Gibson County, Indiana - Chapter 15: Military History of Gibson County, 1914

Chapter 15: Military History of Gibson County

The pioneers who settled in the territory that was afterwards designated as Gibson county were largely emigrants from Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Those from Kentucky, especially, brought with them a spirit of ad\-enture and fearlessness that had been acquired by experience and training in the environments of their nati\-e state, and by the traditions and inspiration of such patriots as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark. Those who came from Tennessee, the Carolinas and the older states were largely people who left their former homes because of their conscientious opposition to slaxery. These were no less fearless and courageous: the}- had the courage of convictions of right and justice. They were imbued with a stalwart patriotism, and of such people as this was the early citizenship of Gibson county composed. With such a citizenship in the early pioneers it is easy to account for the creditable record of Gibson county for loyalty and patriotism in all the years of its history.

The first war in which the citizens of Gibson county participated was that between Gen. William Henry Harrison and the Indian confederacy, organized and led by Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, in 1811. On November 7, 181 1, the battle of Tippecanoe was fought, resulting in a complete victory for the American forces. This was one of the most important battles ever fought against the Indians in the West, and it was. in fact, the opening battle of the war of 181 2.

The army under General Harrison engaged in this battle numljered about eight hundred, composed of the Fourth L'nited States Regulars, with a body of militia and one hundred and thirty volunteer dragoons composed of the pioneers of the West who had enlisted in the ser\-ice. Of this number, one hundred and eighty were killed or wounded in action. Thirty-seven were killed on the field and twenty-five of the wounded afterward died. The loss of the Indians was very heavy, but as they carried all of their wounded from the field during the battle, and their women and old men were busy burying

There were three companies from the territory now comprising Gibson count}- engaged in this battle. These companies were commanded respectively by Capt. Jacob Warrick, David Robb and William Hargrove. Captain Warrick was mortally wounded in the battle and died soon after. James Smith was promoted from quartermaster to the captaincy of this company, after Warrick's death. Concerning Captain Warrick, the following extract from General Harrison's official report of the battle is of interest here :

"Captain Warrick was shot immediately through the body and taken to the surgery to be dressed. As soon as it was over, being a man of great bodily \-igor and able to walk, he insisted on going back to the head of his company, although it was evident that he had but a few hours to li\e.""

The official roster of the three companies for which Gibson county can claim credit was obtained by Col. W. M. Cockrum from the musty records in the war department at Washington. This was a painstaking effort, as the muster rolls were fragile and the writing not easily legible. But a complete list of the members of these companies was secured and published in Colonel Cockrnm's "Pioneer History of Indiana," the first official list published, so far as we know. This official roll is worthy of a place in this record of the military history of Gibson county and, by the permission of Colonel Cockrum, it is here given :

David Robb, captain commanding. Joseph Montgomery, lieutenant. John Waller, ensign. Fishery Armstrong, sergeant. William Maxidon, sergeant. Ezkial Kite, corporal. Georp-e Anthees, corporal. Bryant Harper, trumpeter.

Other prominent citizens of Gibson county who bore a conspicuous part in that war were Robert M. Evans, who was one of General Harrison's aides; Capt. William Prince, Gen. John I. Neeley, Col. Joshua Duncan and Major James Smith.

War Of 181 2

In the war of 1812 Gibson county was well represented. A great manj' of the veterans who did such valiant serxice in the Tippecanoe campaign found opportunity for further service in the war against Great Britain, participating in the battle of Thames and other imporfant engagements.

Mexican War

In the Mexican war, Avhich occurred in 1846-8, Indiana supplied five regiments in which a number of men from Gibson county found service. There were also a number who enhsted in a compan}- commanded by Capt. Richard Owen in the Sixteenth Kentucky Volunteers. Judge William M. Land, later a prominent citizen of Princeton, was a member of Company I, Fourteenth United States Infantry, of which Colonel Truesdale was in command. Others who enlisted in the Mexican war and afterwards became citizens of Gibson county were George W. Gorman, Jacob G. Vail and Dr. W. G. Kidd. Gorman and Vail raised a company for the Seventeenth Indiana Regiment in the Civil war, in which Gorman attained the rank of lieutenantcolonel. Vail was commissioned colonel and at the close of the war was breveted brigadier-general.

Black Hawk War

There were a few men from this county in the Black Hawk war in 1832. Among these were Joseph Summers and Thomas Summers, ancestors of a large relationship in the southwestern part of the county.

