Indianapolis in the American Civil War
Encyclopedia
During the American Civil War
, Indianapolis
, the state capital of Indiana
, was a major base of support for the Union
. The governor of Indiana
, Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
, was a major supporter of President
Abraham Lincoln
and he quickly made Indianapolis
a rallying point for Union Army
forces as they prepared to enter Confederate
lands.
The city was a major railroad hub and transportation center and therefore had military importance; it was also the site of a major prisoner-of-war camp
, Camp Morton
, and was at once threatened with by attack from Confederate forces, although the nearest any Confederate came to the city was Seymour, Indiana
, 60 miles (96.6 km) away. However, there was one incident sarcastically referred to as the Battle of Pogue's Run
.
groups met in Indianapolis. On January 7, 1861, one of the local militia
groups, the Zouave Guards
, volunteered to fight if Governor Morton so wished, but their services were not immediately needed. All four of the militias later became part of the 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. One militia officer, First Lieutenant
Frederick Knefler
, eventually rose to the rank
of brevet
brigadier general
, becoming the highest-ranking Jewish military officer of the Union. Another militia leader, Francis A. Shoup
, decided to go south and became a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
.
On February 12, Abraham Lincoln visited Indianapolis, one of his stops on a train journey to his presidential inauguration. Lincoln was first president-elect
to visit Indianapolis.
On April 12, news arrived in Indianapolis via telegraph that Fort Sumter
in Charleston, South Carolina
, had surrendered to local forces who wanted Union troops off their land. Lincoln responded by calling for volunteers to join the armed forces to restore order. Governor Morton quickly made Indianapolis a mustering point for those who wanted to enlist, and more than 12,000 recruits assembled in Indianapolis in a span of two weeks. By April 22, the 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment
was organized, the first of 104 Hoosier
regiments to be trained in Indianapolis, 61.5% of all regiments formed in Indiana. Six were ready for President Lincoln's initial call for troops. Indianapolis would send 4,000 of its own residents into the service. Camp Morton was quickly built on the grounds of the Indiana State Fair
. In total, 24 installations for the war would be built in Indianapolis or its vicinity. The first resident of Indianapolis to die in the war was Private
John C. Hollenbeck, who died around Romney, Virginia
on June 27, 1861.
There was little doubt that the majority of Indianapolis residents supported the Union. Pro-Union mobs would sometimes force individuals suspected of Confederate sympathies to go to the mayor's office and take an oath of loyalty. The most notable of these was the editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, J.J. Bingham, who was forced to take the loyalty oath by a mob inspired by articles that decried Bingham in The Indianapolis Journal.
Battles in Kentucky and Tennessee caused the major difference in Indianapolis during the war. After the battles of Fort Henry
and Fort Donelson
, the Union began to collect a large number of Confederate prisoners of war. Governor Morton volunteered to hold some of the prisoners in Indianapolis, and more than 3,700 Confederate prisoners of war soon arrived at Camp Morton. As the Confederates were poorly fed, and were unused to Northern winters, citizens of Indianapolis rallied to provide humanitarian aid for the prisoners. A hospital to treat them was made from the Athenaeum
at the corner of E. Michigan St. and Massachusetts Ave.
Union soldiers continued to gather at Indianapolis, sometimes as many as 12,000 at a time. Popular spots for where the soldiers resided included Monument Circle and University Park. Some soldiers turned to street crime and caused major law enforcement troubles. Prohibition of alcohol sales had to be established in the city. City police never bothered to discovered who murdered an officer from Pennsylvania
. Many deceased soldiers were held at Indianapolis's Union Station
, awaiting transportation to their eventual burial spots.
occurred on March 27, 1863. A 27-year-old school teacher from Clay County, Indiana
, Robert Gay, was killed by a 20-man firing squad. This happened just south of Camp Morton at Burnside Barracks. After he was captured by the Southern army at Richmond, Kentucky
, Gay declared allegiance to the Confederacy to escape further army service. He was convicted of treason and executed, but not before he apologized for what he had done. The next year, three bounty jumper
s were executed at Burnside Barracks.
