Henry County, Indiana - Chapter 24: Morgan Raid Minute Men, 1906

Chapter 24: Morgan Raid Minute Men

Roster of the 105TH Indiana Infantry - io6th Indiana Infantry - 109TH Indiana Infantry - iioth Indiana Infantry - History of the Morgan Raid Regiments - The Indiana Legion.

The several companies from Henry County raised during the Morgan Raid were enHsted from neighborhoods. The particular neighborhood in which each company was raised is indicated at the head of the company and the postoffice address omitted after the names of its members.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH INFANTRY - MORGAN RAID MINUTE MEN. Lieutenant Colonel, John M. Hartley, Knightstown. Company A, from Knightstown, Greensboro, Raysville and vicinity.

Privates, Peter Archibald, Thomas Bates. George W. Champ. Francis M. Crull, Hiram Gough, Abijah Grose, Charles A. C. Howren, Martin D. Lovett (JMoved to Middletown, Henry County, after the Civil War), William Muzzy (Moved to Mount Summit, Henry County, after the Civil War), Enoch H. Nation. Wallace Nation. James L. Tweedy, William H. Van Buskirk.

Late on the evening of the 8th of July, 1863, intelHgence was received at IndianapoHs, that a rebel force, estimated to be six thotisand cavalry, with four pieces of artillery, under command of General John H. Morgan, had crossed the Ohio River, near Maud port, and was moving on Corydon, Indiana. Governor Morton at once issued a patriotic call upon the citizens of the State, to leave their various occupations and organize for defense.

Under this call, within the short space of forty eight hours, sixty five thousand men had tendered their services. Of this force, thirteen regiments and one battalion were organized specially for this emergency, and the regiments designated numerically, from One Hundred and Second to One Hundred and Fourteenth, inclusive, the battalion being assigned to the One Hundred and Seventh Regiment.

The One Hundred and Fifth Regiment was composed of seven companies of the Legion, and three of ^linute Men. Henry County furnished two companies; Randolph, two; and Union, Putnam, Hancock, Wayne, Clinton and ^Madison counties, each one company. The companies of the Legion were named as follows: A, L^nion Guards; B. l^nion Defenders; D, Liberty Tigers; E, Hancock Guards ; F, Abington Home Guards ; G, Union Guards ; H, Green Township Rangers. The regiment was organized on the 12th of July, 1863. and contained an aggregate of seven hundred and thirteen rank and file, with Kline G. Shryock as Colonel. It at once left Indianapolis for Lawrenceburg. L^pon reaching Morris Station, the command disembarked from the cars, and, throwing out pickets, bivouacked for the night. Xext morning the march was made to Sunman's Station,- where great alarm existed among the citizens, caused by the approach of the enemy. The regiment pushed on to \'an Wedden's Station, where the rebels were reported to be, but found that the enemy had left, after destroying the railroad. The regiment joined in the pursuit of Morgan, until near Harrison, Ohio. It then marched to Lawrenceburg. There being a report that Morgan's forces were returning to capture Lawrenceburg, the regiment moved out to check him, and while getting into position indiscriminate firing took place among the men, resulting in killing eight and wounding twenty, none of whom, however, w^ere from Henry County. The regiment returned to Indianapolis on the i8th of July, 1863, and was mustered out.

The One Hundred and Ninth Regiment was composed wholl\' of Minute Men. Two companies from Coles County, Illinois, offering their services to the Governor, were accepted and assigned to this regiment. Laporte County furnished two companies; Hamilton County two; Miami County two; Randolph and Henry comities, one companv each. The regiment was organized on the loth of July, 1863, with John R. Mahan as Colonel, and contained an aggregate of seven hundred and nine rank and file. It left Indianapolis by rail on the 13th, arriving at Hamilton, Ohio, the next morning. Thence it proceeded to Cincinnati", when, the emergency being passed, the regiment returned to Indianapolis, and on the 17th of July, 1863, was mustered out.

The One Hundred and Tenth Regiment was composed of Minute Men. Henry County furnished two companies : Madison County three ; Delaware County two; Cass and ^Monroe counties, each one company. It was organized on the 1 2th of July, 1863, with Graham N. Fitch as Colonel, and contained an aggregate of eight hundred and thirty six rank and file. The regiment was not called into the field, and was mustered out of the service at Indianapolis on the 15th of July, 1863.

