Perry County, Indiana - Chapter 23: Beginning of Hostilities, 1916

With breathless interest the action of Lincoln's administration was awaited during the first two months of 1861. Numerous citizens of Perry County were Southerners by birth and rearing, many more were of Southern descent, a part of whose heritage was a warm affection toward those states where their blood relatives yet resided, and they sincerely felt that injustice had been shown the South. In contrast, there were ardent Abolitionists who favoured a death blow to slavery while the iron was hot, though their number was fewer than those who deprecated any interference therewith. Probably the majority of all parties were willing to make any honourable concession that would preserve the Union.

President Lincoln's refusal to enforce the carriage of supplies to Major Anderson in Fort Sumter was vehemently denounced by many men in Perry County, but the editor of the Reporter said on April : "If Mr. Lincoln will so manage affairs as to avoid a fight, his administration will be a success for which he shall have our applause." No telegraph wires had yet penetrated the county, and only four weekly mails were brought by the packet Grey Eagle between Louisville and Evansville, so it was not until two days after the fall of Sumter - or April 14 - that the exciting news reached Cannelton.

Sunday morning though it was, crowds of men collected on the streets. Loud talk could be heard in every group, threats and prophecies bandied to and fro for some few hours, or until the time for customary religious worship brought a close to the turbulent scene, and excitement subsided into quiet. At every landing from Rono to Troy the tidings occasioned the same consternation, spreading like a swift prairie fire from the river bank out into the farthest township hills. Everywhere it kindled fierce indignation among the husky farmers, so that Monday morning found all spring labour forgotten in anxiety to hurry to the towns for fuller details. Newspapers were eagerly sought and were read aloud to avid listeners. That week's Reporter observed : "We do not care to discuss the legal right of the Government to Fort Sumter, and willingly admit all that can be argued in that way ; but were Fort Sumter a thousand times more valuable than it is, it would be purchased at a dear price if it cost one drop of American blood shed in civil war."

As part of the former militia equipment assigned to Perry County, fifty-nine muskets belonging to the State remained in charge of Daniel L. Armstrong, Auditor, and agreeable to the orders of Governor Morton had been boxed up ready for shipment to Indianapolis. During the night of Thursday, April 18, these were secretly removed from the Court House by unknown parties, which caused no little excitement when the discovery of the abstraction was made. Many citizens were brought before Esquire John C. Wade for examination, but nothing could be elicited giving the slightest clue toward detection of anyone involved, though the guns were generally believed to be in town and a reward for their return was offered by the Auditor. A humourous communication printed the following week, written as if by the muskets in council assembled, signed by such names as Heavybreech, Shootquick, Greyflint, Surecock, Primingwire, Ramrod, and Breechpin did much to relieve the tension, causing the matter to be treated in the light of a practical joke, although it was some time before the circumstances connected with the removal were divulged.

were left, as if to be put aboard a steamboat. Directly after these parties had returned to their homes, another group, by prearrangement, loaded the guns into skiffs as if to cross the river into Kentucky. But instead, the oarsmen turned into the mouth of Casselberry Creek, the Ohio being then at its spring height, and the boats were rowed to an agreed landing-point at the home of Joshua B. Huckeby. The grounds of his property, "Virginia Place," sloping south to the bank of the creek, afforded a secluded spot for disembarkation, and the muskets speedily became 'concealed weapons' beneath the plank floor of a woodshed, where they lay sequestered until long after all commotion had died away.

In the wish to maintain uninterrupted the neighbourly and friendly relations essential to peace and prosperity of citizens living on both banks of the river, communications were exchanged between Cannelton and Hawesville whose result was a joint meeting held April 30, in the latter town, by a committee comprising Charles H. Mason, Ebenezer Wilber, James A. Burkett, Joseph F. Sulzer and David Richards, of Indiana; Samuel McAdams, William Sterett, James R. Jennings, William Mason and Joseph W. Hughes, of Kentucky. Realizing that amicable intercourse between the two communities was in more danger of interruption from unwarranted acts and indiscreet conversation of irresponsible persons than from any other causes, both sides mutually pledged the efforts of all good citizens in each town toward suppressing the same. It was declared that even should there be a state of public hostility between the two sections, there was no inconsistency in observing strictest regard for the right of private persons and property, so that whether peace or war should prevail, both towns were obligated to discountenance all aggressions upon the private rights of either.

volved, popular sentiment against the extreme South was growing in Perry County, voiced in energetic language by the Reporter's editorial of May 2.

"The Southern Confederacy seems bent on pursuing a policy that will not only unite the North, but enrage it. It steps from stupendous follies to stupendous crimes by strides which amaze the present and throw the past into the shade, which future historians will write down as acts of political insanity without parallel in the history of nations. The attack upon Fort Sumter was criminal in the extreme, and, inasmuch as it inaugurated the war, places upon the Southern Confederacy terrible responsibilities that will weigh the more heavily as time wears on and the gloom of war settles down upon the Nation."

