===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: INFLOYD-L@rootsweb.com From: "Sue P. Carpenter" <spcarpenter@ka.net> Subject: The Spencer Greys from the Public Press 14 Dec 1881 Part 3 Joseph Lane was the first Colonel of the Second Indiana Regiment, but being appointed by president Polk, Brigadier General, an election was held while the regiment was camped near this city and Capt. Sanderson was fairly elected, but through the chicanery of certain parties, the votes of the Evansville Rifles were destroyed and the election declared void. The regiment was under command of Lieut. Col. James R. Haddon and Major James A. Cravens until it arrived at Brazos Santiago, where Wm. A. Bowles was elected colonel. We were transported from New Albany to New Orleans on the good steamer Uncle Sam, Captain Charles Van Dusen, who is long since dead. Not withstanding the vicissitudes of a soldier's life then and there begun - for many had left homes of comfort, and tables of luxuries, to sleep upon the hard deck of the steamer and eat off a tin platter fried "sow belly and hard tack", we had a jolly crown. On steamer Uncle Sam was organized the string band that enlivened many an hour either at the camp fire or in the "stag" dance. At New Orleans we encamped for two days, on the battle ground where Gen. Jackson closed the war of 1812, by his signal victory over Packenham; then on the ship Gov. Davis embarked upon the water once more; crossed the gulf of Mexico, and landed at Brazos Santiago, near the mouth of the Rio Grand River. Then it was that Dr. Bowles, a man without one particle of military knowledge, was elected colonel. A greater misfortune could not have befallen us. to be continued . . . Posted by Sue P. Carpenter 2005, all rights reserved