Mexican War Veterans of Hancock County - May 2014

 

Battle of Veracruz by Carl Nebel

Since Memorial Day falls within the month of May I thought I would take some time to research some military history. There are countless military stories that can be told and we'll explore those stories in the future. In this addition I decided to take a look at one of the first wars that our founding settlers would have volunteered for.

The Mexican War took place from 1846 to 1848. There were approximately 5000 soldiers who volunteered to serve in the war from Indiana.

The Mexican War was an armed conflict between the United States and the Centralist Republic of Mexico (which reestablished its 1824 federal constitution during the war, becoming the Second Federal Republic of Mexico) from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas, which Mexico considered part of its territory despite the 1836 Texas Revolution.

Combat operations lasted a year and a half, from the spring of 1846 to the fall of 1847. American forces quickly occupied New Mexico and California, then invaded parts of Northeastern Mexico and Northwest Mexico; meanwhile, the Pacific Squadron conducted a blockade, and took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast further south in Baja California. Another American army captured Mexico City, and the war ended in a victory for the United States.

The following is a list of soldiers who volunteered for the war from Hancock County. All of those who volunteered from Hancock County served in the 5th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company D.

 

Bronze Mexican War Veteran's Medal. These medals were also done in gold and silver.

 

Indiana Soldiers
5th Regiment
Indiana Volunteer Infantry
Mexican War
Company D

Source for these records are Indiana in the Mexican War, by Oran Perry, Adjutant General, Indianapolis, 1 Aug 1908. This Company consisted mostly of soldiers from Hancock County, Indiana, called the Hancock B'hoys.

Captain
James R. Brachen
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

1st Lieutenant
Andrew M. Pattison
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

2nd Lieutenants
James Hamilton
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Hugh J. Kelley
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Sergeants
Hawkins Branham
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Micajah Francis
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Henry Ramsey
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Isaac Templin
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Corporals
William Foster
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Lewis I. Osborne
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Robert Waller
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Privates
Joseph Anderson
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Alexander Andis
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Robert P. Andis
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Jared Arnold
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Jackson Baldwin
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 13 Feb 1848.

William Banks
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Nathan Barnes
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 1 Mar 1848.

John Bills
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, discharged 29 Oct 1847.

William Black
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 14 Jul 1848.

Thomas H. Branham
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, left sick.

Joseph Broughhan
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 14 Jan 1848.

Robert H. Caldwell
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Harry Carr
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

James H. Carr
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Noah Carr
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Cicero Chapman
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

John Chapman
Hancock County. Mustered in 15 Jun 1847, at Fort Clark, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Joseph Chapman
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman. He was honorably discharged, at Molino Del Rey, Mexico 23 Feb 1848 by reason of surgeon's certificate of disability. Joseph Chapman was born in Mason County, Kentucky and is 53 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, dark complexion, dark eyes, and by occupation, when enlisted, a farmer. Dated 23 Feb 1848. He was discharged due to his illness and died soon thereafter. He was probably buried in Mexico. His second wife, Matilda, applied for a Widow's Pension/Land Bounty Warrant. Source for this information,
Barbara Pence at the following email address [email protected]

William H. Chapman
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

John Childers
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Sylvester Childers
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 29 Feb 1848.

Jacob Cohn
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Aaron Cook
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 3 Mar 1848.

Alexander Cook
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 21 Feb 1848.

Moses Cook
Hancock County Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

James Corbin
Hancock County. Mustered in 11 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

William Daily
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Alfred Denny
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Miles Ellsberry
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Isaac M. Farril
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Andrew B. J. Flowers
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

John S. Gilmore
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 26 Nov 1847.

Daniel Goodwin
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 4 Jul 1848.

Henry Goodwin
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 24 Feb 1848.

John Green
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, deserted 6 Nov 1847.

James H. Grey
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Templeton Hatfield
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 7 Jan 1848.

Jeremiah Hendin
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

James Huntington
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Burts Jackson
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

George W. Johnston
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Hiram Jones
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

John B. Jones
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 1 Feb 1848.

William Jones
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, discharged 1 Mar 1848.

William C. Jones
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Solomon Kauble
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

James Kinghan
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

John L. Leming
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Samuel Leming
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Richard Lindsey
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Thomas Linebach
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Eli Marsh
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 28 Feb 1848.

Henry Martin
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Thomas Marton
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Hugh McLenon
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, deserted 6 Nov 1847.

William Mitchell
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

James Montgomery
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 15 Jun 1848.

James Parks
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 14 Jul 1848.

Andrew Pauly
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 14 Jan 1848.

Edward Pierson
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

James Reed
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Howard Richardson
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

John Roberts
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Robert Rornock
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Newton Scott
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Jesse Shoate
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

David Siddall
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, died 1 Feb 1848.

Robert Smith
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

George W. Swain
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, discharged 4 Jan 1848.

John Trion
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

William Tuley
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, discharged 23 Feb 1848.

Hiram Tyner
Hancock County. Mustered in 8 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman, mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

This is a star that is placed at a Mexican War veteran's grave.

Another style of plaque that can be found on a veteran's grave.

I'm a huge military history fan and there's and endless amount of military stories that can be told. I look forward to exploring those in the future. So this Memorial Day make sure you take the time to remember those that have served. Take time to think about what the colors and stars on our flag represent and if you see or know of someone who has served in our military make sure to thank them. There are several Memorial Day services that take place in our area, take the time to attend.

 

Greg Roland