Battle of Brazil, Indiana?

[sean_harris]

Have been doing some research and found out about a battle that never was, but could have been. Brazil, is in South-Western, Indiana and is around 65 miles from Indianapolis and 20 from Terre Haute.
Anyway, back in '63 the Southern part of our state was still ripe for causing grief to "Old, "Honest", Abe." A group of around 3-5 hundred calling themselves the Butternuts formed up at a farm outside of town armed and were ready to take the town. (One group driving East the other West) Brazil called Indianapolis and from what I can gather 1 regiment with a general was sent to quell the rebellion. (This had been brewing for sometime) Indianapolis could not spare more troops and the quality of those sent was some what lacking.

Well, the attack was to take place with other "coordinated attacks" in Southern Indiana. From what I gather this was to occur at the same time the Reb Cavalery was raiding/fighting in Corydon, Indiana and moving into Ohio.

The General threw up Breastworks and part of the town evacuated. The Butternuts/Copperheads were ready to deploy when this Union General went to the farm and talked his way out of what would have been a bloodbath. He Led them to believe more troops were on the way from Indianapolis. He went back into town awaiting the attack that never came.
I'll have all the particulars later from research library! Just though it was intersting story considering how close we are to Indianapolis that 3-5 hundred locals would even think of rising up to succede and support the South. Additionaly, we are over 130 miles from the border of Kentucky near Evansville, Indiana

[unionblue]

Sean, from my understanding there was quite a lot of Southern feelings in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. I know that at least 5,000 men left Ohio to enlist in the Southern armies during the war. Franklin County, where the capitol city, Columbus, was located, had a lot of strong copperhead support and feeling.

I also read where Lincoln was very concerned about secret societies and organizations in those states that planned to give him trouble and allie with the South.

Anybody else got some information on this subject?

Unionblue

[longstreetlass]

Neil,

Do you remember the little book I was trying to find, entitled, "A True History of the Reign of Terror in Southern Illinois," by James D. Fox (Aurora, IL, 1884)?

This book is about the near wholesale desertion of the 128th Illinois and how Burnside, now commander of the Department of Ohio, sent the 16th Illinois Cavalry after them, to their homes in Southern Illinois, where these people and their sympathizers were burnt out, looted, and some tortured.

Bruce Catton gives an adequate discussion of Copperheadism all across the lower parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, in "The Army of the Potomac: Glory Road," Chapter 5: Lincoln Comin' Wid His Chariot." About this time, the Union also got serious about shooting deserters. The story about the Indiana Governor, Clement Vallandigham, being turned over to the Confederates instead of being arrested for treason is also in this chapter.

I know you have this book. You probably just forgot what all was in it.

By the way, I searched high and low for that old book I mention above, and it turns out there is a copy nearby at University of California in Berkeley.

I hope this little bit of information helps you.

LongstreetLass

[blackirish]

Several factors led to the troubles in Indiana and the middle-west in 1863. At the start of the war these states provided the bulk of the armies that operated in the Mississippi Valley for the first 2 years of the war and suffered heavy casualties.
From the very start, Democracts in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio had warned that Lincoln and the Republicans were in favor of abolition which was not a popular view in the west, especially in the southern parts of these states. There was a continuing rhetoric against such attempts and warnings from these groups that should abolition come to pass the west, would be overrun with freed slaves and the people would be forced to intermix with the blacks as equals.
By 1863 recruiting had slowed considerably and a new conscription act was passed that was seen as an increase in hardship for the west and these warning voices began to seem more reasonable. Then came the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation and all the naysayers pointed to it as proof that the whole effort had been a staged effort to free the slaves from the very first.
As it happens in December of 1862 Stanton had ordered that "contrabands" or escaped slaves that crossed into the Union lines be assembled at Cairo, Illinois and be sent to points north as replacements for the farm labors who had joined the army.
In Illinois, Republican Governor Richard Yates suspended the Legislative session in progress and ruled without a Legislature for the next 2 years. When the state began to run out of money (since the Legislature couldn't pass a budget if it was not in session) Stanton gave the governor some $250,000 out of the War Department budget.
In Indiana Governor Oliver P. Morton managed to get the Legislature to push through an adjournment of the Legislature and simply continued to administrate without a legislature for the next 2 years as well.
As a part of a nationwide suspension of the Writ of Habeus Corpus in effect at the time, provost marshalls began to aid in the recruitment effort by arresting and jailing the critics of the war effort. Their primary duty was to assist in the enrollment of soldiers but when they ran into organized efforts to quash these plans they often resorted to such measures to carry out their plans. Newspapers were sometimes suppressed and in more than one case simply shut down.
Against this backdrop, numerous organized efforts against the war effort began to gain more support.

I am not completely sure that the incident referred to above was specifically caused by these factors but it seems reasonable to assume that they were at least related.

blackirish

[longstreetlass]

Sean,

Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, Illinois, has published a good number of Civil War histories that are more local in nature. There are also a few area scholars in their history department that write on the Civil War, John Y. Simon, for example. He resurrected James Pickett Jones' biography of John A. Logan, and it has been re-published by Southern Illinois University Press, entitled, "Black Jack: John A. Logan and Southern Illinois in the Civil War Era."

