USA > Illinois > Will County > Fifteen years ago; or, The patriotism of Will County, designed to preserve the names and memory of Will County soldiers, both officers and privates - both living and dead: to tell something of what they did, and of what they suffered, in the great struggle to preserve our nationality > Part 2
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N 1832, SOUTH CAROLINA undertook to nullify the execu- tion of the laws of the United States within her borders. Fortunately for the country, at that time, a man and a hero occupied the executive chair, and so prompt and energetic was his action, that SOUTH CAROLINA concluded to postpone the task she had undertaken to a more convenient season.
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In December 1860, SOUTH CAROLINA, by a solemn act of her convention, dissolved her connection with the United States, and declared herself an independent and sovereign state. From words she soon proceeded to acts of treason and defiance of federal authority. Her opportunity had come, for now a weak and tim- erous old man sat in the executive chair, who never dared to lift a finger for the preservation of the Union, or the maintainance of the Federal rights, but sat in stupid imbecility, while members of his own cabinet, senators and representatives, were plotting trea- son and inaugurating measures which should render helpless, not only himself, but his successor; and while one after another, traitors took possession of federal forts, arsenals, mints, custom houses, and munitions of war.
Those were dark and gloomy days, when every patriot heart was sad. How well we remember them ! The country seemed for the time almost paralyzed by the blow of treason. But not for long. And yet, how little did we realize what was to follow through the long years of the rebellion !
All over the Northern States public mectings were held to con- sider the crisis, and to make an expression of public sentiment, so emphatic that it should reach the executive ear, and strengthen the executive spinal column, and induce action suited to the exigency.
On January 30th, 1861, a public meeting, irrespective of party, was held at the court house in Joliet, at which H. N. Marsh, Esq., was chosen chairman, The meeting was addressed by W. C. Goodhue, W. T. Jones, T. Q. Hildebrant, Jesse O. Norton, J. E. Streeter, and others, and resolutions were passed in favor of the preservation of the Union, and the enforcement of the laws. But, although this was the "Banner City," and although many of those who took part in the meeting were the political friends of the executive, and had helped to place him in the presidential chair, the meeting did not seem to have the least effect upon the weak old man. All its eloquence and enthusiasm seemed to be wasted. Indeed I think it quite probable that he never heard of it-let us charitably believe so-certainly he did not enforce the laws any better, but let the ship of state drift, drift on, toward the fatal rocks of disunion, until the fourth of March, when he stepped down from the helm he had held with so feeble a grasp, and
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handed over to his successor the ship of state, with nearly half her crew in mutiny.
What a sabbath was April 14th, 1861! when we received the startling news that Fort Sumter had surrendered to traitors, and that the hateful Palmetto flag-the emblem of treason and oppres- sion-had displaced the stars and stripes, and now floated over its ruins ! Never were the words of Webster: " there are no sabbaths in revolutionary times," so well illustrated. People on their way to church, hearing the news, forgot their errand and the day, and gathered at the street corners, and discussed the situation. Minis- ters preached to dull ears, and scantily filled pews, except such as had the tact to throw aside their preparations, and seize upon the theme of the hour. One of our citizens, a retired clergyman, on hearing the news, took down his rusty rifle, cleaned it up, mould- ed a lot of bullets, and then went down the river a mile or so, and refreshed his practice in gunnery by shooting at a mark. Having satisfied himself that he had not lost his skill, he marched back in line of battle, with his gun loaded and capped, ready for the com- bat! After which he retired upon his laurels !
The news reached the quiet village of Plainfield about noon. McAllister's old gun was at once taken to the common, and vigor- ously fired. The bells were rung, the Congregational Church was thrown open to the people, and the re-organization of the bat- tery on a war basis, was at once commenced, and, as we shall see by and by was soon on its way to Cairo.
On Wednesday succeeding (April 17th), on receipt of the call of the President for 75,000 men to "suppress the combinations which had been made against the laws of the United States," a meeting was held at the court house, Mayor Bowen in the chair. The meeting was called for the purpose of expressing public opinion, and for taking preliminary steps toward forming a company to de- fend the stars and stripes. The court house was filled to over- flowing. A committee was appointed to draft resolutions, and the meeting was addressed in stirring speeches by Snapp, Bowen Streeter, Breckenridge, and others. But it was felt that the crisis called for something more than words. A paper pledging those who signed it to enlistment in defense of the government was drawn up, and an opportunity was given to any who were willing to do 3
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so, to sign. A young lawyer of the name of FREDERICK A. BAR- TLESON, sprang to his feet, and after a brief and eloquent speech, walked up to the table, with the remark that he would ask no one to do what he was not willing to do himself, signed his name as the first volunteer in our city and county. This act was received with cheers long and loud. We heard something more of this young lawyer during the next three or four years, and we shall have something more to say of him elsewhere. Others followed his example the same night to the number of twenty-seven. The meeting then adjourned until Friday of the same week. Meanwhile, the ground having been taken by many citizens of the state, (the same ground taken by James Buchanan) that the general govern- ment had no power to coerce a state, an informal meeting had been called of the Supreme Court of Illinois, to give an advisory opinion on the question, and a committee had been appointed at a meeting of our democratic citizens to go to Springfield, and hear and report their opinion. This committee, of which T. Q. Hildebrant was a prominent member, returned from their mission on Friday night, and were met at the St. Louis Depot, and escorted to the court house. Hildebrant, having got to the rostrum by being passed over the heads of the crowd, reported the decision of the court to be "that the government clearly had the right, inasmuch as such a right was essential to its own existence." The announcement was received with loud demonstrations of satisfaction, and was hailed by all parties as removing all doubts as to the duty of the hour. The usual amount of patriotic speeches were made, and patriotic songs were sung, and a committee of six, viz: Alex. McIntosh, A. McNerney, T. Hatton, F. Mack, J. Kelly and Wm. Adam, was appointed to raise funds for the benefit of the families of the vol- unteers. Also a committee, consisting of R. E. Goodell, Judge McRoberts, and C. E. Munger, to procure uniforms and outfit.
A resolution was also passed calling upon the county clerk to issue a call for a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors. At the close of this meeting the roll of the company which had been headed by Bartleson was filled. It took the name of "Union Greys," although from its leader and subsequent captain, it was familiarly known as Bartleson's Company. At this meeting, also, T. Q. Hilde- brant, Esq., a well-known lawyer, and politically a Douglas demo-
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crat, announced that he should open an enlistment roll the next morning at the court house. Wm. Erwin, who had served in the Mexican war, having also taken some steps for the enlistment of a company of volunteers-the two, Erwin and Hildebrant, joined their efforts, and in three days the roll was nearly full.
Public meetings were now held almost every evening, our city and county doing its full share in " the great uprising " which characterized the time. Nothing was talked of or thought of but war, although as yet the government had not waked up to a full appreciation of the crisis, and secretary Seward still talked of set- tling the matter "in sixty days." In pursuance of the recom- mendation of the meeting of the 19th, the clerk issued a call for a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors on the 30th of April. By April 27th sufficient names had been enrolled to form two companies; one had selected F. A. Bartleson as captain, and the other William Erwin. T. Q. Hildebrant cordially united in the choice of Erwin for captain, and was himself chosen 1st lieutenant. Soon afterwards, however, as will be seen, he became captain, and the company was known as Hildebrant's. These companies after- wards became B and F, of the 20th Regt. of Illinois Infantry.
Meetings were meantime being held in all the towns and ham- lets of the county, and recruits forwarded to Joliet, and the city began to assume quite a warlike appearance. The spirit-stirring drum and fife were heard at all hours, and there was (with few exceptions) scarcely a man that was not willing that his neighbor should enlist.
The state authorities were fully alive to the situation. On April 19th, Governor Yates ordered Brigadier General Swift to hold Cairo, and such was the importance of this point that trains loaded with impromptu soldiers and with subsistence were quickly on their way from Chicago, and by the 22d six organized compa- nies of infantry and four batteries of artillery arrived at that point, and its possession was secured ..
Among the first to fly to the defense of Cairo were McAllister's Battery, of Plainfield, and Capt. Hawley's, of Lockport. These companies had been organized some years before as amateur com- panies, and were now quickly available in the emergency.
Captain Hawley's company placed the first gun in position for
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the defense of Cairo. The Plainfield company was stationed for a few days at the bridge over the Big Muddy, and on arriving at Cairo was mustered into the three months' service as Co. K, and part of Co. I, of the 10th Regt. of Ill. Infantry. The Lockport company was never mustered into service of the United States, and only acted as state militia, and although never engaged in actual warfare, it, with others, rendered important service at this critical juncture.
Cairo was a point of vast importance, and no wiser or more important step was taken during the whole war than the timely occupancy of this point. It saved the southern part of our state from rebel invasion, if not from joining the rebellion. And it was not taken an hour too soon, The sympathies of many in that part of the state were strongly with the rebels. Indeed a regi- ment which was afterwards organized at Anna, the 109th, was- disarmed and discharged (except Co. K,) by order of Gen. Grant, on account of its sympathy with the rebellion.
This occupancy of Cairo, however, gave great offense to the neutral state of Kentucky and its august Governor. The con- gressman also from the adjacent district in Kentucky took the matter in high dudgeon, and wrote President Lincoln a letter pro- testing against the step ! To this Lincoln dryly replied, that if he had known that Cairo was in the gentleman's district, he would not have done it !
On Tuesday, April 23d, the legislature of our state convened in extra session, and a bill was passed for the organization of ten regiments, one from each of the nine congressional districts, and one to be composed of volunteers already assembled at Springfield, and an appropriation of $300,000 was made for war purposes. The war department had, on the same day that the president issued his proclamation for 75,000 militia, called upon this state for six regiments of infantry, and these were speedily raised, and were known as the three months' men-numbered 7 to 12 inclusive.
Meanwhile our women were not idle. Foreseeing that there would be work for them to do, they early organized soldiers' aid societies, for the purpose of supplying sanitary and hospital stores and appliances, and for looking after the wants of those families whose husbands and brothers should enlist. And here let me say,
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that from the first, and all along through the dreary years of the war, our women, in common with those of all parts of the north, were unwearied in their labors and self-denying sacrifices to add to the health and comfort of the soldier on the field and in the hospi- tal. No roster preserves the names of those who, as officers or privates, formed "THE GRAND ARMY AT HOME," and who gave their time, money, labors and prayers to this holy cause. No his- toric page emblazons their names or tells the story of their suffer- ings and trials, of their labors and achievements in behalf of the country and its absent defenders. Some, indeed, enlisted as nurses, and braved all the toil and discomforts of the hospital; and many a wounded and sick soldier has blessed the soft hand that wiped the death-damp from his brow, and gave him the cooling drink, or wrote for him the letter which told his friends at home of his situation. But more plied the needle and the sewing machine, or preserved the fruits and jellies, and other comforts for the sick and wounded, collected money and encouraged their sons and brothers to enlist. Some made good the places of their husbands and sons in the store or office, or on the farm. When husband or son hesi- tated to go because there would be no one to carry on the farm and provide for the family, many a woman has said
" Go !- take your gun and go, John, Yes, take your gun and go- Ruth can drive the oxen, John, And I can wield the hoe !"
Their influence in stimulating the stronger sex to enlistments and patriotic sacrifices cannot be overrated. Instinctively they saw the justice of our cause, and were troubled by no constitu- tional scruples as to the duty of the north to uphold the Union at any cost. And having sent forth their husbands and sons into the ranks they determined that they should not be left altogether to the tender mercies of army regulations and governmental resources, but were the first to suggest, and the most active in maintaining the sanitary and christian commissions, and organizing and conducting fairs. These agencies, so valuable to the cause, soon had their recruiting offices in every town and hamlet of our county. In all the thousand ways in which they so well and so quickly learned how to serve the cause, did the women of Will
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county do their part, all unheralded and unknown. But they have left their record deep written in many a soldier's heart, and verily they shall not lose their reward. And how many of this " grand army at home," in the course of the four years that followed, were doomed to receive wounds more cruel even than those which their sons, husbands and brothers received upon the field of battle- wounds which even now, after the lapse of fifteen years, are not healed ; or, if healed, have left the most frightful scars !
