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 4
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It is to be hoped that this severe, but justly merited discipline, worked at least an outward reformation in the morals and manners of this proud representative of " the Thunderer," and gave him a wholesome respect for Illinois law and Wilmington justice. It is also to be hoped that the citizens of Wilmington still retain their zeal for the sanctity of the sabbath !
In this month, also, a recruiting officer was here procuring recruits for the 64th regiment, known as the Yates Sharpshooters. Fred. W. Matteson, formerly a Joliet boy, son of ex-Gov. Matte- son, held the rank of major in this regiment, and was active in getting recruits here. A little later, in November, Capt. Grover recruited his company for this regiment, and J. S. Reynolds, Ward Knickerbocker, and others, recruited men in other parts of the county for the same. Later in the war, in 1864, Captain Logan raised a company, in this county, for the same regiment. Will county had in all in this regiment 17 commissioned officers and about 300 enlisted men, Its history, and the full roster of officers and muster roll of the men from this county, will be given in its proper place. It was only in this regiment that Will county can claim the honor of a General, although we had men worthy of the honor in other regiments. Lt. Col. J. S. Reynolds, of New Lenox, the son of one of our oldest Hickory Creek families, who entered the regiment as 2d lieutenant of Co. F, and rose to lieutenant colonel,
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was breveted brigadier general toward the close of the war, for conspicuous skill and bravery at the battle of Bentonville. Par- ties from other states were also trying to enlist men, but Governor Yates soon issued his proclamation prohibiting recruiting for organizations of other states.
Lieut. O'Kane, of the 23d, known as Mulligan's, or the Irish Brigade, also opened an office in Joliet, and obtained some recruits.
During the fall of 1861, also, Co. I, of the 46th regiment, was. raised in the town of Plainfield, of which Charles P. Stimpson was captain, and James Ballard 1st lieutenant. About 60 men enlisted from that patriotic town.
At the same time, Co. K of the 8th (Farnsworth's) cavalry, was raised largely from the towns of Plainfield and Wheatland, while Co. F, of the same regiment, was principally raised in Crete and other eastern towns. Over thirty of our German citizens from Crete also enlisted in Co. D, of the 9th cavalry, and, during the winter, the town of Channahon furnished fifteen men for the 10th cavalry. Thirty-six men, from various parts of the county, also joined the 53d regiment, Col. Cushman, of Ottawa.
During the season the people often turned out to see different. regiments passing through on the railroads for the seat of war. Among others, Col. Kellogg's Cavalry Regiment, from Michigan, passed through in November. Coming in on the Cut-Off, they were treated to a collation at the depot, by our whole-souled and patriotic citizen, Calvin Knowlton, Esq. In this regiment was a Joliet boy, Harmon F. Nicholson, who afterwards rose to the rank of Major, and made a very efficient and brave soldier and officer. And this was another instance in which patriotism got the better of partyism.
In October, 1861, George R. Dyer, of Joliet, received the ap- pointment of quartermaster in the volunteer service, with therank of captain, and was stationed at Pilot Knob, Mo.
In the latter part of October we were made proud by receiving the news of the battle of Fredericktown, in which the 20th got their first taste of war in earnest, and in which they won their first honors, and spilled the first blood, an account of which will be given in the history of the regiment. Happily, in this instance our joy was not abated by any list of casualities.
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There was nothing of special interest in our county history during the winter of 1861-2, until the movements of Grant against Forts Henry and Donaldson. Knowing that the 20th regiment, and also McAllister's Battery, were in the movement, we felt a special as well as a general interest in the expedition. And when we heard of the success of the expedition in the taking of Fort Donaldson, there were of course great rejoicings. These, however, were sadly dampened when we heard that Col. Erwin had fallen in the struggle. A public meeting was immediately called, and measures taken for receiving and rendering due honors to his re- mains. In due time they arrived in charge of Major Bartleson, whereupon funeral services were held at the Methodist Church, from which a large procession escorted the remains to the Rock Island depot, and a large committee of citizens accompanied them to Ottawa, where they were interred. The common council of the city also passed appropriate resolutions and attended the funeral services in a body.
