FIRST PERSON BIOS OF GUARD MEMBERS.
Colonel Dave Shackelford. (Mayor)
Born in Leavenworth, Indiana, the county seat of Crawford County, my father was a carpenter and worked at the local skiff boat factory. My mother, of course, tended the household. My brother worked at the skiff boat factory with my father but later joined the Army and was killed in battle. My widowed sister occasionally helped out in the Mother of Peal factory down by the Ohio River.
I graduated from the Leavenworth Academy and attended Indiana College in Bloomington, Indiana. Graduating, I obtained employment as a police officer in Louisville, Kentucky. After 4 years, I desired to return home. Moving back to Leavenworth, I ran for the office of Sheriff and was elected by my fellow Democrats. Serving one term, I ran for Mayor of Leavenworth and, again, my Democrat constituents answered the call and put me in the office of Mayor.
Unfortunately, one of my campaign promises was to be the the first man from Crawford County to join the army if war broke out. Well, the day the Corydon, Indiana newspaper published the front page story about the firing on Fort Sumter, my opponent appeared at my home in Leavenworth with the newspaper. Pointing out the section about Lincoln calling for volunteers, he reminded me of my campaign promise. Surrounded by other rascally Republicans, I had to live up to my promise. Thus, I traveled to Jeffersonville, Indiana where I met Colonel Ray who was forming the 49th Indiana.
It took little time, though, to be appointed Colonel by Governor Morton. I accepted the appointment even though Morton is a Republican. The ironic thing is the Town Council has appointed my Republican opponent, John Blazier, to run the town until the next election.
Lieutenant Colonel James Deadman. (Chance)
I am a lawyer in central Illinois. I even know the President from traveling the circuits together. In the Mexican War I served in the cavalry and was wounded by saber. When the Civil War began I again joined the colors as a captain of cavalry. It was here I got my nickname, “Chance.” There was a rebel battery firing and I took the chance we could over run them before they could reload. Hence the title. I began to serve with Colonel Shackelford in the Cumberland Guard, first as an escort and then on staff. Finding staff duty to my liking, I have transferred my assignment to his brigade.
1st Lieutenant Will Ott. (Wont)
My family came over from the Black Forest region of Germany and settled in the port town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My father worked as a Millwright in the village of Stevens Point.
My family uprooted when I was just a child and moved to the town of Indianapolis, where I took up the trade with my Uncle.
My Uncle, John Ott, who excelled in carved wood work, was contemporary with both the last-named houses, and built en extensive shop on the West Washington Street and a little east of Mississippi Street. I have now heard that my Uncle John has opened and given the great Governor Morton of Indiana the shop for the use as the first arsenal under the command of Ordinance Captain Herman Sturm.
I had moved to Fort Wayne Indiana in the Northeast part of the State and opened my owned Furniture shop. When the war came to be I enlisted under the command of Colonel Bass of the 30th Indiana.
Within a short time I was appointed to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and promoted to be Aid de Camp under outstanding leadership of Colonel Shackelford of the noted “Cumberland Guard.”
Since I “wont” quite or give up hence the nickname.
Captain Ron Wilkins. (Colby)
My name is William Orr. I was born and raised in Muncie,
Indiana, where my father was a successful attorney and a member of the state's
General Assembly.
Following my father's footsteps, I became a lawyer before I was 20. One of my
clients was Sam Williams, a merchant in nearby Selma, Indiana After the mess at
Bull Run in July 1861, Williams and myself worked to build a company. The
recruited from the Delaware County and northern Henry County area. Once
assembled in Selma, the boys voted Williams captain and myself as the company's
second lieutenant, much to my displeasure , I felt I should have been elected
captain.
Nevertheless, the boys, now calling themselves the Selma Legion, set out for
Indianapolis, where we were mustered into the state service as the 19th Indiana,
followed by their acceptance into the service of the federal government. By the
first of August, we were eastbound for Washington, D.C.
Once in the capital, the men were camped on damp ground with poor drainage. It
wasn't long before the men took ill. I became gravely ill in October '61. To
many surprised friends, I recovered.
Along with the history of the 19th Indiana and the Iron Brigade, I served
noteably and turned down a promotion to be commander of another company in the
regiment in favor of staying with the Selma boys.
I was shot through the lungs at Antietam and survived. I was sent home during
October and November to convalesce. It was then I married my hometown
sweetheart.
My health, however, never fully returned to me.
Long story short, I went back to duty in December 1862 and served throughout the
campaigns of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville. At Gettysburg, I was the only
company commander to make it off the field alive or not wounded.
After consolidation in October 1864, I was appointed colonel of the 20th Indiana
cosolidated. I spent the winter of 64-65 in Muncie and did not take the field in
command because of poor health.
I died in 1867. The war, its demand in the men who fought it and my festering
wound claimed this aspiring attorney's health, and eventually, my life.
Andrew Verstraete. (Gofor)
When my Father volunteered to fight, I was too young to join him. I felt obligated to stay with my Mother to help her with my baby bother, Peter and she was expecting Noah. Although I felt a constant pull to go with my Father.
When I turned 13 I thought I was old enough to go and Ryan, my other brother could help Mother, now that the babies were older. Even though Mother tried to hold me back it could not be done, I needed to go. I ran off to find my Father’s unit and turned myself over to the Colonel. "Mayor" has a letter Mother sent with me to present to the commanding officer when I arrived at Ft Wayne.
Me, being too young to carry a rifle, music was the only place I could serve. Having been educated, I have had music training. Piano and other music instruments of social status.
Ms. Vickie Verstraete. (Klassie)
When my husband enlisted at the onset of the war, he left me with two boys, one baby and expecting my 4th. The thought of life without him was devistating. As the war raged on, reports of the living conditions of the soldiers in the camps and the wounded in the hospitals were horrifying. After the baby was older my first born son left to go serve with his father. This shattered my world.
Having no family to leave my children with, I pack them up and went off to find a way to serve so that I can be closer to my Men in order to care for them in the case of them falling wounded somewhere. My father was a career soldier so I grew up an army brat. I wasn’t afraid of the environment.
Having found his regiment I went to the commanding officer and begged for a place I could serve. Taking pity on my situation he hired me on as the cook for the headquarters staff.
Being a lady of upbringing the nickname came from “Mayor” himself.
