Battle of Pogue's Run facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Pogue's Run |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||
 Site of the so-called "battle" in modern-day Indianapolis. |
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The "Battle" of Pogue's Run was a strange event that happened in Indianapolis, Indiana on May 20, 1863, during the American Civil War. It wasn't a real battle with armies fighting. Instead, it was about a political meeting where some people were thought to be carrying weapons.
During a big meeting of the Democratic Party, Union soldiers believed that many attendees had hidden guns. These soldiers entered the meeting hall and found weapons on some people. Later, as people left on trains, soldiers stopped the trains. Many delegates then threw their weapons into a nearby creek called Pogue's Run. This is how the event got its unusual name.
Why it Happened
Indiana's governor at the time was Oliver Morton. He was a Republican. He heard that a group called the Knights of the Golden Circle might be planning trouble during the Democratic State Convention. This group was known for supporting the Southern states during the Civil War.
Governor Morton decided to place Union soldiers at the convention. His goal was to make sure no one caused any problems. He wanted to show the delegates that the government was in charge.
The Convention Day
Around four in the afternoon, a speaker named Thomas A. Hendricks was talking to about 10,000 people at the convention. Suddenly, a small group of soldiers walked into the crowd. They had bayonets on their rifles, which caused a lot of noise and confusion.
The large crowd started to scatter in every direction. People even pushed down a fence trying to get away. Some cavalry (soldiers on horseback) rode by, adding to the chaos. The soldiers who were heading towards the speaker were stopped by Colonel Coburn. He asked them what they were doing. They said they were going after Hendricks because he had said too much. Colonel Coburn convinced them to stop.
Hendricks quickly finished his speech. He suggested that the meeting should end soon. The resolutions discussed at the meeting criticized the Federal government and some Republican actions.
Later that day, some young soldiers walked through the crowd. If they heard anyone speaking against the war, they would grab that person. They would march them down the street with a crowd following. Often, after scaring someone, they would let them go. A number of men were taken to the police station. They were charged with carrying hidden weapons. About 40 pistols were taken from those who were arrested.
Stopping the Trains
On the night of May 20, many Democratic delegates were leaving Indianapolis by train. As trains left, many shots were fired from the cars. This made it seem like some people still intended to cause trouble. Union soldiers decided to act.
When the Indiana Central Railroad train left the station, a gun was placed on the track to stop it. A group of soldiers, led by General Hascall, then approached the train. A policeman and some soldiers asked the passengers to give up all their firearms. Nearly 200 weapons were handed over.
Another train heading to Cincinnati was also stopped. Many revolvers were taken. Others were thrown into Pogue's Run by their owners. Some people had given pistols to women, thinking they wouldn't be searched. One woman was found with seven pistols. A very long knife was found in a stove on one of the cars. In total, about 500 loaded revolvers were taken from people who had attended the meeting.
Union soldiers had followed many delegates from the convention to the trains. They found many hidden handguns. As one train was stopped near Pogue's Run, many Democrats threw their sidearms out the windows into the creek. This is how the event got its sarcastic name, the "Battle" of Pogue's Run. Estimates of how many weapons landed in the creek ranged from 500 to 2,000.
What Happened Next
The local newspaper, the Indianapolis Sentinel, described the events as sad and humiliating. They wrote that Indiana felt like it was under military rule. However, people who supported Governor Morton's actions believed that those who wanted to cause trouble were too afraid to actually rebel.
The name "Battle of Pogue's Run" was given by the Republican Party. They used it to make fun of the event. They praised the soldiers for stopping what they called "traitors to the Union cause." On the other hand, Democrats called the event another attack on people's rights by those who supported Abraham Lincoln and Governor Morton.
