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t.•lielocklasvv.Hyof'lienow of Longthe last heroNew \ork navalnow aifS*wrBit;anev-uio»rbtheer,neton-uc-mdov-ffiithUslyssc* S. Grant,Branch.Benjamin I. Butler New Oilean.Caleb (Nishiug, the president of theCharleston eonveution Joho Cochrane, the officer uudcr Franklin Fiercerabid radical.Amos T. Akermau, the present attorney general of the Vuited States.Joseph K. Brown, the last rebel gov ernor ot‘ Georgia.Senator Pool, of North Carolina, now very loyal, but lately of the rebel service.James Longstreet, a relative of Mr. ; Grant, a lieutenant general in the rebel service, now a federal office holder at New Orleans.The list might be extended almost indefinitely. We observe that ail of thesemen were of .that siraight-laced kindof Iodiaoians, viz: 25th regiment, Col*Jb ***•• wiu rcgimem, v«ui ilodiana cavalry. Col. Con-1nf ■ r.- . ^2d Indiana, Col. Jis. Jones;.both Indiana, Col. Foster; and odd Indiana, Col. William Jones, while in the 12ih.Ii, fibrh, 1 ith, 23 J. Ith aud Pith cavalry could be found .-quad, and whole companies from Spencer county, whose records were br.gbt and glorious. The conduct nf the Spencer county troop- in all the euga.i-ements in which they par tieipafed was unac -eptionahle, tVe.juent-ly eliciting from brigade and division commanders merited encomiums. The descendants of these brave men will always revert with just pride to the honorable deeds and noble daring displayedmiles, uDtil just at daybreak, they cross- 1 ed “Panther creek” bridge, and within a half a mile of Sutherland’s farm, where Col. Martin, at the head of six hundred men, lay in ambush, behind some grow i ing com. to greet them with “cauister,! grape and rifle balls.” The rear of our ; column had just passed the bridge, the head composed of a squad ol Netter s j mounted men, had incautiously penetrated the rebel trap where they were opened upon with a six pounder shotted with sacks of miouie balls. The shock was electric upon the cavalry. Their horses wheeled anu threw their riders, many of whom were taken prisoners. The animals, completely frightened, never haviug beeu inaction before, rn-h-by their fathers in defence of the loved , flag in the war to suppress the great and i ftd down the road upon the head of our ! wicked rebellion of 1861. It may well ; infantry column, throwing the wholefeel are t we tibe supposed that with the proximity of Spencer county to the border, the distracted state of the country, the river counties opposite iu Kentucky, swarming with active guerrilla foes, and thevery flower of the tightiDg men of Spencer off to the front, the situation of thecitizens of that county, was anything but pleasant and hopeful. In fact theirof democrats who object to any advance condition was perilous in the extreme,liarrassed with rumors of an invasion, with twenty-the or thirty miles of hor-...... . -, .t der front to protect and au active andguide of their faith, with a tenacity that - ,jarjDg j()C t«» watch their, burthens werein dem acratic sentiment, but who hold fast to the resolutions of 1793, as the1,000 l,800woo.0OJpartakes almost of a death grip. When not light. Bui with the increase ofthey leoscu their hold they drop into theoutstretched arms of radicalism as readily as water runs down hill.Wc do not belong to that class of persons who worship the golden calf which Aaron erected several thousand years ago, for the reason that our common the | sense teaches us that no good is to come ; larity ami worth, and withal a bravefrom such worship. Neither shall we j and accomplished gentleman, was com-bow our head to exploded theories of! missioned by the governor as colonel ofi . • • i _ i the 4th regiment, loUiaua Legion, em*ver ! government which were respected during bracjug Spencer ,.ounfv, and continuedthe past century. No good can come ot ; io command until March 1. 1861. Jlis| it. We try to look upon political parties,and on society, with eyes that belong toforce into an inextricable pauic and confusion, the men naturally supposing that the enemy were coming down upon themwith their whole force. Although a serious matter at the time, yet one cannot help hut lauzh wheu remembering the ludicrous fright and and antic's of men who, •ti . twenty five minutes thereafter, faced death without the twitching of a muscle.Every man was trying to got behind bisneighbor, or behind a good sized tree. The paoio, however, was but of a few minutes duration, for ascertaining that the horses were not followed bv a ruh o!1odanger. rcl.