Private John Auten of South Bend was the first soldier from St. Joseph County, Indiana to die during the civil war. He enlisted in the Union army on April 22nd 1861 in company I, 9th Indiana Infantry (3 month regiment.) He was killed at Bealington, Virginia on July 10th, 1861. Auten was later honored with a medal bearing his image, and a road in South Bend, Indiana that bears his last name. Also the South Bend G.A.R. post #8 was named the Auten Post in his honor.
The following stories were found in St. Joe County History Books about John Auten relating about his death and burial.
"West of the Staunton turnpike, and not far from the Rebel works, was an old field, with here and there a clump of blackberries, a group of dead trees, or a pile of logs. On the east was a dense wood, with an undergrowth of laurel. One day field and wood were alive with skirmishers. In the wood the Rebels were comparatively safe, but our soldiers in the field must creep stealthily from log to tree, and from tree to bush, take aim with keen glance and rapid hand. A youth, with delicate face and form and light curling hair, lay behind a log near the road. He had in his hand a revolver, which he had taken from a dead Rebel officer the day before. Restless and impatient, he determined to cross the road and penetrate the dangerous wood. With swift step he put the thought into execution, cleared the road, hid in the thicket. A few minutes, and two shots were fired; then on the evening air rose a scream, so awful that no man who heard it will forget it to his dying day. Mortal agony was in that shrill cry. The skirmishers in the field sprang to their feet, and drew instantly together. The hasty and perilous resolve was made to dash into the wood. In the laurel, a few steps from the road, they found the bleeding, lifeless body of the reckless boy. He was JOHN AUTEN, of the Ninth."
The First Martyr
John Auten, a member of Co. I, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was killed in a scouting expedition the afternoon of July 10, 1861, being the first man from St. Joseph county killed by the enemy. He was a son of Abram Auten, of Portage township, and was in the 22nd year of his age. His energy, patriotism and bravery were evinced in that he was detailed to go with the expedition, but of his own accord joined the scouting party, who were taken from another company. He could not brook the idea of being inactive when there was work to be done, or an enemy to fight. His death was well avenged, and his friends and relatives, in their anguish at his loss, had at least the consolation of knowing that he fell bravely fighting in the sacred cause of his country, "with his feet to the field, and his face to the foe." He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his death was deeply mourned by all the citizens. His body was sent home for interment, and his funeral at South Bend, on Friday, Aug. 2, 1861, was attended by at least 5,000 people, testifying their respect for the deceased, and their sympathy for the nobled cause in which he sacrificed his life. The services were held in the court-house, and an eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached by Rev. J. C. Reed. The coffin was enveloped in the national flag, and was tastily ornamented with evergreen. Upon the top of the coffin were laid the revolvers captured by the deceased from a rebel officer. His body was escorted to the grave by a large number of his brother soldiers, marching with arms reversed and to the sound of military music. Three rounds of eight guns were fired over his grave by the military squad under command of Lieutenant Blowney, and the vast assemblage retired.
The following stories were found in St. Joe County History Books about John Auten relating about his death and burial.
"West of the Staunton turnpike, and not far from the Rebel works, was an old field, with here and there a clump of blackberries, a group of dead trees, or a pile of logs. On the east was a dense wood, with an undergrowth of laurel. One day field and wood were alive with skirmishers. In the wood the Rebels were comparatively safe, but our soldiers in the field must creep stealthily from log to tree, and from tree to bush, take aim with keen glance and rapid hand. A youth, with delicate face and form and light curling hair, lay behind a log near the road. He had in his hand a revolver, which he had taken from a dead Rebel officer the day before. Restless and impatient, he determined to cross the road and penetrate the dangerous wood. With swift step he put the thought into execution, cleared the road, hid in the thicket. A few minutes, and two shots were fired; then on the evening air rose a scream, so awful that no man who heard it will forget it to his dying day. Mortal agony was in that shrill cry. The skirmishers in the field sprang to their feet, and drew instantly together. The hasty and perilous resolve was made to dash into the wood. In the laurel, a few steps from the road, they found the bleeding, lifeless body of the reckless boy. He was JOHN AUTEN, of the Ninth."
The First Martyr
John Auten, a member of Co. I, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was killed in a scouting expedition the afternoon of July 10, 1861, being the first man from St. Joseph county killed by the enemy. He was a son of Abram Auten, of Portage township, and was in the 22nd year of his age. His energy, patriotism and bravery were evinced in that he was detailed to go with the expedition, but of his own accord joined the scouting party, who were taken from another company. He could not brook the idea of being inactive when there was work to be done, or an enemy to fight. His death was well avenged, and his friends and relatives, in their anguish at his loss, had at least the consolation of knowing that he fell bravely fighting in the sacred cause of his country, "with his feet to the field, and his face to the foe." He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his death was deeply mourned by all the citizens. His body was sent home for interment, and his funeral at South Bend, on Friday, Aug. 2, 1861, was attended by at least 5,000 people, testifying their respect for the deceased, and their sympathy for the nobled cause in which he sacrificed his life. The services were held in the court-house, and an eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached by Rev. J. C. Reed. The coffin was enveloped in the national flag, and was tastily ornamented with evergreen. Upon the top of the coffin were laid the revolvers captured by the deceased from a rebel officer. His body was escorted to the grave by a large number of his brother soldiers, marching with arms reversed and to the sound of military music. Three rounds of eight guns were fired over his grave by the military squad under command of Lieutenant Blowney, and the vast assemblage retired.