The 22d of February was observed by the citizens of Joliet, in an unusually interesting manner. There were religious services in the Methodist church, and afterwards a meeting at the court house, where an eloquent oration on the life and character of Washington was delivered by Judge Parks. The matter of special interest was the appearance of Bartleson, and the enthusiasm with which he was received. The sight of the man who was just from the bloody field of Donaldson, in which he had taken an active and heroic part, awakened the inost intense enthusiasm. Being conducted to the stand he made a thrilling speech ; in the course of which he gave a graphic account of the battle. Soon the pri- soners taken at Fort Donaldson began to pass through the city on their way to Camp Douglas. Crowds of our citizens were, of course, attracted to the depot to take a look at the conquered rebs. They were, however, treated courteously and kindly, and in con- versation expressed their surprise at the humane manner in which they had been treated since the surrender.
Among the killed at Donaldson were James Bassett, of this city, who had been shot in the head and killed instantly. The common council of the city procured the bringing home of the body, and the funeral took place at the Methodist church, and a
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respectable burial was given it at Oakwood. A donation party for the benefit of the bereaved family was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Friday evening, February 28th. The common council of the city at its meeting February 19th, had, on motion of alderman Howk, passed a resolution appointing a committee to expend whatever money might be necessary in procuring the bodies of those killed at Fort Donaldson, and necessary relief for their families.
The interest of our citizens was soon turned to Island No. 10, in the expedition against which our county was represented by Capt. Grover's company, and others in the 64th, and Capt. Keith's Battery.
Early in April we received the news of its surrender, and al- most simultaneously we received the news of the great battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, fought the 6th and 7th of April. The account of this battle, in its general aspects and results, has been frequently given in the histories of the war, and its general features are familiar to all well informed persons. So far as it affected our own county, the details will be found in the history of the 20th Regiment and McAllister's Battery, both of which bore an honorable part in the two days' struggle. On hearing of this battle our fellow-citizens, George Woodruff, William Tonner, B. F. Russell, Otis Hardy, J. T. McDougall, and others, together with Dr. A. L. McArthur, left for the scene, to look after the dead and wounded from our county, Dr. McArthur, and Dr. E. R. Wil- lard, of Wilmington, going in a professional capacity. Soon after, we also heard of the death, from typhoid fever, brought on by exposure at Donaldson, of Albert S. Randall, son of Judge Ran- dall, of this city, a member of Co. F, 20th Ill.
Among other casualties of this battle, was the loss by Major Bartleson of his left arm. Lieut. Cleghorn was also severely wounded in the arm. Other casualties are noted in the history of the 20th, and of McAllister's battery. I must, however, mention here the fact that all accounts spoke in the highest praise of the efforts of Chaplain Button in behalf of the wounded, although suf- fering himself from sickness brought on by exposure at Donald- son. He attended unweariedly upon the wounded, carrying fence rails to build them fires, and working until he fell down exhausted.
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In the list of wounded in McAllister's battery, I find the name of "George Woodruff." Now, I am pretty sure this was not our friend, the banker, as he did not start for the scene until the battle was over, and I don't think it was George H. Woodruff, the drug- ger, for he kept at a safe distance all through the war, and I have often heard him admit that he could never "bide the smell of powder." On examination, I find that the man was from Indiana. Let us be grateful, however, that the name has been enrolled among the heroes-even though it was done by a Hoosier !
Nicholas Shaw, son of James Shaw, belonging to the 45th Ill., who was taken with other wounded at Shiloh to St. Louis, and who died there from his wounds, April 19th, was brought home from that place by his father, and the body deposited in Oakwood.
The funeral of young Randall took place on the 27th, at the M. E. church, Rev. Mr. Kidd preaching the sermon, at which there was a large attendance.
Friday evening, April 25th, a serenade was given to the wounded officers of the 20th, Major Bartleson and Capt. Cleghorn, with speeches, &c.
Orrin Johnson, of the 57th regiment, Jacob B. Worthingham and Reuben Atkins, of the 20th, were also brought home by their friends, being severely wounded. The remains of James Scanlan, also of Co. B, who died of disease contracted in the service, were also brought home and the funeral held, which was attended by Bartleson, who reported him as a brave soldier.
Our county was also represented at Donaldson and Shiloh by Co. I, in the 46th regiment, known as the Plainfield company, in which we had three commissioned officers and 55 men, four of whom were killed at Shiloh.
Sergeant, afterwards Lieut., James F. Branch, who had been home wounded from Donaldson, had just returned to the regiment, and although not fully recovered, he took part in the two days' battle, and bore a heroic part. But the exposure was so great, that he was compelled to return home again to recruit.