From its earliest history there was a continual warfare in the territory comprising Gibson county between the white settlers and the Indians, as is evidenced by the number of forts and stockades erected in several localities. These defensive precautions were necessary for the protection of the whites and their families against the hostile Indians.

Revolutionary War

While there is no record of enlistments supplied from this territory in the Revolutionary war, a great many of the Revolutionary soldiers became citizens of the county after the war. Among these were Thomas Montgomery, Jesse Kimball, Samuel Montgomery, Jere Wyatt, Joshua Kitchens, George Holbrook, Sr., John Severns, and Robert Archer and James Smith.

One of the most noted persons probably that had a part in the Revolutionary war and afterward came to Gibson county to spend his last days was' a colored man by the name of Sampson. He had been with General Washington as a body-servant, he claimed, and was familiar with the personal chai;acter and habits of that distinguished patriot. Sampson was a slave and was brought to this county by Robert Archer and given his freedom. He was quite old and unable to do any kind of work, Init fountl friends here who cared for him. His death occurred in 1850, and his funeral was on the fourth of July of that year. He was gi\en a military funeral and a great demonstration was made by the citizens who turned out to do him honor. There was firing of cannon and a procession headed by a band and the flag. The procession marched to the Archer cemetery, where the remains were buried. That was the first of anything like a military funeral that occurred in Princeton.

The Civil War

But it was in the war of the Rebellion that Oiljson count}- made the proudest record. That was a supreme test of her loyalty and patriotism. That was the test to try every man's loyalty and courage of what sort it is. This loyalty and courage was revealed by fire and the more than two thousand soldiers from Gibson county passed through this fire and gave proof of their fidelity to the principles and convictions of patriot ancestors. W'hen the tocsin of war was sounded by rebel guns at Sumter the sons of Gibson county crowded forward to oft'er their services to the national government and there is no page in her history so brilliant as that which glorified their deeds on more than one hundred battlefields.

On the morning of the 15th of April, 1861, immediately after the news of the firing upon Fort Sumter had been received, Governor Morton wired President Lincoln, making a tender of ten thousand men for the defense of the nation. On the same day President Lincoln issued his proclamation calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers from the several states in the L'nion for the suppression of the Rebellion. Under this call Indiana's quota was six regiments of infantry, or about six thousand men, to serve three months.

Within five days after this call was promulgated more than tweh'e thousand men had been enrolledr^i Indiana and were pressing Go\ernor Alorton for acceptance and muster into the United States service.

.\mong these early enlistments w^as a company from Gilison county. The day following President Lincoln's proclamation a recruiting office w as opened in Princeton and the fife and drum were heard for the first time calling for volunteers to defend the flag.

The roll of this first company was soon made up and the company was ready for orders to go to Indianapolis for muster into the service. But the quota for the state under the President's call had been filled by this time and the Gibson county company, like many others, had to stand aside. The compan\- was disbanded, but onlv for a short time. ' (14)

Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Within a month an additional call for volunteers to ser\'e three years or during the war was made by President Lincoln. Under this call Indiana's quota was four regiments of infantry and one regiment of cavalry, and this gave the Gibson county company the opportunity to enter the service. The muster roll was opened and the enlistments 'for three years or during the war called for. George W. Gorman and Jacob G. Vail were the most active in recruiting this company. The company was organized with the following officers : Jacob G. Vail, captain ; Silas W. Boswell, first lieutenant ; William G. Berry, second lieutenant. Vail was promoted to major, lieutenant-colonel and colonel successively, and was mustered out with his regiment with the rank of brevet brigadier-general, having attained the highest rank of any who entered the service from this county. Early in May, 1861, this company was mustered into the United States service at Indianapolis as Company H of the Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. At the organization of the regiment George W. Gorman was appointed major and Dr. S. E. Munford assistant surgeon. Later Gorman was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and Doctor Munford to surgeon. In the latter part of his three years' service Doctor Munford was medical director of Wilder's Ijrigade.

The first service of the Seventeenth Regiment was in Virginia under General Reynolds. Later the regiment was sent to Kentuck}' and assigned to the division of Gen. T. J. Wood in General Buell's army.

