The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-17
THE FAMOUS ELEVENTH"
How Indiana Responded to the Call for
Troops When Fort Sumter Fell.
The Eleventh Regiment as It Marched to the
Front-Taking the Oath to Wipe Out
the Stain of Buena Vista.
Written for the indianapolis Journal.

der to the rebels by force OF arms The news
found Indiana without money. without arms or
munitions, without militia; but She had loyal
and brave people, and patriotic and bold CIV
ernor. On Monday, the 18th, before any call
had been made for troops, the Governor tele-
graphed to President Lincoln:
'Qn behalf of the State of Indiana tender TO YOU
for the defense of the Nation and to uphold the
thoc1ty OF the government. ten thousand men.
OLIVER p. MOTION, Governor"
Such was the response of Indiana's Governor
to the cannons that had Numbered at Fort
Sumter. How did the people responds That
same day the President issued his proclamation
calling for 75, 900 men. and the quota of Indiana
was fixed ut six regiments. The Governor the
next day issued his proclamation calling upon
the people of the State to come forward to the
defense of the Nation. In less than twenty four
hours 800 men were In camp, and in three
days half the quota was in camp. while every
train came laden with enthusiastic volun-
teers. Before the end of the week
there were enough volunteers to fill eighteen
regiments The whole State appeared to be
Eve 7issa inSa fuxiotfs 10 eai;.:. ai.s
we're in camp, but there was neither arms nor
clothing for them. No uniform had beer adopted,
and each regiment WAS left to select its own, and
the work of furnishing began. Peopled poured
in on the Governor offers of money, clothing,
blankets, and indianapolis, from thriving vii
lage, sprang at a bound into busting city.
Flags waved from almost all the houses. not
only of the city, but of the State. The enthu
siasm for volunteering was so great that it be-
came q warm contest to see what companies
4 Al
for chance to volunteer that the Governor sent
a special messenger to Washington to tender six
additional regiments. They were not accepted
at that time, but the Governor put them into
camp to await the second call, which he saw
could not be long delayed.
The regiments accepted were numbered from
six to eleven inclusive, owing to the fact that
five regiments had been furnished for the war
with Mexico. The first that mpleted its organi-
zatien was placed under the command of Lew
Wallace. For some reason he chose to have it
called the Eleventh, although it was the first
gained The organization of the six regiments
were effcered as follows:
Sixth---Colenel. Thomas T. Crittenden; lieuten-
antcolonel. Hiram Prather; major John Gerber;
adjutant. G. W. Wiley.
Seventh-Colonel, E. Dumont lieutenant
colonel, Benjamin j. Spooner; major s. p. Oyler;
adJntant, James Gavin;
colonel, Silas Colgrove; major, David Skunk;
adjutant, A. j. Harrison.
Ninth-Colonel, R. Milroy; lieutenant-colonel,
D. M Dunn; major, o. }. Woodward; adjutant.
Henry Loring.
Tenth-Colonel. j. J. Reynolds lieutenant
colonel. j. B. M. Bryant; major, III. ID. Manson;
adiutant j. @. Suit.
Eleventh-Colonel. Lew Wallace; lieutenant.
colonel, George +. McGinnis; major, Charles O.
Wood; adjutant Daniel Macauley.
These regiments were organized into brigade,
of6eered by Z. A. Morris, brigadier general;
John Love- Inspector general; Capt Milo S Has
call. Capt C. G. Hines and Lieut.. John A. Stein,
aides decamp The Eleventh adopted the zou-
ave uniform, and its first outfit was made up of
gray jeans. The regiments being organized,
the preparations for leaving for the front were
pushed forward with renewed activity
On the It'll of May the Eleventh, having re-
ceived its uniform, was marched through the
streets to the State-house grounds where they
were to be presented with their colors The
march was a perfect ovation. The streets were
thronged by enthusiastic crowds and cheers rent
the air. This was a favorite regiment in Indian
apolis, as five of the companies were recruited
from among the best citizens The ladies of
Terre Haute had prepared beautiful silk flag,
with the thirty three stars placed in the
shape of the letter u, signifying
an unbroken Union. The ladies of
indianapolis has caused to be made a magnifi-
cent reeimeEtal banner of blue silk, bearing the
coat of arms of the Union, worked with gold
thread. yhese eelors were to be presented with
due poInp End ceremony in front of the old State
house. An immense eoncourse was present A
stand had a'een erected and beautifully deco
rated. Around it THE regiment was formed in
close column. The national flag was presented
by Hon. w 81. Mclean, now Assistant Commits
siener of Pensions The regimental coors were
presented by Mrs. Cady, of Indianapolis They
were received by Colonel Wallace and the peo-
pie were treated for the first time. with three
-'chsars and tiger" which afterward made the
regiment famous wherever it went After the
presentation of the colors occurred one of the
most dramatic scenes Of the war. Colonel Wal
lace reminded the regiment that it was
JEFF Davis who had cast the reproach
on Indiana valor at the battle of Buena
to the State ever since. He called upon the men
to kneel Gown. and with uplfted hands swear
ITO stand by the -eolors and remember Buena
Vista" The whole regiment at once knelt, and
took the OATH with ringing shouts.
The scene was theatrical in the last degree,
but it had wonderful influence upon the regi
1nent and the people. Colonel Wallace after
wards used 1T to good purpose at Charlestown,
Va. There were but two Western regiments in
the army of General Patterson--the Eleventh In
diana aud the First Wisconsin. The term of
enlistment of the Eleventh expired while at
Charlestown and as they were very much dis
satisfied with the commanding general, they de-
termined to 20 home General Patterson wanted
them to stay ten days longer, but the request
was net with @ fiat refusal. Colonel Wallace,
however, had determiaed~to stay So one night
the boys were surprised TO see the First Niscon-
sin como marching into their quarters
.unarmed. Without word they formed in
hollow square around Colonel Wallaces
quarters. 'Hhe command was given to the
Eleventh to form by companies in the rear of
their visitors. When this was done. Colonel
Stackpole, of the Wisconsin regiment, made
speech in which he spoke of the perils of the
government and the necessity of sinking person
al feelings atthe call of patriotism He was fol-
lowed by several Others when Colonel Wallace
mounted the platform He called for the colors
of the regiment. Grasping one in each hand he
reminded the boys OF the time when, on Bonded
they had 10 "a +hrrl ,lorS