The Indy 500 Salute to the American Military

I just got back from what probably is the biggest Memorial Day commemoration, the Indy 500.  This is why there have been no posts since Thursday.

Each year, thousands of fans go to this race, billed "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."  Much of the pre-race ceremonies revolve around the salute to the American military.

All military are honored for their service, as well they should be.

Without them, we wouldn't be enjoying the lives we are living.

Old Secesh Salute to the American Military.  --Old Secesh

William and John Black In the 11th Indiana Under Lew Wallace-- Part 2

From Wikipedia.

The 11th Indiana Infantry Regiment was a three-month unit, enlisting at Indianapolis, Indiana, to serve for 90 days.  Its commander was Colonel Lew Wallace. and George McGinnis was its lieutenant colonel.

It was sent to Western Virginia (now West Virginia) and saw only minimal action on the raid into the town of Romney.  It then returned to Indianapolis where it was mustered out, having served its three months.

It was then reorganized as the 11th Indiana with Wallace and McGinnis again commanding.  This time the service was for three years.

So, William and John Black did serve under Lew Wallace.   It was on their return to Indianapolis that the Black brothers left the unit.  They went back to Danville and organized what became Company K of the 37th Illinois Infantry.

--Old Secesh

New Lincoln Marker in Indianapolis

The March 7th Indianapolis (In) Star reported that three days earlier, the Indiana History Bureau dedicated a new marker outside the Statehouse to commemorate where Lincoln's body rested in the rotunda of the old state capitol on its trip back to Springfield, Illinois.

Some Indiana Connection to the War.

Oliver P. Morton was the war governor of Indiana, and the first Republican one. When the call for volunteers went out in 1861, Indiana exceeded its quota three times. His home is still in Centerville on US-40.

Schuyler Colfax was the Speaker of the US House and a major Lincoln-backer. On April 14, 1865, he called on Lincoln at the White House and was invited to go to Ford's Theater, but declined. Later, he accompanied the funeral train to Indianapolis. His home in South Bend no longer exists.

"Indiana Wants Me, Lord I Can't Go Back There." --B-R'er

Civil War on Road Trip-- Indianapolis

This past weekend, I was on the road with the American Road Magazine Forum and saw the grave of President Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, Indiana's Crown Hill Cemetery.

Already, a successful lawyer, Harrison raised the 70th Indiana regiment for his friend,the governor of Indiana. He turned down its colonelcy claiming that he lacked military experience. Instead, he was commissioned a second lieutenant, but became colonel anyway.

He first saw the elephant at the Battle of Perryville, and was in the Atlanta Campaign, and the Battle of Nashville. He was promoted to brigadier general in March, 1865.

I was amazed at how small the monument was and his grave only has a simple marker.

I also saw the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in downtown Indianapolis. This 284 foot tall monument is some sort of impressive. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The Colonel Eli Lilly Civil War Museum is located at the base. At one time, it was illegal for any building in the city to be taller than it.

A Hoosier Civil War Experience. --Old B-Runner