\ing upon the .justness of i the enemy the men soon became calm,ntytbeir cause, and trustiug inthcir valiant hearts and strong arms, the people of Spencer county accepted the issue forced upon them and prepared to do aud die iu defense of their soil aud their hearthstones. Ou the 12th day of June, A. Lb ISO!, John W. lt;rooks, a citizen of Iloekport, a physician of great popu-un-niscanav- j this age aud not to an age that is buriedanasm.ionext be po-an-icr-m-:e aiwith the jusf.For our part we would prefer to bor-monizi with such republican reformers as Carl Schurz, Benjamin Gralz Brown. Judge Trumbull, Judge Davis, Judge Field, Gen. Carey, lt;*cn. Ewing, Frankcommand consisted of twenty five companies, fourteen ol which belonged tothe Ith regiment proper, and eleven . ... ccompanies were organized uuder the ! non posted on a rise in the rear ot theirname ol' the ‘ Grand Viow Battalion,” ( iofautry, kept up u terrible roar,but theirand the officers riding among tiie broken ranks encouraging the men and calling upoQ them to remember that they were Indiaui; n-pmd not to disgrace their-noble state. Banks were formed, companies dressed up, and upon the order “forward, march,” each man obeyed with alacrity. Within ten minutes time alter order being restored, the head of onr eoluiuu was furiously attacked by the enemy, who were posted in Southerland s field, behind a patch of corn and within range of the road upon which the union troops were marching, Upon the crack of the rebel guns our brave hoys gave an Indian yell and went to work iu earnc.-t,returning shot for shot. The icbcl ean-lt;;a :onljiGOVEwith Lieutenant ColonelL. C. Barker, a brave aud meritorious gentleman, commanding. In arms, equipments and I drill this regiment did not differ ma-I tonally from other Legion regiments along the river. Its services were pu-BUir and others of their kind, rather ! trolling and guarding the border. In thethan with the men who were such de- monthsorJulv. August and....... ^ istri.not less than twenty alarms olthreat-teruiiiied admirers of the fossilized age of 1798, that they preferred denying 1 | their faith altogether, rather thau marche— t) the front with the men of progressda- | ;jiid reform.encd invasions from the enemy called out the companies directly along the riverfront, and kepi the people generally in nn intense fever of excitement. During those mouths especially detach-saek? of minic balls passed over our head: doing; uo damage whatever. One six pounder, under charge of J . C. I’ineh of Lieutenant Colonel Parker's staff, replied three times, when at the third discharge, dismounted itself and was taken to tbe rear. No alternative \va now left but fur our infantry tn close in upon the enemy, which was done in splendid style. In iuei veteran troops could not have behaved hot lev under tire. The Spencer county hoys moved up with the steady tramp of veterans under the booming of the rebelthe-lull(It■it wOldonerk!,resanyuaiAsav-ifa-We have no idea that the Terre Haute Journal will ever b.» anything else than a faithful democratic newspaper. Its editor. Colonel J. 1*. Edmunds, is a democrat who knows no shadow of turned squads of each company were nightly j cannon and; volleys of musketry t*;togsent out to patrol the banks of the river, and to intercept all suspicious characters. Along about Aiurust. 1862, the rebels visited Owensboro in considerable force, and runners were sent to Cul. Crooks for assistance. It was on Sun lu spite of his severe insure of I day, about 2 o’clock p m.. the alarmsounded. Iu less than twoar-en-j tothe ca-i in me. m-lit-ets :ats on. my to iogne-crcits,ighhey □ st her are arethe advanced sentiment of the democratic party, which he mis-ealls ‘ a new departure,” we believe he will battle manfully for the success of the democracy in the next presidential election, upon whatever platform may be adopted. That canvass will effectually demonstrate the difference in the value of the recruits of the democracy over those who have left our party.gu uflow Did Logan County VotettvaJfsvij.LE, Aujru.O 17, 1871.Editors Courier:I notice in yesterday’s Journal that, in speaking of the late election in Ken-tueks. the editor says: “Vet, several counties, as Christain and Logan, and a number of the principal towns, have changed from the democratic to the republican side.” Why such a statement should be made of Logao, I cannot imagine. 