On all questions affecting the integrity and preservation of the national government the people of Vigo county have been thoroughly loyal.   This sentiment has not been confined to any particular class or party, but all alike, both men and women, have responded with alacrity and unanimity to every call made to the country, whether for troops to serve against the nation's enemies or for relief to the sick and wounded.   In the latter duty the record shows that the noble women of this county have ever been foremost.   At no time since the county was organized have her citizens been indifferent to the claims of our common country upon their services.   Her quotas of men and money have always been furnished, and furnished promptly.   In the war of 1812—15. particularly in the contests with the fierce tribes found within her borders, her citizens have always borne a conspicuous part. During the Black Hawk war a company of mounted men was raised and prepared for the field.   So, also, Capt. Cochran's company in the 2d Ind. reg. that went to Mexico, was recruited within the borders of Vigo county; and in the efforts to subdue the great rebellion no state was more prompt in raising and sending troops into the field, and none made a more brilliant record.

Camp Vigo, near Terre Haute, was established at the [beginning of this war, and scarcely had the first call for troops been issued by the president when men began to gather here and begin preparations for the impending conflict. The grand total of troops from Indiana was 208,367, of which the three years' men numbered 165,617; one years men, 21,642; the remainder of the grand total being of those who were among the three, six and nine months' men. These forces were organized into 129 regiments of infantry, 13 of cavalry, 1 of heavy artillery and 26 batteries of light artillery.   Of these several regiments were sent from Camp Vigo.

The grand total of men furnished by Vigo county, who served in all branches of the military service, was 4,445.   This number is believed to be nearly correct.   It is easy to determine the number of men in each regiment, but more difficult to determine to what locality each man is to be credited.   From the adjutant general's reports, kindly furnished the writer by Gen. Charles Craft, the quotas and credits are given as follows: Harrison township, including Terre Haute, 2,003; Fayette, 251; Sugar Creek, 244; Otter Creek, 198; Kevins, 151; Prairieton, 137; Prairie Creek, 166; Honey Creek, 236; Riley. 210; Linton, 192; Pierson, 148; Lost Creek, 219.   These figures do not make the aggregate required.   Some mistakes have been discovered in the footings of the official columns.   Nevertheless, the full quotas were furnished, and the result given with as much accuracy as possible. The greater part of these were members of the 11th, 14th, 31st, 35th, 43d, and 71st regiments of infantry, the 2d and 4th Ind. Cav., and the 8th Ind. Batt.   Besides these, more than 700 colored troops were credited to Vigo county, although the number of this class actually recruited was nearly double the amount named, for the reason that agents and others, from other states, were diligently employed in obtaining recruits, that were credited to the localities from which the agent came. Most of these colored troops served in eastern regiments, notably the 28th Mass. colored reg.  It is impossible to determine from the reports previously referred to just what companies were recruited in this county, some companies not being thus indicated, while in the various rosters of the company officers most of them are from Terre Haute, and many from other parts of the county.

We also find that the names of numbers of citizens of Vigo county were included in the rosters of other regiments. Recruiting was actively carried on during the war.

Besides the regiments and batteries above mentioned, a large number of men were furnished and enrolled in the Indiana legion or state militia, which was organized under act of the legislature of Indiana at an early period of the war, for defending the state from invasion. The Sixth Brigade district was composed of the counties of Vigo, Clay, Owen and Sullivan. Richard W. Thompson was appointed brigade commander, November 1861. An entire regiment, called the Vigo County Regiment, was organized and equipped in this county. The field and staff officers were Harvey D. Scott, colonel; Augustus Arnold, adjutant; Wm. S. Mahan, quartermaster. The companies comprising this regiment were the Fort Harrison Guards, Meade Guards, Scott Guards, Terre Haute Guards, Terre Haute German Guards, Vigo Cavalry and Union Rifles, Otter Creek National Guards, Otter Creek Guards, the Prairieton Home Guards, Liberty Guards, Sanford Blues, Morton Guards, Honey Creek Guards, Fayette Guards, Pierson Guards, Lost Creek Guards, Middletown Guards, St. Mary's Guards, Grant Guards, Riley Guards, Sugar Creek Guards, Nevins Guards. Many of the officers and men of these companies at different times entered the United States service.

This legion performed most important service during the war. The fact that such a force existed, and could be called into service at a minute's notice, served to hold in check the many traitorous societies organized in this state, was able to repel the several raids made into the state by Morgan and others, and held some in check which would otherwise have been attempted. The forces of the legion were also called upon to cross over into Kentucky and repel or suppress insurrection and overawe the rebels. Detachments of the legion had at various times encounters with armed rebels, and their regimental rosters show a number of killed and wounded.

