with Sherman's troops. The regiment was mustered out in Julv. 1865.

Forty-Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry I06 Dekalb County, Indiana

The Forty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was organized at Fort Wayne and was mustered in on October 24, 1861, with Hugh B. Reed as colonel. In December it was sent to Henderson, Kentucky, and reported to Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden, and by him assigned to Cruft's brigade. The regiment participated in the siege of Fort Donelson, where it suffered heavy loss. It was engaged both days at Shiloh, losing thirty-three killed and one hundred and seventy-seven wounded. The Confederate general, Albert Sidney Johnson, was killed in front of this regiment at Shiloh. The regiment next marched to Corinth, participated in Buell's pursuit of Bragg, engaging in the conflict at Perryville. Returning with the army through Kentucky, it again marched into Tennessee and was in the battle of SiU'er Spring. When the Army of the Cumberland entered upon the Murtreesl)orn campaign, un- der Rosecrans, this regiment participated in the battle of Stone's River, losing heavily. This was on December 31, 1862, and January i, 2 and 3, 1863. The regiment was actively engaged in the battle at Chickamauga. On the afternoon of the first day in this battle, the regiment supported Wilder's brigade; on the second day, after having assisted in meeting one of the severest charges of Stewart's divisions, the regiment retired and held off the enemy until four o'clock, when a flanking movement compelled their further retirement. On the third and last day the regiment fought in line with its division until the break in the center of the Union lines, when it repaired to Thomas' line and fought against Marker's brigade until ordered from the field at five o'clock. Later it engaged at Missionary ' Ridge. In October, 1863, the regiment was assigned to provost duty, re-enlisting as veterans. On September 14, 1865, the regiment was mustered out. During the war the regiment lost by death, wounds and disease, four hundred and eight men.

Eighty-Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

waiter, William Shoup, John K. Sinn, Thomas Tomlinson, George Teiitsch, Lemonsky R. Willard, Henry L. Williams, James D. Woods, Henry W. Willard. Israel Yoh, John A. Zimmerman, Jacob Brown, John Bruner, George W. Burns, William A. Bryan, Oscar P. Carver, Charles C. Corill, James C. Belong, Joseph C. Dickson, Alexander Fountain, Daniel F. Hammond, Marcus L. Hoose, Benjamin F. Leasure, Noah Miller, John H. Reese, Emile Sholtze, Albert B. Shirts, Andrew E. Shanks, Silas K. Sinclair, John H. Smith, David Woods. In Company C was Philip W. Silver. In Company D there were Milton Horn, William Johnson. George Keith, John C. Stafford. In Company E was John R. Lyon ; in Company G, William A. Goodrich.

The Eighty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was rendezvoused at Fort Wayne, Indiana, mustered in on August 29, 1862, with George Humphrey as colonel. Immediately the regiment was ordered to Louisville to defend that city against the supposed advance of General Kirby Smith. The regiment next was assigned to the Seventeenth brigade, Rousseau's division. and marched in pursuit of Bragg. At Perryville the regiment won their colors by meritorious conduct and underwent heavy losses. The regiment moved with Rosecrans' army in the campaign against Murfreesboro, culminating in the battle of Stone's River. Fifty-six men were lost in this tatter engagement. The regiment next, as a part of the Army of the Cumberland, went through middle Tennessee, participating in the battles of Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Hillsboro and Elk River. On September 19 and 20. 1863, the regiment took part in the bloody engagement at Chickamauga. being on the first day in the vicinity of Glass Mill, where, with its brigade, it supported Bridge's and a part of Shultz's batteries in an engagement with the enemy. In the evening it moved to the Brotherton place and bivouacked. On Sunday morning, September 20, it moved to position on the west side of the Lafayette and Chattanooga road, south of the McDonald house, where its brigade, being assailed by the brigades of Adams and Stovall, was broken, and the regiment forced southwestward toward Snodgrass Hill. It there took position in support of General Negley's artillery, and afterward accompanied this officer to Rossville. With Hooker, on the night of November 24, this regiment took part in the scaling of Lookout Mountain and the "Battle Among the Clouds." On the 25th it was in the charge on Missionary Ridge. Later the men fought at Graysville and Ringgold, Georgia. When Sherman started his campaign against Atlanta this regiment was a part of the troops and was notably engaged at Buzzard Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw. Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta and Utoy Creek. The regiment continued with Sherman's long campaign, performing well the various duties imposed; it fought at the bloody conflict of Bentonville on March 19. 1865. After the surrender of the Confederate armies the regiment was transported to Washington, D. C, and marched in the grand review at that place. The regiment was mustered out on June 7, 1865.

