Veatch History

By Art Dillman

 

The grandson of Nathan Veatch and son of Lucinda Veatch, General James C.
Veatch of Indiana Civil War fame, Lawyer, Statesman, and soldier from
Rockport had to have placed the stones for his Mother and Grandfather right
after the Civil War. General Veatch had been born at Elizabeth on December
19th, 1819, and shortly thereafter his Mother Lucinda died, and was buried
in Little Flock. His Father, Issac Veatch left James in the care of his
Grandfather Nathan while he went back to Kentucky, where he later remarried,
and after living for a time in Floyd Co, removed to Rockport, IN. James
continued to live with his Grandfather until Nathan's death in 1829 when he
went to live in Rockport with his Father Issac. When Issac returned to Floyd
Co, James remained to seek a career as a lawyer in Rockport. At the
beginning of the Civil War General Veatch helped form then commanded the
25th Indiana, followed by command of the 2nd Brigade, 4th Division,
Hulbert's Corps, Grant's Army at the Battle of Shiloh, where they were
credited with saving the army in an area know as the Hornet's Nest. In the
Atlanta campaign, General Veatch commanded the 4th Division, 16th Corps in
the Battle of Resaca, GA. Later, General Veatch accepted the surrender of
Mobile. For some time, General Veatch commanded the Military District of
Louisiana aiding in the re-construction of New Orleans. While Commander at
New Orleans, General Veatch arranged the surrender of the Indians fighting
for the Confederacy in the States of TX, OK, & AR. After the war, General
Veatch was the first post-war Adjutant General of Indiana, and Collector of
Internal Revenue from 1870 to 1883. Many soldiers from Southern Indiana
served faithfully under General Veatch. General Veatch died on 22 December
1895 in Rockport and is buried in Sun Set Hill Cemetery there.