In the early part of 1863 the regiment was detached from the brigade and division to which it had belonged up to this time, and was assigned to another brigade organized as mounted infantry. This brigade was organized and commanded by Col. John T. Wilder, and became famous and effective as Wilder's Brigade. It was as a part of Wilder's Brigade that the Seventeenth did the most effecti\e service. They participated in all the campaigns and battles through Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama, making raids and skirmishes within the enem\''s lines to such an extent that they became known as invincibles. After all their strenuous campaigns they came to Macon, Georgia, where they had a sharp fight on the 20th of April, 1865, resulting in the capture of that city with three thousand prisoners, including several high officers. Here the Seventeenth did post duty until the 8th of August, 1865, when the regiment was mustered out.

Under this call other enlistments from Gibson county were made in the Fourteenth Indiana, organized at Terre Haute by Col. Nathan Kimball, after- wards major-general. Another full company from this county became a part of the Twenty-fourth Indiana, organized at Vincennes by Col. (afterwards major-general) Alvin P. Hovey. And there were also a number from this county enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Indiana, being organized at Evansville by Colonel Veach, afterwards brigadier-generiil.

Twenty-Fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

In the Twenty- fourth Indiana Frank M. Redlmrn was appointed first lieutenant of Comi)an_\- K at the organization of the company, and W. S. Pollard was second lieutenant. Redburn was promoted to major and Pollard to captain during the term of service. The Twenty-fourth Regiment saw service un.der General Grant at Fort Donelson, Shiloh and \'icksburg. It was in the division commanded b_\' Gen. Alvin P. Hovey and distinguished itself in the battle of Champion Hills, where it charged and routed the enemy who was strongly entrenched.

Thirty-Third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

As the war progressed another call for three hundred thousand volunteers was made by President Lincoln. This w as after the battle of Bull Run, when the people of the North became conscious of the fact that the suppression of the rebellion was an undertaking of serious magnitude. It was realized then that this was to be a real war, and nut a "breakfast spell," as some at first foolishly asserted.

Under this call there was abundant opportunity for the boys of Gibson county, who were so inclined, to enter the service. A company was enrolled in Princeton in the month of August, 1861. by James M. Henderson, who had been engaged in teaching in what was then the Morton Academy, Princeton. This company became a part of the Thirt3'-third Regiment, organized at Indianapolis by Col. John Coburn. The company was designated as C(3mpany F, and at the organization was officered as follows : Burr H. Polk, captain ; J. T. Fleming, first lieutenant; Francis Brunson, second lieutenant. James M. Henderson was appointed lieutenant-colonel at the organization of the regiment. Burr H. Polk was appointed tostatt duty, with the rank of major,. soon after entering the service, and J. T. Fleming was promoted to captain of Company F. On the expiration of Captain Fleming's term of service W. S. McCullough succeeded to the captaincy, James C. McClurkin to fir.st lieutenant,, and Robert F. McConnell to second lieutenant. Robert M. McMaster, a

The Thirty-third Regiment was mustered into the United States service September 16, 1861, at IndianapoHs, and soon after departed for the field of operations in Kentucky. The regiment was assigned to a brigade of which Col. John Coburn was commander, and served under him during the war. They spent the first year or so of their service in eastern Kentucky and eastern Tennessee. Cumberland Gap was captured and held by the command of which the Thirty-third was a part during the summer of 1862. In the fall of that year this position had to be abandoned and the forces occupying it had to retreat into Kentucky, on account of the aggressive movements of the Confederate armies under Bragg and Ivirby Smith. Early in October the Thirtythird Regiment was in the vicinity of Lexington and Covington. The regiment spent several months in Kentucky and then moved to Nashville, where they arrived early in February, 1863. Marching in the direction of Columbia, on the 4th of March they had a severe fight with a strong Confederate force under \^anDorn, resulting in defeat and the capture of almost the entire regiment. After a few months in prison the regiment was paroled and returned to the army, then under command of Rosecrans in Tennessee. The regiment was on duty around Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, and \'icinity, until the following January, when they re-enlisted as a veteran organization. Returning from the thirty-day furlough granted, they were assigned to the Twentieth Army Corps under General Hooker, and participated in the movement of Sherman's army from Chattanooga towards .\tlanta. In that campaign the Thirty-third was almost constantly engaged in marching and fighting. The principal battles in which the}' were engaged were : Resaca, New Hope Church, Gulp Farm, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek and in front of Atlanta. In this campaign the regiment lost more than three hundred killed and wounded. After the surrender of Atlanta the regiment was a part of Sherman's army that marched to the sea. Thence through the Carolinas to Goldsboro, and on to Washington, and then back to Louis\ille, where they were mustered out.

