The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-25
AN INSPIRING FIGURE.

patches and letters passing between the
and the Governors of States relative to
drafts. enlistments and the internal dis
turbances during the year 1863. To the peo-
pie of Indiana the story which can be
CLEANED from the volume affords cause for
pride and congratulation. The correspond
ence from Governor Morton and the federal
officers in Indiana does not cover much
space in this volume of 1000 pages. but the
brief dispatches of the former present a
striking contrast to those of officials in
other States. In a State which was the
center of local hostility to the Union cause
and beset with manifold dangers which
were sufficient to break the spirit of men
of more than ordinary courage, Oliver p.
Morton uttered no minor note. His brief
dispatches to Secretary Stanton must nave
been to the sorely tried Lincoln and STAN
ton a source of encouragement amidst so
many doubtful utterances and timid COM
plants. To-day these dispatches have the
inspiration of the bugle-blast of a leader
confident of victory.
To-day's papers contain accounts of the
presentation, on the part of the senator's
of Indiana in behalf of the State, of the
statue of one of the two conspicuous Indi-
anians to be placed in the national Capitol,
and it is fitting that allusion should be
made to a few of the dispatches which are
heroic features in the records of a gloomy
period. True, it was the year of the sur
render of vicksburg and of the battle of
Gettysburg; nevertheless, 1T was a period
of general distrust. and one in which the
anti-Lincoln politicians were able TO do the
greatest mischief. In June, 1863. when the
Confederates were making raids into Indi-
ana, and when making raids seems to be
their settled policy" Governor Morton does
not ask for troops. but for ''carbines. pis-
tolls and sabers' to arm a cavalry company
i'm each border county, 1.-THE cavalry here
| tofore raised for defense having gone into
the field long ago. June %, after Nor
gan's purpose was disclosed, Governor
Morton telegraphed Secretary Stanton:
Send me at once $4,000 arms and at least
| twelve pieces Of field artillery. / can arm
and organize the state forces rapidly, and
it must be done" The State invaded and
all its troops, beyond the States share, in
the field, Governor Morton makes no appeal
for troops, as the Confederate leaders ex-
| pected he would. but calls for arms. In
marked contrast is the action of this self
reliant and resolute leader to that of the
executive of a State in which there was
less danger, who appealed to the secretary
of wal to send him from the armies in the
field six regiments to overawe the conspir-
ing copperheads.
About this time a draft was necessary to
obtain the quotas of several Eastern States
to fill a call for 100. 900 men. When that
| call was made Indiana had to its credit
2s,o51 men in excess of the number required
by previous calls. After being credited
with it's quota under the last can. which
required 26. SS3 men. Indiana had 1,66S men
to it's credit. If other States had put as
many men into the armies in the field as
did Indiana up to July 4, 1863. there would
nave been no cause for CONSUMPTION, which
was a fearful setback to the Union cause
and the source of great encouragement &c
rebel sympathizers in the North. Nor die
Governor Morton cease his efforts to raise
troops because he had furnished all the
desired more men. and that was enough
Aug. 20. in a three-line dispatch. he noti
fled the secretary of war of 'the organiza
ton of four regiments of six months
men, and that 1.-The Seventh Cavalry ha,
COO men in camp" There was prospect o
another call of 3OO.O 900. but, still ahead o.
the requirements. the Governor. who wa,
terribly in earnest. did not wait, but oil
the day after the battle of Chickamaug;
t~elegraphed the secretary of war: Il hav'
issued a call for four regiments of cavalr,
and eleven regiments of infantry, and hav'
every prospect of raising them speedily.
and this in a State in which the Legisla
ture had refused to advance a dollar. :"
will move everything TO raise the regi
ments, and / believe I can," is the. sub
stance Of another dispatch. In May. 1866
when a CONSUMPTION was being discusses
and many feared the consequences becaus
a considerable number OF quite prominen
men were already ~denouncing Presiden
Lincoln as a tyrant who had deprived tn
people of their liberties. Governor Mortol
telegraphed the secretary OF war; II rec
ommend that the CONSUMPTION be pu
through with the utmost dispatch; make
large"
The foregoing are examples of the en-
phatic and terse dispatches which Governo
Morton sent TO the authorities I'm Wash
ington. Once in a while he shows impa
thence because of what seems to him to b
delay, but never did he ask OF the Pres
dent an extension of time to furnish me
or seek to I'LL the quota of Indiana by &c
ing outside the State for men or by seekin
credits for the names OF men who woul
not add a lighting man to the thinned res
iments in the field. OF the men who wer
most useful IN saving the Union. wheth<
: soldiers er civilians, the name OF Morto