Taylin
Sergeant
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2017
- Location
- Rolling hills of southern Indiana
Historical Marker
Now admittedly, this marker doesn't do a great deal of justice. A few google searches doesn't turn much up apart from the marker itself, fortunately though we have newspapers and reports from the Indiana Legion to read and enjoy, I will transcribe below the newspaper and reports, as well as other things I think are worth mentioning.
From "Union Army in the Civil War : Indiana Legion reports of brigade and regimental officers, 1st-4th brigades" There are plenty of spelling errors, I will do what I can to correct but some are difficult to understand.
"Headquarters Fourth Regiment,
Rockport, December 2, 1862.
Major-General Love, Commanding’ Indiana Legion ,
, Indianapolis , Indiana :
General: — In obedience to orders, I have the honor to report
the following as pertaining to my command:
Owing to the excitement between Evansville and Cannelton
during the past summer, the duties of my command were very
heavy. During the months of July, August, September, and until
the 6th of October, we had not less than a score of alarms. You
*’ill see by the accompanying papers, the state of excitement in
and about the town of Owensboro, Ky., how urgently they appealed
for assistance, and how much they relied upon the Fourth Regiment of the Legion for protection. I was called to their relief not less than six times, taking my entire command, with many citizens besides. In fact I can say that the Legion of Spencer literally defended the town of Owensboro, and the camp of troops under Colonel Netter, for the space of ninety days. lie told me but for our assistance in time of need, he would have to burn his stores and abandon the place. That the Indianians with their muskets and artillery were his only salvation. With my assurance that the entire fighting population of our county would fly to their relief, if needed, the loyal portion of Davies county, Ky., took a high Union stand, and have finally succeeded in establishing a tolerably, and only a tolerably, healthy sentiment. They had much to contend with, for I am quite certain it was not excelled in disloyalty by any county in the State of Kentucky.
Thus things went on until the morning of the 19th of September, 1862, when the town, of Owensboro was attacked and taken by the rebels, the Colonel in command killed, and his forces rendered useless for good. Upon receiving notice of this disaster, and a call for assistance, I immediately threw across the river,
below the city, under the protection of our ordinance and their camp, from five to six hundred of my command, driving the rebels from the place, and taking possession of the town.
Learning that night that the rebels were encamped about eight miles out, we organized a force for the purpose of giving them battle. Most of my men were much fatigued, many of them having marched over twenty miles, yet they set out with an alacrity and eagerness unexampled. W e arrived in front of the enemy between sunrise and daylight next morning. My command consisted of three hundred and fifty of the Spencer Legion, some five or eight citizens of Davies county, and sixty of better’s mounted men. The enemy’s forces consisted of a battalion of five hundred under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Martin of the rebel army. We had with us one 6-pounder cannon ; they had a 4-pounder piece.
They opened the battle by dispersing our cavalry, who had incautiously gone beyond supporting distance, and who were lost to your service t lie balance of the day. Hearing the engagement of the cavalry, we hastened forward, put our cannon in position, and at the third round dismounted it by bursting up the trunnion caps*(By my understanding, this means the side protrusions that hold a cannon in place on its mount), which resulted in sending it to the rear. We now saw no alternative but to close in with the infantry, which was done in a style that would have been commendable to veterans. The engagement lasted one hour and a half, the enemy playing upon us his small cannon, charged with sacks of small Minie balls, all the while. The deadly aim of our backwoodsmen, however, proved too hot ; observing their wavering lines, we made a charge, scattering them in the wildest confusion.
Our casualties were three killed and thirty-five wounded. The cavalry had two wounded and eight of the men taken prisoners, who were paroled the same evening. The enemy’s loss was thirty- six killed, between seventy and eighty wounded, and sixteen taken prisoners. We also captured twelve or fifteen horses, one hundred and thirty -five or forty small arms, and a great many blankets, sabers, etc..
It is needless to say that all did well; both officers and men seemed to vie with each other in deeds of daring. Thus terminated the battle of Panther creek.
Subsequent to this, you will ob-n v~* (Observe?), by accompanying papers, another very urgent request to return to Owensboro with my command. The rebels had threatened to return with reinforcements, and visit the place with retribution for their Panther creek discomfiture, which kept the public mind, and especially the troops at that point, in the wildest state of excitement.
On the morning of the 6th of October, I again had between four and five hundred men opposite Owensboro, on this side of the river. By this time my men began to complain; “the citizens would not defend themselves; more than half of the town were rebel sympathizers; they had lost their friends at Panther creek in defending a people who would not fight for themselves; their crops were suffering, tobacco in particular, the only thing they expected to realize a remunerative price for.” Although the last man would have crossed the river if I had said so, I was charitable enough to heed their murmurings. I put two pieces of artillery in position: sent Major Holman, who was then in command, a note declining to cross the river; that 1 proposed to defend his camp and town from this side of the river; “that he should give the citizens of Owensboro notice that just, as soon as the women and children could escape, after the attack was made upon him, or the town taken
possession of by the rebels, I should commence shelling it from this side, a thing I was amply prepared to perform.” His answer to this you will see in the closing paragraph of his note of the 6th of October. No attach was made , at that time , either upon the camp or city, nor have they had any trouble on the border of Davies county , Kentucky, since.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN W. CROOKS,
Colonel Fourth Regiment Indiana Legion."
