Greene County IN Archives Biographies.....Cavins, E. H. C. 1832 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 11, 2006, 2:54 am Author: Goodspeed (1884) COL. E. H. C. CAVINS, a native of Greene County. Ind., was born in Jackson Township April 16, 1832, and was raised to manhood in Bloomfield, where he acquired his early education. He afterward took a two years' course at Asbury University, then read law with his brother, Aden G., and in 1853 graduated from the Law Department of the State University. He then began the practice of law in Bloomfield, and in 1858 served as a member of the State Legislature. In the spring of 1861, he recruited Company D; was mustered into service as Captain of this company, which went out as a part of the Fourteenth Indiana Volunteers. They were first under McClellan and Rosecrans in West Virginia, but in 1862 were with Gen. Shields in the Shenandoah Valley campaign and the battle of Winchester. They were then transferred to the Army of the Potomac, and became a part of the Second Army Corps, which covered the retreat from the Peninsula and from second Bull Run. In August, 1862, Capt. Cavins was advanced to Major of the Fourteenth, and the fall of this year participated in the battle of Antietam, where he was wounded in the left hand, and shortly after which he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. He commanded his regiment at Fredericksburg, and from the official reports the dead from the Fourteenth laid nearest the enemy's works. Chancellorsville and Gettysburg were the next important battles in which Col. Cavins was engaged, succeeded by Morton's Ford, where he commanded two regiments and where his horse was shot under him. Shortly after this, he returned to Indiana to recruit his regiment, and on reporting for duty at Washington was assigned command of a provisional brigade, detached from the Army of the Potomac, of which he continued in command during the remainder of his term of service, which culminated in the battle of Cold Harbor. In 1864, he was commissioned Colonel, and June 20, 1S64, received his final discharge. He was then made Adjutant General for the Southern Division of the State, under Gen. Hughes, and served as such during the remainder of the war. During the rebellion, Col. Gavins participated in over fifty pitched battles and skirmishes. Since then, he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Bloomfield, where he has attained a prominent position at the bar of Greene County. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, a Republican, and a Royal Arch Mason. To his marriage with Miss Ann M. Downing, solemnized October 23, 1855, four children have been born—Samuel R., Carrie Belle, Ida L. and Susie F. The mother was born in March, 1836, in Greene County, and is a daughter of the old pioneer, Alexander Downing. Additional Comments: Richland Township Biographies Extracted from: HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC. ILLUSTRATED. CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1884. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/greene/bios/cavins403nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb