Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 10: Military History, 1896

Chapter 10: Military History

MILITaRY: - The whole body of soldiers; soldiery; militia; the army; pertaining to soldiers, to armies, or to war; having to do with the affairs of war, as a military parade or appearance; military discipline; engaged in the service of soldiers or armies, as a military man.

HE State of Indiana was admitted as a state in January. 1816. Miamj County was organized in January, 1834; hence the early military history does not partake largely of the early military achievements of the state.

The warriors of the Indian tribes were comparatively few ia the county at the time of its organization. Although quite a large population of Indians inhabited the Indian reservations, they were inclined to be peaceable and of fair character. But in 1836 the Peru Blues were organized as a military company. The captain of said company was A. N. Higginsané the first lieutenant, Vincent O'Donald. O'Donald died thatsame year, the result of a 4th of July accident. If any of that organization survive, the writer is not aware of it, except our highly esteemed fellow citizen, James B. Fulwiler, who was a voluuteer in said county and from whom we obtain the history; achievements and incidents of said organization. 'The late Jonn W. Timberlake was a member of said organization. This company participated in the engagement of protecting the paymaster, Col. Abol C. Pepper, as he went through to make settlements with the Indians.

The militia forming the system of National defence, was established in the United States by an act of Congress, providing that all able-bodied white male citizens, between the ages of 18 and 45, with certain exceptions, be enrolled and arranged in brigades, regiments, companies etc., according to the regulations of the legislature of the different states. In'the state of Indiana, by the Constitution, it was provided that all militia officers, should be commissioned by the governor, etc.. In the year 1836, it was generally understood that George Washington Ewing was a commissioned officer of the militia. It was in the early fall of the year 1836 that the quiet and peaceable citizens of the village of Peru, were startled by the announcement of a courier from Col. Ewing, in hot haste, proclaiming that the Pottawattomie Indians of the north had risen in insurrection against the authority of th2 Federal Government, and commanding the organized companies and milita generally.

At the time, our embryo city could boast of a fine company of volunteers called the '' Peru Blues," consisting of some 40 or 50 members. The officers were captain, Alvin M. Higgins and sergeant, John Rush. The company was composed of the best citizens of the town and vicinity and was rather distinguished for its fine appearance and esprit du corps, largely due to the efficiency and gallant bearing of its officers who had the advantage of previous experience in military tactics. Of course, the precision of drill. andgrace and dignity of evolutions were somewhat impaired, when dodging trees and stumps which abounded at the time in the streets of Peru. It was done however without a twist of the neck or a smile on the countenance, so earnest were they in qualifying thereby for the national defense. It was organized before demonstrations were tae vogue, before it had become bad taste for an army to shed blood, when war would be intended only to give the service an appetite for fresh meat and soft bread. Hence, when it was announced by the late Daniel R. Bearss, who was the herald from Col. Ewing, stating that the abor iginees of the north had risen against the government and the stars and stripes were in danger of beicg trailed in the dust. then there was blood in the eye of the loyal Blue. There was a running hither and thither iu hot haste, and at the first tap of the drum nearly every member of*the compauy, together with many others, were ready and armed for the conflict. Volunteers outnumbering -horses, Captain Higgins did not hesitate to order the impressment on the route, of a sufficent number to accomodate those afoot. The first resort of impressment was at the first farm north of Mexico, of Ratcliff Wilkinson, who was plowing in his field with two horses. Captain Higgins ordered his men to press the horses into the service which was done, but not without a terrible resistance on the part of the owner. Ratcliff Wilkinson become a changed man, soured with the world, and secluded himself from the society of his felowmen. As this company came to a point in sight of the Michigan road, near where Rochester had just been located, a company from Logansport, under command of Captain G. M. Fitch (who afterwards was elected to the U. S. senate) was also approaching, bringing the companies in sight of each other. As the companies arrived at the convergence of the two roads. Chauncy Carter, of Logansport, (who was a leading citizen of that place and in whom 'they all had confidence) halted the commands and addressed them giving them the true condition of the Indian trouble, which was that Geo. W. Ewing of the firm of W.G.&G. W. Ewing, who where extensive Indian traders had taken the money from Col. A. C, Pepper the U. S. paymaster. claiming that the Indian were owing them the full amount of their payment. Frum this statement of facts by Mr. Carter, the companies refused to proceed further under Col. Geo. W. Ewing, but accepted Col. A. C. Pepper, U. S. paymaster, as their commander, they being fully satisfied that the Indians had not risen in insurrection against the authorities, cither civil or military, as first reported. Col. A. C, Pepper then marched the militia to his paying station about three miles north of Rochester, called Chipanue, and this excurson to the north was called humorously by the «'Blues" the Chipanue war. When the troops arrived at the seat of trouble, and it being a personal matter between the Indians and the Ewings, Geo. W. Ewing was ordered to return to Col. A. C. Pepper the boxes which he had taken from the paymaster, containing the money which had said boxes were loaded oa a wagon and transfered about three miles to the north side of the 'Tippecanoe river. The said companies guarding them all the while until the Indians were paid, taking about three days. Without this payment the Indians would not have had anything to live on that winter. The companies then returned to their respective homes, without losing a man by accident or otherwise.

When the Mexican war broke out, James K. Polk, the president, issued a proclamation for fifty thousand volunteers. Goverror Whitcomb of Indiana issued his call, and Miami county responded with one company, which was commandei by Capt. John M. Wilson, who reported with his company at New Albany, June 16, 1846. 'Treaty of peace was signed in 1848 and in Juue the American troops were withdrawn from the Mexican territory

The civil war was the outgrowth of the doctrine of state rights, first made prominent in Charleston, South Carolina, by Vice President, John C. Calhoun in 1829 and in 1832, developed in 1882 in the Nullification convention. 'hey then declared themselves absolved from all obligation to maintain or respect the people or the laws of other states. President Andrew Jackson promptly and firmly placed his hand upon this action and prevented the outbreak of the civil war. This was in 1832 and from this time until 1861. there was constant strife between the north and south and finally culminated in one of the bloodiest civil wars recorded in history.