1 herewith send a copy of the Russellville Herald, in which you will find a statement of the official vote of Logau, which shows an increase in the democratic majority over that of last year. Don't let old Logan he slandered.1^*The following is the vole of hogao county at the late electionFOR GOVERNOR.Pre.ston 11. Lo*!ie John tl. Harlan. *washours about one hundred men had volunteered and were floating along down the river in a large flatboat. under the command of Col. Crooks. 1’pon arriving at Owensboro, the rebels had evacuated tbe place, and the volunteers landed on the Indiana shore and returned home by laud , reaching Iloekport about 4 o’clock a.m., next morning. The temper of the volunteered militia on that occasion was most excellent, and had the enemy remained, there would have been Moody work. The ‘ lloo siers” meant light, but were d:aap-pointed.Soon after that a squad of some ten to fifteen guerillas attempted to cross the river at Iloekport at :l o’clock, one morning, for the purpose, aa they avowed to a union man of Daviess county, Kentucky, whom they supposed to be with them in sentiment, to sack and pillage Iloekport, but on arriving about midway of tbe river their skiff commenced leaking and tbeir hearts failed them. It was a providential interference for them, as, had they conic on. they would have met with a warm reception, for there was a trusty guard at the lauding ready to receive j them. They would have all been killed ■ or captured, for they were soon and watched by TIoosicrs.” who knew no fear.On the morning of the 19th day ofwithin a point-blank range of the cn erny's line of battle, and then returned the lire with, tie deadly aim that only backwoodsmen know so well how to take. The position attained by the rapid movement of our men was an ex celleot one. A portion of our force was screened by a fence with the advantage of a ditch made by throwing up ol the road, not less than two feet deep, and doubtless accounts for the very small loss sustained by the union men. This position was held by us, pouring volley after volley of well aimed musketry into the enemy, until it had its effect upon there. At this juncture Captain John M eoks, of Ncwtonville, was detached with his company of sharp-shooters to make a short detour to the right of the corn field and take the enemy in flank which was done in excellent style. Soou the enemy's line began to waver. llllourA n t andand give way when a charge in front was ordered by Colonels Wood and Crookd-cntbit?anor-dc-atorendismgcade,iehms.en-orotheineIo[•it*ofithim-ns;th-be-nlyignrlyersils.at-de-erculfIntheIoeatlit169mdin-da-rd.rd-calar.Leslie’s majority ............... 4i2Democratic majority for senator, 392, and for representative. 469. All tbe other majorities are above that given for senator. We imagine Logan county will run io the beaten track of democracy for some time to comc.September, A. D.. 1862, the people ofThe taxes collected in Texas for the support of the state government io 1860 arc given as $-154,804. Io 1867, under theAndy Johnson restoration of civil government, they were $344,208. For this year. 1S71 the assessments are $5,837,053!in I860 the tax rate 12* cents per $100; in 1867 it was 15 cents; and now it is $2 25. It is not remarkable that a paper published in the region tormented by reconstruction observes: “The patience of the southern people is a marvel in the history of oppression.”There is nothing like liberality. It is a thing to be admired everywhere, and on all occasions. We therefore feel a sense of overflowing admiration over the following conclusion of a prayer made by a colored clergyman in Oberiio. Ohio; “I pray the Lord I may live to see the day when the colored man may forget Ins prejudice so far as to be willing to receive all other races as his equal.”Iloekport aud surrounding vicinity were thrown into great excitement by thearrival of a courier from Owonsboro with the information that the “Union Camp,” just below that city, had been attacked at daybreak and Colonel Netter killed, and that tbe enemy, six hundred strong, had possession of the oitj\ and appealing for aid, the alarm gun was fired aDd horsemen sent out in all directions to rally the legion. By two o’clock i*. m , two hundred men were in wagons, properly armed and '^quipped, and on their way to “Striker's” landing, just below Owensboro, ou the Indiana side. Arriving there about five o’clock, they fortunately found a stoamboat coming up the river. She was hailed and upon landing was pressed into the service to ferry over the little band of braves. As the boat neared the “nork house,” the poiut then held by (\i. Net-ter’s men, the pickets of the opposing forces were firing at each other along theThe administration of General Grant,is getting cuff-id on all sides. 