Fall 2003 Indiana Legion Newsletter - Sons of Union Veterans of the ...

for captured Confederates who sufferednorthen winters in inadequate shelter, amisery further compounded by limitedrations, promulgated by CommissaryGeneral of Prisoners as a cost-savingmeasure.From 1862 to 1865, the camp wouldreach a peak population of 5,000.During this period there were 1,763deaths and more than 150 escapes—attimes achieved by throwing stones todraw fire and then simply rushing theguards.After the war, despite the privationsthey experienced, former prisonersremembered Camp Morton with somefondness by erecting a statue of its 1862commander, Colonel Richard Owen inthe State Capitol.Over the years the borders of theState Fairgrounds shifted, and the exactColonel Richard Owen, Commander of Camp Morton in1862. Pictured is a replica in the Indiana University MemorialUnion of the original statue in the State Capitol.The sculptor was Belle Kinney (1890-1959). Born thesame year that Owen died, she was commissioned todo the work in 1911 by S. A. Cunningham of Nashville,Tennessee, editor of the Confederate Veteran.Dedicated in 1913 in the presence of many Civil Warveterans of both sides, the sculpture was called “a bondbetween North and South.” — See Elise L. Smith,“Belle Kinney and the Confederate Women’sMonument,” Southern Quarterly 32 (1994) 2-27.location of the original Camp Mortonbecame uncertain. Several years ago,the Brothers of the Ben Harrison Camp,determined to recitify this situationby designing markers, researching theexact boundaries, and raising moneyto manufacture them. A task finallyOn 15 July 2000, Mike Baldwin, chairman of the Camp MortonMarker committee of the Ben Harrison Camp, carefully guides amarker stone onto its pedestal.achieved in the summer of 2000 whenthey were at last installed. In Octoberthe camp will recognize those contributionsin a special ceremony (see insetnotice).REAL MEMORIAL DAYOn Friday, 30 May, members of theBen Harrison Camp gathered atCrown Hill Cemetery to celebrate thereal Memorial Day at the modest graveof Colonel Ivan N. Walker, not far fromthe more elaborate stones of Col. EliLilly and President Benjamin Harrison.Walker served with the 73rd IndianaVolunteers; after the war he was activein state government, and in 1895became Commander-in-Chief of thenational G.A.R.During the ceremony, camp membersheard John A. Logan’s General OrderNo. 11, establishing Memorial Day, anaccount of Colonel Walker’s career, anda reading of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmesfamous Memorial Day Speech, usuallytitled, “In Our Youth Our HeartsWere Touched With Fire.”CHANGE OF MEETING PLACEIn September, the Ben Harrison Camp,after several years at the Indiana WarMemorial, has now changed the timeand place of its meetings. Except forthe special gathering on 5 October, untilfurther notice the camp will muster onthe second Saturday of the month at theSpeedway American Legion Post. Themeeting will commence at 11:15 A.M.and will be followed by lunch. The nextregular meeting will be on 8 November.3The post is located at 1926Georgetown road, three blocksnorth of the Georgetown and16th street intersection.CAMP MEMBER HONOREDCamp members werepleased to learn of theaward granted to one of theirown. In July, Brother Alan T.Nolan was named an “IndianaLiving Legend” by the IndianaState Historical Society, addingto the many honors he hasreceived over a distinguishedcareer as a civil rights attorney,and as a Civil War scholar.His books include The IronBrigade, Lee Considered, Giants in TheirTall Black Hats, Myth of the Lost Causeand Civil War History (all published bythe Indiana University Press), and RallyOnce Again (Madison House Publishers).He was a founder of the IndianapolisCivil War Round Table and has beenawarded the Nevins-Freeman writingprize by the Chicago Civil War RoundTable, the Civil War history lifetimeachievement prize by the MilwaukeeCivil War Round Table and an honorarydoctorate from Indiana University.He is a former president of the IndianaHistorical Society.— David Wiley & Stephen BauerNoticeOn Saturday, 25 October, at 8:00A.M. the Ben Harrison Camp#356 will hold a formal recognitionceremony for all those who workedso diligently on the Camp MortonBoundary Markers. The ceremonywill be held at the Camp MortonShelter (19th and Alabama Streets)rain or shine. The SVR has beenasked to provide a color guard.Parking will be available on thestreet. Following the ceremony themembers will move to the CampMorton Civil War show to be held atthe Indiana State Fairgrounds at thecorner of 38th and Fall Creek.All members and friends of theSUVCW and their guests are invited.