Forty-Second Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

In the month of September, 1861, two more companies were enlisted in Gibson county, one in Princeton by Nathaniel B. French and D. F. Embree, and the other in the eastern part of the county by Samuel G. Barrett and

The Princeton company was designated as Company E, and was organized with N. B. French, captain, \\'illiam A. Waters, first lieutenant, Frank Wade, second lieutenant. French was promoted to major ; Dorsey was assigned as adjutant ; Frank Embree became captain of the company, and was in command during the greater part of the service. In the latter part of the service Joseph R. Ashmead was promoted from lieutenant to the captainc\- of the company. Others who held commissions as lieutenants in the company were Ephraim Rutledge, who was killed in action at Coldsboro, \Mlliam Jones and John R. Daugherty.

Company F of this regiment at the organization was officered as follows : Samuel G. Barrett, captain; Jacob W. Skelton, first lieutenant; William M. Cockrum, second lieutenant. Barrett and Skelton resigned after a few months, and Cuckrum was promoted captain, and afterward to lieutenantcolonel, and was mustered out with the regiment. On the promotion of Cockrum, Lieut. J. D. Skelton was made captain. Others who held commissions as lieutenants in this company were John Q. A. Steele, who was killed in action at Goldsboro, Adoniram A. Keys, John C. White and William McCleary.

The early part of service of the Forty-second Regiment was in the western part of Kentucky. In the latter part of February, 1862, the regiment moved to Nash\'ille, thence to Iluntsville, where it remained on duty for several months. As a part of Rosseau's division the regiment joined in the retrograde march of Buell's army back through Tennessee and Kentucky to Louisville. With ]\lcCook's corps of Buell's army, the I-"i)rty-secnnd mo\ed from Louisville in pursuit of Bragg and found him read)- for battle at Perrys- \ille, on the Sth of October. The regiment bore a conspicuous part in that engagement and lost heavily in killed and wounded. Following the movements of the army the regiment arrived in Nashville in November. On the 26th of December they marched with the army, then under command of Rosecrans, toward Murfreesboro, and were engaged in the battle of Stone's River, December 31, 1862, and January i and 2, 1863, losing seventeen killed and eighty-seven wounded. The regiment remained in the \ icinity of Murfreesboro until the following June, when it again took up the march with Rosecrans' army towards Chattanooga. On the 19th and 20th of September the regiment was severely engaged in the battle of Chickamauga, losing ninety in killed, wounded and captured. In the battles of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge the Forty-second lost forty-three in killed and wounded.

ing from furlough joined Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign, and participated in all the principal battles. In November it marched with Sherman's army from Atlanta to Savannah, thence through the Carolinas to Goldsboro, taking part in the battles of Averysboro and Bentonville. This was the closing campaign of the war and the Forty-second now turned their faces homeward, passing through Richmond, Washington to Louis\ille, where it was mustered out July 25, 1865.

Fifty-Eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

In October, 1861, Dr. Andrew Lewis was commissioned by Governor Morton to organize a regiment from the counties then composing the first congressional district, the organization camp to be at Princeton.

This camp was established in the county fair grounds in October, 1861, and was known as Camp Gilison. The regiment was designated as the Fiftyeighth Indiana, and after the preliminary work of organization by Dr. Lewis, H. M. Carr was regularly commissioned as colonel; George P. Buell, lieutenant-colonel; James T. Embree, major; Samuel Sterne, quartermaster; Dr. W. W. Blair, surgeon; Rev. John J. Hight, chaplain. In addition to the field and staff officers, four full companies, with several enlistments in other companies, in this regiment, in all about four hundred men, were from Gibson county. After a few months' service in the field Colonel Carr resigned and George P. Buell was commissioned colonel, and James T. Embree, lieutenantcolonel. At that time Capt. Joseph Moore, of Company B, was promoted to major. For the greater part of the service Colonel Buell commanded the brigade and Lieutenant-Colonel Embree commanded the regiment. On the resignation of Colonel Embree in the latter part of 1863, Moore was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and was in command of the regiment during the rest of the service. At the close of the war Buell was breveted brigadier-general. In 1862 Dr. W. W. Blair was appointed medical director of Gen. T. J. Woods' division and served in this capacity until the close of his term of ser\-ice. Doctor Blair is now (1914) the only member of General Woods' staff living.

Other Gibson county members of the regimental staff who succeeded by appointment or promotion, after the first organization, were : W. A. Downey, major; Charles C. ^^'hiting, John G. Behm and Edward Reynolds, adjutants; Dr. S. E. Holtzman, surgeon, and Dr. James C. Patten, assistant surgeon.

