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NOBLE COUNTY has had but little
to do with any war in which the United States has been involved,
either with foreign nations or with rebellious subjects, except
the great rebellion of 1861. No resident citizen of the county,
so far as known, except one, had any participation in the Revolutionary
war. This one was Nathaniel Prentiss, father of Nelson Prentiss,
of Albion. When the colonies threw off the galling and burdensome
yoke of Great Britain, Nathaniel Prentiss was a youth of but
twelve years of age. He entered the service of his country as
servant to one or more continental officers, and continued thus
three years, at which time, being large and strong enough to
carry a gun, he enlisted as a soldier proper. He fought at the
battles of Saratoga, Princeton, Trenton and Monmouth; was present
at West Point when Maj. Andre, the British spy, was captured,
and witnessed his lamented execution; was with Gen. Washington
during his encampment at Valley Forge; was shipped on board a
continental privateer, and finally captured by the "Jersey,"
which bears about the same relation to the Revolution that Andersonville
Prison does to the rebellion of 1861. He was then, with others,
taken, to the Island of Jamaica and kept in confinement until
the close of the war, and then came to the United States via
South Carolina, walking thence to Connecticut, and arriving home
on Sunday; where upon he was arrested by the authorities, and
fined by the barbarous laws of the Nutmeg State for violating
the Sabbath. He was a Revolutionary pensioner from about 1824
until his death, in 1839. He lived about two years in the county,
and now lies buried in the cemetery of Ligonier. His wife drew
his pension form 1839 until her death in 1861.
The following residents of the
county, among probable others, whose names cannot be learned,
served in the war of 1812: Andrew C. Douglas, now dead; Niah
Wood, dead; James McMann, dead; Adam Kimmell, Sr., who served
six months in Pennsylvania; he was a pensioner of the Government
for a number of years; he came to the county in 1852; died in
1870 *(From information furnished the writer by Adam Kimmell,
Jr., Albion); Andrew B. Upson, dead; James Mael, living in Iowa
at last accounts; Henry Kline, dead; John Johnson, dead; Alexander
Montroth, died about a year ago; Peter Black, dead; Daniel Wiley,
dead, was at the battle of Plattsburg; Daniel Johnson, dead;
Mr. Wilson, died a few years ago within a few days of the age
of one hundred years; was with Lewis and Clarke on their expedition
to the Pacific coast, and was on board of Constitution when it
defeated and sank the Guerriere; and Sheldon Perry, dead. Nothing
further could be learned of soldiers in the war of 1812.
The knowledge obtained of the
soldiers of the Mexican war is no better. The following is the
brief record: Joseph Braden, yet living; James C. Riddle, living;
James J. Knox, living, who went to Mansfield, Ohio, in the Third
Regiment of that State; James Hinman, living, who also served
at the age of about sixty-three years in the last war; he enlisted
but was rejected; he then employed a barber and a tailor, who
succeeded in making him appear about forty years of age; whereupon
he was accepted as fifer in the Thirtieth Regimen, and served
his country through the war; Aaron Field, living; George Hart,
living; J. H. G. Shoe, died in the service; Jefferson Smith,
dead; Mr. Gibbs, dead; Harvey McKinney, died in the service;
Stark Bethel, dead; James Galloway, died in the service; Joseph
Crow, dead; and George Carlyle, dead. Of these J. H. G. Shoe,
Jefferson Smith, Mr. Gibbs, Stark Bethel and James Galloway went
from Noble county. The most of the others went from Ohio or other
portions of Indiana. It is said that a partially-formed militia
company at Ligonier, Rochester and that vicinity offered their
services as a body for the Mexican war, but were refused, as
the quota was already more than full. Several of the Noble County
boys resided at or near Wolf Lake. They were in the Second Regiment
Indiana Volunteers, commanded by Col. Lane, and served along
the Rio Grande River, participating in no engagements of note.
In common with all the northern troops who went into the hot
and peculiar climate of the "Land of the Montezumas,"
they suffered terrible hardships from privation and disease.
Some of them lie buried under a tropical sun in the far-off land
of Mexico; and their graves, like the tomb of Moses, are unknown.
The brave boys who fought in Mexico must not be forgotten.