Note: The Col Netter that was killed was named Gabriel Netter, haven't had time to look deep but looks like he was in the 15th KY, Union
News paper transcriptions will be in my followup post(s)
Now admittedly, this marker doesn't do a great deal of justice. A few google searches doesn't turn much up apart from the marker itself, fortunately though we have newspapers and reports from the Indiana Legion to read and enjoy, I will transcribe below the newspaper and reports, as well as other things I think are worth mentioning.
From "Union Army in the Civil War : Indiana Legion reports of brigade and regimental officers, 1st-4th brigades" There are plenty of spelling errors, I will do what I can to correct but some are difficult to understand.
"Headquarters Fourth Regiment,
Rockport, December 2, 1862.
Major-General Love, Commanding’ Indiana Legion ,
, Indianapolis , Indiana :
General: — In obedience to orders, I have the honor to report
the following as pertaining to my command:
Owing to the excitement between Evansville and Cannelton
during the past summer, the duties of my command were very
heavy. During the months of July, August, September, and until
the 6th of October, we had not less than a score of alarms. You
*’ill see by the accompanying papers, the state of excitement in
and about the town of Owensboro, Ky., how urgently they appealed
for assistance, and how much they relied upon the Fourth Regiment of the Legion for protection. I was called to their relief not less than six times, taking my entire command, with many citizens besides. In fact I can say that the Legion of Spencer literally defended the town of Owensboro, and the camp of troops under Colonel Netter, for the space of ninety days. lie told me but for our assistance in time of need, he would have to burn his stores and abandon the place. That the Indianians with their muskets and artillery were his only salvation. With my assurance that the entire fighting population of our county would fly to their relief, if needed, the loyal portion of Davies county, Ky., took a high Union stand, and have finally succeeded in establishing a tolerably, and only a tolerably, healthy sentiment. They had much to contend with, for I am quite certain it was not excelled in disloyalty by any county in the State of Kentucky.
Thus things went on until the morning of the 19th of September, 1862, when the town, of Owensboro was attacked and taken by the rebels, the Colonel in command killed, and his forces rendered useless for good. Upon receiving notice of this disaster, and a call for assistance, I immediately threw across the river,
below the city, under the protection of our ordinance and their camp, from five to six hundred of my command, driving the rebels from the place, and taking possession of the town.
Learning that night that the rebels were encamped about eight miles out, we organized a force for the purpose of giving them battle. Most of my men were much fatigued, many of them having marched over twenty miles, yet they set out with an alacrity and eagerness unexampled. W e arrived in front of the enemy between sunrise and daylight next morning. My command consisted of three hundred and fifty of the Spencer Legion, some five or eight citizens of Davies county, and sixty of better’s mounted men. The enemy’s forces consisted of a battalion of five hundred under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Martin of the rebel army. We had with us one 6-pounder cannon ; they had a 4-pounder piece.
They opened the battle by dispersing our cavalry, who had incautiously gone beyond supporting distance, and who were lost to your service t lie balance of the day. Hearing the engagement of the cavalry, we hastened forward, put our cannon in position, and at the third round dismounted it by bursting up the trunnion caps*(By my understanding, this means the side protrusions that hold a cannon in place on its mount), which resulted in sending it to the rear. We now saw no alternative but to close in with the infantry, which was done in a style that would have been commendable to veterans. The engagement lasted one hour and a half, the enemy playing upon us his small cannon, charged with sacks of small Minie balls, all the while. The deadly aim of our backwoodsmen, however, proved too hot ; observing their wavering lines, we made a charge, scattering them in the wildest confusion.
Our casualties were three killed and thirty-five wounded. The cavalry had two wounded and eight of the men taken prisoners, who were paroled the same evening. The enemy’s loss was thirty- six killed, between seventy and eighty wounded, and sixteen taken prisoners. We also captured twelve or fifteen horses, one hundred and thirty -five or forty small arms, and a great many blankets, sabers, etc..
It is needless to say that all did well; both officers and men seemed to vie with each other in deeds of daring. Thus terminated the battle of Panther creek.
Subsequent to this, you will ob-n v~* (Observe?), by accompanying papers, another very urgent request to return to Owensboro with my command. The rebels had threatened to return with reinforcements, and visit the place with retribution for their Panther creek discomfiture, which kept the public mind, and especially the troops at that point, in the wildest state of excitement.
On the morning of the 6th of October, I again had between four and five hundred men opposite Owensboro, on this side of the river. By this time my men began to complain; “the citizens would not defend themselves; more than half of the town were rebel sympathizers; they had lost their friends at Panther creek in defending a people who would not fight for themselves; their crops were suffering, tobacco in particular, the only thing they expected to realize a remunerative price for.” Although the last man would have crossed the river if I had said so, I was charitable enough to heed their murmurings. I put two pieces of artillery in position: sent Major Holman, who was then in command, a note declining to cross the river; that 1 proposed to defend his camp and town from this side of the river; “that he should give the citizens of Owensboro notice that just, as soon as the women and children could escape, after the attack was made upon him, or the town taken
possession of by the rebels, I should commence shelling it from this side, a thing I was amply prepared to perform.” His answer to this you will see in the closing paragraph of his note of the 6th of October. No attach was made , at that time , either upon the camp or city, nor have they had any trouble on the border of Davies county , Kentucky, since.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN W. CROOKS,
Colonel Fourth Regiment Indiana Legion."
Note: The Col Netter that was killed was named Gabriel Netter, haven't had time to look deep but looks like he was in the 15th KY, Union
News paper transcriptions will be in my followup post(s)
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