The following companies in the various regiments first mentioned were raised in Vigo county: Cos. C and D of the 11th Ind., three-months men; Cos. C and D of the 11th Ind., three-years men: the greater part of Co. F of the 14th Ind., three-years men ; Cos. C, E and K of the 31st Ind., three-years men; members (not credited) of the 43d Ind., three-years men; portions of Cos. B. D and H of the 71st (6th Cav.), three-years men; Co. E of the 2d Cav. (41st regt.), three-years men; Co. M of the 4th Cav. (77th reg.), three-years men ; eighth battery, officers but not men, credited to Vigo county, three-years men; SI men of the Massachusetts colored reg.; 660 men of miscellaneous organizations. Besides these, at least one Co. of the 35th, 2d Irish reg., was recruited from Vigo county.


The same means resorted to in other localities to till up quotas and furnish relief to soldiers' families were used here. It would be gratifying to give detailed statements of facts connected with this and other parts of the service, showing the enthusiasm and patriotism of the people of Vigo county, did space permit. The sum total for bounties paid during the war for these purposes was 8316,039.10: relief, $136,164.23; grand total, $452,203.33. Much the larger part of this sum was from private funds.

Of the honorable part borne by some of these organizations in the conflict, a few historical sketches must suffice.


Was organized and mustered into service April 25, 1S61; Lewis Wallace, colonel. May 8, went to Evansville, Indiana, on duty, blockading the Ohio river. June 7, ordered to Cumberland, Maryland, thence June 10 to Romney, Virginia, attacked and captured the town, the rebels retreating toward Winchester. Regiment returned to Cumberland. June 20 a body of mounted scouts, thirteen picked men under Corporal John B. Hay, Co. A, had a fight with forty-one mounted rebels, defeating them and killing eight. On their way back, at Kelly's Island, were attacked by seventy-five of the enemy, but held a strong position and returned safely to camp, loss one killed and two wounded. The regiment was constantly on duty during the term of enlistment. Mustered out August 2.


Was reorganized and mustered in August 31, 1S61; Lewis Wallace, colonel. On the 8th arrived at St. Louis and at once ordered to Paducah, Kentucky. Here Col. Wallace was appointed a brigadier-general, and Lieut. Col. Geo. F. McGinnis made colonel of the regiment. February 5, 1862, found them at Calloway's Landing, on the Tennessee river, from whence they embarked for Fort Henry. On the 15th fought in the battle about Fort Donelson, being in Col. Smith's brigade of Gen. Lew Wallace's division. On the 17th marched to Fort Heiman; thence to Paris Landing. On April 6 took steamer to Coump's Landing, thence marched to Shiloh battlefield, where the regiment was, next day, engaged from half past five in the morning till half past four in the afternoon. April 19 moved to Corinth, and June 20 reached Memphis. In July sent to Helena, Arkansas. August 4 marched to Clarendon, and returned August 19. During the fall and winter was engaged in various expeditions from Helena to White river, Tallehatchie river, Duvall's Bluff and Yazoo Pass. Col. McGinnis was appointed a brigader general in March 1863, and Lieut. Col. Dan McCauley, made colonel. April 11 sent to Millikeirs Bend, and April 14 joined Grant's army, being in McGinnis' brigade. Hovey's division, McClernand's corps. After various marches and counter marches, on April 30 they reached Port Gibson and fought in the battle of May 3, capturing a rebel battery. May 16 was engaged in the battle of Champion Hills, losing 167 in killed, wounded and missing.   May 19 the regiment moved to Black river, and on May 21 to Vicksburg, where it remained until the surrender, July 4.   July 5 marched to Jackson with constant skirmishing.   In August, trans-ported to New Orleans, thence to Brashear city, thence through the Teche country to Opelousas, where on October 21 a tight occurred. November 20 captured a rebel camp at Lake Tasse.   December 22 arrived at Algiers.'   January 19, 1864, at Madisonville, when on February 1 it reenlisted as veteran.   Returning to New Orleans, came home on veteran furlough, via New York.   At the expiration of furlough it was sent to New Orleans, thence to Fortress Monroe, thence to Washington city, thence to Harper's Ferry, thence to Cedar Creek, when August 13 it fought the enemy.   August 13 marched to Winchester.   August 22 had another fight, and September 6 one at Berryville.    September 19 the  regiment participated in the battle of Opequan, losing eighty-one killed and wounded.   September 22 engaged in battle at Fisher's Hill; from this time until October 19, were constantly engaged in pursuing and lighting the enemy, and at Cedar Creek again in battle, losing fifty-two men.   At the conclusion of Sheridan's campaign in the Shenandoah valley the regiment was sent to Baltimore, and mustered out July 26, 1865.   During its time of service the 11th marched 9,318 miles.