Company B was organized with Captain Joseph Moore. First Lieutenant S. D. Ewing and Second Lieutenant Bedford Reavis. When M(jore was promoted to major James ^L Smith was transferred from Compan_\- K to the captaincy of this company, and served as such until the expiration of his term in April, 1865, when Lieut. Jacob Davis was appointed captain. Others who held commissions as lieutenants in this company were : James D. h'oster. who was killed at Chickaniauga, Joseph N. Endicott and Robert M. Lucas.

Company C was organized with Captain \Y. A. Downey, First Lieutenant E. E. Woods, Second Lieutenant Joseph D. Fisher. Downey was promoted to major and was succeeded by Augustus Milburn. who was promoted from first lieutenant. Others who held commissions as lieutenants in this company were D. M. Hadlock and Monroe Key.

Company D at the time of its organization was officered b_\- Captain JNI. G. Hargrove, First Lieutenant James C. Knox, Second Lieutenant George Whitman. From start to finish there were a great many changes in the officers of this company. The captains after the organization were Bryan C. Walpole, George Whitman, George Raffan and Henry C. Torrence. The last three were promoted from first lieutenant. Near the close of the war Charles C. Montgomery and John C. Clark were commissioned lieutenants.

Among those from Gibson county who held commissions in other companies of the Fifty-eighth were: John W. Emmerson, second lieutenant, Company F; J. S. Ewing and James E. Chappel, second lieutenants in Company G; Quincv A. Harper, first lieutenant. Company I; Horace A. Hall, captain. and Samuel L. Snyder and S. F. L'tley, lieutenants, in Company K.

The Fifty-eighth Regiment was mustered into the United States service on November 12, 1861, an.d on the 13th of December left their place of rendezvous in Camp Gibson for Louisville, going by way of Evans\ilic, thence by boat. Marching from Louisville to Bardstown, where they were in camp for a week or so, they then moved on to Lebanon. They were assigned to General Woods' division of Gen. D. C. Buell's army, and during the winter- of

1861 and 1862 marched about through central Kentucky, and on the ist of March the regiment reached Nashville after the evacuation of that place. Leaving Nashville about the first of April, the regiment was with Buell's army on the march to Pittsburg Landing, arriving there on the evening of the second day's battle of Shiloh. It formed part of the force in advance towards Corinth, and was among the first of the Union army to enter that place after the evacuation. The regiment then joined in the movements of Buell's army through northern Alabama, to Shelbyville, Decherd, McMinnville, etc. It was in the retrograde movement of the army, leaving McMinnville about the first of September, marching through Nashville, Bowling Green, and arri\ing at Louisville September 29th, having engaged in a sharp skirmish with the rear of Bragg's army at Mumfordsville on the way.

On the 1st of October the regiment started out again from Louisville in pursuit of Bragg, who was then at Bardstown. It had a skirmish, with the rear of the Confederate army near that place and drove them from the town, following the retreating Confederates through Danville, Crab Orchard, with occasional skirmishing, to near Mt. Vernon, when the chase was abandoned, and the regiment retraced its steps and turned again towards Nashville, where it arrived about the last of November.

On the 26th of December it formed a part of General Rosecrans' army in the advance on Murfreesboro, where Bragg's army was in force and readv for battle. The Fifty-eighth had a sharp fight at Lavergne, on the way, in which several of the regiment were wounded. In the battle of Stone's River the regiment was actively engaged December 31, 1862, and the succeeding days, losing heavily in killed and wounded. The regiment participated in all the movements of Rosecrans' army from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga, and was in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 20th of Septemlaer, 1863. In that battle the loss of the regiment was one hundred and seventy in killed, wounded and missing, out of an aggregate of four hundred engaged.

The Fifty-eighth was in Wagner's brigade, Sheridan's division, in the battle of Mission Ridge, and had sixty-six killed and wounded in the charge on the Ridge. Following this battle the regiment was sent to Knoxville on a forced march to relieve the army there besieged by Longstreet. \Vhile in that section of the country the regiment re-enlisted as veterans and returned home on a furlough.

On the return of the regiment to Chattanooga in April it was assigned to the engineer corps and took charge of the pontoon trains of Sherman's armv. In this service the regiment laid all of the bridges for the advance of Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and thence to Savannah, with Sherman's march to the sea. Leaving Savannah, the regiment did all the iiridging and repairing of roads through the Carolinas to (ioldsboro, thence on through Virginia to Richmond and Washington. I'nmi here the regiment was sent to Louisville, which was the starting point and the finishing point. It was finally mustered out of the service on July 25, \X(>^.

