Whitley County & The Civil War
Editor’s Note: On Sunday, February 8, 2009, at 1 p.m., a program at the Whitley County Historical Museum is planned. The program will be orchestrated by Russ Gilliom, president of the 30th Indiana Civil War Re-enactors Group. The program will center around the Civil War soldier (Infantry, Artillery, Navy and maybe even a drummer) and what it was like to serve in the Civil War from the eyes of those people. Guns and other equipment used will be on display.
By Chuck Jones
During the 1840’s and 1850’s, Whitley County continued to grow as land was available and many were moving westward looking for a new life.
Our country was also growing westward but with that growth came the issue of a new state or territory being either a free state or a slave state. Debates in Congress would work out compromises that would set aside one as a free and the next as a slave state or territory so as to keep an even balance between the two.
Abe Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, candidates for President in 1860 spent much time debating the slave vs. Free State issue. Lincoln was not a true abolitionist but he believed the enslavement of any man was wrong. In regard to African Americans, he felt it best if they were let free, landowners were paid for the loss of their laborers and that they the African Americans would be better off in colonies perhaps even in other countries.
Because of the differences that existed between the Northern States and the Southern states that were very dependent on slaves for their large plantations, late in 1860 Southern States began to withdraw from the Union. Lincoln won the election and was immediately involved in handling this problem. Believing that a House Divided against itself cannot stand, and to preserve the Union, Abe saw no way out but to begin immobilizing an army and navy and fight to save the Union. Later in January of 1863 Abe declared that the cause was to end slavery in his famous Emancipation Proclamation speech.
A rally was held at the Whitley County Court House on April 20, 1861. Patriotic speeches were given by several men and a resolution pledging loyal support to the Union was adopted. The population of Whitley County was 12,000 by this time and Whitley County over the course of the four years of the war provided 1786 men to the cause. Men from this county fought with the 17th, 44th , 74th, ,88th, 100th, 129th, and the 152nd Infantry units. A large portion of the 5th Indiana Light Artillery Battery came from the county (my great grandfather Daniel Jones and great uncle Wm. Jones were a part of that unit). Imagine the drain of resources sending the main bread provider off to war put on families.
In December of 1862, superintendents of soldier’s families were appointed. Their duty was to investigate the circumstances of the families of the soldiers. From Smith Township, Francis Tulley was appointed. $3 was given to the spouse and $1 for each child. Wives of the soldiers without children were not included in the relief except in case of sickness. It was such a drain on county funds that in June of 1864 limitations were put on the monies available to the families.
In October of 1861, the women of the county organized the Whitley County Soldiers Aid Society. The object of these groups, which were formed throughout the State, was to make such articles as blankets, mittens, socks, woolen drawers and shirts for the men. They did the same thing we do today to raise funds with bake sales, auctions, etc.
When the war was over 620,000 men died either in battle or from disease (360,000 were from the Northern troops and 260,000 from the South). It put a great drain on the economies of all states and in 1865 dollars the wars cost was over $3,000,000,000.
After the war ended men who made it through the war returned to their families, many with injuries and illnesses that would inflict them the rest of their lives.
The Whitley County Museum has the names of most all the men who fought in all wars up through WWII, including the Civil War, from this county and the units they fought in. You can also find that list on web site genealogy.whitleynet.org under military servicemen.