The political campaign of 1860 was very bitter and when it was announced that Abraham Lincoln, who ran on a platform opposite to the views of the southern states, was elected, eleven states seceded fromthe Union and formed articles of confederation.

On the 15th of April, 1861, President Lincoln called for 75,000 volunteers for three months, and the people responded so promptly that thousands could not be received.

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At this ratio of deaths if it had continued the entire soldiery of the state of Indiana would have all passed to the camp of the other shore ere this time, not leaving one to tell the story of the camp and battle.

From the 202,569 that were in the army from Indiana 6.441 deserted - only one deserter out of every thirty-one - bounty jumpers, 166; total deserters and bounty jumpers, 6.607, leaving 195,962 honorable soldiers.

A representative officer, a military man, of the civil war, was our ' worthy citizen, Col: Josiah Farrar, of the 99th regiment Indiana Volunteers. While in the service he was placed in many positions where it required nerve, moderation, precision, decision, coolness and bravery. And we can say for Col. Farrar that he was thereby tested and that he was always equal to the task. His position and the services were dignified by his courteousness as an officer and soldier. As well as efficient in the duties of an officer, he was a close student in military affairs, and made himself as seryiceable in the offices that he filled as if he had been a graduate of a military college.

Such officers were the secret to success in our volunteer service, that astonished the nations of the world. The volunteer soldiers in our late war were nosmall part of the service. It would not be just to the many of this county who bore the hardest part of the service if we did not give them the benefit of what was written at the close of the war and published in 1869 in Vol. II., page 582, of the Indiana Soldiers.

'An original character in our regiment." writes a member of the Thirteenth, ''was William Sutton - -Sut, as he was commonly termed- - of company B. He was from the neighborhood of Peru, and was very tall and lanky, about six feet three, I should judge. He had probably never seen the inside of a school house or a spelling book in his life. As the term is generally used,

-he had not the slightest approach to an education, and yet for all the practical purposes of soldiering be was not to be surpassed. No man could enliven a camp fire, find where, on a foraging trip, the most of the necessaries of life were to be obtained, or handle a rifle on the skirmish line with more success and less exposure to the mischances of war, than 'Old Sut.' His propensity for 'gobbling' prisoners and striking for the rear with them, was notorious. . And the facility with which he dispossessed those unfortunates of stray pieces of tobacco, or other articles necessary to the soldier's happiness, was always an occasion of wonder and admiration to others not gifted with the requisite amount of 'cheek.' His inimitable, 'You don't happen to have any spare tobacco about your breeches pocket, do you?' drawled out as slowly and patron= izingly as if he were conferring the grea'est favor in the world on 'Jonny, never failed to elicit a bountifu) supply from the poor wretch, trembling in his boots and begging to be hurried to the rear, lest some stray ball humming round from the hostile barrels of his friends' guns might leave on him a mark no more honorable than pleasant.

"When fighting was over, no man could spin longer or more improbable stories about the day's proceedings, or dive deeper into the mysteries of the commander's plaos, than our friend. Andsee him on the march, his gun strapped on his shoulder, stridsng along as if it were but a pleasant recreation, and not a toilsome and disagreeabie day's work. as it was to most of us, joking with and at everything that made its appearance on the roadside, man, woman or child, white, yellow or black; and after the day's work is over, when the most of us are content to lie before the fire, and rest our wearied limbs, gathering our sable cooks, and with the aid of some quondam barn door and some friendly knee, making them show us the steps, of the «'Juba" till long after dark, and till the bugle notes give warning that quiet is desirable even in a bivouac. Such was one of the representative men of the Thirteenth, a man who could fight well for his country, and yet claimed his right to grumble at the Administration and 'the conduct of the war;' one who never shirked a hard day's encounter, never spoiled for a fight, and who, after four years and. a half of hard service, returned whence he came, his knowledge of men and things enlarged by personal experience, his faith in and love for his country increased by the trials he had endured for her sake."

Peru Grays

The Peru Grays was an independent organization, but subject to the call of the Governor of the state. It was called out but once and that was when-the lamented Hendricks was our chief executive. There was some trouble at Seymore, but the Governor held the company a few days at Indianapolis, and sent them bome. For this loyalty to the state, the company was coudemned by many people in this city, when they should have been praised for their ubedience to the command of the Governor. This disloyalty made manifest by our people was the cause of the disbandment of the best military organization this city ever had. Its officers were as follows: - J. H. Jack, captain; W. F. Daly, Ist. Lieutenant; Isaac Bozarth, 2nd Lieutenant; H. T. Boley, 1st. sergeant. Its officers and members were composed of the best citizens. On two other occasions it went away from home. It made a trip to Put-in-Bay and had with it the then famous Howe Band; these two organizations were admired by all. 'They took a trip across the lake to Sandusky, chartered a steamer for that purpose paid out of the pockets of its captain. It was in the year 1876, that the company was called out by the Governor at Logansport. One of its members, A. J. Derby, carried off the first prize as a marksman. They were the guests of the Logan Grays, at that time and place. Captain Jack was presented with a beautiful sword by the company. The presentation speech was made by W. F. Daly, and was accepted in a grateful manner by«the proud captain. Its members are many of them now scattered and many of them dead, but their loyalty to duty will live forever.