Si.Xtv-Fifth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

Under the call of 1862 the Si.xtx'-fifth Regiment was organized in Princeton with John W. Foster as colonel. James L. Thornton, of I'rinceton, was quartermaster of this regiment. Company B of this regiment was officered as follows at the time of the organization : Captain, W. T. Stilwell ; first lieutenant, James M. LIussey; second lieutenant, Richard M. J. Miller. On the resignation of Captain Stilwell in September, 1864, Miller was promoted captain and served until the regiment was mustered out. James M. Skelton also held a commission as lieutenant in this company.

The Sixty-fifth Regiment w^as mustered into the service on the 20th of August, 1862, and moved to Henderson, Kentucky, and spent some time looking after the guerrillas <jperating in that vicinity. On the 27th of August the regiment had a lively engagement with Adam Johnson's Confederate regiment at Madisonville, defeating the eneni\- and taking possession of the town. For about one year after this the se\eral companies of the Sixty-fifth were distributed in different counties in that part of the state, assigned to guard and patrol duty. Li the meantime the regiment had been mounted and in August, 1S63, became a part of Colonel Graham's brigade of cavalry and mounted infantry. On September i, 1863. the brigade to which the regiment was attached arrived at Knox\ille, Tennessee, being the first Union troops to reach that place. From this time until the following January tne regiment was constantly engaged in marching and fighting in eastern Tennessee, and some of the fighting was quite severe.

On the 2ist of April, 1864, the regiment was dismounted and assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, and joined Sherman's army in the campaign to Atlanta. It participated in the battle of Resaca, and in all the battles and skirmishes of this campaign up to the capture of Atlanta. It then joined in the pursuit of Hood into Alabama and Tennessee, participating in the battles of Columbia, Franklin and Xash- \ille. It was then transferred to Virginia where it participated in the attack on Fort Anderson and other battles and skirnn'shes in North Carolina, .\fter

Eightieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry

In the month of September, 1862, the Eightieth Indiana Regiment was organized in Princeton. Louis Brooks was Heutenant-colonel of this regiment at the time of organization and had command of the regiment until after the battle of Perry ville, when Charles Denby was transferred from the Forty-second and became colonel of the regiment. George T. Simonson was major at the time of organization, and afterwards promoted to lieutenantcolonel. Dr. W. P. Welborn was commissioned surgeon and Dr. A. W. Spain, assistant surgeon. Rev. M. M. C. Hobbs, a well-known Methodist minister, was the chaplain.

Company A of the Eightieth Regiment was composed largely of the citizens and business men in Princeton and vicinity. The company officers at the organization were: Captain, Charles Brownlee; first lieutenant, Jesse C. Kimball; second lieutenant, William M. Duncan. On the resignation of Captain Brownlee in 1864 Duncan was promoted captain and served until the muster out of the regiment. Others who held commissions as lieutenants in this company were Henry C. Jerauld, William Archer and Jonah G. Tichenor.

Company E had for its first captain, Harrison M. Spain, who was promoted to major, and was succeeded by Enos H. Kirk. Those who held commissions as lieutenants were Alexander J. Montgomery, William C. Fisher and James S. Moran.

Russell J. Showers was the first captain of Company F. He was killed in the battle of Resaca, and Lieut. James S. Epperson was promoted to captain. Others who held commissions as lieutenants were Thomas S. Craig, John M. Wolf, James H. C. Lowe and Alexander R. Smith.

On the 8th of September the Eightieth Regiment left Camp Gibson and in just one month afterward they were engaged in the battle of Perryville, in which the regiment suffered severely, losing in killed and wounded one hundred and fifty officers and men. The regiment remained in Kentucky during the fall and winter of 1862 and 1863, doing guard and patrol duty. In August, 1863, the regiment left Kentucky with General Burnside's army and marched across the Cumberland mountains into eastern Tennessee, and participated in the campaign in the vicinity of Kingston and Knoxville during the fall and winter following. In the spring of 1864 the regiment left eastern Tennessee with General Schofield's Twcnty-tliird Chirps, and ji lined Sherman's army in the .Atlanta campaign. In this campaign the T'j'ghtieth participated in all the principal engagements from Dalton to Atlanta, including" the battle of Resaca, Kenesaw and Peach Tree Creek, losing in this campaign one hundred and se\enty-li\e in killed and wounded.