The clergy of the city and county were not idle. So far as I know, without an exception, all our pulpits were outspoken for the Union and the suppression of the rebellion. Four, at least, from our county entered the service as chaplains during the course of the war, and in the army were untiring in their efforts for the temporal and spiritual welfare of the volunteers.
The Board of Supervisors met on the call of the clerk April 30th, and appropriated $5,000 for the families of volunteers, and to defray the expenses of enlistment.
On the first day of May, Judge Douglas passed through this city on his way to Chicago, and from the rear platform of the train addressed the thousands which had assembled to greet him, He had, on invitation, addressed the assembled legislature of the state, on the 25th of April, upon the crisis, and in no doubtful language had given his views as to the duty of all patriots to uphold the government in the exigency, and to sink all political and party dif- ferences ; and now he repeated the same sentiments to the assembled crowd in Joliet. Fifteen days before, the telegraph had flashed from Washington these noble words: "Without having been consulted, or endorsing any particular measure, I am for my coun- try, and against all assailants." His speech in Joliet was thoroughly patriotic. He advised his party friends, supporters and admirers, of whom there were many in this city-probably a majority-to rally to the support of the administration, and to forget all minor, all party considerations, until the authority of the government and the laws were fully re-established. This was the last time the voice of Judge Douglas was heard in Joliet, for, after making one more speech in Chicago, of like significance, in the " old wig- wam," where his successful competitor for the presidency had been
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nominated, he betook himself sick and exhausted to his bed, from which he never rose again !
It would be impossible to overrate the influence and the import- ance of these last utterances of this gifted statesman of Illinois. Even in the minds of those who had been his bitter political enemies, they obliterated the memory of those acts and sayings for which, hitherto, they had not been stinted in their censure.
A camp was established, under the direction of the state authori- ties, on the old fair grounds, on the well-known Stevens' place, a beautiful and appropriate location, having on it fine, shady oak openings, an abundant spring of pure water, and buildings already erected sufficient for headquarters and offices. To these, company barracks were quickly added, and the camp received the name of " Camp Goodell," after a well-known, active and patriotic citizen.
To this camp the two companies which had been organized in Joliet, and the others which were by this time arriving from other counties in the district, were sent, and by Saturday evening of May 11th, a full regiment of men, which afterward came to be known as the 20th regiment of Illinois Infantry, of which something more was heard afterwards, and of which more will be related in its proper place, was in camp ; and the spot which had heretofore been appropriated to the uses of agriculture, and the arts of peace, was now alive with the din and clash of warlike preparation. Men were now reversing the prophetic' scripture, and turning their scythes into swords and their pruning-hooks into bayonets.
All the towns in the county were now alive with excitement and were engaged in encouraging enlistments and in raising funds for the aid societies.
Especially in Joliet the excitement was intense. It was almost impossible to resist the impulse to enlist. One young man from the town of Reed, happening to be in the city, was so carried away with the enthusiasm that, without waiting to consult with his widowed mother, he enrolled his name among the defenders of the country. Instead of meeting the rebuke which he feared, he received from her the following God-speed :
"MY DEAR SON: I have been informed that you have enlisted in defense of our country. It does seem as though I could not let
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you go without seeing you again. But I feel that you are in a good cause. Do honor to yourself and your country, and do not turn your back upon the bullets, and may God bless and keep you."
A boy with such a mother, we may well believe, made a good soldier. And how many such mothers there were all over the land, who, all unknown, gave proof of heroism not inferior to that which their sons displayed upon the field of battle. For, when a mother sends forth her son to the hazards of war, she perils a life far dearer than her own.
