William A. Bowles
Encyclopedia
William A. Bowles was a doctor who led the Knights of the Golden Circle in Indiana in the early 1860s. Earlier he founded the town of French Lick, Indiana
and began a resort at an area, which lasts to this day.
During the Mexican-American War, governor of Indiana Whitcomb appointed Bowles a colonel of the Second Indiana Regiment, due to political manners like the Wilmot Proviso
. On February 22, 1847 during the Battle of Buena Vista
the Indiana militia fared poorly, with Bowles being the one to call retreat. A court martial later held declared that the soldiers who retreated were not guilty of cowardice. Jefferson Davis
defended Bowles during the proceedings, which resulted in a life long friendship between the two men.
In the 1850s Bowles organized the Knights of the Golden Circle
to counteract the Underground Railroad
activity within the region. He helped to found the town of French Lick in 1857.
, but the military arm of the Sons of Liberty was "more in Dodd's mind" than a reality.
In June 1863, Confederate spy Thomas Hines
visited Bowles, inquiring if Bowles would offer any support for John Hunt Morgan
's upcoming raid into Indiana. Bowles told Hines he could raise a force of 10,000, but before the deal was finalized, Hines was told a Union force was approaching, causing him to flee. As a result, there would be no support for Morgan's Raid
by Bowles, which cause Morgan to treat harshly anyone in Indiana who claimed was sympathetic to the Confederacy.
In 1864 Bowles was arrested, being listed as a co-conspirator of Dodd's. He was held at a cell at the Federal Building for several weeks before he was arraigned. Bowles was eventually convicted of treason, but on May 31, 1865, two days before being hanged, President Andrew Johnson
commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. The conviction of Bowles and the other coconspirators went through the federal courts, and eventually reached the United States Supreme Court where Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase
issued a habeas corpus
freeing them on April 3, 1866. Later that year on December 17 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that since the civil courts were still functioning in Indiana at the time Bowles and the rest were convicted by military commission, the convicted were robbed of constitutional rights and were freed under a principle known as Ex parte Milligan
.
Bowles was married three times, with the first two ending in divorce.
In 1897 the wooden hotel built by Bowles burnt down, and was replaced by the existing structure known today as the French Lick Resort Casino
.
French Lick, Indiana
French Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2010 census. In early 2006 the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing national attention to the small town.- History :French...
and began a resort at an area, which lasts to this day.
Pre-war
Bowles was the first to open a lodge at French Lick. He did so after the springs in the area proved to not be saline enough for state-sponsored salt mines. In 1832 the salt springs and accompanying land, almost 1500 acres (6.1 km²) in total, were purchased by Bowles. In 1840 Bowles would begin to sell the spring water, dubbing it "Pluto's Water", and built a wooden hotel for resort guests.During the Mexican-American War, governor of Indiana Whitcomb appointed Bowles a colonel of the Second Indiana Regiment, due to political manners like the Wilmot Proviso
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso, one of the major events leading to the Civil War, would have banned slavery in any territory to be acquired from Mexico in the Mexican War or in the future, including the area later known as the Mexican Cession, but which some proponents construed to also include the disputed...
. On February 22, 1847 during the Battle of Buena Vista
Battle of Buena Vista
The Battle of Buena Vista , also known as the Battle of Angostura, saw the United States Army use artillery to repulse the much larger Mexican army in the Mexican-American War...
the Indiana militia fared poorly, with Bowles being the one to call retreat. A court martial later held declared that the soldiers who retreated were not guilty of cowardice. Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Finis Davis , also known as Jeff Davis, was an American statesman and leader of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, serving as President for its entire history. He was born in Kentucky to Samuel and Jane Davis...
defended Bowles during the proceedings, which resulted in a life long friendship between the two men.
In the 1850s Bowles organized the Knights of the Golden Circle
Knights of the Golden Circle
The Knights of the Golden Circle was a secret society. Some researchers believe the objective of the KGC was to prepare the way for annexation of a golden circle of territories in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean for inclusion in the United States as slave states...
to counteract the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
activity within the region. He helped to found the town of French Lick in 1857.
1860s
Bowles was made a major general of one of the four military districts established by Sons of Liberty leader Harrison H. DoddHarrison H. Dodd
Harrison H. Dodd was a founder of the 1860s-era Sons of Liberty, whose goal was to thwart the war effort of Abraham Lincoln while remaining citizens of the United States....
, but the military arm of the Sons of Liberty was "more in Dodd's mind" than a reality.
In June 1863, Confederate spy Thomas Hines
Thomas Hines
Thomas Henry Hines was a Confederate spy during the American Civil War. A native of Butler County, Kentucky, he initially worked as a grammar instructor, mainly at the Masonic University of La Grange, Kentucky. During the first year of the war, he served as a field officer, initiating several...
visited Bowles, inquiring if Bowles would offer any support for 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...
's upcoming raid into Indiana. Bowles told Hines he could raise a force of 10,000, but before the deal was finalized, Hines was told a Union force was approaching, causing him to flee. As a result, there would be no support for Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...
by Bowles, which cause Morgan to treat harshly anyone in Indiana who claimed was sympathetic to the Confederacy.
In 1864 Bowles was arrested, being listed as a co-conspirator of Dodd's. He was held at a cell at the Federal Building for several weeks before he was arraigned. Bowles was eventually convicted of treason, but on May 31, 1865, two days before being hanged, President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. The conviction of Bowles and the other coconspirators went through the federal courts, and eventually reached the United States Supreme Court where Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase
Salmon P. Chase
Salmon Portland Chase was an American politician and jurist who served as U.S. Senator from Ohio and the 23rd Governor of Ohio; as U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Abraham Lincoln; and as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.Chase was one of the most prominent members...
issued a habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
freeing them on April 3, 1866. Later that year on December 17 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that since the civil courts were still functioning in Indiana at the time Bowles and the rest were convicted by military commission, the convicted were robbed of constitutional rights and were freed under a principle known as Ex parte Milligan
Ex parte Milligan
Ex parte Milligan, , was a United States Supreme Court case that ruled that the application of military tribunals to citizens when civilian courts are still operating is unconstitutional. It was also controversial because it was one of the first cases after the end of the American Civil...
.
Bowles was married three times, with the first two ending in divorce.
In 1897 the wooden hotel built by Bowles burnt down, and was replaced by the existing structure known today as the French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort is a resort complex located in the towns of West Baden and French Lick, Indiana. The complex includes two historic resort spa hotels, stables, a casino and three golf courses, all part of a $500 million restoration and development project....
.