History - Military  History




This is Robert Carlton Milburn, 1 of 20 selectees from Shelby County 
going to Ft. Harrison July 8, 1941 (Tuesday).

Contributed by Bob Gordon

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MEXICAN  WAR

Company H,  Shelby Riflemen.
Company E,  Shelbyville Hards.
Linked with permission from the publisher, Jerry Mounts.

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          War has ever been the way of settling great tribal and national differences, even from the first advent of men on this globe.  With all that advanced thinkers, philosophers, theorists and non-combatants may have to offer against war, thus far no great progress has been achieved among the people of uncivilized and civilized, yes and Christian nations, save by the use of the sword and gun.  That the day may come when all swords shall be beaten into plow shares or pruning hooks, is to be hoped.  The idea of settling difficulties beftween contending forces, states and nations, by means of cool, deliberate arbitration, has come now-a-days to assume a hopeful outlook, and will no doubt, sooner or later, obtain in the minds of the great nations existing on this earth.
          The first of the great conflicts in this country after the organization of Shelby county, was that known in history as the Mexican war, from 1846-48.  Shelby county proved her loyalty in that short but decisive struggle.  Two companies were raised and mustered into United States service for that war from Shelby county.  The first of such companies left for the front in June, 1846.  This was Company H, of the Third Indiana Regiment of Volunteers.  Its officers were  Voorhis Conover, captain;  Samuel McKinsey, first lieutenant;  William Aldridge, second lieutenant, and  Jonathan Keith, third lieutenant.  It was a full company and served one year.  It was in no large engagements, save the battle of Buena Vista.  It returned home in July, 1847.  Another company was at once organized by Lieutenant McKinsey, who was chosen captain.  But little, at this late date, can be learned of the movements of this company, as the war soon ended after they reached Mexico.
          At the date of April 8, 1909, there were at least three Mexican soldiers still surviving and living in Shelby county --- William Elliott, of Shelbyville;  Henry M. Ensley,  of Fairlaind,  and  Benjamin Boon,  of Fairland.  All are over eighty years of age.
History of Shelby County, Indiana,  Edward Chadwick, 1909, page 98.
Copied by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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