John C. Hollingsbeck was the first Indiana Soldier murdered in the Civil War. On June, 27th 1861, he and twelve other members of the 11th Indiana Infantry set out to scout the enemy and report on their wereabouts. They had two skirmishes with confederate cavalry. Hollingsbeck was wounded in the second skirmish, and was left on the field by his comrades who were forced to retreat. Later that night the Confederates returned to the scene of the fight and found Hollingsbeck. He was forced to cross a river under his own power and mounted on a horse. The next day he was taken to a nearby farmhouse. A Union relief column had been sent to find Hollingsbeck. The Confederates, not willing to get in a fight, tried to mount the wounded soldier on a horse, but he soon passed out and fell off. Fearing capture, and not wanting the Hoosier to get back into Union hands they bayoneted him and left him for dead. When the relief column arived Hollingsbeck's body was still warm, but he was dead. He was brought back to camp, in Cumberland, Maryland, and buried with full military honors. Unfortunately the name of the Cemetery wasn't recorded. It is also speculated that Hollingsbeck's body was recovered and brought back to Indiana, but no proof has been found to support this theory.
John C. Hollingsbeck was the first Indiana Soldier murdered in the Civil War. On June, 27th 1861, he and twelve other members of the 11th Indiana Infantry set out to scout the enemy and report on their wereabouts. They had two skirmishes with confederate cavalry. Hollingsbeck was wounded in the second skirmish, and was left on the field by his comrades who were forced to retreat. Later that night the Confederates returned to the scene of the fight and found Hollingsbeck. He was forced to cross a river under his own power and mounted on a horse. The next day he was taken to a nearby farmhouse. A Union relief column had been sent to find Hollingsbeck. The Confederates, not willing to get in a fight, tried to mount the wounded soldier on a horse, but he soon passed out and fell off. Fearing capture, and not wanting the Hoosier to get back into Union hands they bayoneted him and left him for dead. When the relief column arived Hollingsbeck's body was still warm, but he was dead. He was brought back to camp, in Cumberland, Maryland, and buried with full military honors. Unfortunately the name of the Cemetery wasn't recorded. It is also speculated that Hollingsbeck's body was recovered and brought back to Indiana, but no proof has been found to support this theory.
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