The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-28
LOGAN IN 1861.
The General Among the First in the Field
Mrs. Logan's Heroism.


Chicago News
In 1860 General Logan was reelected to Con-
gress, and Mrs. Logan spent that memorable
winter at the capital with him. Scarcely had
they returned when the news came of the fall of
Sumter. and in response to President Lincoln's
proclamation converting the new Congress in ex-
ira session, the General was forced to hurry
back to Washington. Mrs. Logan remained at
home at Marion, whittier the family had re-
moved from Benton and her position now be-
came of difficulty. The Generals consttu-
ents were largely Southerners or persons Of
Southern descent who had settled in that part of
with the South, and they were all i'm
patient to know what the Generals course
would be. His speeches in Congress had already
revealed his determination to adhere to the
Union, and, at the battle of Bull Run, instead of
remaining at Washington. he had Joined Colonel
Richardson's Michigan regiment and fought with
it that day. He was in citizens dress and Mrs.
Logan still has the suit he wore that day.
When it became known after the battle that the
General was about to return to his district and
publicly announce the course he intended to pur-
sue there was the greatest excitement among
his constituents People even forgot to attend
to their ordinary vacations; business
pended. and the farmers neglected their crops
and came pouring into Marion, then little town
of 1000 inhabitants, to await their Representa-
tives return and hear what he had to saw
Mrs Logan foresaw th.r everything would
depend upon the circumstances under which her
husband made the announcement of his inten-
tions. She could not venture out of doors with
out crowd collecting about her and question
ing her concerning her husband, and she felt
that it was of the utmost consequence that he
should be able to secure fair audience and be
able to exert his personal influence to STAY the
threatening stampede of the secessionists.
Many who were afterwards supporters of the
Union then undecided in opinion and she
knew that the slightest untoward event might
turn the scales 1t essential indeed for
him TO retain their confidence and convince them
that his was the only patriotic course TO pur-
sue. Already resolutions of secession had been
introduced at the meetings in his district, and
Mrs. Logan's and her husbands friends ia en-
deavoriug TO restrain public opinion until their
Representative could personally appear and de-
clare his views had most delicate and danger
Gus role to play. On the day set for his arrival
she drove in buggy all the way to Carbondale,
the nearest station. twenty two miles away to
meet him. but. learning there that the train by
which he was to arrive had missed connection,
she Immediately turned about and drove back to
Marion. It was evening when she arrived there,
and the streets were still full of people. They
crowded in a mass around her buggy and de-
manded to know why her husband had not ac-
companied her Colonel White, then clerk of
the court. and her father, Captain Cunningham,
exerted themselves to pacifv the mob, but it was
not until the sheriff. Mr. Swindell, stood up in
his buggy and urged the crowd TO dispense,
assuring it that Logan would surely be
there in the morning and address them.
that the clamor could be qusiied Once released
from her unpleasant, if not perilous position,
Mrs. %ogsn turned the horse around, and in the
darkness luckily set oueagain on that long ride