Among the candidates selected at the Marion County Union Convention at the end of last month were James H. McVey of Warren Township for one of the two state representative positions and Lorenzo Vanscyoc of Washington Township for county commissioner, first district. McVey is “an honest man, who has brains enough to enforce the respect that his integrity entitles him to,” while Vanscyoc is “an honest man and estimable citizen.”
Crown Hill Cemetery was dedicated with “dignified and imposing” ceremonies. Carriages drove along the winding avenues, and visitors “delighted in the beautiful prospect” from the top of the hill. An audience of over four hundred gathered on the east slope to hear the solemn anthems and consecration hymn; the prayers and song; and Judge Albert S. White’s dedicatory address. The following day, Mrs. Lucy Ann Seaton became the first internment. The public sale of lots took place a week later. Two new Masonic Lodges — the Lodge of Ancient Landmarks and the Capital City Lodge — commenced work under “very favorable auspices.” Mrs. Reed’s Ice Cream Saloon & Confectionery, 32 N. Pennsylvania Street, nearly opposite the post office, opened for ladies and gentlemen of the city to enjoy flavored cream, cold soda water, and rich coffee. Messrs. H. H. Daily, Augustus Kiefer and W. P. Rush have opened a “long needed” wholesale drug house in Indianapolis at 73 S. Meridian St. The firm “will keep a full line of drugs, medicines, paints, oils, varnishes, perfumery, wines and liquors.”
“LATEST FROM THE FRONT” “PARTICULARS OF THE FIGHT” – Hoosiers scanned daily newspaper columns of killed, wounded, sick, and missing Indiana soldiers: Red River Campaign — 89th Indiana, “The loss of officers and men is seriously felt.” The Battles in Georgia — 70th Indiana, “Lieut. Colestock, wounded, will not recover, he proved himself a brave and worthy soldier and a noble young man.” Fight near Dallas (Georgia) — 27th Indiana, “Our boys…ran against a rebel snag in the woods…and after becoming pretty badly worsted, backed out….A few more such ‘snags’ and the old 27th will go clear under, with not a man to tell the story.” Guntown, Mississippi — 7th Indiana, “We succeeded in getting most of our wounded off the field. Capt. Elliott was so severely wounded that we were compelled to leave him…but he will be sent for and brought in under a flag of truce.” Seventy-five sick and wounded Indiana soldiers from Sherman’s army were recently transferred to the City General Hospital. The veterans of the 18th Indiana were given a grand reception and welcome in the Hoosier capital. After a parade through downtown streets with their regimental and national colors “stained and begrimed with the dust and smoke of battle,” the soldiers were treated to a dinner at the Soldiers Home followed by a reception on the State House grounds where Gov. Morton said “a grateful people appreciated their labors and sacrifices.”
Thirty-four rounds roared from a booming cannon announcing the start of the mass meeting the evening of June 11 on the State House yard. A large and enthusiastic crowd gathered to ratify the Baltimore Convention’s Union Party nominations for president and vice president. To enthusiastic cheers Gov. Morton spoke of “Lincoln’s unswerving integrity of character” and that “Andrew Johnson is eminently a representative man.”
The festival held by the young ladies Bible class at Christ’s Church, Episcopal at Masonic Hall was “quite successful.” Over $260 (2013: $3,830.32), realized over expenses, will go toward “liquidizing” the church debt. Another festival at Washington Hall raised $312.85 (2013: $4,596.87) for the benefit of the City Regiment. A “brilliant assemblage of the elite of Indianapolis” filled Masonic Hall on a Saturday evening to be entertained by Prof. W. J. McAllister, the “greatest living prestidigitateur.” His feats and tricks were “adroitly performed” and received by the audience “with the greatest delight and hilarity.”
The City schools held their closing exercises after the examinations “passed off excellently.” At Northwestern Christian University, closing examinations were held and Prof. Hoshour’s Caesar Class “stood the test respectably.” Prof. Benton’s class in Homer fully sustained themselves” and Prof. Brown’s botany class “acquitted themselves in a most creditable manner.” A large audience witnessed four of the five men — Wickliffe A. Cotton, Alexander Campbell Easter, David M. Hillis, and William H. Wiley — in the graduating class appear at commencement to receive their diplomas from Prof. Benton, the fifth one — John B. Easter — being in the hundred days service. The Baptist Church was the site for the Indiana Baptist Female College commencement exercises. After the reading of essays by the graduates and piano and vocal solos, duets, and choruses by the young ladies, President Rev. C. W. Hewes conferred degrees on Mary H. Swift, Anne E. Kirln, Leona Boyd, Rebecca A. Loyd, Mary E. Perrott, and Lottie Frame.
“Another strong board enclosure within the old one, and a deep trench dug inside around the entire camp” greeted 800 rebel prisoners captured near Staunton, Virginia who arrived at Camp Morton during the third week of the month. Over 2,000 more prisoners came into the city in the following days, and with an additional 316 prisoners from the south arriving at the end of the month nearly 5,000 rebels were within Camp Morton’s enclosure.