1q a late speech at Omaha Nebraska, United States Senator Tipton, republican, declared In’s uncompromising hostility to the present administration, as appears from the following extract. He said: *‘I am unalterably opposed to the ruinous and currupting course of the present administration, and I here pledge myself to make that opposition both open and uncompromising.”theor-re-ile,er,ofatsbe-1e-ionen -goer,ilisofichlt;coSpencer County in the War— Border Troubles — Battle ol Panther Creek — Attempted Raid on Rockport—Raid on itlaxrllle- Morgan Raid and Its Excitement — Efficiency of Dome GuardEditor Courier:With a view to perpetuate facts for the benefit of some future historian of Spencer county this article is penned, and if any error in statement creeps in, it will he the fault of an imperfect memory and not with the design to misrepresent. The writer was an eye-witness and au active parieipator io most of the thrilling scenes meutioned. Without, m the least, detracting from the patriotism aud valor of adjoining counties, it may saf ly be said that no county in southern Indiana gave more of her sons to the cause ol the government-, or guarded the border wi»h greater zeal than didSpencer county.Taking into account its population and the surrounuiug circumstances, with a population of not to exceed seventeen thousand souls, she gave to the d ficreut regiments raised in this end of the state fifteen lutadn'7 brave and ga'’a-t soldiers, whose deeds of bravery and nolle daring was wituessed upon nearly all 'he hattUdields of the southwest and along the line of Sherman's march to the sea, and whose blood enriched the soil over which they marched and fought. The bulk of Speucor countyvolunteers followed the “starryflag’1 iu the following regiments, whose histories are tbe pride and glorymargin of the river. Our boys not exactly underManding the situation, supposed the enemy were firing into the crowded mass on the boat; thoreupoo there was much ducking of heads and getting behind chimneys and the cabin of the boat. Haviug debarked and formed in column the troops took up the line of march for the city, where the head of the column arrived about sunset, the rebels having evacuated about, an hour before. Colonel Crooks posted his command in the court house where rations were served, and the army ofwho led the way, followed by the j lant men of Captains Joues, Davis, i Banks and other companies named,! when the line occupied by the enemy i ; aou the bights beyond were gallantly .; carried, driving the foe before them and j : scattering them in great confusion. The i ! action lasted one hour aud a half, and during all that time the firing on both sides was rapid and terrific. Thus t o-minatcd the battle ot Fanther creek.No troops could have done better than did the “home guards” in this action, being raw troop?. They stood fast un- , der fire for one hour and a half and then pressed steadily upon the foe driviug them inch by inch until they finally ! broke and fled iu dismay. During all this time the enemy played upon our men with sacks of minnie balls from a , six-pound cannon, but they evidently ■ over-shot us, a mistake probably caused by their own altitude. Our loss was three killed and thirty-five wounded, all of whom finally recovered. !-The loss of the enemy was thirty six killed upon the field and about one hundred wounded, many of whom afterwards died, and sixteen prisoners taken and paroled ou the spot by Col. Woods; besides we captured a large num- ; ber of guns, pistols, sabres, saddles, blankets and horses. The whole number of men engaged on our side was stated by ; by Col. Crooks, in his report, at. 305 men, j while the enemy, under t’ol. Martin, was ; stated at not less than five hundred men. For the number of men engaged, probably no battle of the war was more hotly contested or more bloody in its results than that of “Fantber creek.” The action commenced at sun rise, and on the the part of the ladiauians. was fought alter a tiresome march of eight miles, 1 without sleep, rest or food for twelve! consecutive hours. It was four o’clock ! in the afternoon, when our command, i tired, hungry and worn down, with | marching and fighting, reached Owens- j boro, ana throwed themselves upon the ' court house green for rest. Col. -John | W. Crooks, since deceased, was a brave I and gallant officer, and was