In May, Democrats decided a fair election could not be held, so they withdrew their ticket. Between the nine wards only 14 votes were cast for Democratic candidates. On May 20, 1863, an incident later called the Battle of Pogue's Run
occurred. A state Democratic convention was interrupted by Union soldiers sent by Governor Morton (a Republican), and after the convention soldiers searched trains departing with various Democratic convention delegates, causing the Democrats to throw their personal weapons into Pogue's Run
as the train passed by the creek.
When John Hunt Morgan
crossed the Ohio River
into Indiana, the state went into a state of emergency
. On July 7, the citizens of Indianapolis were rejoicing over the Union victories at Vicksburg, Mississippi
, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
. But on July 8, the city's mood turned to panic as many feared Morgan would attack Indianapolis to free the prisoners at Camp Morton. The panic was increased as Morgan's telegrapher, "Lightning" Ellsworth
, posed as various Union telegraphers saying Morgan had far more men than he actually had—he had just over 2,000—and sending false information saying Morgan would attack Indianapolis, among other locations. Five regiments were sent to Indianapolis to defend the Indiana State House
, in total 65,000 men answered the call for all able bodies to defend the capital city. The panic in the city lasted until July 14, when it was confirmed that Morgan had left Indiana and entered Ohio
. In the chaos, the accidental explosion of a caisson killed a boy, three soldiers, and two horse
s.
was formed on March 31, 1864, near what is now Fountain Square
at Camp Fremont. It was the only black regiment formed in Indiana during the war and lost 212 men during the war. They were signed on for a term of three years, but the war was effectively over in 11 months' time, cutting their term of service short.
"The City Regiment," officially known as the 132nd Regiment, was formed in May 1864 to be sent to guard railroads in Tennessee and Alabama
, which were firmly in the control of Union forces. It was formed mostly of young boys and older men seeking adventure, making it the favorite regiment among Indianapolis citizens; more citizens attended the departure of the City Regiment than that of any other regiment. Twelve members of this regiment died of disease before returning home after the predetermined stay of hundred days
.
News of the Robert E. Lee's
surrender at Appomattox reached Indianapolis at 11 p.m. on April 9, 1865. The Indianapolis Journal called the subsequent celebrations within the city "demented." Celebrations came to a halt when the news of the assassination of Lincoln arrived on April 15; Lincoln's funeral train passed through the city on April 30. An estimated 100,000 people attended the bier
while Lincoln lay in state
at the Indiana Statehouse.
Indianapolis soon saw much activity in the drawdown of military forces that occurred at the end of the war. June saw many formal receptions honoring soldiers who had returned home from the war. On June 12, the last Confederate prisoner of war was parol
ed at Camp Morton. The military wagon train was 28 miles (45.1 km) in length, and it passed though the city on July 25. By autumn all soldiers had left Indianapolis.
Statewide data concluded that Indianapolis lost 700 men during the war. Following the war, Indianapolis would cement itself as the premier city in Indiana, as the dominant pro-Northern sympathies of the state punished the antebellum largest city, New Albany
, whose ties to the southern states were abhorred.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
in downtown Indianapolis was built to honor the Indiana veterans of the Civil War. The construction began in 1888 after two decades of discussion and was finally completed in 1901.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, the state capital of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, was a major base of support for the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
. The governor of Indiana
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
, Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Morton
Oliver Hazard Perry Throck Morton , commonly known as Oliver P. Morton, was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Indiana. He served as the 14th Governor of Indiana during the American Civil War, and was a stalwart ally of President Abraham Lincoln. During the war, Morton suppressed the...
, was a major supporter of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and he quickly made Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
a rallying point for Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
forces as they prepared to enter Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
lands.
The city was a major railroad hub and transportation center and therefore had military importance; it was also the site of a major prisoner-of-war camp
Prisoner-of-war camp
A prisoner-of-war camp is a site for the containment of combatants captured by their enemy in time of war, and is similar to an internment camp which is used for civilian populations. A prisoner of war is generally a soldier, sailor, or airman who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or...
, Camp Morton
Camp Morton
Camp Morton was a Union prisoner-of-war camp located in Indianapolis, Indiana during the American Civil War. It was named for Indiana governor Oliver Morton, who was the governor of Indiana during the War. It lasted from 1861-1865...
, and was at once threatened with by attack from Confederate forces, although the nearest any Confederate came to the city was Seymour, Indiana
Seymour, Indiana
Seymour was the site of the World's First Train Robbery, committed by the local Reno Gang, on October 6, 1866 just east of town. The gang was put into prison for the robbery, and later hanged at Hangman's Crossing outside of town....
