TERRE HAUTE —
Never during the Civil War was there a time when the City of Terre Haute was in danger of hosting an armed conflict involving one or more armies.
During the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, such a threat existed.
Often referred to as the first organized strike in U.S. history, the 1877 strike — which lasted less than two months — threatened to stimulate bloody encounters between striking railroad employees and various militia in several states.
On April 10, 1877, a military company named the “Terre Haute Light Guards” was organized. The articles of incorporation were filed with Vigo County Recorder Chauncey R. Pritchard.
The object of the apolitical organization was to acquaint members with military tactics and procedure as well as providing social benefits. At the time private military groups such as the Light Guards could acquire firearms from the government upon positing adequate bond and committing to return the weapons when they dissolved.
Though such groups were not subject to the beck and call of governors, Terre Haute Light Guards offered its services to Indiana Gov. James Douglas “Blue Jeans” Williams when strikers in Indianapolis attempted to block all rail traffic during late July.
Until that time, the Light Guards were regarded locally as an “ornamental group.”
Though Gov. Williams refused to call out the state militia, he accepted the Light Guards’ offer and directed it to guard the Terre Haute armory day and night.
There were justifiable concerns. Strikers in West Virginia, Maryland. Pennsylvania, Illinois and Missouri provoked bloody confrontations with state militias. Pittsburgh was the site of considerable violence. Union Depot in that city was destroyed and 40 men were killed there. Downtown Philadelphia was set afire, inducing President Rutherford Hayes to dispatch federal troops.
In Chicago, offices of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad were shut down and other railroads were brought to a standstill. Nearly 40 strikers in Chicago, St. Louis and East St. Louis were killed before the violence ended. For about ten days, railroad traffic in Terre Haute was under siege and the offices of six railroads which made the city their headquarters were affected. The unions did not interfere with the mail but Hulman & Fairbanks distillery was affected immediately.
U.S. Sen. Daniel W. Voorhees contended he had “urgent business” in Indianapolis and offered to ride in the mail coach, but he was denied by the strikers.
The local chapter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers formed a committee, which met each morning at the Vandalia Shops at Tenth and Chestnut streets, to appoint evening speakers supporting the strikers at Courthouse Square.
Eugene V. Debs, co-founder of the local chapter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, was not visible during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 was the principal military event in the short but colorful history of Terre Haute Light Guards. The group was mustered into the Indiana Legion on Sept. 5, 1878, and continued to meet for three more years. Memories of camaraderie continued to flourish as the membership gathered each Friday night.
Among the highlights was a visit from Gen. Lew Wallace, who presented the company with “The Dead Line,” one of Wallace’s oil paintings. The gift was subject to the condition that, if the company disbanded, the painting would be given to the Indianapolis Armory.
On another occasion the Light Guards met Col. Richard W. Thompson at Union Station when he returned to Terre Haute from Washington, D.C., after serving more than three years as Secretary of the Navy under President Hayes.
The Governor’s Guard of Terre Haute, a rival company, was formed in 1878 by William P. Hoctor, a local plumber and steamfitter and a Civil War vet from New York.
In August 1878, in anticipation of losing its identity, the Light Guards held an encampment at the Vigo County Fairgrounds, then located at Brown and Wabash avenues. Floral Hall was converted into barracks.
The Light Guards were mustered out of the Indiana Legion in September 1881 but, periodically, reconvened for celebrations.
The most spectacular observance occurred on June 23, 1888, at More Park, the country retreat on Fruitridge Avenue, near College Avenue, owned by Benjamin Guille Cox.
Before the acreage was acquired by Cox, it was owned by Joseph Gilbert, who named the estate Lake Fluvanna after the body of water on the property. Cox named 128-acre farm to honor his mother, Laura Elizabeth More, and her family. His maternal grandmother owned a country estate in Wales.
The farm was too inaccessible to be a regular weekend retreat so Cox eventually converted the farm into Indiana’s model sanitary dairy, acquiring elite breeds of milk cows and the finest milking appliances. He then introduced bottle milk delivery.
But, on June 23, the Light Guards were feted by more than 100 special guests, including poet James Whitcomb Riley, Eugene V. Debs and the Magnolia Quartette, a talented African-American singing group from Indianapolis consisting of Silas Fisher, baritone; Thomas Pittman, soprano; Paul Floyd, tenor; and Charles Poole, bass.
George Hebb created programs made from birchbark. The invitations were in the shape of tents. Chinese lanterns hung from the trees.
Terre Haute attorney and official Light Guards historian Frank C. Danaldson was the toastmaster. Soon to be elected the mayor of Terre Haute (1889-1891), Danaldson was considered among the best speakers in Indiana and was a huge success. The Light Guards frequently were associated with theatrical entertainments. Dr. John Ross Hager, Ed Sage, Horace M. Smith, Martin Diall, Will Mongan, Harry Buntin, Frank Hurty and John Paul Jones, Sen. Voorhees’ nephew, were prominent performers.
The Terre Haute Light Guards last banquet was held April 10, 1890, at the Terre Haute House. William P. Ijams was the toastmaster and John W. Davis gave the president’s address. Danaldson, Edwin O’Boyle and John L. Patterson also gave presentations.
History
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Light Guards savor military and social experiences
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