Miami County, Indiana - Chapter 11: Military History, 1914

Early Militia System - The Peru Blues - The Ciiipanue War - War With ilExico - The Civil War - iliAMi County Prompt to Respond - Thirteenth Regiment - Other Regiments in which Miami County was Represented - Fourteenth Battery - Miscellaneous Enlistjients - The Indiana Legion - The Roll of Honor - Relief Work at Home - Spanish-American War.

Soon after the government of the United States was established. Congress passed an ai't providing for the enrolhuent of all able-bodied male citizens between the ages of eighteen and forty-five .years, except in certain eases, as the nation's militia. The men thus enrolled were to be formed into companies, regiments, brigades and divisions, with the proper eommaudiiig officers, in accordance with such regulations as the legislatures of the several states might provide In the constitution of Indiana, adopted in 1816, it was provided that the governor should be commander-in-chief of the militia of the state, and that all military officers should be appointed and commissioned by him.

In 1836 a military company was organized at Peru, with Alvin M. Higgins as captain and Vincent 0 'Donald at first lieutenant. In celebrating the Fourth of July that year. Lieutenant 0 'Donald was in.iured in an accident and died soon afterward. The company adopted the name of the "Peru Blues," and it is a matter of regret that the nmster rolls cannot be found, so that the names of this pioneer militaiy organization might be given. One of the principal duties of the company was to aid in protecting Col. Abel C. Pepper, the agent of the United States, as he passed through the Wabash country paying the Indians their annuities.

So far as can now be learned, the only time this company was ever called into actual service was in the fall of 1836. George W. Ewing, of the trading firm of W. G. & (i. W. Ewing, was a connuissioned officer in the state militia, and about the time that Colonel Pepper was engaged in making the Indian payments in the early fall of 1836, Colonel Ewing despatched Daniel R. Beai-ss to Peru with the information that the Pot- tawatomi Indians liad risen against the govci-nnu'ut and with orders to Captain Iliggins to march with liis company to the scene of the trouble in Fulton county. Within a short time the forty or fifty members of the "Blues" assend)led. fully armed and e(|uipi)ed for the march. A number of citizens joined the company as volunteers and the expedition set out over tiie ile.xico road. Some of the men were mounted and as a "war measure" Captain Iliggins ordered those on foot to press into service any horses along the line of marcii. The ordi'r was obeyed and a number of horses wei-e impressed, liut not witlioul some resistance ou the part of the owners.

Near Rochester the Blues were joined l)y Captain Fitch's company from Logansport, when the real cause of the uprising was learned. It seems that Colonel Ewing, acting in the interest of his firm, had secured possession, in some way, of the money with which tJolonel I'epper was to make the Indian payment and refused to return it, claiming the Indians were in debt to his firm the full amount of their payment. When Captains Iliggins and Fitch were informed of the true state of affairs, they refused to obey the orders of Colonel Ewing and placed their companies at the disposal of Colonel Pepper. Ewing then returned the money to the paymaster and the militia remained with him uutil the Indians had been paid. The troops were called out by Colonel Ewing ou September 25, 1836, and returned to their iiomes on October 1st. The place where the payment was made was called Chipanue, and the affair was afterward humorously alluded to as the "Chipanue War."

Miami county had been organized but a little more than eleven years when the United States became involved in a dispute with ilexico over the aiine.xalion of Te.\a.s. Peaceable adjustment of the difficulty was out of the ((uestion, and on ^May 11, 18-lG, President Polk issued a proclamation declaring that a state of war existed between tiiis country and Mexico. Congi'ess being in session at the time immediately authorized the president to call for fifty thousand volunteers, and on Jlay 23, 1840, Governor James Whitcomb called upon the militia of Indiana for four regiment of infantry - two for immediate service and two to be lield in reserve. Captain John jM. Wilson, of Peru, at once commenced the work of raising a com{)any in Miami county. Failing to secure a full company in the county, a uuud)er of men were enrolled from oilier counties and early in June the company left for New Albany, where on the 16th it was mustered into the service of the United States as Comijany B, First Indiana volunteer infantry, with Janu's P. Drake as colonel; C. C. Nave, lieutenant-colonel; Henry S. Lane, major.

From the incomplete records in the office of the adjutant-general, it is impossible to ascertain tiie full enrollment of any of the organizations that went out from Indiana for service in the Mexican war, but the following names appear as members of Captain Wilson's company: Edward Anibal, Richard Bell, Joseph llishop, S. S. Bottow, Janies Brown, P. I. Brown, Lutlier Bush, George Carpenter, Jackson Castor, S. L. Clark, W. L. Clark, James Coleman, Henry Collins. Samuel Collyer, John S. Crooks, L. Curtis, H. Davenport, J. .S. Denton, William Doughty, C. M. Drouillard, D. M. Dunn, Quincy A. Fisk, William Flagg, J. B.' Franklin, Joseph Gertes, Nathan Gibson, (Jeorge Gordon, Isaac Harter, J. C. Harvey, Alexander Ilolliday, Jonas Hoover, W. Humphrey, A. A. Hunter, Barnet Judge, Ira Keieher, William Kelley, W. G. Kersner, L. B. Lynch, William McClaiu, Michael .McDonald, Edward ilcMauus, L. Marquiss, John Mellen, Conrad Metzer, .Alajor :\Iiller, Dennis Naughton, J. W. Nichols, Michael 0 'Neal, Philip Parcels, James Parr, William Passons, Adam Pence, H. W. Penny, Valentine Prester, W. L. Price, J. H. Reed, James Rellahor, John Richardson, 8. Rodgers, George

Early in July the regiment embarked on the steamer "Grace Darling," at New Albany, and proceeded down the Ohio and J\Iississippi rivers to New Orleans, where it was transferred to the barque "Sophia Walker" and on this vessel was carried to Point Isabelle, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Here Colonel Drake reported to General Zachary Taylor and the First Indiana Infantry became a part of General Taj'lor's army. At the expiration of one year the regiment was mustered out.

For forty years after the passage of the Missouri Compromise Act in 1820, the slavery question was a "bone of contention" in nearly ever\- session of the United States Congress, in the campaign of 1860 threats were made by some of the slave states that, in the event of Abraham Lincoln's election to the presidency, they would withdraw from the Union. The people of the North were inclined to believe that these threats would not be carried out, but they were somewhat rudely awakened on December 20, 1860, when a state convention in South Carolina passed an ordinance of secession. Mississippi seceded on January 9, 1861; Florida, January 10th; Alabama, January 11th; Georgia, January 19th ; Louisiana, January 26th ; Texas, February 1st. Hence, when

Mr. Liiifolii wa.s iiiaut^uratL'd on -MarL-h 4, LSGl, lie roiiml seven states already in rebellion against liis authority as president. Ordinances of secession were subsequently passed by the states of Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virujinia.

Major Robert Anderson, who was in fioiiiuiaiid of the hailior defenses at Cliai'h'stoii. Smith Carolina, removed his gai'rison from Kort Jloultrie to Fort Sumter, about tiie l)eyinuing of the year 1861, in order to be in a stronger position should an attempt be made to take possession of the defensive works about the eity. The secessionists looked upon Anderson's action as a hostile movement and began the eonsti'uetion of batteries with a view to reducing Fort Sumter. On January 9, 1861, the steamer "Star of the West," an uiuirmed vessel carrying supplies to Major Anderson, was tired upon and compelled to turn back. In the official records this incident is considered as the beginning of the great Civil war, but the general jjublie was )iot thoroughly aroused to the gravity of tiie situation until tiiree months later.

