Wabash Valley Indiana Civil War Sesquicentennial Project
Indiana Civil War Sites, Raids and Monuments
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The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument The monument is a beautiful monument in the center of Indianapolis standing only fifteen feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty. It was completed in 1901 and dedicated in 1902 to Hoosier soldiers who had fought in the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Vincennes, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. Its intricate limestone sculptures tell stories of war, peace, returning home and restoration. In the lower level of the monument is the Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum that opened in 1999. Reference:
Soldiers & Sailors Monument Photo:
The Crown Hill National Cemetery is located on the northwest side of Indianapolis. Created in 1863, the cemetery was used to Union soliders that had passed away in nearby camps and hospitals. Eventually,the cemetery was used to bury many Confederate soldiers who died while being held captive at the Morton Prison Camp. Today, it is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the country. Crown Hill National CemeteryJohnson's Raid Many rebel sympathizers had been terrorizing Union supporters in Kentucky. Adams R. Johnson was one of these many men. On July 18, 1862 Johnson, along with an estimated 30 men, invaded Indiana and pillaged Newburg, Indiana. In Newburg, a few rebel sympathizers aided the invaders. Johnson was quickly pushed back to Kentucky. In reaction to Johnson's raid, Governor Oliver Morton organized state militias to invade Kentucky to push out the rebel sympathizers that were terrorizing Union supporters. Reference:
The Civil War Period: Invasions of the State: Johnson & Hines
Morgan's' Raid Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his Cavalry troops had crossed over the Ohio River, July 8, 1863. His orders were to disrupt communications and cause havoc in the Union, in northern Kentucky. In so doing, Morgan ignored his orders to stay south of the Ohio. At one point, Morgan even toyed with the idea of heading north to Indianapolis, to free the many imprisoned confederate troops held there at Camp Morton. Morgan spent five days in Southern Indiana accomplishing his goal. Morgan's raiders continued east through Ohio destroying railroads, bridges and government buildings. Morgan was eventually defeated and captured in West Point, Ohio on July 26, 1863. An interesting fact that a reader should keep in mind is that Morgan's Raid happened five days after the Battle of Gettysburg. Battle of Brandenburg Crossing On July 7, 1863 a skirmish broke out East of Mauckport, Indiana. This was just ten miles south of Corydon, which was a major target for the rebels. The Indiana militias gathered in defense, ending in a failed attempt. An interesting fact about miniature battle is that the Indiana militia protecting Brandenburg had only ever fired a canon before, other than in celebrations. Battle of Corydon In Corydon, Indiana, on July 9, 1863, a battle broke out between Morgan's raiders and the combined Indiana and Ohio militias. A total of around 2,200 troops were involved (1800 of Morgan's raiders against 450 militia) with the battle ending quickly as most of the militia troops were wounded, killed or captured. Building on the Confederates success at Corydon, Reference:Hines' Raid Captain Thomas Hines, along with 62 men, entered Indiana about 18 miles north of Cannelton. When he entered Indiana, he told the people that he was a part of the Army of Union General Boyle. In reality, Hines was a Confederate spy who was checking to see how many Confederate sympathizers there were in Indiana who would support the future raid by Morgan. Hines was hoping these sympathizers would join Morgan in the raid of Indiana the following year. While Hines was in Indiana, he was also looking for new horses to replace his. The area became aware of Hines' true infractions. He was chased up to French Lick and then chased out of Indiana. An interesting fact about Thomas Hines is that during the frantic days after President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, he was mistaken for John Wilkes Booth while he was in Michigan. He fled to Canada, creating the legend that Booth actually fled to Canada after the assassination. Reference: |