The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-02-24
The Fifth Cavalry and the legislature


The Fifth Cavalry and the Legislature
To the House of Representatives. =
/ had the honor to receive the follow
ing preamble and resolution passed by
your Honorable Body, to-wit:
WHEREAS, 1t is represented to this
House that on Friday last, the 3Oth ult,
a squad of the 9th Indiana Cavalry,
stationed at Rockport, Indiana, entered
a printing office at that place known as
the Rockport Democrat " office, and in
a violent, turnultuous, and dlsgracetul
manner, broke up and utterly destroyed
nearly all Of the working material OF said
office; and, whereas, on account OF tins
and other irregularities on the part OF
that portion of said Cavalry stationed at
that place, much irritation exists between
such Cavalry and a large portion OF the
citizens of that vicinity; and whereas,
the Home Guards of that vicinity have
heretofore demonstrated their Willingness
and ability to defend said border, if that
be all for which troops are required at
that point; and. whereas, there seems to
be some doubt as for what purposes, and
by whose authority such Cavalry are
stationed at that place; therefore,
ResoiUed, That His EXcellency, the
Governor, be requested to communicate
to this House by whose authority and for
what purpose such Cavalry are stationed
at Rockport, Indiana, as aforesaid, and
whether such squad of Cavalry acted un-
knowledge which in any manner justifies
or excuses the entry and destruction of
the printing office aforesaid, and whether
such Cavalry cannot be removed to some
other point without injury to the public
service, and that he be further requested
10 take such action as may be necessary
to secure the prompt and efficient pun
ishment of the persons engaged in the
destruction of the printing office atore-
said.
In answer to the above preamble and
resolution, beg leave to state that ten
companies of the 9th Indiana Cavalry
were stationed at different points upon
our southern border by nv authority,
isi. .iro huuwIeuge anu approvH1 or the
Major General Commanding this De-
partment This was done for the protec-
ton of the people and property of the
border counties from invasion by rebel
guerrilla marauding parties in Ken
lucky.
As many as eight different times
forces have been sent from the interior
in great haste to protect various points
upon the border threatened by invasion
from rebel forces in Kentucky, and in
some of the counties the Legion have
perfor med much 'laborious service for
the same purpose. 1t was believed that
small cavalry force, judiciously sta
toned at different points on or near the
river, would afford protection and re-
ieve the Legion from much onerous
duty
The 4th Indiana Cavalry, by an ar
rangement with the Secretary of War,
was raised for our border defence, but
the exigency of the service requiring, it
was sent to the field, and afterwards ten
companies of the 9th Cavalry were as
signed to that duty as before stated.
The resolution particularly inquiries
whether such squad of cavalry engaged
in the destruction of the printing office
Of the Rockport Democrat acted under
any order or intimation within my know
/ ledge, which In any manner justified of
excused the entering and destruction or
the said printing office. The first know
ledge / had of the commission of this
alleged riot was obtained from the above
preamble and resolution. l have no
knowledge of any order or intimation,
emanating from any source whatever,
! procuring, melting, or excusing the al
/ lpped Outra0e
The implication contained in this in
terrogatory is unjust, and shall be sur
prised to learn that the House is in pos
session of any fact pointing to or justify
ing it. The further interrogatory con-
tanned in the resolution, as to whether
such cavalry cannot be removed to some
other point without injury to the public
service, | shall at this time respectfully
| decline to answer The attention of the
military authorities has been called to
the transaction, and they will doubtless
with proper diligence make full investi-
cation, and bring all offenders to punish
ment. 0. p MORTON,
| Governor OF Indiana