Lawrence County and the Morgan’s Raiders. 

The Minute Men of Lawrence County served during Morgan’s Raid from July 10 to July 17, 1863. Their mobilization represented one of the most rapid emergency responses in Indiana during the Civil War.

Mobilization and Formation of the 112th Regiment

When news arrived that Confederate General John Hunt Morgan and his cavalry had crossed into Indiana, Governor Oliver P. Morton issued an urgent call for local defense. Lawrence County responded immediately. Within hours, the county helped form the 112th Regiment of Indiana Minute Men, commanded by Colonel Hiram F. Braxtan. This regiment was assembled from men in Lawrence, Monroe, Orange, and Washington Counties.

Movement Toward Seymour and North Vernon

On July 10, 1863, the Minute Men began marching from Mitchell toward Seymour and North Vernon, where they were to join other Union forces. Their mission was to intercept Morgan’s Raiders if the Confederates attempted to move through the region. However, Morgan turned east toward Versailles before reaching Vernon, and his column never advanced as far as North Vernon.

Units Involved

Lawrence County contributed significantly to the emergency force. Six Lawrence County companies entered the 112th Regiment:

• Companies B, D, F, G, H, and K

In addition, three more Lawrence County companies were assigned to the 113th Regiment of Indiana Minute Men:

• Company E – Capt. A. F. Tannehill; 1st Lt. Henry Cox; 2nd Lt. H. F. Pitman

• Company H – Capt. Francis M. Davis; 1st Lt. Samuel Lynn; 2nd Lt. John Dean

• Company I – Capt. Luther Briggs; 1st Lt. George W. Burton; 2nd Lt. Anderson Beasley

These companies were composed largely of farmers, laborers, and merchants who left their daily work to defend their communities.

Spring Mill connection who served as Minute Men during Morgan’s Raid in July 1863:

• Harrison T. Hamer: The son of Thomas Hamer, he joined Company H, 113th Regiment at Mitchell on July 10, 1863. He held the rank of Sergeant and remained in service for eight days during the emergency.

• Samuel Lynn: A member of the prominent Lynn family, whose six sons worked at the Spring Mill village, he served as a First Lieutenant in Company H, 113th Regiment.

Community Support and Home Guard Efforts

The mobilization functioned as a “fire‑brigade” response. While the Minute Men marched out, the remaining residents, men too old to serve, women, and children, formed an informal home guard. Their responsibilities were essential to the county’s survival during the emergency.

One of their most important tasks was caring for the horses left behind by the militia. Horses were the backbone of farming, transportation, and communication. Losing a horse meant losing a family’s livelihood. Because Morgan’s Raiders were known to seize fresh mounts, and Union soldiers sometimes exchanged worn-out horses for better ones, residents hid their animals in:

• wooded hills

• abandoned quarry pits

• sinkholes

• remote back pastures

They also tended the farms of the men who had marched away, ensuring crops, livestock, and daily chores did not fall into neglect.

Although the state offered reimbursement for horses or livestock lost during the raid, payments often took months, or even years, to arrive, if they came at all. To help families endure the disruption, local businesses frequently extended credit until the emergency passed.

Conclusion

The response of Lawrence County during Morgan’s Raid demonstrated the resilience and unity of a rural community under sudden threat. The Minute Men marched to protect the region, while those who remained at home safeguarded the county’s farms, animals, and essential resources. Together, they formed a temporary but effective shield that helped ensure the raiders never reached Lawrence Cou