HISTORY
OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 7
THE DRAFT OF OCTOBER - 1862
By the 19th of September, 1862, the status of Orange County was as follows: Total militia, 1,453; total volunteers, 1,023: total exempts, 313; total conscientiously opposed to bearing arms, 19; total volunteers in the service. 992; total subject to draft, 1,121. James W. Webb was Draft Commissioner; S. H. Glenn, Provost Marshal, and E. D. Laughlin. Surgeon. On the 20th of September, 1862. Jackson Township was deficient fifteen men, and Greenfield five, but as they were permitted to continue voluteering until the day of the draft, October 6, it is probable that Greenfield at least cleared herself and probably Jackson also. At least but very few, if any, were drafted in the county on this occasion. It will be seen that up to this time the county had furnished more than a regiment of men for the war, and about 1000 men were then in the service. Orange County need not be ashamed of that record.
DISLOYAL SENTIMENTS IN 1863
After the draft of October, 1862, only a few men left the county for the field until the summer of 1863. A few men - half a dozen - entered the Eighty-first Regiment. There were no calls for troops, and the county and Country settled down to await events. From the commencement of the war more or less disloyalty prevailed in the county. Treasonable secret societies had been organized, and a feeling of insecurity had been slowly created. As time passed the sentiment became more and more bitter until neighbors became estranged and fights more or less bloody occurred. Public meetings were often disturbed, and more than one church society was hopelessly divided on questions of politics. The year 1863 was dark in the county. Numerous desertions from the army made the outlook dark to those who favored the continuence of the war. Letters urging the soldier-boys to desert were written from the county, and no doubt often accomplished their object as concealment from arrest was solemnly promised. The following is an extract from one of these letters:
"I would love to see you, and if you will take my advice, I can see you, and that is this - desert and leave the army for there is no honor in it. Now, I do hate for any of my connection to fight to free the negroes. I would rather they would desert and go to the South. Just come home and I will see that you sha'n't he caught, for there are plenty of Copperheads here, and they wont let them take you. I want you to write to your cousin and tell me when you dare to leave the army and I will have a place fixed for you to hide in. Be sure you come without fail."
This letter and others of a similar character were severely denounced by the editor of the American Eagle. He brought forward the strong point that by such letters friends and relatives were advising their loved ones to violate a law that would cause them to be shot, in case of their arrest. Many deserters, however, came to the county and were concealed. About the middle of June, 1863, a squad of soldiers arrested three deserters in the southwestern part of the county, but on the way to camp one escaped. The enrolling officers in June were threatened. It was evident that the treasonable societies were armed and that they regularly drilled under competent leaders. The commission of crime became frequent. It was evident that the county was over-run with criminals - probably refugees from the South. The gathered crops of, in most cases, strong union men, were occasionally burned. Men of this class were warned, in threatening letters, to leave the county. The better class of citizens of the county of all political, opinions lamented these acts and denounced the perpetrators, and took active steps for their arrest and conviction.
THE RAID OF THE REBEL CAPT. HINES
Some time in May. 1863, a portion of the rebel Gen. Morgan's command, numbering about sixty men, under Capt. Thomas H. Hines, crossed into Indiana from Kentucky, about eighteen miles above Cannelton, and started northward toward Paoli, to pick up as many fresh horses as possible, and otherwise do damage to the country. For some distance he managed to pass himself and men off as Union Federal troops sent out to arrest deserters, and had no difficulty in exchanging his broken-down horses for fresh and strong ones, giving vouchers upon the Federal authorities at Indianapolis for the difference between the value of the horses. On the second day out, however, his actual character and mission became known, and the news of his raid spread like a prairie fire throughout southern Indiana, and armed and resolute men assembled to pursue him, oppose him and capture him. He moved rapidly over the country, protecting his flanks by scouts thrown out. Valeene was reached on the second day, and here some unsuccessful opposition was met from the citizens. They moved on toward Paoli, but upon arriving within sight of the town and learning that preparations had been made to give them a warm reception, made a detour to the west and passed around the town, taking horses as they went, and upon reaching a point live or six miles northeast of the town, encountered about fifteen armed citizens who were on their way to protect Paoli, and who were captured and plundered. Two others met soon afterward were likewise treated, and one showing opposition was shot and mortally wounded. The rebels now concluded it was time for them to be getting back to Kentucky, and accordingly started southeastwardly toward the Ohio River at a rapid rate. They passed through southwest Washington County, near Hardinsbarg and Fredericksburg. Becoming aware that they were being pursued by a large force of minute men, they pressed on with all haste toward Blue River Island, where boats were to be ready for their crossing. This was prevented, however, by the activity of the pursuit, and nearly all the enemy were captured on the island, Capt. Hines and a few others only escaping. A few were killed and wounded. As soon as the presence of the enemy became known in Orange County, great excitement prevailed, and prompt steps were taken to repel the intruder. About 100 men were immediately assembled and started in pursuit. These men of Orange County were the first to cross to the island and demand the surrender of Hines and his command.