After the fall of Atlanta the regiment mo\ed northward with the Twenty-third Corps in pursuit of Hood. It participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, which resulted in a rout and destruction of Hood's army. The regiment was then transferred to ^^irginia and joined the forces in the campaign against Wilmington, Kingston, Goldsboro and Raleigh. It bore a conspicuous part in the attack on Fort Anderson, .\fter the surrender of Johnson the regiment moved to Saulsberw where it remained until June 22d. when it was mustered out of the service.

In the early part of 1864 the One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment was organized. In this regiment Gibson county was largely represented. Of the commissioned officers Dr. J. Marshall Neely was surgeon, Albert Knowles was captain, and John R. Thomas was lieutenant of Compan\- D. Nathan Wilson, Richard W. Hastings and D. W. Smith held commissions as lieutenants in Company F.

This regiment, with the One Hundred and Twenty-third, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth and One Hundred and Thirtieth, composed an Indiana division, and was under the command of Gen. Alvin P. Hovey. These regiments were largely composed of ynung men and boys and the division carried the name of "Hovey's Babies." The division was immediately placed on the firing line in the Atlanta campaign and these "babies" acquitted themselves as veterans in the many se\ere engagements in which they participated. They were assigned to the Twentythird Corps and their history is identified with the other regiments of that command. They participated in the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, battles around Atlanta, in the pursuit after Hood, the Ijattles of Franklin and Nashville.

After the battle of Nashville the regiment was transferred with the rest of the Twenty-third Corps to North Carolina, where it took a prominent part in the operation of the army in the section until the surrender of Johnson and the close of the war. The regiment remained for some time after this at Raleigh doing garrison duty.

In May, 1864, the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment was organized to serve for a term of one hundred days. In this was one company from Gibson county, of which WilHam Kurtz was captain, Francis Wade first Heutenant, Alexander C. Small second lieutenant. This regiment was especially organized for garrison duty and ser\'ed the time in Tennesse, guarding forts and railroad bridges, thus relieving veteran troops for service at the front.

The last regiment organized during the Civil war, in which there was enlistments from Gibson county, was the One Hundred and Fort}-third. This regiment was largely composed of veterans who had seen service in other commands. It was organized in February, 1865. John E. Phillips was major of this regiment. William H. Fowler was captain of Company B and Bedford Reavis was captain of Company H. Ralph Redding and Alexander C. Small were lieutenants in Company H.

Other Enlistments

In addition to the regiments mentioned, Gibson county soldiers found service in other regiments of this state and in other states. Among the other Indiana infantry regiments in which Gibson county soldiers were enlisted were the Fifteenth, Fifty-first, Sixtieth, Sixty-third and Ninety-first, the First, Fourth and Tenth Cavalry, the Eighth Indiana Battery, and the Twenty-first Heavy Artillery.

From first to last, there were more than two thousand volunteer enlistments from Gibson county. There were no drafted men, though there was in 1863 an enrollment of those subject to military duty, preparatory for a draft, if this course should be necessary to fill the county's quota in subsequent calls. As an inducement for volunteers to meet these calls the county ofifered liberal bounties for enlistments in 1864 and 1865. For this purpose the county paid the total amount of $104,014.15 to those who enlisted in some of the later companies. The county also paid for the relief of soldiers' wives and widows during the war the sum of $20,227.01.

It is difficult for the present generation to realize that the officers and men who composed the army in the greatest war of modern times were boys and young men; that the average age of the rank and file of those who enlisted from Gibson count}- was nt)t more than twenty \"ears. It is a mistaken impression that the army that fought to a successful conclusion the war of the Rebellion was composed of old and decrepit men, "who, weary with life's burden, flung the smoking wick of an expiring life into the trembling balance of their country's scales, and sought the rest of death and oblivion in the fire and smoke of battle." It was not of such as these that the army was composed. It was from the flo\jer and youth of the land that the more than two thousand soldiers of Gibson county came. Behind them were doors of opportunity. Behind them were homes and friends, and home comforts, where "Plenty had her court and Jo}' and Peace saluteil every morn." It was from all this that they turned away. They ga\e up their hopes, their ambitions, their world, their life and all for the sake of others. They suffered pri\ation and endurance that others might ha\'e ease and comfort. They exiled themselves from home that others might have a home. They gave up life that this generation and the generations to come might ha\'e life and enjoy life more abundantly.