One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Charles A. Munn was a chaplain, and David J. Swartz an assistant surgeon in this regiment. In Company A were : Captains Marquis L. Rhodes, Ezra D. Hartman, Lucius Barney, John H. Moore and Eli J. Sherlock;

The One Hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was recruited from the eighth and tenth congressional districts, under Col. Sand ford J. Stoughton, and mustered into the service on the loth of September, 1862, left for the front on the nth of November and became attached to the Army of the Tennessee on the 26th. The regiment participated in as many as twentyfive battles, together with skirmishes during fully one-third of its term of service, and claimed a list of casualties mounting up to four hundred and sixty-four. It was mustered out of service at Washington on the 9th of June and reported at Indianapolis for discharge on the 14th of June, 1865.

Six Months

The One Hundred and Eighteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, whose organization was completed on the 3d of September, 1863, under Col. George W. Jackson, joined the One Hundred and Sixteenth at Nicholasville, and sharing in its fortunes, being in the movement on Cumberland Gap, returning to the state capital on the fourteenth of Februaiy, 1864. The casualties were comprised of a list of fifteen killed and wounded.

Solomon Delong was a major, afterward lieutenant-colonel, in this regiment. In Company A were: Lewis Dunn, Thaddeus S. Bonney, John A. Mason, William Brown, George Casebeer, Ephraim Enzer, William Fisher, Alonzo Lower, James Myers, Ira Nelson, Charles Nelson, Daniel Nelson, John C. Steeley, William H. Taylor, Josiah B. Veley. In Company C were : Hiram Baer, John W. Cordry, Noah Hively, Cyrus Martin, Jacob Swartz, Amos Swartz. In Company F were: Solomon DeLong, Obadiah Baer,

The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry was mustered in at Michigan City in March, 1864, under Col. Charles Case. The regiment moved to the front on April 7, 1864. and was assigned to Schofield's division. The battles of Resaca, Dallas. New Hope Church, Lost Mountain. Kenesaw, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Dalton, Brentwood Hills, Nashville, and the six days' skirmish of Columbia were all participated in by this regiment. On August 29, 1865, the men were disbanded at Charlotte, North Carolina.

Hundred Days

were : John W. Bowman, James Balenline, John Debelbus, Benjamin Funk, Anthony Palmer, John Pifer, John Worden. In Company F was Samuel Oberholtzer. In Company G were : John Hettinger and George H. Points. This regiment was recruited at Fort Wayne under Col. I. M. Comparet, and was mustered into service at Indianapolis in November, 1864. After a steadv and effective service it returned to Indianapolis on the i6th of luly, 1865.

In this regiment Whedon W. Griswold was commissioned a colonel. James N. Chamberlain was a surgeon and William M. Mercer assistant surgeon with the troops. In Company B were : J. O. Casebeer, Jacob W. Casebeer, Albert M. Casebeer, Andrew C. Fuller, William M. Fuller, John G. McClellan. In Company C were : William Lemasters, Humphrey E. Chilcoat, Loami C. Bair, William H. Coats, Edward C. Drowley, David Jennings, David McGrady, Henry H. Rheineohl, Uriah Swager, James W. Wycoff. William Wycoft', George Wanemaker. In Company H were : Holland K. Moss, Riley Rickets, Newton Boyles, James Bryan, Albert Crooks, Abraham Fike, Jacob Furney, Calvin P. Houser, Edward Jones, Uriah E. Johnson, James Knight, George Michaels, Philip Nussdorfer, Owen W. Rummell, Hiram Summerlot, John W. Shore. In Company K Orville Squires was enrolled.

This regiment was recruited at Indianapolis under Col. W. W. Griswold, and left for Harper's Ferry on the i8th of Maixh, 1865. It was attached to the provisional divisions of the Shenandoah army, and engaged until the first of September, when it was discharged at Indianapolis.

Other Enlistments

Robert Lock was enrolled in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Orville Stout was in the Seventeenth. Henr}- Bungard and Samuel Hart were in Company C of the Forty-second. Joseph Hacker was in the Fortyeighth. John R. Hamacher, Isaac Ball, Henry Mills, Asa Carter, Pleasant R. Cravens, Pleasant A. Cravens, John A. Cravens, William .\. Whitson, William H. Cravens, George F. McClough, William U. Fitch were in the Forty-ninth. Hamacher was a major. Thomas Lypsett, Joseph G. Chacey, William Seberts, Edward Boren, Philip Cobler, John Link, Preston Raw- son, Samuel J. Tarney, Curtis Lochemeyer were in the Seventy-fourth. William Wernce, Marcus M. Baird, Benjamin Ensign and John Presler were in the Eighty-seventh. Zyra H. Conley was in the Ninety-first. In the One Hundred and Nineteenth, Seventh Cavalry, were: Eli Dahuff, Moses Fostnaucht, John Fitch, Richard Guthrie, Samuel D. Hofifman, George Hamlin and Robert E. Cherry. In the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh, Twelfth Cavalry, were: George Austin, Alexander Bailey, John H. Boley, Israel Qiurch, John Deetz, John W. Griffith, Sidney P. Jones, Franklin T. Johnson, Milton C. Jones, George Kirkendall, Joseph Myers, David Nounnem, Joseph Roberts, John Shaw, Joseph Werrich, Samuel Cramer, Isaac C. Dirrim, Samuel Duck, Henry W. Gondy, Albert J. Gondy, Clement Gillespie, William Wilkins, Alfred J. Britton, Alva N. Carpenter, Jacob Finch. Charles H. Haywood, Hugh McClellan, Joseph Pulver, Charles Swan, Willard G. Story. Isaac Wright was in the One Hundred and Fortieth.