, 60 miles (96.6 km) away. However, there was one incident sarcastically referred to as the Battle of Pogue's Run
Battle of Pogue's Run
The so-called Battle of Pogue's Run took place in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 20, 1863. It was believed that many of the delegates to the Democrat state convention had firearms, in the hope of inciting a rebellion. Union soldiers entered the hall that the convention took place, and found...
.
1861
Throughout the winter of 1860-1861, there was talk throughout the region of the possibility of war with the South. Before the war, four militiaMilitia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
groups met in Indianapolis. On January 7, 1861, one of the local militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
groups, the Zouave Guards
Zouave
Zouave was the title given to certain light infantry regiments in the French Army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962. The name was also adopted during the 19th century by units in other armies, especially volunteer regiments raised for service in the American Civil War...
, volunteered to fight if Governor Morton so wished, but their services were not immediately needed. All four of the militias later became part of the 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment
11th Regiment Indiana Infantry
The 11th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-3 Month:The 11th Indiana was organized in Indianapolis, Indiana with Lew Wallace as colonel and George McGinnis as lieutenant colonel...
. One militia officer, First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
Frederick Knefler
Frederick Knefler
Frederick Knefler served in the Union Army in the U.S. Civil War, joining as a first lieutenant in May 1861 and mustering out as a Brevet Brigadier General on June 11, 1865.-Early life:...
, eventually rose to the rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of brevet
Brevet
Brevet may refer to:* Brevet , a temporary authorization for a person to hold a higher rank* Brevet , a long-distance bicycle ride with check-point controls* Aircrew brevet, a Royal Air Force and British Army badge...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
, becoming the highest-ranking Jewish military officer of the Union. Another militia leader, Francis A. Shoup
Francis A. Shoup
Francis Asbury Shoup was a lawyer from Indianapolis, Indiana, who decided to become a brigadier general for the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Pre-war:...
, decided to go south and became a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
.
On February 12, Abraham Lincoln visited Indianapolis, one of his stops on a train journey to his presidential inauguration. Lincoln was first president-elect
President-elect
An -elect is a political candidate who has been elected to an office but who has not yet been sworn in or officially taken office. These may include an incoming president, senator, representative, governor and mayor.Analogously, the term "designate" An -elect is a political candidate who has been...
to visit Indianapolis.
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is a Third System masonry coastal fortification located in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The fort is best known as the site upon which the shots initiating the American Civil War were fired, at the Battle of Fort Sumter.- Construction :...
in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, had surrendered to local forces who wanted Union troops off their land. Lincoln responded by calling for volunteers to join the armed forces to restore order. Governor Morton quickly made Indianapolis a mustering point for those who wanted to enlist, and more than 12,000 recruits assembled in Indianapolis in a span of two weeks. By April 22, the 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment
9th Indiana Infantry Regiment
The 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment was a volunteer infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was organized on April 22, 1861, for three-months' service in Indianapolis...
was organized, the first of 104 Hoosier
Hoosier
Hoosier is the official demonym for a resident of the U.S. state of Indiana. Although residents of most U.S. states typically adopt a derivative of the state name, e.g., "Indianan" or "Indianian", natives of Indiana rarely use these. Indiana adopted the nickname "Hoosier State" more than 150...
regiments to be trained in Indianapolis, 61.5% of all regiments formed in Indiana. Six were ready for President Lincoln's initial call for troops. Indianapolis would send 4,000 of its own residents into the service. Camp Morton was quickly built on the grounds of the Indiana State Fair
Indiana State Fair
The Indiana State Fair is an annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, usually in the month of August. The first fair was held in 1881 and the 2009 fair had the highest number of attendees at 973,902....
. In total, 24 installations for the war would be built in Indianapolis or its vicinity. The first resident of Indianapolis to die in the war was Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
John C. Hollenbeck, who died around Romney, Virginia
Romney, West Virginia during the American Civil War
The city of Romney, Virginia traded hands between the Union Army and Confederate States Army no fewer than 10 times during the American Civil War, assuming the occupying force spent at least one night in the town...
on June 27, 1861.