Remainder of chapter IV added by Denise Wells: It is unnecessary to give a summary of the causes which led to the war of the rebellion. Historians persist in calling it the "Irrepressible Conflict," meaning thereby, that the antagonism which had slowly developed through a long period of years between the North and the South by the question of slavery, State sovereignty, the tariff, and all their kindred attendants, could never be peaceably settled. Occurring, as the war did, but twenty years ago, in weary marches, dreadful sufferings from disease, daring achievements on the field of battle, and the fearful thought that the South might be successful, are yet green in the recollection of maimed and honored participants. Continued and extensive preparations for war were made in the South long beore the North cased to believe that the differences which bitterly divided the two factions of the Government might be amicably adjusted. Armed and hostiel bands of the rebellious citizens of the South seized, at every opportunity, large quantities of military stores, and took forcible possession of important strategic points; but still, the North was hopeful that peace would prevail. Statesmen in the North viewed with reluctance or contempt the steady and extensive preparations for war in the South, and refused to believe its presence until the first blow fell like a thunderbolt upon Fort Sumter, and, at the same time, upon the faithful hearts of loyal people. President Lincoln, with that kind forbearance, that sublime charity, which ever distinguished him, wisely hesitated to begin the contest. Hot-blooded Abolitionists in the North urged him repeatedly to strangle the hydra of secession in its infancy; but still he hesitated. Even when Sumter fell, the North still believed that the rebellion would be quelled in ninety days. But, as time passed on, and the large bodies of troops failed to control or quell the aggressive and daring movements of the confederate armies, and the sullen tide of steady reverses swept over almost every field of battle, the hope of the North for peace died out, the gloom of probably national disaster and disunion filled every heart, and for many desolate months the outlook was dark and forbidding. When the news of the fall of Sumter swept over the country like a flame of fire, in all places the most intense excitement prevailed. Men everywhere forgot their daily employment, and gathered in neighboring villages to review the political situation and encourage one another with hopeful words. The prompt call of the President for 75,000 volunteers the day succeeding the fall of Sumter, sent a wave of relief throughout the anxious North; and in every State more than double the assignment quota of men, without regard to political views, tendered their services and their money to the suppression of the rebellion. Fiery and indignant mass meetings were everywhere held, and invincible determinations of loyalty prevailed. There was not a town in Noble County in which the citizens did not gather to listen to loyal and eloquent words from Republicans and Democrats. The War Democrat was a good fellow. His sentiments toward the South were undergoing a change; and like all true converts he entered, heart and soul, into the wrathful public gatherings that were held to indignantly denounce the rebellion. The Abolitionist fairly boiled over with fiery determination to avenge the shameful insult offered to the "glorious old flag." Here and there in the county was found a man who soberly shook his head and remarked, "Well, I supposed if the South is determined to go out of the Union, we'llh ave to let it go. I don't think the Government has a right to compel the Southern States to remain. I am opposed to the war." But such sentiments were speedily borne down by the intense loyalty everywhere prevailing. One of the first public meetings in the county in response to the news of the fall of Sumter and the call of the President for 75,000 volunteers was held at Wolf Lake, and is thus described by Colonel Williams, who, at that time, resided there: "The citizens of Wolf Lake and vicinity assembled at the old hotel in the village, then kept by 'Uncle George,' as everybody called the proprietor, George W. Matthews; everybody was excited, indignant and boiling over with a consuming desire to do something. During the campaign of the year before, the two political parties had erected each its disitinctive political pole on the on the public square in front of the hotel, the one flying on its flag the names of Lincoln and Hamlin, the other the names of Douglas and Johnson. The Democratic pole was cut down during that winter, but the Republican pole, being an unusually tall and shapely one, was allowed to stand, and on the fall of Fort Sumter, the maul and wedges (the rail-splitter emblems of the Republican party at that day) were still dangling from the top. 'What shall we do?' The writer hereof was urged by all to 'say something.' I proposed, after briefly reciting the exciting news of the hour, that we take down the Republican pole, remove the maul and wedges and other political emblems and mottoes attached; that I would remove the names of Douglas and Johnson from my large Democratic campaign flag, and as we were now neither Republicans nor Democrats, but Union men and hot for fight, we would as Union men hoist the pole as a Union pole, with a Union flag. It was then agreed that on the morrow the work should be done. The morrow came and quite an earnest and patriotic little crowd had gathered, Republicans and Democrats. The Republican ____ was soon taken down, the emblems, etc., removed, and up it went again amid the cheers of the little crowd, and soon after the large flag was rolling out in beautiful folds to the sunny breeze of that April day. After three times three heart cheers for the flag of our Union, in response to the call of the crowd, the writer mounted a goods box and delivered perhaps the first (certainly among the first) war speech made that year in the county. That speec often ____ to the writer when reviewing the memories of that stirring year. I spoke about twenty minutes or longer, and then informed the crowd that men must look their duty in the face and like men meet it. There was but one feeling, one resolution, one purpose. Old men and young men, Republicans and Democrats, each and all, then cried out for vengeance on the heads of the traitors who had insulted and defied the majesty and power of the Government. Old Uncle George Matthews, old himself, without a tooth in his head, was the first man to offer himself as a volunteer; he had, he said, half a dozen sons who could go and if they did not go and fight rebels he would disown them. His sons needed no urging; several of them entered the service that summer, and efficient and gallant soldiers they made, as the writer can testify from ample knowledge. I should like, if I could, give the names of all who composed that patriotic little crowd, which did not exceed one hundred, perhaps. But I remember some who took an active part in the proceedings that day. I call to mind Andrew Humphreys, Dr. Elias Jones, Francis R. Davis, David S. Scott, Dr. W. Y Leonard, Charles V. Inks, Edwin W. Matthews, James C. Stewart, John P. Kitt, Jonathan W. Elliott, Jacob Mohn, Billy Holiman, Jacob and Oliver Matthews, Samuel Beall, Allen Beall, Uncle Joe Inks, Tommy Gray; and I could think up and recall other names, if it were important to do so. Steps were commenced at that particular time to organize a military company, under the laws of that day organizing military companies, and it was the intention to offer the services of the company to the Governor. Correspondence was at once opened by the writer with Gen. Lazarus Noble, the efficient Adjutant General of the State, as to the mode of procedure, etc. Quite a number of names were enrolled, and in a few days it looked as if Wolf Lake would be the first to be in the field with a military organization and off for the war. Some hitch or technecal [sic] difficulty, I don't now recall, with the Adjutant General threw a damger on the boys, and on offer to be mustered into any regiment, under a three months' call, not then full, word was received from the Adjutant General that the quota of the State was full and enough offers on hand to fill up twenty more regiments. The boys were informed by the Adjutant General that they would all have a chance before witner and urged them to keep up their organization, as new troops would be called out inside of three months. This was not satisfactory to the boys, for they went elsewhere and enlisted some to Michigan, some to Illinois, and a number to other parts of the State where they heard and hoped that there was yet a chance to get into the three months' service. Finally new arrangements were made: [start with page 91 to continue]
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