The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-26
INDIANAPOLIS IN 1861
SOME SCENES WHEN THE TROOPS
BEGAN ARRIVING HERE.
Everybody Wanted to Volunteer at
First CaII--GOvernOr MOrtOn'S
Magnificent Work.


ing of the civil war. Rumors of the fall of
Fort Sumter were not confirmed for several
days. 1t was on Sunday morning, April H.
1861, that a dispatch was received here con-
firming the report. From that time on plans
for the peaceful preservation of the Union
were abandoned, and war was accepted as
the only means of settling the bitter con-
troversies that had arisen. The morning
after confirmation of the fall of Sumter was
received Governor Oliver p. Morton tele-
graphed President Lincoln as follows: con
behalf Of the State of Indiana l tender you
for the defense of the Nation and to uphold
the authority of the government, 10000
men,. On that same day the President is
sued the first call. 1t was for 5000 men. In
dianas quota was fixed at six regiments of
infantry comprising 4,6s3 officers and men.
On April 16 Governor Morton issued the
first State call for three months troops. 1t
read:
Whereas, An armed rebellion has been
organized in certain States of this Union,
having Tor ITS purpose the G9tetdhrow or the
whereas, The authors and movers OF TINS
rebellion have seized, by violence, various
forts and arsenals belonging to the United
States and otherwise plundered the govern
ment of large amounts of money ana Valua-
BILE property; and
longing to the United States. exclusive
possession and jurisdiction over which were
vested in the general government by the
Constitution OF the United states, mas been
besieged by a large army and assaulted by
destructive cannonade, and reduced to sub
mission and the national flag hauled down
and diShonored; and,
Whereas. The President of the United
states, in the exercise of the power vest
ed in him by the federal constitution, mas
called upon the several States remaining
true to their allegiance to aid him in the
enforcement of the laws, the recovery of the
national property and the maintenance OF
the rightful authority of the United States;
Now therefore, 1, oliver p. Morton. Gov
ernor of the State of Indiana, call upon the
loyal and patriotic men of the State to the
number of six regiments to organize them
selves into military companies, and forth
with report the same to the ad1utant gen
eral in order that they may be speedily
mustered into the service of the United
States. The details of the organization are
set forth in the instructions or the adJutant
general, herewith published.
The proclamation is signed by Governor
Morton and Lewis Wallace, adjutant gen.
eral.
indianapolis being the place of rendezvous
designated by the War Department the fair
grounds were secured for that purpose and
named Camp Norton in honor of the
Governor. April 10 the Governor issued a
call for special session of the Legislature
to meet the extraordinary conditions that
prevailed. April "a was the day set for them
to convene. An appropriation of 81, 900, 900
was made and war loan authorized.
Meantime wild enthusiasm was manifested
all over the State Public meetings to slim
ulate the formation of companies were held
everywhere and in a short time condition
OF affairs that has been duplicated in this
crisis of the last few weeks arose. The
Governor was overwhelmed with more prof
ferS of service than he could avail himself
of. The day after the call five hundred
men were in camp. BY April 10 2400
men had responded and We're in camp
more coming on every train. In less than a
week 1900 men, nearly three times the
quota required, had rendered their services
Love for the old flag was stirred almost to
worship as it has been lately. Five days
after the call orders were issued for the
organization of the regiments. A special Of
ficer of the United States mustered the men
into service. AS there had been five regi-
ments in the Mexican war the new regi-
ments numbered from six to eleven, both in
elusive. These regiments, comprising the
First Brigade, Indian,. volunteers, under the
command of Thomas A. Morris, brigadier
general, We're ordered to West Virginia for
three months service
REPAIRING RAVAGES OF BATTLE.
Before the return of the three months
troops from the West Virginia campaign
Governor Morton dispatched messengers to
the regimental commanders, urging them TO
re-enlist after a reasonable time at home.
They returned late in July. were paid, mus
tered out and reorganized in short order
Meantime other calls had been made and
were being filled. Indiana never tagged in
the eHort 70 raise men to fill the places of
those killed and disabled in the field. One of
Governor MortonS most distinguishing
characteristics was a determination and
ability to recruit troops. He was ever alive
to the Importance of repairing the ravages
or battle and disease, and regarded it his
foremost duty to place every able-bodied
man the government needed at its disposal
people was that armies, however large, they
might be required, should be raised by vol
unteer enlistment Not until the war was
all but over, was consumption resorted to in
Indiana, and even the number put in the
field was insignificant. No State was more
prompt In furnishing troops than Indiana.
No demand on the State was ever evaded or
delayed. State authorities never complained
that the calls were too frequent or too
large. A feeling did spring up that other
States were doing less than their share. Be
lieving in overwhelming forces, Governor
Morton urged large armies be raised, and
spared no effort to furnish the last man
demanded of the State. His earnestness was
contagious. The people united with him in
urging vigorous war Soldiers went to the
lTOuL VIII oil SiltIluSldSliC uSLCI "
bring the struggle to a speedy close. Their
valor and victories stimulated the recruiting
at home.
MANNER OF RECRUITING.
A word as to the manner of recruiting
may be of interest. On receipt of a call
from President Lincoln Governor Morton's
plan was to issue a proclamation stating
the requisition and calling on the people to
fill it at once. He always attempted to in
terest influential men in every community.
Meetings were held. Patriotic speeches
were made. Commissioned recruiting officers
exerted themselves zealously. New regi-
ments were formed under nearly every call
Camps of rendezvous We're established in
each congressional district. COMMANDMENTS
quartermasters, adjutants and examining
rapid organization. These officers were Sc
lected from the district. They were popular
men of influential character and qualified
by energy and capacity for organization.
Permanent commissions were dependent on
success in enisting recruits. Each township
had It's local committee. After the first
year of the war local bountleS were gener-
ally offered by townships and counties. A
large portion of the Indiana soldiers en-
listed, however, without any further bounty
than that of the federal government. AL
though allowed to decide for themselves
the regiments in which they would serve
the major portion of the recruits went into
the regiments of their own districts.
In the first year of the war the three
months troops re-enlisted. Six regiments of
State troops were transferred to the United
States service, infantry regiments up TO the
Fifty-ninth were recruited, with portions of
some others, beside which three regiments
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