Private John Auten of South Bend was the first soldier from St. Joseph County, Indiana to die during the civil war. He enlisted in the Union army on April 22nd 1861 in company I, 9th Indiana Infantry (3 month regiment.) He was killed at Bealington, Virginia on July 10th, 1861. Auten was later honored with a medal bearing his image, and a road in South Bend, Indiana that bears his last name. Also the South Bend G.A.R. post #8 was named the Auten Post in his honor.
The following stories were found in St. Joe County History Books about John Auten relating about his death and burial.
"West of the Staunton turnpike, and not far from the Rebel works, was an old field, with here and there a clump of blackberries, a group of dead trees, or a pile of logs. On the east was a dense wood, with an undergrowth of laurel. One day field and wood were alive with skirmishers. In the wood the Rebels were comparatively safe, but our soldiers in the field must creep stealthily from log to tree, and from tree to bush, take aim with keen glance and rapid hand. A youth, with delicate face and form and light curling hair, lay behind a log near the road. He had in his hand a revolver, which he had taken from a dead Rebel officer the day before. Restless and impatient, he determined to cross the road and penetrate the dangerous wood. With swift step he put the thought into execution, cleared the road, hid in the thicket. A few minutes, and two shots were fired; then on the evening air rose a scream, so awful that no man who heard it will forget it to his dying day. Mortal agony was in that shrill cry. The skirmishers in the field sprang to their feet, and drew instantly together. The hasty and perilous resolve was made to dash into the wood. In the laurel, a few steps from the road, they found the bleeding, lifeless body of the reckless boy. He was JOHN AUTEN, of the Ninth."
The First Martyr
John Auten, a member of Co. I, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was killed in a scouting expedition the afternoon of July 10, 1861, being the first man from St. Joseph county killed by the enemy. He was a son of Abram Auten, of Portage township, and was in the 22nd year of his age. His energy, patriotism and bravery were evinced in that he was detailed to go with the expedition, but of his own accord joined the scouting party, who were taken from another company. He could not brook the idea of being inactive when there was work to be done, or an enemy to fight. His death was well avenged, and his friends and relatives, in their anguish at his loss, had at least the consolation of knowing that he fell bravely fighting in the sacred cause of his country, "with his feet to the field, and his face to the foe." He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his death was deeply mourned by all the citizens. His body was sent home for interment, and his funeral at South Bend, on Friday, Aug. 2, 1861, was attended by at least 5,000 people, testifying their respect for the deceased, and their sympathy for the nobled cause in which he sacrificed his life. The services were held in the court-house, and an eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached by Rev. J. C. Reed. The coffin was enveloped in the national flag, and was tastily ornamented with evergreen. Upon the top of the coffin were laid the revolvers captured by the deceased from a rebel officer. His body was escorted to the grave by a large number of his brother soldiers, marching with arms reversed and to the sound of military music. Three rounds of eight guns were fired over his grave by the military squad under command of Lieutenant Blowney, and the vast assemblage retired.
The following stories were found in St. Joe County History Books about John Auten relating about his death and burial.
"West of the Staunton turnpike, and not far from the Rebel works, was an old field, with here and there a clump of blackberries, a group of dead trees, or a pile of logs. On the east was a dense wood, with an undergrowth of laurel. One day field and wood were alive with skirmishers. In the wood the Rebels were comparatively safe, but our soldiers in the field must creep stealthily from log to tree, and from tree to bush, take aim with keen glance and rapid hand. A youth, with delicate face and form and light curling hair, lay behind a log near the road. He had in his hand a revolver, which he had taken from a dead Rebel officer the day before. Restless and impatient, he determined to cross the road and penetrate the dangerous wood. With swift step he put the thought into execution, cleared the road, hid in the thicket. A few minutes, and two shots were fired; then on the evening air rose a scream, so awful that no man who heard it will forget it to his dying day. Mortal agony was in that shrill cry. The skirmishers in the field sprang to their feet, and drew instantly together. The hasty and perilous resolve was made to dash into the wood. In the laurel, a few steps from the road, they found the bleeding, lifeless body of the reckless boy. He was JOHN AUTEN, of the Ninth."
The First Martyr
John Auten, a member of Co. I, Ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was killed in a scouting expedition the afternoon of July 10, 1861, being the first man from St. Joseph county killed by the enemy. He was a son of Abram Auten, of Portage township, and was in the 22nd year of his age. His energy, patriotism and bravery were evinced in that he was detailed to go with the expedition, but of his own accord joined the scouting party, who were taken from another company. He could not brook the idea of being inactive when there was work to be done, or an enemy to fight. His death was well avenged, and his friends and relatives, in their anguish at his loss, had at least the consolation of knowing that he fell bravely fighting in the sacred cause of his country, "with his feet to the field, and his face to the foe." He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his death was deeply mourned by all the citizens. His body was sent home for interment, and his funeral at South Bend, on Friday, Aug. 2, 1861, was attended by at least 5,000 people, testifying their respect for the deceased, and their sympathy for the nobled cause in which he sacrificed his life. The services were held in the court-house, and an eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached by Rev. J. C. Reed. The coffin was enveloped in the national flag, and was tastily ornamented with evergreen. Upon the top of the coffin were laid the revolvers captured by the deceased from a rebel officer. His body was escorted to the grave by a large number of his brother soldiers, marching with arms reversed and to the sound of military music. Three rounds of eight guns were fired over his grave by the military squad under command of Lieutenant Blowney, and the vast assemblage retired.
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