238. Randolph County Civil War Era Trivia

RCHS Blog Post Number 238. 

Randolph County Civil War Era Trivia

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     Following President Lincoln's call, in April of 1861, for the northern states to start forming regiments of volunteer troops, Randolph County was among the first to respond. There were already several militia companies organized around the county and on June 8, they were invited to a war rally in Winchester. There were 2000 people gathered around the court house that heard rousing speeches by county politicians, several bands trying to outdo each other and a parade with all of the local fraternal organizations in their uniforms.       The main attraction of that parade was to be the militia men, each with their fife and drum corps. The militias present included the following: The Spartanburg "Home Guards", Capt. Levi Kelly: The Farmland "Grays", Capt. George McGriff: The Buena Vista Home Guard, Capt. Masters: The Washington Home Guards, Captain James Kelly: The Bartonia Home Guards, Capt. Morton and The Randolph County "Dragoons", in command of Lieut. James Kelly in the absence of Capt. Heaston.

     On the 4th of July there was another rally that was much larger than the first one. There were again speeches, bands, a parade with the militias from around the county and this time Captain R. W. Hamilton's company of volunteer soldiers from around the county was present.. This company had been accepted by Governor Oliver P. Morton and was to meet again in Winchester on July 14, 1861 and leave by train for Indianapolis the next day. For the 4th, the company marched out to what today is Goodrich Park and set up their tents and equipment and named it Camp Neff. At this July 4th celebration there were 10,000 people in Winchester. I'll have more on the county boys throughout this post.

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Randolph County Journal:

A few Civil War weddings:

  Married June 13, 1861, by Joseph Eltzroth, Esq., Henry Davis of Grant County and Margaret Clark of Spartanburg, Randolph County.

  Married June 17, 1861, by Joseph Eltzroth, Esq., William Fields and Minerva Bartholomew, both of Ward Twp., Randolph County.

  Married June 17, 1861 at the residence of R. A. Wilson, Union City, by Rev. H. Gregg, Jonas Votaw of Jay County and Lizzie K. Dresser of Union City, formerly of Massachusetts.

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August 1, 1861. 

     Eli Edwards of the "Randolph Guards" returns home bearing the reputation of the best marksman in the 8th Regiment, Ind. Vol. Inf. The time he spent in the west following the buffalo hunts proved to be a valuable experience to him when pursuing the rebels in Virginia.

  Whenever he leveled his musket there was sure to be one less man in the rebel army.

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Court House, July, 1865. 

     The much needed protection to the shade trees around the Public Square has finally been made. The posts have been set for some time, but the chain that was to encircle the Square only arrived a few days ago. We are glad of it, for it has been an eyesore to see, the shade trees destroyed, after they gave evidence of thrift and had yielded to the pedestrian the delights of a good shade. The chain cost $191 and weighs 1,528 pounds. Horses can be hitched to the chain on the outside, but parties will be subject to a fine for hitching them on the inside.

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August 26, 1864.  

     Erastus Reed, aged about 19 years, son of Nathan and Ann Reed, died in the military hospital at Madison, Indiana on the 20th of this month of black jaundice after a very short illness. He was a soldier in the 134th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 100 Days. He was brought home by train and interred in the local cemetery. Every time that we heard from the deceased, the news was that he was remarkably healthy and robust and a model soldier. Another sacrifice to this mean and unprovoked slave holding rebellion.

E. Reed headstone located in
Old Pioneer Cemetery (Heaston Cemetery),
Winchester, Indiana. 
Photo taken October 2021.

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Mr. Putman sent this report to the Commissioners

     After major battles during the Civil War, the Randolph County Commissioners would send a delegation of church officials, in this case just Mr. E. J. Putman, to the Union hospitals to inquire of the needs of wounded or sick county soldiers. The following report by Mr. Putman is from Corinth, Mississippi about 4 months after the battle at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, better known as Shiloh on April 4-6, 1862.

     Mr. Putman sent this report to the Commissioners mid August, 1862:  

     The inmates of this Hospital had an abundance of clothing furnished by the Ladies' Aid Society. (The Ladies Aid Society in Winchester was first organized by the Methodist church in 1861.) The Surgeon in charge took me thro' the wards and explained in detail the management of the institution. The soldiers that were not expected to live were confined outside in two tents. In these were about fifty of the poorest, emaciated creatures I ever saw. Here and there I saw a father or a brother bending over a loved one, but not a single mother in those tents to wipe the death-sweat from their brow.

     The Generals's orders are to allow no females to come over the Railroad without a pass from headquarters. This may be best, but it is hard for the sick and wounded boys. The graveyard nearby is kept in nice order. The graves are laid out in rows, each being marked with a board upon which is cut the name of the deceased, company, regiment and State, the time of death, etc. The Surgeon informed me that a great many had come after the bodies of their sons, but after seeing with what care they had been buried, went home without disturbing them. The deaths at present are about three per day--much less than it has been at times.

     The boys need more chickens, vegetables and fruit than they get. They were very grateful for what I took them, though it was but a taste. I know it is easier to find fault than to remedy the defect, but I felt that the sick should not suffer these things. The Quartermaster informed me that he had plenty of money to buy with, but could not get such articles. I told him that Indiana had an abundance, and for him to put his money in the hands of the State Sanitary Committee and they would purchase all that was needed. But if I had the ear of the "powers that be," I would tell them to look at the large plantations north of Corinth--belonging to rebels-- well supplied with everything necessary to make our soldiers comfortable. There were about 200 Indianians in this hospital.

     I also visited the Female College, one half mile south of Corinth, which is being used for a hospital, and here I found about 200 more sick and wounded. Most of them have been taken out of the building and put in tents in the front yard where it is cooler.

     I would suggest to the women of our county that they raise plenty of chickens, and can up and dry as much fruit as possible, as such things are going to be needed by our brave boys before the year is ended.   E. J. PUTMAN

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May 22, 1863. 

     Col. Silas Colgrove is now at home in Winchester, giving himself time to recover from the wound he received in the recent battle at Chancellorsville, Virginia, which took place from April 30 to May 6, 1863. With the exception of the lameness necessarily resulting from the wound and something of debility consequent on the loss of blood occasioned by it, the Colonel is in excellent health.

     He received the wound a short time after sunrise but continued on horseback till after 3 p.m. When he found the blood running over the boot top, he drew a handkerchief tightly around the limb and in this way, to some extent, checked the flow. The rebel ball passed through the lower part of his thigh and lodged in the saddle tree. It is only since his return home that portions of his pants and drawers have been removed from the wound.

     Some five bullets passed through his coat and another struck his sword near the hilt, bending the instrument out of shape.

     His horse was badly wounded in the shoulder but also survived the fighting. This is the third time his horse has been shot in battle.

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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

Read page 129-140 to read "Death Records And Cemetery History." Page 131article titled "Franklin Township Cemeteries: 1. Race Street" has a very brief description.

Read page 446 to read the family history of Joab Addington which was submitted by Joanne Moulton.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.

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