Capt. Grover was home on a brief visit in July, to recuperate. He had been in all the engagements under Pope, and seen much service. He reported that but one of his company had been 6
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killed and four wounded. Alas ! the next time Captain Grover came back, he was brought to be laid in Oakwood !
During the last week in June, occurred the terrible battles before Richmond under Mcclellan, and the retreat to Harrison's Landing, and July 1st, Father Abraham, at the urgent suggestion of the loyal governors of 17 states, called for 300,000 more. It was, alas! evident that the backbone of the rebellion was still sound. A deep feeling of anxiety pervaded the public mind, and great disappointment at the result of the struggle before Richmond, from which so much had been hoped, for many had expected that Richmond would certainly be taken, and the war closed, at least that the " backbone would be broken." The north was for a moment almost disheartened. But a reaction soon comes on, and fever supervenes, and the country is aroused to new effort and fresh and greater sacrifices. In this feeling our county shares. Immediately, we hear of first one, and then another, of our citi- zens becoming authorized to enlist companies, under the call of the president. Our own governor issues a proclamation, calling upon the citizens of the state to rally at the call.
In response, we first hear that A. N. Waterman is authorized to raise a company. Next, Mr. Munger follows, and opens an office with Justice Heath, in the old clerk's office, on the corner of the public square. Thomas Hayes, Dan. O'Connor, J. G. Elwood, Dr. Kelly, H. B. Goddard, and ex-sheriff Bartlett, quickly follow. Soon, too, we hear that Dr. Bacon and J. S. McDonald, of Lock- port; Albert H. Amsden, of Dupage; McLaughry, of Homer; Bur- rell, of Plainfield; Gardner and Bowen, of Wilmington, with others assisting them, are all actively engaged in raising companies. Patri- otic men-mostly young men, flock to their standards. A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors is again called, and our city papers urge a liberal appropriation by way of bounty and aid to the families of volunteers.
War meetings are again the order of the day, and, as Carlyle would say, the flood-gates of gab were opened. Speeches by Good- speed, Parks, Bowen, Randall, Breckenridge, Snapp, Starr, Casey, Norton, Waterman, Father Farrelly, &c., &c.
If zeal lags, whisperings of a draft to come revives it. The business men of Joliet and Lockport held a meeting and passed
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resolutions calling upon the supervisors to meet and make liberal appropriations. June 23d, 1862, the common council appropri- ated $50 for a sick soldier. Even a common council can do a good thing !
The Republican, of that date, says : "W. C. Wood offers a bounty of $100 to the first company that is completed to its maxi- mum in the 100th regiment." Other citizens, I believe, made similar offers, and, it is to be hoped-paid them !
The supervisors met July 29th, and appropriated $60,000 for a war fund, and took the necessary steps for raising the money. They voted a bounty of $60 to each volunteer, or $5 monthly to his family, as he might elect. War meetings and enlistments are going on all over the county. Twelve companies, six of whom had their headquarters in Joliet, were being raised in Will county. Soon the idea of a Will county regiment is suggested, and takes with everybody, and soon authority is obtained to that effect, and the old barracks on the fair grounds are put in order, and the Will county regiment, the 100th Illinois, are in possession, and fast organizing the companies and the regiment. This is soon accomplished, for the enthusiasm and excitement throughout the county surpasses that of the previous year.
An enthusiastic meeting was held at the Linebarger school house the 26th of July, and 20 recruits raised. One lady, a Mrs. Bush, gave up her fourth son to the cause, and said, if she had four more, they should go. This was by no means an isolated instance. A Mrs. Noble, of Wilmington, gave two boys to the 100th regiment, and she subsequently gave one to the 39th regi- ment. These were all she had of sufficient age. These widows, I think, exceeded in their spirit of sacrifice the widow that Christ commended. Like her, they gave all they had, and gave some- thing better and dearer far than money.
These two Noble boys-sons of a Noble mother-were taken prisoners at Chickamauga, and taken to Andersonville. One lived through it ; the other died a martyr to his country.
Another woman gave her only son, and lier husband too, and both were sacrificed on the altar of her country. Of the son, Ser- geant Holmes, one of the bravest boys in the 100th, we shall have something to say in the history of that regiment. The husband (Ellery B. Mitchell) died early in the service at Nashville.