There was little doubt that the majority of Indianapolis residents supported the Union. Pro-Union mobs would sometimes force individuals suspected of Confederate sympathies to go to the mayor's office and take an oath of loyalty. The most notable of these was the editor of the Indianapolis Sentinel, J.J. Bingham, who was forced to take the loyalty oath by a mob inspired by articles that decried Bingham in The Indianapolis Journal.
1862
Battle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought on February 6, 1862, in western Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater....
and Fort Donelson
Battle of Fort Donelson
The Battle of Fort Donelson was fought from February 11 to February 16, 1862, in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. The capture of the fort by Union forces opened the Cumberland River as an avenue for the invasion of the South. The success elevated Brig. Gen. Ulysses S...
, the Union began to collect a large number of Confederate prisoners of war. Governor Morton volunteered to hold some of the prisoners in Indianapolis, and more than 3,700 Confederate prisoners of war soon arrived at Camp Morton. As the Confederates were poorly fed, and were unused to Northern winters, citizens of Indianapolis rallied to provide humanitarian aid for the prisoners. A hospital to treat them was made from the Athenaeum
Athenæum (Das Deutsche Haus)
The Athenæum, originally named Das Deutsche Haus , is the most ornate and best-preserved building affiliated with the German American community of Indianapolis. Once used as a German American turnverein and clubhouse, it currently houses many groups, organizations, and businesses...
at the corner of E. Michigan St. and Massachusetts Ave.
Union soldiers continued to gather at Indianapolis, sometimes as many as 12,000 at a time. Popular spots for where the soldiers resided included Monument Circle and University Park. Some soldiers turned to street crime and caused major law enforcement troubles. Prohibition of alcohol sales had to be established in the city. City police never bothered to discovered who murdered an officer from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Many deceased soldiers were held at Indianapolis's Union Station
Union Station (Indianapolis)
The Indianapolis Union Station was the first union station in the world, opening on September 20, 1853, by the Indianapolis Union Railway within the Wholesale District of Indianapolis, Indiana at 39 Jackson Place...
, awaiting transportation to their eventual burial spots.
1863
The first military execution in the Western Theater of the American Civil WarWestern Theater of the American Civil War
This article presents an overview of major military and naval operations in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.-Theater of operations:...
occurred on March 27, 1863. A 27-year-old school teacher from Clay County, Indiana
Clay County, Indiana
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 26,890. The county seat is Brazil. Clay County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :Clay County was formed in 1825...
, Robert Gay, was killed by a 20-man firing squad. This happened just south of Camp Morton at Burnside Barracks. After he was captured by the Southern army at Richmond, Kentucky
Richmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
, Gay declared allegiance to the Confederacy to escape further army service. He was convicted of treason and executed, but not before he apologized for what he had done. The next year, three bounty jumper
Bounty jumper
Bounty jumpers were men who enlisted in the Union or Confederate army during the American Civil War only to collect a bounty and then leave. The draft of 1863 allowed individuals to pay a bounty to someone else to fight in their place rather than be drafted...
s were executed at Burnside Barracks.
In May, Democrats decided a fair election could not be held, so they withdrew their ticket. Between the nine wards only 14 votes were cast for Democratic candidates. On May 20, 1863, an incident later called the Battle of Pogue's Run
Battle of Pogue's Run
The so-called Battle of Pogue's Run took place in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 20, 1863. It was believed that many of the delegates to the Democrat state convention had firearms, in the hope of inciting a rebellion. Union soldiers entered the hall that the convention took place, and found...
occurred. A state Democratic convention was interrupted by Union soldiers sent by Governor Morton (a Republican), and after the convention soldiers searched trains departing with various Democratic convention delegates, causing the Democrats to throw their personal weapons into Pogue's Run
Pogue's Run
Pogue's Run is a creek starting on the eastside of Indianapolis, which eventually ends up running through aqueducts beneath the downtown area. It is named for George Pogue, who along with John Wesley McCormick founded what would become the city of Indianapolis.-History:Prior to Pogue and...
as the train passed by the creek.
When John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
crossed the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
into Indiana, the state went into a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
. On July 7, the citizens of Indianapolis were rejoicing over the Union victories at Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
. But on July 8, the city's mood turned to panic as many feared Morgan would attack Indianapolis to free the prisoners at Camp Morton. The panic was increased as Morgan's telegrapher, "Lightning" Ellsworth
George Ellsworth
George "Lightning" Ellsworth was a Canadian telegrapher who served in the Confederate army during the American Civil War, specifically with the cavalry forces under Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan...
