"The Most Righteous War:" The Leadership and Sacrifice of Lt. Col. William Swaim

Talking Hoosier History

Why would an average Hoosier leave his family and friends, his hometown and farm, not to mention comfort and safety, to answer President Lincoln’s call for troops in 1861? What would inspire a citizen soldier to risk making the ultimate sacrifice? The battlefield letters of Ossian (Wells County, Indiana) farmer-turned-Lieutenant-Colonel William Swaim to his beloved wife Hannah address those questions. And the answer may come as a surprise to those who have argued that the average Hoosier soldier did not understand the ideological causes of the Civil War. Learn about Swaim’s leadership of the 34th Regiment Indiana Volunteers (“Morton’s Rifles”), as well as his sacrifice for his moral convictions through the latest episode of Talking Hoosier History. Written by Jill Weiss Simins, voiced by Justin Clark, and produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, shownotes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/.