The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15

lODOf on inc Manic OF OlNeT L. hlOtIOlli
10 whose personal ability and exertions
5hese results were so largely due The
troops hurried to the front by Governor Morton
IN response to the first call were organized, fed,
clothed, and equipped by him without assistance
from the national government They fired the
st shots in the war; and were mainly instru-
mental in winning the earliest victories in West
ern Virginia.
GOVERNOR MORTON AND KENTUCKY UNIoN1sTs.
Early in May, 1861 recognizing the disloyalty
Governor Magofin, of Kentucky, Governor
IsArton, in conjunction with the Governors of
hio and Illinois (who were then at Indianapo-
ds), united in memorial to the President urg
'ng the government to take possession in force
Louisville, Covington Newport, and other
minent points in kentucky. and the railroads
ding from them to the South. For this work
hey recommended that loyal Kentuckians
should be used, adding IF they cannot be found,
United States regulars would be next best for
the purpose, but in our judgment they should be
occupied at an early day if it has to be done by
the volunteer forces from adjoining States We
believe this course will save Kentucky to the
Union, otherwise that in the end the secession
'sts will control her" The government was slow
} move and Kentucky neutrality treated
cry tenderly. AT this time Governor Morton
was in constant communication with loyal Ken
tuckians, and he fairly earned the soubriquet
that was given him by them of Governor of
Kentucky" He gave permission to citizens of
Indiana to enlist in Kentucky regiments, and
allowed company of cavalry in Knox county
and one in Dearborn county to be recruited
for Kentucky regiments. He exerted himself to
procure arms for the Kentucky troops who, hav
ing no Governor to look after their wants, had
to rely on Governor Morton for this and number
less other services. In June, 1861 General
Rousseau determined to raise a force of Ken
lucky Unionists, but at public meeting held in
Louisville it was decided that the encampment
ought not to be made in Kentucky, and Gov
ernor Morton accordingly invited him to estab-
lish his camp at Jeffersonville Ind. Thus In
diana furnished the first rallying point for Ken
lucky Unionists. 1t was Governor Morton, more
than any other person, who, by his promptness in
sending troops into Kentucky, rendered the
famous raid of Kirby Smith into that State in
August. 1862. with Louisville endangered and
with Cincinnati as his objective point, futile In
little over one month the war Governor organ
lied and sent into the field 80, 900 three years
troops.
THE FRIEND OF THE SOLDIER
Morton was called 1.-THE Soldiers Friend"
His efforts were directed not only toward secur-
ing for Indiana soldiers the best possible equip
ment in the way of arms, but to seeing that they
were well clothed and supplied with every
comfort possible in time of In the
autumn of 1861, being unable to get a supply of
overcoats from the general government in time
to protect the men from the approaching winter,
Governor Morton went to New York and bought
%, 900 overcoats. For portion he paid the
regular government price of $7.75, for the re
mainder, So % each They were forwarded and
the men made comfortable. The Quartermaster-
general refused to pay more than the regulation
price leaving difference of $3.50 large
number of coats to be settled by the State.
Governor Morton, upon this decision, said;
Indiana will not allow her troops to suffer, if it
be in her power to prevent it, and if the general
government will not purchase supplies at current
rates, Indiana will" On the 10th of October,
1861, Governor Morton issued proclamation
addressed '"To the patriotic women of Indiana
and in response to that appeal an immense guam
tity of blankets underclothing socks, etc,
forwarded to the soldiers. This was the first Or
ganized effort of any State to make special pro
vision for its soldiers, and was the forerun-
ner Of all the sanitary commissions. He also or
ganized the General Military Agency of In
DIANA with local and field agents appointed to
assist soldiers in getting transportation in return
ing home when they had money or govern
ment passes; to provide them with clothing,
when needed; to feed them, to care for return
ing prisoners, and to exercise a guar
dianship over Indiana soldiers in every
possible way These agents found out Indiana
soldiers in every field and in every prison. They
were on every battle field and the echoes of the
cannon had hardly died away before Indiana's
agents were there looking for Indiana soldiers.
He it was who established the Soldiers Home
at indianapolis, where, during tbs war,
thousands upon thousands of Indiana soldiers
were fed and lodged during their stay at the
capital of the Ladies' Home, where the wives
and families of soldiers in need of temporary aid
were similarly cared for; and of the Orphans
Home, at Knghtstown, for the care and educa-
ton of the orphaned children of Indiana sol
diers
REBELLION AT HOME.
While he was fighting the rebellion in the
South Governor Morton had to fight another in
cipient rebellion at home. In the fall of 1862
the Democrats carried both branches Of the Leg
islature 1t was thoroughly disloyal body. 1t
made an odious and reasonable record and adj
journed without passing single one of the ap-
preparation bills necessary to carry on the State
government Governor Morton appealed to the
people, to private bankers and to
various counties of the State to
furnish funds to carry the State government
confident that the next Legislature would be a
loyal one and justify his acts. The response was
prompt and liberal The State officers were
hostile to his administration and he carried out
his Mans entirely indenendent of them The