The "Raid" occurred in July, 1863, when the wheat harvest of the State was at its height, and hands for taking care of and saving the grain were hard to obtain and wages high.

Bv July 14th, the Confederate raiders had all crossed the State line into Ohio and the "Raid" in Indiana was at an end. The "Raid" in Indiana extended

In 1867, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing a Commission toascertain the damages done by this raid to citizens of Indiana and their property., which commission reported as follows :

The object of the General Assembly in appointing this commission undoubtedly was to have the claims presented to and paid by the General Xjovernment. It is doubtful, however, if the Government has ever assumed any part of the obligation. It certainly never would have paid more than the first item of $58,017.51, the value of property destroyed, "Under orders of United States' officers." The probabilities are that all of the property destroyed was a total loss to the owners.

This raid was really a benefit to the cause of the Union in the North. It consolidated public sentiment in the States invaded in favor of the Union and (jovernor Morton took advantage of it to arouse and keep alive the war spirit in Indiana, which had somewhat declined.

The Indiana Legion

The policy of maintaining, at all times, a well organized militia force, has been amply vindicated in our national history, and the State of Indiana, which was stripping itself, during the Civil War, of soldiers, throwing them across the Ohio River to fill the depleted ranks of the Federal armies, looked to the militia to protect its own southern border, often threatened and several times penetrated by Confederates and guerrillas.

The Indiana Legion or "State Militia" was organized under the act of May II, 1861. The value of the organization was shown by its services during the ^lorgan Raid and by its well directed efforts to prevent other disturbances alongthe southern border of the State. It was not until the Fall of 1861 that anv attempt was made to put the Legion on a war footing. In the meantime, companies had been formed in ahnost every county of the State, while in those counties bordering on the Ohio River, a number of battaHons and regiments had been organized. But the inabiHty of the authorities to arm these forces, caused many of the organizations to disband, a number of their members, however, afterwards enHsting in the vohmteer service.

Following the Morgan Raid, Henry B. Carrington. Brigadier General L\ S. v., at the request of Governor Morton, re-organized the Indiana Legion, devoting much time to its drill and discipline, and it has been said that his energy and industry and his willingness to assume responsibility told on many occasions, with wonderful effect, and aided in securing for Indiana the proud name she won for the rapidity with which her troops were thrown into the field and for the efficiency of her militia at home.

The Legion kept alive the spirit of patriotism and came to be regarded as a nursery from which the old regiments and batteries of volunteers were recruited and new ones organized. Naturalh-, the result -vvas not favorable to the permanency of the Legion, but it was of vast importance in securing a ready response to the call for volunteers and enabling the State to promptlv fill its quota.

The Legion was organized into companies and regiments with full rosters of officers and was divided into nine brigades. The Fifth Brigade, First Division of the Indiana Legion, was made up of the militia of Blackford, Delaware, Grant. Hancock, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph and Wayne Counties. Henry Count}' had five companies in the brigade, viz : Needmore Rangers, of Mechanicsburg : New Lisbon Indiana State Guards, of New Lisbon ; Union Guards, of Knightstown ; Middletown Rifles, of Middletown ; and the New Castle Guards, of New Castle. The regiments to which these companies belonged were also known and designated as "Morgan Raid Minute Men." A particular description of the companies follows.

Union Guards

This was a Knightstown company and was practically the same as Company A, 105th Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid), and for that reason the names of the commissioned officers only are given.

Needmore Rangers

This was a Mechanicsburg company and was practicall\- the same as Company K, I05tli Indiana Infantr}- (Morgan Raid), and for that reason the names of the commissioned officers only are given.

New Lisp.On Indiana State Guards

County organization to form Company E, io6th Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid), and for that reason the names of the commissioned officers only are given. Captain, Isaac Grose, New Lisbon; First Lieutenant, William W. Swaflford, New Lisbon; Second Lieutenant, Joseph B. Williams, New Lisbon.

Middletown Rifles

This was a Aliddletown company and was practically the same as Company C, 109th Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid), and for that reason the names of the commissioned officers only are given.

New Castle Guards

This was a New Castle company and was practically the same as Company B, iioth Indiana Infantry (Morgan Raid), and for that reason the names of the commissioned officers only are given.