by "One Who Was There"
[Written expressly for the Northern Indianian by Reub Williams
]
Indiana has many gallant dead and living brave, lost and given
during the late long and bloody struggle. When the announcement
that the first gun had been fired at Sumpter of historic fame,
(the prelude to a thousand sanguinary fields) was sounded throughout
the length and breadth of our land, no State responded to the
call of our common country with more alacrity than did Indiana.
Her sons sprang as by magic, from city and country, and by hundreds
and thousands, rallied to this State rendezvous, there to be armed,
drilled, and finally sent to the field, that they amid the smoke
and din of battle, might reach forth the strong arm in the hour
of their country's need, and save the legacy of our patriot fathers
from a dishonored grave.
Among the counties of our state that, both late and early, contributed
much in men and money; that never hesitated as to her duty, even
in the darkest hours our country ever saw; there is one-to perpetuate
the memory of those fallen heroes, and chronicle some of the deeds
of noble daring performed by those who still living in their country's
pride - is his pleasing task, although 'tis not possible for anyone
to give them the praise they so justly deserve, much less my humble
self -need I say that it is for Kosciusko's heroes, I wield the
pen? Like him from whom she derived her name, Kosciusko county
has offered her all, a willing sacrifice upon the altar of Liberty,
never regretting it, but wishing it were more.
It is proposed in the following series of sketches, (one of which
will appear in each number of the Northern Indianian and during
the present year) to narrate some of the deeds of daring and adventure
which happen to both officers and enlisted men from this county
in the Union army. The proper names of persons will not always
be given, but it is proposed to deal only in actual occurrences,
and give to the reader many incidents which it is hoped will prove
interesting.
We all know with what promptness are county responded to call
for me and to protect the "Banner of Beauty and Glory"
from desecration at traitor's hands. How, ere the official summons
"To Arms" had been given to the country, near two hundred
of her sons had, between the rising and the setting of the sun,
gathered themselves together, willing, nay! eager, to attest their
devotion to their country's cause at the sacrifice of their lives.
How Gov. Morton was informed of their readiness for service in
the field, and when his answer was returned, accepting only a
part of their organization, that strong men shed tears because
they could not array themselves under the folds of the "Starry
Banner," to do and dare for a cause they love so well. All
who recollect the formation of that first installment of sacrifices
to our common country's good, will bear it in memory as an impressive
scene, especially the presentation of the first banner borne by
Kosciusko's honored sons. And again, when but an hour or so remained
ere the volunteers should leave home and friends for the field
of strife, perchance to find their graves on foreign soil, they
were assembled together to receive from the friends of the cause
a lasting parting gift-the Holy Bible.
We all remember the tears that were shed at the departure of the
brave boys how fathers, mothers, wives, sons and daughters prayed
for the safe return of loved ones, to whom they were giving the
last fond adieus. And how the boys, little used to the martial
"pomp of war" endeavored to appear indifferent to their
fate so that they won for themselves glory and renown did inspire
hearts which even then trembled for the safety of our cause, with
a new and stronger faith, acquitting themselves nobly, and becoming
the patriotic people they were to represent.
But few of those who were assembled on the night of May 5th, 1861
at the R. R. Depot, to give the volunteers their last adieu, could
help feeling a sadness at their departure. The hour was peculiarly
propitious to sad forbodings for the future. A wild, dark, and
stormy night it was, and, amid the roar of the thunder and vivid
flashes of lightning, while the rain descended in floods, the
train thundered into the station. A moment more, the boys were
gone, accompanied by the well wishes of our people. Of all those
assembled perhaps not one, even admitted the possibility of more
of her sons being called upon to follow in the path of those who
had gone to gather renown on distant bloody fields. That none
wished for more of her sons to go is certain. Yet, but a few short
weeks elapse ere comes the tidings of the bloody battle on Manasses
plain, where, although our brave boys did their duty nobly, they
could not avail themselves of what they struggled so hard to win-Victory.
It was a bitter defeat, and the Southern traitors came near at
once securing what they now have lost.
But defeat did not unnerve our people. More volunteers tendered
their services. In a short time another company took its departure
from our midst; soon another and still another and again until
more than twenty companies of volunteers-equivalent to more than
two thousand men-had gone from Kosciusko county to swell the patriot
army.
For more than four long years our brave boys have nobly struggled
with the foe. Nor did they cease until the victory was won, and
the "broad stripes and bright stars" floated supreme
from the rock-bound coast of Maine on the north, to the Rio Grande
of the South. Not once did they falter or swerve from the path
which leads to freedom for the oppressed. On twenty score of bloody
fields our boys have sought to acquit themselves like heroes.
They have done it; and on as many fields, some of our brave volunteers
have found their graves. They have went down like ripened grain,
amid the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry; when all things
tended to make [the] day hideous. Their unlettered graves may
be found scattered from the Ohio to the Gulf, from the Mississippi
to the Atlantic. And though their bones repose in unknown graves,
where friends and kindred may never find them to shed the tear
for affections sundered, or broken hearts wail forth their anguish
to the mouldering clay; yet their memories shall live to the end
of time. The many deeds of chivalry performed by Kosciusko's sons
shall not be consigned to early graves, but shall be perpetuated
in the hearts of our people. Like the green oasis scattered at
intervals throughout acres of sands, shall be the record of the
brave and daring deeds of our citizen soldiery. Their laurels
shall be as living verdure, preserved to incite future generations
to, if necessary, imitate the gallant acts of worthy sires, and
to consider, above all duties next that they owe to their God,
most sacred, that of holding their country's welfare as dear to
them as it was to their fathers and preserve the "Banner
of the Stars" in all its glory and brightness, for generations
still farther removed.
In the forthcoming numbers of the Indianian, equal and
exact justice shall be meted out to all to the extent of our ability.
Should any misstatements occur, it will be chargeable only to
those who furnish the material for these articles. We trust that
this enterprise may meet the favor of the entire people; and should
we succeed in this, we shall feel amply repaid for our poor efforts
in a subject worth a better pen.
Northern Indianian Thursday March 29, 1866
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