, posed as various Union telegraphers saying Morgan had far more men than he actually had—he had just over 2,000—and sending false information saying Morgan would attack Indianapolis, among other locations. Five regiments were sent to Indianapolis to defend the Indiana State House
Indiana State House
The Indiana Statehouse is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of Indiana. Housing the Indiana General Assembly, the office of the Governor of Indiana, the Supreme Court of Indiana, and other state officials, it is located in the state capital Indianapolis at 200 West Washington Street...
, in total 65,000 men answered the call for all able bodies to defend the capital city. The panic in the city lasted until July 14, when it was confirmed that Morgan had left Indiana and entered Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. In the chaos, the accidental explosion of a caisson killed a boy, three soldiers, and two horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s.
1864
The 28th Colored Infantry28th Regiment United States Colored Troops
The 28th Regiment United States Colored Troops, also called the 28th Regiment Indiana Infantry 1, was an African American combat unit from the state of Indiana that fought in the American Civil War.-History:...
was formed on March 31, 1864, near what is now Fountain Square
Fountain Square, Indianapolis
Fountain Square is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana.-History:In 1835, Calvin Fletcher and Nicholas McCarty purchased a farm in what would became the Fountain Square neighborhood. Although the earliest settlement was sparse and primarily residential, substantial...
at Camp Fremont. It was the only black regiment formed in Indiana during the war and lost 212 men during the war. They were signed on for a term of three years, but the war was effectively over in 11 months' time, cutting their term of service short.
"The City Regiment," officially known as the 132nd Regiment, was formed in May 1864 to be sent to guard railroads in Tennessee and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, which were firmly in the control of Union forces. It was formed mostly of young boys and older men seeking adventure, making it the favorite regiment among Indianapolis citizens; more citizens attended the departure of the City Regiment than that of any other regiment. Twelve members of this regiment died of disease before returning home after the predetermined stay of hundred days
Hundred Days Men
The Hundred Days Men was the nickname applied to a series of volunteer regiments raised in 1864 for 100-days service in the Union Army during the height of the American Civil War...
.
1865 and aftermath
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
surrender at Appomattox reached Indianapolis at 11 p.m. on April 9, 1865. The Indianapolis Journal called the subsequent celebrations within the city "demented." Celebrations came to a halt when the news of the assassination of Lincoln arrived on April 15; Lincoln's funeral train passed through the city on April 30. An estimated 100,000 people attended the bier
Bier
A bier is a stand on which a corpse, coffin or casket containing a corpse, is placed to lie in state or to be carried to the grave.In Christian burial, the bier is often placed in the centre of the nave with candles surrounding it, and remains in place during the funeral.The bier is a flat frame,...
while Lincoln lay in state
Lying in state
Lying in state is a term used to describe the tradition in which a coffin is placed on view to allow the public at large to pay their respects to the deceased. It traditionally takes place in the principal government building of a country or city...
at the Indiana Statehouse.
Indianapolis soon saw much activity in the drawdown of military forces that occurred at the end of the war. June saw many formal receptions honoring soldiers who had returned home from the war. On June 12, the last Confederate prisoner of war was parol
Parol
Parols are ornamental star-like Christmas lanterns from the Philippines. They are traditionally made out of bamboo and paper and come in various sizes, shapes and designs; however, their star-shape façade and basic design remain dominant....
ed at Camp Morton. The military wagon train was 28 miles (45.1 km) in length, and it passed though the city on July 25. By autumn all soldiers had left Indianapolis.
Statewide data concluded that Indianapolis lost 700 men during the war. Following the war, Indianapolis would cement itself as the premier city in Indiana, as the dominant pro-Northern sympathies of the state punished the antebellum largest city, New Albany
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
, whose ties to the southern states were abhorred.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument
Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Indianapolis)
The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument is a tall neoclassical monument in the center of Indianapolis, Indiana that was designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz and completed in 1901....
in downtown Indianapolis was built to honor the Indiana veterans of the Civil War. The construction began in 1888 after two decades of discussion and was finally completed in 1901.