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The companies comprising the 100th held their elections, and the regiment held its election, at Camp Erwin, as the camp was now called. Only one man was thought of for colonel, Fred. A. Bartleson, the gallant major of the 20th. The full account of this, and the roster of the officers and full muster roll of the regiment, together with a detailed history of its campaigns, will be found in its proper place.
One of our resident physicians, Dr. A. L. McArthur, received at this time an appointment as medical examiner on the state board, a post of great usefulness and responsibility. Dr. A. W. Heise accepted the appointment of surgeon to the regiment, and Drs. E. Harwood and H. T. Woodruff were appointed assistant surgeons.
But the 100th regiment does not absorb all the interest, or all the volunteers. The " Casey Guards," Capt. O'Connor's company, joined the 90th regiment, or Irish Legion. A company was also raised in Lockport by some of the well-known citizens of Irish nationality, which joined the same regiment, under the captaincy of Patrick O'Marah. Our county was represented in this regiment by eight commissioned officers and 140 enlisted men, and a sketch of its history will be found elsewhere.
During the month of August, also, Captain (afterwards Major) Holden, of Frankfort, enlisted some men for the Holden Guards, which became Co. E of the 88th regiment. Some twenty young men of Lockport also enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery, and the 72d, or 1st Board of Trade regiment, obtained twenty-five men from our county, mostly from the towns of Dupage and Chan- nahon.
The subject of the draft is getting to be one of great interest. A census of the county is taken, and it is ascertained that in Joliet there are 1,536, and in the county 5,963, subject to military duty.
About this time (August) the excitement in respect to the war, and a draft, &c., was temporarily overshadowed by one of great local interest. I refer to the mysterious disappearance of one of our prominent citizens, which I think ought to be noticed in this history, as, although the subject of it was not a military character, yet he wielded a trenchant pen for the Union, and it is often said, " the pen is mightier than the sword." He was first missed on
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the morning of August 20th. For the first time in many years, he failed to make his appearance on the street, or in the editorial sanctum.
As soon as this failure to appear was noticed, a diligent inquiry was instituted, but it failed to elicit any information. People soon began to get excited. The disappearance of so prominent a citizen, a man of such regular habits, whose appearance upon the street at a certain hour, moving with steady step, and thoughtful brow, his head full of grave editorials on the situation, and his heart bur- dened with a nation's dangers, had come to be looked for as a thing as fixed as the rising of the sun-the disappearance of such a man would of course produce great excitement as soon as known. Conjecture was soon busy; rumors were as plenty as blackberries. Some, knowing his patriotic ardor, thought that he had enlisted in McAllister's Battery, or the Irish Brigade, (as it will appear in the sequel, this last conjecture was not far out of the way). Oth- ers, knowing his chronic dislike to a draft, intimated that he had gone to Canada that he might not witness so disagreeable an oper- ation. None but " Black Republicans " entertained so slanderous a thought. Quite a plausible conjecture was that he had gone to Washington to tell his old friend Abe, how the war ought to be conducted. Again, some who had closely read his editorials, were inclined to believe that he had gone clean daft, from the negro- phobia, which had for some time disturbed his mental equilib- rium. For he had made a close estimate of the number of negroes that would be quartered upon the city in the event of their being freed and sent north, and found that Joliet would have to stand an infliction of at least 1200. Such a prospect, it was thought, might have produced temporary insanity, and perhaps led to sui- cide ; and the people were about dragging the basins, when the anxiety of all was relieved by reading in the Signal of August 26th, the following announcement:
" Married in this city, on the 19th inst., by Rev. P. Farrelly, Mr. Calneh Zarley and Miss Annie Keegan."
The public took a long breath again ! I have a word or two more to say about this chronic " negrophobia" with which "Cal " was tormented. This was truly a melancholy case. Many will remember how sorely he was afflicted, and how sorely he inflicted
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upon his readers his gloomy prognostications of evil from this dreaded irruption of darkies from the south. But I presume that the reader will be surprised that this hallucination took a poetic shape. And while all my readers know that the war gave rise to a wonderful amount of poetry, they will hardly be prepared for the announcement that Joliet had its war poet-and least of all, that his name was "Cal." But such was the fact ! And if this history serves no other good purpose, it shall at least have the merit of doing tardy justice to neglected genius ! In looking over the files of the Joliet Signal, which have been kindly lent me, and from which I have gathered much valuable matter, I came upon the following choice poetical morceau. I think I cannot be mis- taken in the authorship. Besides the place where it was found, the fact that it is not credited to any other source, and that it has no marks of quotation, no signature, or anything to indicate that it is a communication ; beside these circumstances, I think the sub- ject matter, and the style, and above all, the closing beautiful simile, leave no room for doubt as to its authorship. Without per- mission, I enrich these pages, with this poetical gem :
" De Lord he lubs de niggah well ! He knows de niggah by de smell ! And while de pitch holds out to burn, De blackest niggah may return.
