HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 7
THE COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES
The news of the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter created great excitement in the county, and brought out expressions of all shades of opinion from ultra-Abolitionism to ultra-Secession. Many of the citizens were unfavorable to coercion, and so stated. Others were for immediate war. Some were in doubt as to the best course to pursue. All or nearly all were opposed to a permanent dissolution of the Union. Many opposed any interference with slavery. Some thought the South right; others the North. A revolution in opinion was undergoing. The crisis in political opinion had been reached, but still many hesitated, not wishing to make a mistake on so vital a question. Soon a decided stand was made in favor of the raising of volunteers for the preservation of the Union. Steps were immediately taken to raise a company of home guards at Paoli, and perhaps elsewhere, to insure the security of life and property at home. On the 25th of April, the Eagle said: "We have contended from the start against a civil war, and shall continue to advocate that policy to the end. If the South should make an attempt to invade the North, we will be found as ready as any man to repel the invasion." The same issue also said: "We are opposed to war being made upon the Southern States by the North, and we are just as strongly opposed to the South making war upon the Northern States. "We sincerely hope and trust that it may not be necessary to use force on either side." The same issue said: "On Tuesday an American flag with the word Union, and each State represented by a star was put up on the public square. It is a neat flag and pole, to which nobody will object." The issue of May 2, said: "A number of our young men have joined a company of horsemen at Bedford to go into the service of the State." L. B. Cogswell and A. Ebling were Captains of the home guards at Paoli - one of a horse company and the other of a foot company. Night watches were instituted at Paoli and Orleans to be in readiness for any emergency which might threaten the towns or citizens
THE FIRST VOLUNTEERS FOR THE WAR
It is said that the first troops from Orange County to get into the United States service went south about the middle of May and joined a loyal Kentucky regiment. Their names and numbers cannot be given. The first considerable number of men who left the county for the service was raised in the vicinity of Orleans, and left for Cincinnati to join the United States service about the 20th of June. There were twenty-five or thirty of them, under the command of Thomas N. Davis. A number of them returned when it was found difficult to get into satisfactory regiments. Those who remained there were Hugh Langford, Alfred Smith, E. H. Talbot, J. K. McPherson, John Hall, John A. Lee, John Donavan, W. H. H. Wright, C. A. Smith, 0. W. Harrison, H. B. Martin, Gilbert Heart, J. H. Nitsman, Samuel R. Tegarden, R. E. Marygoes, W. C. Fitts, J. M. Waldrip, Christian Clayton and J. F. Gotzell. What became of these men cannot be stated definitely
UNION MASS MEETINGS
On the 15th of May, after the citizens had had time to deliberate since the fall of Fort Sumter, an enormous Union meeting of the citizens of Orange and Washington Counties was held at Livonia. William R. Wible was made Chairman, and E. P. Huston, Secretary. John L Morrison spoke for over an hour with the most fiery loyalty. Revs. McCann, Hutchinson and Barr followed him in addresses of like loyalty and eloquence. The Committee on Resolutions, A. McPheeters, William Guthrie. W. F. Patton and E. L. Stalker, reported a long series, expressing the determination to stand by the old flag, declaring that no State had the right to secede - that Such an act was treason, asserting that the South was responsible for the war, approving the prompt and decisive action of the Government, and, the arming of the militia, and expressing gratification at the quick response from the loyal States to the call for volunteers. This was one of the strongest and most loyal meetings of the war.
COMPANIES OF HOME GUARDS
Soon after this H. T. Braxtan issued a call for about thirty volunteers for the company of Capt. Sheeks, then forming at Mitchell. About this time, also, a rifle company was organized at Paoli, and uniforms were obtained. In several places throughout the county hickory poles were erected, up which were run the stars and stripes, usually amid loyal cheers. The parties were uniting to preserve the Union. Early in June a large meeting of all parties was held at Paoli, where appropriate resolutions were adopted expressing sorrow for the death of Senator Douglas. In June two companies of home guards (afterward the Indiana Legion) were organized in Orange County, and mustered into service - one company being at Orleans and the other at Orangeville. The officers of the Orangeville Company were: John A. Ritter, Captain; Theodore Stackhouse. First Lieutenant; Thomas B. Ware. Second Lieutenant. The Orleans Company was officered as follows: William T. Spicely, Captain; Charles Jenkins, First Lieutenant; Arthur W. Gray, Second Lieutenant. Both companies were mustered into the State service June 26.
VOLUNTEERS FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
During the latter part of June and the early part of July, from the home guards or militia organizations, two full companies were raised in the county for the Twenty-fourth Regiment which rendezvoused at Vincennes, under Col. A. P. Hovey. One company was mainly raised in and around Orleans, and the other in and around Paoli, though men were secured from all portions of the county. W. T. Spicely led the movement at Orleans, and Solomon Dill at Paoli. War meetings were held at these two towns and at Valeene, Chambersburg, Orangeville, French Lick and elsewhere. At these meetings orators would inflame the patriotism of the young men, in fiery and eloquent addresses, and beautiful ladies would pass the fatal enlistment-roll around. At Orleans about fifty of the old citizens pledged themselves to care for the families of volunteers in the company of Capt. Spicely. Great interest was felt throughout the county for the companies of Capts. Spicely and Dill. In the short space of a week and a half or two weeks, both companies were raised and fully organized. The officers of the company at Orleans were W. T. Spicely, Captain; Charles S. Jenkins, First Lieutenant; A. W. Gray, Second Lieutenant; and the officers of the Paoli Company were Solomon Dill, Captain; John W. Tucker, First Lieutenant; S. H. Southwick, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Spicely’s company left Orleans for Vincennes, July 10, 1861, and was given a public and touching farewell by the citizens. Good advice was given the boys in public addresses, and responses were made by members of the company. Two or three days later Capt. Dill's company left Paoli for Vincennes, going via Orleans and Mitchell. A large crowd of town and country folk assembled on the public square at Paoli to see the boys off. The occasion though enthusiastic was sober and sorrowful. Ah, it was hard to see the dear boys go. There were brothers and fathers and husbands and sons there - some going away forever, brave, valient, beloved, to die amid the cypress or magnolia swamps of the "Sunny South," or perhaps to return with empty sleeves or broken constitutions. Good-byes and kisses were exchanged amid bitter tears and passionate embraces, and with colors flying and drums beating, away the company went. The American Eagle of July 18 said "No county in the State made up two companies of volunteers and sent them into camp in a shorter time than our county did. From the best information we can get, over 300 men have volunteered from our county."