At 4:30 A. M., Friday, April 12, 1861, the lirst shot of the Civil war, as jiopularly understood, was directed against the solid walls of Fort Sumter. The little garrison promptly responded and for more than forty-eight hours the cannonading went on, when Major Anderson ca])itulated. He and his men were permitteil to retire from the fort with all the honors of war, saluting the flag before it was hauled down. This occurred on Sunday, April 14, 1861, and the next day President Lincoln issued a call for To. 000 voluiiteei-s "to preserve the T'uion and suppress the retiellion.''

All over the North, when the news that Fort Sumter had fallen was flashed by the telegraph, the excitement was intense. Political differences were forgotten in the general indignation at the insult offered to the flag. Before the news of the president's call had reached Indiana, (iovernor Morton sent the following telegram to Washington:

"Indianapolis, hid., April 15, 1861. "To Abraham Lincoln, Tresidcnt of the I'nited States: "On behalf of the State of Indiana. I tender to you, for the defense of the Nation and to uphold the authority of the (.lovei'nmeiit, ten thousand men.

The next day the governor issued his proclamation calling for six regiments of infantry as the state's (juota of the 75,000 troops asked for by the president. As Indiana had furnished five regiments for service in the Mexican war, to avoid historical confusion the first i-egiment organized for the Civil war was numbered the Sixth. The Indiana regiments raised under the first call for volunteers, with the colonels commanding, were as follows : Sixth, Thomas T. Chittenden ; Seventh, Ebenezer Dumont; Eighth, AVilliam P. Benton; Ninth, Robert H. Milroy ; Tenth, Joseph J. Reynolds ; Eleventh, Lewis Wallace.

As soon as the news of the governor's proclamation reached ]Miami county. Captain John M. ^Yilson, who had served in the war with Mexico, commenced organizing a company. Captain Wilson received his commis.sion on April 23, 1861, and, although he pushed the work of recruiting as rapidly as possible, the six regiments were made up before he was ready to report. There were then twenty-nine companies at Camp IMorton, Indianapolis, in excess of the number required by the call, and sixty-eight other companies organized and ready to report in different parts of the state. Under these circumstances. Governor Morton, on his own responsibility and under the power vested in him as commander-in-chief of the militia, determined to organize five' regiments of twelve months' volunteers, "for the defense of the state, or for the service of the United States if a second call for volunteers should be issued."

On May 6, 1861, the governor's action was sanctioned by the legislature, then in special session, in the passage of an act authorizing the governor to organize six regiments. These were numbered from the Twelfth to the Seventeenth, inclusive, and Captain Wilson's company was enrolled as Company B. Thirteenth Regiment, which was mustered into the United States service on June 19, 1861, for three years, with Jere C. Sullivan as colonel. The commissioned officers of the company at the time of muster in were: John M. Wilson, captain; William H. Shields, first lieutenant; William F. Wallick. second lieutenant. Captain Wilson w as afterward made major and promoted to - lieutenant-colonel ; Lieutenant Shields became captain, and Lieutenant Wallick was promoted to first lieutenant. William B. Vance also served as first lieutenant from July 15, 1863, until the expiration of his term of enlistment, and William H. Low-e, wdio succeeded him, was made captain of the company when the regiment was reorganized. George W. Rader, Silas Clark and Henry Sterne served as second lieutenants at different times. George W. Rader was promoted to regimental quartermaster and Silas Clark became captain of Company A when the regiment was reorganized in 1864. The muster roll of the company was as follows: resigned on June 2, lcSG;i; James Carney, James Robinson, Jolin 11. Ream and Daniel Barker, sergeants; Simon E. Cliamberlain, William Starr, Amos B. Andrews, Alexander Leach, John Powell, William Vance, Francis Moore and John F. Warner, corporals; Henry Crone and Charles Trippeer, iiuisicians, and William Jlitchell, wagoner.

The Thirteenth Regiment lelt lndiauai)olis on July 4, 1861, for western Virginia and a few days later .joined General McClellan's army. It was first engaged at the battle of Rich ;Mo\intain, where it lost eight killed and nine wounded. Among the engagements in w-hich it took part were the battles of Alleghany, Deserted Farm, the siege of Forts Wagner and Gregg, nearly all the actions with General Butler's army south of Richmond. Cold Harbor, Strawberry Plains, the siege of Petersburg and. a number of minor skirmishes. On June 24, 1864, the men whose time had expired were mustered out and the veterans and recruits were later reorganized into a battalion of five companies, which was mustered out at Goldsboro, North Carolina, September 5, 1865.

mustered in for three mouths. At the expiration of that time all were reorganized and entered the service for three years. In these reorganized regiments were a number of men from Miami county. John P. Hendricks served as a private in Company E, Eighth Infantry; in Company P of the same regiment were Joseph C. Musselman, Jacob Stuttler and John Watson; William H. Noaks Avas a corpoi-al in Company I, in which company the following privates were credited to Miami county: William Forney, George W. Gates, George W. Haines, Ezra Hunnicut, Levi P. Lilly, James P. Loyd, Joshua Tucker and Oscar Wickersham.

On August 20, 1861, the Eighth Regiment was nnistered in for three years, with William P. Benton as colonel. Its first service was with General Fremont in Missoui-i, after which it served in Arkansas until the opening of the Vicksburg campaign in the spring of 1863, when it joined the army commanded by General Grant. After the fall of Vicksburg it was in Louisiana until the following spring, when it was sent to Virginia and took part in General Sheridan's raid through the Shenandoah valley. From Virginia it was sent to Georgia and was mustered out in that state on Septemljer 17, 1865.

John Stanford, of Peru, served as a private in Company D, Ninth Infantry, his name being the only one on the muster rolls credited to Miami county.

When the reorganized Eleventh Regiment was mustered into the three years' service on August 31, 1861, under Colonel Lewis Wallace, there were five Miami county men on the muster rolls. Cornelius Pontius and Jacob Stanton were in Company D ; Manassah Leedy and John A. Nixon in Company F, and Frederick Prankfelt was a private in Company K. This regiment took part in the operations about Fort Donelson, was in the battle of Shiloh and other engagements in the West, after which it was ordered to Virginia. It was mustered out at Baltimore, Maryland, July 26, 1865.

Fifty-three men from Miami county served as privates in the reorganized Twelfth Infantry, and were scattered through the companies as follows: Company A, Solomon Blousser; Company C, William S. Adams, Henry Allen, Lewis Allen, Victory Allen, Cornelius Beeman,

The Twelfth regiment was mustered into the three years' service on August 17, 1862, with William IT. Link as colonel. lie was killed at the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, and Reuben William succeeded to the command. It took part in the Atlanta campaign of 1864 and the I'ainous march to the sea and u]i through the Carolinas. With the exception of a few recruits and drafted men, the regiment was mustered out on June 8, 1865, those whose time had not expired being then consolidated with other regiments.

The Sixteenth Regiment, one of those that was organized for the defense of the state, was mustered into the United States service on May. 27, 1862, for three years, under command of Colonel Pleasant A. Hackleman. During its one year's service it was in Maryland and Virginia and was the first regiment to march thr(nigh the streets of Baltimore after the Sixth ^Massachusetts had been assaulted there by a mob in April, 1861. Comjiany F of this regiment was recruited in Miami county. Elijah Hawkins, who was mustered in as first lieutenant, was promoted to captain and George Cline became first lieutenant. Henry Boycc was first sergeant ; Andrew J. Lee, Isaac M. Davis and William A. Walker, sergeants; Leander J. Hawkins, Joseph F. Fulton, Wilson Deniston, William Kimberlin, Daniel W. Jones and Charles H. Wilkinson, corporals; Aaron E. Teague, nuisician, and William Garland, wagoner.

Soon after it was mustered in the regiment was ordered to Kentucky to repel the invasion of Kirby Smith. On August 30, 1862, it took part in the battle of Richmond, Kentucky, losing 200 men killed and wounded and 600 captured. After the captured men were exchanged the regiment went down the Mississippi river to take part in the campaign against Vicksburg. On January 11. 1863, it assisted in the reduction of Arkansas Post and was the first regiment to plant its colors on theenemy's works. It was then attached to General Hovey's division and participated in the military operation incident to the siege of Vicksburg. It was then with General Banks on the Red river campaign and was on duty in Louisiana until mustered out on June 30, 1865, when the veterans and recruits were attached to the Thirteenth Indiana Cavalry, which was mustered out the following October.

The Seventeenth Infantry was mustered in as one of the state regiments for one year on June 12, 1861, but was soon afterward mustered into the United States service for three years, with Milo S. Hascall as colonel. In Company F were seven men from Miami county. George F. Hayden, who entered the service as sergeant, was promoted to captain in April, 1864, and the following served as privates : Andrew Hook, John Richardson, Amos C. Smith, James Z. Smith, Charles Stewart and John Thomas. Julius C. Kloenne, of iliami county, was commissioned captain of Company K on April 25. 1861, and in the same company Allen D. Jones held the rank of sergeant and Charles T. Hughes and Newton Jones served as privates.

The tirst service of this regiment was iu Tennessee and in the coiupaign against Corintli, Mississippi. In February, 1863, the men were ordered to forage for horses, in order that the command might become mounted infantry, and it is said that they displayed a peculiar talent for tintliug horses concealed iu the most unsuspected places. The men were then armed witli the Spencer repeating rifle aud as part of Wilder "s famous brigade took part in the engagements at Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, a number of actions during the Atlanta campaign iu 1864, and after the fall of Atlanta it was on duty in (leorgia until mustered out at Macon on August 8, 1865.

Tliis regiment was mustered in at Indianapolis, July 22, 1861, for three years, with William L. Brown as colonel. Company A was recruited in JMiami county and at the time of muster in was officered by John Van Valkenburg, captain; William B. Reyburn, first lieutenant; Jonas Hoover, second lieutenant. Colonel Brown was killed at the btit- Tle of Manassas Plains and on August 30, 1862, Captain Van Valkenburg was commissioned colonel. Following is the roster of the company : John F. Thomas, tirst sergeant (promoted adjutant and captain) ; Sergeants, John T. Bright, George A. Strive, Henry W. Delbert, Charles R. Pew (promoted to first lieutenant) ; Corporals, Charles F. Delbert, Hezckiali Weisner, William Trippeer (promoted to first lieutenant), William 11. Dangerfield, William C. H. Reeder, Warren J. Hawk (promoted to second lieutenant), Nicholas J. Smith, John T. Durdap; musicians, John P. Mabie, William B. Miller; wagoner, Hopthni B. Thorn.

Almost iminediatel.y after the regiment was mustered in it was sent to Maryland to guard the lines of communication with the North. Early in September. 1861. it was sent to Hatteras Inlet, but retunied to Virginia in time to participate in the Peninsular campaign of 1862. It was engaged at Fair Oaks, the Orchard, the Seven Days' battles and numerous slight skirmishes. Subsequently it took part in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Mine Run campaign, most of the battles and skirmishes of the Wilderness campaign in 1864 and the siege of Petersburg. On October 18, 1864, the men whose time had expired were mustered out and the regiment was reorganized, the veterans and recruits of the Seventeenth and Ninteenth regiments being added to the Twentieth, William Orr becoming colonel of the reorganized regiment. William Trippeer, of Company A, was made captain of Company H, and Edwin B. Weist, a iliami county soldier, was commissioned second lieutenant of the same company. The regiment was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, after which it moved to Washington and took part in the grand review. It was then ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out on July 12, 1865.

In this regiment Miami count.v was represented in three companies - F, H and I. At the time of muster in C. Perry Butler was second lieutenant of Company I. He was transferred to Company F as first lieutenant and on May 17, 1864, was commissioned captain of that company, in W'liich he was the only man from iliami couut.y. On June 1, 1865, he was commissioned major of the regiment.

lows: Captains, William W. Shiilcr, Adam S. Loventhal, Hiram B. Bates ; First Lieutenants, Henry Boyee, William A. Duey, Hiram B. Bates; Second Lieutenants, John Posey and Thomas H. Reese. Following is the complete roster of noncommissioned officers and enlisted men: Willijim Thompson and Benjamin F. Stambaugh, sergeants; Thomas H. Reese. Nelson Earl, Samuel Cade and Franklin G. Moore, corporals; Benjamin West, musician.

The Twenty-ninth was organized at Laporte and was mustered in on August 27, 1861, with John F. Miller as colonel. Early in October it joined General Rousseau in Kentucky and was with General Mc- Cook's division in the expedition to the Tennessee river. In the spring of 1862 it took part in the second day's battle of Shiloh, where it was under fire for more than five hours and lost heavily in killed and wounded. It then took an active part in the siege of Corinth, after which it moved with General Buell to Kentucky in pursuit of Bragg 's army. Returning to Tennessee, it was with General Roseerans at the battle of Stone's river and in the TuUahoma campaign, taking part in numerous minor skirnnshes. It was engaged both days in the battle of Chickamauga, where it again suffered heavy losses, and after the men returned to field from their veteran furlough, early in 1864, the regiment was on post duty in Georgia. Colonel Miller having been promoted to brigadier-general, during the latter part of its service the regiment was commanded bj' Colonel David M. Dunn.

This regiment was musten-d in at Anderson, Indiana, September 16, 1861, for three yeai'S, with Ashury Steele as colonel. Three Miami county men served as jirivates in Company II, viz. : Ferdinand Rickert, C. E. Caster and William J. ('aster. Winslow E. Jesiop was a sergeant in Company K, in wliicli the following jirivates were credited to Jliami county : John Freeman, Joseph A. Keller, William R. -Moon, lieigamin A. Spring, James Taylor, John Tharp, John W. Veach, Henry \Vorthington. Samuel AVorthington.

About the middle of October tlie regiment was ordered to Kentucky and remained in camp until Fcljruary 14, 1862, when it was ordered to join General (iraxit in Tennessee. It arrived at Fort Douelson soon after that post surrendered and was then sent to take part in the expedition against New Madrid, Missouri. It was then in Arkansas until the spring of 1863, when it joined the forces under General Grant in the siege of Yicksburg and was in some of the most hotly contested engagements of that campaign. After the fall of Vicksbux'g it was ordered to Louisiana and from there to Texas. This regiment took part in the la.st battle of the Civil war at Palmetto Ranche, Texas, May 13, 1865, and John J. Williams, a private of Company B, who enlisted from Jay county, is said to have been the last man killed in action in the war. He fell at Palmetto Ranche on the date above named. The regiment was one of the last to be mustered out. serving in Texas until February 3. 1866.

This regiment, wliieh later made a famous reputation as the Eighth Cavalry, was mustered in at Indianapolis on August 29, 1861, with Thomas J. Harrison as colonel. A. S. Lakin, of Peru, was chaplain of the regiment and Company A was recruited chiefly in Miami county. In this company Orris Blake and Horace S. Foote served as captain. In ]\Iarch, 1864, Captain Blake was made major of the Twelfth Cavalry and Horace S. Foote was promoted to the command of the company. The first lieutenants were Elhanan V. Peterson, who was promoted to captain of Company M after the regiment was made a cavalry organization, Horace S. Foote, Philander Blake and Nelson Hurst; the second lieutenants were Horace S. Foote. Phillander Blake and Andrew Huffman. James ilcGonigal was the first sergeant; Robert C. Yoor, Josiah F. Burris, Daniel M. Hinkle and Robert Shilling, sergeants; Samuel C. Jones. Abraham Hicks, Alexander Jameson, Benjamin McKee, David W. Rowe, Uriah W. Obliuger, Albert J. Davidson and Horace W. Jones, corporals ; Peter Miller and Peter Wright, musicians; Hamlet D. Thayer, wagoner.

During its term of service a large number of recruits were added to Company A, but in the adjutant-general's report the residence of none of these recruits is given. It is possible that some of them were from Miann county.

As au infantry regiment the Thirty-ninth took part in the early nulitary operations in Kentucky, the battle of Shiloh, the siege of Corinth, and then returned to Kentucky as part of (Jeneral Buell's army in pursuit of Bragg. In April, 1863, the regiment was mounted and served as mounted infantry during the remainder of that year. Companies L and ]\I wei'e added later in the year and the organization then became known as the Eighth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. Lieutenant Peterson was made captain of Company 'SI, in which the following ^liami county men served as pi'ivates: ^Martin Gate, Tertullus Collins, John W. P'owler, Jeremiah Hatch, George T. Jeffers, Sylvester Leedy, Harrison B. Mitchell, James Ogle, Isaac Pavey, Conrad Platner, Alfred Rayjior, Christoi)her Sanders, Henry Sharp, Xelson Smith, Oliver P. Swain, Sanuiel Swengle, Robert S. Thomas. Barret H. West, P^rancis M. Wilkinson, Aaron S. York, Sanuiel II. Yueum.

After the reorgani/.aticm as a cavalry regiment, the Eighth took part in General Rous>eau"s raid in AJabanui and in General McCook's raid around Atlaida. It formed ]iart of General Kilpatrick's cavalry in the march to the sea and uj) thi'ough the Carolinas. At Morrisville, under connnand of Colonel Fielder A. Jones (Colonel Harrison having been promoted to brigadier-general), the regiment whipped Wade Hampton "s entire force and had the honor of fighting the last battle in North

Carolina. It remained on duty in that state until July 20, 1865,- when it was ordered home. On the last day of that month the Eighth was given a reception at the state house in Indianapolis, after which the men were discharged and retm-ned to their homes. During the entire term of service the regiment bore upon its muster rolls the names of 2,500 men. It captured 1,500 prisoners, 1,000 stands of arms, three railroad trains, 1,400 horses, 14 pieces of artillery and four battle flags, and destroyed many miles of railroad. Of all the regiments sent out by the Hoosier state, none made a more houonible record than the Thirty-ninth - the Eighth Cavalry.

In this regiment Company B was composed almost entirely of Miami county boys, and a few from the county served in Company I. At the muster in, December 30, 1861, the commissioned officers of Company B were as follows: Daniel A. Ewiug, captain; John C. Belew, first lieutenant ; James C. Thompson, second lieutenant. Those who served as commissioned officers at some period of the term of service were : First lieutenants, Willard Griswold( promoted to ad.jutant of the regiment), Jeremiah C. Brower, Charles 8. Smith ( promoted to captain, :\larch 1, 1865), Nathaniel Y. Buck; second lieutenants, Albert dinger, Franklin Cranor and John Debarr.

The roster of the noncommissioned officers and enlisted men shows the names of Albert dinger and John C. Terrell, sergeants; John C. Owens, Henry K. Butt. Jeremiah C. Brower, William L. Thompson, corporals ; John Groat, musician ; James Owens, wagoner, and the following

In Company I of the Fortieth Mark Dwire served as first lieutenant; Alfred T. Warwick, second lieutenant; Dennis Driskell and Abraham as privates. The name of Deiniis Driskell also appears as a recruit in Company B, from which he was transferred.

The Fortietli Infantry was organized in Lafayette and left there immediately after being mustered in for Hardstown, Kentucky. In February, 1862, it nuirehed with General Buell's army to Nashville and into northern Alabama. It next joined in the pursuit of Bragg's forces through Kentucky, after which it reported to General Rosecrans and took part in the battle of Stone's River, or Murfreesboro, where it lost eighty-five men in killed, wounded and missing. Later it was in the engagements at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, ^Missionary Ridge, and several of the principal actions of the Atlanta campaign of 18C4, particularly the assault on the Confederate intrenehments at Kenesaw mountain and the battle of Peachtree creek. After the occupation of Atlanta by the Federal forces, the regiment returned to Tennessee with General Thomas and was engaged in the battle of Nashville, December 15-16, 1864, and the pursuit of Hood's array which followed. It was then on duty in Louisiana and Texas until near the close of the year 1865, when it was mustered out.

lu this regiment George M. Doane was assistant surgeon ; Amos Orpit and Taylor Williams served as privates in Company I ; J. C. Moses was a sergeant in Company K; Ambrose McVoke held the rank of corporal in the same company, in which three iliami county men served as privates, viz. : Daniel Clise, A. P. Collins and Francis Wilkinson.

About two-tliirds of the members of Company G, Fifty-first Regiment, came from ^Miami county. William Moorehead, of Peru, was the assistant surgeon of the regiment. The captains of Company G during its term of service were Francis M. Constant, William Wallick and Avery B. Charpie ; the first lieutenants were Joseph Y. Ballon, Abraham G. ]\Iui-ray and John C. Young, and the second lieutenants were William Wallick, Jasper ^1. Brown, Avery B. Charpie and Louis P. Holman. Elisha Buck held the rank of sergeant; Thomas B. Crooks, Willijiiii O. IMper, Francis M. Brown, Calel) Boggs. John W. Crooks,

The Fifty-iirst was organized at Indianapolis in the fall of 1801 and was mustered into the United States service on the 1-tth of Decemlier, with Abel D. Streight as colonel, A few days later it was ordered to Hardstowu, Kentucky, where it remained in a camp of instruction until tlie following Fel)ruary. when it moved with Huell's army to Nashville. It arrived at Shiloh too late to take part in the battle, but was engaged in the siege of Corinth and later in the campaign against Bragg in Kentucky. Returning to Tennessee, it was assigned to the army commanded by General Rosecrans and participated in the battle of Stone's River. It was then on the famous Streight raid through Alabama and Georgia, which ended with the capture of Straight's force near Rome, Georgia. The prisoners were paroled and wei-e in parole camp at Indianapolis until November, 1863, when they were exchanged and rejoined the army at Nashville, Tennessee. The regiment formed part of General Sherman's army in the Atlanta campaign of 1864, after which it returned to Tennessee with Genei'al Thomas and took part in the battle of Nashville in December. Early in 1865 it was ordered to New Orleans and from there to Texas, where it remained on duty until mustered out early in the year 1866.

Company C of this regiment was raised in Miami county. During its term of service Henry Calkins and Milo D. Ellis iield tlie rank of captain; the first lieutenants wei'e Milo 1). Ellis, Burr Kussell, John Denuith and Irvin Hutchison; tlic second lieutenants were Isaac H. Cochran, Burr Ixussell, Klisha Brown and William II. Reyburu.

At the time the regiment was mustered into service Burr Russell was first sergeant; Wiiliam J. Smith, Alexander Keyes, WiUiam H. Reyburu and Elisha Brown were the sergeants; John Demuth, Peter Keegan, John Hand, Benjamin F. Bowen, George W. Bellew, Noah Brewer, John B. Steel and Aaron Cottemiau, corporals; Joseph J. Kennedy and Nathaniel York, musicians, and Herman Marshall, wagoner.

Eleven Miami county men served in ( H. James S. Durett was first lieuteimnt of the company; Amos B. Andrews and John W. Bownuin were sergeants; George B. Miller was a corporal, and John S. Armantrout, David Fires, George King, Simon Lash, Elias Westheffer, Jacob Westheffer and Jacob Wilhelm were privates.

The Eighty-seveuth was orgauized in the Niuth Congressional district and rendezvoused at South Bend. On August 28, 1862, it left that place for Indianapolis, where it was mustered in on the 31st, with Kline G. Shryock as colonel. The same day it left for Kentucky and joined the army under General Buell, taking part in the l)attles of Springfield and Perryville. It was then ordered to Tennessee and was with General Rosecrans in the Tullahoma campaign, after which it participated in the battle of Chickamauga and the fight at ilissionary Ridge. In 1864 it was with General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and the celebrated march to the sea. Tlien followed the campaign up through the Carolinas and the surrender of General Johnston's army, after which the regiment moved to Washington and took part in the grand review. It was then ordered to Indianapolis, where it was mustered out on June 21. 1865, the veterans and recruits being at that time attached to the Forty-second Regiment, wliich was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, a month later.

In tliis regiment, which was better known as the Fifth Indiana Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Robert R. Stewart, there were six privates credited to iliami county. Joseph ]\Iason and John Morris served in Company D ; Samuel Shroyer, Joshua H. Willard and Richard AVilliams in Company I ; and William A. Miller in Company K.

Miami county furnished two comjjanies to this regiment - D and I. In Company D Josiah Farrar and George W. Norris served as captain during the term of service ; John Clifton, George W. Norris and John Harvey as first lieutenants; Joachim M. Hamlin, George W. Norris and Jacob D. Smith as second lieutenants. Captain Farrar was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and on May 2, 1865, received his commission as colonel.

George W. Norris was mustered in as first sergeant ; John Harvey, Jacob Smith, Ezra Roe and Jacol) E. ]\larsh as sergeants; John C. Mullett, Zaehariah Gunckle, David Hastings, Edward Piper, Francis Litsenberger, Robert Briggs, John R. Love and Oliver Kissman as corporals; William H. II. Spaulding and Alonzo B. Thorn as musicians, and John S. Parr as wagoner.

The captains of Company I were William V. Powell and Ira B. Myers. Captain Powell was promoted to major and on May 2, 1865, was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the regiment, when Lieutenant flyers was commissioned captain. The first lieutenants were Ira B. Myers and Lemuel U. Powell, and the second lieutenants were James 15. ^McGonigal and John C. Parks.

Elmore Warnock was tirst sergeant at the time of muster in ; Lemuel U. Powell and Alfred A. Ream, sergeants; Francis M. Robey, John C. Parks, Tom W. Powell, Alexander :\Ie:\Iillers, Rupell Vinedge, Daniel Albaugh and Francis M. McGraw, corporals; Aid F. Spaulding and Andrew Studebaker, musicians.

The Niuety-ninth Infantry was recruited in the months of August and September, 1862. in the Ninth Cougressional district, and was mustered into the service of the United States on October 21, 18ti2, with Alexander Fowler as colonel. Soon after it was mustered in it was ordered to Jlemphis, Tennes.see, and its first actual service was in the Tallahatchie campaign. It remained in Tennessee until May 6, 1863, when it was ordered to join the army under General Grant for the siege of Vicksburg, ancl was engaged in the liattles of Jackson and the Big Black river. For some time it was then employed in destroying the railroad lines in Mississippi, after which it marched to Chattanooga with General Sherman and took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge. In 1864 it took jiart in the Atlanta campaign, was with Sherman in the march to the sea, and was one of the regiments that made the .assault on Fort McAllister, which surrendered after a hand to hand fight, thus opening Sherman's comnumications with the fleet lying off the const at the mouth of the Savannah river. It was next in the campaign through the Carolinas, then went to Washington, where it was mustered out on June 5, 1865. During its service the Ninety-ninth marched over 4,000 miles. It entered the service with 900 men and was nuistered out with only 425.

In the summer of 186.3 the celebrated Confederate guerrilla chieftain. General John Morgan, started, upon a raid through the Northern States, especially Indiana and Ohio. On July 8. 1863, Governor Morton issued a call for thirteen regiments of "Minute Men" to defend the state against invasion of the raiders. One of these regiments was the

J\Iiami county was prompt to respond to the call of the governor and furnished two companies - D and F - to this regiment. Of Company D, Joseph Y. Ballon was captain ; John C. Belew. first lieutenant ; Ira B. Stevens, second lieutenant. The noncommissioned oiificers were: George I. Reed, first sergeant; John Leslie, John Morris. David Woolpert and Eliphaz Burnett, sergeants; Richard Butt, Washington Cover, Harrison Gibbert and James il. Y^oung, corporals.

Company F was officered by WiUiam B. Reyburn, captain; Jonas Hoover, first lieutenant; William F. M. Wallick, second lieutenant; Franklin S. Foote, first sergeant; Charles W. Cochran, Henry W. Deibert. Brown McClintoc and Charles L. Armstrong, sergeants; Lyman Walker. Alexander Blake. George N. Osgood and Jeremiah Walliek, corporals.

The regiment was mustered in at Indianapolis on July 10, 1863, only tW'O days after the call for troops was issued by the governor, w'ith 709 men, rank and file, and John R. Mahan as colonel. On the

13th it left Indianapolis by rail for Hamilton, Ohio, and from that city proceeded to Cincinnati, where it remained until after the capture of Morgan near New Lisbon, Ohio. As this event ended the emergency for which the Minute Men were called out, the regiment returned to Indianapolis and was there mustered out on the 17th, having been in the service of the United States just one week.

This regiment was known as the Twelftli Indiana Cavalry. Miami county furnislied all of Company L and twenty-four men for Company M. Orris Blake, of I\Iiami county, who entered the service as captain of Company A. Eighth Cavalrv, was made ma.jor of the regiment, and William Pew became adjutant. The commissioned officers of Company L were: Ethan E. Thornton, captain; Joseph Y. Ballon and George X. Osgood, first lieutenants ; George N. Osgood, J. M. Houk and James Highland, second lieutenants. On May 1, 1865, Lieutenant Ballou received his commission as captain of Company M and George N. Osgood was promoted to first lieutenant.

The regiment was organized at Kendallville and was mustered in on March 1, 1864, with Edward Anderson as colonel. At first only six companies were mounted. Soon after being mustered in the command was oi-dered to Nashville and the mounted companies had numerous skirmishes with guerrillas, the unmounted men being employed in guarding railroads. In September, 1864, the regiment was placed at Tullahoma as a garrison for the post. While here the men were several times engaged with the Confederate cavalry under Forrest. About this time Colonel Anderson was ordered to Indiana on special service and Jlajor Blake assumed command. In February, 186.5, the Twelfth, all mounted, was sent to New Orleans and from there to Mobile, Alabama, where it was actively engaged in the operations against the defenses of the city. After the surrender of Mobile the regiment, still commanded by ]\Iajor Blake, was ordered to Columbus, Mississippi. General (irierson wrote to Governor Morton that the Twelfth Indiana Cavalry was one of the best regiments in the service. The regiment was on detached duty in Mississippi until mustered out at Vieksburg on November 10, 1865.

I\Iianii county furnished six men for this regiment, viz.: James Duncan, George S. Evans, Israel Leedy and Richard K. :Miller. of Company I, and William H. Murray and Joseph N. Oliver, of Company K. On aiarch .1 1864, Richard K. :Miller was commissioned capfain of Company I, having previously served as ad.iutant of the regiment. Subsequently he was promoted to ma.ior and lieutenant-colonel, and at the close of the war was brevetted colonel "for gallant and meritorious services."

In this regiment there were likewise six Miami county men, all privates. Josiah Bryant and Milton Young served in Company E, and William Gates, Jacob Hullinger, Charles Lancaster and Albert Perkins in Company G.

In the spring of 1864, when, the general advance upon the Confederate positions was contemplated, it was seen that more men would be essential to the success of the Union arms. To meet this emergency a meeting of the governors of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and "Wisconsin was called at Indianapolis for April 22, 1864, by Governor ilorton. At this meeting the plan of raising some 85,000 men in the states named, to serve for one hmidred days, was adopted. President Lincoln approved the idea and the work of recruiting the troops was commenced, with the understanding that the short term regiments were to be used to relieve the veterans in the garrisons and acting as guards in the rear of Grant's and Sherman's armies. The first of the one hundred days' regiments in which Miami county was represented was the

In this regiment a considerable part of Company K was raised in Miami county. Alexander Jameson was commissioned second lieutenant, but was not mustered, and Isaac J. C. Guy took his place.

In this regiment, which was also raised for the one hundred days' service. Company A was recruited in Miami county. Of this company Jonas Hoover was captain; Wesley Wallick, first lieutenant; Henry D. Moore', second lieutenant, and following is a list of the

Seven Miami county men enlisted in Company A of this regiment, which was mustered in for one hundi-ed days on June 8, 1864. with George Hum])hrey as colonel. They were Stephen Byers, Harvey H. Curtis, James H. Daggy, Newton Hoover, Reese H. Jones, Samuel C. Mnrjihy and Fiidey Rarydon.

This regiment was mustered in on November 3, 1864, for one year, with John ]\l. Comparet as colonel. In Company I. Alexander G. Saxon, a Miami county man. was corporal, and the following privates were credited to the county : Nathan Addington, Thomas A. Dangerfield, John (iorstine, John E. Grant, Cornelius Jarvis, Flavius J. Massey, Leroy S. Marine, Henry S. Parker, William R. Parker, Albert Reynolds, Heuston Sullivan, all from Xenia (now Converse).

In Company K. Chai-les E. Davis and Richard Phipps were enrolled as corporals; John Lai'ven as nuisician ; Riley Clark, George W. Clifton, John C. Clifton, John Dailey, Joseph Dickerson, William J. Edmund, Benjamin Huff. William B. Miner, George C. Petty, James J. Purnell, Christopher ('. l{ood and Charles Williams as privates.

reserve, many of the members being disapi)oiuted at not being permitted to take part in the tight. After that battle the regiment was kept on duty in and around Nashville until mustered out on July 14 1865.

This was one of the regiments recruited under the president's call of December 19, 1864. It was mustered in at Indianapolis on March 3, 1865, for one year, with Joshua Ilealy as colonel. Companies C and D were raised in Miami county and the county was also represented in Companies H and I.

The ofiScers of Company C were: William A. Nichols, captain; Isaac J. C. Guy, first lieutenant; William A. Vance, second lieutenant; Thomas B. Cade, first sergeant; Samuel C. Jones, James S. Parker, William Pence and Francis B. Showers, sergeants; James H. Love, Harvey Conner, John Martindale, John Beecher, Charles W. Love, Adam W. Smith, Newton W. Tanquary and Mitchell M. Dukes, corporals; Britton E. Lamborn and Charles Osborn, musicians; Silas E. Shoemaker, wagoner.

Morgau, tii-st lifutcnant ; Aiulri'w J. Haines and Thomas K. Ellis, second lieutenants, the last named having been promoted from first sergeant. William B. Owens. Reuben II. Mohley, Francis M. Cook and Ephrainj L. Ci'idci' were the company's sergeants; Daniel Sturgis, David \V. Jones, Allen McGnire, Abner L. Willis, (ieorge W. Cones, William B. Cook, William H. Jliller and Robert M. Brooks, corporals; Harrison E. Reese, musician, and Perry Akeberger, wagoner.

John II. Ream, of Peru, was captain of Company H, but the rank and file of the company came from the counties of Jasper, Starke and Xewton. In Company I the following Aliami eount.v men were enrolled as privates: Francis N. Holt. Elijah Pond, Nelson Reichard, Silas Stewart and Aaron Taumbaugh.

On March 9, 1865, si.x days after it was mustered in, the regiment arrived at Nashville, Teiniessee, where it was assigned to General Rousseau's conuiiantl, with which it moved to Tullahoma and remained in that vicinity until June. It was thcTi employed in post and garrison duty at Nashville until mustered out on Sei)tember 19, 1865.

John W. Smitli was appointed surgeon of the regiment, and Joseph A. Chandler and ^lartin B. Arnold served as assistant surgeons. Company K was a Miami county company and was of5fieered by Henry D. Moore, captain; John H. Jamison, first lieutenant; James Bell, second lieutenant.

The, regiment proceeded to AVashington almost as soon as it was mustered in and from Washington was sent to Alexandria, Virginia. There it was assigned to the Provisional Brigade. Thiixl Division. Ninth Army Corps, and performed post and guard duty until ordered liack to Indiana. Some of the companies were on detached duty in Delaware and two of these, while returning to the regiment, were in a railroad accident, in which several of the men were severely injured. These were the only casualties suffered by the regiment. It was mustered out at Indianapolis on September 1, 1865.

The Fourteenth Battery, Light Artillery, was recruited in Miami, Wabash, Huntington and Fayette counties and was mustered in at Indianapolis on March 24, 1862, with Meredith H. Kidd, as captain. H. C. Loveland, of ^Miami county, was second lieutenant; James P. Chandler, sergeant; Thomas H. Wibel, corporal; and the following members of the battery were credited to Miami county : William Baker, William Bartholomew, James Cauger, Henry Coleman, Dewitt

From Indianapolis the battery proceeded to Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. It then took part in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi; formed part of General Sherman's force in the raid to Meridian; after which it operated around Vicksburg, Memphis, Guntown and Nashville, and aided in the rctluetion of Spanish Fort at iMobile. It was mustered out on August 2fl, 1865.

In addition to the ]\Iiaini rouiity volunteers mentioned in the foregoing companies and regiments, there were a number of men who served in other commands. Allen Daggy was a private in Company C, Thirt.v-fifth Infantr.v ; Reuben 0. Small served in Company I, One Hundred and First Infantry, and Walcut Tuttle in Company K of the same regiment; in the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment (Eleventh Cavalry), Felician Clove, William Elshire and John Waymire, of Company L, were credited to ]\riami county; James Howell and Valentine Perkins were privates in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Infantr.v, and James A. Lucas was a member of Compan.v F, of that regiment ; and the names of Simon Clevenger and David "SI. Darby, of Xenia, appear on the muster rolls of the Twelfth Indiana Battery.

In the Fourth Heav.v Artillery. ITuited States Colored Troops, the following men were credited to Miami county: William Allen, Frank Brooks. Charles Clark, David Harris, John Hart, Peter Hicks, Albert Ilorton, John Nelson, Washington Paddy, Dick Richardson, Powell Richardson, John Robinson, Henry Thompson, Amos Walk, William W^alker and Nelson W^illiams.

The First Ignited States Veteran Volunteer Engineers was organized under an act of Congress, approved Ma.v 20, 1864, and was under command of Colonel William E. Merrill. Miami county was represented in six companies of this organization - A, B, D, E, F and H. In Company A. Allen S. Ilurtt was quartermaster sergeant, and Thomas B. Hurtt was artificer; in Company B were George T. Lamborn and B. nil], the latter the artificer of the company; in Company D, George W. Allen was a private; in Company E were three men from Miami county - f]lisha S. Buck, sergeant ; John Kites, artificer, and Daniel F. Deibert. pi'ivatc : Patrick Murt, of Peru, was the artificer in Company F, and P^rancis McGrew was a private in Company H.

111 the adjutaiit-geiierars reports sometimes the entire muster roll of a company appears without the residences of the members being given. It is quite probable that some of the men thus enrolled should be credited to IMiami county, but after half a century or more has passed it would be almost impossible to distinguish which ones should be so credited. It is also true that men from this county enlisted in companies organized in other counties, but it is doubtless equally true that in the foregoing lists are some who came from other counties and enlisted in Miami. The spelling of the names in the rosters given above is the same as that found in the reports of the adjutant-general. No doubt that in .some instances the names are not spelled as they should be. but it was deemed best to follow literally the official reports without attempting any changes, except in rare cases where there was unquestionably a typographical error.

The special session of the legislature in 1861 passed an act "for the organization and regiilation of the Indiana militia." Under the provisions of this act four eoiiipauies of the "Indiana Legion," sometimes called the "Home Guards," were organized in Miami county. They were the iliami Guards, James Highland, captain ; Thomas R. Ellis, first lieutenant ; John Pearson, second lieutenant. The ]\Iortou Rangers, Thomas P]. Cassingliam and James W. Campbell, captains; Alexander Stanley and Lucas A. Adams, first lieutenants; Thomas R. Ellis, second lieutenant. The Union Guards. Joseph Y. Ballon and Daniel Griswold, captains; James L. Wilson, first lieuteuact; John Lesley and Daniel Harter, second lieutenants. The Wheatville Guards, John Old, captain: AVashington A. Cover, first lieutenant; R. W. Butt, second lieutenant. These companies were never called into the field, but the muster rolls of other organizations show that a large number of the original home guards enlisted for actual service and were mustered into the service of the United States.

Of the volunteer soldiers who went out from IMianii county to do battle for their country, 190 never returned. The adjutant-general's report show that of those who died while in the service 52 wei-e killed in action; 18 died of wounds; 5 are known to have died while held as prisoners of war; and 115 died of disease. These figures are doubtless incomplete, as in the reports, opposite the names of a number of the men, is that mysterious and discouraging legend "Unaccounted for."

Some of the men thus reported aiterward returned to their homes, but from others no tidings were ever received. They probably died in the enemy's country, perhaps in prison, and their renuiins rest in some unmarked grave. These "unaccounted for" are entitled to a place upon the county's "Roll of Honor."

Wiiile the "Boys in Blue" were at the front, the people at home were not unmindful of their patriotic sacrifice and the necessities of their wives and children. During the war the commissioners of Miami county authorized the payment of $281,650 for soldiers' bounties; .$44,890.86 for the relief of soldiers' families, and $4,800 for miscellaneous expenses in connection with the recruiting and equipping of troops, making a total of $331,340.86 expended by the county in its official capacity. These figures may be obtained from the public records, but there is no record of the relief given by the people of the county in their individual capacity. Many a sack of flour, many a basket of provisions, numerous sums of money, bundles of clothing or school books found their way to the home of some soldiers' wife, that her children might be made comfortable and enabled to attend school. If the value of all these voluntary offerings could be ascertained it would probably aggregate as much as the official appropriations of the county. And it is greatly to the credit of these noble women that they were not too proud to accept these offerings of charity. Even cast off clothing was received by them without the feeling that it was reflection upon their poverty, but rather a grateful recognition on the part of some loyal neighbor of the sacrifice they had made by sending the ones they loved best to preserve the institutions the founders of the republic established.

There is one fact in coiuiectioii with Miami county history during the Civil war period that has never been sufficiently emphasized. In connnon with most of the other counties of the state, there was some disloyal sentiment in Miami. But from the records of the provost marshal general it may be seen that, when drafts were ordered to fill the quota of enlistments, not a single citizen of the county left his home to avoid the draft. Only a few counties in the state have such a record.

For four centuries after the discovery of America the island of Cuba was a Sparush dependency. An expedition for the liberation of the Cubans was projected by Narcisso Lopez in 1850, l)ut it ended in a iniseratile failure. Four years later the Cuban junta in New York organized a relief laoveuient upon a larger scale, but before anything definite could be done news of the scheme reached the Spanish government and the undertaking was forestalled. In 1868 there was a general insurrection among the Cubans, which was followed by a ten years' war. During that time Spain sent over 100.000 troops to the island to overcome the revolutionists, and at the end of the war the inhabitants of the island were cruelly informed that they would have to pay the war debt of some $200,000,000. This started another revolution, but this time the Cubans moved slowly, making careful preparations, and it was not until February, 1895, that an open insurrection broke out in the provinces of Santiago, Santa Clara and .Matanzas. Within sixty days 50,000 Spanish soldiers were in Cuba, under command of General Campos. He was succeeded by (Jeneral Weyler, whose cruelties aroused the indignation of the civilized nations of the world and forced the Spanish government to send General Blanco to take his place. Although the new commander was less inhuman than his predecessor, he was equally determined in his intention to subdue the islanders and compel them to continue under Spanish rule.

In the meantime legislative bodies and iiolitical conventions in the United States had been passing resolutions asking this government to recognize the belligerent rights of the Cubans, if not their absolute independence. About ten o'clock on the evening of February 15, 1898, the United States battleship Maine, then lying in the harbor of Havana, was blown up and a number of her crew were killed. This brought the excitement in the United States to fever heat and on April 11, 1898, President McKinley sent a special message to Congress, asking for authority to intervene in behalf of the people of Cuba. On the 20th Congress passed a resolution, which was approved by the president the same day, recognizing the independence of Cuba and demanding that Spain withdraw all claims to and authority over the island. Five days later war was formally declared by Congress, though two days before the declaration the president proclaimed the ports of Cuba in a state of blockade and called for 125,000 volunteers to enforce the resolution of Congress.

Late on the afternoon of April 25, 1898, Governor Jam'es A. Mount received notice by telegraph from the seci'etary of war that Indiana's quota of the 125,000 volunteers would be four regiments of infantry and two light batteries of artillery. The telegram further stated that it was 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."

Instead of foiif regiments, tlie state raised five, whii-li were numbered to befriti whci'c tbe Civil war nuiiil)ers left off. Tbe Indiana regiments in the Spanish-American war were therefore llie I'jTth, 158th, 159th, 160th and 161st.

"With tli(> same spirit of patriotism that aetuated the peo])le of Miami county at tlie beginning of the Civil war. a meeting was called at the court-house in l\'ru for the evening of April 20, 1898, the same day Congress jiassed the I'csolution i-eeognizing the independence of Cuba and five days befoi-e the formal dechiration of war with Spain, to discuss the situation and take sndi ai'tion as might be deemed necessary. Hon. .Tames F. Stutesman called the meeting to order and Judge J. T. Cox was chosen permanent ehairnmn. Speeches were made by Mr. Stutesman. II. F. I.ovelan,!. W. E. Mowbray, Captain W. H. li. Spauldiiig and othei's, all expressing sympathy with the struggling (.'ubans and urging the United States to intervene in their behalf. At the close of the meeting an oppoit unity was given to those present to enroll themselves as members of a military company, which was to be tendered to the governor in the event of a call for volunteers. About thirty men signed the roll that evening and during the next few days the number was increased to over one hundred. On Thursday evening, April 28, 1898, these men met and elected H. P. Loveland, captain; Milton Kraus, first lieutenant ; and Michael Bearss, second lieutenant.

Not long after tliis Captain Loveland called on Oovernor Mount and tenilered the services of his company. He was informed by the governor that the quota under the first call had been filled by companies of the National Guai'd, with a few additional volunteers. The governor promised, however, that iliami county shouhi lie among the first to be recognized in case a second call was made. A little later, when the One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment was in jirocess of formation, Captain Loveland again called on the governor to remind him of the promise antl urge the acceptance of the Miami county company. It so happened that Comi)any ]\I, of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment, was organized in Cass county, which is in the same Congressional district as Miami, and as there were some of the districts not yet represented by any company, the governor insisted that the new regiment should lie made up of (companies from these districts. He admitted having made the promise to accept the company from Miami county, but the fact that the Eleventh district already had one company in service caused him to rescind that promise, in order that all parts of the state should have representation. Through this combination of circumstances, Miami county coidd not "go to war" with a full and regularly organized comjiany. though several of her sons served as members of other organizations.

Jacob A. Karu, of Peru, was a sergeant in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-eighth regiment, and in the same company Burl R. Elsworth, Jerome Landauer, Sanford See and Loren Whitteuburger served as privates. Five Miami county men were in the One Hundred and Sixtieth Regiment : Cliarles M. Wey, in Company B ; Lester K. ]Miller, in Company D; Howard O. Powell (corporal), Edward S. Baity and John F. ^McLean, in Company K. Jessee ^loutrose was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Sixty-first Regiment. In the Twenty-eighth Battery of Light Artillery Francis J. Coyle was a cor- IJoral ; Silas W. Carpenter, a musician, and Charles Griswold, a private.

A few years after the close of the Civil war a company called the Peru Grays was organized in that city, with J. H. Jack as captain; "W. F. Daly, first lieutenant ; Lsaac Bozarth, second lieutenant. Rank and file, the company was composed of the best young men in the county. On one occasiou this company took an excursion to Put-in- Bay and the city of Sandusky, accompanied by the old Howe band, and everywhere both the "boys" and the musicians met with a cordial reception. In 1876 conditions arose at Seymour, Jackson county, that apparently demanded the presenee of the militia and Governor Hendricks called upon the Peru Grays to report for duty. The company went as far as Indianapolis, when it was learned that order could be restored without the use of the troops, and after a few days in the state capital the Grays returned home. :\lany people criticised the members of the organization for their promptness in obeying the orders of the executive, notwithstanding they had taken an oath to do so, and in time the dissatisfaction thus engendered resulted in the disbandment of the company.

The Bunker Hill Light Guards was organized on November 7, 1885, In- W. W. Robbins, with forty-seven members. The officers of the company were W. W. Ro})bius, captain; J. W. Reeder, first lieutenant; J. W. O'Hara, second lieutenant. A band of eleven members was organized under the leadership of David Long. Captain Robbins afterward became a ma.jor in the Indiana National Guard. After a few years the novelty of "being soldiers" wore off', the interest in the organization waned and in time the company was disbanded.

In the fall of 1906 a military company was organized at Peru and was mustered into the Indiana National Guard as Company L, Third Regiment. The offleers at tlie time of organization were E. M. Phillips, captain; E. J. Howes, first lieutenant: W. W. Failing, second lieuten- ant. Sonu' changes were .suhseiiiK'ntly made in tlie official roster, by which Fred Becker became captain and W. W. Failing was promoted to first lieutenant. The company's armory on West Third street, between Broadway aiul ]\Iiami streets, was destroyed by fire on January 8, l!)in, and soon after that the organization was disbanded. Upon writing to tlic adjutant-general's office for the official I'ccord of this company, the following information was received :

"February lU, 1914. "Dear Sii-: - Conii)any L, 'I'liird Infantry, I. N. G., was mustered in at Peru, Indiana, October 10, 1906, with Ernest M. Phillips as captain ; Earl J. Howes, first lieutenant ; John R. Huber, second lieutenant. The company was mustered out March 1, 1910, J. Fred Becker being captain at mustering out date. The company had no other commissioned officers at tliis time.

Several Miami county boys have distinguished themselves in the United States army and the navy. Hiram I. Bearss was commissioned as second lieutenant about the beginning of the Spanish-American war. During that conflict he was promoted to captain for meritorious services and later was sent with his regiment to the Philippines, where for his bravery on several occasions he was recommended by his superior officer. Major Waller, for still further promotion. lie is still in the service.

Edgai- Ridenour. in 1898, was appointed a cadet in the United States ^Military Academy at West Point, New York. He completed the course in that institution and entered the army as a lieutenant. He is still in the service and now holds the rank of captain, having won his promotion by good discipline and soldierly conduct.

Edward R. Coppock enlisted from Jackson township in the regular army some \ears ago and at the close of the year 1913 was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen, Vermont. He has risen to the rank of lieutenant.

Tw(j biothers, Peter and Otto Ilaughtington. entered the regular army as jx'ivates and both served in the Philippines. Otto twice reiinlisted and during his last term served in China at the time of the Boxer troubles. He rose to the rank of quartermaster sergeant and while in the Philippines wrote several interesting letters home, some of which

Walter Coustaut, a member of one of Miami county's old families, attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he was graduated some time in the '70s. He entered the navy as an ensign and rose to the rank of lieutenant, perhaps even higher. His death occurred at Yokohama, Japan, in the early '90s and his remains were accompanied by a naval escort to Peru, where they were interred with military honors.

Hale Stutesmau, a son of Frank M. Stutesman, of Peru, is second lieutenant in the Tenth United States Infantry and at the beginning of the year 1914 was stationed with his regiment at Panama. Before entering the regular army he was graduated at Princeton University.