'He knows dere wants and all ob dat, He feeds dere souls on possum fat ; And when de niggah baby cry, De Lord he gibs um possum pie ! When in de tabernacle met, Big niggah by de white gal set. And in de Beecher chapel too, . De niggah hab a good front pew. De Lord determed not to keep, In different pews de culled sheep, But mix the various colors up, Like rum and lasses in a cup !"
Late tho' it be-bring forth the " immortal bays," and let the Joliet war poet be crowned !
During the month of August, the body of Frederick W. Mat- teson, of whom mention has already been made, was brought here for burial in Oakwood. He died of typhoid fever, brought on by his exposure in the line of duty. Such an event was well cal-
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culated to produce an impression upon the young men in the 100th, many of whom had been his play fellows and school mates in earlier days, but it only nerved their purpose to do their duty, come what might.
The 100th regiment having been fully organized and become somewhat initiated into the routine of duty, and sworn into the U. S. service, broke camp September 2d, and took its departure for Springfield, and wherever thence the authorities might direct.
Its departure was a scene of the most intense interest and ex- citement. Probably around no other day in the history of Will county has there ever gathered so much of interest. Here were nearly a thousand men-mostly young men-the flower of city and county-gathered from all the walks of life, about to go forth to the perils of war. Here were the hopes of fathers and mothers, the beloved of sisters and wives, the stay and comfort of the aged and infirm, of widows and orphans. Sacrificing all their business enterprises and prospects of worldly success; dropping the imple- ments of husbandry and trade; closing their books and dismissing the studies of their age ; they had come in answer to the call of their imperiled country-to peril their own lives in a grand, su- preme effort to crush the rebellion and save the union. Perhaps never in the history of the world was there a regiment composed . of better personnel-of so many young men in whose bosoms, contact with a selfish world had not yet dulled the romance of youth, or tarnished the lustre of a pure and holy patriotism. For no selfish purpose; with no hope of gain or dream of glory; but from a pure desire and purpose to save the country, had they en- rolled their names among its defenders. And now, having per- fected their organization, having gone through the weeks of pre- paratory drill and discipline, the time had come to bid good-bye to relatives and friends, to fathers, mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts, and to go forth to actual, earnest, perilous WAR; to encounter all the hardships, hazards and temptations of the camp, the march and the bivouac; of the outpost, the skirmish and the battle. Here they are, a thousand Will county men, in the full vigor of early manhood, animated by one impulse-their hearts beating high with hope and courage, eager for the time which shall test their powers, their strength of endurance, and their cour-
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age. Yet with a solemn sense of the hazards and dangers before them; for the delusive hopes and expectations of the year and a half previous had been dissipated, and full well they now knew, that they were going forth on no holiday errand, that they were to be no carpet knights, and that to conquer the rebellion, a severe and protracted struggle would yet be required; that the errand upon which they were going forth meant death to many, and peril, hardship and suffering to all. They had seen the lifeless forms of Erwin, Bassett, Shaw, Randall, Matteson, and others, brought home to their long and honored rest in Oakwood; while others of their fellow citizens and friends had returned disabled by wounds and disease. How will the 100TH return? How many, and who? Which of our sons, our brothers, our husbands shall succumb to the weary march, the cold bivouac, the malarious camp ? Who shall come back with painful wounds, and sad disfigurement; with loss of limb, and enfeebled health ? Who shall languish in southern prison pens, the body starving for the meanest food, and the heart starving for news from home ? Who, oh ! who, shall lay down life on the battle field or in the hospital, with no fond mother, sister or wife, to wipe the death damp from the brow, and catch the last farewell and close the sightless eyes ? Who shall be buried in haste without shroud, or prayer, or headstone, or to be left to fester and decay unburied ?
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