Looking toward possible emergencies calling for local protection, troops were organized at different points in the county, under various names, such as Perry Rifles, Newcomb Guards, Rome Legion, Hickory Rangers, Union Grays, Anderson Guards, Oil Rifles, Clark Sharpshooters, Tell City Rifles, Deutscher Jaeger, Troy Artillery, Emmet Guards, Hoosier Wildcats, Tobin Guards, Cannelton Artillery, Voltiguers, Union Guards, Tell City Artillery, Lyon Artillery and Oil Grays ; twenty companies in all, the majority of which were mustered in during 1861, though 1862 and 1863 each saw the organization of two companies. Many men who first served in this home guard enlisted later in regiments for outside field duty, though all whose names appear on any muster-roll as sworn in and honourably discharged are accredited to Perry County by the Adjutant-General's report for Indiana. All are classified as the Fifth Regiment, Indiana Legion, of which Charles H. Mason was commissioned Colonel in June, 1861. Its other officers during the war were Charles Fournier, colonel; Jesse Esarey and James Lees, lieutenant-colonels ; John Clark Esarey, Cornelius Leitz, Samuel Wilde and Joseph F. Sulzer, adjutants; F. L. Heik, Julius Fournier and August Pfafflin, quar-

Among the colonists who had located at the vigourous young settlement of Tell City were many sturdy Switzers who had seen service in the army of their Fatherland, and of such was formed the earliest company taking its departure from the county for enlistment. Commanded by Captain Louis Frey, who had been chiefly instrumental in recruiting the force, the men left May 17, 1861, on the steamer Grey Eagle, a large crowd assembling at the river bank, to see them off, with flaunting banners, firing guns, cheers of encouragement and tears of farewell. Leaving the boat at New Albany they went by rail to Indianapolis, where for several weeks they found it difficult to get into the service. Some at last came home, others went to Cincinnati and enlisted there, still others lingering at the capital until finally accepted. Nearly all eventually succeeded in entering the ranks of their adopted country, showing a determined persistence most creditable to their manly bravery.

By early summer flag-poles in every township displayed the Stars and Stripes, and, as might be expected, the wave of patriotism surged high on Independence Day, its hallowed memories rendered doubly dear through peril. At several points in Perry County the day was observed by elaborate popular demonstrations, the most imposing being naturally that at the county seat. Before daybreak people from all directions were pouring into Cannelton, and by ten o'clock in the morning not less than three thousand were assembled in the grove at "Wilber Farm," generously lent for the occasion by Ebenezer Wilber. Here three companies of the Legion were encamped. Their white tents, around which muskets were stacked when not on parade, presented a picture of military life with which many in the crowd who then looked upon it for the first time, were afterward to become too sadly familiar. Occasional salutes from a five-pound cannon, marshaled by

The inspiration of fine music was supplied by the German Brass Band, who rendered appropriate national airs for the formal review, which took place at ten o'clock. Before Colonel Charles H. Mason, at the head of his staff, all mounted and uniformed, passed the companies of Captain Alfred Vaughan, Captain Charles Fournier and Captain Henry N. Wales, besides the cavalry rangers of Captain Daniel L. Armstrong, who extended their friendly 'charge' into Tobin Township directly after the brief remarks of commendation which Colonel Mason pronounced from his saddle in closing the review. This ceremony was succeeded by the oration of the day, delivered byJ^ljomasJamesdeJa Hunt and reckoned among his hearers as a masterpiece "of brilliant structure and polished delivery. A bounteous dinner under the shade of the trees was served at noon, followed by dancing on a large platform temporarily erected. At five o'clock another review of the troops brought the day to a happy close. The celebration at Polk's Bottom drew an attendance almost as large from Tobin Township and from Kentucky, and its features were along the same general plan, with Job Hatfield, of Perry County, and Colonel David Murray, of Breckinridge County, as orators. Other picnics and observances elsewhere also marked the day.

In the course of this month probably four-score men enlisted outside the county, chiefly in the Twenty-third Infantry (Colonel Sanderson) at New Albany, others (among whom was Captain George Perry De Weese of the Rome Legion) in the First Cavalry at Mount Vernon. Such action was the result of some unpleasant and deplorable petty jealousies as to commanding officers, which interferred with united action at home. On Sunday, August 4, however, the first full company, seventy strong, left the county, under Harvey Johnson, captain; James A. Burkett, first lieutenant; Thomas James de la Hunt, second lieutenant, and were mustered into service August 30, at Indianapolis, as Company F, Twenty-sixth Regiment. It was practically made up of Cannelton men, so their departure was an occasion of pride mingled with sadness, the town and vicinity turning out en masse to bid them God-speed. The Perry Rifles and Newcomb Guards formed an escort of honour to the wharf, to board the steamer Diligent, which steamed away up the river, flags flying, handkerchiefs waving and band playing "The Girl I Left Behind Me." The war had really begun.

Only a month later the scene was repeated, the troop which had been recruited through the county by John P. Dunn, of Troy, and Henry T. Murtha, of Derby, assembling September 6, at Cannelton, to set out for the front. They encamped that night below town, and the next day (Saturday) were entertained as guests of the Cannelton Home Guards, a farewell ball being given in the evening at Mozart Hall in their honour. Sunday morning a large crowd gathered at the campground, where the troops formed before their tents and listened to a speech full of good advice from Jacob B. Maynard.

His fervid editorials in the Reporter had done much toward rousing patriotism and encouraging enlistment all over the county, and on September 5, he had written : "We are not one of those who believe the struggle is to be brief, but we do believe in the ultimate triumph of the Government over all its foes. If it turn out otherwise, then our fathers toiled in vain, the Declaration of Independence is a sham, the Constitution a farce in so many acts, and the records of our glorious and happy past may as well be gathered up for consignment to eternal oblivion. But it can not be so. Patriot hearts are not yet beating the funeral march of constitutional liberty. We confess that our gallant ship is drifting upon a lee-shore ; we admit the terrific realities of the storm ; but we are not engulfed beneath the wild waves of rebellion. The star of our destiny has not set in ignominious defeat; brave men are flocking round

Toward nine o'clock the line of march was taken up to the wharf, and the men embarked on the Commercial, the regular Cincinnati and Memphis packet, commanded by a Canneltonian, Captain S. W. Archer. After reaching Indianapolis they were mustered in, October 8, as Company D, of the Thirty-fifth Infantry, (with which the Sixty-first was consolidated later.) John P. Dunn, captain ; August G. Tassin, first lieutenant; Henry T. Murtha, second lieutenant; were the original officers of the company when sworn into service.

Steamboating on the Ohio was at its zenith when the war broke out, but the most memorable sight of its day and an incident almost without parallel in Cannelton's history took place on Tuesday afternoon, September 17, when a fleet of thirteen steamboats headed by the flagship N. W. Thomas, under command of Commodore Philips, of Cincinnati, landed at the levee, occupying the entire water-front and presenting a remarkable spectacle. The sound of so many whistles and bands of music drew everybody to the bank as the flotilla rounded the bend, the Newcomb Guards, under Sergeant Wilde, and the Cannelton Artillery, under Captain Dunwoody, hurriedly mobilizing in time to welcome with salutes and cheers the anchoring of so many vessels. Business was practically suspended in all lines except the handling of coal, the fleet having in tow one hundred and sixty barges and demanding a fuel supply of twenty-five thousand bushels. Most of this was furnished by the American Cannel Coal Company, although under some protest from the manager, D wight Newcomb, who objected to such absolute depletion of his stock on hand. Several pieces of heavy ordnance on board the flagship, which had landed directly in front of his residence, "Oak Hall," backed up by three hundred splendid-looking artillerymen and infantry may have contributed toward overcoming his opposition, since the balance of coal needed to complete the quota called for by Commodore Philips was quickly procured from the Trabue mines at Hawesville.

Two other full companies left Perry County before the close of the year, the departure of each being attended by hospitable and patriotic farewells. On Saturday evening, October 18, a fine banquet was given in the Masonic Hall at Troy, by the citizens of that town, in honour of fifty-one men who boarded the steamer Eugene at 4 o'clock the following morning, bound for Camp Joe Holt at Jeffersonville, where they were mustered in, November 21, as Company E, Fortyninth Infantry, Edward B. Cutler, captain; Hiram Evans, first lieutenant; William A. Jordan, second lieutenant. Twenty-five other men, recruited by Surgeon Magnus Brucker, had left Troy a fortnight earlier.

Tell City had already sent many of her sons into the ranks, beginning with the troop which Captain Louis Frey had formed in May, so no possible lack of ardent patriotism is indicated by the circumstance that hers was the latest company from the three towns to be mustered in during the opening year of the war. Theodore Pleisch and Nicholas Steinauer spent September and October in securing recruits, and on November 12, their company, ninety strong, the largest single body of men which Perry County had thus far contributed, left Tell City for Indianapolis, after rousing tributes had been paid them by their fellow-citizens. Amid cheering shouts of "Hoch!", "Prosit!" and "Aufwiedersehen!" the steamer Eugene bore them away to Evansville where the Sixtieth Regiment was organized, of which they formed Company A, Theodore Pleisch, captain; Nicholas Steinauer, first lieutenant; Ernst Kipp, second lieutenant. With others they were soon transferred to Indianapolis and the regiment was there filled out, its first duty being as guard for the Confederate prisoners held at Camp Morton during the winter months of 1861-62.