idolized Ly j the gallant boys of tbe Spencer county legion. His men cheerfully followed his lead to glory and to victory.The effeot of that battle brought comyFFFFjSJ“ home guards rested upon their arms parative peace and quiet to the border, for a time. Colonel William F. Woods,!opposite Spencer coufity, f*»r a lone timeof tbe 1st Indiana cavalry, at home on furlough, having arrived from Evansville, and word haviug been brought to him and Colonel Crooks that the enemy were encamped eight miles out on the Livermore road, a plan was discussed and adopted to march out and surprise the rebel caran. Acordingly about 12 at night, Co’s. Woods and Crooks, at the head of about three hundred and fifty men, composed of a squad of Netter's cavalry, and of Captain Paul Jones' “McClellan Guards.'lt; of Iloekport; Capt. Banks’ company and Capt. Meeks’ company, from Hammond township, Capt. Davis’ company, from Grass township, and portions of the companies of Caprs. E. B. Snyder and Meri-Guerillas were contont to give a wide birth to the Spencer county legion, fur they had learned that it was composed of fighting men. With some few ex ceptions, the people of Spencer county were not liarrassed from tbe time of the Panther creek battle, until in July, 1863, when they were called into camp for drill and guard duty, on account of the Morgan raid. Col. Crooks took the precaution to send out scouts to Paoli aod Orleans, to give timely notice in case the enemy should turn south from Corydon, but at the end of several days, on learning of the route taken by organ, the men were dismissed to theirCLCacc—accctCJSC£dPhomes, and their suffering tobacco crops. In the fall of 1S64,a small squadthews, of Ohio township, and part of! of guerrillas crossed the river at theoCapt. Birttis company, from Luce township, together with members of other companies of the legiou, who volun teered with alacrity upon the call of the commanding officers, formed in line at 2 o'clock a. Mof the 20th day of September, were ou the march to meet and chastise the insolent foe, who had the day previous attacked the main camp, killed Netter and captured Owensboro. And here, before following the fortunes of this little band of heroes, pause and consider what patriotism aod bravery must have impelled three hundred and fifty undisciplined militiamen to march eight miles into an enemy’s country, in the night time, for the purpose of attacking six hundred euerillas, well disciplined, well armed, surrounded by a thick population who as least sympathized with them, and who had tbe advantage of tbe union troops in this,dead hour of night, just below Maxville penetrated iDto that village, and robbed the house of Capt. Crecn B. Taylor, aud upon awakeniug ouc of the family, cue of ’ the ruffians knocked the captain s wife down, and then they left precipitately and re crossed the river before the alarm could bo given. A company of “home guards,” under the command oi the gallant Capt. Taylor crossed the river in pursuit, who came up with the guerrillas at or near Lcwisport, and chastised them severely. One of the ruffians, the same one who had maltreated the Captain's wife, was killed while rcsLtiug his arrest by the Guards. Again, some time later, another raid was made by guerrilla.* ou (Jweusboio. and Col. Crooks being ap pealed to. inarched his fc-rce.-: down to the river and opposite that city, and gave the enemy to understand that nnoocnCDOthat tlrey knew every iueb of the conn- less they evacuated the place iu short jtry, and coi Id select tbeir own ground and compel an attack upon their own terms, and witIi a heavy wooded country in which they could ambush tbe foe. Notwithstanding all this acd nothing daunted, the little band tf Spencer county “Home G uards” kept step to the music of tbeir own brave thoughts, and tramped with the steps of intrepid veteran* for eight long, wearyorder, he would shell them out. His artillery was planted, upon seeing which, the rebs got out of there in double quick. The Spencer boys were always ready and willing 4o fight, when necessary, and the enemy knowing that, were not disposed to risk their lives by gratifying them.Respectfully yours,OccasionalGOI/
Newspaper Details
Evansville Daily Courier
Evansville, Indiana, US
Sun, Aug 20, 1871
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Taylin A.
USA 13 Jun 2018
Other Publications Near Evansville, Indiana
Evansville Weekly Gazette
Evansville Gazette
Evansville Indiana Statesman
Evansville Daily Evening Enquirer
Evansville Daily Enquirer
