Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 January 1910 — "THE GRAY EAGLE" [ARTICLE]

"THE GRAY EAGLE"

Maj. Gen. Robert H. Milroy.

There are not many with us now, who lived in Rensselaer in the early ’6os, but they vividly remember being startled from their bedstone dark morning, by the violent beating of a drum. Their hearts told them it meant war, and instantly they knew it was the vigorous arm of their patriotic neigbbor, Judge Milroy, beating out the message: "Lose not a moment! The President needs troops!” The next generation may dimly recall the grizzled warrior with piercing eagle eyes under beetling brows, living on the triangle now knQwn as Milroy Park, bat have a better recollection of the old, gray, battle-scarred war horse, Jasper, presented to him by the county, and his mount throughout the entire war; But to those of the present generation, Milroy Is but a name, and it is for their benefit that this brief biography has beeflTpfspared, In the hope that they may be stirred .to Interest in the project of erecting, on the site of his old home, a beautiful and artistic memorial in honor of this famous hero, who was also a citizen of the most scrupulous uprightness, a man of the most valiant spirit, courageous heart, noble and patriotic soul. Robert Huston Milroy was born In Washington county, Indiana, June 11, 1816.; Unable in his youth to secure a college education, he entered, at the age of 24, while visiting in Pennsylvania, the military school at Norwich, Connecticut, and in three years took three degrees —Master of Arts, Master of Military Science, and Master of Civil Engineering. After this, he taught fencing for a few months, went back to Indiana, drifted to Texas, returned to Indiana, and studied law, being admitted to the bar in 1849, and taking a post graduate course at Bloomington in 1850. When the war broke out with Mexico, - he was the first to enlist, and became a captain in the First Indiana Regiment. When its term expired, he made many efforts to get the government to receive his company as an independent organization, but failed. So this man of war had to return to civil life, and in 1850 he was chosen to sit in that important body of 150 men who revised the constitution, and the same year was appointed Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit. It was while he held this position that he removed from Delphi to Rensselaer—about 1854. Milroy was .In Indianapolis when the news of Fort Sumter reached Governor Morton, and he traveled all night to get home. The moment he arrived, he called for volunteers, and a full company at once responded, who chose for officers: Robert H. Milroy, captain; Edwin P. Hammond, first lieutenant; Gideon C. Moody, second lieutenant They hastened to report to Governor Morton, and became Company G in the Ninth Regiment, of which Capt. Milroy became Colonel, April 25,1861. The Ninth was the first regiment to leave the state, and served in the West Virginia campaign, under McClellan and Morris, where Milroy and his gallant Ninth won a name for being ever ready for a duty or a fight. When the three months’ enlistment was up, the Ninth promptly re-enlisted for three years, the Jasper county company retaining its original position, but having Joshua Healey for captain. In September, 1861, for meritorious service, Milroy was made Brigadier General, and again assigned to duty in West Virginia. It was in the Cheat Mountain Country, that, mounted on Jasper, he won the title of the Gray Eagle of the Army. Then it was that, owing to his severe but efficacious orders In putting down the Mountain Rangers, or guerrillas, the Confederate Congress offered a reward of 3100,060 for Milroy, dead or alive. In November, 1862, he was made Major General of Volunteers, and was in command at Winchester, in ’63, when Lee’s massed forces started to invade Pennsylvania. Ordered to evacuate the place, Milroy’s stubborn courage replied that he was able to hold it against any force the enemy might bring. His orders were not repeated, and he barred the way for three days, then, ammunition exhausted, threatened with starvation, he cut his way out by night, hut with heavy loss. This detention of the enemy most probably enabled Meade to win at Gettysburg. In 1864 he won a merited consolation for this disaster, in a sally from Murfreesboro, in which be sharply defeated Bates’ infantry. His conduct at Winchester was made the subject *of investigation, and, although exonerated, he resigned from, the army in 1865. After the war he served in many positions of trust and responsibility, being a trustee of the Wabash and Erie canal, Superintendent of Indiana affairs, and Indiana agent with headquarters in Olympia, Washington, where surrounded by friends who loved, honored and revered him, he died March 29. 1890, and was buried with military honors.