also made a brilliant record.   It was organized in May, 1861, as one of the six regiments of state troops accepted for one year.   Upon the call for three-years troops the regiment volunteered for that service, and was mustered into the United States service June 7. 1861 ; Nathan Kimball colonel.   The regiment was at once sent to the seat of war in West Virginia.   July 11 made a forced march from Clarksburg to Rich Mountain, and was present at that battle, forming the line of reserve.   From July 16 to October 8 it was engaged in outpost duty, and participated in the battle of Cheat Mountain : also in the battle Greenbrier. October 3.   Until March 4. 1862, was engaged in various operations of a minor character.   On the last-mentioned date the regiment moved to Martinsburg, in Gen. Shields' division.   March 22 was engaged in a battle with Stonewall Jackson's force, and the day following participated in the decisive battle of Winchester Heights.  May 15 commenced the march to Fredericksburg; was engaged in various operations of this campaign.   June 23 was at Alexandria, and thence sent to the James river by water.   For twenty days was in contact with the enemy almost constantly day and night.

Then followed the Maryland campaign, acting as a reserve at South Mountain, September 12, and participating in the great battle of Antietarn on the 17th, serving in Kimball's brigade. For its behavior on this occasion it was called "Gibraltar Brigade." It went into the fight with 320 men, and came out with less than half that number unhurt. The next important battle engaged in was at Fredericksburg, December 13. In April, 1863, crossed over to Chancellorville from Falmouth, and on the first two days of that severe battle was held in reserve, but the third and last day was engaged. The next heavy fighting the regiment experienced was at Gettysburg. In this battle it bore a conspicuous part, losing in killed and wounded 123 officers and men. The 14th reg. distinguished in several severe operations until it moved southward with Grant's army, and took an active part in all the forward movements of that severe campaign. The battle of Cold Harbor was the last in which it engaged; the non-veterans were mustered out, and the detachment of veterans and recruits attached to the 20th reg.


also called the District regiment, was mustered into the service September 15, 1861; Charles Cruft colonel. Was sent to Kentucky, and remained in camp at Green River until the battle of Fort Donelson, in which it participated on February 13 and 14, 1862, and was present at the surrender on the 15th. Subsequently it marched to Fort Henry, and in the latter part of March was transported to Pittsburgh Landing. In the battle of Shiloh it was actively engaged on both days, losing twenty-two killed, one hundred and ten wounded, and ten missing. After that battle it was assigned to the fourth division of the Army of the Ohio, commanded by Gen. Nelson, and marching to Corinth participated in the siege of that place. Afterward it moved with Buell's army through northern Mississippi and Alabama into Tennessee, and until Buell's retreat to Louisville, Kentucky, the regiment was stationed at various places in middle Tennessee.

Col. Cruft being appointed a brigadier-general July 16,1862, Lieut. Col. John Osborn was commissioned his successor. In September the regiment fell back to Louisville with BuelPs army, and after Bragg was driven out of Kentucky it returned to Nashville. Moving from that place in December with Crittenden's corps of Rosecrans' army, it marched toward Murfreesboro, and took part in the battle of Stone River December 31, 1862, and January 1 and 2, 1863. In this battle the 31st reg. lost five killed and forty-six wounded. After this battle the regiment encamped at Cripple creek, where it remained guarding a mountain pass until June. It then moved forward with the army to Chattanooga, and on the 19th and 20th of September was engaged in the battle of Chickamanga, losing four killed and sixty-six wounded.

After the retreat to Chattanooga the regiment crossed the Tennessee and encamped at Bridgeport, Alabama.   While here it reenlisted as a veteran organization, January 1,1864, and in February went to Indianapolis on veteran furlough.   On returning to the field in March it was stationed at Ocltawah, Tennessee, and when the Atlanta campaign was commenced it moved forward with the 4th corps, participating in the many skirmishes and battles that followed.    After the capture of Atlanta the regiment moved northward with its corps in pursuit of Hood's army to Pulaski, Tennessee, then fell back upon Nashville. On the loth of December, 1864, it participated in the battle of Nashville, after which it went as far as Huntsville, Alabama, in pursuit of the defeated enemy.   Subsequently it moved into East Tennessee, and after a brief campaign in that section returned to Nashville, where it remained until the middle of June 1865.

When the 4th corps was transferred to New Orleans it went with it, reaching that city early in July. Joining Gen. Sheridan's army at New Orleans it was transported to Texas, and marched into the interior of that state, forming part of the army of occupation. In November. 1865, the regiment received orders of muster out. The original organization of the 31st reg. consisted of 36 officers and 981 enlisted men, a total of 1,017; joined since, 20 officers and 577 enlisted men ; making a grand total of officers and men of 1,614 who have belonged to this regiment. The aggregate losses of the regiment while in the service amounted to 1,250 officers and men. The number finally mustered out was 28 officers and 336 enlisted men, a total of 364.