THE RAID OF THE REBEL GEN. MORGAN
In July the county was again thrown into intense excitement by the news that the rebel Gen. Morgan was marching upon Paoli with a large force, plundering and burning as he went. Two companies of minute men were hastily organized, and July 10 were mustered into the State's service. They became Companies E and I of the One Hundred and Twelfth Regiment, and were officered as follows: Company E - - Thomas N. Collins, Captain; Samuel Ryan, First Lieutenant; Samuel Hostetler, Second Lieutenant. Company I - Solomon Moore. Captain; William J. Johnson, First Lieutenant; William E. Scott, Second Lieutenant. The regiment, under Col. Hiram F. Braxtan, moved from Mitchell to Seymour; thence to North Vernon, which place it held against Morgan's forces. It then moved to Sunman's Station, and soon afterward to Indianapolis, where, July 17, it was mustered out of the service, Morgan having left the State.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIRST REGIMENT
Under the six months' call of June 15, 1863, the county furnished very few if any men. Under the call of October, 1863, about one hundred men were raised for the Thirteenth Cavalry (One Hundred and Thirty first Regiment), sixty of them being in Company F, the officers being: William P. Coffin, Captain; James Jones, First Lieutenant; S. M. Stockslager, Second Lieutenant. The most of the Orange County men were mustered in in January, 1864. The regiment was fully completed in April, 1864, and under Col. Johnson left Indianapolis on the 30th for Nashville, Tenn., dismounted and with infantry arms. The last of May it went to Huntsville, Ala., and in this vicinity skirmished several times with the enemy. The most of the regiment went to Louisville in October, to draw arms and horses. Before this could be done the regiment was ordered to Paducab, to assist in repelling Gen. Forest, and upon its return was fully equipped as a cavalry organization. It then reported at Nashville, and soon was ordered to Lavergne to watch Hood. Here they were cut off on the line of retreat, and then reported to Gen. Rousseau, under whom they fought at Overall's Creek, Wilkinson's Pike and twelve different skirmishes, losing an aggregate of sixty-five men killed and wounded, and two missing. Only about half of the regiment was in these movements, though the other half was at the battle of Nashville in December. Soon after this the men were re-armed and remounted. February 11, 1865, the regiment embarked for New Orleans, but disembarked at Vicksburg, but later continued on to New Orleans. It then moved to Mobile Bay and participated in the movements on Mobile. On the 17th of April it started northward, reaching Columbus May 22, and then soon moved to Macon, in the vicinity of which it took charge of enormous quantities of stores, etc. June 6 it returned to Columbus, and remained there until late in the fall, when it marched to Vicksburg, and was there mustered out November iS. It was publicly received at Indianapolis, November 25.
RECRUITING EARLY IN 1864
Under the three calls of February, March and April, 1864, for an aggregate of nearly 500,000 men, about twenty-five volunteers were sent to Company B, and as many more to Company G, of the Twenty-fourth Regiment. About a dozen were sent to Company F, of the Fifty-ninth, and about twenty to Companies A and I of the Thirty-eighth Regiment. About a dozen were sent to the Sixty-sixth Regiment, and probably more than twenty to various other regiments. Thirty-five men raised in the county were assigned to Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment, 100 days' service, the officers being: John R. Freed, Captain; E. Patrick, First Lieutenant; J. S. Harrold, Second Lieutenant. These men were mustered into the service May 26, 1864, and were sent with their regiment to Tennessee, where they principally did guard duty during the term of service.