Gibson county soldiers faced death and mingled in the strife and carnage of nearly all the great battles of the Civil war. They contributed their part in the first great \'ictory of the Western army at Fort Donelson. Some have lived to tell of their experience in the bloody conflict at Shiloh, at Perryville, and at Stone's River. Gibson county soldiers fought with Ho\-ey at Champion's Hill, and with Grant in the siege and capture of \'icksburg. Gibson county soldiers were with Burnside when he stormed the rugged hills of Fredericksburg, and they fought among the burning pines of Chancellorsville. Gibson county soldiers stood with the men who resisted the desperate valor of the veterans under Lee and Longstreet at Gettysburg.

Gibson county soldiers stood with Gen. George H. Thomas on Snodgrass Hill, at Chickamauga, on that September Sabbath afternoon, and contributed of their might and valor and made it possible for that grim old chieftain to declare to the impetuous and almost hosts under Hill and Long- .street, "Thus far shalt thou come and no farther."

tjibson county soldiers were among those who scaled the heights of Lookout Mountain and fought with Hooker in his famous battle above the clouds ; they were among those, who, with unparalleled courage, charged the rifle pits, blazing with cannon and musketry, and climbed to the heights- of ilission Ridge. And it was a Gibson county soldier who carried the flag of the Fifty-eighth Indiana in that charge. He carried the ilag unfurled and in full splendor floating to the breeze, and planted at Bragg's late headquarters, on the summit, the "banner of beauty and glory."

There were Gibson county soldiers in these and scores of other great battles of the war. They were with Sherman in his march to the sea. They followed Sherman through swamps and across the rivers of Georgia, and through- the Carolinas, until they joined hands with other comrades from Gibson county, who had followed Grant through the Wilderness, to Richmond and Petersburg, on to the final victory and surrender of Lee's army at Appomattox. They participated in that greatest military pageant the world had ever seen, when the veteran regiments under Sherman and Grant, with bullet-ridden and battle-scarred banners, marched down Pennsylvania axenue in Washington, amid the plaudits and cheers of thousands of admiring spectators.

Spanish-American War

Although the men from Gibson county who enlisted for service in the war with Spain, in 1898, did not engage in any battles or skirmishes, they were trained, equipped and transported to different points in the country preparatory to meeting the enemy.

Gibson county was represented in the One Hundred and I-'iftyruinth Indiana Volunteer Infantry by Company K. This company was originally organized at Princeton on December 24, 1888, and assigned as Company K, First Regiment Indiana National Guard. In 1898 the company was officered as follows : George Soller, captain ; Alva C. Eaton, first lieutenant : Paul S. Brownlee, second lieutenant; Ollie Watt, first sergeant; Robert Baker, quartermaster sergeant ; Charles E. Brick, John F. Ervin, James R. Taylor, William M. Wilson, sergeants; Frank B. Duncan, William F. Moes, John R. Mc - Ginnis, Albert C. Parke, corporals ; Louis O. Salzman and James F. Wheeler were also corporals; Joseph I. Eller and William P. Eaton were musicians; Claude McDonald was artificer ; Iva M. Brewer was wagoner. Oliver M. Tichenor, of Princeton, was commissioned adjutant of the One Hundred and Sixty-first Indiana Regiment, commanded by Col. W. T. Dur]>in, afterwards governor of Indiana. This regiment spent a good part of its time of service in Havana, but was not in any engagement.

The One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment was formed of the First Regiment of Infantry, Indiana National Guard, and was composed of companies from Vincennes, Terre Haute, New Albany. Washington, Evansville,

Roaclulale, iMatliscm, Brownstuwn. Bloominfilon, Cireencustle and I'rinceton. The regiment arrived at Camp IMount, Indianapolis, on April 26, 1S98, under orders from the governor, t\)r the purpose of being mustered into the service of the United States. The same care was used in the physical examination of this regiment as obtained in other regiments, and they were nuislered into the volunteer service of the United States on May 12th. The regiment left Camp Mount on May 22d, and arrived at Camp R. A. Alger, Dunn Loring, Virginia, on May 24th. Broke camp at Camp Alger on August 3d, and marched by easy stages to Thoroughfare Gap, \^irginia, a distance of forty miles. Left there on August 28th, and moved by rail to Camp Meade, near Middletown, Pennsylvania, where they arrived August 29th. Under orders for the muster out of the regiment, they left Meade camp on September 1 ith, arrived at Camp Mount on the 13th, and were furloughed for thirty days. The regiment was mustered out on Xu\ember 27,. 1898.