Spanish-American War

At the beginning of the fiscal year, 1898, the National Guard of Indiana consisted of forty-one companies of infantry and three batteries of artillery, with an aggregate of twenty-eight hundred and twenty-two men. On or about April i, 1898, war between the United States and Spain being imminent, company commanders were instructed to recruit their companies up to the maximum number of eighty-four. Meanwhile the clouds of war were growing darker and darker, until April 19th, when Congress passed resolutions of intervention, which were approved on the 22d, and on the 23d the President issued his proclamation, calling for one hundred and twenty-five thousand volunteers to serve in the army of the United States for two years.

On April 25, 1898, the declaration of war was passed by Congress and the President empowered to use the full land and naval forces of the United States to carrv the declaration into efifect. At 6:15 p. m. on April 25, the following telegram was received from the secretary of war to the governor of Indiana, James A. Mount:

"The number of troops from your state under the call of the President dated April 23, 1898, will be four (4) regiments of infantry and two (2) light batteries of artillery. It is the wish of the President that the regiments of the National Guard or state militia shall be used as far as their numbers will permit, for the reason that they are armed, equipped and drilled. Please

Immediately Governor Mount issued his call for the required quota. In numbering the regiments after being mustered into the United States service it was determined to begin the numbers where the war of the rebellion left off. The Third Regiment, being the first ready to be mustered, was designated as the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh. The Second was next, and was made the One Hundred and Fifth-eighth. The First came third, and the Fourth, fourth. This system has again reverted to the primal numbers at present.

Company K, of the Third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was raised in Auburn, DeKalb county, on January 12, 1892, and on the outbreak of war was assigned as K, of the Third Infantry. James F. Lahnum was captain; Othello B. Rufner, first lieutenant; John J. Wolf, second lieutenant; Morton Hilkey, first sergeant; John W. Brown, quartermaster-sergeant; Irwin E. Rader, Benjamin F. Jolliff, Worthy E. Keller, Charles A. Picker, sergeants; Phillip Holman, Charles T. Elson, Alexander McDonald, James Williamson, George W. Wolf, Charles Martin, corporals; Dick McNany and John R. McDowell, musicians; Wilson Feagler, artificer, and William O. Leighty, wagoner. There were eighty-four privates in this company from this county.

Company I was organized at Waterloo, DeKalb county, on September 15, 1879, and was assigned as Company A, Third Infantry, afterward as Company I, Third Infantry, Indiana National Guard. Levi L. Denison was captain ; Charles V. Barr, first lieutenant ; Wilson H. Denison, second lieutenant; Daniel W. Rohrbough, first sergeant; Freeman Moore, quartermastersergeant; Charles A. McCague, Pearl J. Greeting, sergeants; Maynard F. Hine, Harry W. Beidler, Frederick G. Beidler, corporals; also Edward D. Willis and George W. Getts ; Dell B. Ackley and William A. Beecher, musicians; Harley Thomas, artificer; Peter F. Ankney, wagoner. There were fifty recruits from this county and many from outside territory.

Period Of Service

The One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, arrived at Camp Mount, Indianapolis, on April 26, 1898, under orders from the governor, for the purpose of being mustered into the service of the United States. Companies of this regiment came from Knox, Fort Wayne, Goshen, North Manchester, Elkhart, South Bend, Angola, Waterloo, Auburn, Ligonier, and Plymouth. The w^ork of preparing for muster was necessarily slow, as all officers and men had to pass a physical examination, and be accepted by the surgeons, before they would be accepted by the United States officers.

The regiment was mustered into the volunteer service on May 10, 1898, and left for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia, on Sunday, May 15th, and on arriving there on May 17th went into camp; left Camp Thomas June 1st, for Port Tampa City, Florida, and arrived there on June 3d; left Port Tampa City, July 29th, for Fernandina, Florida, arriving there on July 30th; remained at Fernandina until August 30th, when it was ordered to Indianapolis, for muster out of service, where it arrived on September 2d, was furloughed for thirty days on September loth, and was finally mustered out and discharged November i, 1898.