On the 6th of May thirteen recruits came in for Capt. Erwin's company, from the town of Frankfort. One more had agreed to come, but failed to do so ; not, however, because he became cow- ardly or faint-hearted, but purely for conscientious reasons, as his letter, written to Mrs. Holden, one of the active women of the time in that burgh, will abundantly show. I give it, not only in justice to the individual himself, but to show that we who stayed at home might be, and in many instances were, as conscientious and patriotic as those who enlisted. Here is the letter verbatim et literatim et punctuatim :
" My dear friend I sined my name Down to gow with you to enlist but Mrs. Holden there is something like a hundred and they only wanted sixty-nine but there was danger of me becos I was a large man that stroke my mind aud for me to gow and crowd out others I theught that was not rite sow I prayed to my God three times for him to give mee wisdom and for him to direct my mind what to do and god gave me wisdom that it was not for me to gow and crowd others so may god speed you I prayed in sincerity and god answer my prayer sow good-bye."
Ah ! who cau tell what struggles it may have cost the writer of this letter to give up his dreams of glory, and his ambition to serve his country, "becos he was a large man and might crowd out others !" But such abnegation was not rare in those days! Many of us were altogether too large to go into the ranks, and were only fit for colonels or generals, and therefore were compelled to stay at home. But we have no chronicler, and the world will never know what struggles it cost us.
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Companies having now arrived from eight other counties in the district, one each from Kendall, Livingston, McLean, Putnam, Kankakee, Iroquois, Champaign and Dewitt, a regiment was organ- ized of these, and the two companies from Will, and was, as I have already said, known as the 20th Regiment of Ill. Infantry. A full roster of the officers and muster roll of the men, from this county, will be found elsewhere, and a condensed history of its campaigns and battles. As we shall see, it soon became known as the "fighting regiment," and the "glorious 20th," names richly earned on many a battle-field. I will state here, that during the course of its history, our county was represented in the 20th regi- ment by 24 commissioned officers and 314 enlisted men ; a num- ber which justifies us in giving the history of the regiment as part of the war record of Will county.
The excitement continued after it was understood that the 20th regiment was full. It was felt that other calls would follow, and that other sacrifices must be made, before we should be through with the war. Business was a secondary consideration, and to aid in furthering preparation for the conflict which had been forced upon the country, was the grand object in which (as a general rule) all men and women, of all parties and creeds, heartily united. A'large share of those who enlisted at this time, and subsequently, had been the political opponents of the administration. Captains Erwin and Hildebrant had been captains of companies of the " Ever Readys " in the then late presidential campaign ; but now they threw aside party badges for the stars and stripes, and enlisted to serve under that commander whose election they had so lately opposed. The democrats of Joliet took down the hickory pole which had stood through the political campaign on the public square, gay with streamers and flags emblazoned with party watch- words and devices, and erected it in Camp Goodell, and run up the stars and stripes. The school houses, hotels, printing offices, shops and private houses everywhere, with few exceptions, displayed the patriotic bunting.
I am not sure that those who had been political opponents of the administration hitherto, and did not even now endorse all its measures, are not entitled to greater credit, in thus throwing aside 4
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their prejudices and joining heartily in sustaining the administra- tion, than those who had been all along its political supporters.
On the 15th of May, the regimental election was held at Camp Goodell. In this election our city took a deep interest. It was the expectation of our companies, and of our citizens, that our own citizen and soldier, Erwin, would be chosen Colonel. He had served with honor in the Mexican war, and had assisted in organ- izing and drilling the men, and none had higher claims to the office. Will county, also, had furnished two full companies, and might fairly claim the honor. But there was considerable compe- tition for the office. Among others, it was said at the time, that our (then) representative in congress was willing to serve the dis- trict in war, as he had in peace. But the successful competitor was C. C. Marsh, who had assisted in the organization of the camp, and was appointed by Gov. Yates its commander, and who had some military education. I do not know exactly whence the influ- ence came which thus controlled the election, and made the men willing to accept of a man altogether outside of the organization, and of the district as well. This, however, I believe, was true, that as so many regiments were in process of formation all over the state, and as the general government had called for, and would (at the time) accept only of six regiments, the question began to be doubtful whether the 20th would be able to get into the service ; and it was urged that Col. Marslı, or his friends, had some myste- rious influence which would secure to the regiment an early muster into the service of "Uncle Samuel." Be that as it may, he was duly elected Colonel, and our candidate, Erwin, was made Lieut. Colonel. J. W. Goodwin, the 1st Lieutenant of Co. B, was made Major. He had seen some service in the regular army.
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