You may want to contact this university and the others in the region to find out what kind of local histories they are publishing.

Happy hunting,

LongstreetLass

[unionblue]

Longstreetlass, I think you mean someone else as the Governor of Illinois instead of Clement Vallandigham. Vallandigham was the Congressman from Ohio and a Democrat. Richard Yates was Governor of Illinois and the Governor of Indiana was Governor Oliver P. Morton.

I know only because last night I read the section on copperheads in the excellent book, LINCOLN by David Herbert Donald.

YMOS,
Unionblue

[sean_harris]

I got this last night from our local history section at the Brazil library. (A History of Clay County) I hope not to offend our local Union Civil War "Weekend Warriors" at least that's what other true Civil War living historians call them! LOL!

The most positive demonstration of disloyalty however, occurred in the early part of July, 1863. About this time, John Morgan, with a rebel force of about 5,000 men, had invaded Indiana. Relying upon assistance from anti-war element in the this state, he hoped to accomplish serious damage to the Union cause here and perhaps effect the conquest of the state. At that time, the treasonable organizations in this State had reached their most effective development. Large numbers of men are believed to have been armed and under effective disipline. A general insurrection was planned, which was to be carried into execution as soon as Morgan's raid had progressed far enough to insure success.

About this time movements were set in operation for the organization of a rebel auxiliary force, to be drawn from the northern part of this county and from the Raccoon region of Parke County. A place to rendezvous was established in Van Buren Township, on the farm of Jonh Trump. Recruits came pouring in from all points of the compass, adn soon a force estimated at 500 armed men, was collected. In this place they remained for about two days, concealing as far as possible their movements. The Union People got the information of the remarkable gathering, however, and the preparations for resistance were begun without delay. It was understood thta the force was to advance upon Brazil and take possession of the place. They had gone so far as to have made arrangements for hay and corn for their horses, when they should establish their quarters in Brazil. The blood of the Union people began to boil as these proceedings and they determined to oppose the movement even though bloodshed should result. Great excitement existed, and it was feared tht the affair would not only result in the loss of life, but that in the riot and confusion whick should collow a conflict the town would be set affair, and a general destruction of property would result.

At that time there were two companies of soldiers, of limited experience in actual warfare in Brazil, and these, together with such forced as could be improvised for the occasion, were all that could be mustered for the defense of the town. The two companies were the Home Guards, commanded by Capt. Carney, and the Brazil Guards, commanded by Capt. Olds. Both companies were armed with regulation guns provided by the Government.

The Union forces having got information of the intended movements of the attacking force, put themselves in readiness to repel them. It was ascertained that upon a certain day the attack upon the town would be made. Word was sent to Gov. Morton, who at once dispatched Gen. Streight to come here and take command of affairs. The attacking forces were seperated into two divisions. The Eastern division, consisting of about 300 men and the Western division. Both divisions were to make the attack upon the town simultaneously.

The Union force was arranged to resist both divisions as best they might. The Home Guards, numbering about 100 men, were to encounter the Eastern division and the Brazil Guards, with a force of citizens were to meet the Western division. Gen. Streight arrived on the morning of the contemplated attack, and proceeded without delay, accompanied by D.C. Stunkard, to meet and parley with the Eastern division, and if possible to persuade and intimidate them from their purpose. He advanced to their lines and began to parley with them. A gun was drawn upon him, but the General coolly remarked that he had had whole regiments of guns pointed at him, and went on with the speech. He advised them not to attempt to come into Brazil, for if they did they would be met by resolute resistance, and bloodshed would inevitably result. It appears his warnings had the desired effect. At any rate, the insurrectionists dispersed and were seen no more. Returning to town, the General, accompanied by Eli Hendrix, repaired to the Western division, and had similar parley with them, which had a similar result. The exact objective that the movement was designed to accomplish has never been entirely understood. Many believe that, acting in concert with other organizations of similiar character throughout the State, the purpose was to march to meet and form a junction with Jonh Morgon, and assist in turning the State over to the Rebels. Others are of the opinion that the movement had no definite purpose at all, but was simply gotten up as a demonstration of hostility to the war, to display power of the opposition and to intimidate the Union authorities. The movement had come to a comparatively harmless termination, and from the readiness with which it yeiled to the opposition, it may be reasonably be presumed that nothing really serious was contemplated.

Any way that the story! thought it was interesting. I also found several local communities attempted to set up Pro Southern, Anti-Union resolutions. Most were stopped by furloughed soldiers and officers who felt it was their duty to stop this treason. I new my area of the state was a mix of sympathy however, never to the degree I have found over the last few days it is a real surprise!

[longstreetlass]

Neil,

Yes, you are right! Vallandigham was a Democratic congressman and candidate for governor of Ohio, not Indiana. You would know this story better than I, of course.

Sorry for the mistake.

Sean, this is a wonderful thread that gets to details of the WBTS that are often overlooked.

LongstreetLass