June opened with Indianapolis residents catching the final acts of the theater season at Metropolitan and Masonic Halls as they were equally drawn to accounts in the Journal columns of the drama contained in the long casualty lists from the battlefields of Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg. First Division commander Gen. Birney awarded the Kearney Cross to twenty-five members of the 20th Regiment for “meritorious and distinguished conduct.”
Gov. Morton sent 40 physicians, 15 sanitary agents, and “four patriotic and self-denying women” as nurses on the Indiana Sanitary Steamer Courier to “relieve the sufferings of our wounded and sick soldiers at Vicksburg,” and the 600 patient steamer Atlantic, also left Evansville with a full corps of surgeons and nurses and “well supplied with hospital stores.” A crowd attended a war meeting at Masonic Hall to hear speeches, and contributions of $216 (2012: $3,971.16) were collected for the “relief of our sick and wounded soldiers” demonstrating “that the heart of the Hoosier still beats true time to the music of the Union and the war for the sake of the Union.” In response to Gov. Morton’s proposal to establish a Soldiers’ Cemetery, a committee consisting of Alfred Harrison, James M. Ray, Gen. John Love, Theodore P. Haughey, and Albert G. Porter met to develop a plan to raise money for the purchase of suitable ground.
Soldiers of the 33rd Regiment were given a picnic in Ovid Butler’s grove with the 71st Regimental band providing patriotic music from a stand. The soldiers and the great number of ladies and gentlemen attending “partook a fine dinner.” The provost marshal of Indianapolis issued an order prohibiting the sale of “spirituous or intoxicating liquors” to any enlisted soldier. Saloon No. 222 was closed for violating the order.
Trains arrived at the Terre Haute depot carrying some 4,400 rebel prisoners captured at the battle of Big Black River Bridge, and were marched through the streets to Camp Morton, well-guarded by details from the 71st Regiment, amid a crowd of people witnessing the novel procession. Draft enrolling commissioners were attacked in Johnson, Putnam, Boone, Fayette, Monroe, and Fulton counties. Fletcher Freeman, an enrolling officer in Sullivan County, was “shot dead…by guerrillas,” and shots were fired at conscription officers near Manilla, Rush County killing Deputy Provost Marshal J. Frank Stevens, a former state senator, and one other man. Troops were sent to that county and several arrests were made. Franklin Township farmer Abel J. Jennings was arrested for flying a rebel flag from his barn and confined at military headquarters. Dr. Hodge Snyder of Perry Township was taken into custody for questioning after uttering disloyal statements. The United States District Court continued to hear cases on those charged with counterfeiting coins and forging postal currency.
A terrible explosion occurred in a house southwest of the city on Bluff Road critically injuring the housekeeper and a child. The residence was a private arsenal manufacturing water-proof pistol cartridges, and the foreman died of his injuries and two of the young women workers were severely burned, both later dying. Late in the month, a demonstration of Captain Bocking’s explosive shell containing a flammable fluid was conducted by the 23rd Battery at the artillery target south of the city. Its fearful destructive character was clearly shown.
To maintain the credit of the state until the legislature removes “the deadlock on the Treasury,” Gov. Morton secured a loan of $160,000 (2012: $2,941,600.53) “without any agreement as to interest…trusting to the good faith of the State” from Winslow, Lanier & Co of New York. The last rail connecting the Indiana Central Railway and the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad was laid, and regular train service between Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio commenced before month’s end. John Ellenberger, William Askren, Henry Shearer, William Vansickle, and Andrew Moorehouse were among the thirty delegates from Warren Township to attend the Marion County Union Democracy Convention to nominate candidates for county offices. The Union War Democrats organized a central executive committee to arrange a state mass meeting of the Union War Democracy at a later date.
On Wednesday, June 17, a rebel guerrilla force of fifty-nine cavalry under the command of Captain Hines crossed the Ohio River below Leavenworth and, posing as Union soldiers searching for deserters, made their way north to Paoli where their true purpose was discovered. The rebels made a circuit of the town and encountered a small group of armed citizens who were captured. The raiders continued to Hardinsburg and came within three miles of Fredericksburg before securing a guide, and then proceeded towards the Ohio River. The guide led the guerrillas to an island where all but a handful were captured after a brief skirmish by a force of 300 citizens from Orange, Washington, and Harrison Counties, including the Crawford County Home Guardsmen. The raiders fatally wounded one citizen, but failed to ravage the countryside because of the quick response by citizens. By mid-month, reports appeared in the Journal of General Lee’s army invading Maryland and advancing with 40,000 men and 18 pieces of artillery on Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. President Lincoln called into service 100,000 militia from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Western Virginia to help meet the threat. On assuming command of the Army of the Potomac, General George Meade wrote, “The country looks to the army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of hostile invasion, Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interest involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the contest.”
