My wife, Karen, has a great-great grandfather, Major Frank White, who fought with the 15th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Colonel Richard Owen was also with the 15th Indiana, and later was assigned to guard prisoners at Camp Morton in Indianapolis.

In the winter of 1861-62, he guarded at Indianapolis 4,000 prisoners captured at Fort Donelson. In the spring of the following year, he was ordered to Kentucky, and his regiment was taken prisoners of war by General Bragg at Mumfordsville. Three months later, they were exchanged.

Although the regiment was paroled, Colonel Owen was not, nor were his side arms taken. On the contrary, General Buckner went out into the field where the regiment was guarded and personally thanked Colonel Owen for the kindness to the 4,000 Fort Donelson prisoners at Camp Morton.

Colonel Owen later became the founder of both Indiana and Purdue Universities. There are two main tributes to Richard Owen on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington. One of these is Owen Hall, which presently houses the office of the University Chancellor.

If you are standing facing away from the rear of Owen Hall, you will see, nearby, the Tower Entrance to Indiana Memorial Union. Upon opening the door to this entrance, you will see to your right a large indoor statue in memory of Colonel Richard Owen.

The sculptor of the statue is quoted as saying: "It was my aim to portray such a man as he might look while pondering over the meaning of the great struggle in which he was then taking part - his sympathetic heart touched by the suffering it caused, yet realizing its necessity...no work I have ever done gave me as much pleasure as the Owen bust."