Muster Roll

of
Capt. Williamson Dunn's Company of Mounted Rangers
Enlisted March 13, 1813 - Discharged March 1, 1814
From Indiana Territorial Pioneer Records 1801 - 1820
Volume II
Compiled by Charles M. Franklin

Williamson Dunn	Capt.
Henry Brinton	Lieut.
Henry Ristine	Lieut.
David Hillis	Lieut.
Green B. Field	Ens.
John Thorn	Sgt.
John Danolds	Sgt.
John Wilkerson	Sgt.
Ebenezer Hillis	Sgt.
John Griffin	Sgt.
Joshua Deputy	Cpl.
Joseph Strickland	Cpl.
Peter Ryker	Cpl.
Andrew H. Storm	Cpl.
Matthew Cowley	Cpl.
Willis Law	Cpl.

Privates

Anderson, Alexander	Adkinson, John	Anderson, Robert
Anderson, James	Barnes, Maurice	Blankenship, Isaiah
Bigger, David	Banta, Henry	Bandy, John
Bergin, Isaac	Chaffin, Nathan	Carig, George
Coleman, Wiatt	Colbert, John	Coombs, Benj.
Crawford, Isaac	Collier, Elijah	Dunn, Nathaniel
Dunn, John	Davidson, Andrew	Dickey, William
Davis, John	Daugherty, Hannibal	Davis, Thomas
Easton, Charles	Farley, William	Gray, Samuel T.
Giles, Henry	Gunn, George	Guthrie, John
Gilmore, William	Hamblen, William	Harod, Isaac
Hankins, Absalom	Johnson, William	Irwin, Williamson
Jones, Thomas	Johnson, James	Johnson, James Jr.
Long, Samuel	Lewis, Severe	Lewis, James
Lewis, Jacob	Lee, John	Metz, Peter
Maxwell, David H.	Monroe, James	McCartney, James
McCullough, James	Maxwell, John	NcKay, James
McKay, William	McKay, George	McKay, Robert, 3rd.
McKay, Robert, 4th	McConnell, Thomas-died of disease at Fort Harrison	Newland, John H.
Owen, Brackett	Overton, Moses	Patton, David
Peters, John	Percel, John	Ristine, John
Russell, William	Ramsey, John	Roberts, Peter H.
Renic, William	Ryker, Geradus	Ryker, Samuel
Ryker, John G.	Ryker, John	Smock, Jacob
Sage, William	Smith, John	Stevens, James
Snodgrass, Samuel	Stucker, David	Shank, John
Smith, Richie	Short, Isaac	Salyers, Henry
Storm, Wm. D.	Trumbo, Jacob	Ventioner, James
Varvel, Ab'm	Wright, William	Wise, Thomas
Whitaker, Daniel	Windsor, Thomas

from
Biographical and Historical Sketches of Early Indiana
by
William Wesley Woollen
Published 1883

Williamson Dunn

    Would that I had the pen of Dickens that I might draw Williamson Dunn as he was. I design no panegyric of the old pioneer, and if what I say appears extravagant, I beg to assure the reader that Judge Dunn was one of the grandest men I ever knew. I knew him well; he was my friend when I needed friends; he was my counselor when I needed counsel, and if I can do aught to honor his memory, I shall only be paying a debt I owe.
    Williamson Dunn was born December 25, 1781, near Crow's station, within a few miles of Danville, Kentucky. He was the third son of Samuel Dunn, a native of England, who at the age of thirteen emigrated from the north of Ireland to America, and settled in Rockingham county, Virginia. The family were Scotch-Irish Presbyterian, and transmitted to their descendants the characteristics of that tenacious and combative race. Samuel Dunn was in the bloody battle fought with the Indianas at the mouth of the Big Kanawha, October 10, 1774, and afterwards served with distinction as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He afterward removed to Kentucky, where Williamson the subject of this sketch, was born and reared to manhood. The son inherited his father's bravery and patriotism, and these qualities descended to his children. As evidence of this fact there has never been a call to defend the country's flag since Williamson Dunn had issue, without his children and his grand-children answering. "We are here,"
    In September, 1806, Williamson Dunn was married to Miriam Wilson, in Garrard county, Kentucky, and three years afterward, with his wife and two children, he emigrated to Indiana Territory and settled in the woods where Hanover now is. This continued his home until his death, except while he was register of the land office at Crawfordsville.
    When Mr. Dunn came to Indiana he brought with him three negro slaves. They were a part of his inheritance from his father's estate, and constituted a large part of it. But he hated slavery, and brought his slaves to Indiana that they might be free.
    In 1811 General Harrison, then Governor of Indiana Territory, gave Mr. Dunn two commissions - one as a Justice of the Peace, the other as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Jefferson county. He held these offices for some time, and honestly discharged their duties.
    In 1812 President Madison commissioned Judge Dunn a captain of rangers. He soon raised a company, among the members being two of his brothers and two of his brothers-in-law. On the 13th of April, 1813, the company was mustered into the service of the United States, at Madison, and at once entered upon active service. For some time it was employed in erecting block-houses in the counties of Switzerland, Jefferson and Scott, for the protection of the settlers.
    In June, 1813, Captain Dunn and his company made a raid upon the Deleware towns on the west fork of White river, and next month, with three other companies, all under the command of Colonel Russell, marched against the Indian towns on the Wabash river, at the mouth of the Mississiniwa. During this expedition Captain Dunn's company encamped one night on the spot which is now known as Circle Park, Indianapolis. In September, 1813, Captain Dunn's rangers marched to Fort Harrison, near Terre Haute, to relieve Captain Zachary Taylor's company of United States regulars. Dr. David H. Maxwell, a brother-in-law of Captain Dunn, and a member of his company, in a petition to Congress asking compensation for medicine and medical services rendered the members of his company, gives this graphic description of the situation at Fort Harrison when Captain Dunn arrived.
    After this campaign (the Mississiniwa), and without a respite, Captain Dunn's company of rangers was ordered to Fort Harrison to relieve a company of United States Infantry which had charge of that garrison.
    "No language which your petitioner can command can adiquately describe the situation of this infantry company when the Rangers took charge of the fort. Of the whole company four only were able to perform duty. The physician who was stationed at the fort had been sick and confined to his bed for weeks. At his request your petitionar attended upon the sick of his company until those who recovered (for some died) were able to leave the fort. Within the short space of three months after Captain Dunn's company of rangers was stationed at Fort Harrison there were eighty-five men out of one hundred and six who were sick and confined. Such was the rapid increase of disease that your petitioner was wholly unable to attend personally upon the sick, and he was obliged to apply to the officers to obtain aid of three or four intelligent individuals to assist him in preparing and administering medications, and to attend on the sick during their operation. Nearly all the sick were affected with remitting and intermitting fever, some few from dysentry or bloody flux. The rangers were continued at Fort Harrison for four months, and during that time, and, in fact, until the company was discharged, in March, 1814, the sick were often requiring additional medicines. Of the whole number of rangers at the fort, only one died during the service; but more than twenty never perfectly recovered, and died within eighteen months afterward.
    Such were some of the hardships that pioneers of Indiana endured that this fair land might be opened for settlement and its inhabitants made secure in their persons and property.
    On Captain Dunn's return to his home he put aside the sword and put his hand to the plow. Soon afterward he joined the Presbyterian church at Charlestown, twenty-five miles from his home, and continued a member of it until the establishment of a Presbyterian church at Madison, to which he removed his membership. In February, 1820, a church was organized at Hanover, of which Judge Dunn became a rulling elder, and he continued to occupy this high office until he died.
    In 1814 Governor Posey commissioned Judge Dunn an Associate Judge of the Circuit Court of Jefferson county. He held this office until 1816, when he was elected to the first Legislature under the State constitution. He was re-elected to the second, third and fourth Legislatures, and during the sessions of the third and fourth he was Speaker of the House. While a member of the Legislature he was virtually offered a seat in the United States Senate, but he declined the honor because it would have taken him away from his family.
    In May, 1820, Judge Dunn was commissioned, by President Monroe, Register of the Land Office for the Terre Haute district. Three years afterward the land office was removed to Crawfordsville. Judge Dunn and Major Whitlock, the Receiver of the Land Office, entered the land where Crawfordsville stands, and laid out the town. Judge Dunn was re-appointed Register in 1827 and held the office until 1829, when he was superseded by General Milroy. A short time after leaving the Land Office he returned to Hanover and remained a citizen of that town while he lived.
    Judge Dunn donated fifty acres of land to establish Hanover College, and also donated the ground upon which Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, was erected. Thus it will be seen that these colleges are mainly indebted to him for their establishment.
    In 1832 Judge Dunn was a candidate for the State Senate, but on account of his views upon temperance and the Sunday mail, was defeated by David Hillis. At the end of his term Mr. Hillis was re-elected, and in 1837, having been elected Lieutenant-Governor of the State, resigned his seat in the Senate, and Judge Dunn was chosen to fill the vacancy.
    In 1843 Judge Dunn was nominated for the Senate by the Whigs of Jefferson county. Shadrach Wilber, also a Whig, became an independent candidate, and the Hon. Jesse D. Bright, a Democrat, received a plurallity of the votes cast and was elected. This was the real beginning of his long political career.
    In 1846 Judge Dunn was elected Probate Judge of Jefferson county over George S. Sheets, a very brilliant young lawyer of Madison. He was re-elected at the end of his term and held the office when the court was abolished.
    In September, 1834, while overlooking some improvements of a plank road of which he was president Judge Dunn was sunstruck, and taken to his home in a helpless condition. He remained an invalid until November 11, 1854, when he died. When his life went out one of the best men of Indiana was no more.
    The children and grandchildren of Judge Dunn inherited his bravery and love of arms. His sons, David and Thomas, served in the Mexican war, the first as a lieutenant and the latter as a private soldier. In the war of the rebellion they again enlisted in the service of their country. David became lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Indiana regiment of volunteers, and Thomas the captain of a company. He was afterward appointed to a captaincy in the regular army, and is now a major in that service. Judge Dunn's son James was also lieutenant-colonel in the volunteer service, and his son Williamson served as a surgeon throughout the war. Another son, William McKee, who was a member of Congress when the war broke out, was offered a colonelcy by Governor Morton, and a brigadiership by Presidend Lincoln, but declined them both, that he might fill out the term for which he was elected. When it expired he was appointed Judge Advocate of the department of Missouri, and served for some time in that capacity. Subsequently he was appointed Assistant Judge Advocate-General, and on the retirement of Judge Advocate-General Holt he was selected to fill the vacancy.     All of Judge Dunn's grandsons, except two, who were boys, served in the war of the rebellion. One of them, William McKee Dunn Jr., who is now a major in the regular army, was a member of General Grant's staff, and was distinguished for his coolness and bravery. General Grant once said of him "He is as brave as Julius Ceasar. Had I ordered him to a place where it was certain death to go I do not believe he would have hesitated a moment to obey the order." He is a true descendant of Williamson Dunn. His grandfather never hesitated to go where duty called him. If there ever was in this State a family that equaled the Dunns in bravery and soldierly qualities I hope some one will point it out. I have no knowledge of such an one.
    Judge Dunn took great interest in public affairs. He started the movement which culminated in the election of Zachary Taylor president of the United States. A meeting was held at Madison in 1848, which formally put forward General Taylor for the presidency. Judge Dunn was the moving spirit of that meeting. He introduced the resolutions favoring General Taylor's nomination, and supported them in an earnest speech. In February, 1849, when on his way to Washington to assume the presidency, General Taylor stopped off at Madison and was given a public dinner. Judge Dunn presided at this dinner, and , on arising to propose the health of the guest, read an order he had received from him at Fort Harrison in 1813. He then paid a high tribute to the soldierly qualities and strong common sense of General Taylor, and ended by proposing his health. The toast was drunk with water, a cold-water banquet being the only kind at which Judge Dunn ever presided.
    Judge Dunn had moral bravery as well as physical bravery. He did what he believed to be right, and would have suffered burning at the stake rather that do an act he knew to be wrong. He was of the stuff of which martyrs are made.
    In 1848 or '49 a temperance wave swept over Southern Indiana, and at Madison petitions were numerously signed praying the repeal of the license law and the enactment of a law to make the selling of liquor a felony, punishable with fine and imprisonment. A year or so afterward, when the temperance movement had waned, the liquor men procured copies of these petitions and had them published in the Madison papers. This played havoc with the aspirations of several men who were ambitious to serve the public in an official capacity. A candidate for the mayoralty of Madison on being confronted with one of these petitions with his name to it sought to evade responsibility by claiming that he did not know its contents when he signed it. A day or two after his card to this purport had appeared in the Madison Courier I was at Hanover, and seeing Judge Dunn in his porch, approaced him and took a seat by his side. We conversed awhile upon politics, and the canvass for the mayoralty of Madison being mentioned, Judge Dunn said; "I see by the Courier that ______ ______ is trying to crawfish out of having signed the temperance petition. I have a contempt for a man who, having done a proper thing, turns his back upon it to please the public. I, too, signed that petition. I did it with my eyes open, and I stand by the act. It was right, and I will do it again if the opportunity offers."
    It was his unyielding devotion to conviction that twice cost him a seat in the Senate of the State.
    In appearance General William McKee Dunn is the conterpart of his father. At the late meeting of the Army of the Tennessee in Indianapolis, while sitting on the platform at the Park Theater, I saw General Dunn in the parquette, and, had I not known his father was dead, I would have thought he was before me. I never knew a son more like his father.
    Judge Dunn was five feet ten and one-half inches hight, and was very strong and muscular. He had a fair complexion and bright blue eyes. In his latter years his head was entirely bald, save a fringe of hair behind his ears. His sons were all good and patriotic men, but none of them was so good and patriotic as he. He was a model citizen, and a Christian without reproach.
    Rev. Johathan Edwards, once president of Hanover College, in an address at the dedication of the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of the Northwest, at Chicago, thus speaks of Judge Dunn:
    " Early and intimately associated with Dr. Crowe in the founding and fostering of this institution (Hanover College) was his neighbor, Williamson Dunn, once a Register of the Land Office at Crowfordsville, but for the first thirty years of his life a resident of Hanover. He had been a judge, but was best known as a farmer and an elder of the chruch. Comparatively hidden as was his light, Judge Dunn was yet widely known and highly appreciated. His general intelligence, his practical sense, his prudence, his great firmness, his rare integrity of character, are still embalmed in the traditions of his State, and he lives in the recollection of those who knew him as one of the best specimens of the American citizen."