Publisher's Note The compilation of a history of the National Guard of Indiana led to far greater depths than was anticipated. The National Guard of to-day is so directly the outgrowth of the militia system which began with the Northwest Territory, that its history would not have been complete unless written from that time. This was a difficult task, as official papers relating to the early days of Indiana are few. Many were lost during the moving of the State government from one capital to another, and from one State House to another. A wagon load of these valuable old documents was sold as waste paper by a janitor who did not realize their value. The record of early days is necessarily incomplete. In all cases the names are spelled as they appear on the official records. The History is issued by the publisher with the hope that it may cause the Guardsman to have a greater pride in his organization, and the people to have greater pride in the Guard. The publisher is under obligations to all the officers and men who have co-operated to make the work a success; but particular acknowledgment is made of the assistance given by Major John E. Miller, Colonel Charles E. Wilson, Colonel James B. Curtis. Colonel William E. English, Captain William F. Ranke and Captain William H. Drapier, Jr. The compilation and publication of this book has only been made possible by the aid given by friends of the Guard throughout the State, and those to whom the thanks of the members are extended are: CALIF CHAPTER 1. IN EARLY DAYS. When Indiana was a part of the Northwest Territory, the art of war was considered as of equal importance with the arts of peace. This was of necessity; nor was it contrary to the natural tendencies of the early settlers. Many of them had lost all their possessions while serving in the War of Revolution and had come to the great west to rebuild their shattered fortunes. Their service in the American army had left its imprint upon them and it was a new and joyful sensation to follow a military life for a few days at a time as a recreation and not as a necessity. The necessity for it, however, was constantly present, for a harassing and exasperating warfare was waged with the Indians for many years. Many of the settlers came from the south, where the love for things military is inborn, and others had come from the countries of Europe in which the army was regarded as of prime importance and held in great veneration. These causes combined to produce an acquiescence in required military service and aroused an enthusiasm for military life which later bore fruit in one of the most perfect militia systems in the country. The United States Army, at the beginning of the government of the Northwest Territory, consisted of ten companies of infantry, forming one regiment, commanded by LieutenantColonel Harmer. The posts garrisoned by the "Regular Army" were: Pittsburg; Ft. McIntosh, which was near where Marietta, Ohio, now stands; Ft. Steuben, near the Falls of the Ohio; and Vincennes. The regiment was 560 strong, and the Lieutenant-Colonel commanding received $50 a month salary, with a few allowances. Each of his Majors received $45 a month, each of the Captains $35 a month, each of the Lieutenants $26 a month, and each of the Ensigns $20 a month. Ft. Harmer was under command of Major Denny and the post at Vincennes was commanded by Major Hamtramck. The first appearance of the military after the arrival of the officers of the Northwest Territory was on July 4, 1788, and before the arrival of Governor St. Clair. The nation's birthday was celebrated at Marietta by a parade of the sol diers and citizens, and Judge Varnum delivered an oration. Following the oration was a barbecue which lasted far into the night. The population of Marietta then consisted of 132 men, besides the women and children, and the militia of the territory, so far as could be ascertained, numbered but 244. Congress had delegated to the Governor and the Judges of the territory the power to publish such laws as existed in the states at that time, which might be deemed necessary for the government of the new territory. Under this authority Governor Arthur St. Clair and Judges S. H. Parsons and J. M. Varnum published the first law at Marietta on July 25, 1788. It related to the subject of prime importance and provided for the organization of the militia. This law required all males between 16 and 50 years of age to serve in the militia, which was divided into senior and junior classes. The senior class consisted of those who had borne civil or military commissions in the United States service, or graduates of colleges or universities. Each man was required to provide himself with a "musket and bayonet, or rifle, cartridge box and pouch, or powder horn and bullet pouch, with forty rounds of cartridges, or one pound of powder and four pounds of lead, priming wire and brush, and six flints." A company consisted of 64 men, rank and file; eight companies constituted a battalion, and two battalions a regiment. The commissioned and noncommissioned officers of each company were one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four "serjeants," four corporals, one drummer and one fifer. To each battalion was given one lieutenant-colonel commanding, one major and one adjutant. Each regiment was commanded by a colonel. The law stated that "assembling at fixed periods is conducive to health, civilization and morality," and hence it was required that each captain should parade his company at ten o'clock on the morning of the first day of each week "at some place convenient to or near the place appointed or to be appointed for public worship." Those who failed to be present at these parades were fined 25 and 50 cents. This law stood until July 2, 1791, when it was so amended as to designate Saturday for parade day instead of Sunday, and each captain was charged to "diligently exercise his company for the space of two hours." Each one was also required to go to church fully armed. The militia of the territory at this time was not effective and as an organization does not seem to have been called |