HISTORY OF
ORANGE COUNTY

CHAPTER 7

BY WESTON A. GOODSPEED

The county of Orange had but little if any to do with wars prior to that with Mexico, in 1846 - 47. The county, or rather the territory now comprising the county, contained a few settlers at the time of the war of 1812 - 15, and what was done will be found, so far as known, in another chapter of this volume. After that, for the greater portion of time until the last war, militia organizations existed in the county and annual or other musters were held. As early as 1818, while the present Orange County was attached to Washington County, Zachariah Lindley and John McVey were Captains of militia companies. In 1817 the Thirteenth Regiment, Indiana Mililia, was organized in Orange County, with the following officers: Zachariah Lindley, Colonel; John Pinnick, Lieutenant Colonel; J. G. Clendenin, Major; Jacob Condra, William Brooks, John Rigney, Peter Benjamin, Samuel Dougherty, John Scott, Daniel Weathers, John Hill, William Blair and Ezekiel Riley, Captains. Lindley remained Colonel for five or six years or longer. After this the militia organizations can not be traced. Many of the leading men of the county were at some time commissioned officers. J. G. Clendenin, and perhaps others, was commissioned Brigadier-General. In later years the organization of the county militia was merely nominal, and the musters were little better than farces, owing, doubtless, to the prevailing sense of security from danger from enemies.

ORANGE COUNTY IN THE MEXICAN WAR

The war with Mexico in 1846 - 47 brought out more than a full company from Orange County. On the 13th of May, 1846, President Polk called for volunteers, and soon afterward in response to this William A. Bowles, Trustin B. Kinder, William T. Spicely, John Murray and others, began the formation of a company in the county. The organization was completed some time in June, and the following officers were elected: William A. Bowles, Captain; T. B. Kinder, First Lieutenant; W. T. Spicely, Second Lieutenant; John Murray, Third Lieutenant. Soon after this the company assembled at Paoli to march to New Albany, where the Second Regiment, to which they were assigned, was being organized. The boys in bright new uniforms were drawn up in front of the residence of the Captain, and were there presented with a beautiful banner in behalf of the county by one of the Doughertys, it is said Capt. Bowles replied in a short eloquent speech, pledging the lives of his company for the preservation of the national flag. Lieut. Kinder, a talented young lawyer, delivered a speech of considerable length and of great strength. He declared that he would leave his bones to bleach on the sunny plains of Mexico rather than see his country's flag dishonored and trailed in the dust. Lieut. Spicely also delivered a speech to the same effect. The company, then, in wagons and on horseback, started for New Albany, being escorted some distance from town by the brass band of Paoli, and a large delegation of sorrowing relatives and friends, some of whom continued on to New Albany. The Company became B, of the Second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers, and at New Albany Capt. Bowles was promoted to the Colonelcy of the regiment, and was succeeded as Captain of Company B, by T. B. Kinder. In July the regiment started for Mexico. An account of the service of this regiment will be found in another part of this volume. The roll of the company at the date of muster-in cannot be given. The following is the roll June 23, 1847, at the time of muster-out: William T. Spicely, Captain; John Murray, First Lieutenant; John Gullett, Second Lieutenant; D. S. Lewis, Third Lieutenant; John Hungate, Augustus G. Brooks, James H. Vandeveer, and Abner Dougherty, Sergeants; Eli McDonald, Albert Mayfield, Christian P. Leatherman and Christopher C. Shore, Corporals. Privates - David A. Apple, John Allen, John R. Allen, William Burks, James Blackburn, John Brown, Robert W. Bolton, Thornton Burgess, William Cook, Patrick Cosgrove, Martin Cutsinger, James Cobble, Alexander Conklin, G. Dougherty, Abe Dover, Epaulette Dufriend, James Dooley, Irwin Drake, Charles Edwards, Henry Edwards, Martin Gobble, Daniel Hulmstutter, John Hulmstutter, Samuel Harris, Samuel Hostetler, B. N. Hostetler, H. B. Hawkins, William Henson, Edward W. Hollowell, Nelson Johnson, Squire Kesterson, Joshua Y. Lewis, John R. McGhee, Elihu McDonald, Elias F. Moyer, James Moyer, William Morgan, Francis N. Noblitt, James M. Pinnick, Elijah Pinnick, Josephus Pounds, Jonathan Palmer, Elisha Pruett, Jacob Quinlan, Hiram Russell, W. J. Shelton, William Scarlett, John A. Smith, Eli Stalcup, Oliver M. Throop, Angel Tillery, George H. Tyler, Samuel VanCamp and Benjamin Walker. The following were kilIed at Buena Vista: Capt. T. B. Kinder, John T. Hardin, Joseph Lafferty, Arthur Massey, David McDonald, John Shultz and Joseph H. Harrison. The following died of wounds or disease: James H. Edwards, James H. Smith, David W. Johnson, Wesley Edwards, John Robertson, Benjamin Taylor, William Goldsmith. The following were discharged, probably for disability: William Warren, Robert Dougherty, Henry Harrison, Joab Burt, Enos Evans, Alexander Keith, Harvey Morris, Clement McDonald and John P. McDonald. At the battle of Buena Vista Capt. Kinder was dangerously wounded, and was placed in ambulance which started for the rear, hut was upset in one of the many ravines on the battle-field. Here the wounded Captain was killed by the Mexican Lancers. His body was brought to Paoli where it was publicly received by a large assemblage at the court house, and was then conveyed to Indianapolis, the former home of the young soldier, for interment, being also publicly received by a large throng of citzens at Orleans on the way. John T. Hardin was killed by a spent ball just as the battle was over. Another company of this regiment was partly raised in Orange County, an account of which will be found in Part V.

PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN 1860 - 61

A strong political sentiment prevailed in Orange County for one or more years next prior to the Rebellion of 1861 - 63. The citizens were aware of the differences which bitterly divided the North and the South, and took sides according to their education, sympathy, location or conscientious belief. The great majority of the people of the county stoutly denounced any interference whatever on the part of the North with the institution of slavery, many Republicans being of that opinion. The sprinkling of Abolitionists was ridiculed without stint. It was soon developed that many of the citizens believed in the right of secession - believed that the Union was simply a convenient confederacy and that each State was sovereign and could withdraw at will when her citizens deemed that by so doing she was bettering her condition. On the other hand the great majority of all parties in the county was opposed to a dissolution of the Union. As soon as the Southern States, led by South Carolina, began to enact ordinances of secession and make preparations to set up a separate government, the question of the constitutional right of coercion became for a time the all-absorbing topic. In November, 1860, the able editor of the American Eagle, H. Comingore, said through his paper:

"It does appear to us that our Southern neighbors are acting rather hastily - notwithstanding they have great cause for complaint. They should wait and see what course Lincoln intends to pursue. If it is his determination to carry out the ultra-Republican doctrines against the South, it will then be time enough for them to take steps for a separation of the Union."

This was perhaps the prevailing sentiment in the county. The majority of the citizens were of Southern origin, had relatives and pecuniary interests in the South, believed in State sovereignty, the right of secession and the right of slavery, and had for years opposed that Northern faction which had advocated the abolition of slavery. In this view they were highly determined and conscientious. The Eagle of December 27, 1860, said:

"We are satisfied that the citizens of South Carolina have acted rather hastily in passing their secession ordinance. They should have waited the action of the efforts now making in Congress to secure the rights of the Southern States."

The paper, as an exponent of the views of many in the county, broached and discussed the subject as to what Indiana, particularly the southern portion, should do in the dilemma - whether she should go with the South in case of a dissolution of the Union, or remain with the North. On the 17th of January, 1861, a large mass meeting of the citizens was held at Paoli to consider the state of the country. Theodore Stackhouse was made President of the meeting; John H. Campbell and David Hudelson, Vice Presidents: J. N. Riley, John Frazer and H. Comingore, Secretaries. Prayer was offered by Rev. J. B. Ramsdell, and the following committee was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting: J. B. Buskirk, Dr. J. A. Ritter, John Frazer, Jonathan Lindley, W. Proctor, Rev. Ramsdell, William Holaday, N. Willis, W. F. Mavity, John A. Lane, W. W. Wells and S. Foster. While this committee were preparing their report, patriotic speeches were delivered by Rev. Ramsdell, A. J. Simpson, T. Stackhouse, D. S. Huffstutter, Dr. S. Dill. F. Wilson, M. S. Mavity. et. al. The sentiments of the orators were loyalty to the Government, and the fervent hope that the Union might be preserved with the rights of all factions undisturbed. The resolutions prepared by the committee were read and unanimously adopted by the representatives of all political factions of the county. They recommended that the Crittenden Resolutions be adopted as the basis upon which all differences might be amicably adjusted; affirmed that the laws and the Constitution must be sustained and enforced, and favored a State Couvention to determine wbat course Indiana should pursue. Great enthusiasm and harmony prevailed. A similar meeting was held at Livonia, and was largely attended. On the 15th of February, 1861. a similar meeting was held at French Lick, a large crowd assembling from many miles in all directions. Rev. Samuel G. Hamilton was President, and A. J. Rhodes, Secretary. Resolutions were reported by W. A. Bowles, David Livingood and Reuben Cox, Committee, stating that this was a white man's government, regretting the severance of the Union, and hoping that it might be restored; opposing the coercion of the Southern States, and expressing sympathy for the South in the perversion of the Constitution by the President of the United States. The meeting was strongly divided over these resolutions, and a warm discussion ensued. Soon after this Mr. Bowles challenged any person in the county to publicly debate with him the question of the right of slavery from a Bible standpoint, he to affirm. So far as known, the challenge was not accepted.

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